The Washington Football Team aims for playoff return in this 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft.
Point blank, the Washington Football Team and quarterback Taylor Heinicke put up more of a fight against the Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs than many could’ve imagined. But at the end of the day, they fell short. Now it’s into the offseason, first with free agency then the 2021 NFL Draft, as head coach Ron Rivera continues to rebuild the franchise.
Though Washington made the playoffs this year, there is obviously work to do as they got into the field with a 7-9 record. At the same time, this is largely a young team that has improved from recent years, so they are on the right track in the nation’s capital. Now it’s about taking the next steps, especially when it comes to the draft.
With that in mind and in the wake of the Wild Card loss, let’s run through a 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft for the Washington Football Team to see what kind of pieces they can add. Note: This mock was compiled using The Draft Network mock draft machine.
Washington Football Team 2021 mock draft
For as well as Alex Smith played when healthy and for as much heart as Heinicke showed in the playoff game, the future of the quarterback position in Washington must be addressed. Neither player is a viable long-term option under center. As the most important piece of the roster, that’s where they must turn to with their first-round pick.
Lucky for them, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones is on the board and, if that’s the case, they shouldn’t hesitate to take the Crimson Tide signal-caller. Jones came into the 2020 season with big questions as a first-time starter but he’s passed every test with flying colors, putting him on the cusp of being a first-round pick.
Jones isn’t going to wow anyone from a tools perspective but he plays quarterback at an extremely high level. He’s calm and smart when he drops back, delivering on-time passes to the right spots. Despite not having a cannon arm, he is one of the best deep-ball throwers in the country.
Though his limited starting experience at Alabama may concern some, he appears ready to take the jump to the pro level. Perhaps learning behind Smith for a year in Washington, he could be the franchise quarterback that the Football Team has needed for many years.