With six weeks of the NFL season now in the books, the holes of every team are getting more and more evident. Scouts are getting a closer look at draft prospects and what direction their teams might go in the first round. For this mock draft, the order is based on the website Tankathon, which uses the strength of schedule (SOS) and up to date records to determine the draft order. The New York Jets are on the clock.
1. New York Jets – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The Jets are the last remaining winless team and they somehow keep getting worse. The best prospect in this class in Lawrence keeps getting better. While all the blame for the Jets abysmal play cannot be placed on Sam Darnold, they just need a complete reset. Lawrence looks to be a perennial Pro-Bowler and would do wonders for the Jets franchise.
2. Washington Football Team – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The jury is now out on Dwayne Haskins as he was benched for Kyle Allen. Allen is obviously not the future at the position for Washington, meaning quarterback is a big need. The gap between Fields and Trey Lance of North Dakota State is very slim, but Fields gets the edge as of now. WFT picks its second Ohio State quarterback in the first round in three years. Is the second time the charm?
3. New York Giants – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
The Giants’ biggest need is finding more offensive line help opposite Andrew Thomas. Sewell is the clearcut number one tackle in this class and would immediately improve the right side of the Giants’ offensive line. Daniel Jones is never going to be a world-beater, but with better protection, he could do enough.
4. Atlanta Falcons – Micah Parsons, OLB/ILB, Penn State
The Falcons need desperate help on defense after allowing 30 or more points in five of the six games. Dante Fowler and Deion Jones are the only capable defenders. Parsons opted out of the 2020 season but is the best overall linebacker and would make an immediate impact on the Falcons’ defense. He is very explosive and will cause loads of trouble for opposing offenses.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Gardner Minshew hasn’t shown enough so far this season to have the Jaguars give him a vote of confidence for their future. In fact, he is in danger of being benched. His long-term upside is limited and he will never be a big-arm threat. Lance is a big-time playmaking quarterback who can do it with his arm and his legs. He hasn’t faced the level of competition as Fields and Lawrence, of course. But as North Dakota State alum Carson Wentz has proved, that talent can translate from the FCS to the NFL.
6. Minnesota Vikings – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
A quarterback will definitely be a need for the Vikings as Kirk Cousins is not the answer. But with the top three quarterbacks already off the board before their pick, they grab a dynamic weapon for whoever winds up being under center next season. What better way to start to turn the Vikings’ fortunes but to bring Justin Jefferson‘s teammate from LSU into their offense.
7. Miami Dolphins (via HOU) – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Dolphins need more weapons on offense. What better way to ring in their new hopeful franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa by adding his Alabama teammate to his offense in his second year? Behind the likes of Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, Waddle showed great chemistry with Tagovailoa. He is currently having a breakout season as the main guy there; he is three yards away from eclipsing his receiving total from all of last season in just four games.
8. Los Angeles Chargers – Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Grabbing offensive line help for Justin Herbert is an option here. But they have two cornerbacks in their 30s and need to try and find replacements for the future. Surtain is as close as they come to Jalen Ramsey with the size of the modern star defensive back. He would provide speed, length, size, and athleticism for the Chargers’ secondary and he has the ceiling of a shutdown corner in the NFL.
9. Philadelphia Eagles – Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama
The Eagles have holes all of the place but their biggest one is at linebacker. The Eagles are all about speed and Moses is a speedster. Their current linebacking group is not very willing to throw big hits on anyone, which Moses is. He is also solid against the run and is a do-it-all linebacker.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Protecting Joe Burrow is a must. Burrow has been sacked 24 times this season, which leads the NFL through six games. That means he’s on pace to be sacked 64 times this season. Leatherwood has a lot of inconsistencies, he tends to get dominated and pushed back on certain plays. His inconsistencies are fixable, however, and once he can fix them, he could be a significant upgrade to the Bengals’ offensive line.
11. Detroit Lions – Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
The Lions have started to see improvements on their defensive line over the weeks. Against the Jaguars, they swarmed James Robinson, holding him to just 29 rushing yards. Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara made their presence known by forcing plenty of mistakes by Minshew. But that was only one game against a subpar offensive line. Before that, Detroit’s defense got pressure on just 16 percent of dropbacks. They would like to add more to that and Wilson is the top interior defensive lineman who would beef them up.
12. New England Patriots – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The Patriots drafted two tight ends in the third round of the 2020 draft, but Kyle Pitts is on a whole other level than them. Pitts would create a number of mismatches in the Patriots offense which is in need of more playmakers in the passing offense.
13. Denver Broncos – Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Broncos need serious help in the secondary as the loss of Chris Harris has been felt significantly. Wade would be the Broncos’ clear number one cornerback. The rest of their group has potential but is also very unproven. Wade would provide versatility with the ability to cover the slot and is solid in man and zone coverage.
14. Miami Dolphins – Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Dolphins have been playing ahead of schedule on their rebuild this season and will look to provide a boost with two first-round picks. Being able to grab the top pass-rusher in the class, a steal at 14, would give them an immediate impact. At 6’7″, 265 pounds, Rousseau is ready to produce in Flores’ defense.
15. Carolina Panthers – Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State
The Panthers will need to add protection for whoever their quarterback is in 2021, whether that’s Teddy Bridgewater or someone else. Davis plays the guard position very well and would help create even more space for Christian McCaffrey and let the quarterback have time to find the weapons in the passing game.
16. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
The 49ers could lose several cornerbacks to free agency this offseason and failed to address the need in last year’s draft. That means it will be a big need they should address in the first round. Their other big need is at the receiver position and that position is deeper in this draft class. Farley is one of the top corners in the class and would be a steal at 16 for San Francisco. He is big, long, and athletic and plays well in man coverage. Richard Sherman will turn 33 before the start of next season and is also one of the free agents.
17. New Orleans Saints – Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
The Saints could very well look to draft Drew Brees‘ replacement in this draft, but they decide to add another weapon for that quarterback in the first round. Moore is a very shifty receiver with an impressive run after the catch ability. He has continued to improve his catching ability and has all the tools to be a top option in the Saints’ offense. He would complement Michael Thomas very well.
18. Las Vegas Raiders – Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma
Derek Carr isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback, but whoever ends up there needs to get protected. Humphrey is very athletic and has impressive motor skills for his size. This helps him make reach blocks and always puts him in the right spot to make a block. He has the intelligence to direct the rest of the offensive line as well. He is a center, which the Raiders have in Rodney Hudson. But Hudson is 31 and has two years remaining on his contract after this season. Humphrey will need some time to refine his skills and would be in line to replace Hudson.
19. Dallas Cowboys – Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
The Cowboys need major help on defense, specifically in the secondary. After the loss of Byron Jones, they have really struggled. Campbell is a physical cornerback with solid man coverage and ball skills. He would be a major boost in the Cowboys limiting the passing game for opposing offenses.
20. Cleveland Browns – Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
The Browns go the opposite of last season when they picked an Alabama offensive lineman. This time they go on the defensive side but stick with the same program. Alabama continuously churns out NFL talent so a team can never really go wrong there. At 6’5″, 310 pounds, Barmore has a ton of raw power and provides versatility in lining up at either tackle spot. Sheldon Richardson and Andrew Billings are on the final year of their contracts next season, so they could start molding Barmore to come in and replace them.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Tampa Bay took Tristan Wirfs last year but he is best at guard. This pick would allow the Bucs to move him inside and have a young duo to help protect Tom Brady and his eventual replacement in the future. Oh wait, I mean Brady is going to play until he’s 60. Cosmi would also help create more space up front and downfield with his athleticism.
22. Indianapolis Colts – Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Another Alabama receiver as the Colts take Smith who can create separation downfield. With T.Y. Hilton lacking in the downfield threat category, Smith would be the perfect guy to “replace” him. Smith doesn’t have the speed other guys have but his ability to get to the chains and separate from defenders is huge.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) – Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
The Jaguars need someone to pair with C.J. Henderson. Adebo has the length, ball skills, instincts, and athleticism the Jags are looking for.
24. Buffalo Bills – Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
The Bills need a good tight end with Dawson Knox and Tyler Kroft really just placeholders. Freiermuth is a huge playmaking tight end who has drawn comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, even being called “Baby Gronk”. He has great speed for his size, very good hands, and has some of the best leaping ability of anyone. His blocking is also top notch which would help in the run game led by Devin Singletary.
25. Arizona Cardinals – Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Roche plays opposite Rosseau and they are the best pass-rushing combo in the nation. The Cardinals are always looking to add more depth to their pass-rush which has been solid this season. Roche would be able to be plugged into the rotation before becoming a full-time starter in the future.
26. Green Bay Packers – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Aaron Rodgers needs weapons. The Packers failed to give him any last year and he is still somehow an early MVP candidate. Give him a weapon like Bateman and he could do some magical things. Outside of Devante Adams, who’s been injured this season, the Packers don’t have many good receivers. Bateman has great hands and is a very talented route runner and deep threat. Perfect fit for Rodgers and gives him the deep threat he has been missing.
27. Kansas City Chiefs – Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee
The Chiefs’ offense has been scary good this season and their offensive line helped the running game go off on Monday night. Adding even more to their depth that was shown off in the win would make them nearly unstoppable. Smith is solid run blocker, is strong at the point of attack, and has the ability to get push.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Lamar Jackson would benefit from having more weapons in the passing game. Olave runs great routes and shows burst and speed to separate. He isn’t very physical but will be more of a downfield threat than anything, or running screens and end-around.
29. Chicago Bears – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Nick Foles isn’t the future – or the present for that matter – at the quarterback position. Clearly, Mitchell Trubisky isn’t either as he was benched for Foles. That means they will possibly target their future quarterback in the draft. Wilson has all the tools to be a successful quarterback in the NFL and he is excellent at extending plays and making things happen.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
Alejandro Villanueva and Matt Feiler are both free agents after this season. Radunz would be a huge upgrade at the tackle position and he has a lot of room to grow.
31. New York Jets (via SEA) – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
After releasing Le’Veon Bell, the Jets are in need of a young replacement to their run game. Etienne is the top running back in this class and is NFL ready. Etienne has game-changing speed and is shifty. He can also fight defenders off to extend plays. The perfect weapon to add along and keep him with their new franchise quarterback in Lawrence.
32. Tennesse Titans – Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest
Basham is a steal at 32 as he is a pro-ready player who can dominate the run game while also putting up big sack numbers. He would pair well with Jeffery Simmons and give the other side of the defensive line a big boost.
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