With the regular season nearing its end, we have a good idea of where teams will be picking in the 2021 NFL Draft. It looks like the New York Jets are cruising their way to the first overall pick. At 0-12, the Jets are on the clock. How will the rest of the round unfold?
1) New York Jets – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Sam Darnold is not the issue in New York. It’s the incompetent head coaching of Adam Gase. Gase has shown absolutely zero signs of trying to right this ship, and they are going full steam ahead to an 0-16 season. The Jets need a dynamic playmaker on the outside, and Chase is that player. Pair him with Mims and Crowder, and Darnold will be special.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The Jaguars’ quarterback play has been a disaster from Gardner Minshew to Mike Glennon. None of these guys are starting-caliber players in the National Football League. The Jaguars make the right pick and take Lawrence here at No. 2. He is a stud in the making and with playmakers surrounding him on the outside, Lawrence should do a lot of damage in this offense.
3) Cincinnati Bengals – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
So, the Bengals addressed their need at QB by drafting Joe Burrow, and he just tore his ACL, MCL, and every-other CL there is in your body. They have studs at every position, and all they need is to protect Burrow. Mixon needs space to run, Burrow needs time to throw, and Leatherwood is the pick here. The main focus of the Bengals should be to protect their young quarterback. They do that perfectly in this year’s draft. If (and that’s a big if) the Bengals can protect the former Heisman winner and give him time to throw, they could be a threat next year.
4) Dallas Cowboys – Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Cowboys pass rushers suck, it’s not hard to see that. They have such talented guys upfront, such as Everson Griffin and Demarcus Lawrence, but just can’t seem to put together defensive stops. Rousseau is the dynamic pass rusher the Cowboys need to help solidify (at least somewhat) their defense. He will definitely be a force to be reckoned with. This is the pick the Cowboys have to make.
5) Los Angeles Charges – Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Chargers are oozing potential, especially with Justin Herbert playing like a man on a mission. Loaded on offense, but they are very weak on defense. Surtain here can help take a load off that dysfunctional secondary and form a nice dynamic duo with a hopefully healthy Derwin James next year
6) Philadelphia Eagles- Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
It is really no surprise the Eagles take the second-best wide receiver in this year’s draft. They lack so much receiving talent outside of stud tight end Zach Ertz. It is no surprise that Carson Wentz has struggled this much, he has nobody to throw to. With the Eagles drafting Smith here, look for him to open the field up and get take some pressure off the other “offensive” players.
7) Carolina Panthers- Micah Parsons, OLB, Penn State
In my previous mock, I had the Panthers taking a QB here. We can forget about that as Teddy Bridgewater has done a phenomenal job so far, However, if the Panthers want to take the next step forward, they need to revamp that defense. Parson is that player. He is an aggressive player, and will definitely get to the opposing QBs. His vision is immense in finding the open holes to target the runner as well. Panthers need a stud defender, and Parsons is that guy.
8) Washington Football Team – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Washington was destined to take a QB, given the lackluster play of Dwayne Haskins who is now the captain of the “hold the clipboard club”, and Alex Smith who is coming off 17 surgeries and now playing the most impressive football of his fantastic career. However, the Football Team seems so content with leaving Smith as QB that they go a receiver here. Waddle is a fantastic playmaker and pairing him with Terry McLaurin is a lethal combo. Throw in second-year tight end, Logan Thomas, and potential rookie of the year running back, Antonio Gibson, the Football Team could do some damage in that pretty pathetic NFC east.
9) Detroit Lions – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Lions have zero defense, and it’s no secret. Quarterbacks pick apart the Lions secondary every game and it’s finally time to fix that issue. Yes, they took Jeff Okudah in last year’s draft, and they’ll take another cornerback here to help solidify that secondary. Farley and Okudah will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
10) Atlanta Falcons- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Arguably the most dominant offensive tackle in the game goes to the perfect team. The Falcons are an absolute mess and the main reason is they give quarterback Matt Ryan no time to throw the ball. The offensive line is not creating holes for Todd Gurley to run. This pick is the steal of the draft at number 10, and he will be a monster on this high-scoring offense.
11) Miami Dolphins (via HOU)-Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
The Dolphins have a few pretty good players in DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, and Mike Gesicki. They need another explosive weapon for Tagovailoa to throw to, and Moore is that player. He has great speed, vision, and he’s a very smart player. These four players will create a nice arsenal for the Dolphins for years to come, especially with how young they all are. Gesicki, Parker, and Williams are all entering their primes. Smith isn’t as raw as other receivers in the draft and could prove to be a vital part of this team.
12) Denver Broncos – Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama
Moses is a beast. Plain and simple. Put him on the defensive side with other stars such as Bradley Chubb and Von Miller, and the Broncos have a similar-type of elite defensive play they had a few years ago. Moses has a knack for getting to the quarterback and will continue to do so during his NFL career. Moses, Chubb, and Miller will become one of the most dynamic defensive trios in the NFL.
13) Chicago Bears- Wyatt Davis OL, Ohio State
Bears need a whole lot of pieces to fix this disaster of a team. The main issue is the offensive line. Davis is the main piece that the Bears need in order to fix this discombobulated offensive. Give the QB time to throw, and find guys like Darnell Mooney, Allen Robinson, and let David Montgomery run wild.
14) Minnesota Vikings – Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
Remember Everson Griffen? He is now causing chaos dominating the defensive line on the Cowboys. Here is where the Vikings get his replacement. Wilson will be sliding right next to Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen to form a nice trio on the defensive side. Those three should, and will get to the opposing quarterback plenty of times together.
15) New England Patriots – Christian Barmore DT, Alabama
The Patriots are known to have a pretty hungry defense always ready to attack the opposing quarterback. Barmore is a monster on the defensive line and will make life extremely difficult for anyone facing the New England pass rush. Pair him with guys like Adam Butler and Beau Allen, and that front seven is going to be filthy.
16) San Fransisco 49ers –Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
49ers are a contender every year it seems like. But, they lack a major position at defensive end and cornerback. Wade is a beast plain and simple. He is an animal, a ferocious player, and an extremely hard hitter. 49ers need to continue to revamp that defense, and they will continue to focus on that.
17) Las Vegas Raiders – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Raiders are showing some life as an NFL caliber team this season. The addition of Henry Ruggs, Darren Waller taking that next step forward all do wonders for Derek Carr and the Raiders. They need to make one very important pick, and that’s Cosmi. The Raiders need to protect Carr and give Josh Jacobs some sort of running room. The offensive line does a decent job, but very lackluster at creating holes for Jacobs and giving Carr time. Raiders need to make this pick.
18) Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Ravens lack pass-catchers outside of Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin. Paring a guy like Bateman with Lamar Jackson will have a huge impact on the offense as a whole. Throw in the talented J.K Dobbins, and the Ravens are contenders yet again. This is as easy as a pick as there is for this organization. Jackson to Bateman going to be one of the best duos in the NFL.
19) New York Giants – Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
New York’s biggest weakness is the offensive line. They need to protect Daniel Jones and be able to create some holes for their stud running back, Saquan Barkley. This is a pick the Giants MUST make if they want to make the playoffs again. Protect your star players.
20) Arizona Cardinals – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The Cardinals are stacked with talent but lack talent at one position and one position only: tight end. Kyler Murray has all the toys in the world at his disposal, such as Deandre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and future Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald. Cardinals go with the pass-catching tight end, Pitts, and officially have a weapon at every offensive position. Oh, mind you, they have a top-15 running back out of the backfield in Kenyan Drake too. Pitts is the pick here.
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Creed Humphrey, OL, Oklahoma
When you have Tom Brady as your quarterback, you will do anything you can to protect him. He is no longer young, but he can win a Super Bowl if he’s healthy. Humphrey is the pick here and is in the conversation as the best offensive linemen to come out of this draft. He is a wall and will protect Brady at all costs. The Bucs don’t have much of an offensive line, so this will be a welcomed addition. Brady would much rather have Humphrey protecting him than guys like Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa.
22) Miami Dolphins – Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Dolphins have a fully loaded team and have arguably the best secondary in the NFL. However, they lack severe potential at the Safety position. Guys like Erick Rowe, can’t compete at that high of a level and they need this pick to bring a much-needed boost to that Dolphins secondary.
23) Indianapolis Colts – Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
It is quite obvious that T.Y. Hilton is no longer the elite receiver he once was. He has lost his speed, his footing isn’t as strong, and he isn’t as comfortable as he used to be with Philip Rivers as he was with Andrew Luck. Moore is an easy pick here for the Colts as they are desperate for wide receiver help. With other pass-catchers such as Jack Doyle and Parris Campbell being labeled injury-prone, Moore should easily find the field and make eye-opening plays. He is as talented as they come, and given the situation, he should thrive.
24) Cleveland Browns – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Baker Mayfield is a legitimate quarterback, playing at an extremely high level carrying the Browns to a 8-3 record so far. However, Lance is an up-and-coming superstar that plays at an extremely high level as well. He’s smart, calm, and poised in the pocket. The Browns would be smart to lock up Lance and have him develop and learn from Mayfield in the coming years. Lance has great vision and patience as a quarterback, and that should translate fairly well in the NFL.
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
We finally have running back selected, and the landing spot couldn’t be more perfect. Etienne is a fierce, hard downfield runner. Once the Jaguars lost Leonard Fournette, the running back position has been complete garbage. Robinson has been doing well, but let’s be real, he’s not the future. Etienne is a workhorse back and should be fed the ball 25-plus times per game.
26) New York Jets (via Seattle) – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Jets have already drafted Chase with the first overall pick, and go another star receiver here. New York needs all the weapons on the outside they can handle and are off to a great start in the first round. Pairing Chase with Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder, and Olave, Darnold finally has the toys and weapons to thrive in the NFL. This is a perfect scenario for the Jets.
27) Tennessee Titans – Carlos Basham Jr. EDGE, Wake Forest
The Titans have a smothering defense. There is no denying that, however, seeing a player of Basham’s caliber still on the board here late in the first is a no brainer. Pair him with a guy like Harold Landry and Vic Beasley. and the Titans, who already have a very good front seven is now elite. This is a no brainer here for the Titans.
28) Buffalo Bills – Nick Bolton, OLB, Missouri
Buffalo’s defensive unit as a whole is terrifyingly good. They are arguably the best defensive unit in the NFL and get better here by drafting Bolton. He is lighting fast and can get to the quarterback with ease. Pairing him with other elite linebackers on the Bills makes this unit scary and a whole lot better. Could this be the year the Bills make the Super Bowl?
29) Green Bay Packers – Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
It is no secret the Packers don’t have good safeties. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are decent, but none of them compare to Cisco. He can change the dynamics of the secondary by himself due to his athleticism, speed, and toughness. Having him in the secondary should give the entire Packers defense some confidence that someone somewhat competent is back there.
30) Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
The Chiefs have absolutely no secondary outside of Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu is all over the place on defense, and he needs help. He gets that and more in Campbell. He is fast, quick, explosive, and would fit perfectly right next to Mathieu. Not only that, teams won’t be picking on the swiss-cheese Chiefs defense all game long. The offensive weapons on this team are insanely talented and don’t need any help. If they can draft Campbell, this is their key to yet another Super Bowl run.
31) New Orleans Saints – Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
I thought at the beginning of the year the Saints should definitely draft a quarterback, especially once Drew Brees went down with 17 broken ribs. However Taysom Hill is doing just fine. The run of high-quality defenders continues, and the Saints pair star-studded cornerback, Marshon Lattimore with Adebo. Both of these defenders are physical and don’t like to lose. Lattimore is a number one corner, and it is expected that Adebo can take the leap and become a lockdown corner like Lattimore. A freak at his position, Adebo will make an already harassing Saints defense even more powerful. The duo of Lattimore and Adebo will become the focal point of the defense for years to come.
32) Pittsburgh Steelers – Walker Little, OT, Stanford
As the only undefeated team in the NFL, they are showing strengths are very single position and show no signs of letting up. One position that is a bit lackluster is the offensive line, and this selection is perfect for them. This should come as no surprise. Steelers number one priority should be to protect Ben Roethlisberger, who is coming off of an elbow injury. If he gets time to throw, (as evident this year) Roethlisberger is arguably a top-ten quarterback. He has plenty of weapons around him, and all he needs is protection. He gets that here with Little.
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