The regular season is nearing its end, and we now have a pretty good idea of where teams will be picking in the NFL Draft. The 0-12 New York Jets are on the clock. The Tank for Trevor is on. The order of this draft is based on the website Tankathon, which uses the strength of schedule (SOS) and up to date records to determine the draft order.
1) New York Jets – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Every mock from now until the draft should have the Jets drafting Lawrence. He is the best college quarterback right now, and the Jets won’t be trading the first overall pick.
2) Jacksonville Jaguars – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Fields is the second-best quarterback, and the Jaguars need to take a shot at an elite quarterback to lead their young supporting cast. His ability to extend plays and go through his progressions is elite and would help create a lot of big plays for the Jaguars offense.
3) Cincinnati Bengals – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
After Joe Burrow tore his ACL and MCL last month, this further proved the Bengals need to protect their franchise quarterback. Burrow needs time to throw, and Joe Mixon needs space to run. Sewell is not only the top offensive tackle in this class by a long shot but is one of the most talented over the last several years. He is exactly what the Bengals need to protect Burrow.
4) Dallas Cowboys – Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Cowboys have glaring holes at several positions, evident in their 3-9 record, but one of the biggest is their secondary. They are still reeling from the loss of Bryon Jones and need to add someone to compliment Trevon Diggs. Surtain has tremendous ball skills and will add several pass breakups and interceptions to the Dallas defense.
5) Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The Chargers have loads of potential, with Justin Herbert playing phenomenally since stepping in as the starting quarterback. They have plenty of weapons on offense but need some help on defense. Caleb Farley is interchangeable with Surtain as the top two cornerbacks in this class, and Farley would pair well with a healthy Derwin James next season.
6) Philadelphia Eagles – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Carson Wentz has been benched for Jalen Hurts, who will start against the Saints this Sunday. But the Eagles struggles haven’t all been on Wentz. They need tons of help on the offensive line to give whoever the quarterback is time to throw and receivers that can stretch the field. They opt to go with a receiver as Chase falls to six. Chase is the bonafide number one receiver and would create some opportunities for their offense.
7) Carolina Panthers – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Panthers could flirt with taking a potential franchise quarterback here, but with the top two off the board, they go with the top player available. Parsons has everything needed in a do-it-all linebacker and would fill the void left by Luke Kuechly for the long-term.
8) Atlanta Falcons – Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
Rousseau is very raw, but he has all the tools and athleticism to be a dominant pass rusher in the league. Atlanta needs to improve its front four to take some pressure off their solid secondary. Rousseau is the elite edge rusher the Falcons need who would create opportunities for the secondary to make plays.
9) Miami Dolphins (via HOU) – Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Tua Tagovailoa has been playing very well since stepping in as the new quarterback. Through five games, he is 4-1 and has completed 86/136 passes for 898 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Tagovailoa would only get better with another weapon to work in the offense, especially one that he is familiar with from Alabama. Smith has put up video game numbers for the Crimson Tide the last two seasons. Even while playing alongside Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy last season, he was a top target for Tagovailoa and would be a huge weapon for him in Miami.
10) Denver Broncos – Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Darrisaw has been rising up draft boards of late and could easily be the second tackle off of the board. The Broncos need protection for Drew Lock, and Darrisaw is a guy who can open things up for the run game. He is a massive offensive tackle with solid quickness and balance. He has stymied some of the best edge rushers in the country this season, including first-round talent Carlos Basham (Wake Forest) and Quincy Roche (Miami).
11) Washington Football Team – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Washington is ready to make a change at quarterback – even with Alex Smith making a huge comeback – and Wilson has continued to rise this season. He has a very big arm and would fit well into Washinton’s offense. Wilson also already garnered the praise of Washington legend Joe Theismann.
“He’s 6-foot-3, runs very well, tremendous touch on the ball, wonderful pocket presence,” Theismann told The Sports Junkies. “I’m enamored with him, let’s put it that way.”
Read more on Wilson in his 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
12) Detroit Lions – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones are both impending free agents, meaning the Lions need weapons. They miss out on Waddle’s more proven teammate Smith but still get someone who can stretch the field. Waddle’s season-ending injury won’t be enough to make him fall too much, as he has tremendous run after the catch and deep threat abilities.
13) Chicago Bears – Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Trask has proven himself against top opponents week after week, which has risen his stock. While the Bears have been connected to Zach Wilson, they may get the more proven quarterback in Trask. He has played stiffer competition and has continued to put up great numbers for Florida.
14) San Francisco 49ers – Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The 49ers are likely to lose Richard Sherman – who’s getting up in age anyway – and K’Waun Williams to free agency. That leaves them a gaping hole on the outside to pair with Emmanuel Moseley. Horn has seen his draft stock rise with an impressive season, and he can make plays on the ball while having the size to cover receivers of all sizes.
15) Arizona Cardinals – Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
The Cardinals need that extra thump in getting to the quarterback to complement Chandler Jones. Paye tapped into his upside with two sacks in four games before going down with a lower-body injury. He would create a great pass rush for Arizona.
16) New England Patriots – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The Patriots will be in the mix for a quarterback early in this draft, but they also need playmakers for whoever is playing under center for them next season. Pitts has dominated SEC play with 29 catches for 513 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games and would be their replacement for Rob Gronkowski.
17) Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Ravens have a number of speedy deep threats but not a consistent, route-running receiver to work the whole field. Hollywood Brown needs more help for the Ravens receiving corp. Before opting out a second time, Bateman put up 36 catches for 472 yards and two TDs in five games this season.
Read more on Bateman in his 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
18) Las Vegas Raiders – Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
The Raiders are near the bottom of the league in sacks, quarterback hits, sack and hurry percentage, so they need to improve their pass rush in a big way. Oweh is still very raw but has the modern-day pass rush tools and elite athleticism to be a force for any defense. He would create the explosiveness and big plays the Raiders need.
19) New York Giants – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Giants need to protect Daniel Jones and open up the run game for the hopefully healthy Saquon Barkley in 2021. Cosmi opted out of the final two regular-season games at Texas to focus on the draft. While Andrew Thomas has improved of late, he has not had a team worthy of the number four overall pick. Cosmi could slide back over to right tackle, where he played prior to 2018, or take over for Thomas at left tackle.
20) Minnesota Vikings – Trey Lance, QB, NDSU
Kirk Cousins isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback for the Vikings, and it is time for them to find a replacement. Lance only really has his 2019 tape – his first year as a starter – for teams to look at, but it was a great season. He has a huge skill set and has already developed into a quick-game passer. He would take some time to develop in the NFL but would create many opportunities for the Minnesota weapons.
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
The Buccaneers need to improve their offensive line and find someone to complement rookie right tackle Tristan Wirfs. Leatherwood has been successful at playing both right guard and left tackle at Alabama, and the Bucs would fill him in wherever they feel he would fit better.
22) Miami Dolphins – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Myles Gaskins has been solid but has also struggled with injuries this season. Outside of him, Matt Breida is a free agent, so the Dolphins will potentially be looking for another playmaker for the backfield. Etienne is a home run hitter in space with plenty of explosiveness and initial burst. The trio of Tagovailoa-Smith-Etienne would be scary for opposing defenses.
23) Indianapolis Colts – Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Phillip Rivers has been solid this season, but he is getting up in age and only signed a one-year contract. Mac Jones has stepped into Tagovailoa’s shoes very nicely as he has put up a great season for Alabama this year. He has shown enough to vault into the first-round conversation and would be able to give the Colts a playmaking signal-caller.
24) Tennesse Titans – Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest.
The Titans signed Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal for 2020 and will look to replace him through the draft. They need to find a long-term answer at the position, and Basham has a similar frame and work ethic as Clowney. Basham still has his coverage ability to work on, but he is a beast off the edge and will be able to do damage.
25) New York Jets (via SEA) – Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
To help their new quarterback Lawrence, the Jets give him a weapon in Moore. Moore was another opt-out for the 2020 season, which destroyed any chance of a bounce-back from his injury-shortened 2019. He is still very raw, but he burst onto the scene during his freshman season with 114 catches for 1,258 yards.
26) Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Owusu-Koramoah has risen over the weeks with his outstanding tackling ability and ability to drive downhill to the ball. He has some versatility similar to Isaiah Simmons as he has played some snaps at nickel corner and safety. While quarterback will be a big focus for the Jaguars with Minshew Mania running out, the Jaguars need to improve all over the field. Their offensive weapons are solid, while the defensive and offensive lines will be the other main focuses.
Read more on Owusu-Koramoah in his 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
27) Cleveland Browns – Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
The Cleveland secondary has been hurting this season with many injuries. Holland is a solid coverage safety who marks tight ends and running backs the best in the passing game. The Browns need to find consistency at the position, and Holland would give them that.
28) Buffalo Bills – Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
The Bills are set at receiver but adding a dynamic tight end would catapult them into a top offense with the vast improvements of Josh Allen this season. Freiermuth is a good run blocker and a very solid weapon in the passing game, even being called “Baby Gronk”. Allen would be very happy with this pick.
29) Green Bay Packers – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Despite not adding a receiver this past offseason, the Packer offense has been one of the best in the league behind legitimate MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers. Davante Adams has put up a career-year while Marquez Valdes-Scantling has improved and been a deep threat. But adding another top receiver like Olave. who can separate and run great routes, would take the offense to another level.
30) Kansas City Chiefs – Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
The Chiefs have had woes on the inside of the offensive line and need to find a solid tackle. Slater is a versatile offensive lineman who opted out of the season. He has most of his experience at tackle but says he can play any position along the line. He would create loads of issues for defenders and give Patrick Mahomes plenty of time to work with to take the already filthy good offense to another level.
31) New Orleans Saints – Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
St. Brown has continued to soar up draft boards, and the Saints are going to have to start planning for life after Michael Thomas if his internal issues with the team continue. Even if Thomas doesn’t end up getting moved at some point, the Saints could use more playmakers. St. Brown has great run after the catch ability and shows elite competitiveness while run blocking. He has performed consistently this season and is coming off a four-touchdown performance last week.
Read more on St. Brown in his 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report.
32) Pittsburgh Steelers – Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Steelers need to replace Joe Haden and Steven Nelson soon. Wade had a slow start to the season, which caused him to slip in draft rankings, but he had a great game against Indiana a couple of weeks ago with an interception return for a touchdown. He could step in on day one for the Steelers and be a difference-maker for their secondary.
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