The NFL draft is coming quickly and pro days are winding down. Draft boards are taking shape for the teams around the NFL. The rumors and smoke will make for a fun month for fans. With two blockbuster trades already completed, this NFL draft season should be one for the books. Even with many more shocking moves to be made, it’s never a bad time for a first mock draft, and here is an attempt to get at least something right.
Two-Round Mock 2021 NFL Draft
First Round
Jacksonville Jaguars- Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)
This is about as close to a lock as you can get. The Jaguars won the lottery last season when the New York Jets decided to win. Trevor Lawrence is a great prospect, who had a great college career at Clemson. This could be a franchise-changing pick for the Jaguars and new head coach Urban Meyer.
New York Jets- Quarterback Zach Wilson (BYU)
There is smoke the Jets are going to build around Sam Darnold, but chances are they move in another direction. This draft class is deep at quarterback and next year’s is lacking. The Jets address the position now with Zach Wilson and hopefully find a trade partner for Darnold.
San Francisco 49ers- Quarterback Justin Fields (Ohio State)
Rumors are flying, but head coach Kyle Shanahan can’t pass on Justin Fields, right? I think the Fields pro-day cemented him as the third pick in this class.
Atlanta Falcons- Tight End Kyle Pitts (Florida)
The Falcons traded for tight end Hayden Hurst last season, but Kyle Pitts is too good to pass up. Even with bigger needs on the roster, the Falcons get arguably the best weapon in this draft to pair with an already elite receiver core. If they are rolling with quarterback Matt Ryan for a few more seasons, it’s not a bad idea to stack some weapons for him.
Cincinnati Bengals– Offensive Tackle Rashawn Slater (Northwestern)
The Bengals can go many routes here. However, grabbing an elite tackle to protect their best asset in Joe Burrow is the move they should make. Passing on a wide receiver is tough, but with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins in the fold, I don’t think the Bengals lack weapons.
Miami Dolphins- Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase ( LSU)
The Dolphins have set themselves up nicely for the future. In their trade frenzy, they landed on the sixth pick. In this scenario, the Dolphins land the best receiver in Ja’Marr Chase at six, a dream come true.
Detroit Lions- Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)
After losing Wide Receivers Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay to free agency, the Lions have to get a threat at the position. Jaylen Waddle isn’t a bad consolation prize in this spot.
Carolina Panthers- Quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State)
Carolina isn’t in desperation mode at quarterback, which makes this pick a home run. Trey Lance has a chance to be elite but may need some time to develop. A year behind current quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with NFL coaching is an ideal landing spot for him and Carolina.
Denver Broncos- Quarterback Mac Jones ( Alabama)
The Broncos are a team that seems to be a quarterback away. Mac Jones, may not be the top guy in this class, but in the right landing spot, he can succeed. Same as Lance, they could roll with Drew Lock for a year and let Jones develop a bit more.
Dallas Cowboys- Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell (Oregon)
Similar to CeeDee Lamb last season, this may not be the biggest need, but it’s the best pick. Tyron Smith banged up often, getting a young tackle in the building is a smart move. Especially, if Penei Sewell drops this far with the quarterback run up top.
New York Giants– Linebacker Micah Parsons (Penn State)
Micah Parsons is arguably the best defensive player in the draft and getting him at pick 11 is a steal for the Giants. The Giants are all of a sudden building a good young team in Queens.
Philadelphia Eagles- Cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama)
The Eagles fan base is a bit upset about the trade down. However, in this scenario, they still get the best corner in the class. Patrick Surtain II has shot up my draft board and the buzz around the league is teams consider him the clear-cut number one corner in the class.
Los Angeles Chargers- Offensive Tackle Christian Darrisaw (Virginia Tech)
Similar to the Bengals, the most important thing is to protect your franchise quarterback. The Chargers get a good tackle in Christian Darrisaw to help solidify their line here at 13.
Minnesota Vikings- Edge Kwity Paye (Michigan)
A year after losing edge Everson Griffen, the Vikings get a stud opposite of fellow edge defender Danielle Hunter. Kwity Paye tested extremely well and the hope is he can translate to a good pro player.
New England Patriots- Wide Receiver Devonta Smith (Alabama)
Even with the additions of wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, it’s difficult to see the Patriots passing on Smith here. Head coach Bill Belichick clearly wants upgrades all over the offense, and he isn’t passing on the Heisman Trophy winner.
Arizona Cardinals- Cornerback Jaycee Horn (South Carolina)
With hall-of-fame caliber cornerback, Patrick Peterson no longer playing outside, the Cardinals swing for his replacement here. Jaycee Horn is an elite athlete, but also a great football player. This is a day one starter in the Cardinals secondary, who should make an immediate impact.
Las Vegas Raiders- Safety Trevon Moerhig-Woodard (TCU)
Raider fans have seen some awful defensive efforts the past few seasons. A big part of that is the back end of the secondary. Pairing Trevon Moehrig-Woodard, the best safety in the class with an improved Johnathan Abram could be the solution. With the depth of the tackle class, the Raiders check free safety off the board first.
Miami Dolphins– Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC)
Miami got Tua Tagovailoa a weapon early with the selection of Chase, and now they get him some protection. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a versatile interior lineman at the pro level, who can play a little tackle if needed.
Washington Football Team- Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman (Minnesota)
Even with the addition of wide receiver Curtis Samuel this off-season at receiver, the Redskins still could use one more elite option there. Rashod Bateman has the potential to give them a great one-two-three punch at the position.
Chicago Bears- Wide Receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. (LSU)
Terrace Marshall tested extremely well and offers the Bears a replacement for the eventual Allen Robinson departure.
Indianapolis Colts- Offensive Tackle Teven Jenkins (Oklahoma State)
The Colts get extremely lucky here. An already deep team gets even better with a potential future tackle in Teven Jenkins.
Tennessee Titans- Cornerback Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech)
Losing cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson this off-season hurt the Titans badly. Replacing them with a high-upside player in Caleb Farley is a great solution to the problem. Farley drops a bit due to medical concerns, but at pick 22 it’s worth the risk.
New York Jets- Edge Jayson Oweh (Penn State)
Jayson Oweh is a freak athlete, who could develop as an elite pass-rusher at the next level. His zero sacks last season is a scary risk, but the physical profile is there. The Jets take a risk here, especially with new head coach Robert Saleh in the building to develop him.
Pittsburgh Steelers- Offensive Tackle Dillon Radunz (North Dakota State)
With their starting left tackle leaving via free agency, the Steelers have a major hole on the line at the tackle positions. Dillon Radunz would go much higher in any other tackle class and is a good value pick at pick 24.
Jacksonville Jaguars- Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has some questions on where he fits at the pro level. However, at pick 25, it’s where you take good players, even if the position isn’t defined. He has elite traits that should translate well as an outside linebacker in the Jaguars system.
Cleveland Browns- Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore (Alabama)
The Browns interior defensive line isn’t the youngest, and Christian Barmore is an elite defensive player in this class that fell and shouldn’t be passed.
Baltimore Ravens– Wide Receiver Kadarius Toney (Florida)
The Ravens really need to upgrade their wide receiver room. They need to find a way to not have aging players like Dez Bryant taking snaps. Kadarius Toney is a great option for them and he should complement wide receiver Marquise Brown well there.
New Orleans Saints- Wide Receiver Elijah Moore (Ole Miss)
Head coach Sean Payton is always looking to improve his offense and adding a burner in Elijah Moore seems like a move he will make. Michael Thomas is good, but the Saints have lacked a legit wide receiver two for the past five seasons.
Green Bay Packers- Linebacker Zaven Collins (Tulsa)
As much as the packers should look at wide receiver options, Zaven Collins is too talented to pass up at 29.
Buffalo Bills- Edge Jaelan Phillips (Miami)
Jaelan Phillips has top-five talent, but with some concerns, he falls all the way into Buffalo’s lap. The Bills have excelled in the draft the past five years and that continues in 2021.
Kansas City Chiefs- Offensive Tackle Walker Little (Stanford)
The Chiefs released both starting tackles at the beginning of the off-season, Walker Little gives them a high upside replacement. His biggest issue is the lack of college experience, not the talent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Defensive Tackle Daviyon Nixon (Iowa)
Current starting defensive Ndamukong Suh should be retiring next off-season, and already is going to be on a snap count. Daviyon Nixon gives the Buccaneers a young rotational piece in the mix on the line.
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NFL Draft Day 2 Picks
33. Jacksonville – Tight End Pat Freiermuth (Penn State)
34. NY Jets – Running Back Najee Harris (Alabama)
35. Atlanta – Cornerback Greg Newsome II (Northwestern)
36. Miami – Linebacker Azeez Ojulari (Georgia)
37. Philadelphia – Linebacker Nick Bolton (Missouri)
38. Cincinnati -Wide Receiver Rondale Moore (Purdue)
39. Carolina – Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (Florida State)
40. Denver – Edge Gregory Rousseau (Miami)
41. Detroit – Edge Carlos Bashman Jr. (Wake Forest)
42. NY Giants – Guard Wyatt Davis (Ohio State)
43. San Francisco – Safety/Cornerback Jevon Holland (Oregon)
44. Dallas – Edge Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma)
45. Jacksonville – Tackle Samuel Cosmi (Texas)
46. New England – Running Back Travis Etienne (Clemson)
47. LA Chargers – Guard Trey Smith (Tennessee)
48. Las Vegas – Offensive Tackle Alex Leatherwood (Alabama)
49. Arizona – Tight End Brevin Jordan (Miami)
50. Miami – Running Back Javonte Williams (North Carolina)
51. Washington – Quarterback Jamie Newman (Wake Forest)
52. Chicago – Quarterback Davis Mills (Stanford)
53. Tennessee – Offensive Tackle Jackson Carman (Clemson)
54. Indianapolis – Wide Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (USC)
55. Pittsburgh – Cornerback Tyson Campbell (Georgia)
56. Seattle – Center Landon Dickerson (Alabama)
57. LA Rams – Safety Richie Grant (UCF)
58. Baltimore – Center Quinn Meinerz (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
59. Cleveland – Linebacker Jamin Davis (Kentucky)
60. New Orleans – Linebacker Jabril Cox (LSU)
61. Buffalo – Defensive Tackle Alim Mcneill (NC State)
62. Green Bay- Wide Receiver Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State)
63. Kansas City- Safety Jamar Johnson (Indiana)
64. Tampa Bay- Safety Andre Cisco (Syracuse)
Two-Round NFL Draft Mock 1.0
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