Three-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft following Super Bowl LV as the Kansas City Chiefs look to shore up their offensive line and the quarterback carousel furiously spins.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, which officially ended the 2020 NFL season, and for us, that means we are ready to look ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft.
For the Bucs, they were able to win their second Super Bowl as a franchise and for Tom Brady, it was his seventh in 10 tries. As for the Chiefs, they were hoping to see Patrick Mahomes win No. 2 but it wasn’t meant to be.
There were several reasons Tampa Bay scored the win but the biggest had to be the way slowed Mahomes down with the pass rush. Kansas City had problems all game with the Bucs defensive line and that helps them decide which direction to go in this three-round 2021 NFL mock draft.
Of course, we have to wait to get to that as we start with the No. 1 pick, which belongs to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Urban Meyer has taken over for the Jacksonville Jaguars and while he has never coached at the NFL level, he’s someone who has had success everywhere he’s gone. He turned Bowling Green and Utah into feared teams before winning National Championships with the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2008 and the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2014.
Now, he aims to buck the narrative that NCAA coaches can’t get it done in the NFL. Before him, names such as Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, and Chip Kelly were unable to last long but they all had one thing in common — they didn’t have their quarterback. Saban’s case was especially interesting as he reportedly wanted Drew Brees but the medical staff bucked that option and he was stuck with Daunte Culpepper who had a knee injury ruin his career.
For Meyer, he won’t have that problem since he and the Jaguars come in with the No. 1 overall pick in this draft. That selection is used on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is one of the more pro-ready prospects we have seen in years.
Lawrence also gives Jacksonville their first true franchise quarterback, which could finally help them become a consistent threat in the AFC South.
Up next is the New York Jets — who would probably be willing to send this pick to the Houston Texans in a deal for Deshaun Watson. The former first-round pick has become disgruntled in Houston and would like out, and one of his preferred destinations has been rumored to be New York. However, Houston’s new general manager has said he has no intentions of trading him away but instead wants to convince Watson to make things work.
For the Jets, this doesn’t mean they can’t land their franchise quarterback because that’s exactly what they get here in Justin Fields. And while they don’t get Trevor Lawrence or Deshaun Watson in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft, it’s not as if they got some consolation prize.
Fields would have been a No. 1 overall pick in several recent drafts but just so happened to come into the NFL the same season as Trevor Lawrence who is the consensus top pick. Fields might not be as polished as Lawrence but his ceiling is arguably just as high.
A dual-threat, Fields can hurt defenses with his arm and legs and should give the Jets offense the shot in the arm they have needed for years. With him being able to move the chains and new head coach Robert Saleh’s ability to scheme up a good defense, this team could improve very quickly.
(Pick via Houston Texans): Last year, the Miami Dolphins had three picks in the first round as they looked to improve their franchise and they surely did get better. They missed out on the playoffs but they were in the mix until the end of the season and had a winning record, which is impressive considering many pundits thought they were the sure-fire No. 1 pick in waiting in 2019 after unloading the majority of their veteran players.
Now heading into the 2021 season, they again have multiple picks in the first round, this time starting at No. 3 thanks to the Houston Texans. Houston struggled mightily in 2020 and now their second first-round pick given to Miami in exchange for Laremy Tunsil comes in much higher than expected when they made this trade.
For Miami, they use the pick to add a legit No. 1 wide receiver after DeVante Parker took a step backward last year. Of course, some of those struggles could have been placed on their quarterback situation as Tua Tagovailoa was not exactly lighting the league on fire.
Rumors suggest the team is worried about him, but they need to give the young man time — and not judge him simply because Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert took off as rookies. Instead, they need to surround him with playmakers and here they get him a big one in Ja’Marr Chase from LSU. Chase opted out of the 2020 campaign but was a monster in 2019 with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns on 84 receptions. He should be able to help Tua take his next step as a quarterback.
The Detroit Lions already moved on from a veteran quarterback and they might not be the only team with a new head coach to make such a move. Arthur Smith is the new Atlanta Falcons head coach and there’s a good chance he decides to move on from Matt Ryan, who can still play at a high level but is quickly approaching the age of 40.
With that being the case, this feels like the right time to make the move because a team never expects to draft this high again — or at least that’s the hope. So to take advantage of their positioning here, Atlanta picks up BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.
Wilson possesses a strong arm and is highly intelligent but also has impressive athleticism. With no offense being meant to Matt Ryan, that would be a welcome change for this offense since it’s been a while since they’ve had a quarterback who can create with his legs when the play breaks down. Wilson proved he could do that when he ran for 10 touchdowns this past season — and while he doesn’t rack up a ton of yards, his efficiency in the red zone in this area could be huge for him and the Falcons.
If there is a concern, it could be that he hasn’t had sustained success. Wilson was decent as a freshman and sophomore before exploding as a junior. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a success, but some might worry about the dreaded “one-year wonder” label.
Of course, there are reports surfacing that Ryan is staying in Atlanta but this doesn’t mean Wilson can’t be the pick. Atlanta could choose to let Wilson sit behind Ryan, and given the fact that he didn’t shine at a big school, it could help Wilson develop and Ryan is the kind of guy who won’t balk at being a mentor.
The Cincinnati Bengals were more than thrilled with the play of Joe Burrow as a rookie in 2020, but they surely didn’t like how his first NFL campaign concluded. The LSU product was able to record 2,688 yards with a 13-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and added another 142 yards and three touchdowns in his first 10 games.
Then, he suffered a terrible knee injury and was lost for the season. With him set as the face of the franchise, they now need to keep him from being hurt again which is why they take Penei Sewell here. What stands out with Sewell is how he’s strong in both the run and passing game, which is pointed out by Drae Harris of The Draft Network.
"“Penei Sewell aligns at left tackle and is a good athlete overall, as evidenced in his initial quickness of the snap and his body control and balance in his set. In the run game, he demonstrates his physical toughness as an in-line blocker. He comes off the ball with the intent to maul you inside and he’s dominant on combo blocks. In the passing game, he demonstrates his competitiveness and length on the perimeter.” — Harris, The Draft Network"
Cincinnati plays in what has quickly become one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, so they will need much more than Sewell to become competitive but this is a step in the right direction.
This is a tough one to figure out. Had the Philadelphia Eagles stuck with Doug Pederson, the Super Bowl-winning head coach likely would have wanted to move on from Carson Wentz. But since they cut ties with Pederson, they’re probably going to try and make sure Wentz has every chance to prove they were right in giving him the monster contract he signed less than a year before they drafted Jalen Hurts.
Hiring Nick Sirianni is proof that they will likely try and help Wentz as Sirianni spent the past three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts working with Frank Reich, who was the offensive coordinator under Pederson when Wentz looked like an MVP candidate. Clearly, they’re trying to bring in an offense similar to what he was excelling with during the 2017 campaign.
Now, they continue to cater to Wentz here as they forgo some of their other needs — such as defensive back — to put more pass-catcher on the field. With the No. 6 pick, they land Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith, who joins another first-round receiver in Jalen Reagor. While it might feel like overkill to take a wideout on day one in back-to-back seasons, the Eagles really need to since their receiving corps has been a major problem for several seasons now.
There aren’t too many people who think the Detroit Lions made a bad trade when they sent Matt Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for a boatload of picks and Jared Goff. Sure, Stafford has been a solid quarterback for them but they had just brought in another new coach and were likely ready to move on from their star quarterback.
The problem is, no one seems to think Jared Goff did well in this exchange. The former No. 1 overall pick was just sent to Detroit only a couple of seasons removed from taking the Rams to the Super Bowl. While that has to be frustrating for him, it could also motivate him to get back on track.
Detroit might allow him to prove he can do that as they take a wide receiver here — even though it would be tempting to go with a new signal-caller. Their pick ends up being Jaylen Waddle from Alabama who would pair well with Kenny Golladay on the Lions offense.
It’s not the same firepower that he had in Los Angeles but Goff working with Golladay, Waddle, T.J. Hockenson, and D’Andre Swift might not be half bad. That is, as long as their new head coach, Dan Campbell, didn’t scare them off with his bizarre press conference.
There was a time when NFL teams were scared to try and test the Carolina Panthers’ secondary. Of course, that was when Josh Norman was back there and playing lights out. However, since he left the team following them pulling their offer back in 2016, Carolina has struggled to find an elite cover guy. And playing in the NFC South against players such as Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin is hard when you don’t have someone who can lock down one wideout.
With that being something they need, the Panthers use their first pick in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft to land a potential No. 1 cornerback in Patrick Surtain II from Alabama. If the name sounds familiar to NFL fans, that’s because his father played in the NFL for 11 seasons.
The elder Patrick Surtain was with the Miami Dolphins for seven seasons and made the Pro Bowl three times (from 2002 through 2004). He then played four seasons with the Chiefs before retiring following the 2008 season.
Now his son comes in and is an even higher pedigree than his father — who was a second-round pick. The younger Surtain checks off all the boxes and would give Matt Rhule a stud defensive back to start building his defense around.
This past season, the Denver Broncos got to work trying to build around quarterback Drew Lock. They added Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler with their first two picks as they looked to take advantage of his strong arm and a great finish to his rookie campaign.
Sadly, things didn’t go as planned. Lock missed a few games and when he did play, he was 4-9 as a starter and took a huge step in the wrong direction. They need to do all they can to get him back on track but maybe they can also help him out by improving the defense to take some of the pressure off of him.
Here, they land Kwity Paye from Michigan to line up on the edge of their defense across from Bradley Chubb who had a decent season with 42 tackles and 7.5 sacks after missing all but four games in 2019. Paye will also likely replace Von Miller, who has been the heart and soul of this defense but enters free agency after missing the entire season due to an injury.
Paye is a great replacement who has an incredibly high ceiling. He’s just starting to get the technique to match the physical traits and could be an even better pro than he was a collegiate player.
The Dallas Cowboys will have a tough decision to make when they’re on the clock at No. 10 in this draft. They have holes on the defensive line as well as at safety and cornerback. There’s hope they can get better at corner with Trevon Diggs playing well as a rookie and there’s no way they’re taking safety here — and with how much they seem to hate safeties, it’s a concern that they might not take one at all.
While that should mean their focus could turn to the defensive line, they also have to shore up their offensive line. What was once the strength of their team became a major weakness in 2020 as La’el Collins missed the whole season and Tyron Smith played in just two games.
Collins hasn’t had a checkered injury history, so he should be back and ready to go but there have to be serious concerns with Smith who has not been able to stay healthy since 2015. Dallas might need to cut ties, and that’s what happens in this mock as they take his replacement in Christian Darrisaw.
The Virginia Tech left tackle started for four seasons with the Hokies and improved every single season. He’s great in the run game and has the size and length to deal with NFL defensive ends. Should Dallas land him and fix that line, their offense might once again be dangerous — assuming they quit messing around and sign Dak Prescott already.
There’s already one huge star from Penn State on the New York Giants, and they saw what life was like without him in 2020. Saquon Barkley was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft and topped the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first two seasons with the Giants. He added another 721 yards receiving as a rookie and 438 in year two, showing off his skills as a dual-threat.
Then in 2020, Barkley was injured in the second game of the season after gaining just 34 yards on 19 carries. It was confirmed after the game that he tore his ACL and Barkley missed the remainder of the season.
With him out, the offense was a mess and didn’t have that firepower he provided. For that reason, it’s easy to see the Giants adding another weapon to help that side of the ball. But with the way this draft is falling, they go another route and add a player from Barkley’s alma mater in Micah Parsons.
The talented linebacker sat out the 2020 season for the Nittany Lions but he already proved that he’s the best in this class at his position. There’s nothing Parsons can’t do on defense and while the Giants need to get better on offense, their defense can also use a shot in the arm — which is something he can deliver.
It appears the San Francisco 49ers will have some changes on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s not just because they lost their defensive coordinator. Robert Saleh more than deserved his chance to run an NFL team and 49ers fans — and players — are surely wishing him the best with the New York Jets. However, they have to get things rolling without him and they’re likely losing Richard Sherman as well.
Sherman only played in five games last season as he dealt with injuries in 2020 but he was a solid defender for them in those games — as well as the 15 he played in 2019 and the 14 the season before that. There were those who doubted his signing but he gave San Francisco what they expected.
With him set to hit the open market, there’s going to be some talent and veteran leadership walking out the door but the 49ers can get younger and more athletic at the position. That’s what happens here as they take Caleb Farley out of Virginia Tech at No. 12.
Farley was a former quarterback and wide receiver in high school. He’s new to the position of cornerback but if you watch him play, you will never know it. He’s already solid in his technique and his ball skills are impressive. What’s scary for teams who have to play against him is that he’s still growing as a player, meaning his ceiling is incredibly high.
Justin Herbert was phenomenal in 2020, throwing 31 touchdowns to break the record by rookies. And he did so despite not having a great team around him. Going forward, the Los Angeles Chargers need to fix that, and they should start by improving the offensive line.
With their first pick, they land Rashawn Slater from Northwestern, a player known for his incredible fundamentals. He’s also held his own against players such as Chase Young, which was pointed out by Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network.
"“Slater, who opted out of the 2020 college season and has not played since the end of the 2019 campaign, is well regarded for his fundamentals and functional athleticism along the front. Slater manned the left tackle position for the Wildcats. For teams that don’t prioritize certain measurable thresholds, he appears to be a viable candidate to do the same in the NFL—based specifically on his work against 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young in pass protection.” — Crabbs, The Draft Network"
L.A. isn’t that far from contending and improving the offensive line will do a lot to make the players they do have better. But most importantly, it will help Herbert since he won’t have to make as many throws on the run as he escapes pressure.
The Minnesota Vikings went in the wrong direction last season, and it was hard to figure out why. They did let a couple of defenders go and lost Danielle Hunter but they still had some decent players on that side of the ball. And on offense, they might have traded Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, but Justin Jefferson stepped in and took over that role.
That’s without even getting into the play of Dalvin Cook — who continued to improve as a runner — and the play of Kirk Cousins — which was much better than he gets credit for. Sure, he’s not an elite quarterback but not just anyone can throw for over 4,200 yards with 35 touchdowns.
Still, something was just off in 2020 and it might have been the offensive line. Cousins did get sacked 11 more times this past season and there were countless other plays where he was being rushed and had to get rid of the ball, or throw it under duress.
The worst pressure came up the middle as the Vikings’ interior line wasn’t great for them in 2020. For that reason, they use the Nl. 14 pick on USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker. He played tackle for the Trojans but is considered a guard at the next level. He will not only help keep the bull-rush at bay for Cousins but is excellent when run-blocking, which will only help Cook get better. And that’s a scary prospect for opponents.
The New England Patriots need a quarterback but their head coach is trying to outsmart the room. Rather than using an early pick, Bill Belichick seems destined to turn a mid-round pick into a starter or find a free agent that no one saw coming.
That’s what he did in 2020 when he went into the season with Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, and Jarett Stidham on the roster. Both Newton and Hoyer had been starters in the past and Newton was actually the MVP of the 2015 NFL Season. However, Hoyer was never anything more than a stop-gap and Newton has clearly taken a step back due to the beating his body has taken.
Not only that but he never really felt like a great fit in Josh McDaniel’s offense. In the end, Newton appears to be one-and-done, and while they need to replace him, Belichick is unlikely to do so here. For that reason, we have the Pats going after the best player on the board, which is Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
Now for those who want to go down memory lane, this pick isn’t the Pats trying to recreate what they had with Rob Gronkowski. Instead, it’s them taking an elite player who just happens to play tight end.
Pitts has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and 246-pounds and moves incredibly well for such a big guy. He’s also able to haul in any pass like his hands were covered in stickum (but no, they aren’t) and he really blew up in 2020 with 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games. No matter who starter under center, Pitts will give them a reliable playmaker.
At No. 16, the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock and while they would have loved to see Kyle Pitts last one more pick, they still land themselves a stud here in Azeez Ojulari. The Georgia pass rusher broke out in 2020 with 9.5 sacks and caught the eye of many scouts with his performance.
Cory Kinnan of With the First Pick was especially impressed with Ojulari, saying he has an impressive first step and a “full bag of tricks.” Kinnan even believes the UGA product has a shot at being the top pass rusher in this class.
"“Starting with his first step, Ojulari packs a ton of explosiveness and burst in his back foot, and when lined up as a seven-technique, he has the ability to absolutely blow by offensive tackles without the need for much of a pass rush plan. This, however, does not mean that Ojulari does not have a plan, as he possess a full bag of tricks and nuance as he gets after opposing quarterbacks.” — Kinnan, With the First Pick"
The one thing that can keep Ojulari from being the top edge rusher is his size. At 6-foot-3 and 240-pounds, he’s a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. With the Cards, he can play in that role, which means he should be able to hit his ceiling with them.
Since Jon Gruden has taken over as the head coach, and Mike Mayock as the general manager, the Las Vegas Raiders have made one thing clear — they like to draft players from Alabama and Clemson. Both Gruden and Mayock have made no apologies for this, saying they basically like to draft winners, and those teams are always full of them.
Gruden and Mayock joined the Raiders in 2018 while they were still in Oakland and while they took Kolton Miller out of UCLA that season, the trend has been different since then. In 2019 when they had three first-round picks (thanks to a flurry of trades in 2018), the Raiders took Clelen Ferrell from Clemson and Josh Jacobs from Alabama. They rounded things out with Johnathan Abram from Mississippi State, but not before taking a couple of players from ‘Bama and Clemson.
Then in 2020, they again had two picks on Day 1 and while they landed Damon Arnette from Ohio State at 19, they started their draft out with Henry Ruggs from Alabama at No. 12.
In this draft, they could again return to the well and fill a major need, which is what is predicted here. Las Vegas lands Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore at No. 17 and this is a player who is climbing up the boards right now.
Barmore was considered a possible Day 2 pick until he hit the NCAA College Playoffs. With all eyes on the Crimson Tide, he was a star, getting into the opposing team’s backfield at ease. His play in those games likely cemented his status as a first-round pick and he gives the Raiders a great interior since he can line up next to Maurice Hurst.
The Miami Dolphins had three picks in the opening round of the 2020 NFL Draft and landed three players they felt they could build around. First was Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5, followed by UST offensive tackle Austin Jackson. Then at pick No. 30, they ended up with Noah Igbinoghene, the talented cornerback from Auburn.
Miami still found more talent, landing Robert Hunt — an offensive guard from Louisiana-Lafayette — at No. 39 and then they went with Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis at No. 56. While those two were both second-round picks, they had NFL starter written all over them and now, the Dolphins can continue to add premier players thanks to their two picks in this opening round.
Earlier, with their selection from the Houston Texans, they added Ja’Marr Chase from LSU to give Tua a No. 1 threat out wide. This is a solid move to make after landing the quarterback and bolstering the line of scrimmage.
Now, they turn their attention back to the defensive side of the ball and after strengthening the line with Davis and the secondary with Igbinoghene, they turn their attention to the linebacker corps as they add Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame. A bit of a tweener, Owusu-Koramoah is listed at just 215-pounds but he’s a playmaker nonetheless. And in the Dolphins’ 3-4 defense, he would be freed up to use his instincts and get after the ball as one of two inside linebackers. His coverage ability also helps as it keeps him on the field for all three downs.
The Washington Football Team just saw Alex Smith honored as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and he truly deserved it. It was nearly two full years between his gruesome broken leg and eventual comeback but he found plenty of success once he was back.
Overall, his numbers weren’t eye-popping but he led the Football Team to a record of 5-1 when starting and overall, is now 11-5 for them. Smith’s play and leadership in 2020 was the catalyst that led them into the playoffs despite having a record of 7-9. Even with him not able to suit up in their postseason game, Washington was still an inspired team that took Tampa Bay to the limits.
Having said all that, Smith is not the long-term answer in D.C. — and he never was supposed to be. The former No. 1 overall pick will be 37 this coming season, so his days are limited for sure. That’s why the Football Team would be wise to get someone who can learn from Smith how to be a consummate professional.
That’s the plan here as they use the No. 19 overall pick on Trey Lance out of North Dakota State. Some have Lance as the No. 3 quarterback in this class but he’s hurt by the fact that his team played just one game in 2020. He’s also negatively affected by the lack of talent NDSU played against collegiately.
In the end, it could work out for him. He lands with a team here that won’t throw him to the wolves as a rookie and there may not be a better mentor in the NFL than Alex Smith.
It appears the Chicago Bears might have their quarterback situation figured out. Rumors are swirling that they could land Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles but after the way Wentz performed in 2020, is it really an upgrade for them over Mitch Trubisky?
Many will say yes, but it’s really not that obvious. Wentz has been a problem for the Eagles, so expecting him to save Chicago might be a stretch. And if they do make that move, this pick won’t be theirs, but for now, it is and we use it to improve the offensive line with the selection for Samuel Cosmi from Texas.
Cosmi is widely considered a first-round pick and Dan Schmelzer of NFL Mocks even contends he might be the second-best tackle in this class behind Penei Sewell.
"“Overall, Cosmi’s athleticism at the offensive tackle position consistently stands out and makes him a potential impact player at the next level. He could quickly grow into a real franchise left tackle, securing one of the most important offensive positions for his NFL team. Cosmi should undoubtedly be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and could easily challenge for OT2 behind Sewell.” — Schmelzer, NFL Mocks"
Whoever starts under center for Chicago in 2021 will be grateful to have a better line in front of them as this is a player who will be starting for the next 10-plus seasons in the NFL.
Another team with unanswered questions under center is the Indianapolis Colts. They were 11-5 this past season and made it into the playoffs but they now find themselves looking for a new signal-caller. Former Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers star Philip Rivers spent one season with the Colts and while he was able to help them out in 2020, he decided to retire following his lone season in Indy.
They did have Jacoby Brissett last season and while he has plenty of experience, he’s now a free agent so they will have to figure out if that’s the route they want to go. Then again, they could decide to give 2020 third-round pick Jacob Eason a shot to start but he has yet to show what he can do in the NFL.
While they need to figure all that out, they’re not selecting high enough to fix the situation in the draft so instead, they get themselves another wide receiver in Rashod Bateman. The Minnesota product is a technician with his routes and will help whoever starts under center due to the fact that he knows how to win contested catches as well.
Bateman only got to play in five games this season but he still had 36 catches for 472 yards after going for 1,219 the prior season.
The Tennessee Titans won 11 games last season but it wasn’t done the way we are used to seeing. In recent campaigns, they’ve been efficient on offense but won due to their defensive prowess. This season, their defense headed in the wrong direction, but the offense was finally dangerous.
Ryan Tannehill, who took over after six games the prior season, was incredible for them with 3,819 yards and a 33-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. They also had a great season from A.J. Brown who topped 1,000-yards for the second season in a row and Corey Davis added another 984 — and surely, they hope to bring him back as he hits free agency.
All this passing was great, but it becomes even harder to defend when Derrick Henry is the running back and he goes for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. Should they continue to perform like this and get better on defense, the Titans could be the easy favorites in the AFC South.
Head coach Mike Vrabel will definitely want to improve on defense which leads to the addition of Texas pass rusher Joseph Ossai. Last season, they went with Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley but neither move worked out. Now, they try and go with the rookie as a second rusher opposite Harold Landry. He should offer more than they got from their free-agent additions a season ago.
(Pick via Seattle Seahawks): With the No. 2 pick in this mock draft, the New York Jets added Justin Fields at quarterback and while the Ohio State star is a stud, he will need some playmakers around him. Now back on the clock with their first pick added in the Jamal Adams trade, the Jets land a playmaker for Fields as they take Terrace Marshall, Jr. out of LSU.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, Marshall has excellent size and simply knows how to get in the end zone. He’s scored 23 touchdowns in the past two seasons and in 2019, it was really impressive how often he was able to score. That year, he found himself on the same field as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson but still managed 13 touchdowns for the Tigers.
New York currently doesn’t have too many big targets at wide receiver who can stretch the field. Jamison Crowder is their best weapon but he’s a slot guy and while Denzel Mims has a lot of upside as a player, he managed just 23 receptions for 357 yards as a rookie and is still looking for his first NFL touchdown.
A lot of the struggles were also on the coaching staff, so perhaps their change there will do as much good for the offense as the addition of Marshall does.
The 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers were the final unbeaten team this season, going 11-0 before losing their first game against the Washington Football Team. Once they were handed a defeat, they started to struggle some, losing three in a row before stopping the bleeding against the Indianapolis Colts.
That win gave them the AFC South title, so they rested starters in Week 17 which led to them losing to the Cleveland Browns. That also opened the door for the Browns to play them in the postseason and their divisional rivals handed them another defeat.
Looking back over their season, the Steelers had a lot to be proud of. Their passing game was on point and their defense had some brilliant moments. Where they fell short, however, was in the running game. James Conner led the way with 721 yards and Benny Snell had 368 but the Steelers are at their best when they can dominate on the ground — and with Ben Roethlisberger getting up there in age, it’s paramount they can run the ball.
That becomes much easier with the selection of Najee Harris, the 230-pound star from Alabama. Harris was a monster this past season with 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns and is exactly what this Pittsburgh offense needs to try and repeat as AFC North champs.
(Pick via Los Angeles Rams): For the second season in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars have two picks in the first round. Last season, they spent each of those selections on the defensive side of the ball as they added Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson and LSU edge K’Lavon Chaisson. Now, they focus on offense with their two picks in this round.
They opened the draft up by taking the top player — and their new face of the franchise — Trevor Lawrence. As good as the Clemson quarterback is, he can’t succeed if the pass rush is allowed to have their way with him. That’s why the Jags use this pick acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the Jalen Ramsey trade on Alex Leatherwood.
Leatherwood is built to play offensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 312-pounds and he’s spent time at both guard and tackle for the Crimson Tide. Where he really stood out was at tackle as he handled the blindside this past season for Mac Jones.
There will be those who think he should kick inside but Leatherwood should get a shot to play tackle and his ability to hold up against the best players in the SEC means he should be fine in the NFL. He would also be the best option Jacksonville has at the position.
There’s a lot to celebrate in the Dawg Pound this season. The Cleveland Browns had their first winning season since 2007 and made the playoffs for the first time since the end of the 2002 campaign. If that wasn’t enough, they also won a postseason game for the first time since 1994 when Bill Belichick was the coach. And if we are being real, that was an entirely different franchise.
Cleveland had more to celebrate after the season ended since first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski won the NFL Head Coach of the Year award for his efforts. Having said all that, none of the players are satisfied.
They know they had a chance at beating the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round and they know what that could have led to. With that serving as extra motivation, they’re likely going to spend this offseason reloading their roster — especially on defense.
Here, they do exactly that as they spend their first-round pick on South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. The son of former NFL wideout Joe Horn, Jaycee is super-talented and incredibly confident. He will go toe-to-toe with any wide receiver and would be a perfect complement across from Denzel Ward.
This move alone won’t fix the questionable defense Cleveland had in 2020 but it would do wonders for their secondary.
This past season was full of ups and downs for the Baltimore Ravens. They were on fire to start the year but then they went through a rough patch in the middle of the season that nearly pushed them out of the playoffs — and had they lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, they might have very well missed the postseason.
That was the game where Lamar Jackson had to run to the locker room to get an IV, but many people thought he had a different issue. Either way, he returned to the field and led his team to the win and ultimately into the tournament.
Jackson also won his first playoff game as they knocked off the Titans but their struggles in the following game were back on display. Jackson is an elite player but he needs help at receiver. Far too often, the wideouts are too inconsistent in Baltimore and they have to get better there to take their next step.
In 2020, Marquise Brown led the way with 58 receptions and 769 yards but the next best wideout was Willie Snead with 33 receptions for 432 yards. Neither player is bad and they do have some elite play at tight end with Mark Andrews but they need another starter opposite Brown.
With that being said, they turn to Florida’s Kadarius Toney. This past season, Toney broke out with 984 yards and 70 receptions. He just makes the cut as a first-round pick and fits the Ravens offense nicely.
No team has as big of a road ahead of them this offseason when it comes to figuring out their financial situation than the New Orleans Saints. General manager Mickey Loomis has been a wizard with the salary cap but this season, he has his work cut out for them.
New Orleans currently sits at roughly $79 million over the cap right now — and that’s after Drew Brees restructured his deal to kick the can down the road. This was needed but it could hurt them for a while as well since Brees will count against the cap even after he’s retired — and that could come this season.
The good news for them is their team is pretty talented even if Brees does hang it up. They could go with Taysom Hill as the starter or even bring back Jameis Winston. They’ve also got players such as Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan, and Michael Thomas under contract, but that could change too as they figure out the cap.
As for the draft, look for them to try and land another defensive back and in this 2021 NFL mock draft, the best available is Eric Stokes from Georgia. An outside corner for the Bulldogs, Stokes has the size to stick with any wideout and would be a great addition across from Marshon Lattimore.
For the second season in a row, the Green Bay Packers fell just one game shy of making the Super Bowl despite posting a 13-3 record. Their 26-6 mark over the past two seasons is impressive but the team isn’t satisfied with that — they want to get back to the big game.
In an effort to do that, the Packers aim to improve their defense here with the selection of Dylan Moses from Alabama. One of the more well-rounded linebackers in the class, Moses is not only experienced but played all three linebacker positions for the Tide as pointed out by Jordan Reid of The Draft Network.
"“Moses is a well-experienced linebacker who has spent time at all three linebacker spots. A hyper-athletic and agile second-level player, he’s a fast-flowing prospect that gobbles up opportunities in space. Moses has an athletic and chiseled upper body that contains extended limbs, but contains plenty of definition on them from top to bottom.” — Reid, The Draft Network"
There will also be calls for the Packers to get more help at wide receiver, which they need to do. The problem is, this mock saw all the top-tier receivers already get selected, and rather than reach, they take Moses here to improve the defense and hope for a wideout to be on the board in the second.
The Buffalo Bills won the AFC East this season with a record of 13-3 and it was the first time since 2008 that anyone other than the New England Patriots won that division. Sure, the fact that Tom Brady moved to the NFC South and won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers helped but Buffalo might have still won that division even if Brady were there.
Buffalo has been a team on the cusp of breaking out for a while now and they finally started to click on all cylinders this year. The biggest reason for that was the addition of Stefon Diggs who helped Josh Allen thrive this season.
While those two were fantastic together, the Bills defense started to decline this year. They weren’t bad but they weren’t the same team we had seen over the past couple of seasons. And here, Buffalo gets better with the selection of Zaven Collins from Tulsa.
Collins would be able to replace Matt Milano should they lose him in free agency and while he’s a linebacker with a nose for the ball, he’s also 260-pounds and can line up on the line of scrimmage as well if needed. Collins has climbed boards as of late and slides into the back of the first round, but could be a real difference-maker at the next level.
The Kansas City Chiefs were favored in Super Bowl LIV despite the fact that they were facing Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their own stadium. It wasn’t exactly crazy to think it either as the Chiefs were simply unstoppable all season. That was until they ran into a hungry Tampa Bay defense.
Tampa won 31-9 and it was the most lopsided loss for Patrick Mahomes who had two interceptions and no touchdowns. He was also sacked three times, which is a bit of a misleading stat. Mahomes was under duress all night and was constantly running backward before throwing up a prayer of a pass.
This was due to the struggles on the offensive line for the Chiefs. All season, they have had to shift things around on their offensive line, and due to that, they use their first pick in this three-round mock to try and bolster the line. Wyatt Davis is listed at 6-foot-4 and 310-pounds and is considered a plug-and-play guard.
Davis has a lot of experience and NFL bloodlines as well. He’s good in the running game as well as with pass protection. While adding offensive linemen isn’t often splashy, it usually pays off — especially when you get a player such as Davis who is a sure thing.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did it. They won Super Bowl LIV over the Kansas City Chiefs and made some history in doing so. Tom Brady and the Bucs ended up being the first team to ever play the Super Bowl at their own stadium and then, they won it there as well. After winning three-straight playoff road games, they were able to win the Lombardi Trophy in their own backyard.
One of the main reasons they won was the play of their defense. Sure, the offense put up 31 points, but holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to just nine is no easy feat. The majority of that success was due to the pressure their pass rushers provided and while they had three sacks in the game, there were countless more plays that were blown up by the defensive line.
Ndamukong Suh had 1.5 sacks, Shaq Barrett had another, and Jason Pierre-Paul was in the backfield a lot as well — and had a batted down pass. All three were instrumental in the win and all three are seasoned veterans, meaning the Bucs need to get younger.
Enter Gregory Rousseau from Miami. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder is a pure pass rusher who would be a great fit in Tampa Bay’s front seven as they transition to a younger core.
33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
After landing a quarterback and offensive tackle, the Jaguars now add Brevin Jordan out of Miami. The athletic tight end could help complete this offensive attack.
34. New York Jets: Jalean Phillips, EDGE, Miami
Another team that had two picks in the opening round, the Jets turn their attention to defense. They also nab another Hurricane, landing Jalean Phillips to play on the edge.
35. Atlanta Falcons: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
New head coach Arthur Smith might be an offensive guy, but he needs to improve the defense to stand a chance. He looks to do just that with the selection of Penn State’s Jayson Oweh.
36. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Tua Tagovailoa struggled some as a rookie and the Dolphins need to do something to help him. That’s what happens here as they get a running back who can take some of the pressure off of him. Travis Etienne can do it all and will add another dimension to the Miami offense.
37. Philadelphia Eagles: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
After taking a WR in Round 1, the Eagles now get a cornerback in Asante Samuel, Jr. The name will sound familiar since his dad was a star in Philly.
38. Cincinnati Bengals: Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee
The Bengals double-down on offensive linemen as they add Trey Smith here. The Tennessee guard could have been a first-round pick at one point, but some health concerns drop him slightly.
39. Carolina Panthers: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Mac Jones gets a chance to prove he can be a starting quarterback at the next level as the Panthers land him here.
40. Denver Broncos: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
Denver’s defense needs to get back to what they once were if they’re going to contend again, which is why they take UCF’s Aaron Robinson at No. 40.
41. Detroit Lions: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
Nick Bolton is getting a lot of hype as a potential day one pick, so the Detroit Lions get themselves a steal here.
42. New York Giants: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
Evan Engram hasn’t become the player the Giants hoped he would, so they get a potential replacement in Pat Freiermuth from Penn State. It’s not intentional, but they go back to the well here.
43. San Francisco 49ers: Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma
Creed Humphrey is one of the top interior offensive linemen in this class and finds himself a home with the San Francisco 49ers.
44. Dallas Cowboys: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
After taking an offensive tackle early, the Cowboys have another tough decision to make. They need a cornerback and a safety but they go with the better prospect on their board here. Trevon Moehrig will be a day one starter and this fan base will go crazy if the front office finally adds a premium safety.
45. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Minnesota Vikings): Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Now, the Jags turn to defense. They have several picks early on which is a huge benefit for Urban Meyer and now, they land one of the better safeties in the class in Jevon Holland.
46. New England Patriots: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Again, the Patriots skip on a quarterback but they at least land something else they desperately need — a wide receiver who can stretch the field. Rondale Moore is able to get deep in a hurry and his speed will really help this offense.
47. Los Angeles Chargers: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama
Is it odd to see the Chargers go back to the offensive line already? Not really because they need to protect Justin Herbert. This kid is the real deal but they can’t let him get beat up.
48. Las Vegas Raiders: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
They landed a DT in the first and now get a defender for the second level in Chazz Surratt. The Raiders need better linebacker play and the North Carolina product offers that.
49. Arizona Cardinals: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
They added an edge rusher in the first and now, the Cardinals get better in the secondary with the selection of Greg Newsome from Northwestern.
50. Miami Dolphins: Carlos Basham, Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
The Miami Dolphins need to improve on the edge of their defensive line and they do just that at No. 50 with Carlos Basham. His game isn’t perfect but his floor is actually pretty high.
51. Washington Football Team: Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
Trey Lance will already have one stud wideout in Terry McLaurin, and now he has another since the Washington Football Team adds Tutu Atwell from Louisville. He might not be the biggest receiver but this kid can stretch the field and will be a star.
52. Chicago Bears: Nico Collins, WR, Michigan
Nico Collins might not be the biggest name but he has a huge body (6-foot-4 and 215-pounds). He should be a good weapon for the Bears and whoever ends up under center.
53. Tennessee Titans: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Ifeatu Melifonwu was great in the Senior Bowl and has jumped into the first-round on some boards. He’s not there yet in this mock but he’s still a good pick at this point.
54. Indianapolis Colts: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
Another great pick at this point, Tyson Campbell is a man cover corner who fits perfectly with what the Colts want to do.
55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
The Steelers got a star runner in the first, now they address their aging offensive line with Jalen Mayfield. Whether or not he starts as a rookie, he should be a long-term fixture for them.
56. Seattle Seahawks: Tevin Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
The Seahawks draft offensive linemen more than any other team and they do it again here. Of course, they still refuse to do it in the first.
57. Los Angeles Rams: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
Matthew Stafford is going to make the Rams better but they also need to make sure he’s protected since he’s no spring chicken. That’s why Liam Eichenberg is their selection here.
58. Baltimore Ravens: Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE, Vanderbilt
They went receiver in the first and now, the Ravens go with an edge rusher in Dayo Odeyingbo. This team is still tough on defense and they never want to lose that edge, which is why they go right back to that side of the ball.
59. Cleveland Browns: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
After getting a starting corner, the Browns now add USC defensive tackle Jay Tufele. He might be replacing Larry Ogunjobi — and maybe even Sheldon Richardson who could be a a salary cap casualty.
60. New Orleans Saints: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
This pick for New Orleans lands them a wideout in Amon-Ra St, Brown, a 6-foot-1 wideout who had 2,270 yards on 178 career receptions.
61. Buffalo Bills: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Shaun Wade returned for his senior season and it actually hurt his stock. He still lands near the end of the second round and might have to move to safety. Still, the Bills get a player who could end up contributing to their defense here.
62. Green Bay Packers: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
Now, the Packers add a wideout as they take D’Wayne Eskridge out of Western Michigan. He’s not the biggest but he can stretch the field and averaged 23.3 yards per catch last season.
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Tommy Togiai, IDL, Ohio State
Another player to help them on the line of scrimmage here, but this time on defense. The Chiefs add Ohio State’s Tommy Togiai as the second round inches to a close with only one pick left.
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marvin Wilson, Jr., DT, Florida State
Again, the champions get younger on the defensive line with Marvin Wilson from Florida State.
65. Jacksonville Jaguars: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
There was a point where Paulson Adebo looked to be a day one pick, and now he kicks off the third round. This could be a great value pick for the Jaguars.
66. New York Jets: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
The Jets go back to the offensive side of the ball with Javonte Williams from North Carolina. He went for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and catapulted up draft boards.
67. Houston Texans: Levi Onwuzurike, IDL, Washington
The 288-pound Levi Onwuzurike was an interior defensive lineman at Washington but could line up as an end in the Texans’ front.
68. Atlanta Falcons: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
The Falcons need more depth on defense and Varon Browning gives them a solid tackling 240-pound linebacker.
69. Cincinnati Bengals: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
The Bengals add Elijah Moore, a diminutive wideout who had 1,193 yards for Ole Miss last season. Just another weapon for Joe Burrow.
70. Philadelphia Eagles: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
While they could be kicking out one North Dakota State product, the Eagles take another here in Dillon Radunz. He needs work against elite competition but there’s a lot to like about his game.
71. Denver Broncos: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
Cameron McGrone didn’t get to do much this season since Michigan only played a handful of games but he was solid as a sophomore.
72. Detroit Lions: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Had Quincy Roche blown up for Miami, he would have been a day one pick. However, he had just 4.5 sacks after getting 13 for Temple in 2019. Even so, he had 14.5 tackles for a loss and should be a decent rotational end.
73. Carolina Panthers: Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
Another solid linebacker from OSU gets selected here as the Carolina Panthers take Pete Werner.
74. Washington Football Team (via San Francisco 49ers): Richie Grant, S, UCF
Richie Grant is a safety prospect who has gained traction as of late. He lands with Washinton here but a solid offseason could move him higher.
75. Dallas Cowboys: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Elijah Molden might not have the measurables they love in Dallas but he’s an absolute steal this late. He would help round out their top picks in this 3-round mock.
76. New York Giants: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Oregon State
The Giants pass rush leaves a lot to be desired which is why they try and bolster it with Hamilcar Rashed from Oregon State.
77. Los Angeles Chargers: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston
The original 77th pick should have gone to the Patriots, but they had to forfeit that selection. That means the Chargers are on the clock now and they bulk up their pass rush with Payton Turner from Houston.
78. Minnesota Vikings: Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State
Hamsah Nasirildeen is going to be a starting safety for a long time in the NFL and he’s a steal at this point for the Vikings.
79. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State
Josh Myers should have no problem becoming a fixture in the Arizona Cardinals offensive line. They improve upfront, which will help the entire offense.
80. Las Vegas Raiders: Deonte Brown, IOL, Alabama
Another Alabama player lands with the Raiders. By now, this shouldn’t be shocking.
81. Miami Dolphins: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
The Dolphins add Jackson Carman here from Clemson. He’s an offensive tackle by trade but may need to kick inside to make it in the NFL.
82. Washington Football Team: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
The Football Team needs better players on the O-line and Walker Little can get it done. The question is, can he stay healthy?
83. Chicago Bears: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
There are those who think Kyle Trask is a first-round pick. He shouldn’t be. Chicago takes a flier here, hoping to find someone they can groom.
84. Indianapolis Colts: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Spencer Brown is a big man and the Colts have a need at offensive tackle. This could be a great pairing.
85. Tennessee Titans: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
Tylan Wallace could end up replacing Corey Davis should the Titans lose him in free agency. It won’t be an even trade, but Wallace can be a weapon for them.
86. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Jabril Cox was a transfer for LSU and played well in 2020. He was also a standout in the Senior Bowl and helped improve his stock.
87. Pittsburgh Steelers: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
Vance McDonald is done and now the Steelers add help at tight end with Hunter Long from Boston College. He turned into a real weapon this past season and could be a good security blanket.
88. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Daviyon Nixon, IDL, Iowa
Dan Campbell wants to get tougher and to bite knee caps. Daviyon Nixon can help them get stronger, but there’s no word on how his bite is.
89. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pitt
Notice a trend for the Browns? They again go with defense, this time taking Patrick Jones from Pittsburgh. He’s a steal at this point and can contribute as a rookie.
90. Minnesota Vikings (via Baltimore Ravens): Alim McNeill, DT, NC State
The Vikings need to improve on defense to compete in 2021 and that’s their focus again here with Alim McNeill. A solid defensive tackle prospect, McNeill should help them get stronger at the point of attack.
91. Cleveland Browns (via New Orleans Saints) Monty Rice, LB, Georgia
Yes, again, Cleveland adds a defender. They need linebacker help and while they won’t break the bank for one — or use a day one pick — they do land a sure-tackler here in Georgia’s Monty Rice. He could be on the field a lot as a rookie.
92. Green Bay Packers: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Kevin King might have played his way out of Green Bay against the Bucs which leads to the Packers adding Israel Mukuamu at No. 92. He’s not as polished as his teammate Jaycee Horn but Mukuamu is a physical defender with a ton of confidence.
93. Buffalo Bills: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Bills defense is vastly improving in this draft and that continues with the selection of Ronnie Perkins from Oklahoma. He might not start as a rookie but has a high ceiling and could be a starter down the road.
94. Kansas City Chiefs: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
Why not add a wideout here? The Chiefs have so many weapons but for some reason, they can always find a spot for more.
95. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati
The champions add an offensive tackle here. That unit was good in 2020 but adding more help is never a bad idea.