In this 2021 NFL Draft mock draft, Trevor Lawrence and two other QBs go top 10.
We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, protests for social justice are ongoing throughout the world as well and the 2021 NFL Draft is likely the last thing on the minds of many people. That fact is not lost on me — especially in June when the next draft isn’t for over 10 months and the prospects haven’t played a down in their final college football seasons.
Despite that fact, it’s valuable to look ahead at a given draft class and all 32 NFL teams as much as possible. With that, we can lay a foundation for the top players in college football and what we know about them in addition to looking at the needs that should be in play for the teams.
Of course, there are only so many great things you can say about top-tier players like Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields but we are able to dive into relative unknowns like Trey Lance, among others. And, of course, there is always the chance that we have some news to discuss for the 2021 NFL Draft that has a great effect on several things. So before we get into the mock draft, that’s something that arises here.
Justyn Ross’ health puts 2021 NFL Draft status in question
June did not start off great for one of the premier wide receiver prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft as Clemson’s Justyn Ross was ruled out for the 2020 college football season. He underwent surgery on June 5 for a congenital fusion in his spine, an issue discovered earlier in the month.
Ross was projected by many to be in the WR2-WR4 range for this 2021 NFL Draft class with elite size at 6-4 and big-play ability. However, with him not seeing the field in the 2020 season for the Tigers, his status for the draft is certainly in doubt. We hope he’s able to get back on the field and eventually make his way into the NFL, without question.
For the purpose of this mock draft, however, Ross has been left out of the equation given his uncertain status. And with that, let’s get to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, which is owned by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the order is determined by our latest NFL Power Rankings.
At some point, we’ll work through a thought experiment where Trevor Lawrence isn’t the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. That day is not today. The Clemson quarterback, Ross or not, is the goods. Lawrence’s arm, athleticism, size and playmaking are unbelievable. There’s a reason he’s considered a generational talent at the position. And as the Jacksonville Jaguars are in a period of transition, they would be thrilled to add him.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick this past year, which should begin to turn the franchise around. However, the Bengals are more than just a quarterback away from competing in the loaded AFC North, which is why they add Penei Sewell here. He’s a top-tier offensive tackle prospect who will pair perfectly with Jonah Williams as book-end tackles for the long haul.
While it may be too early to determine whether or not Daniel Jones is a superstar quarterback in the NFL, the New York Giants have 100 percent hitched their wagon to the youngster. So if they’re going to give him an honest shot, they need to get him a true No. 1 wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase is that guy, the clear-cut WR1 in this draft class. He can win on all levels on the field and is the type of weapon Jones needs to fully determine whether or not he’s a franchise player.
For as much talent as the Washington Redskins have on the defensive line, they are lacking behind that unit. Patrick Surtain II can help with that, an all-around cornerback primed to start in the NFL already.
Some people might wonder if Washington would take a quarterback here to already move on from Dwayne Haskins. While not out of the question, I’m not buying the new Redskins regime being so ready to cut ties already.
For as good as Lawrence is, Justin Fields might actually be the more dynamic player. The Ohio State quarterback has a terrific arm and, while he may not have prototypical size, he has elite athleticism and dynamic playmaking ability. The Detroit Lions, if they’re picking in the top five again, may look to move on from Matthew Stafford, which would make the way for them to select Fields.
There has been some early buzz about Gregory Rousseau possibly being the “next Chase Young”. I’m not ready to go that far but the Miami pass-rusher is an absolute stud who got to the quarterback seemingly at will a season ago. For all the pieces the New York Jets have added, they have ignored their edge situation for a long time. That stops here.
After selecting Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in 2020, the Miami Dolphins now have their quarterback for the future. Moreover, they spent big in free agency on defense to give a base level of talent there. The wide receiver room needs a playmaker, however, and Jaylen Waddle is that in the highest order. With elite speed and RAC ability, the Alabama product will be a dynamic pairing with his former Crimson Tide quarterback.
Full disclosure, the offensive tackle class in 2021 as we approach the college football season is Penei Sewell and then a distinct tier of players that you could put in any order. With the Los Angeles Chargers pick, they get Justin Herbert a blindside protector with Samuel Cosmi. The Longhorns tackle weighs in at 6-7, 311 pounds and has the technique to succeed early on in his NFL career.
Trey Lance is a player who, if he can continue what he did as a redshirt freshman at North Dakota State, will only get more buzz. He had 28 passing touchdowns with no interceptions along with 14 rushing touchdowns and leading the Bison to another title. He’s got the goods and the Pittsburgh Steelers very seriously need to be considering their future after Ben Roethlisberger as 40 is fast approaching and his health has been a concern of late.
There was a case that Marvin Wilson Jr. could’ve come out in 2020 but he elected to return to school. This offseason amidst the ongoing civil rights movement, he proved his character and leadership with the Seminoles with how he spoke up for his team and perceived injustice. That only makes him a more valuable prospect in my mind and he’s the type of force the Las Vegas Raiders could use to pair with Maurice Hurst on the interior.
After revamping the skill position groups this offseason to help Drew Lock, the Denver Broncos now need to work on the offensive line. Garett Bolles has been a bust to this point and needs to be replaced. Alex Leatherwood isn’t a spectacular prospect but he’s a sure bet to be a good pro. He also comes with positional versatility, having started at both guard and tackle at Alabama and playing both at a high level.
Taking Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 is a start for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now they need to work on shoring up the weapons around him. DJ Chark emerged as a downfield threat last season but they need a playmaker who can create not just on vertical routes. Purdue’s Rondale Moore is the perfect player for that role. Though diminutive in size, he’s a stud that can burn teams at all levels of the field with explosive playmaking.
Micah Parsons slipping this far is an absolute gift for the Carolina Panthers. In many 2021 NFL Draft mocks at this point, you’ll see the Panthers early and likely picking a quarterback. With the top three players off of the board and Carolina at No. 13, however, that means Teddy Bridgewater might have something. The Penn State linebacker can be a replacement for Luke Kuechly as a versatile and dominant defensive quarterback in the middle of the field.
Is this a little bit early for Carlos Basham Jr. to be coming off of the board? Probably. The Wake Forest pass-rusher has been great in his college career but there are better values. Having said that, he’s the type of player that seems to fit what the Atlanta Falcons need on the edge in an ideal world. With how we’ve seen this team draft their guy despite public perception of value, I have no issue slotting Basham here, even in mid-June.
Entering last season, there were discussions that Walker Little could be the OT1 in the 2020 draft class. Injuries ruined those plans, though, and now he’s back to Stanford to prove himself again. He’s a mammoth on the edge who moves well enough and the Chicago Bears need to start getting that offensive line set. Yes, they likely need a long-term plan at quarterback but the No. 15 pick is no time for them to be getting that guy.
One notable thing about the Miami Dolphins’ bevy of draft picks in 2020 was that there were few luxury picks. They took their guys to help build infrastructure. In this 2021 NFL Draft mock draft, however, they get weapons. Pairing Travis Etienne with Jaylen Waddle in the first round gives the team a ton of explosiveness as they get the hands-down best running back in the class, a player who’s a home-run threat whenever the ball is in his hands and has value as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield.
The general belief coming out of the Indianapolis Colts right now is that Philip Rivers will be there for longer than just the 2020 season. While they need a long-term plan at quarterback, they also need to capitalize on the window with Rivers. That should include improving the secondary, which Shaun Wade would do. He’s worked primarily in the slot but should get outside reps in 2020 to further prove he can succeed at any spot in the defensive secondary.
For as great of an offseason as the Cleveland Browns enjoyed (again), the fact that they again seemingly neglected linebacker remains the biggest flaw. They change that here with the Dylan Moses pick. Moses missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL and still would’ve likely flirted with the first round had he come out. With another season to build up his stock and show his value, he can be a game-changer in the middle of the Browns defense.
This is a huge season for Xavier Thomas. He was a highly-touted recruit coming to Clemson and was expected to be a breakout star last year. That didn’t come to fruition, however, partly due to injuries. Now is the time for him to show his tremendous physical talent. I’m projecting he does that, which would make him a perfect fit on the Arizona Cardinals defense as they try to build the front with Chandler Jones.
I’m as dubious of a person as you’ll find when it comes to what Jarrett Stidham can be for the New England Patriots. At the same time, if they’re picking at No. 20, he probably showed enough for the franchise to see what else he has in the tank. That means it’s time to get him weapons and Rashod Bateman is a crush of mine in the 2021 NFL Draft. His size, speed, hands and playmaking show him as a dynamic weapon that the Pats simply lack at this moment.
Though he might not be a household name just yet, you’re going to hear the name Christian Barmore more and more throughout the 2020 college season. While he had only two sacks and six tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman, he had the highest pass-rush win rate among defensive tackles in 2019, per PFF (subscription required). Losing Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen this past offseason, the Minnesota Vikings need a disruptor of that caliber to enter the fray.
There were plenty of people, myself included, who had Paulson Adebo as a potential first-round pick in 2020 before he elected to return to Stanford for another season. He’s a true man-cover cornerback that can have an impact in the right defense, which is what the Philadelphia Eagles offer him. Pairing Adebo with newcome Darius Slay would be a tremendous boost for a secondary that, in truth, is still lacking in terms of depth.
For the past few years, it’s been an inside joke that I’ll mock the Seattle Seahawks an offensive lineman in the first round and they’ll never take one. So why not keep the tradition alive? Liam Eichenberg should be getting more buzz than he is. The Notre Dame product is as good of a prospect as Mike McGlinchey, though a slightly different player, and could have a similar impact upon arrival in the Pacific Northwest.
It’s clear that the Tennessee Titans like Jonnu Smith as a possible replacement for Delanie Walker and Smith is talented. However, I’m unsure he’s going to be able to fully shoulder the load. That’s why they take Kyle Pitts here out of Florida. Pitts is an ultra-versatile player who really emerged as an elite pass-catcher in the 2019 season. With another season in that offense in a featured role, his stock is only going to continue to rise.
Having to wait this long to see DeVonta Smith come off of the board might be a surprise to some given his talent and productivity. And there’s no denying those things. However, I do have some concerns about his slight frame in terms of his draft stock. Regardless, his ability to get open on all levels and break open big plays is something the Green Bay Packers direly needed in 2020 and still need looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft.
For as well as Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have built this roster, the secondary is a concern for me in 2020. They have an obvious stud in Tre’Davious White but the supporting cast at cornerback is veterans who are less than sure things. Israel Mukuamu can help with that, a big-bodied player out of South Carolina who has showcased nice ball skills and press-man ability.
You’re probably going to get tired of me talking about Hamsah Nasirildeen and mocking him to the Dallas Cowboys — just a warning. But I’m enamored with the player and fit in this draft class. The Cowboys need a safety who has elite versatility and can be a move chess piece on the back end. Nasirildeen is that in the highest order with his uncanny size and movement skills for the position given his physical build.
Speaking of draft crushes, let me introduce you to Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan. I love the progression he showed throughout the 2019 season as a passer and leader. If he can stay on that trajectory, he could be a perfect piece for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to bring in to groom behind Tom Brady while the veteran future Hall-of-Famer competes for Super Bowls in the near future.
Signing Emmanuel Sanders this offseason is huge for the New Orleans Saints offense. Having him to take pressure off of Michael Thomas should be hugely important for Drew Brees and company. Even still, they need a younger option to continue doing that down the line which Chris Olave can be. Coming off a 12-touchdown season, Olave will look to prove himself as a big-play threat who would be an asset in the Big Easy.
It really comes down to cornerback and safety as to where the San Francisco 49ers could look with their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Those units performed well in 2019 but they aren’t particularly young or deep in either area. That’s why the selection is Jevon Holland out of Oregon, a player who has nine interceptions over two seasons and has ball-hawking ability on the back end of the defense.
Transferring from Temple to Miami will be the big test for Quincy Roche as the level of competition has increased. With 26.0 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss over three seasons with the Owls, though, Roche appears more than ready for it. If he can continue to produce now in the ACC, he will be an ideal fit for the Baltimore Ravens as a speedy and long pass-rusher to deploy off of the edge in the 3-4 base defense.
We’ve finally arrived at the defending Super Bowl champions and they have to go with a defensive prospect after taking Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2020, right?
Not so much. Instead, they target a legitimate weakness on the offense, namely the interior of the offensive line. Creed Humphrey could’ve been the top interior lineman in the 2020 class if he hadn’t returned to school. Even still, the mobility and functional strength of the big man should make him an ideal fit at either guard spot or center for the Kansas City Chiefs.