2021 NFL Mock Draft: Final prediction has Patriots trade for Justin Fields
One final prediction for the entire first round with this 2021 NFL mock draft headlined by the Patriots aggressiveness continuing as they trade up for a top quarterback.
In mere hours, the 2021 NFL Draft will be underway. All of our speculation, all of our rumors and all of our 2021 NFL mock draft predictions will be rendered useless. Once teams get on the clock, it’s about what they actually do and if they were telling us the truth to this point or if they were putting up one smokescreen after another (looking at you, 49ers).
But before we get there, we have to make one last run at figuring out as best we can what’s going to happen. In most other 2021 NFL mock draft posts that I’ve gone through, it’s been a combination of what seems obvious to happen and what I believe should happen. There’s none of that here. This is the final 2021 NFL mock draft, meaning it’s all predictions. For good fun, though, I’ve provided who I would take with the pick (unless there’s a trade up the board, which just gets too convoluted).
Zach Cohen has already provided his final (and only) mock draft of the year and some of the picks will overlap there based on the buzz that’s been around. Of course, there are some differences. The Jacksonville Jaguars at the No. 1 pick, however, are not that.
We start with the NFL Draft lock of the century.
Final 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars start prediction easily at No. 1
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
In most years, there is at least some debate about what’s going to happen with the No. 1 pick. Just a few years ago, it wasn’t until the day before the NFL Draft that there started to be loud chatter that the Cleveland Browns were going to take Baker Mayfield and not Sam Darnold or Josh Allen in this spot.
This isn’t one of those years, though. Before he ever arrived at Clemson, Trevor Lawrence was preordained to be the No. 1 overall pick. And all his time with the Tigers did was affirm that he’s every bit the top-tier prospect that he’s always been billed as.
Some might call this sacrilege but it’s not hyperbolic to compare Lawrence to Peyton Manning with athleticism. His combination of arm talent, poise and playmaking form a rare group of traits that you don’t see. And when you add in the fact that he’s also capable of utilizing his legs, how could the Jaguars consider anyone else with this selection?
The good news is they aren’t. New head coach Urban Meyer hasn’t even tried to be coy about what the team’s plans are at No. 1 and Lawrence likely already has his bags packed and a ticket printed for him to head to Duval County.
Who I Would Pick: Trevor Lawrence