Welcome to the Logan Blackman Show’s OFFICIAL 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0! In this one, again, we’ve got no trades, but some new faces pop their heads into this draft!
We’ve also got players in new locations which is exciting! Though we do have some players remain in the same spot, so their reasoning may just be the same reasoning as mock draft 1.0. (I waste a lot of time doing this, I don’t want to type up all new reasoning if I have the same player in the same place)
Without further adieu, here is the OFFICIAL TLBS 2021 Mock Draft 2.0!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars; Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Again, not a ton of thinking goes into this pick. Whether or not the Jaguars pick here, Trevor Lawrence will be the number one pick. Urban Meyer was the only NFL head coach (that I saw) at Lawrence’s Pro Day.
Though I think it’s a guarantee Lawrence goes number one, I do get some of the concerns. To treat him like a normal prospect, he did get outplayed at times on the biggest stage. Justin Fields last year and Joe Burrow the season before. Does that affect Lawrence’s draft spot for you?
That being said, Trevor Lawrence is going number one overall, alright? Unless something crazy happens, Lawrence will be playing in Jacksonville by the time this next season comes around.
Other picks; Zach Wilson, QB, BYU; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
2. New York Jets; Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
If I’m the Jets, I’m trading away Sam Darnold and taking one of these quarterbacks. The marriage between Darnold and the Jets just didn’t work, and I think it’d be best for both parties to get divorced. Now, since I’ve traded Darnold away, the Jets have to get their QB, and from everything that I’ve read, Zach Wilson will be the guy.
Do I think Zach Wilson is an insanely better football player than Sam Darnold? Not necessarily. I do think Wilson has got a stronger arm, but overall I think they’re very similar. I just think it’d be best for both parties to move on.
Reportedly, in some NFL circles, Zach Wilson is ranked higher than the assumed number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Though I don’t share the brain with those people, I think Wilson is the joint second best QB in this draft with Justin Fields.
Wilson’s got an extremely live arm, is very accurate, and is very mobile. Though he’s listed at 6’3”, I just refuse to believe that, as do most people on the internet.
Now, I guess that could scare people I guess, but with the likes of Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson, and Drew Brees, size isn’t as important in regards to quarterbacks anymore. That’s not saying people still don’t put emphasis on it.
Another possible “red flag” against Wilson is his reported “character concerns” from an unnamed former NFL GM. Isn’t that funny? “Wilson has character concerns but I’m not going to tell him that to his face, I’m going to hide behind text.” Right, that checks out.
Wilson comes from a smaller school and was not surrounded by any NFL talent, yet put up some insane numbers last season while playing for the Cougars last season. With Wilson at the helm, BYU was consistently in the top 25, and dominated another top-25 caliber team in UCF, throwing for 425 yards and three touchdowns.
The things that hurt Wilson is the fact that though he didn’t play with a lot of NFL talent, he didn’t play any teams with NFL talent.
There’s also the thing that he didn’t have a bad game. Well, playing devil's advocate here, he didn’t play anyone to force him to have a bad game. If he did have a bad game, that would be extremely concerning, I’ll just say that. (I’m not going to bring up the “character concerns” here)
Wilson has an extremely live arm, is very athletic and is smart when he takes off versus when he throws it. He’s also got a lot of swagger, which compares to another BYU quarterback in Jim McMahon. Is he as tough as McMahon? Well that remains to be seen.
After everything I’ve read in regards to this draft, I’d be surprised if Wilson wasn’t the second QB taken. I’d also be surprised if the Jets didn’t take him here at number two. A month or so ago, Wilson said he’d fit best in an offense like Kyle Shanahan. Who’s the Jets new OC? A Shanahan disciple, Mike LaFluer.
I honestly think this’d be a fun marriage in New York. The Sam Darnold experiment didn’t work out, but the future with Wilson could be pretty bright. Take Wilson at number two New Jersey.
Other picks; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State; Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU’ DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; TRADE for Deshaun Watson; TRADE BACK
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston); Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
I know I’ve been banging the drum about DeVonta Smith being reunited down in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa, but I’ve had a change of heart.
Though size is not the most important thing to me in regards to scouting a player, I’m not going to pretend that NFL organizations don’t put an emphasis on this. The fact of the matter is, DeVonta Smith weighs 174 lbs. soaking wet. Ja’Marr Chase weighs 207 lbs. Giving him a 33 pound weight advantage. Let’s not pretend that’s not going to matter.
It’s not just that, Ja’Marr Chase is a friggin amazing wide receiver. In his last full season at LSU, Chase led the nation in receiving yards with 1,780 and totalled 20 touchdowns. Winning a National Championship, was named a Unanimous All-American, and was given the Biletnikoff Award for the nation's best receiver.
I know the obvious pick here is to link Tua back up with DeVonta Smith, but I’m starting to think that won’t happen, and I’ll explain more with the DeVonta Smith pick. All in all, when playing, Ja’Marr Chase was the best receiver in college football, regardless who else was playing.
Over the past two seasons, Chase totaled 14 20+ yard touchdowns, the most in college football over that span. The crazy thing is, Chase didn’t play a single snap last season. Meaning he had 14 20+ yard touchdowns in one season! That’s ridiculous.
To me, though I had DeVonta Smith going here last time, Ja’Marr Chase is the best receiver in this draft class. The link makes sense, but sometimes you’ve just got to take the best player available, that’s Ja’Marr Chase.
Other picks; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Rashawn Slater iOL/OT, Northwestern; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; TRADE BACK; TRADE for Deshaun Watson
4. Atlanta Falcons; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
This would probably surprise a lot of people come draft night. Trey Lance going before Justin Fields is probably not what a lot of people would be expecting, but it very well could. He's an extremely raw prospect who’s also the least experienced, but, out of all the QBs in this draft, Trey Lance could have the highest ceiling.
Now, before I get into this pick, the Falcons could go a lot of different directions here. In my last mock draft, I had them taking Rashawn Slater, and though I think that could still happen, quarterback seems to be the betting favorite for the Falcons in this draft.
Lance has all the tools to be an absolute stud at the next level. He’s got a very strong arm, he’s very athletic, he’s a great decision maker, and has that “elite” size that organizations are looking for. Standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 227 lbs., he’s got everything to be a great QB.
The big “issue” (I guess) with Trey Lance is the fact that he played for North Dakota State, an FCS school. Most casual fans out there have never watched, or maybe even heard of, North Dakota State. That causes people to question him as a prospect, but again, he’s got everything.
In his one full season as the starter, Lance threw for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 66.9% of his passes. The stat that is the craziest though is the fact that he threw no interceptions. I don’t care what level you play, that is a very impressive feat that almost every quarterback couldn’t accomplish. Again, that’s an amazing stat.
Along with the threat through the air, Lance put up 1,100 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns. Giving him a total of 3,886 yards and 42 touchdowns, which saw him be given the Walter Payton Award, FCS’ Heisman, and the Jerry Rice Award, for the nation's top freshman. Oh yeah, him and NDSU won another National Championship.
Like I said though with Lance, he may not be ready to play, and if given the right teaching and time, he could develop into the best QB in this draft. That’s where the Atlanta Falcons come into play.
Matt Ryan is 36-years old and doesn’t really show any real signs of slowing down, which will give Lance time to prepare and eventually take that starting job. I also think he’d be perfect for Arthur Smith’s style of offense, as he played in an elite rushing offense while at NDSU.
Another thing to look at is the fact that the Falcons don’t have a back-up quarterback. Long time back-up Matt Schaub has recently retired, making Matt Ryan the only QB on the roster. Lance could be that for a few seasons before taking over for Matty Ice.
If you look at some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, such as Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, they came in as raw prospects, Lance is the same thing.
Though I don’t have him ranked above Justin Fields, I absolutely think this could happen. Sometimes potential gets you drafted earlier than some, and Lance has that in bunches, much like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. I could totally see Justin Fields going here, but I think Lance’s potential will get him drafted before Fields. Right or wrong, I think this could happen.
Other picks; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; TRADE BACK
5. Cincinnati Bengals; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Much like the first pick in the Draft, this pick doesn’t take a lot of brain power. If Penei Sewell is available once Cincinnati is up at number five, the Bengals will take him.
Ever since the last offseason, Sewell’s been one of the players of this year's draft given the illustrious label of “can’t miss prospect.” The other obviously being Trevor Lawerence. Though I’m not a fan of that phrase, Sewell has all the makings to be an elite franchise tackle.
The Bengals offseason goal is simple, get your franchise quarterback some protection. He’s already torn his ACL once, for his sake and yours, to give the man some protection. They have Jonah Williams, now use another top pick to take another top tackle.
Other picks; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
6. Philadelphia Eagles; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Philadelphia Eagles are ready to welcome in a new era. With Doug Pederson being fired and Carson Wentz shipped off to Indianapolis, this new era belongs to new head coach Nick Sirianni and second year quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles could go quite a few directions with this pick. One possibility is former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. With Zach Ertz likely to be traded, Pitts makes a lot of sense for Philly. Another thing that could lead that to happening is Eagles new QB Brian Johnson, who was Florida’s OC last season and knows how effective Pitts is in all aspects of the offense.
Though that is a possibility, the Eagles do still have Dallas Goedert currently on the roster, so tight end might not be the most pressing need here at six. To me, and most people, the Eagles should address the wide receiver position.
As this mock draft shows, the Eagles top options here are the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in DeVonta Smith and the ultimate weapon in Jaylen Waddle. Based on last year's pick, I think the Eagles could go after Waddle with this pick.
To me, even though DeVonta Smith won the Heisman, Waddle is arguably a better prospect. Before getting hurt last season, Waddle was on pace to beat Smith in most, if not all, statistical categories.
Though Smith had more receptions before Waddle’s injury in week five, Waddle had more yards, averaging more yards per reception by almost 10 yards (22.3 to 12.7), and had the same number of touchdowns. He even caught more passes per target then Smith. With Smith getting targeted 47 times with 38 catches and Waddle being targeted 29 times with 25 catches.
Along with averaging over 20 yards per reception, Waddle hauled in 21 of 26 passes when he was targeted 20 yards or more down field. Very impressive stuff there from Jaylen Waddle.
Another thing about Waddle, in his two years as a top option for Bama, their QBs had a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Waddle in BOTH 2019 and 2020. Waddle’s not just a speedster, he’s an insane wide receiver.
To me, before the injury, Jaylen Waddle was more of a Heisman candidate than the eventual Heisman winner Smith. Listen to the Cole and Company podcast to hear my reasoning from a few months ago.
Jaylen Waddle is the ultimate weapon. Whether it be as a receiver, returner, or even running back, Waddle will make an impact wherever you put him. This makes him a very intriguing prospect and why I think he’ll get taken before DeVonta Smith.
Other picks; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
7. Detroit Lions; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Dan Campbell era has begun in Detroit. I fear for the kneecaps of the rest of the NFC North. Packers fans, you think Anthony Barr was mean to Aaron Rodgers? Wait until Dan Campbell unleashes Micah Parsons on him and he starts gnawing at his kneecaps.
For the Lions, they have quite a bit of needs on their roster, whether it be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Though the Lions will likely lose either Kenny Golladay or Marvin Jones or both. With DeVonta Smith still being available, I think the Lions could/should go after the former Heisman Trophy winner.
DeVonta Smith is the most consistent receiver in this class. Being the only one out of the possible first rounders with two thousand yard seasons. Now, I think Ja’Marr Chase would’ve gotten another thousand yard season if he had not opted out and Jaylen Waddle being out helped him get as many yards as he did, but I don’t want to take anything away from Smith’s 2020 season.
Dude was unguardable last season. His ability to get open and what he would do with the ball after he caught it was something to behold. He made Mac Jones’ job a lot easier and had the greatest season a receiver has ever had in college football. Getting 1,856 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns. Absolutely crazy season.
Though he was amazing last season, and had a great overall career, there are some things that could hurt Smith. One thing being his size. Though he’s 6’1”, he weighs less than both Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle, weighing in at 175 lbs. Though that didn’t hurt him while at Bama or hurt his play, it could definitely hurt his stock a tiny bit.
Another thing that could hurt him, comparatively to Jaylen Waddle, he doesn't’ have that elite breakaway speed or versatility that Waddle has. I know these are nit picky things, but they could hurt him in the draft.
Whether or not he’s the first wide receiver or the third one taken, DeVonta Smith will make whoever drafts him very happy. He’s a competitor and an insane wide receiver. Here, the Lions give Goff a number one option.
Other picks; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; TRADE BACK
8. Carolina Panthers; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
If you would’ve told me back in May of 2020, when the 2020 NFL Draft was just ending, Justin Fields would be the fourth QB taken, I would’ve called you crazy. Even then we knew Justin Fields was going to be a top pick, but the fourth QB taken would’ve sounded kind of crazy.
Though he’s being placed fourth I don’t think he’s the fourth best QB in the draft, I think he’s better than that. Just certain circumstances take place which are sometimes completely out of a players control, and that’s what we’ve got going on here.
If you phrase it that way it sounds bad, he was taken fourth out of the quarterbacks. Let’s phrase it as he’s the eighth overall pick in the draft for the Carolina Panthers. Now see? That sounds a lot better.
If Justin Fields falls to Carolina here at eight, they’ll sprint their card to Roger Goodell to make sure they get their pick in. According to reports, the Carolina Panthers “love” Justin Fields. This match-up works great for all parties involved.
I am aware that this past season for Fields wasn’t his best. That being said, it wasn’t a bad season by any means. In his first season at Ohio State, Fields threw for 3,273 yards with 41 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His rush numbers were also on pace to be better, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt as opposed to 3.5 the season prior.
Though this was a “bad” season for Fields, he still threw for 2,100 yards 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing over 70% of his passes.
This season, you could say Fields played some of his worst football, i.e. the Indiana and Northwestern games. I’ll give him a pass on the Northwestern game because he was playing with a hurt thumb on his throwing hand, which led to a dominating rush attack spearheaded by Trey Sermon.
I really like Justin Fields. He’s not afraid to take some risks and plays every game like it could be his last. I think Fields in Carolina would be a match made in Heaven. He could sit and learn behind a vet in Teddy Bridgewater, has an offensive minded HC and Joe Brady as his OC, he has talented weapons outside in DJ Clark and Robbie Anderson, and Christian McCaffrey. Not to mention a young and improving defense.
This just makes too much sense. I would love to see Justin Fields playing for the Carolina Panthers at some point in the future. That is unless the Panthers trade for Deshaun, then Houston will be picking here.
(Reports say also Carolina "likes" Mac Jones. Though Deshaun Watson will probably be here, it's just something to think about)
Other picks; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; TRADE UP; TRADE for Deshaun Watson
9. Denver Broncos; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Denver Broncos are one of the more interesting teams when it comes to the 2021 NFL Draft because of all the things they could target.
Reports say that they could be looking to upgrade on Drew Lock, so maybe Mac Jones is an option here. Ja’Wuan James was injured a ton last season, maybe Rashawn Slater comes in. They’ve released AJ Bouye and Bryce Callahan is an impending free agent, maybe they go after one of the top two corners. Among some other things, I think the Broncos may just take the best player available, which to me is Micah Parsons.
The former Penn State linebacker is an insane football player. Micah Parsons' skill set makes him a very desirable player in this draft. He has the ability to be a do everything linebacker, making plays all over the field, but also has the skills to become a very effective edge rusher at the next level. Both spots could be positions of need for the Broncos.
Again, he is a “do everything linebacker,” essentially meaning he will excel wherever you put him on the defense. In his time at Penn State, Parsons recorded 192 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and five passes defended.
In the season before he opted out, Parsons recorded 109 total tackles, five sacks, and four forced fumbles. Even though he opted out, his ability just cannot be ignored.
Though he’s got some reported character concerns, with some comparing him to Reuben Foster, the Broncos can’t ignore his talent. Right now, the Broncos have two inside linebackers on the roster and, reportedly, could cut Von Miller. Whatever position they’ll need Parsons to play, he can play it. I think Parsons would be a very nice player to add to the Broncos defense.
Other picks; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; TRADE UP; TRADE for Deshaun Watson.
10. Dallas Cowboys; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Dallas Cowboys, on paper, have a very talented roster. The only thing that’s really hurting them is the inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball.
The offense of the Dallas Cowboys can be near the top of the league as far as talent is concerned, and if Dak stays healthy, they can be even more than just talented. Remember, there’s a difference between being talented and being good.
As far as the defensive side of the ball goes, oof. That’s honestly the best way I can put it. I think the Cowboys have to address a position on the defensive side of the ball with this pick, unless they want to strengthen their o-line or something.
Out of all the needs on their defense, cornerback is arguably the biggest of them all. This past season, the Cowboys ranked in the bottom 10 in total yards allowed and ranked in the bottom five in passing touchdowns allowed last season.
Yes, the Cowboys got a very good young corner in the second round last year in Trevon Diggs, but they could very well lose their two other starting corners, Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie, in free agency. So, I feel the Cowboys should take Virginia Tech corner Caleb Farley.
Both Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain II are pretty much equal. Both have the size scouts are looking for in corners (6’2” 200+ lbs.) and have the athleticism to make plays in the secondary. That being said, I’m going to throw Farley here.
The big thing that could hurt this prediction is the fact that Farley opted out last season due to COVID-19, whereas Surtain II stayed and won a National Championship while also being named a Unanimous All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
The thing that could make Farley appealing is the fact that he’s only ever really been a corner for two years. After playing quarterback in high school and then receiver when he first got to Virginia Tech, he knows the offensive side of the ball well, which helps him though he’s inexperienced. His rawness is also appealing cause you know he’s not the finished product, which could be scary and makes his ceiling pretty high.
The Cowboys need help on the defensive side of the ball. They got themselves a good young corner last year in Trevon Diggs. Why not partner Diggs with a corner that has the potential like Farley? Could be pretty fun.
Other picks; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolinal; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
11. New York Giants; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The New York Giants could be considered one of those surprise teams from last season. Now, that may sound crazy coming from a team that just finished 6-10, but they almost won the friggin division last season, which I guess could be more of a testament to how bad the division was as opposed to how good the Giants were.
Regardless, the Giants played tough last season, losing five games by one score. The Giants could go a couple directions with this pick, having needs on both sides of the ball.
Earlier this offseason Giants GM Dave Gettleman “vowed” to get starting quarterback Daniel Jones some more weapons for this upcoming season. As far as weapons go, they don’t get much better than Kyle Pitts.
Yes, I know the Giants have Evan Engram, who in his own right is a very talented and athletic tight end. The problem is his hands. Last season, Evan Engram ranked fourth in the NFL in dropped passes (8) behind two rookies and one second year player.
Another mark against Engram is the fact that he’s only had four receiving touchdowns since Daniel Jones has been the quarterback, with only one last year. I like Engram, but the Giants could do with an upgrade. That’s where Pitts comes in.
One thing that Pitts will add to the Giants is an unguardable weapon from the tight end position, being a mismatch for every player on defense. Tight ends are usually guarded by linebackers, but you’d be hard pressed to find a corner that could hang with him, as Pitts was the highest rated tight end when lined up against a corner by PFF.
One thing the Giants desperately need is some sort of red zone threat. Last season, the Giants ranked 31st in red zone scoring, scoring on just over 46% of their red zone possessions. Even that is down from a season before. Pitts would change that.
While at Florida, Pitts never dropped a red zone pass on 31 targets. To add to that, Pitts never dropped a single pass, anywhere on the field! That’s an upgrade from the player who finished fourth in the NFL in dropped passes.
If the Giants really want to give Daniel Jones some weapons, Kyle Pitts should be the guy. He’s a 6’6” and 240 lbs. He’s got great size and speed which, again, makes him an insane match-up nightmare. Jones, Barkley, and Pitts would be very fun to watch in New York. (As long as Daniel Jones doesn’t turn the ball over)
Other picks; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
12. San Francisco 49ers; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The 49ers were an injury riddled mess last season. Before the season started, a lot was expected once again from the reigning NFC Champs, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Last season, they finished the season with Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Solomon Thomas, and Trent Williams all on IR. Heck, they even lost their back-up quarterback Nick Mullens towards the end of the season. It just wasn’t a fun year to be a 49ers fan. Now, we can expect the 49ers to get back to their normal selves next season, as long as the team stays healthy anyways.
Though we expect them to be healthier, they’ve still got some big names on the unrestricted free agent list. If you look at their current roster, they have one roster still on their roster in Ken Webster.
Though Verrett looks to be re-signed, by Niners fans, Richard Sherman seems unlikely to return. The Niners would be smart to address the cornerback position by adding someone as good as Patrick Surtain II.
Now, there is a chance Farley and Surtain switch spots in the draft, with the gap between the two being very small. Though Surtain gobbled up all the awards and a national championship, Farley is seen as the better prospect. Either way, the Niners should make out here.
The Niners have a need at corner, Surtain would be perfect for their defense. New DC DeMeco Ryans is a former Alabama football player, maybe he wants to be like Ozzie Newsome and draft players from his alma mater. Who knows?
One thing I do know is Surtain would be the perfect replacement for Richard Sherman. Surtain and Sherman are similar in size and Surtain is a fantastic athlete for the cornerback position. He’d be perfect for the Niners defense and try to get them from worst to first.
Other picks; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; TRADE UP; TRADE for Deshaun Watson
13. Los Angeles Chargers; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern
The Chargers future is pretty exciting. They’ve got their franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, good weapons out wide and in the back field, a young and talented defensive minded head coach to help right the defense, and an extremely talented defense all together if they stay healthy.
One part of the Chargers that has not ever really been that exciting has been the offensive line. Again, they’ve got their starting quarterback, one of the goals this offseason should be to either surround him with even more weapons or get some o-line help. Here, I’ve got the Bolts going with the latter.
Last offseason, the Chargers traded for Trai Turner and signed Bryan Bulaga in free agency, so their right side of the o-line is essentially set. The problem lies from the center to the left tackle spot, especially with the recent retirement of center Mike Pouncey.
As I said, center, left guard, and left tackle could do with an upgrade. One player in this draft that can play all those positions is Northwestern lineman Rashawn Slater.
In his time at Northwestern, Slater played both right and left tackle, but has the skillset to play every position on the offensive line. As a freshman at Northwestern, Slater was named the best freshman offensive lineman by PFF. Then as a junior, Slater gave up 0 sacks in 11 starts at left tackle.
Similar to Cowboys guard Zach Martin, Slater could go from an elite left tackle in college to an elite All-Pro guard in the NFL. If I’m the Chargers, and Slater’s available, I’m sprinting to the podum to get this pick in.
Slater’s versatility and his ability as a run and pass blocker should make him one of the most sought after prospects in this draft. Honestly, I’d be surprised if he made it here to 13.
Other picks; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
14. Minnesota Vikings; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Minnesota Vikings are a very young yet talented team. To me, the Vikings were big winners in last year's draft due to the players they got at the positions they got them at.
The first four picks for the Vikings all were key players in their team this year, in Jeff Gladey, Cam Dantzler, Ezra Cleveland, and of course, Justin Jefferson. Though this wasn’t the year Vikings fans were wanting, this team still has talent.
That being said, the Vikings still have some holes on their roster. Though the likes of Danielle Hunter will be coming back, which will help, they should still go after another long edge rusher to pair with Hunter in Gregory Rousseau.
After the Vikings lost to the New Orleans Saints on Christmas day last year, HC Mike Zimmer stated this was the worst defense in his career. Rousseau has the ability to help fix that. Another big name opt out due to COVID, Rousseau is still one of the top edge rushers in this draft class.
During his last season with the Hurricanes, Rousseau finished with 15.5 sacks, which ranked second in the nation behind Chase Young, who was a Heisman finalist. Rousseau also finished with more total tackles than Chase Young, dude has a lot of potential.
His length is also something that is very desirable, dude is 6’7” and weighs 265 lbs. and is extremely athletic. Pairing him with a healthy Danielle Hunter would cause a lot of problems for opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks.
Last season the Vikings finished with 23 sacks. With Hunter hurt and Ngakoue traded, the Vikings struggled in the pass rush. Get Rousseau and your problems could very well be solved.
Other picks; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; TRADE BACK
15. New England Patriots; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
The New England Patriots were bad last season, on a lot of fronts. Whether it be at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, anything on defense, the Patriots struggled and finished the season 7-9. An unprecedented year for the Patriots.
That being said, the Patriots were hit more by opt outs and injuries than a lot of teams in the NFL. Among the opt outs were Brandon Bolden, Marcus Cannon, Patrick Chung, Dont’a Hightower, Marquise Lee, and Danny Vitale. Among the players on IR were Rex Burkhead, Julian Edleman, Stephon Gilmore, Damien Harris, and Isaiah Wynn.
With all those players out, do I feel bad or have any pity towards them? No, not at all. But I will not write of the Patriots just yet, because of all those players who were out this past season.
Last offseason, the Patriots lost Tom Brady and signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal in free agency, a very low risk move for the Patriots. Though it was low risk, it didn’t work. This is not the same Cam that won the MVP, this Cam looks broken.
It’s always been awkward seeing him throw the ball, but this year something just seemed really wrong with him. For Cam’s sake, I hope he just retires or sits out this next season, he just does not look healthy, and it seems his body is failing him.
So, with Cam more than likely not coming back to New England, the Patriots need to address the quarterback spot. I think the perfect person for the Patriots would be Alabama’s Mac Jones. This just makes too much sense not to happen.
After a very good season which saw him lead the nation in passing yards and win a National Championship, he upped his draft stock immensely by impressing during Senior Bowl week. Though he didn’t play in the game, the way he practiced reportedly sat very well with teams around the league.
Looking at Mac Jones’ draft profile, it reads similar to that of the aforementioned Tom Brady. Mac doesn’t have the measurables, he doesn’t have an insanely strong arm, and he’s the last thing from mobile. But Jones is a leader, he’s accurate, he’s tough, and he’s a winner.
For me, the thing I love the most about Mac is his attitude. Most quarterbacks in Mac Jones’ situation would have probably transferred. Sitting behind Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, Mac waited his turn, and eventually led Bama to a National Championship.
If the Patriots don’t make a move for someone like Jimmy Garoppolo, I think Mac would be the perfect quarterback for them. Though I think the Pats should still sign a veteran QB to help teach him up, I think eventually Jones will be the dude in New England.
Now, the Patriots may need to trade up to get him. From everything I am ready, Mac Jones could go closer to the top 10. This could get interesting.
Other picks; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; TRADE UP; TRADE BACK
16. Arizona Cardinals; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL/OT, USC
The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of potential. They have their quarterback and supplied them with weapons last season. This year I think the Cardinals will help him on the offensive line.
Yes, the Cardinals do need some help on defense and could easily draft cornerback Jaycee Horn with this pick, especially with Patrick Peterson’s future with the team in question. But again, I think the Cards could address the offensive line with this pick.
Like Rashawn Slater before, Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft. While at USC, Vera-Tucker played both guard and tackle, playing left tackle his last season at USC. Though that’s where he played last year, I think he goes back to his first position from USC at guard.
Last season, Kyler Murray got sacked 27 times. Which isn’t horrible, but for how mobile he is, you’d certainly want that number to go down a little more.
Vera-Tucker is a great run and pass blocker who is very athletic and, again, possesses a lot of versatility. In 2019, Vera-Tucker, according to PFF, recorded a 88.6 pass blocking rate with no sacks or QB hits.
Another thing to note, current USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, is a former Texas Tech quarterback. Cardinals head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, a fellow former Tech QB. So one would assume they share some dialogue during the offseason.
This could be a nice like up for the Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray would certainly like some more protection, and with Vera-Tucker’s versatility and pass blocking grade, he’d be a great addition for the Cardinals.
Other picks; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
17. Las Vegas Raiders; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
The Las Vegas Raiders could go a couple directions with this pick. I would assume though that the Raiders address the defensive side of the ball as opposed to the offensive side of things.
Out of all the needs on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders have to address either the edge rusher or the linebacker position. Though I think/feel defensive end could be the move here, I am going to have the Raiders take Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the athletic freak from Notre Dame. (I was/am essentially 50-50 on him or Kwity Paye)
When I first started following the NFL Draft, I always looked up to Mike Mayock. Out of all the draft "experts" there were, he was always the best and most accurate. Now, he's the GM of the Las Vegas Raiders.
One thing that I always remembered about his draft boards was that he, and the Raiders historically, loved athleticism. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has that in bunches.
For the Raiders, adding Koramoah would be adding a lot of athleticism to their linebacking corp. For what he lacks in prototypical linebacker size, standing at 6’1” and weighing 216 lbs., he makes up for it in extreme athleticism. He’s essentially a safety playing linebacker, which makes him a match-up nightmare.
This past season, Koramoah was given the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker and was named a Unanimous All-American and the ACC Defender of the Year, which means he was obviously named First Team All-ACC.
Though his production went down from the season prior, he’s still an enticing prospect because of his aforementioned athleticism. Dude can cover in the pass game, make hits in the run game, and just overall make plays all over the field.
The Raiders linebacking corp is a little depleted. Adding a "do everything" linebacker like Owusu-Koramoah would be an excellent addition to this Raider defense.
Other picks; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
18. Miami Dolphins; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
Who honestly thought the Dolphins would win 10 games? Let alone them almost making the playoffs? This past season was an absolute win for the Dolphins, despite missing the playoffs, they have accelerated their perceived tank from trying to lose every game to being within a shot of winning the AFC East next season. Crazy.
The Dolphins, though finishing 10-6, do have some needs on their roster. Most notably, after wide receiver, is an edge rusher, linebacker, running back, and some depth on the o-line. With this pick, I’m going to give the Dolphins a local edge rusher in Jaelan Phillips.
Yes, I know he’s not from Miami, I mean local as in he played for the local university. So it counts.
Now, back to scouting the player. Phillips comes in that same mold of his Miami teammate Gregory Rousseau. Phillips has really good length and speed to cause a lot of disruption in the passing game.
Standing at 6’5” and weighing 265 lbs., he is a massive threat rushing the passer. With Rousseau opting out this past season, Phillips accounted for eight sacks, 45 total tackles, and an interception.
Now, there could be some concerns due to his injury history. Before transferring to Miami, Phillips medically retired from football. His injuries included an ankle injury, a wrist injury in an off-the-field accident, and a concussion.
Though there are concerns, Phillips has the potential to be a real threat rushing the passer. His ability to play stand up or with his hand in the dirt combined with his size, speed, and length will make him hard to pass up for the Dolphins here.
Other picks; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Virginia Tech
19. Washington Football Team; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
The Washington Football Team made the playoffs last season. Let me say that again. After going 7-9, the Washington Football Team made the playoffs. Not only did they make it, they hosted a game, and almost won!
I think it’s obvious though, when looking at their playoff run, they made it off the back of their soon to be elite defense, being led by a young defensive line. Basically, they made it to spite their offense, which wasn’t great to say the least.
Yes, they were a better team with Alex Smith at QB as opposed to either Dwayne Haskins or Kyle Allen. Will Alex Smith be back next season? Who knows. At least they’ve got playoff hero Taylor Heinicke signed to a two-year contract.
Though their QB situation is still up in the air, I don’t think they’ll address it here in the first round. I think they’ll either draft someone laster or sign/trade for a quarterback, my prediction is someone like Marcus Mariota.
So, with their first round pick, I’ll give Washington Virginia Tech left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Not only is Darrisaw a Va. Tech product, he’s a local product. Hailing from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, which is just over a half hour away from the DC area. This would make sense by giving Washington a player they’ll need and (hopefully) get some more local support by drafting a local talent.
Now, this wouldn’t just be a feel good story, Darrisaw can play. In his last season at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw was named a first team All-ACC selection and was a two and a half year starter while playing for the Hokies.
Darrisaw is 6’5” and weighs 314 lbs. and is a fantastic pass protector, which is something the Washington Football Team needs. During his last at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw allowed just six quarterback hurries and no sacks.
Washington never really replaced Trent Williams, this would be a chance to do it. Darrisaw would (hopefully) solidify Washington’s left side of the o-line. If they can get Brandon Scherff re-signed, they have the makings of an up and coming offensive line. Remember the Hogs? Maybe we could get that again.
Other picks; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
20. Chicago Bears; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
The Chicago Bears made the Playoffs. Let that sink in. Even though a 7-9 team made the Playoffs, I’d argue it was more surprising that the 8-8 Bears made the Playoffs.
It’s no secret the Bears have a top tier defense and that their lack of offense is wasting their great defense, so one would imagine the Bears address the offensive side of the ball with their first draft pick. Whether that be quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, or heck, a 30th tight end, they have to get some offensive pieces.
The biggest need on the Bears though, out of all of those, is on the offensive line, most notably tackle. So, with this pick, I think the Bears take the best offensive tackle available. To me, that is Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield.
Though they have a big need at tackle, Mayfield has the ability to play both guard and tackle. A common theme in this draft is versatility among the offensive lineman. Mayfield’s the next one out of the lot.
One thing that could possibly go against Mayfield here is that he only started 15 games while at Michigan. That being said, he got a lot of experience in those 15 starts, going up against some elite edge rushers in his time there.
Mayfield went up against the likes of Chase Young and Yetur Gross-Matos, two early draft picks in last year's draft. He also went against Anfernee Jennings, Jayson Oweh, Shaka Toney, Terrell Lewis, Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara, among others in his first season starting at right tackle.
Though he played mostly right tackle in college, Mayfield could see a similar transition to the left side much like Cleveland Browns rookie Jedrick Wills, who was a right tackle while playing for Alabama.
Though Mayfield may be a little inexperienced, comparatively, but he’s also going to only be 20-years old by the time he’s drafted. The youthfulness and the ceiling for Mayfield is what will draw teams towards him. Similarly to Austin Jackson in last year's draft.
I think the Colts will draft an offensive tackle with this pick, and I think Mayfield’s athleticism and upside would be hard to pass up if you’re the Bears.
Other picks; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
21. Indianapolis Colts; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
The Colts have solved their quarterback situation by trading for Carson Wentz. If Wentz and Reich can reignite their magic from the 2017 season where Wentz would’ve been named NFL MVP had it not been for his injury, the Colts will be set.
Going into the draft, the Colts have two glaring needs here. I think the Colts will choose between an offensive tackle, due to Anthony Castonzo’s retirement, and a wide receiver, due to the fact they don’t have a ton of weapons.
Yes, the Colts have two young weapons in Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., but I think they will probably address the wide receiver position here. With this pick, the Colts could/should go with the weapon known as Kadarius Toney from Florida.
Though he’s a very talented receiver, he’s also very versatile. At Florida, Toney totalled 120 receptions for 1,590 yards and 12 touchdowns catches, 66 rushing attempts for 580 yards and scores on the ground, and an average of 21.6 yards per kick return and 11.3 yards per punt return, scoring on a punt return touchdown. He also threw a few balls, going 3-6 with 82 yards and a passing touchdown.
Along with those numbers, Toney didn’t drop a single pass 10+ yards downfield on 31 targets. Also, since 2019, Toney has had a total of 111 touches with 60 first downs and 44 missed tackles. Some of the play Toney makes, he makes out of nothing. His burst is ridiculous and his ability to make plays anywhere is draw dropping.
Toney’s stock was raised by a great Senior Bowl week, with some people saying he could go in the top 16, so I won’t be surprised if he’s the first receiver taken after the “big three.”
Other picks; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest
22. Tennessee Titans; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
The Titans defense was bad last year. Like, really bad. I don’t really know what happened. A few years ago they were near the top of the league in total defense, this past season they ranked fifth from the bottom.
You would think with Mike Vrabel as the head coach that defense would be the main cog in this Tennessee Titans team but it’s not. This team obviously lives and dies by the rushing attack. As long as Derrick Henry is there and healthy, the rushing attack will always be alive and the Titans will always have a chance to win games.
This last season the Titans ranked fourth to last in passing defense and a lot of that can go down to poor cornerback play but also falls on their inabilities to really disrupt the passer. Last season the Titans finished with 19 sacks, which was the third worst in the league and only two off from being the worst in the league.
Safe to say the Jadeveon Clowney thing did not work out, good thing they signed him to a one-year deal. In the eight games he played with Tennessee he recorded zero sacks. Over his last 21 games he has recorded a grand total of three. I don’t know what happened there. To solve this issue I think the Titans should go after Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye.
The thing that may hurt Paye in this draft is his lack of production compared to the other edge rushers in this draft. Last season Paye totalled only two sacks (though he only played four games), with a career high of six and a half the season prior.
Comparing that to the 15.5 Rousseau had in one season will be tough to get over for some people, because Paye's athleticism makes him a very intriguing prospect despite his production.
Last season, Harold Landry led the Titans with 5.5 sacks, with the next closest linebacker coming in with only one. The Titans need help getting to the quarterback and Paye would be the perfect solution for them.
As far as why the Titans should pick him, he may be the quickest edge rusher out of the top three guys. He’s got elite burst, great athleticism, and really good bend which allows him to evade blockers with ease. I think Kwity Paye would work perfectly for the Titans and provide them that edge rusher they thought they were getting in Clowney this season.
Other picks; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
23. New York Jets (via Seattle); Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The Jets have a lot of potential. They have a lot of draft picks, a lot of cap space, and a new culture coming into the team in the form of Robert Saleh. From everything I can tell, Saleh will be an upgrade on Adam Gase. (he has to be right?)
With the former Niners defensive coordinator becoming the Jets head coach, I would be pretty surprised if the Jets didn’t come away with a defensive stud with one of their first round picks.
Now, we all assume the Jets will take one of the top quarterbacks with their first pick. So here, I’m going to give the Jets former South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn.
Last season, the Jets ranked in the bottom five in passing defense, giving up 275.6 yards per game (4,409 total pass yards). They also gave up the third highest completion percentage (69.1%), were bottom five in touchdowns given up (34), and bottom five in interceptions (10) while giving up a passer rating of 103.2. Safe to say the Jets could use some help with their pass defense. Horn could help with that.
Much like the other corners taken, Horn has the size NFL teams are looking for, standing at 6’1” and weighing 200 lbs. He has the size and athletic ability to guard any wide receiver.
Throughout his time at South Carolina, Horn totaled 101 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, and 23 passes defended.
Horn is a very versatile and athletic corner who, again, can cover anybody with his aforementioned size and ball playing abilities. I think Horn would be a perfect pick for New Jersey and would fit in well with Robert Saleh’s defense.
Other picks; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
24. Pittsburgh Steelers; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
The Pittsburgh Steelers absolutely fell apart towards the end of last season. After starting an astonishing 11-0, the Steelers finished 12-4 and were bounced out of the Playoffs by a division rival in the Cleveland Browns.
Though I think the Steelers will have to think about a quarterback here, especially with the recent comments on Big Ben. That being said, I think they have more pressing needs to attend to.
If you look on the current Steelers roster, they have four offensive lineman. Two guards, a tackle, and a center. They are going to need to add some reinforcements this offseason, whether it be in the draft or in free agency. Long time starting left tackle Alejandro Villanueva is an unrestricted free agent and from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like he is going to be re-signed.
I think it’d be smart for the Steelers to use their first pick in the draft replacing the outgoing Villanueva. The best option to me out of those available is Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins.
First off, Teven Jenkins is a big boy. Standing at 6’6” and weighing in at 320 lbs. Along with his big size, Jenkins also one of the more experienced tackles in this draft, getting playing time each year at Oklahoma State, post his redshirted true freshman season.
As a starter, playing mostly at right tackle, Jenkins was a part of an o-line that cleared up rushing lanes for Chuba Hubbard, who led the nation in rushing in 2019 with 2,094 yards. Hubbard also finished second in touchdowns with 21and led the nation in rush attempts. One thing the Steelers have always wanted to do was establish the run. Mike Tomlin has always been one to try and attack opposing teams with his running backs.
I do see a few mock drafts with people giving them Najee Harris or Travis Etienne, but I think the first thing the Steelers need to do to re-establish the run is by drafting a very talented run blocker in Teven Jenkins. Dudes big, strong and punishes opposing defenders with his uber powerful strikes.
I know I keep talking about him being a part of their rushing attack, but Jenkins is just as capable as a pass blocker. Dude has the reach and athletic ability to handle speed on the outside as well as the power to handle the bull rushers.
Earlier I said he played mostly right tackle. As the era of the swing tackle continues on, I think a lot of these young tackles can easily swap sides on the offensive line. Whether you want to play Jenkins at right or left tackle, I think he would be a great bit of business for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Other picks; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles); Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
The Jaguars already won the first round by securing Trevor Lawrence. I think with Lawrence and Urban Meyer at the helm the offense will sort itself out. Defensively, there’s still some question marks.
Over the last three drafts, the Jaguars have solely addressed the defensive side of the ball with their first round picks. Last year it was CJ Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson, the year before that it was Josh Allen (not that Josh Allen), and the year before that it was Taven Bryan. Since 2015, the Jaguars have drafted an offensive player in the first round once. I’ll let you guess who that was.
All that being said, I think the trend continues.The big issue for the Jaguars on defense is their ability, or lack of ability, to stop the run. This past season, Jacksonville 153.3 rush yards per game, which ranked third to last in the NFL last season, while also allowing 23 rushing touchdowns, which ranked fourth to last. So, to help solve their inability to stop the run, I’ll have them taking Alabama’s Christian Barmore.
Depending on who’s mock drafts you look at, you could see Barmore going as high as 14 to Minnesota or see him not even go in the first round at all. There are a lot of teams that could use d-tackles, but teams may pass on them in the first round.
This past season, Alabama gave up 113.1 rushing yards a game, which may seem like a lot but out of all the teams above them, only one played as many as them. Essentially meaning it’s easier for them to keep their rushing numbers down.
If we were to look at yards per attempt, Alabama only gave up 3.3 yards per carry, which ranked 13th nationally. Pretty solid stuff right there. Barmore was a big reason for that.
Along with helping solve Jacksonville’s rushing problems, he’d help in getting after the quarterback as well. Last season Jacksonville ranked second to last with only 18 sacks last season. Barmore himself, as a d-tackle, totalled eight with three forced fumbles.
In the National Championship against Ohio State Barmore showed out. Totalling five tackles, a sack, and two tackles for a loss while also being named the Defensive Player of the Game.
I think with Barmore’s size and ability to help stop the run and get after the passer would make him very hard to pass up on if he’s available here at 25. Jacksonville needs some more help on defense, I think Barmore could help solve those problems.
Other picks; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State; Jay Tufele, DT, USC; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
26. Cleveland Browns; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Last offseason, the Browns lost two starting linebackers, in the former of Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert to free agency. Since the pair left, there have been some holes in their linebacking corp as the Browns never really replaced them.
Coming into the season, after losing the aforementioned pair, Pro Football Focus ranked the Browns linebacking corp 31st out of 32 teams. I feel it’d be wise to upgrade that position. I think, with this pick, the Browns address that need by drafting Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins.
Collins is an absolute unit at the linebacker position, standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 260 lbs.! Dudes a tight end playing the linebacker position.
With some comparing him to current Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, minus the neck injuries, making him very hard to pass on for a linebacker needy team like the Cleveland Browns.
In his last season at Tulsa, Collis totaled 54 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 2 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 touchdowns.
He is a do everything linebacker that could definitely help the Browns defense. Whether that be against the run or rushing the passer, I really like Collins in Cleveland.
Other picks; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF; Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
27. Baltimore Ravens; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
The Baltimore Ravens could do a couple things with this pick. In my opinion, they’ll either go after a wide receiver or an edge rusher. Though Lamar Jackson’s receiving core is utter shite, I think they’ll address that in free agency.
Yes, the Ravens had Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue on their roster last year, they’re both free agents. If the reports are to be believed, the Ravens could let both of them go in free agency. Also, on the roster right now, the Ravens have only one outside linebacker on the roster. Honestly, I think it’d be better for them to target an edge rusher here.
If Azeez Ojulari is here with the 27th pick, I think it’d be a fantastic pick for the Ravens and would fit with what they do on defense perfectly.
Out of the other big names mentioned out of the edge rushers, Ojulari had the best 2020 season. Though kind of by default since Rousseau didn’t play and Paye played four games. Still, he had a great year, finishing with 8.5 sacks on the season, which ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
Ojulari would be perfect in the 3-4 defense coming in as the standup outside linebacker, which is what the Ravens need. That being said, Ojulari would have zero problems putting his hand in the dirt as a traditional 4-3 defensive end, as he did that a lot at Georgia.
Last season, the Ravens were in the middle of the road in regards to total sacks, getting 39. That’s alright, but certainly can be improved on. Ojulari’s combination of speed and bend will make him a very good addition for the Ravens defense.
Other picks; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
28. New Orleans Saints; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
The Saints could go a few directions with this pick. They could go after a quarterback, wide receiver, or something on defense. There’s a lot of questions regarding the Saints and what they are going to do this offseason.
The biggest question around this team is whether or not Drew Brees is coming back. Though we can all assume he’s retiring, there has been no official announcement just yet, so we could have some fun with this pick by giving them a quarterback. Saldy, I’m not though.
Honestly I think the Saints will bring back Jameis Winston and have him compete with Taysom Hill for the starting spot. I think the position the Saints will address is at the safety spot.
This upcoming offseason, the Saints could lose starting free safety Marcus Williams in free agency. The Saints, who are projected to be $100 million over the upcoming salary cap, will probably not be able to afford to bring Williams back, so the Saints address that hole with this pick.
Moehrig is undoubtedly the best safety prospect in this draft. He’s a very versatile player who can make plays all over the field, meaning he’ll slot in easily to that open free safety spot in the Saints secondary.
It will be fun to see what Saints DC Dennis Allen will do with him. I think he’d be perfect for New Orleans and help keep their defense near the top of the league.
Other picks; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest
29. Green Bay Packers; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
The Packers had a very nice season this year. Going 13-3 and making it all the way to the NFC Championship game. Impressive stuff there. That being said they have some issues they need to solve.
One big one that the fans want the organization to solve is the wide receiver position. Other than Davante Adams, the Packers don’t really have a lot of options out wide. Look, I like Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but they could do with some sort of an upgrade. Maybe upgrades not the right word. They could do with an addition, how about that?
Last season, Packers fans thought they’d draft a guy in the first or second round. Well, they didn’t. In fact, they didn’t draft a wide receiver throughout the entire draft.
The thing that could hurt this selection is the fact that the Packers never, and I mean NEVER, draft wide receivers in the first round. As I said in my last mock draft, the last one they drafted in the first round was Javon Walker in 2002. Before that it was Sterling Sharpe in 1988. They just don’t do that. Until now. I have the Packers taking Rondale Moore.
Yes they need some help at linebacker, corner, and offensive line, but Rondale Moore could become too good of a prospect to pass up here at 29.
Moore, like a few players in this draft, didn’t play a lot of games this year, playing only three times for Purdue. That shouldn’t take away from his obvious talent though.
He’s an insanely electric player with the ability to change gears in only a matter of seconds. He’s got elite speed and can play anywhere on the offense and make plays, which is something the Packers don’t currently have.
In his first season at Purdue, Moore put up 1,258 yards receiving with 12 touchdowns along with 212 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The problem is that he only played in seven more games the rest of his Purdue career, which, I guess, could scare off some teams.
As the draft gets closer and closer, the hype surrounding the former Purdue wide receiver grows. His speed, burst, and play making ability make him an enticing prospect. Even some reports are saying he’s another version of Tyreek Hill (or Steve Smith). Look, if you can get another Tyreek Hill, why not go after him?
Other picks; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Jabril Cox, LB, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF; Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
30. Buffalo Bills; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Like the Packers, the Bills finished 13-3 and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game. That being said, I think the Bills have a lot of needs, which should be looked at as a positive thing for the long term.
Look, if you’re team just went 13-3 and have needs, that essentially means you haven’t reached your full potential yet, which is exciting. The Bills have needs on both sides of the ball and could do a lot of things here with the 30th pick.
They need a running game, they need some sort of production from their tight ends, they could do with some offensive line help, they need to get some beef on the d-line to stop the run, they need to get after the quarterback, they need to add some depth at linebacker, and they could get another corner to partner Tre White. The only places they’re 100% set at is quarterback, wide receiver, and safety.
Like a lot of teams, the Bills could lose some key players to free agency. Most notably o-lineman John Feliciano and Daryl Williams along with stud linebacker Matt Milano. As it looks right now, with Matt Milano testing free agency, his time in Buffalo looks to be done, sadly. That being said, I think the Bills could address that later in the form of Jabril Cox. Here, I have them taking Travis Etienne.
Etienne is an awesome running back. We have always been great supporters of Travis Etienne here on the Logan Blackman Show. He is, honestly, my favorite running back in college football over the past few seasons.
Yes, he did have a down year this year and was held in check against Notre Dame, but that shouldn’t take away from his overall awesomeness.
Etienne would provide the Bills with a lot of versatility. He has the ability to make plays, not just as a running back, but as a receiver and a returner as well.
Since 2018, the two players with the most 10+ yard gains on passes out of the backfield are DeVonta Smith and Travis Etienne, with Etienne having 27 to Smith’s 26. Also, he has the most receiving yards out of any running back since 2019 with 1,021 yards. He has improved on his passes catching ability every year too, which is nice to see.
Another big stat for Etienne (s/o PFF) is the fact that he has the highest career yards after contact per attempt in the 2021 draft class with 4.5 yards per attempt. The more and more I type about Etienne, the more I’d like him in Buffalo.
I know in my last mock draft I had the Bills taking Najee Harris. I went back and forth for a while about it but ultimately took Harris because of his size and receiving ability. But honestly, Etienne makes more sense.
Now, I don’t want to sound too crazy, but Etienne could provide the Bills with the same output as HOF running back Thurman Thomas did in the 90s. Adding Etienne would unlock this offense and make it damn near impossible to stop.
Other picks; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Jabril Cox, LB, LSU; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF; Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
31. Kansas City Chiefs; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
The Kansas City Chiefs had themselves a great season. That being said, 14-2 don't mean a thing without the ring, losing to the Tampa Bay Bucs in the Super Bowl 31-9. To sum up the Super Bowl for you, the Chiefs got absolutely dominated at the line of scrimmage, whether that be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
One of the more interesting stats of the night was that Patrick Mahomes was pressured on 29 of 56 drop backs. For those who can't do math, Mahomes was pressured over 50% of the times he dropped back in the game. What makes the stat stand out even more is the fact that 29 of 56 was the most in Super Bowl history.
Another crazy stat from the Super Bowl was the fact that Patrick Mahomes ran for 497 yards to avoid the Bucs pass rush. For those who can't do math, that's nearly 500 yards! Which is easily the most by a QB all season.
The Chiefs offensive line was really depleted in this game, with both offensive tackles, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, being out of the game. This should be a warning sign for the Chiefs. They've got to address the offensive line. So, with their first pick in the draft, the Chiefs go after Wyatt Davis from Ohio State.
Wyatt Davis was a stud while playing for the Buckeyes. In his time in Columbus, Davis was named a Unanimous All-American in 2020, Consensus All-American in 2019, was a First Team All-Big Ten selection twice, and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2020.
Davis has the prototypical size for a guard, standing at 6’4” and weighing 313 lbs., and is super athletic for his size, a strong/powerful blocker and is decently mobile.
Unlike some of the other offensive line prospects in this draft, Davis is a guard through and through. He’s not a tackle/guard hybrid like Slater or Vera-Tucker, he can be your day one starting guard without thinking twice about it. No learning curve should be needed there.
One of the issues is though that he did battle some injuries while at Ohio State. Most recently, getting a knee injury in the Buckeyes last game of the season against Alabama. Hopefully that doesn’t affect his draft stock.
Wyatt Davis would be a fantastic get for the Kansas City Chiefs. Again, he’s strong, powerful, mobile, and a prototypical guard. He’d help solve some of the glaring issues on the Chiefs offensive line. Let’s hope Mahomes doesn’t call him out too;).
Other picks; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
Finally, the last pick in mock draft 2.0. The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Honestly, that still sounds crazy since we came from them being the epitome of mediocrity in the NFL with consistent 7-9, 8-8, and 9-7 seasons. Crazy world we live in, eh?
Like most teams in the NFL, the Bucs will be due to lose some key players in free agency. Players like Shaq Barrett and Levonte David are unrestricted free agents, which would leave massive holes in their defense if they were to leave.
Now, there is a chance, though small, they both come back. For the sake of this, I don’t think they’ll both come back. Again, for the sake of this, I’m going to say Shaq Barrett goes out and signs a big deal somewhere else. So, to replace him, I have Tampa taking Oklahoma edge rusher Ronnie Perkins.
Perkins has been one of those players who has been climbing up draft boards as of late. His size (6’3” 247lbs.), speed, and power/explosiveness make him an enticing prospect for those who need some help on the edges of their defense.
While at OU, Perkins was a second team All-Big 12 selection (2020) totalling 16.5 sacks and 95 total tackles in three years with the Sooners. Though he only played in five games last season (suspension), Perkins was a half sack away from tying his career high in sacks with six.
The Buccaneers normally play a 3-4 defense, which is different from Oklahoma’s usual 4-3 defense. That being said, Perkins should do fine adjusting as he spent time standing up and with his hand in the dirt in his time at OU.
His strength and speed will make him a tough pass for teams who need edge rushers. It’ll be curious if his past suspension affects his draft stock (probably won’t but you never know). If he’s available here at 32, the Bucs should take him to add to their impressive pass rush.
Other picks; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Spencer Brown, OT, UNI; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri, Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Positions Drafted
QB; 5
RB; 1
WR; 5
TE; 1
OT; 5
iOL; 2
EDGE; 5
DT; 1
LB; 3
CB; 3
S; 1
Comentarios