2021 NFL Mock Draft: Final prediction has Patriots trade for Justin Fields

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Zach Wilson, 2021 NFL mock draft. Mandatory Credit: Rick Bowmer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /

Final 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Jets pick at No. 2

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Remember the midway point of the 2020 NFL season when there was absolutely no way the New York Jets could mess this up? They looked the part of the worst team in the league and were on a crash-course for a bad enough record to end up with the No. 1 pick and the opportunity to draft Trevor Lawrence.

Two befuddling wins over eventual playoff teams later and the Jets are still looking to hit reset under center, especially after trading Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, but Lawrence will be gone when they pick.

At this point, it’s been conceded as a foregone conclusion that general manager Joe Douglas and new head coach Robert Saleh are going to take BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. After a phenomenal 2020 season in which he made massive strides, the strong-armed quarterback appears to have mountains of potential, which would bring excitement to the Big Apple if he can progress.

Because it’s such an assumed outcome, though, we aren’t adequately assessing the risk here. Wilson played the easiest schedule of his college career in 2020, which certainly aided his monster year. And the Jets don’t exactly have the best track record with quarterbacks. This has obvious, massive upside but, equally, there is a chance Wilson could flop for Gang Green.

Who I Would Pick: Justin Fields

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