2021 NFL Mock Draft

Author: Kiernan Fischer

Editor: Brian Symons

With the season in the books, it is time to start thinking about the draft. A lot will change between now and April but here is my first mock of the year. I’m deciding to not have trades in this mock even though there will obviously be trades in the real draft. My first mock is going to be about how each team can improve their roster with the pick they have.

1. Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence has been the guy for years now. Let’s move on

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson QB BYU

Wilson’s stock has shot up after lighting it up at BYU. The highest-rated PFF QB last year will look to lead the Jets back to relevance

3. Miami Dolphins: Penei Sewell OT Oregon

Sewell is the most hyped-up lineman in recent memory and the best non-QB in this class. If the Dolphins do keep this pick I can’t see them passing on him.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Fields QB Ohio State

Matt Ryan isn’t returning to MVP form and the Falcons should pick his replacement in a loaded QB class instead of waiting until his arm is all the way gone. I could see them trading this pick, but either way, Fields will be picked in this spot.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Jamar Chase WR LSU

With Sewell off the board, the Bengals keep their franchise QB happy and get his college teammate. Chase has the potential to be just as good as his former teammate Justin Jefferson and could give the Bengals two great young receivers.

6. Philly Eagles: Devonte Smith WR Alabama

The Eagles need weapons. I thought about Pitts here but Smith is coming off a Heisman and championship and the Eagles seem to have faith in Goedert at TE. The Eagles stick with Hurts and get him a weapon.

7. Detroit Lions: Micha Parsons LB Penn State

We saw in the Super Bowl how a linebacker that has the speed to cover sideline to sideline can impact a game and with head coach Dan Campbell looking to play hard-nosed defense I see this as a perfect fit.

8. Carolina Panthers: Trey Lance QB North Dakota State

The Panthers move on from the bridge quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and get a potential franchise QB at 8.

9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech

In a division with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes the Broncos take the top corner on the board. While Farley did not play in the 2020 season he’s shown enough to warrant this pick and has the size and speed to keep up with anyone.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain ll CB Alabama

PFF’s highest-rated corner in college football last season goes to a secondary in need of playmakers. The only thing preventing Surtain from being in the top corner is his lack of elite speed. But he plays fast and has instincts and techniques to make up for it. Whether he or Farley should be the CB1 will be a heated debate up until the draft.

11. New York Giants: Jalen Waddle WR Alabama

The Giants get the playmaker they’ve been missing since trading away Odell Beckham Jr. Getting Jones a top-tier receiver in this class will also help to see if Jones is really the franchise guy.

12. San Fransisco 49ers: Kyle Pitts TE Florida

The 49ers may have other needs to fill but in this scenario, they can’t pass up adding an elite receiving threat to their offense. The 49ers already have some non-traditional hybrid players on their offense with Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel. Adding Pitts and running 4 wide with two tight ends would be really fun. The Niners already have two tight ends on the field with their run game anyway so this is maybe the best fit for him. By the time April rolls around Pitts may go in the top 5 but right now I’m putting him here.

13. Los Angles Chargers: Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern

The Chargers got their franchise QB last draft and they work on protecting him with this pick. Slater may have opted out in 2020 but he showed that he is a first-round talent with his tape and can play guard or tackle.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye DE Michigan

The Vikings address their D-Line and get what many are calling the top edge rusher in the class which is usually not the case at pick 14.

15. New England Patriots: Christan Barmore DL Alabama

In a weak D-Tackle class, the Patriots pick by far the most talented one available. They look today 2 to get a receiver.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Christan Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech

The Cards choose to go with the breakout lineman to both protect Murray and help in the run game.

17. Las Vegas Raider: Greg Rouseau DE Miami

The Raiders have had a bottom-five pass rush ever since trading Khalil Mack and Rouseau has the length you want to get to the QB. He’s being mocked as high as 11 in other mocks so the Raiders are happy in this scenario to pick him here

18. Miami Dolphins: Jerimiah Owusu-Koramoah LB Notre Dame

The Dolphins get the best coverage linebacker in the draft and add him to an already well-coached and talented defense.

19. Washington Football Team: Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina

With a front four that is one of the best in the NFL Washington goes with a corner to try to give those pass rushers even more time to get to the quarterback.

20. Chicago Bears: Kevin Toney WR Florida

The Bears need receiving help even if Robinson stays, which it is looking like he won’t. No matter who is at QB for Chicago he will need more than what they currently have and they address that with the speedster from Florida.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Alijah Vera-Tucker OT

With Anthony Costanzo retiring the Colt’s waste no time drafting his replacement. Some have said he is a better guard than tackle but here the Colts draft him to play that spot.

22. Tennesee Titans: Azeez Ojulari DE Georgia

The Titans were terrible at rushing the passer last year and they address that with one of the best pure speed rushers in this class and an explosive athlete

23. New York Jets: Najee Harris RB Alabama

The Jets need explosive players around their new franchise QB and they start at the running back spot. With all due respect to legend Frank Gore this will be a significant upgrade for the running game.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Tevon Jenkins OT Oklahoma State

The Steelers had the worst rushing attack in the league in 2020, yet another weird thing about that year. With LT Andrew Villanueva likely gone and Marcus Pouncey retired the Steelers start rebuilding their offensive line here in the first round.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nick Bolton LB Mizzouri

Urban Myer knows you need fast linebackers in college and in the NFL and Bolton is just that. Bolton will start right away for a rebuilding defense

26. Clevland Browns: Jayson Oweh DE Penn State

The Browns find themselves in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the draft. The Browns need to improve their defense to compete with the top dogs in the AFC and they draft the fast-rising end from Penn State. Lining him up across from All-Pro talent Myles Garratt could be deadly.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Trevon Moehrig TCU Safety

The Ravens usually take the best available regardless of position and at this stage, I think Moehrig is the best available. He’s the best safety in the class and has lead the nation in pass breakups the past two seasons (PFF)

28. New Orleans Saints: Zaven Collins LB Tulsa

Mac Jones is a popular pick in a lot of mock drafts but I don’t see Jones as a franchise QB and I think the Saints will stick with Jameis Winston and go with Collins to bolster their already talented defense. Collins is a great blitzer and can make plays in the open field and Sean Payton will make sure his skillset is utilized to its full potential.

29. Green Bay Packers: Asante Sammuel Jr. CB Florida State

Anyone who saw Kevin King play in the NFC Championship knows why the Packers are making this pick here.

30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne RB Clemson

Running back is one of the only places the Bills don’t have a standout talent so they try to get a stud back and upgrade their offense which is already elite.

31. Kanas City Chiefs: Jalen Mayfield OT Michigan

The Chiefs could go a lot of ways with this pick but with the sting of the Super Bowl still fresh they get a talented tackle prospect and add depth at the position and ensure Mahomes is always protected.

32. Tampa Bay Joesph Ossai DE Texas

The champs have the most complete roster in football so they take the best available. This pick will become more clear once we know who the Bucs plan to keep for next year with a lot of big decisions to be made this free agency.

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A Crucial Offseason for the Jets

Author: Zachary Patlin

Editor: Brian Symons

The Jets have been mentioned all offseason in trade rumors swirling around Deshaun Watson with their heavy draft capital and need for a franchise QB. This, however, seems bleak at this point in the offseason due to the Texans doing everything in their power to keep their young QB1. So what are the alternatives knowing that Deshaun probably is not being traded this offseason, let along to the Jets?

The Jets own the second pick in the 2021 NFL draft, with a variety of options with that pick. They also hold a later first round pick that can be used to take an impact player outside of the QB position such as Najee Harris or Travis Etienne. With the second pick the Jets can take QB Zach Wilson out of BYU, QB Justin Fields out of Ohio State, Penei Sewell out of Oregon, or multiple other players that can impact the team if they do decide to hold that pick.

If the Jets decide to take the route of drafting a non QB with that second overall pick, it most likely means that they are preparing to build around Darnold for at least the next two seasons under new coaching regime led by Robert Saleh. The Jets could also take the route of taking the QB with the two pick and trading Darnold to a team like the Steelers or the Colts for a late first round pick or early second round pick to continue to build its draft capital and start fresh.

Any way that the Jets decide to go with the pick and their QB situation this offseason will be vital for the teams future and will be a huge part of the way Joe Douglas will be evaluated as the GM of the Jets. They cannot afford to make another bad decision with an extremely valuable draft pick and a ton of draft capital over the next two years. Douglas’s philosophy has always been to build through the draft, so let’s see if he can really do that.

Outside of the draft free agency looms large for the club as they look to fully rebuild both their Offensive line and their Defensive line. With the most cap space in all of football heading into the offseason, look for Joe Douglas to be competitive in free agency to build this team up the way they project to play moving forward. Although the Jets may not be good next year, this offseason is crucial for the teams success in the near future and many jobs are on the line as a result of the importance of the offseason.

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The Offense of Super Bowl LV

Author: Jack Casabonne

Editor: Fran Attie

Super Bowl LV will feature two extremely well-constructed rosters: The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams possess dangerous offenses, capable of scoring 40 points at will. There will be multiple players on the field who have the ability to take over a game at any second. So, the team that can take advantage of their strengths and play into potential mismatches should be able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night.

Quarterback:

Chiefs:

Patrick Mahomes has been the definition of a star since winning the starting quarterback spot in 2018. The 4th year player had another stellar season in 2020, throwing for 4,740 yards and 38 regular season touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. Mahomes, however, has been battling injuries for much of this Super Bowl run: he exited the Divisional Round matchup with the Browns due to a concussion, and also suffered a turf toe injury. While this is something to monitor, it didn’t seem like it slowed him down much, as the Chiefs were able to gain 325 yards through the air in the AFC Championship showdown with the Bills.

Bucs:

At age 43, Tom Brady shows no signs of slowing down. In his first season outside of New England, Brady led the Bucs through a tough NFC into his record 10th Super Bowl appearance. No player in the history of the league understands winning quite like Brady, as he looks now for his 7th Super Bowl ring. While he did turn the ball over 3 times in the NFC Championship clash with the Green Bay Packers, Brady has had a solid postseason performance so far—the signal caller has thrown for at least 2 touchdowns in every game, and he’s led the Bucs to at least 30 points in each game as well.

Running Back:

Chiefs:

2020 first round draft pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire hasn’t had an overly impressive rookie campaign, averaging just 4.4 yards per carry. Additionally, after missing over a month's worth of games due to ankle and hip issues, his return against the Bills on Sunday consisted of only 6 rushing attempts that netted 7 yards. With backup running back Le’Veon Bell nursing a knee injury as well, it’s been Darrel Williams who’s gotten the bulk of the carries during the playoffs. The former LSU Tiger ran for 52 yards against the Bills and 78 yards against the Browns. Hopefully the week off will allow this positional group to get healthy ahead of their Super Bowl matchup.

Bucs:

The combination of Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones have given the Bucs a 2-headed beast at the running back position. While it was Jones who received the majority of touches in the regular season, this dynamic has flipped in the playoffs—with Jones sitting out in the wild card matchup against Washington, Fournette took over lead back duties while rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown. Furthermore, “Playoff Lenny” has also been involved in the passing game, as he’s managed at least 4 catches in each playoff matchup. Expect the two to split carries and responsibilities again versus Kansas City.

Wide Receiver:

Chiefs:

Tyreek Hill remains the best vertical threat in football. His ability to take the top off a defense has to be considered on every offensive play, while he’s also one of the toughest players to tackle in space. His 172 yard performance against Bills corner Tre’Davious White showcased his ability to completely take over games. The Chiefs number two wideout is Sammy Watkins, but he’s missed both playoff games due to a calf injury. In his place the Chiefs have implemented the speedy Mecole Hardman, but while he has 4.3 speed to stretch secondaries, he actually made his biggest impact rushing the ball against Buffalo. Hardman had one carry but made the most of it, taking the wide receiver reverse for 50 yards.

Bucs:

Tampa Bay possesses the deepest wide receiver group in the entire NFL. Headlined by the 6’5” redzone beast Mike Evans, this bunch finished the regular season leading the NFC in receiving yards. Alongside Evans, the group consists of Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller. Now, Godwin’s production in 2020 didn’t match his gaudy numbers put up in 2019, as he missed 4 games, but he still came up critical in last Sunday’s matchup with the Packers, putting up 110 yards. Antonio Brown isn’t the same player he was a few years ago, but can still be a matchup nightmare out of the slot, and both of the youngsters, Tyler Johnson and Scotty Miller, have proven to be reliable targets for Brady, completing an insanely deep depth chart at wide receiver.

Tight End:

Chiefs:

Two words: Travis Kelce. The tight end has carried his stellar performance from the regular season over to the postseason. Following a year in which he finished 2nd in football with 1,416 receiving yards, Kelce has continued his dominance by compiling over 100 receiving yards in both playoff games. Sunday’s performance against Buffalo was a spectacle, as Kelce finished the night with 13 catches for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 31 year old is playing the best football of his career right now and appears to be utterly impossible for defenses to contain.

Bucs:

While Rob Gronkowski’s return to football for the 2020 season didn’t see him put up the same stat lines from his younger years, he still has proven to be a reliable target for his familiar quarterback. Gronk finished the regular season with 623 yards and 7 touchdowns, but most importantly, he was able to stay healthy. In the playoffs however, Gronkowski has only caught 2 passes through 3 playoff games, as backup tight end Cameron Brate has been more involved, having had 11 catches in the same timespan.

Offensive Line:

Chiefs:

The loss of Mitchell Schwartz in Week 6 has definitely hurt the Chiefs throughout the season. The right tackle suffered a back injury and is not expected to be back for the Super Bowl. To make matters worse, starting left tackle Eric Fisher suffered an achilles injury in the AFC Championship game, leaving another starter out for the Super Bowl. While these injuries are concerning in light of a loaded Buccaneers’ front seven, the Chiefs were nonetheless able to hold the Bills to only 1 sack in their meeting last Sunday.

Bucs:

The Bucs offensive line has taken a huge step up from the 2019 season following the selection of offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with the 13th pick in the draft. Brady only faced pressure on 24% of his dropbacks during the regular season, which was the 4th lowest percentage in the league. Additionally, this offensive line has given Brady plenty of protection throughout the past two weeks, holding the Packers and Saints to just one sack each. But a major question mark will revolve around their ability to pave holes for the running game in this matchup.

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