2021 NFL Mock Draft
2021 NFL Mock Draft Full First Round
Contributor Thomas Gorski takes us through his projections for the 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
Round 1 Pick 1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t possibly mess this pick up as they are going to land arguably the most talented quarterback to ever come out of College Football. The Jaguars are rumored to be on the verge of landing former Ohio State and Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer. I can’t imagine that he would come out of retirement to coach unless he was going to end up with a once in a generation type quarterback such as Trevor Lawrence.
NFL Comparison: Andrew Luck
Round 1 Pick 2: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The Sam Darnold experiment hasn’t gone as expected and part of the blame was having Adam Gase as his Head Coach, not many can survive that train wreck. General Manager, Joe Douglas has no loyalty as he wasn’t the GM who drafted him at the time back in 2018. The Jets will likely move on from Darnold and ship him away to a team such as the Steelers, Saints, Colts or Bears who are in need of a Quarterback for a Day 2 pick. Justin Fields has an argument for being the #1 overall pick and would most likely be if it wasn’t for Lawrence. Fields is the complete package and has the maturity, arm strength, mobility and leadership to lead an NFL franchise in the right direction. If anyone can handle the pressure of living up to the New York media, it would be Justin Fields.
NFL Comparison: Deshaun Watson
Round 1 Pick 3: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier has done a fantastic job building one of the league’s best defenses but now he needs to find a way to fix the offense and build around last year’s 5th overall pick, Tua Tagovailoa. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and LSU’s Jamar Chase would normally make a lot of sense here if the Jets take Sewell and pass on Fields but having the 18th overall pick creates a lot more flexibility in a deep receiver class. Tua needs more weapons but Miami also needs to provide the best protection possible for him if they want to keep him on the field consistently. If there was ever a time to talk about a can’t miss Offensive Line prospect, Sewell is the guy. He’s the best tackle to arguably come out in the last decade. He’s a big mauler tackle with surprising speed that can play both Left or Right Tackle and be an All-Pro at both positions in his rookie season. Miami traded away Laremy Tunsil in the deal to acquire this pick a few years back, it’s only right if they take a Tunsil replacement with the pick.
NFL Comparison: Anthony Munoz
Round 1 Pick 4: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Atlanta can’t move on from Matt Ryan until the 2022 season, they should be on the verge of finding his replacement as Ryan is already 35 years old. Zach Wilson is the type of raw prospect that has a ton of upside. Wilson is a natural thrower of the football and can make any NFL throw if it’s a side-arm, tight coverage or while on the run. Wilson is the perfect guy to sit behind Ryan for a year or so and learn from him as he’s not quite ready as some of the others are in this class. Taking Wilson all depends on who they hire as Head Coach, I would love to see a Eric Bieniemy/Zach Wilson pairing with Calvin Ridley for the foreseeable future as the rest of the NFL should be put on notice if this happens.
NFL Comparison: Patrick Mahomes
Round 1 Pick 5: Jamar Chase, WR, LSU
Joe Burrow looked unbelievable prior to his injury and already looks like the franchise QB the Bengals have been looking for. Cincinnati’s number one priority this offseason should be protecting Burrow at all costs. It would be a miracle if Sewell fell to them here but looks very unlikely and drafting Rashawn Slater from Northwestern is a bit too rich this high. They found a gem in rookie Tee Higgins in last year’s draft and AJ Green will likely walk into free agency. The Bengals would be crazy to pass on a Burrow to Chase duo in the NFL as they were a part of College Football’s best offense ever in 2019 which was led by Burrow and Chase. Together the two were nearly unstoppable as Chase recorded 1,780 yards and 23 Touchdowns from Burrow in the 2019 season. Even with Chase opting out of the 2020 College Football Season, he is the top of this year’s loaded receiver class and Cincinnati needs to jump on this opportunity.
NFL Comparison: Steve Smith
Round 1 Pick 6: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Eagles have a ton of holes pretty much everywhere and the wide receiver position is up there as a priority but they need to select the best player available. The Eagles defense allowed 363.1 yards per game and gave up 26.1 points per game. Philadelphia needs to find a way to improve and taking the best defensive player in the draft is the way to go. Parsons is a day one starter and can be the leader on defense that Philadelphia desperately needs. It will be hard for Howie Roseman to pass up on another explosive receiver in this year’s draft but Micah Parsons fills a much bigger need for Philadelphia.
NFL Comparison: Shaq Thompson
Round 1 Pick 7: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Lions are in the search of a Head Coach and General Manager, the question now is will Matthew Stafford be the quarterback to start the 2021 season? If so, Detroit will need to find a potential Marvin Jones replacement as it’s unlikely he’ll be back next season. Teaming up an explosive game-changing receiver such as Smith with Golladay is the perfect move to make going into next season. Detroit will have a young trio of DeVonta Smith, D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson and that would be a way to extend Stafford’s career as he’s shown to be injury prone the past few seasons.
NFL Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Round 1 Pick 8: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Matt Rhule used his entire 2019 draft class on the defensive side of the ball and that won’t be changing here. Carolina has one of the worst secondary’s and Donte Jackson isn’t what they need as their lockdown corner going forward. Surtain has been at Alabama the past three seasons and has been nothing but exceptional over there. Nick Saban had Minkah Fitzpatrick as his go to guy on defense that he can trust and now he’s had Surtain as his guy. Surtain has the ability to play corner or safety at the pro level and this is the perfect pick for a young Carolina defense.
NFL Comparison: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Round 1 Pick 9: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Denver lost Chris Harris Jr in free agency last offseason and made a trade for AJ Bouye to replace him. Bouye is a nice #2 but he’s no lockdown corner and Vic Fangio needs to fix his defense fast if he wants to retain his job going forward. Caleb Farley is a perfect scheme fit for Denver and can be a day one starter for them. Quarterback is a possibility here but I think Denver will play it safe and take Farley.
NFL Comparison: Jimmy Smith
Round 1 Pick 10: Rashawn Slater, OT/OG, Northwestern
The Cowboys could potentially take a quarterback here if they decide to let Dak Prescott walk in free agency. Dallas has a lot of needs all over the place but we don’t know how much Tyron Smith has left in him and with the unexpected retirement last season of Travis Frederick, the Cowboys need to fix their offensive line. Slater has the most upside out of all of the offensive lineman in this year’s draft, he has the ability to play any of the five positions on the line. At Northwestern, he played every position on the line and exceeded expectations. Dallas needs to find more ways to get Ezekiel Elliot going and drafting Slater here would be a good start as he can slide in at Left Guard right away or move over to Right Tackle.
NFL Comparison: Jonah Williams
Round 1 Pick 11: Kwity Paye, DE/DT, Michigan
Joe Judge and the Giants have a lot of needs but I think they need to keep building the defense. Selecting Paye here will be adding a much needed edge rusher to the defensive line to team up with Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams. Paye is the perfect fit in New York’s 3-4 defense as Paye has the ability to play both inside and out on the edge.
NFL Comparison: Jonathan Allen
Round 1 Pick 12: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The Jimmy Garoppolo experiment is officially over and Kyle Shanahan needs to find a game-changing quarterback that can take the offense to the next level. Lance is a dual threat quarterback that can extend plays which Garoppolo has struggled with thus far. Lance is known for having a strong arm and being super mobile but he also has the ability to lead a locker room and make everyone around him better. San Francisco needs to find a Franchise Quarterback as the NFC West is loaded with talent at the quarterback position with Kyler Murray, Jared Goff and Russell Wilson.
NFL Comparison: Josh Allen
Round 1 Pick 13: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
The Chargers found their franchise quarterback of the future in last year’s draft, now it’s time to find Justin Herbert some protection. Darrisaw is a big mauler with tremendous strength and will be an instant starter in the NFL. Los Angeles should be getting Bryan Bulaga back next season on the right side and now they will have Herbert’s blindside for the next decade.
NFL Comparison: Orlando Brown Jr
Round 1 Pick 14: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
Minnesota had one of the league’s worst defensive units and had a total of 23 sacks this past season. Danielle Hunter should be back at full strength to go along with Michael Pierce on the defensive line. Adding Rousseau will create havoc on opposing offensive lines and hopefully fill in a hole for Minnesota as they look for their Everson Griffen replacement.
NFL Comparison: Danielle Hunter
Round 1 Pick 15: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
The Cam Newton experiment was an absolute failure and New England needs a ton of help on the offensive side of the ball. Mac Jones makes a lot of sense for New England and will be a great fit for them as he doesn’t turn over the football and he can make the big time throws when needed. New England could take a receiver such as Jaylen Waddle here but Jones has too much upside to pass on.
NFL Comparison: Jimmy Garappolo
Round 1 Pick 16: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Arizona’s defense is a complete mess, especially in the secondary as they are likely to move on from Patrick Peterson. In week 17, John Wolford passed for 231 yards with ease against Arizona’s defense and made some big time throws that helped eliminate the Cardinals from playoff contention. Horn makes a lot of sense as Arizona is looking for Patrick Peterson’s replacement and someone to team up with Budda Baker, Isaiah Simmons and Byron Murphy in the secondary.
NFL Comparison: Kyle Fuller
Round 1 Pick 17: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC
Las Vegas already has a pretty loaded offensive line but there is no reason not to keep loading up on talent, especially the interior. The Raiders already have an elite guard in Richie Incognito but on the opposite side, Gabe Jackson who has been very underwhelming since he signed his extension a few years back hasn’t lived up to his contract. Vera-Tucker can easily go top 15 but in this scenario he will drop slightly and land with a team that already has one of the league’s best offensive lines. Vera-Tucker will solidify the Raiders interior offensive line for years to come and create more holes for Josh Jacobs as they hope to return to the playoffs in 2021.
NFL Comparison: Mike Lupati
Round 1 Pick 18: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Miami needs to improve on offense this offseason and already did by selecting Penei Sewell at pick #3. Tua needs weapons and he’s already familiar with Waddle from their days together at Alabama. Waddle is likely going to slip in the draft due to an ankle injury he suffered during the season that kept him out the rest of the year. Waddle is the perfect slot receiver to add into Miami’s offense that they can team up with Devante Parker and Preston Williams.
NFL Comparison: Randall Cobb
Round 1 Pick 19: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Washington traded away one of the best tackles in the league this past offseason and it makes sense to find a replacement for Trent Williams. Washington needs to make protecting Alex Smith a priority heading into the offseason. Cosmi will be a solid starting caliber Left Tackle and drafting him at pick 19 is great value.
NFL Comparison: Riley Reiff
Round 1 Pick 20: Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State
Somehow the Chicago Bears made it to the playoffs with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback after the offense struggled with Nick Foles. Chicago’s offensive line has been their achilles heel on offense as both Foles and Trubisky have been sacked 36 times this season. The interior of the offensive line has been a big issue for Chicago and selecting Davis here will help stabilize the interior as he can be an All-Pro Guard for Chicago right away. He will likely start at Right Guard while Cody Whitehair stays at Center and James Daniels comes back next season as starting Left Guard.
NFL Comparison: Kelechi Osemele
Round 1 Pick 21: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Jacksonville already drafted Trevor Lawrence #1 overall and surrounding him with as many weapons as possible is the best way to start his career. Pitts is one of the most explosive players in college football and he plays the tight end position. Teaming up Lawrence and Pitts could be as dynamic as the Mahomes and Kelce connection. Jacksonville can be one of the most explosive and dynamic offenses in the league with Lawrence, Pitts, Shenault and Robinson all under the age of 25 and on rookie deals.
NFL Comparison: Chase Claypool/Evan Engram
Round 1 Pick 22: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Indianapolis could be on the search for a Phillip Rivers replacement but in this mock, I believe they keep building the defense. The secondary is a pretty big need for them as Xavier Rhodes isn’t getting any younger and he’s not as agile as he once was. Rock Ya-Sin has been a solid Chris Ballard selection but selecting Wade here makes a ton of sense as he’s a little raw but has as much upside as any corner in this draft. Wade won’t be rushed to start right away and the Colts can slowly work him in.
NFL Comparison: Carlton Davis
Round 1 Pick 23: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Cleveland has to fill a lot of needs on the defensive side of the ball, especially when it comes to the linebacker position. The Browns will likely move on from Malcolm Smith this offseason and BJ Goodson isn’t the answer at Middle-Linebacker. Selecting Owusu-Koramoah makes a ton of sense here and he will start right away in the middle as both Jacob Phillips and Mack Wilson will start on the outside. This pick will create a dynamic trio to build off of as they already have a young up and coming secondary to go with one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushers, Myles Garrett upfront at defensive end.
NFL Comparison: Demario Davis
Round 1 Pick 24: Jealan Phillips, DE, Miami
Tennessee doesn’t have a ton of holes to fill but selecting Phillips here is likely a Jadeveon Clowney replacement. They will need to find another pass rusher to team up with Harold Landry and Phillips is raw with a ton of upside. Mike Vrabel will be able to get the best out of Phillips if he develops as he’s expected to.
NFL Comparison: Harold Landry
Round 1 Pick 25: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
Tom Brady will be back next season at age 44 and he’s going to need as much protection as possible. Tampa Bay hit a homerun with Tristian Wirfs and he solidified the Right Tackle spot on the offensive line. Eichenberg will start right away for Tampa Bay as they desperately try to move on from Donovan Smith who has been a complete disaster as Left Tackle.
NFL Comparison: Alejandro Villenueva
Round 1 Pick 26: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, LSU
Lamar Jackson still doesn’t have a reliable #1 receiver in Baltimore as Marquise Brown hasn’t lived up to expectations since being drafted in the first round a few years back. Adding Marshall here will give Jackson a red zone target besides Mark Andrews. Marshall is a big body receiver who can out jump opposing defenders due to his 6’4” height and athleticism. Baltimore needs to load up at receiver as Willie Snead isn’t getting any younger and Miles Boykin hasn’t proven to be anything special since he’s entered the league.
NFL Comparison: Mike Williams
Round 1 Pick 27: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Le’Veon Bell signing turned out as badly as everyone predicted and New York has moved on from him and Adam Gase. New York already selected a dynamic player in Justin Fields so might as well grab the most dynamic back in this year’s draft. Etienne is the most complete back in this draft and isn’t just a great back running between the tackles, he is even more dangerous out of the backfield in the receiving game. He has the ability to line up all over the field and be a dangerous offensive weapon. New York has now found their Quarterback and Running Back of the future and now has a chance to be one of the league’s most explosive offenses down the road.
NFL Comparison: Alvin Kamara
Round 1 Pick 28: Kyle Trask, QB Florida
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been spoiled since 2004 as Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL History. They haven’t had a backup plan for years and Mason Rudolph isn’t the guy. The time has come that Pittsburgh fan’s have been dreading and that’s the end of Big Ben. Roethlisberger is washed up and at the end of his career and it’s now time to figure out his heir apparent as next season is likely his last. Kyle Trask makes a lot of sense here as he isn’t ready to start and needs about a year to learn the speed of the NFL and I can’t think of a better spot than with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Comparison: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Round 1 Pick 29: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Drew Brees is rumored to be retiring at the end of this season and they will likely go forward with Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston. Emmanuel Sanders isn’t getting any younger and Tre’Quan Smith isn’t a #2 receiver. Selecting Bateman here will provide a reliable target that can compliment Michael Thomas very nicely. Whoever takes over after Brees will need as many weapons as possible and adding Bateman to an offense surrounded by Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara can certainly help.
NFL Comparison: Keenan Allen
Round 1 Pick 30: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
The Buffalo Bills offense is as explosive as anyone in the league but the only reason they can’t necessarily compete with Kansas City offensively just yet is because they can’t run the ball efficiently. Devin Singletery is a nice change of pace back to have on third down but he’s never going to get you 200 carries and double digit touchdowns in a season. Harris can come in and be a workhorse back right away and slow down the game by running all over defenses. He has the ability to be a three-down back and carry the ball over 300 times if needed. Harris will set up the play action with Allen and create more separation for Stefon Diggs so he isn’t consistently double covered.
NFL Comparison: Mark Ingram
Round 1 Pick 31: Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
The Green Bay Packers need to desperately find a receiver to compliment Davante Adams if they want to extend Aaron Rodgers’s career. Moore is a speedster who can be very shifty and make defenders miss when it looks like there is nowhere to go. Moore can be used on kick and punt returns but also can burn a defense on the outside with his burst of speed.
NFL Comparison: Curtis Samuel
Round 1 Pick 32: Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson
Kansas City won’t ever have a lot of needs due to having Patrick Mahomes leading the way but they will need to work on the defense if they want to avoid losing shoot outs to Justin Herbert. The Chiefs have lost Marcus Peters and Kendall Fuller over the past few years and need to find a reliable cornerback to defend the pass-heavy AFC West.
NFL Comparison: AJ Terrell
Contributor Thomas Gorski takes us through his projections for the 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
Round 1 Pick 1: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t possibly mess this pick up as they are going to land arguably the most talented quarterback to ever come out of College Football. The Jaguars are rumored to be on the verge of landing former Ohio State and Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer. I can’t imagine that he would come out of retirement to coach unless he was going to end up with a once in a generation type quarterback such as Trevor Lawrence.
NFL Comparison: Andrew Luck
Round 1 Pick 2: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The Sam Darnold experiment hasn’t gone as expected and part of the blame was having Adam Gase as his Head Coach, not many can survive that train wreck. General Manager, Joe Douglas has no loyalty as he wasn’t the GM who drafted him at the time back in 2018. The Jets will likely move on from Darnold and ship him away to a team such as the Steelers, Saints, Colts or Bears who are in need of a Quarterback for a Day 2 pick. Justin Fields has an argument for being the #1 overall pick and would most likely be if it wasn’t for Lawrence. Fields is the complete package and has the maturity, arm strength, mobility and leadership to lead an NFL franchise in the right direction. If anyone can handle the pressure of living up to the New York media, it would be Justin Fields.
NFL Comparison: Deshaun Watson
Round 1 Pick 3: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier has done a fantastic job building one of the league’s best defenses but now he needs to find a way to fix the offense and build around last year’s 5th overall pick, Tua Tagovailoa. Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and LSU’s Jamar Chase would normally make a lot of sense here if the Jets take Sewell and pass on Fields but having the 18th overall pick creates a lot more flexibility in a deep receiver class. Tua needs more weapons but Miami also needs to provide the best protection possible for him if they want to keep him on the field consistently. If there was ever a time to talk about a can’t miss Offensive Line prospect, Sewell is the guy. He’s the best tackle to arguably come out in the last decade. He’s a big mauler tackle with surprising speed that can play both Left or Right Tackle and be an All-Pro at both positions in his rookie season. Miami traded away Laremy Tunsil in the deal to acquire this pick a few years back, it’s only right if they take a Tunsil replacement with the pick.
NFL Comparison: Anthony Munoz
Round 1 Pick 4: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Atlanta can’t move on from Matt Ryan until the 2022 season, they should be on the verge of finding his replacement as Ryan is already 35 years old. Zach Wilson is the type of raw prospect that has a ton of upside. Wilson is a natural thrower of the football and can make any NFL throw if it’s a side-arm, tight coverage or while on the run. Wilson is the perfect guy to sit behind Ryan for a year or so and learn from him as he’s not quite ready as some of the others are in this class. Taking Wilson all depends on who they hire as Head Coach, I would love to see a Eric Bieniemy/Zach Wilson pairing with Calvin Ridley for the foreseeable future as the rest of the NFL should be put on notice if this happens.
NFL Comparison: Patrick Mahomes
Round 1 Pick 5: Jamar Chase, WR, LSU
Joe Burrow looked unbelievable prior to his injury and already looks like the franchise QB the Bengals have been looking for. Cincinnati’s number one priority this offseason should be protecting Burrow at all costs. It would be a miracle if Sewell fell to them here but looks very unlikely and drafting Rashawn Slater from Northwestern is a bit too rich this high. They found a gem in rookie Tee Higgins in last year’s draft and AJ Green will likely walk into free agency. The Bengals would be crazy to pass on a Burrow to Chase duo in the NFL as they were a part of College Football’s best offense ever in 2019 which was led by Burrow and Chase. Together the two were nearly unstoppable as Chase recorded 1,780 yards and 23 Touchdowns from Burrow in the 2019 season. Even with Chase opting out of the 2020 College Football Season, he is the top of this year’s loaded receiver class and Cincinnati needs to jump on this opportunity.
NFL Comparison: Steve Smith
Round 1 Pick 6: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Eagles have a ton of holes pretty much everywhere and the wide receiver position is up there as a priority but they need to select the best player available. The Eagles defense allowed 363.1 yards per game and gave up 26.1 points per game. Philadelphia needs to find a way to improve and taking the best defensive player in the draft is the way to go. Parsons is a day one starter and can be the leader on defense that Philadelphia desperately needs. It will be hard for Howie Roseman to pass up on another explosive receiver in this year’s draft but Micah Parsons fills a much bigger need for Philadelphia.
NFL Comparison: Shaq Thompson
Round 1 Pick 7: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Lions are in the search of a Head Coach and General Manager, the question now is will Matthew Stafford be the quarterback to start the 2021 season? If so, Detroit will need to find a potential Marvin Jones replacement as it’s unlikely he’ll be back next season. Teaming up an explosive game-changing receiver such as Smith with Golladay is the perfect move to make going into next season. Detroit will have a young trio of DeVonta Smith, D’Andre Swift and TJ Hockenson and that would be a way to extend Stafford’s career as he’s shown to be injury prone the past few seasons.
NFL Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Round 1 Pick 8: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Matt Rhule used his entire 2019 draft class on the defensive side of the ball and that won’t be changing here. Carolina has one of the worst secondary’s and Donte Jackson isn’t what they need as their lockdown corner going forward. Surtain has been at Alabama the past three seasons and has been nothing but exceptional over there. Nick Saban had Minkah Fitzpatrick as his go to guy on defense that he can trust and now he’s had Surtain as his guy. Surtain has the ability to play corner or safety at the pro level and this is the perfect pick for a young Carolina defense.
NFL Comparison: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Round 1 Pick 9: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Denver lost Chris Harris Jr in free agency last offseason and made a trade for AJ Bouye to replace him. Bouye is a nice #2 but he’s no lockdown corner and Vic Fangio needs to fix his defense fast if he wants to retain his job going forward. Caleb Farley is a perfect scheme fit for Denver and can be a day one starter for them. Quarterback is a possibility here but I think Denver will play it safe and take Farley.
NFL Comparison: Jimmy Smith
Round 1 Pick 10: Rashawn Slater, OT/OG, Northwestern
The Cowboys could potentially take a quarterback here if they decide to let Dak Prescott walk in free agency. Dallas has a lot of needs all over the place but we don’t know how much Tyron Smith has left in him and with the unexpected retirement last season of Travis Frederick, the Cowboys need to fix their offensive line. Slater has the most upside out of all of the offensive lineman in this year’s draft, he has the ability to play any of the five positions on the line. At Northwestern, he played every position on the line and exceeded expectations. Dallas needs to find more ways to get Ezekiel Elliot going and drafting Slater here would be a good start as he can slide in at Left Guard right away or move over to Right Tackle.
NFL Comparison: Jonah Williams
Round 1 Pick 11: Kwity Paye, DE/DT, Michigan
Joe Judge and the Giants have a lot of needs but I think they need to keep building the defense. Selecting Paye here will be adding a much needed edge rusher to the defensive line to team up with Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams. Paye is the perfect fit in New York’s 3-4 defense as Paye has the ability to play both inside and out on the edge.
NFL Comparison: Jonathan Allen
Round 1 Pick 12: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
The Jimmy Garoppolo experiment is officially over and Kyle Shanahan needs to find a game-changing quarterback that can take the offense to the next level. Lance is a dual threat quarterback that can extend plays which Garoppolo has struggled with thus far. Lance is known for having a strong arm and being super mobile but he also has the ability to lead a locker room and make everyone around him better. San Francisco needs to find a Franchise Quarterback as the NFC West is loaded with talent at the quarterback position with Kyler Murray, Jared Goff and Russell Wilson.
NFL Comparison: Josh Allen
Round 1 Pick 13: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
The Chargers found their franchise quarterback of the future in last year’s draft, now it’s time to find Justin Herbert some protection. Darrisaw is a big mauler with tremendous strength and will be an instant starter in the NFL. Los Angeles should be getting Bryan Bulaga back next season on the right side and now they will have Herbert’s blindside for the next decade.
NFL Comparison: Orlando Brown Jr
Round 1 Pick 14: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
Minnesota had one of the league’s worst defensive units and had a total of 23 sacks this past season. Danielle Hunter should be back at full strength to go along with Michael Pierce on the defensive line. Adding Rousseau will create havoc on opposing offensive lines and hopefully fill in a hole for Minnesota as they look for their Everson Griffen replacement.
NFL Comparison: Danielle Hunter
Round 1 Pick 15: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
The Cam Newton experiment was an absolute failure and New England needs a ton of help on the offensive side of the ball. Mac Jones makes a lot of sense for New England and will be a great fit for them as he doesn’t turn over the football and he can make the big time throws when needed. New England could take a receiver such as Jaylen Waddle here but Jones has too much upside to pass on.
NFL Comparison: Jimmy Garappolo
Round 1 Pick 16: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Arizona’s defense is a complete mess, especially in the secondary as they are likely to move on from Patrick Peterson. In week 17, John Wolford passed for 231 yards with ease against Arizona’s defense and made some big time throws that helped eliminate the Cardinals from playoff contention. Horn makes a lot of sense as Arizona is looking for Patrick Peterson’s replacement and someone to team up with Budda Baker, Isaiah Simmons and Byron Murphy in the secondary.
NFL Comparison: Kyle Fuller
Round 1 Pick 17: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC
Las Vegas already has a pretty loaded offensive line but there is no reason not to keep loading up on talent, especially the interior. The Raiders already have an elite guard in Richie Incognito but on the opposite side, Gabe Jackson who has been very underwhelming since he signed his extension a few years back hasn’t lived up to his contract. Vera-Tucker can easily go top 15 but in this scenario he will drop slightly and land with a team that already has one of the league’s best offensive lines. Vera-Tucker will solidify the Raiders interior offensive line for years to come and create more holes for Josh Jacobs as they hope to return to the playoffs in 2021.
NFL Comparison: Mike Lupati
Round 1 Pick 18: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Miami needs to improve on offense this offseason and already did by selecting Penei Sewell at pick #3. Tua needs weapons and he’s already familiar with Waddle from their days together at Alabama. Waddle is likely going to slip in the draft due to an ankle injury he suffered during the season that kept him out the rest of the year. Waddle is the perfect slot receiver to add into Miami’s offense that they can team up with Devante Parker and Preston Williams.
NFL Comparison: Randall Cobb
Round 1 Pick 19: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Washington traded away one of the best tackles in the league this past offseason and it makes sense to find a replacement for Trent Williams. Washington needs to make protecting Alex Smith a priority heading into the offseason. Cosmi will be a solid starting caliber Left Tackle and drafting him at pick 19 is great value.
NFL Comparison: Riley Reiff
Round 1 Pick 20: Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State
Somehow the Chicago Bears made it to the playoffs with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback after the offense struggled with Nick Foles. Chicago’s offensive line has been their achilles heel on offense as both Foles and Trubisky have been sacked 36 times this season. The interior of the offensive line has been a big issue for Chicago and selecting Davis here will help stabilize the interior as he can be an All-Pro Guard for Chicago right away. He will likely start at Right Guard while Cody Whitehair stays at Center and James Daniels comes back next season as starting Left Guard.
NFL Comparison: Kelechi Osemele
Round 1 Pick 21: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Jacksonville already drafted Trevor Lawrence #1 overall and surrounding him with as many weapons as possible is the best way to start his career. Pitts is one of the most explosive players in college football and he plays the tight end position. Teaming up Lawrence and Pitts could be as dynamic as the Mahomes and Kelce connection. Jacksonville can be one of the most explosive and dynamic offenses in the league with Lawrence, Pitts, Shenault and Robinson all under the age of 25 and on rookie deals.
NFL Comparison: Chase Claypool/Evan Engram
Round 1 Pick 22: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Indianapolis could be on the search for a Phillip Rivers replacement but in this mock, I believe they keep building the defense. The secondary is a pretty big need for them as Xavier Rhodes isn’t getting any younger and he’s not as agile as he once was. Rock Ya-Sin has been a solid Chris Ballard selection but selecting Wade here makes a ton of sense as he’s a little raw but has as much upside as any corner in this draft. Wade won’t be rushed to start right away and the Colts can slowly work him in.
NFL Comparison: Carlton Davis
Round 1 Pick 23: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Cleveland has to fill a lot of needs on the defensive side of the ball, especially when it comes to the linebacker position. The Browns will likely move on from Malcolm Smith this offseason and BJ Goodson isn’t the answer at Middle-Linebacker. Selecting Owusu-Koramoah makes a ton of sense here and he will start right away in the middle as both Jacob Phillips and Mack Wilson will start on the outside. This pick will create a dynamic trio to build off of as they already have a young up and coming secondary to go with one of the league’s most dangerous pass rushers, Myles Garrett upfront at defensive end.
NFL Comparison: Demario Davis
Round 1 Pick 24: Jealan Phillips, DE, Miami
Tennessee doesn’t have a ton of holes to fill but selecting Phillips here is likely a Jadeveon Clowney replacement. They will need to find another pass rusher to team up with Harold Landry and Phillips is raw with a ton of upside. Mike Vrabel will be able to get the best out of Phillips if he develops as he’s expected to.
NFL Comparison: Harold Landry
Round 1 Pick 25: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
Tom Brady will be back next season at age 44 and he’s going to need as much protection as possible. Tampa Bay hit a homerun with Tristian Wirfs and he solidified the Right Tackle spot on the offensive line. Eichenberg will start right away for Tampa Bay as they desperately try to move on from Donovan Smith who has been a complete disaster as Left Tackle.
NFL Comparison: Alejandro Villenueva
Round 1 Pick 26: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, LSU
Lamar Jackson still doesn’t have a reliable #1 receiver in Baltimore as Marquise Brown hasn’t lived up to expectations since being drafted in the first round a few years back. Adding Marshall here will give Jackson a red zone target besides Mark Andrews. Marshall is a big body receiver who can out jump opposing defenders due to his 6’4” height and athleticism. Baltimore needs to load up at receiver as Willie Snead isn’t getting any younger and Miles Boykin hasn’t proven to be anything special since he’s entered the league.
NFL Comparison: Mike Williams
Round 1 Pick 27: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Le’Veon Bell signing turned out as badly as everyone predicted and New York has moved on from him and Adam Gase. New York already selected a dynamic player in Justin Fields so might as well grab the most dynamic back in this year’s draft. Etienne is the most complete back in this draft and isn’t just a great back running between the tackles, he is even more dangerous out of the backfield in the receiving game. He has the ability to line up all over the field and be a dangerous offensive weapon. New York has now found their Quarterback and Running Back of the future and now has a chance to be one of the league’s most explosive offenses down the road.
NFL Comparison: Alvin Kamara
Round 1 Pick 28: Kyle Trask, QB Florida
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been spoiled since 2004 as Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL History. They haven’t had a backup plan for years and Mason Rudolph isn’t the guy. The time has come that Pittsburgh fan’s have been dreading and that’s the end of Big Ben. Roethlisberger is washed up and at the end of his career and it’s now time to figure out his heir apparent as next season is likely his last. Kyle Trask makes a lot of sense here as he isn’t ready to start and needs about a year to learn the speed of the NFL and I can’t think of a better spot than with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Comparison: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Round 1 Pick 29: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Drew Brees is rumored to be retiring at the end of this season and they will likely go forward with Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston. Emmanuel Sanders isn’t getting any younger and Tre’Quan Smith isn’t a #2 receiver. Selecting Bateman here will provide a reliable target that can compliment Michael Thomas very nicely. Whoever takes over after Brees will need as many weapons as possible and adding Bateman to an offense surrounded by Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara can certainly help.
NFL Comparison: Keenan Allen
Round 1 Pick 30: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
The Buffalo Bills offense is as explosive as anyone in the league but the only reason they can’t necessarily compete with Kansas City offensively just yet is because they can’t run the ball efficiently. Devin Singletery is a nice change of pace back to have on third down but he’s never going to get you 200 carries and double digit touchdowns in a season. Harris can come in and be a workhorse back right away and slow down the game by running all over defenses. He has the ability to be a three-down back and carry the ball over 300 times if needed. Harris will set up the play action with Allen and create more separation for Stefon Diggs so he isn’t consistently double covered.
NFL Comparison: Mark Ingram
Round 1 Pick 31: Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
The Green Bay Packers need to desperately find a receiver to compliment Davante Adams if they want to extend Aaron Rodgers’s career. Moore is a speedster who can be very shifty and make defenders miss when it looks like there is nowhere to go. Moore can be used on kick and punt returns but also can burn a defense on the outside with his burst of speed.
NFL Comparison: Curtis Samuel
Round 1 Pick 32: Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson
Kansas City won’t ever have a lot of needs due to having Patrick Mahomes leading the way but they will need to work on the defense if they want to avoid losing shoot outs to Justin Herbert. The Chiefs have lost Marcus Peters and Kendall Fuller over the past few years and need to find a reliable cornerback to defend the pass-heavy AFC West.
NFL Comparison: AJ Terrell
This post first appeared on Sports, Business, Tech And Entertainment Content, please read the originial post: here
