2021 NFL Mock Draft: Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Panthers, land Justin Fields
17. player. 28. . LB. Las Vegas Raiders. Zaven Collins
Raiders fans were hopeful that the team has started to improve the linebacker position after their free agency moves last offseason, signing Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski. And to some degree, the duo definitely was a step forward for the silver and black on that side of the ball. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still room to go for Vegas in the middle of the defense.
Adding a player like Tulsa’s Zaven Collins to the fold could be a tremendous help in that regard. He’s arguably the most versatile player in the 2021 draft class with the ability to line up on the edge, crash the box from a traditional linebacker spot against the run and drop into coverage with great effectiveness. He’s a do-it-all player and someone who could be a centerpiece of the Raiders defense.
RB. Miami Dolphins. Najee Harris. 18. player. 59.
If you ask almost anyone who the Dolphins should take with the pick owed to them by the Texans in the top 10, you’re likely to hear either Penei Sewell or DeVonta Smith. When you get down to the No. 18 selection, however, there is much more of a debate and their options are numerous. With the way things are trending, though, it would be hard for me to think they aren’t considering Najee Harris.
Miami’s need to upgrade the run game is obvious, even if Myles Gaskin was a solid player last year. The Alabama star represents that immediately. He’s extremely explosive and competitive, even if he’s not a true home-run threat. Harris has also evolved into a great pass-catcher, all of which would allow him to further develop the offense in a massive way.