{"id":103189,"date":"2021-02-17T16:40:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T21:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=103189"},"modified":"2021-05-30T18:58:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T22:58:00","slug":"potts-2021-nfl-mock-draft-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/02\/17\/potts-2021-nfl-mock-draft-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Potts&#8217; 2021 NFL Mock Draft (2.0): Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the second of several mock drafts. This 2021 NFL mock draft will include trades. Stay tuned for more mock drafts as prospects rise and fall.<\/p>\n<h2>2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0, Including Trades: Part I<\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 1: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/jaguars\/\" target=\"_self\">Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/trevor-lawrence-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trevor Lawrence<\/a>, Quarterback, Clemson<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even in a mock draft with trades, the Jaguars land Lawrence.<\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;3936&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 2: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/texans\/\" target=\"_self\">Houston Texans<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=zach-wilson-4,zach-wilson-3,zach-wilson-1&amp;search=Zach+Wilson&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach Wilson<\/a>, Quarterback, BYU<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Houston trades Deshaun Watson to the Jets for a haul that includes the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft.<\/p>\n<p>Wilson is a high-risk, high-reward selection. He could help bypass Houston&#8217;s rebuilding phase, or he could put them in a deep hole moving forward.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 3: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/dolphins\/\" target=\"_self\">Miami Dolphins<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/devonta-smith-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DeVonta Smith<\/a>, Wide Receiver, Alabama<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As the saying goes, &#8220;if it ain&#8217;t broke, don&#8217;t fix it.&#8221; Smith and Tua Tagovailoa worked in college, and they should work in the NFL.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 4: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/lions\/\" target=\"_self\">Detroit Lions<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=justin-fields-2,justin-fields-1&amp;search=Justin+Fields&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justin Fields<\/a>, Quarterback, Ohio State<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Detroit trades the No. 7 pick to the Falcons for a haul that includes the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft. The Lions parted ways with Matthew Stafford, but Detroit gets their quarterback of the future here.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 5: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/bengals\/\" target=\"_self\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/penei-sewell-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Penei Sewell<\/a>, Offensive Tackle, Oregon<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sewell and incumbent left tackle Jonah Williams will immediately be one of the best tackle duos in the NFL.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 6: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/eagles\/\" target=\"_self\">Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jamarr-chase-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ja\u2019Marr Chase<\/a>, Wide Receiver, LSU<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After missing out on the likes of D.K. Metcalf and Justin Jefferson in the last two drafts, Philadelphia strikes gold with a future Pro Bowler.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 7: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/falcons\/\" target=\"_self\">Atlanta Falcons<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/kwity-paye-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kwity Paye<\/a>, EDGE, Michigan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Atlanta picks up extra draft capital in this trade, angling for one more push for a Lombardi under Matt Ryan. Paye will help the pass rush as the Falcons try to get back to their 2016 success.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 8: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/panthers\/\" target=\"_self\">Carolina Panthers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/rashawn-slater-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rashawn Slater<\/a>, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Slater will be the blindside protector for a to-be-determined quarterback.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 9: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/broncos\/\" target=\"_self\">Denver Broncos<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/patrick-surtain-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Surtain<\/a>, Cornerback, Alabama<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Surtain may not be as polished as some cornerbacks who have come out in recent seasons, but he is a perfect scheme fit in Vic Fangio&#8217;s defense.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 10: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cowboys\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/caleb-farley-1.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caleb Farley<\/a>, Cornerback, Virginia Tech<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Dallas defense was pillaged like few in NFL history have ever been pillaged. Farley should help.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 11: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/giants\/\" target=\"_self\">New York Giants<\/a>, Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver, Minnesota<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>New York has many solid receivers, but they are all Robins, not Batmans. Not only does Bateman resemble Batman in name, he could be the unquestioned star of the New York passing attack.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 12: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/lions\/\" target=\"_self\">San Francisco 49ers<\/a>, Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Parsons could stumble down the draft board with his character concerns, but as a player, he is a top-10 talent. San Francisco takes a superstar potential player here.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 13: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/chargers?\" target=\"_self\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>, Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Assuming that Hunter Henry walks in free agency, Pitts could be a phenomenal option for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles offense. While Pitts is listed as a tight end, he is a matchup nightmare, and he runs routes like wide receivers do. A Keenan Allen and Pitts duo could be one of the best pass-catching duos in the NFL.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 14: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Minnesota has great skill position players on offense, and they have a plethora of talented back-seven players on defense. In the trenches, Minnesota is simply poor. Darrisaw would be a Day One upgrade.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 15: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/patriots\/\" target=\"_self\">New England Patriots<\/a>, Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Lance is likely to go off the draft board early, but if he falls to New England, the Patriots should scoop up the college star. Lance was not quite as perfect as he was in 2019, but he has limitless upside. While New England desperately needs weapons, a quarterback upgrade is always useful.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No. 16: <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cardinals\/\" target=\"_self\">Arizona Cardinals<\/a>, Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Horn has Patrick Peterson-sized shoes to fill potentially, but the Gamecock should be up to the challenge.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/01\/30\/potts-2021-nfl-mock-draft-part-ii\/\" target=\"_self\">Check out picks No. 17-32 of the mock draft here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/02\/02\/nfl-mock-draft-1-0\/\" target=\"_self\">Check out a version of this mock draft without trades here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"Y-dnpQdGTMFTfs21JGlvDw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1294087896\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Y-dnpQdGTMFTfs21JGlvDw',sig:'6FCMspgS1SergT5GBGRESjpHQI45Sv9Q4tft4sQlPNo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1294087896',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the Draft coming up soon, here is the first half of the second iteration of Ryan Potts&#8217; 2021 NFL Mock Draft. This draft features trades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3502,"featured_media":104451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1647],"tags":[6669,6670,6990,6991,6249,7201],"class_list":["post-103189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-draft","tag-2021-nfl-draft","tag-devonta-smith","tag-justin-fields","tag-penei-sewell","tag-trevor-lawrence","tag-zach-wilson"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3502"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}