Welcome one and all to mock draft 4.0! Unlike the other mock draft we have done so far this offseason, this one will have (some) trades, which is always exciting!
Hope you enjoy TLBS 2021 NFL Mock Draft 4.0!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars; Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Trevor Lawrence will go first overall. Trevor Lawrence will get drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Look, we all know this is going to happen. Stop delaying the inevitable and just announce it already.
Now, that being said, 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?
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
Once again, I have Zach Wilson going second overall to the New York Jets. Out of all the things I’m sure about in regards to this draft, Zach Wilson going second is something I’m very confident about. Now, though I believe Wilson will go second overall, I’m not 100% sure that it’ll be to the Jets.
We have talked about the Deshaun Watson situation a lot on the Logan Blackman Show and I am of the belief that he’ll eventually wind up on the Jets. I think their position in the draft and their capital make it an intriguing trade for Houston.
I can hear you saying, “well then why isn’t Houston picking here?” Well, because of the fact that there’s a lot going on with Deshaun right now and I just think it’d be easier (for now) to keep the Jets here.
Either way, the Jets are moving on from Sam Darnold. Whether it’s Deshaun Watson or Zach Wilson, Sam will be gone and one of those two will be the starter. (If the Jets trade for Deshaun, the Texans will take Wilson at number two)
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. Carolina Panthers (TRADE); Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The first trade of the TLBS mock drafts is finally here! The Carolina Panthers trade up to the third overall pick, jumping their division rival Falcons, and take Ohio State’s Justin Fields.
A little quote I remember from a few drafts ago was from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Essentially, he said that “it’s all about what you hear early in the process.” Early in the process, reports were that the Panthers “love” Justin Fields. Let’s make that romance happen.
Now, some recent reports are going out stating that the Panthers are “aggressively” trying to trade into the top three to take a top quarterback. Now, that could be a way to land Deshaun Watson. Trading up to three and then trading for Deshaun makes a lot of sense. For this though, I’m going to keep the younger Deshaun here in Carolina.
It’s obvious the Panthers want to get a guy in to at least challenge Teddy Bridgewater. Though he was decent in his first season in Carolina, the Panthers can do better, especially with the weapons they have on offense.
Last year, Teddy finished with 3,733 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 69.1% of his passes. Those numbers are alright, but I can see why the Panthers are “aggressively” looking at other quarterback options this offseason. Justin Fields could/should be the answer for Carolina.
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 an awesome marriage.
Imagining Justin Fields in Joe Brady’s offense, throwing to Robbie Anderson and DJ Moore, with an elite weapon in the backfield in Christian McCaffrey. Geez. This is something neutrals should be drooling about. I’d love to see Justin Fields in Carolina.
Other picks; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; STAY PUT; TRADE for Deshaun Watson (after trading up)
4. Atlanta Falcons; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The last two mock drafts I had the Atlanta Falcons taking Matt Ryan’s eventual replacement in Trey Lance (mock draft 2.0) and Justin Fields (mock draft 3.0). Well, I’m back at it again, with Trey Lance going to Atlanta here at number four.
Now, if this scenario were to happen, we would be witnessing history. Never before in the NFL Draft have we seen four quarterbacks go with the first four picks. That’s how good this draft class is.
Recent reports linking the Falcons with Kyle Pitts are heating up recently. With new head coach Arthur Smith being the Titans tight end coach for five seasons and the Falcons restructuring Matt Ryan’s contract, the links certainly make sense.
Again, I think it would make sense. New GM Terry Fontenot also said they may deploy the “best player available” mindset, which in my opinion is Kyle Pitts. The thing is, the Falcons may not pick this high again for a while, so you’ve got to take advantage of the situation.
About Trey Lance, all of the Falcons “big boys” were present at his Pro Day, with new head coach Arthur Smith the aforementioned Terry Fontenot there as well. Lance also chatted with the pair for “a while” after his Pro Day concluded.
Reports also said Lance’s camp ran through plays that some QB needy teams would run. Saying they ran some plays the Falcons and 49ers would run in in game situations.
A video going around also showed Lance saying that he was familiar with the Falcons weapons, smiling after saying that but would not any more after that.
Now, I could totally be reading too much into this. But I already love the fit of Lance in Atlanta, now some of the other pieces are starting to come together. Which should make Falcons fans excited for the future.
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.
I would love to see Trey Lance in Arthur Smith’s offense. Being able to be coached by Arthur Smith, learn from Matt Ryan, and throw to Julio and Calvin Ridley would be awesome for a quarterback like Lance.
The Falcons have stated they don’t think they need to blow it up. If you truly believe that then you have to draft Lance. There’s no guarantee you have this high of a pick again. Draft Lance and don’t look back.
NOTE: Daniel Jeremiah says he’s talked to two GMs who both think the Falcons will draft a quarterback at number 4.
Other picks; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern, Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; TRADE BACK; TRADE UP
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.
Former Bleacher Report Draft “Expert” Matt Miller said a source informed him that Penei Sewell going to the Bengals is as close a lock as you can get, and it makes sense.
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 and just added former Viking Riley Reif. You can never have too many offensive lineman. The Bengals go after that position again.
Other picks; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech, Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
6. Philadelphia Eagles; Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
I will just start this off by saying I do not think the Eagles will draft a quarterback. In my world, the Eagles stick it out with Jalen Hurts and get some weapons to help him develop into their franchise QB.
Now, I’m saying this in mid to late March, my opinion could change come mid to late April. But for now, I want them to keep Jalen Hurts.
What the Eagles need to do more than anything is either trade back and accumulate picks or take the best weapon available. Though I think trading back would be smart, I think the Eagles would love to have either Kyle Pitts or Ja’Marr Chase. Once again, I’m going to go with Kyle Pitts.
Now, I know most people would scoff at taking a tight end over a receiver like Chase, but Kyle Pitts is not a normal tight end. To me, next to Jaylen Waddle, Kyle Pitts is the best pure weapon in this draft.
He’s not a normal tight end. His size, speed, and athletic ability make him a match-up nightmare whether he lines up as a tight end or a wide receiver. He’s a complete player.
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.
Another big thing for Kyle Pitts is his ability in the red zone. While at Florida, Pitts never dropped a red zone pass on 31 targets. A red zone combination of Jalen Hurts and Kyle Pitts would make them damn near unstoppable in that portion of the field.
A recent stat I saw stated that Kyle Pitts had 43 total receptions. In those 43 receptions, Pitts had 12 touchdowns and 27 first downs. That means that he has made a massive play on 39 of those 43 receptions. That’s not normal for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end.
To add to that, Pitts never dropped a single pass, anywhere on the field! He’s got great hands and a great ability to make plays after the catch.
I think Pitts would be an awesome addition to the Eagles. Kyle Pitts is a Philly native and worked under new QB coach Brian Johnson while at Florida. This pick literally just makes too much sense not to happen. Everything is linking Pitts to Philly, make it happen Eagles!
Other picks; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; TRADE BACK
7. Detroit Lions; Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
This is an absolute dream for the Detroit Lions. A wide receiver needy team gets ahold of the number one receiver in the draft? Lions fans would be pinching themselves to make sure they were awake if this scenario were to happen.
This offseason, the Lions traded for LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff, so they got a QB, for now. Though they traded for Goff, they have no receivers for him to throw to, with Kenny Golladay signing with the Giants and Marvin Jones signing with the Jaguars.
Now, they did go out in free agency and get Tyrell Williams, who missed all of 2020 due to injury, and Breshad Perriman, who is on his sixth team since getting drafted in 2015. Six years six teams, pretty efficient stuff. They need to get a true number one guy. Ja’Marr Chase is just that.
It seems some people forget how dominant Ja’Marr Chase was two years ago at LSU. 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.
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.
If Ja’Marr Chase is available here at seven, the Lions won’t even think twice about it, they have to take him. I know he opted out last season, but he’s still an absolute best of a wide receiver. Chase would give the Lions and Jared Goff a true number one option going forward.
Other picks; DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; TRADE BACK
8. Miami Dolphins (TRADE); DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Dolphins seem to be the team most likely to trade back in the 2021 NFL Draft. The number of possible QB “needy” teams are seemingly growing by the day, meaning the Dolphins would be able to get even more picks than they already have. Crazy stuff.
Regardless of where they pick in the draft, the Dolphins have to go after a wide receiver. I know they’re linked with Deshaun Watson, but I find it hard to believe they’d go from “Tank for Tua” to trading him a season later. That being said, crazier things have happened, so I won’t rule it out entirely.
To me, the top wide receivers in the draft could go in any order and I’d be fine. This is one of the best wide receiver drafts in recent memory, so the Dolphins really can’t come out losers here.
With Tua as their QB, I think the Dolphins could look to add some players that he’s familiar with. So, after trading back, I’ll give the Dolphins Tua’s favorite wide receiver at Bama, DeVonta Smith.
DeVonta Smith is arguably 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 went absolutely off last season, DeVonta had a great season with Tua as his QB as well. Even with three other first round wide receivers on the roster, Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Tua and DeVonta Smith are linked forever. Tua was essentially the reason DeVonta de-commited from Georgia and went to Bama. They also linked up with the game winning TD against Georgia in the National Championship.
If the Dolphins want to see the best from Tua, they have to get him a true number one receiver. Yes they have Devante Parker and the recently signed Will Fuller on the roster, but Smith would give the Dolphins a true number one option.
I would really like to see Tua and DeVonta reunite in Miami. If the Dolphins trade back, DeVonta Smith has to be the pick. It just makes too much sense not to happen.
Other picks; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; STAY PUT
9. New England Patriots (TRADE); Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
I’m back again in predicting Mac Jones goes to the New England Patriots. After looking at all the moves they made in free agency, it’s starting to look as if they’re going to make a move for a young quarterback in this draft.
The Patriots do have their starter in place for the 2021 season after signing Cam Newton to a one-year extension, but what about the future? I don’t necessarily believe Jarrett Stidham is the future QB anymore, especially after getting beat out by Brian Hoyer for the back-up spot. Mac Jones could be just that.
Now, I do have the Patriots trading up a spot in order to land Mac Jones, which is something the Patriots never do. Teams like Washington and Chicago could be looking to move up in the draft, so Bill and company don’t take any chance and go get their guy. (the last time the Patriots took a QB in the first round was in 1993 where they took Drew Bledsoe)
Mac Jones going to the Patriots just makes too much sense to me. Looking over his scouting report, he sounds like Tom Brady (I’m not saying he is him or will become him so just chill out for a second). That being said, Mac Jones did ball tf out last season for Alabama.
In his first season as the full time starter at Alabama, Jones put up some insane numbers. Leading the nation in passing yards (4,500 yards), yards per attempt (11.2), completion percentage (77.4%), passer rating (203.1), and was second in the nation in passing touchdowns (41) while only throwing four interceptions. Very impressive stuff.
Another thing to note about Mac Jones’ success at Alabama is the fact that he had nowhere near the weapons that Tua had when he was the starter at Bama. Where Tua had Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith. Mac, on the other hand, only had the last two, with Waddle missing a majority of the season due to an ankle injury. So really only DeVonta Smith.
Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith had an insane connection this past season, with DeVonta winning the Heisman and Mac winning the Davey O’Brien Award and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Along with his impressive stats, people are loving Mac Jones’ work ethic and his competitive spirit. Waiting his time at Alabama, never transferred, and proceeded to have an amazing final season at Alabama.
Mac Jones was behind Tua and Jalen Hurts, and had a five star freshman quarterback come in in Bryce Young, who has been compared to Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson. When people doubted Mac Jones, he stayed the course and balled out.
That type of attitude has seen him get compared to Tom Brady. Where Jones may not be the most athletic quarterback or have the strongest arm, his attitude and work ethic has seen him rise up draft boards. Now, I’m not saying he is Tom Brady or will become Tom Brady, but his road to the NFL is very similar to that of the G.O.A.T.
In my heart of hearts, I think Mac Jones could go even before the 12th pick in the draft. I love what his former teammates, coaches, and scouts are saying about him. I love his attitude and I love his work ethic. I think Mac Jones would be perfect for Josh McDaniels and the Patriots offense.
Other picks; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; STAY PUT; TRADE BACK
10. Dallas Cowboys; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
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 Diggs’ former Alabama teammate, Patrick Surtain II.
Not only is Surtain a top corner in this draft, and will help the Cowboys in pass coverage, he can also help out in run support, which the Cowboys really need as well, ranking second to last in rush yards given up (average).
The Cowboys just hired former Falcons HC Dan Quinn to be their new DC, Surtain could be that corner that would help lock down defenders for the Cowboys. Hey, maybe he could be another long, athletic corner Quinn had in Seattle.
Other picks; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Micah Parsons, LB/EDGE; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
11. New York Giants; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern
The New York Giants finished second in an awful division last year. After finishing 6-10, the Giants had a chance to make the Playoffs, all they needed was the Eagles to beat the Washington Football Team. They, of course, did not.
A couple days ago, the Giants added former Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay to their roster. Giving Danny Dimes a true number one option to throw to. Adding Golladay with Sterling Shepard, Darius Slaton, John Ross, Evan Engram, and a healthy Saquon Barkley should get Giants fans excited.
After signing Golladay, I think that kind of narrows in who they're going to target in this draft. Right as free agency started, the Giants cut starting guard Kevin Zeitler (Ravens), meaning there’s a decently sized hole on the offensive line. With this pick, I think the Giants should take all around lineman Rashawn Slater.
This would be a perfect fit/scenario for the Giants. Not only does this addition fill a need on the o-line, it’ll also keep Daniel Jones upright and help create holes for Saquon Barkley.
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.
Throughout his entire career, Rashawn Slater totalled 1,312 pass blocking snaps (per PFF). In those 1,312 snaps, Slater gave up five sacks. FIVE SACKS! That is absolutely crazy to think about.
Daniel Jones was sacked 45 times in only 14 games last season. Adding a player who gave up only five in 1,312 snaps would instantly help Daniel Jones’ confidence and ‘hopefully’ help him cut down on the turnovers.
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. The Giants should look at what their bitter rival did and copy it. Push Slater inside to guard and don’t look back.
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. If he’s here for the Giants at 11, they have to take him.
Other picks; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC; TRADE BACK
12. San Francisco 49ers; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The 49ers were arguably hit the hardest by injuries last season. After losing a majority of their starters, the Niners squeaked to a 6-10 record. Not only did they miss the Playoffs, but they finished dead last in the NFC West. A season after going 13-3 and making the Super Bowl.
Along with the injuries, the lack of speed in their secondary really held them out to dry last year. Now, this was a concern going into the draft last year. This year, I feel they should finally address that. (Not to mention they’ve let Richard Sherman walk in free agency, so now there’s a depth issue)
To me, Caleb Farley and Patrick Surtain are neck in neck in regards to being labeled as the best corner in the draft. If you’re talking accolades and the finished product, Surtain is more your guy.
Farley on the other hand, though an athletic freak, only really has two years of experience at the cornerback position. Before playing corner his last two seasons at Va. Tech, Farley played at both wide receiver and quarterback, so he’s very raw for the position. That being said, that could be a positive thing. That means he’s not done developing.
While playing at corner, Farley recorded 20 tackles, four interceptions, a touchdown, and 12 passes defensed through 10 games as a sophomore in 2019, per Sports Reference. The performance earned him first-team All-ACC honors.
He also possesses the size the NFL is looking for in today’s cornerbacks. Standing at 6’2” and weighing 207 lbs., Farley’s combination of size and athleticism gives him the ability to cover everyone on the offensive side of the ball.
If the 49ers want to get back to the top of the NFC West, they’ve got to get some help at the cornerback position. Though Farley is raw, his potential is through the roof. He’d be a great addition to new d-coordinator DeMeco Ryans defense.
NOTE: I do think the Niners will address the quarterback position, I’m just starting to feel they’ll do that in either the second or third round.
Other picks; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; TRADE UP; TRADE BACK
13. Los Angeles Chargers; Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
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.
I think with this pick, the Chargers will do something to help out their young QB. Now, that could very well be on the offensive line, but I think that if a weapon like Jaylen Waddle is available, it’ll be hard to pass up. Especially since you play Tyreek Hill twice a year, they’ll think very hard about it.
Now, one thing the Chargers have done well this offseason is getting pieces on the offensive line. They have signed three new starters on the interior o-line, including center Corey Linsley (Green Bay), guard Matt Feiler (Pittsburgh), and guard Oday Aboushi (Detroit). This makes me think that if Waddles’ available, they’ll take him.
Now, though Waddle will get that inevitable label “speedster,” he’s so much more than that. 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.
One thing that could hurt Waddle in the draft is his ankle injury that he suffered against Tennessee this past season. Team’s will want to see how his ankle is before they shoot for him. I’m one to say his ankle is fine and you’ll be fine by drafting him, but I get the concern.
The addition of Waddle would give the Chargers one of the top offenses in the NFL. Adding Waddle to Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Jared Cook with Justin Herbert throwing them the ball will make any neutral fan excited.
If they add Waddle, we could be seeing one of the best offenses in the NFL. I’m excited to see Herbert in year two, and will be even more excited if they get Jaylen Waddle.
Other picks; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
14. Minnesota Vikings; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
I like the Minnesota Vikings. They have a lot of very young and talented (yet raw) players on their roster. That being said, combining young/raw players with a shit ton of injuries can lead to a lot of problems, and that’s what we saw from Minnesota last year, especially on the defense.
Now, the Vikings have gone out and made some good signings in free agency. Getting Dalvin Tomlinson to help sure up the middle of the defense was nice and getting a legend in Patrick Peterson to help in pass coverage was even nicer.
Though they’d made those two nice signings, that doesn’t address the edge of their defense. A group that finished fifth worst in the league in sacks (23) and could very well be on the verge of losing star defensive end Danielle Hunter to a contract holdout.
One thing Mike Zimmer has always had in his time in Minnesota was a stout defensive line. From the aforementioned Hunter, Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph, to whatever was out there for them last year. Their d-line needs revamped.
Another reason I think the Vikings will go after an edge rusher is because of Mike Zimmer’s famous Christmas day quote. After getting dick slapped by Alvin Kamara, Zimmer said that this was the worst defense he’d ever coached. I think it’s safe to say Zimmer wants to either add or replace some players on that side of the ball.
Yes, I am well aware the Vikings o-line is one of the worst in football and just got worse by cutting left tackle Riley Reif, but getting an edge rusher with the upside and athleticism of Kwity Paye would help solve some problems on defense.
I think the fact that he, Paye, may be the quickest edge rusher in the draft along with his great burst, athleticism, and bend could/should see him going first out of the edge rushers.
The one downside to him as opposed to the other edge rushers is his production this past season. Totalling just two sacks (four games) and having a career high of six and a half the season prior. I just think the athletic tools he possesses could see him taken here by Minnesota.
I think this would be a very nice pickup for the Vikings, instantly giving them a player that’ll get after the quarterback. We should expect the Vikings d-line to improve, not just in getting after the passer, but also helping stop the run. This would be a very good pick for the Vikings and re-establish their defensive line.
NOTE: I’m 50-50 on Kwity Paye vs Alijah Vera-Tucker here
Other picks; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah; TRADE BACK
15. Denver Broncos (TRADE); 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 or even a possible trade up for Justin Fields. Ja’Wuan James was injured a ton last season, maybe Rashawn Slater comes in.
So far this offseason, cornerback has been the position most linked to Denver. Especially after they released AJ Bouye and have an impending free agent Bryce Callahan. Before Saturday, I would’ve had the Broncos drafting a corner, but after signing both Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency, that’s looking increasingly unlikely.
To me, Vic Fangio is going to want to add an all around playmaker to his defense. His last draft in Chicago the Bears drafted Roquan Smith who, with Khalil Mack, he’d transform the Bears defense. Much like Smith before, Micah Parsons could do everything linebacker Fangio would want on his defense.
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 extremely talented, Parsons does have some character concerns. If the Broncos draft him here, that means new GM George Patton did his due diligence to make sure this was a safe pick. Again, though this pick comes with concerns, Parsons would be a hard player to pass up.
Other picks; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Rashawn Slater, iOL/OT, Northwestern; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; STAY PUT; TRADE UP; TRADE for Deshaun Watson
16. Arizona Cardinals; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The Arizona Cardinals will probably be expecting to be a Playoff team next season. Though they finished 8-8 last season, the Cardinals have a lot to be excited for next season, most notably on the offensive side of the ball.
The Cardinals will be going into year three with Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury, so the offense is expected to be very good next season, even though we don’t really know what the future holds for Larry Legend.
Throughout Kingsbury’s time at Texas Tech, their offense was very strong, but their defense was always bad to terrible. In 2015, when Texas Tech’s offense ranked second in scoring, their defense was ranked 125th. Every year at Texas Tech, Kingsbury’s defense ranked 87th or worse. That’s very bad.
Last season, the Cardinals were around the middle of the league in total defense, which is good for the Cardinals and Kingsbury’s standards.
The Cardinals have shown that they’d like to improve their defense though. Going out and signing JJ Watt to a nice little contract, which surprised everyone who follows the NFL.
This year, the Cardinals lost one of their greatest ever players in cornerback Patrick Peterson to the Minnesota Vikings. They can’t afford to go an offseason without replacing him. That’s a must for Arizona.
The best corner available for the Cardinals, where they’re picking, is South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. 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 Arizona and could easily replace Peterson at corner for the Cardinals.
Other picks; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
17. Las Vegas Raiders; Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC
Ever since Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden were hired by the then Oakland Raiders, their draft process has been interesting. In almost every draft they’ve had together, they have been described as “over drafting” players, which is fair to say.
Whether it be Clelin Ferrell, Damon Arnette, or others, the Raiders recent drafts have been strange.
This offseason, the Raiders have been pretty active, whether it be in trades or in free agency. One area that has been affected a lot by this period has been the offensive line.
Since the new league year started, the Raiders have traded two starting offensive lineman in Trent Brown (New England) and Gabe Jackson (Seattle) and cut starting center Rodney Hudson (Arizona), . I think it’s safe to say the Raiders will address the offensive line at some point in this draft.
The players that were traded away or cut all played different positions. Trent Brown was their left tackle, Rodney Hudson was their center, and Gabe Jackson was their right guard.
Now, the Raiders may like some current players they have at those positions, but I think it’d be hard to pass on a player who should be able to play all those positions in the form of Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Alijah Vera-Tucker comes in the same mold as Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater. Though they started at left tackle, and played at a high level, they are expected to make the transition inside to guard (more so with Vera-Tucker).
Vera-Tucker would instantly improve the Raiders depleted offensive line. He 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.
I think this fits perfectly for both the Raiders and Vera-Tucker. The Vikings have a talented running back in Josh Jacobs and a good passing game. Adding Vera-Tucker would not only help keep Carr upright, but open up lanes for Jacobs and (now) Kenyan Drake.
If the Raiders want to get back to the Playoffs, they should probably try to keep their starting quarterback upright.
In a division with Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Von Miller, and Bradley Chubb, investing in your depleted offensive line should be fairly high on the priorities list. Not to mention Vera-Tucker grew up in Oakland and was (presumably) a Raiders fan. Bring him “home” Mark.
NOTE: Obviously the defense will need to be addressed as some point, I just think it’ll be hard to pass on Vera-Tucker, especially with three key starters on the o-line being traded this offseason.
NOTE 2: If the Vikings take Vera-Tucker, the Raiders take Kwity Paye
Other picks; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
18. Miami Dolphins; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
The Dolphins were the main surprise team out of the 2020 NFL season. Finishing with 10 wins and just missing out on the Playoffs. It seems HC Brian Flores has established a culture there and we should expect the Dolphins to be competitive for years to come.
Now, the big question surrounding the Dolphins offseason is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Personally, I think the Dolphins will end up sticking with Tua and surrounding him with players to up his numbers from the season before.
With their first pick, the Dolphins took the best receiver in the draft in Ja’Marr Chase. Though another offensive weapon could be taken here, I think Brian Flores may want to address the defensive side of the ball.
In his time in New England, Brian Flores was their defensive coordinator/linebacker coach. While at Boston College, before getting injured, Flores played linebacker. If I were a betting man, I’d bet that if Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is available here, Flores would love to take him.
A smaller linebacker, 6’1” 216 lbs., Owusu-Koramoah can make every play on the field. For the Dolphins, 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/elite 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.
I think Owusu-Koramoah is a prospect Flores would love to have. His ability to make plays all over the field combined with his freakish athleticism would make him a perfect fit in Flores’ defense.
Other picks; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama
19. Washington Football Team; Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
The Washington Football Team made the Playoffs last season. Though that in itself is surprising, what I found even more surprising is the fact that they won the NFC East with a 7-9 record.
On one hand, making the Playoffs is great. On the other hand, you finished with a below .500 record and have a pick outside the top 15, which is where it’d be if they had just let the Giants win the division.
Though they’re picking later, they can still get a very good player. I know the Football Team will need a young QB eventually, but I think for now they address the o-line and go after Virginia Tech’s 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 during his last at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw allowed just six quarterback hurries and no sacks. I want to say this again, Darrisaw gave up no sacks in his last season at Va. Tech. He was also named a first team All-ACC selection and was a two and a half year starter while playing for the Hokies.
Washington has 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 for years to come.
Other picks; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; TRADE UP
20. Chicago Bears; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
Offseason goal: get a franchise quarterback. Now that the Bears got that out of the way, they can address other needs on the roster.
All jokes aside, Bears fans everywhere didn’t seem too happy with the Andy Dalton signing, especially after getting linked with Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson. Sadly for Bears fans, I don’t have them drafting another quarterback here. Instead, da Bears go after another big need, an offensive lineman.
Yes, they could go after a wide receiver here, but I just think they have to get a top o-lineman in the first round. Especially after they got Allen Robinson on the franchise tag.
Per PFF, the Bears offensive line ranked 20th in the league, Teven Jenkins should definitely help improve on that mark.
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.
That season, Hubbard also finished second in touchdowns with 21and led the nation in rush attempts.
With the Bears establishing somewhat of a running game last year, this would certainly help improve it even more.
Another thing, 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.
I know I keep talking about him being a big part of Oklahoma State’s 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.
Again, the Bears need some help on the offensive line. Teven Jenkins would help keep Andy Dalton upright while also providing some excellent run blocking. The Bears would be smart to take a tackle with the skill and size of Teven Jenkins.
Other picks; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; TRADE UP
21. Indianapolis Colts; Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Indianapolis Colts are one of the most interesting teams coming into the 2021 NFL Draft. They are a very talented team but do have some holes on their roster. Most notably at wide receiver, left tackle, and edge rusher.
This offseason, the Colts are likely to lose aging veteran Justin Houston and Denico Autry in free agency (more likely to lose Houton due to his age (32)). They are also in a division that has very mobile quarterbacks in Ryan Tannehill, Trevor Lawrence (we expect), and Deshaun Watson (for now). I think it’d be smart to take one of the top edge rushers in this draft.
To me, Gregory Rousseau is the best edge rusher in this draft. In the season before he opted out, Rousseau totaled 15.5 sacks, which ranked second behind Chase Young. He’s also got this thing you can’t teach, size and length, which are two desirable features for edge rushers. He’s also very raw, only getting significant playing time two seasons ago.
For the Colts, it should be all about who is available with this pick. If a player like Gregory Rousseau has slipped to 21, the Colts should definitely take him. Putting him on a d-line that already includes DeForest Buckner would strike fear into opposing offenses.
The Colts get younger and longer with this pick. Rousseau would help coral the mobile quarterbacks they have in their division. I love this fit for Rousseau and the Colts.
Other picks; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
22. Tennessee Titans; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
The Titans are going into this draft with (probably) two goals in mind. Get a playmaker on defense and add a receiver to help fill the losses of Corey Davis, Adam Humphries, and Jonnu Smith.
Though the need at wide receiver is a big one, I feel they could address that in the later rounds, as this is an extremely deep receiver class. Instead, I think the Titans should look for someone that could help improve their defense.
Putting it nicely, the Titans defense stinks. Simple as that. This past season the Titans gave up the fifth most yards (6,372, 398.3 ypg) and the fourth most passing yards (4,558, 277.4 ypg), something needs to change for them this offseason.
After giving up that many yards through the air last year, the Titans cut both of their starting corners, Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson, which makes sense. To fill the hole left by those absences, the Titans should look at one of the top corners in this draft. With Greg Newsome rising up draft boards, the Titans should take him here.
Again, Newsome has been one of the prospects whose stock has been on the rise recently. Much like the top three corners in this draft, Newsome has very nice size for a corner in today’s NFL, standing 6’1” and weighing 190 lbs.
Like I said above, his stock is rising. He doesn’t get all the recognition the top three corners receive, but he’s still a very good corner. On 387 snaps this past season, he only let up 98 yards on 34 targets and only 12 of them were catches.
He’s a very fast and athletic corner who's got great size for the position. After everything I’ve read, Newsome looks to be the next corner taken after Jaycee Horn. Newsome would hopefully solidify the Titans secondary.
Other picks; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa; Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
23. New York Jets (via Seahawks); Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
The New York Jets have a fair bit of issues and needs on their roster, whether that be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Though the Jets could further strengthen their offense with this pick, I think new head coach Robert Saleh would like to get a stud for the defensive side of the ball.
If you look at where Robert Saleh came from, the 49ers, they built a strong defense by adding to their defensive line and pass rush. I think that the Jets follow the same mold and select Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari with this pick.
Now, I'm not sure what defense Saleh will deploy now that he's the Jets head coach. In San Francisco they ran a basic 4-3 defense where in New Jersey, the Jets have run a 3-4 defense. That being said, no matter what defense the Jets run, Ojulari should fit it.
Ojulari has been one of those players who has been rising up draft boards like crazy. Before the season started he was around a third fourth round pick. Now, he’s almost a lock to go in the first round.
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 and was top in the SEC.
Ojulari would be perfect in the 3-4 defense coming in as the standup outside linebacker, which is what the Jets 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 Jets recorded 31 sacks, which was towards the bottom of the league, with Quinnen Williams leading them with seven sacks. The next closest was Tarell Basham with 3.5, and he's going to be an unrestricted free agent.
Again, no matter what defense the Jets run Ojulari should be able to fit it. Dudes got insane athleticism, burst, and bend which would make him a perfect addition to Saleh's defense.
Other picks; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
24. Pittsburgh Steelers; Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
The Pittsburgh Steelers had (arguably) the weirdest 12-4 season ever last season. After starting 11-0, they fell flat towards the end of the season and got dick slapped by the Browns in the first round of the Playoffs.
One thing that really hurt the Steelers was their real lack of a competent run game, which has really been (somewhat of) an issue for the past few seasons, not just the last one. Ever since Le’Veon Bell’s last season (2017), the Steelers haven’t had a thousand yard rusher.
James Conner has performed well, at times, but injuries have really halted any real development the viewing audience expected from him. Having never played a full 16 game season and hasn’t ever started more than 12 games throughout his career. I think it’s time they add a true bell cow at running back.
To me, Najee Harris just feels like a Steelers running back. He’s bigger but is a great athlete that can make a lot of plays in the passing game as well as in the running game. Much like the aforementioned Le’Veon Bell.
While at Alabama, Harris put up 3,843 rushing yards (two back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons) with 46 rushing touchdowns, both are Alabama all-time records. In his last season at Bama, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns. Those 26 touchdowns are the second most in a season by a SEC running back since Derrick Henry in 2015 (28).
Along with his great rushing numbers, Harris improved as a pass catcher each year at Alabama. From his junior to senior year, Harris’ receiving yards went up from 304 to 425, with Sark and Mac Jones using him a lot more in the passing game.
Like I said above, he’s a very big running back, standing at 6’2” and weighing 230 lbs. Even with his size, he’s an amazing athlete, as we saw by him jumping over defenders in college.
Now, I’m not saying he is Le’Veon Bell, but they are very similar in size and what they can do in the run game and pass game. The Steelers offense was the best when Bell was at his best. Drafting Harris could fill the void left by Bell.
Other picks; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams); 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.
Earlier in March, new Jags head coach Urban Meyer stated, “I always believe you build your team around the defensive line, and then you move backwards – so that's what we're going to do.”
Coupled with the fact that the Jags gave up 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.
I think it’s safe to say the Jags address the defensive line with their first pick. 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 all those problems.
Other picks; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Alex Leatherwood, iOL/OT, Alabama; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Carlos Basham, DL/EDGE, Wake Forest; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
26. Cleveland Browns; Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
The Cleveland Browns were one of the bigger surprises this past season. Not they had a winning season, that was expected, but with how competitive they were in the Playoffs. After killing the Steelers in the Wild Card game, the Browns put together an impressive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
This upcoming season should be another fun one for the Browns. For the first time since returning to the NFL, there are expectations for the Cleveland Browns. Hopefully that gets easier to say as the years go on.
Offensively, the Browns are fine. They put together a very good offensive line and have supplied Baker Mayfield with a run game and given him good wide receivers as well. The supposed issues on the Browns lie on the defensive side of the ball.
Their secondary was very bad last season, but that could go down to injuries. Both starting corners, Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams, and second round draft pick Grant Delpit missed time through injury, with Williams and Delpit missing the full season.
I feel once they’re all back and fully healthy their secondary should improve. The addition of former Rams safety John Johnson should solidify their secondary. I think their biggest needs are at linebacker and edge rusher.
With the top three linebackers already off the board, I think the smart thing to do is to add an edge rusher in the form of Jaelan Phillips.
Yes, Myle Garrett is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, but other than him, their pass rush is lacking. End Olivier Vernon (who finished second on the team in sacks with nine) is a free agent and coming off an achilles injury.
After Vernon, the next edge rusher on the team in sacks is Adrian Clayborn, who is also a free agent. With those two essentially gone, the Browns now have no edge rushers who recorded a sack on their roster for this upcoming season. So they have to address it in some capacity.
Phillips comes in that similar 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 standing up or with his hand in the dirt.
Combined with his size, speed, and length will make him hard to pass up for the Browns. A pass rush duo of Myles Garrett and Jaelan Phillips would be fun to watch in Cleveland.
Other picks; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
27. Baltimore Ravens; Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
I know a lot of people out there will say the Ravens need to draft Lamar Jackson a number one wide receiver here, but I feel they could get a very good receiver in either round two or three. Here, I think the Ravens should address another position, safety.
Remember a couple of offseasons ago when the Ravens signed former Seahawks safety Earl Thomas? Yeah, that didn’t work out so well in the end, with Thomas getting cut by the Ravens. Since then, the Ravens haven’t really replaced him. Moehrig could easily do that and more for the Baltimore Ravens.
Moehrig is clear as the best safety in the draft, and it isn’t very close. He is the best “center fielder” in this draft, but that’s not all he does. He has the ability to make plays all over the field from the safety position, making some compare him to Derwin James.
In his time at TCU, Moehrig totaled 124 tackles (85 solo tackles), 21 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and seven interceptions. At his Pro Day, Moehrig ran a 4.5 40 with a reported bad back, which is .03 seconds slower than the aforementioned Derwin James.
One thing the Ravens have always loved on their defenses are playmakers. Ever since Ed Reed left they’ve needed that extra ompf on defense. They thought they were getting that in Earl Thomas, again, that didn’t work. Trevon Moehrig would add another spark to Wink Martindale's defense.
Other picks; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest; Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
28. New Orleans Saints; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
A new era is about to start in New Orleans. For the first time in 15 years, the Saints will have a new quarterback under center. Whether it’s Jameis Wintson or Taysom Hill, the Saints will need to provide them with some weapons.
Yes, I am aware they have Michael Thomas and a lot of people would kill to have Michael Thomas on their team. But if last year’s anything to go by, the Saints need to add more than just Thomas, who battled injuries throughout the season.
This offseason, the Saints let wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (Buffalo) and Jared Cook (Los Angeles) go in free agency. Now, they’re not short for options, but they are short of other big time options to partner Thomas out wide.
To (hopefully) solve this issue, the Saints should go after Florida’s Kadarius Toney who, like Jaylen Waddle before, is a swiss army knife at the wide receiver position.
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.”
Losing a decently talented receiver like Emmanuel Sanders can take a lot out of your team, especially with his ability to stretch the field and versatility. Toney could easily replace him while also adding a threat in other aspects of the game making the Saints offense even more intimidating.
Other picks; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; TRADE BACK
29. Green Bay Packers; Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
The Green Bay Packers have a couple of needs on their roster. I know the obvious need for Packers fans is wide receiver, mostly because of the fact that they passed on them last season. That being said, I feel the Packers could address that need in the later rounds.
Throughout the recent history of the Packers, they have never targeted wide receivers in the first round, with their top guys being either day two or later round picks. (Look at mock draft 1.0 to read the list of where Packers usually take wide receivers)
I think with this pick the Packers will address either the offensive line or a position on the defensive side of the ball. After willingly letting Blake Martinez leave for the Giants and losing Christian Kirksey in free agency, the Packers should look toward another “do everything linebacker” in Zaven Collins.
At 6’4” and 260 lbs., dude is a force from the linebacker position. 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 also brought home the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, and was named a Unanimous All-American in 2020.
People are saying Collins is a linebacker in a defensive ends body that plays like the safety. Dude can literally do everything on the defensive side of the ball. I’m sure new Packers d-coordinator Joe Barry would love a player like Zaven Collins on his defense.
Other picks; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
30. Buffalo Bills; Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Bills surprised the hell out of me this offseason. I thought that out of their “big three” free agents they’d only bring one - two of them back. As it turns out, they brought all of the back, which is exciting for Bills fans.
With Matt Milano, Jon Feliciano, and Daryl Williams all coming back, that kind of narrows down what the Bills are going to do with this pick. To me, the Bills will either go after an edge rusher or a running back. With this pick, I’m going to go with the latter in Travis Etienne.
One of the more glaring issues on the Bills last season was their real lack of a rushing attack, or even a real threat from their running backs in general. Travis Etienne would provide the Bills with that and more from the running back position.
Etienne is an awesome running back. Through the process, he has been compared to the likes of Alvin Kamara and Matt Forte, based on his abilities to make plays all over the field.
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 love him in Buffalo.
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; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest; Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF; Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
31. Kansas City Chiefs; Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
The Kansas City Chiefs have been making some interesting moves this offseason when it comes to the offensive line. First, by cutting their two starting tackles, Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher, and then adding Joe Thuney and Kyle Long.
When this offseason first started, we knew the Chiefs would probably go after an offensive lineman. The only difference between then and now, is that back then we thought they’d get an interior lineman, now it’s looking more like a tackle will be the pick here.
For those who are skeptical about the Chiefs taking a tackle, let me remind you 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. They’ll draft an offensive lineman. The best available one to me is Michigan tackle Jalen Mayfield.
Now, compared to the other tackles in this draft class, Mayfield may be seen as more of a project piece than anything. He’s got the ability, but he’s very young and doesn’t have a ton of experience.
Like I just said, Mayfield only started 15 games while at Michigan. Though he didn’t start a lot of games, 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 this would be a nice pick for the Chiefs. Mayfield is a project but the upside here is very nice. The Chiefs would instantly improve their o-line by adding Mayfield here.
Other picks; Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas; Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame; Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; TRADE BACK
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
The reigning Super Bowl champs have somewhat surprisingly brought back a lot of their core that led them to the Super Bowl this past season. The two big names that the Bucs brought back were receiver Chris Godwin and edge rusher Shaq Barrett, which is big for them.
Resigning Shaq Barrett was probably the most surprising move. Not in the fact that they brought him back, it’s more in the fact that he came back after stating he wanted to get paid a lot this offseason.
A lot of mock drafts up until that point said the Bucs should go after one of the top edge rushers in the draft. But since they brought Barrett back, I don’t think they’ll do that. Instead, go after another position on defense, defensive tackle.
One thing we should remember about the Bucs is their love for Washington Husky defensive lineman. In 2017, the Bucs drafted nose tackle Vita Vea and in 2020, they signed yet another d-tackle in Benning Potoa'e as an undrafted free agent. I think the Bucs dipped their hand back into the cookie jar again with this pick, selecting another Washington d-tackle in Levi Onwuzurike.
With this pick, I have flipped back and forth with another Huskie, edge rusher Joe Tryon. I just feel their need for d-lineman is greater than edge rusher, at this time. My reasoning for that is based on the fact the Bucs brought back Shaq Barrett, so I’m thinking the d-line should be addressed here more than anything for Tampa Bay.
Right now, on the Bucs roster, there are only three defensive lineman. Levi Onwuzurike would definitely fill the whole left by the possible departure of Ndamukong Suh. He would slot right in next to Vita Vea and cause a lot of problems from either the five technique or three technique, though he may be considered undersized.
Onwuzurike is very quick and possesses natural length that causes problems for opposing offensive lineman. At Washington, he put up seven career sacks with 95 total tackles. The great thing about Onwuzurike, he's got room to improve, which excites some teams.
As I said above, his natural athleticism and length are very desirable traits for defensive line needy teams. With this pick, the Bucs get younger and put two former Huskies on their d-line.
Other picks; Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington; Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma; Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest; Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State; Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas; Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa; Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State; Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama
Positions drafted
QB; 5
RB; 2
WR; 4
TE; 1
OT; 5
iOL; 1
EDGE; 4
DT; 2
LB; 3
CB; 4
S; 1
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