One more day until the NFL Draft. Nothing makes the draft more exciting than draft day trades, so in this mock I will (do my best) to predict where I see trades happening come Thursday night. This Mock Draft has the updated order after the Chiefs-Ravens trade.
Chiefs Get:
Orlando Brown Jr. OT
Ravens 2021 2nd Round Pick
Ravens 2022 6th Round Pick
Ravens Get:
Chiefs 2021 First Round Pick (31st Overall)
Chiefs 2021 3rd Round Pick
Chiefs 2021 4th Round Pick
Chiefs 2022 5th Round Pick
After that trade 4 teams now have 2 first-round Picks: the Jaguars, Jets, Dolphins, Ravens, and 4 teams have zero first-round picks: the Rams, Seahawks, Texans, and Chiefs. So here it is my final mock for the 2021 NFL draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars | Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
No surprises here. Best player in the draft.
2. New York Jets | BYU QB Zach Wilson
New York takes the flashy one-year star from BYU and continues the rebuild under Saleh on a rookie QB deal.
3. San Francisco 49ers (from HOU via MIA) | North Dakota State QB Trey Lance
A lot of rumors are flying around that Mac Jones will be the pick, but I just simply won’t believe that until I see it. So instead, the 49ers get the 6’4 225 pounder with a cannon of an arm and the highest upside in the draft. Lance ran a pro-style system playing mainly under center in a play-action-heavy passing game which is exactly what the 49ers want to do, his ability to be explosive as a runner is just another bonus. He is my QB2 behind Lawrence and should shine in Shanahan’s offense especially with the added benefit of redshirting his first year.
4. Atlanta Falcons| Florida TE Kyle Pitts
Trade down option in play but if I were the Falcons, I’d stay here regardless and go get one of the 3 best players in the draft. New coach, new GM should play it safe and ensure your first pick is a guaranteed all-pro.
5. Cincinnati Bengals | LSU WR Ja'Marr Chase
What Joe Burrow wants; Joe Burrow gets. Bengals go get the best WR in this class and hope the magic these two had in 2019 happens for the next decade. Sewell is tempting here but with Jonah Williams coming back from injury and locked into the LT spot they can wait till day 2 to go get interior lineman.
6. Miami Dolphins (from PHI) | Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle
Tough spot for Miami as they were hoping to get Chase or Pitts but since both are gone, I am going Waddle over Smith. Will Fuller is a nice speed threat but only under contract for one year. They get Tua a familiar stud in Waddle who can immediately come in and be a major threat in their offense. Sewell is tempting after the Dolphins traded away Ereck Flowers this week but in a deep offensive tackle class, I think they go receiver.
7. Los Angeles Chargers TRADE ALERT (from Detroit Lions) | Oregon OT Penei Sewell
Great scenario for both teams, Lions get to trade back, and the Chargers have their franchise QB blindside protected for a very long time. For the Chargers, they get the best OT in recent memory and Herbert’s old college buddy in Penei Sewell. Chargers have impressively overhauled the 3rd worst offensive line in 2020 according to PFF.
Trade Terms: Chargers receive the 7th overall pick in exchange for the 13th pick, a 4th round pick in the 2021 draft, and a 2nd round pick in 2022.
8. New England Patriots TRADE ALERT (from Carolina Panthers) | Ohio St. QB Justin Fields
In my previous mock, I had New England sitting back and Getting Mac Jones. This time around they get aggressive and go get their future franchise QB who will be able to learn a lot from former MVP Cam Newton.
Trade Terms: New England receives 8th overall pick in exchange for the 15th overall pick, 2022 4th round pick, and Stephon Gilmore CB
9. Denver Broncos| Alabama QB Mac Jones
Trading for Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t solve the long-term answer at QB for Denver. All signs point to Drew Lock being on a new team come 2022.
10. Dallas Cowboys | Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II
It’s a tough choice between Surtain and Horn but I think Surtain hangs on to the top corner spot in this draft. Plus, a fun pairing of old college teammates with the Cowboys 2020 second-round pick Trevon Diggs CB.
11. New York Giants | Alabama WR Devonta Smith
Gettleman goes and gets one more weapon for Daniel Jones who now has an onslaught of options on offense with Golladay, Slayton, Barkley, and Smith. Slater or Edge rusher is tempting but with no clear dominant edge, Gettleman gets a receiver he loves.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from SF via MIA) | South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn
Eagles need help at both WR and CB and get an elite prospect in Horn.
13. Detroit Lions (from L.A. Chargers) | Penn State LB Micah Parsons
The lions move down 6 spots, pick up a few extra draft picks, and still get the same player I mocked to them at #7. The Lions get the top linebacker in the class at a huge position of need.
14. Minnesota Vikings | Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye
A physical freak and gives them a dynamic duo at edge rusher alongside Danielle Hunter. Minnesota takes a hard look at Rashawn Slater here, but Zimmer can’t resist going defense and figures with a deep OL class he can address that position later in the draft.
15. Carolina Panthers (from NE) | Northwestern OL Rashawn Slater
Speaking of Slater, it turns out to be a great day 1 of the draft for Carolina. They get former defensive player of the year in Stephon Gilmore and still land an elite LT to protect newly acquired Sam Darnold.
16. Arizona Cardinals | Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley
Sticking with this pick from my original mock as I think fit and need are too perfect here.
17. Las Vegas Raiders | USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
One of the harder teams to mock as the Raiders have plenty of holes to fill on defense but Alijah Vera-Tucker’s versatility to fill in day one as RT or guard takes precedent.
18. Indianapolis Colts TRADE ALERT (from Miami Dolphins) | Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw
Colts move up one spot ahead of Washington to acquire their franchise Left Tackle and replace recently retired Anthony Castonzo.
Trade Terms: Colts receive the 18th pick in the draft in exchange for the 21st pick in the draft and the 2021 4th round pick.
19. Washington Football Team | Oklahoma State Tevin Jenkins
With Darrisaw off the board, Washington still goes tackle and gets a physical blocker who punishes defenders at the point of attack - which should help breakout Rookie Antonio Gibson continue to flourish.
20. Chicago Bears | Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II
A possible trade-up candidate for a QB but instead I think they go for day 2 selections such as Davis Mills or Kellen Mond. Here they grab Newsome who had a breakout year and fills the void Kyle Fuller left as a potential lockdown corner.
21. Miami Dolphins (from IND) | Miami (FL) EDGE Jaelan Phillips
Same player I mocked them at #18 but they get to add another draft pick this time. Phillips high ceiling and coming out of Miami is a great fit for a team who needs help rushing the passer.
22. Tennessee Titans | Florida St. CB Asante Samuel Jr.
With multiple corners lost in free agency and edge rusher already filled, the Titans get the next best corner in the draft who should be a day 1 starter.
23. New York Jets (from SEA) | Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Dream scenario for Saleh in his first year. Franchise QB? Check. Now he goes and gets a dominant speed rusher who fits his scheme perfectly.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers | Alabama RB Najee Harris
This seems to be an almost unanimous pick in mock drafts, but it just makes way too much sense. Great fit for the Steelers as they get their new bell cow RB. If he is on the board this will be the pick.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | TCU S Trevon Moehrig
I am surprised most people don’t have Moehrig higher because I think he has the making to be an absolute star at the next level. He can play both safety spots and is great in coverage and a big hitter. Jaguars luck out and add the best safety in the class to a young defense that looks to be on the rise.
26. Cleveland Browns | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
The Browns are a tough team to mock simply because they don’t have any true holes on the roster. Originally, I had them going Christian Barmore here but instead, I go with a stud of an athlete in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
27. Baltimore Ravens | Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman
I have never understood why the Ravens don’t get Lamar more weapons, well, this year they do. Bateman has had pro comps to Keenan Allen, and I think would fit very well with Lamar. The former MVP gets a big-bodied receiver who is an excellent route runner.
28. New Orleans Saints | Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore
With Emmanuel Sanders leaving in free agency there is not a ton of talent behind Michael Thomas. I love Sean Payton getting a playmaker here and I think Elijah Moore will remind him a lot of former Saints first-round pick Brandin Cooks.
29. Green Bay Packers | Tulsa EDGE Zaven Collins
As tradition, the Packers “should” pick a WR to help Aaron Rodgers, but they remain stubborn and focus on the defensive side of the ball and add an athletic edge rusher instead.
30. Buffalo Bills | Clemson RB Travis Etienne
No one is more upset than the Bills to see 5 cornerbacks go in round one. So, instead, they go get a premier RB in Etienne and give Josh Allen more weapons to play with.
31. Baltimore Ravens | Penn St. EDGE Jayson Oweh
Still not sure why a team who already can’t beat the Chiefs gave them an All-Pro left tackle but here we are.
With the loss of Matt Judon in free agency, the Ravens have a hole at Edge rusher. A trade down could be in play here but Oweh is as talented physically as any pass rusher in the class. Inconsistent play and zero sacks last season cause him to fall to the bottom of round 1. Oweh has all the physical tools to be a dominant edge rusher in the league now it’s up to the Ravens to get it out of him.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Miami (FL) EDGE Gregory Rousseau
The defending champs have a loaded roster and have the luxury of picking a high upside player in Rousseau. While still very raw he produced 15.5 sacks in his lone 2019 season at Miami. At a towering 6’7, 265 pounds Rousseau has the look of the next Calais Campbell.