2021 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots get Trevor Lawrence in all-trades, chaos edition

(Pick via Packers) – Washington traded down 10 picks but that might be the best move for them in acquiring more draft capital. This is a team with a defense that is their calling card and an offense that they are hoping Ryan Fitzpatrick and Curtis Samuel, newcomers in free agency, can make good enough to compete to win the NFC East once again. But they add to their strength here by getting another playmaker on defense.

Zaven Collins is different from many modern linebackers in that he’s not an undersized, hyper-athletic player. He comes in at 6-4, 260 pounds but he plays like a much lighter player when needed. Collins is extremely versatile with the ability to come into the NFL and cover adequately while also defending the run and blitzing at a high level. Adding him to the Football Team would make that defense a unit that gives up very, very few points.

(Pick via Bills) – Signing Jadeveon Clowney and Takkarist McKinley in free agency this offseason opens a ton of doors for the Cleveland Browns in the 2021 NFL Draft. What it doesn’t do is erase the long-term need on the edge opposite Myles Garrett as their two signings are both on one-year deals. It does, however, afford them the opportunity to take a big swing on the immense upside of Jayson Oweh.

Put simply, the Penn State product is a physical marvel. Guys with his traditional edge size shouldn’t move like an off-ball linebacker but he undoubtedly does. He needs to be coached in the finer points of being a pass-rusher, namely with his hand work and counter-moves. But as he learns these things, he could be a force in creating pressure. Allowing him a year to largely work in practice and develop could set him and the Browns up for big-time long-term success.