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
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.
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.
TRADE: Bengals send No. 5 and 69 + 2022 third-round pick to Dolphins for No. 3
The Cincinnati Bengals desperately need to address the offensive line further. Lack of protection is arguably the primary reason as to why Joe Burrow’s rookie season ended prematurely due to injury and that has to be fixed moving forward. But one thing I haven’t seen taked about enough is the possibility of trading up to ensure they get the top tackle in the 2021 class, Penei Sewell.
With the potential for the Falcons to take Sewell, the Bengals can’t afford for that to happen. Instead, they give up a third-rounder this year and next year to get No. 3 from the Dolphins and nab the Oregon product. Sewell is young and still has technical refinement ahead but his athleticism combined with his frame make him a slam-dunk top-five pick that will fortify the Cincy offensive line.
In truth, I’m not totally convinced that the Falcons should take a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick. Matt Ryan has his flaws but he’s also a former NFL MVP who has been saddled with bad play-callers, bad offensive lines and bad defenses as of late. That’s not on him and, even entering his late 30s, he still has mileage left on the tires.
However, it still seems as if the Falcons will go the quarterback direction in the draft, which is why we have Justin Fields going to them at this spot. The Ohio State passer is a terrific blend of size and athleticism to go with a nice arm that is accurate to all levels of the field. Fields could likely start right away but learning for a year behind Ryan would only further set him and Atlanta up for long-term success.
TRADE: Dolphins get No. 5 and 69 + 2022 third-round pick from Bengals for No. 3
Even after trading down, the Dolphins still have their pick of the wide receivers on the board and there are merits to any of the top players at the position being made a top-five pick. For me, however, it’s hard to see any team like Miami passing up the enticing upside of Ja’Marr Chase out of LSU.
Chase isn’t going to wow with the athleticism and speed of Jaylen Waddle or the overall versatility of DeVonta Smith but there’s not really a weak spot in his game. He’s got enough size to win in 50-50 situations, enough speed to win deep and refined route-running to create space at all levels. He could be a top target in the Dolphins passing offense immediately and ultimately open things up for everyone involved.
Admittedly, this is a prospect-team pairing that I’ve fallen in love with and can’t get past. With the reports that the Eagles are seemingly on their way to either trading or releasing Zach Ertz, the franchise is now even further devoid of proven pass-catchers. And while some may see that as a case for taking a wide receiver at No. 6, they should simply take the next best pass-catcher and that’s Kyle Pitts.
Philadelphia, albeit with the previous coaching staff, has long relied on multiple tight end sets and Pitts would afford them the ability to do so — but with added versatility. Pitts’ ability to move into the slot and run smooth routes and get open with size and athleticism makes him an X-factor for any offense, something the Eagles need. His presence will provide an immediate impact to help young Jalen Hurts succeed at quarterback.
Things are looking quite bleak for the Detroit Lions offense at this point. Though they gained two future first-round picks to do so, they downgraded at quarterback from Matthew Stafford to Jared Goff. Moreover, they now have a scarily depleted wide receiver corps where newly signed Tyrell Williams is their top option. Whether Goff is the future quarterback or not, that can’t stand.
Thus, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith, is heading to the Motor City. Smith’s big knock is that he’s undersized and you do have to wonder how his slight frame will hold up to the rigors of the NFL. But his blend of plus athleticism with unparalleled route-running make him a target monster in a passing offense who could have immediate success, provided that he has a quarterback who can get him the ball.
TRADE: Texans send Deshaun Watson to Panthers for No. 8 and 67 + 2022 and 2023 first-round picks
Where Deshaun Watson will end up is one of the biggest storylines of the offseason. However, my money has long been on a return to the Carolinas with a Panthers trade. There have been numerous reports that Carolina would be aggressive in trying to land Watson and that’s not going away. So in this 2021 NFL mock draft, that’s what happens as the Panthers give up a haul to the Texans.
With Watson gone and now sitting at No. 8, the Texans take Trey Lance to fill the void at quarterback. Should that happen, Houston will need a veteran to start in 2021 because the North Dakota State product isn’t ready to start right now. That said, his upside is enormous given his arm, athleticism and overall set of tools. If the Texans can start by properly developing him, they may not have Watson but they have a strong foundation with which to rebuild.
It’s not been a secret that the Broncos are interested in upgrading their cornerback room. They’d hoped to do that last offseason when they traded for A.J. Bouye but they missed on that and the veteran has since been released. That means Denver is still searching, which is why they make Caleb Farley out of Virginia Tech the obvious pick at No. 9.
Farley opted-out of the 2020 season for the Hokies and that definitely should weigh into his evaluation given that he’s still somewhat raw. But his upside at corner is unmatched in this draft class. Farley is a truly unreal athlete who can make any play at any level of the field, especially with impressive size for what he can do physically. That type of player, if given the right coaching, could be a top corner in the NFL sooner rather than later.
Looking at the Cowboys and Broncos, it feels almost like a formality that one team will take Farley and the other will take Patrick Surtain II. Both teams need cornerbacks in a big way and are likely the first teams on the clock after the position. And these two are clearly the best at the position. So with Farley going to Denver, that leaves the Alabama star to head to Dallas and join his former Crimson Tide teammate, Trevon Diggs.
Dallas is set to lose a ton from its secondary in free agency and they needed to upgrade at cornerback anyway. Surtain makes a ton of sense as he’s a day-one starter who is extremely sound from a technical aspect, even if he’s not the athlete of someone like Farley. His ceiling is also lower but his floor is higher than most, which makes him a perfect addition for the Cowboys defense.
Even before the Giants released Golden Tate, they needed wide receiver help. Over the past few years, there have undoubtedly been good moments from the likes of Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard but neither player has been consistent and the latter has had issues staying on the field. For Daniel Jones to have a viable chance of proving he’s a franchise quarterback, he needs pass-catchers to rely on.
Jaylen Waddle missed the majority of the 2020 season at Alabama with a broken ankle but what he showed previously and early in the year is enough to make him an easy first-round pick. Waddle is extremely explosive with lightning speed down the field and a great ability to track the ball. He’s developing as a full route-runner but the potential for him to be a big-play monster with room to grow further is something the Giants can’t look past.
Much of what we’ve seen about the 49ers this offseason has revolved around the quarterback position and whether or not they’ll move on from Jimmy Garoppolo. The more things progress, though, the more it seems less likely the Niners will make a change under center. That should then turn the attention to the cornerback room because that’s currently a dire need.
San Francisco is losing a ton from their secondary this offseason, which means they need reinforcements. While it’s somewhat of a reach in my mind, they grab Jaycee Horn at No. 12 out of South Carolina. He’s not the greatest athlete but he’s long, big and strong. The 49ers have enjoyed success with big, physical cornerbacks recently so bringing in Horn to fit that mold would make a ton of sense.
All signs pointed to the Los Angeles Chargers looking to make upgrades along the offensive line this offseason before anything started happening. Now with the release of Trai Turner one year after the organization traded for him, that’s even more so the case. So with Rashawn Slater still on the board for them, that’s a no-brainer pick to put in front of Justin Herbert.
Slater thrived as the left tackle for Northwestern, showcasing great athleticism and poise against some top-tier edge rushers prior to opting-out in 2020. He held his own against Chase Young, which says a lot in its own right. Moreover, there are some that propose Slater moving to guard. The Chargers need help at both left tackle and either guard spot, so the Northwestern standout would be an ideal fit to help Herbert keep clean as his career moves forward.
You’ve undoubtedly seen a ton of mock drafts to this point that have the Vikings taking an edge rusher off the board at No. 14 and that would make sense for Minnesota. What was once a strength for this franchise has taken a large step back. But at the same time, this is a team that has somewhat become more offense-reliant and making the offensive line better should be important as well.
Subsequently, the Vikings nab Alijah Vera-Tucker out of USC with this selection. While he played left tackle this past year for the Trojans, the standout projects more as a guard at the NFL level — even if he could move outside. He’s a great athlete who moves well for his size and is above average in either passing or running situations. Vera-Tucker would be an upgrade at guard that could help the Vikings in a big way.
The Patriots shocked quite a few people prior to the start of the new league year with the decision to re-sign quarterback Cam Newton. Most people assumed that would not be a reunion worth making given the disappointing results of last year but the familiarity and seeming potential were worthwhile. Of course, it could also be about creating a stopgap opportunity for a year so the Pats can draft their heir apparent.
Someone like Mac Jones then would make a ton of sense going to New England. While Jones isn’t a physical freak and doesn’t have the athleticism or arm of the top four quarterback prospects in the class, he’s smart, extremely accurate and proved himself at Alabama. Bringing him in and letting him soak up the NFL on the sidelines for a year before turning him loose could be best for him and the Pats to succeed.
In all likelihood, the Cardinals could lose longtime cornerback Patrick Peterson in free agency. But even if they are able to retain the veteran former first-round pick, Arizona needs to address the position early in the 2021 NFL Draft. They are thin and, even if Peterson is back, he’s not getting any younger and this is a team that is looking towards the future.
Greg Newsome II out of Northwestern is a player who is rising quickly up draft boards and for good reason. He’s exceptionally athletic and his best moments on film will wow you. He’s got a tremendous feel for the position in coverage and has the athletic tools to hang with anyone. The big knock on Newsome is that he struggled to stay healthy but, if his medicals look good, the Cardinals would benefit from adding him to the mix.
Suffice it to say that the Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock experience has not yet yielded the results the Raiders hoped when they formed the duo. And one of the big reasons for that has been the consistent lack of performance from the defense. Picks like Clelin Ferrell haven’t panned out as hoped and the silver and black are still looking for a player who can be a tone-setter rushing off the edge.
Though he does have some risk involved, Jaelan Phillips could be that player. A former 5-star recruit, Phillips had a tumultuous ride to get to Miami in 2020 but he thrived with the Hurricanes. He’s a great athlete with a blend of size and explosiveness that makes him a versatile weapon. Moreover, he does have some nice polish. He needs more technical refinement but he could be a huge boost for the Las Vegas front seven.
Especially with the release of Kyle Van Noy already this offseason, we should be talking about how big of a need linebacker could be for the Dolphins this offseason. Brian Flores had Miami operating as one of the best units in the league this past year but a lot of that is predicated upon having versatile and talented pieces in the middle of the defense. So with Micah Parsons still on the board, they can’t pass that up.
In terms of raw talent, Parsons might be a top-10 player in the 2021 draft class. His athleticism is phenomenal and he’s showcased his immense range on film. The Penn State star has work to do in terms of his mental development and feel for a traditional linebacker role but his high school background as a rusher along with his physical traits make him a potential star for the Dolphins under Flores.
The strutcural instability of the Washington Football Team ultimately forced the organization’s hand into trading Trent Williams last offseason after he sat out all of 2019. That now leaves the franchise without a viable long-term option at left tackle and, while they made it work this past year, it’s something they must address in a palpable way — such as using their first-round pick on Christian Darrisaw.
Everything that Darrisaw showed at Virginia Tech is promising for his outlook. Not only does he check all of the physical boxes you’d want him to but he’s also shown a growing feel for the position in terms of IQ and technique. He needs to get a bit stronger but he won’t get bullied as is. He could be a real boost for Washington in the trenches if he’s on the board for them.
TRADE: Seahawks send Russell Wilson to Bears for No. 20 and 52 + 2022 and 2023 first-round picks + Nick Foles
When the Russell Wilson trade rumors first cropped up, I was ready to dismiss them pretty easily. Yet, they’ve been so persistent and actually seeming to gain steam that I’m ready to believe. And with the Chicago Bears reportedly set to make a godfather type offer, they are the ones who pull off the deal to land the highly talented quarterback.
Seattle would love to be in position to get a quarterback here and perhaps they could trade again to move up. But in this mock draft, they explore other options (or ride with Foles) and address their biggest need on defense with Kwity Paye out of Michigan. The Seahawks have needed some big pop on the edge for some time and Paye is a good fit for what they like and a player who could give the pass rush a necessary jolt.
The Indianapolis Colts were quick to hit the trade market to answer one big question this offseason, namely who would be starting at quarterback. Now that they have Carson Wentz, their attention should be turned to who is protecting the blindside of the former No. 2 overall pick after Anthony Castonzo elected to hang up his pads. And they have an option here with Teven Jenkins.
While he’s not a terrific mover and doesn’t have experience on the left side, the Colts can work something out with Jenkins because of what he does offer. He’s a mean mauler on the edge who plays with a finisher’s mentality. That fits right into the Colts’ mindset in the trenches and, though they may have to shuffle some bodies around, adding Jenkins to the fold would ultimately allow them to find the right combo in front of Wentz.
Tennessee has been severely lacking on the edge for a couple of seasons now. Harold Landry has been a fine player for the Titans but they brought in the likes of Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney last year for a reason. Neither of those players proved to be substantial solutions to the problem, though, which is why they now use the No. 22 pick on Azeez Ojulari to try and fill that hole.
Ojulari would be a terrific asset for the Titans in their base defense. Not only is he sound as a rusher off the edge but he is versatile in his ability to also adeptly drop back into coverage and set the edge against the run. He might be the most well-rounded player at his position in this class, which makes him a great addition for the Titans in their current predicament.
Pick via Seahawks – After bringing Zach Wilson into the fray with the second pick, the Jets have options at No. 23 with the selection owed to them by Seattle via the Jamal Adams trade. They could look to find an edge rusher or they could keep upgrading the offense line. But what New York needs the most is to get Wilson some more reliable options to feed in the passing game.
Rashod Bateman continues to be slept on to some degree in this class. He’s not going to crack the Chase-Waddle-Smith triumverate but the Minnesota product has more than enough goods to be considered a top-20 player. His footwork and breaks are great and he’s shown he has plenty of speed. Especially with more route development, he could be a No. 1 for the Jets offense and pair with Denzel Mims as an intriguing young pair of pass-catchers.
There is definitely an argument to be made for the Steelers taking an offensive tackle with their first-round pick given that they could lose Alejandro Vilanueva in free agency. While that may be the case, this is a team that I believe is looking for a spark on the offensive side of the ball, which is why they’ll turn to Travis Etienne with the No. 24 pick in hopes that he can give that side of the ball a big lift.
Etienne is a home run waiting to happen, which is one of his most attractive traits. But while that may be part of what he brings to the table, it’s not all of it. He proved at Clemson that he’s capable of being a work horse and, just as importantly for the NFL, that he’s a top-tier pass-catcher out of the backfield. He would give the Steelers the running back weapon they’ve clearly been lacking in recent years.
Pick via Rams – Jacksonville made aruguably the most surprising move at the franchise tag deadline when they levied the tag on Cam Robinson. The former Alabama star has not performed to the levels the team had hoped when they drafted him but they apparently want to give him another year to prove himself. For my money, though, they would be best suited to already be looking for better options.
Samuel Cosmi is undoubtedly a potentially better option. The Texas star is an athlete of the highest degree, especially at his position. He moves incredibly well and, though he needs to add some bulk to his frame, he could be a nice tackle to have working with Trevor Lawrence. Cosmi would give the Jaguars a long-term tackle option and someone to start along the line right away as well.
The Cleveland Browns are on the right track right now after breaking their long playoff drought and having a great opportunity to build on that. One of the next steps is to start figuring out the defense and their inefficiencies there. That could be done by taking a gamble on a player like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who is very much a tricky prospect but someone with elite talent.
Owusu-Koramoah played linebacker for Notre Dame but his frame doesn’t project to that at the NFL. He’s a safety, really, with his ability to cover in the slot as well as crash down against the run and even blitz. Cleveland could use a player of that ilk, though, and have a move piece that can play on the back or move up into the box. That could really unlock something special on that side of the ball and they’re lucky to have a player of the Fighting Irish star’s talent fall into their laps.
Facing the prospect of losing one or both of Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency, the Baltimore Ravens definitely need big-time help on the edge as they move into 2021. Yes, Baltimore blitzes more than almost any team in the NFL but they still require dynamic edge players who are able to come in and make an impact. They can believe in Joseph Ossai to be that type of player.
Another extremely athletic young players, Ossai’s top plays will truly wow you. The inconsistency is the issue as, whether it’s as a rusher or dropping back, he has moments where he seems a bit out of sorts. You have to take a shot at talent like Ossai’s, however, if you’re the Ravens. With the right coaching, he could be a game-changer and unreal value at No. 27 when it’s all said and done.
Few teams are more difficult to project as to what they’ll do this offseason than the New Orleans Saints. Heck, the one certainty seemed to be that they would head into the offseason without Drew Brees as he was expected to retire but even that hasn’t happened yet. Still, we must persist and cornerback has become a bit of a need, especially after the team was forced to cut Janoris Jenkins.
There is a lot to like about Eric Stokes on tape as he’s a player who’s coverage instincts have clearly developed well and who looks fluid in his movements. The big question was his speed but, after tearing up the 40-yard dash, it seems he may just need to trust his athleticism more because it’s obviously there. That’s something the Saints can work with to pair him with Marshon Lattimore for the long haul in the secondary.
There is going to be a big shake-up on the Packers offensive line in 2021 compared to what we saw this past season. Not only did the team cut Rick Wagner, who started at right tackle, but they also are set to lose Corey Linsley in free agency. However, the big hole they need to fill in the draft right away is the one at tackle, which is why they make Jalen Mayfield the pick at No. 29 overall.
Mayfield is a bit of unicorn in that his body type and athletic traits would allow him to line up at either tackle spot or even at guard. He’s just that fluid and strong in tandem, which is impressive. The big knock on the Michigan product is a lack of experience with just 15 college starts but he showed improvement over that time and has done enough to warrant a first-round pick.
Considering that the Buffalo Bills took Zack Moss on day two of last year’s draft, running back might not seem to be an immediate need. Then again, the only obvious need for Buffalo — particularly after retaining Matt Milano and Daryl Williams — is at cornerback and the value isn’t there for them to pick on at No. 30. Thus, they make a luxury pick to get Josh Allen a weapon that he’d love to have.
Put simply, Najee Harris is miles better as a prospect than either Devin Singletary or Moss. He’s a massive human being but with the burst and elusiveness of a player much smaller. Moreover, Harris proved his merit as a pass-catcher, which means he brings versatility to the Bills offense here. His presence will only help make an emerging offensive dynamo even more lethal.
This isn’t the position that many people thought the Chiefs would be in as they come into the start of free agency but, after the release of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City now seemingly needs two starting offensive tackles. That means they must be wise with the No. 31 pick, which they try to be by taking Dillon Radunz out of North Dakota State.
Though he’s coming from an FCS program, Radunz showed at the Senior Bowl that he’s capable of handling a step up in competition, even a drastic one. He’s a mauler in the run game but also offers the necessary quickness and agility to move well on the outside. There may be a few bumps in the road early but Radunz projects as a player who could fill one of the tackle spots right away for the Chiefs.
With the way things are shaping up, it does appear as if the Buccaneers are doing what they can to keep the band together to defend their Super Bowl win. They tagged Chris Godwin and continue to work towards a deal, they re-signed Lavonte David and they’re reportedly working to get Shaquil Barrett locked down as well. But that still could leave someone like Ndamukong Suh out in the wild and unable to re-sign.
Because of that, the Buccaneers need to do their best to try and retain the integrity of the defensive line by getting a replacement for Suh in Christian Barmore. Though he definitely isn’t a finished product, he comes out of Alabama with high, high potential as an explosive interior rusher with a knack for getting into the backfield. Putting him on this line group will only help him develop and become an effective long-term player for Tampa Bay.