- Jack Gordon
- Apr 29, 2021
Author: Jack Casabonne
Editor: Brian Symons
With the NFL Draft literally a few hours away, I thought it would be a perfect time to compile a mock draft of the first round. While I expect there to be trades on Thursday, I didn’t include any in this mock. Instead, I paired prospects with teams aligned based on talent, need, and fit. Let’s get into it.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence
Not much has to be said here. This pick has pretty much been locked in since the end of the season, as Lawrence is the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.
New York Jets - Zach Wilson
This is another pick that is pretty much guaranteed. After dealing Darnold to Carolina, the Jets get their quarterback of the future with this selection.
San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields
I know there’s been a lot of talk about the 49ers potentially going with Mac Jones here, but I just don’t see it. Fields is a much more complete prospect and could be dangerous in Shanahan’s offense.
Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance
With the 4th pick, I could definitely see Atlanta trading back to acquire more draft capital. However, in this mock I have them taking the former North Dakota State quarterback. Letting Lance sit behind Ryan for a year or two will allow him to continue to grow as he is a raw prospect with tremendous upside.
Cincinnati Bengals - Ja’Marr Chase
The Bengals have a tough decision to make between Chase and Sewell, but I ultimately see them going with Burrow’s former teammate. I think the offensive line depth in this draft is much stronger than the wide receiver depth, allowing them to address that need in the second round.
Miami Dolphins - Kyle Pitts
Miami gives Tua an immensely talented weapon with this selection. In my opinion, Pitts is the best player in this entire draft. A tight end duo of Pitts and Gesicki would rival any in the league, and be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith
There are concerns about Smith’s stature as he weighed in under 170 pounds. However, the Heisman Trophy winner is too talented to pass up for Detroit, as they currently have the worst wide receiver room in the league.
Carolina Panthers - Penei Sewell
I could definitely see a team like the Chargers trading up to this spot in order to land Sewell or Slater. In this mock I have Carolina protecting their new quarterback with one of the youngest and most dominant offensive line prospects.
Denver Broncos - Mac Jones
Drew Lock is not the answer in Denver. After a disappointing 2020 season with a passer rating of 75.4, I think the Broncos jump on any chance to upgrade their quarterback room. Jones had an incredible season for Alabama, and it will be interesting to see his transition to the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain II
Dallas needs desperate help in the secondary following Chidobe Awuzie’s departure to Cincinnati. Surtain is the most NFL-ready cornerback in this class, with an extremely high floor. This move also reunites Trevon Diggs and Patrick Surtain II, two former Crimson Tide teammates.
New York Giants - Rashawn Slater
Even though the Giants spent the 4th overall pick on an offensive tackle last year, I can’t see them passing on Slater if he’s still on the board. Slater offers the Giants a day one starter at either tackle or guard, as he is one of the most complete players in the draft.
Philadelphia Eagles - Jaylen Waddle
The Eagles need to surround Jalen Hurts with weapons immediately. By pairing Waddle with the 2020 1st-round selection Jalen Reagor, the Eagles will have two receivers with track speed. Waddle will give Philadelphia a serious homerun threat every time he steps on the field.
Los Angeles Chargers - Christian Darrisaw
Los Angeles’ number one objective right now is to keep their young quarterback healthy. The former Virginia Tech star would step in on day one as the starting left tackle, and he could protect Herbert’s blindside for the next decade.
Minnesota Vikings - Alijah Vera-Tucker
One of the fastest risers throughout the draft community, Alijah Vera-Tucker projects as a guard at the NFL level. The former Trojan was one of the best pass blockers in 2020, registering a 92.8 PFF pass-blocking grade. Guard is one of the biggest needs for the Vikings this off-season, and I think they will pounce on the opportunity to add the best one still available.
New England Patriots - Micah Parsons
There are several rumors surrounding Micah Parsons being involved in hazing incidents at Penn State, along with questions involving his maturity. This could cause Parsons to slide in the draft, where many originally thought he’d go top ten. Bellichick would love to add a linebacker with Parsons’ tools, as long as the off-field issues aren’t a concern.
Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn
Following the loss of long-time cornerback Patrick Peterson this off-season, the Cardinals would jump on the chance to draft his successor. Horn is a fiery cornerback from South Carolina and is one of the best athletes in this entire class. As long as he cuts down on his grabbing, he could become a Pro Bowler in this league.
Las Vegas Raiders - Teven Jenkins
After sending free-agent disappointment Trent Brown to the Patriots, right tackle is the biggest need on the Raiders roster. In this scenario, they run to the podium, as Jenkins is a plug-and-play right tackle with a hard-nosed playing style.
Miami Dolphins - Azeez Ojulari
The Dolphins would love to add an edge rusher in this draft, following the loss of Shaq Lawson this offseason. Ojulari has Pro Bowl potential as a pass rusher, displaying a nuanced set of moves during his 2020 campaign that totaled 12.5 tackles for loss.
Washington Football Team - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
While Washington boasts probably the deepest and most talented defensive line in the NFL, their linebacker room has been sub-par. Enter JOK. The Notre Dame prospect shows an explosion very few at his position have, with the versatility to line up at safety and even cover receivers out of the slot.
Chicago Bears - Greg Newsome II
Following the loss of two-time Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller, Chicago will immediately look to upgrade their cornerback room in the draft. Luckily enough, this situation allows them to draft the top-available corner. Newsome shows capable ball skills, coupled with impressive length and athleticism. Injuries are a concern, however, missing 14 career games at Northwestern.
Indianapolis Colts - Liam Eichenberg
Some might think this is a reach for the Notre Dame tackle. However, I think he fits in perfectly at tackle for Indianapolis following Anthony Castonzo’s retirement. Additionally, I think general manager Chris Ballard was pleased the last time he took an offensive lineman from Notre Dame.
Tennessee Titans - Rashod Bateman
Tennessee would be thrilled to see Bateman still available at 22. The former Golden Gopher would bring his crisp route-running to a team that lost two quality receivers this off-season. A day one starter on the outside, Bateman’s game compares similarly to Stefon Diggs.
New York Jets - Caleb Farley
Once thought of as a definite top-ten selection, Farley’s stock has slid due to injury concerns. Farley missed the 2017 season due to an ACL tear, the final 2 games of 2019 due to back spasms, and underwent back surgery recently. If he can shake off the injury bug, this has the potential to be the biggest steal of the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Alex Leatherwood
I know there’s a lot of chatter about Najee Harris to Pittsburgh right now. However, a running back would not solve the running game woes for this organization. Instead, Pittsburgh would benefit tremendously from selecting the best offensive linemen available, which happens to be the former Crimson Tide player.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Kwity Paye
This is a small slide for the former Michigan defensive end. Paye’s lack of college production could be seen as concerning, but his upside is immensely based upon his athleticism and skill set. This would give Jacksonville another edge rusher opposite of Josh Allen to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Cleveland Browns - Zaven Collins
Collins raised some eyes during combine medicals, weighing in at 270 pounds. This might be alarming with the way teams are moving towards smaller, quicker linebackers. However, Collins possesses a rare skill set that can involve him dropping back into coverage, pursuing the run, or rushing the passer.
Baltimore Ravens - Jaelan Phillips
Philips offers the highest risk reward in the entire draft. Originally enrolling at UCLA, Phillips retired in 2018 due to concussions. However, he came back to football in 2019, transferring to Miami. While concussions are a serious issue, Phillips possesses the best pass rush moves in the entire class, along with impressive physical attributes.
New Orleans Saints - Elijah Moore
New Orleans could go in a lot of different directions here, with cornerback and linebacker also being possibilities. However, I think Sean Payton opts to add the best player available and another weapon in the passing game. While Moore stands at only 5’9”, he’s a dangerous weapon out of the slot. He has the ability to turn any catch into a touchdown and offers value as a kick returner.
Green Bay Packers - Kadarius Toney
I think 2021 will be the year the Packers finally spend a first-round pick on a weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Toney is one of my favorite players in this draft, equipped with superb balance. He can be used a lot like Tyreek Hill, with Florida incorporating him into the game plan via jet sweeps and even alignments in the backfield
Buffalo Bills - Ifeatu Melifonwu
The brother of former second-round pick Obi Melifonwu, Ifeatu is also a superb athlete. Melifonwu is a long, twitchy cornerback who has all the tools necessary to become a top-end player. He’s more of a raw player, with room to improve in route anticipation. He has the ability to become a solid CB2 for the Bills opposite White.
Baltimore Ravens - Creed Humphrey
After trading Orlando Brown to the Chiefs, the Ravens need to make improvements to their offensive line. Instead of selecting a tackle to replace Brown, I see the Ravens picking the best center in the draft. Humphrey scored a 10 RAS (relative athletic score), ranking him as the most athletic center since the scoring began in 1987.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Christian Barmore
Originally thought of as an early to mid-first-round pick, Barmore takes a tumble in this mock. Several teams have voiced concerns about his resistance to coaching, allowing the Bucs to snag the talented defensive tackle with the last pick in the first round.
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