2021 NFL Mock Draft, pre-free agency: Bears trade for Russell Wilson, Bengals move up for Penei Sewell
The final pre-free agency 2021 NFL mock draft has the Bears trading their pick for Russell Wilson while the Bengals move up for Penei Sewell and more.
As the offseason rolls on, 2021 NFL free agency has arrived. The legal tampering period begins on Monday, March 15 with the new league year beginning on Wednesday, March 17 at 4 p.m. ET. There are big names that are available on the market who can truly change things. Naturally, that means we can’t let it get here without squeezing in one more 2021 NFL mock draft.
What happens in free agency is going to leave its fingerprint on the 2021 NFL Draft in an obvious way. A team like the Ravens could address its need at wide receiver by paying a player such as Kenny Golladay. If the 49ers don’t re-sign Trent Williams, offensive tackle becomes a dire need. And so it goes.
That’s also before we factor in the potentially monumental quarterback trades looming, namely for Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson. Well, in this pre-free agency projection, both quarterbacks are sent on the move. That’s a tease for what’s to come as we start with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the clock in our latest 2021 NFL mock draft.
Final pre-free agency 2021 NFL mock draft with huge quarterback trades
1. player. 52. . QB. Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence
In most years, there’s a lot of variety at the No. 1 pick in mock drafts because, frankly, there is a lot that can change. But in 2021, that’s not the case. Trevor Lawrence being in the class means there is no variety. The Jaguars are taking him with the first overall pick and there really isn’t a debate about that at this point.
Lawrence has been the chosen one from the time he was in high school and that hasn’t changed. Players with his combination of physical traits, mental acuity and level of collegiate success just don’t come around often. It’s a long road ahead for Jacksonville to be successful but Lawrence will put them in good hands.
30. . QB. New York Jets. Zach Wilson. 2. player
Assuming that the Jets do eventually trade Sam Darnold, it’s hard to believe they would be able to get a third pick in the first round for that. But the biggest question has become which young passer they’ll bring in to supplant Darnold as BYU standout Zach Wilson has surpassed Justin Fields in a number of circles as the likely No. 2 overall pick.
Full disclosure, I like both Fields and Wilson a lot. But Wilson strikes me as someone better suited for the Jets. New York needs someone with the combination of talent and star personality — as dangerous of a combo as that can be at times — to lead such a polarizing franchise. That’s Wilson, an enigmatic talent who is still ascending and who clearly has the personality to help be the face of a new era for Gang Green.