Joe DeLapp's NFL 1st-Round Mock Draft
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) via sbnation
Post-Super Bowl 2021 NFL Mock Draft
It’s officially draft season. With the Buccaneers winning this years Super Bowl, the other 31 teams now have a shot to dethrone the ageless wonder that is Tom Brady. The first step to that is the NFL draft, where teams at the top of the board attempt to find their identity while teams towards the bottom try to round out their rosters for another shot next year. Quarterback, as we all know, is far and away the most important position in the game of football. The QB free agency situation and potential blockbuster trades this offseason is going to be nuts.
Matthew Stafford has already made his move out west, and with that in mind, here are some trades that I’m predicting will happen. If these trades were to actually go through, they would have a massive impact on the first round of the draft. Don’t look too far into the returns but rather which teams the QB’s are headed to:
Deshaun Watson Projected Trade
Panthers Receive: Deshaun Watson
Texans Receive: Teddy Bridgewater, 8th Overall Pick, 2022 First Rounder, 2023 First Rounder, Donte Jackson
Carson Wentz Projected Trade
Colts Receive: Carson Wentz
Eagles Receive: 21st Overall Pick
With that in mind, the Jaguars are on the clock…
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
This pick doesn’t need much explanation. Lawrence is the consensus top prospect in this year’s draft and he goes to a team in need of a franchise QB. The draft starts with the next pick.
2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
The Jets hold a lot of power with this pick. They could attempt to use it as part of their effort to acquire Deshaun Watson. They could also dangle it for a more QB-desperate team that wants to trade to the top of the draft and get their guy. Instead, I think they stand put and Joe Douglas gets his guy at QB. He wasn’t working for the Jets when they drafted Darnold so I don’t believe he has much motive to keep him around.
3. TRADE! Houston Texans (via Dolphins): QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Texans Receive: 3rd Overall Pick
Dolphins Receive: 8th Overall Pick, 2022 Second Rounder, Multiple Later Round Picks
The Texans move up from their new 8th spot (see Watson trade at top) to get their QB of the future. Fields would benefit from having a year to sit behind a player like Teddy Bridgewater to get used to the speed of the NFL game. In essence, the Texans trade Deshaun Watson and next years second for Teddy Bridgewater, Justin Fields, Donte Jackson and two future first round picks.
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
The Falcons continue the run on quarterbacks to start this year’s draft. Lance is another guy that would benefit from a year behind a veteran, and the Falcons have exactly that in place with Matty Ice. The Falcons have to think to themselves that they won’t (or at least shouldn’t) be picking this high anytime soon, so they have to take advantage of this opportunity to get their QB of the future. Is it going to be Trey Lance? We’ll see.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: T Penei Sewell, Oregon
The race for OT1 between Sewell and Slater could lead all the way up to draft day. As of now, I think Sewell still has the edge, so that’s who I have the Bengals taking. The bottom line is they desperately need to invest in Joe Burrow’s protection.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Back-to-back 2020 opt-outs come off the board in this mock. The Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor in the first round last year, and while I think he can still be a valuable asset to the team, I don’t think he has the potential to be a standout No. 1 receiver. Ja’Marr Chase on the other hand does have that potential, so I have the Eagles snagging a dangerous weapon for Hurts here.
7. Detroit Lions: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
With the top four QB’s off the board, I think this is a true best player available (BPA) spot for Detroit. I think they turn to the Heisman winner to give Goff a weapon who should be a fairly elite separator as soon as he steps on the field.
8. TRADE! Miami Dolphins (via Texans via Panthers): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
I have the Dolphins grabbing Tua a weapon, and not just any weapon. There is familiarity between Tua and Waddle dating back to their days at Alabama. I think it would be advisable for Miami to surround Tua with talented skill players and see what he can do before moving on from him so soon.
9. Denver Broncos: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Congratulations to the first defensive player selected! After a run on offensive players to start the draft, the Broncos get a phenomenal athlete to upgrade their front seven. Paye is a guy that can help stop the run immediately while he learns from Von Miller and Bradley Chubb about rushing the passer.
10. Dallas Cowboys: T Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
I think it’s safe to say that the Dallas Cowboys probably would have made the playoffs if Dak didn’t get hurt, but who knows. While they might have made the playoffs, they probably wouldn’t have made a deep run because of the shortcomings on their offensive line and defensive unit. With no standout defensive players that really fit a hole for the Cowboys, they go with arguably the best tackle in the class in Slater. Slater is a very flexible guy position-wise which the Cowboys could’ve used this past year considering all of the injuries on the O-line.
11. New York Giants: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
The pick seems odd with Evan Engram already in New York playing the same position, but it makes sense. First of all, Engram’s playing on the last year of his contract and is fairly unlikely to be retained long term. Secondly, think of Kyle Pitts as more of an overall weapon as opposed to a tight end. He can line up like a WR or put his hand in the dirt and play the TE role, a truly valuable asset for an offense that has struggled as of late.
12. San Francisco 49ers: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
The Niners have a need at corner and with the best corner still on the board, that need gets addressed.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: T Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
The Chargers main priority this offseason should be finding a blindside protector for Herbert and I think they can get him here. A lockdown corner would be enticing for Brandon Staley’s defense (he had Ramsey in LA), but with Surtain off the board, addressing tackle here would be the smart move.
14. Minnesota Vikings: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
I believe the Vikings have a choice of either selecting an interior O-lineman or an EDGE type player with this pick. With Vera-Tucker still on the board, I think they’ll decide to go with him. He’s a projected left guard, a position Minnesota needs help at.
15. New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Bill Belichick does not trade back in this mock (absurd!). In all seriousness, the Patriots roster is a mess. There just isn’t a lot there. We know Bill is going to make the most of it but he wasn’t able to make a whole lot happen with Cam Newton at QB. Mac Jones draws some similarities in terms of athletic ability to a QB Bill knows quite well. I think Josh McDaniels and Belichick will get more out of Mac Jones than probably anyone else.
16. Arizona Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
The need at corner for the Cardinals is no question. It became even more obvious after a report came out that said that the team and Patrick Peterson are parting ways. With Caleb Farley still on the board, this could be viewed as an upset pick but I think the Cardinals will value the experience that Horn brings because of their need at the position right away.
17. Oakland Raiders: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
The mini slide for Parsons comes to an end. Mayock loves his big-school prospects and Parsons fits the bill from that regard. Parsons can start out playing in a 4-3 OLB role and eventually transform into that MIKE linebacker for them.
18. Miami Dolphins: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
Having already selected Waddle in this mock, I have the Dolphins turning to the defensive side of the ball here to get a pass rusher. Ossai fits well into the Dolphins scheme and should be able to put up numbers right away.
19. Washington Football Team: T Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Eichenberg is a true plug-and-play starter bringing over a wealth of experience from Notre Dame. I think Washington probably ends up with a QB like Sam Darnold for the 2021 season, so prioritizing helping him out would be a good idea with this pick.
20. Chicago Bears: T Samuel Cosmi, Texas
In a similar position as the team picking before them, the Bears don’t really know who their starting quarterback is next year. Whoever it is, though, needs to be protected.
21. TRADE! Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts): CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
With Wentz going to the Colts (my prediction), the Eagles now have an extra first. Having already solved their WR issue, they turn to the defensive side of the ball and pick up the BPA in Farley. Now with Slay and Farley as your starting CB tandem, the position doesn’t look too bad.
22. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Jaelen Phillips, Miami
The Titans need to get sacks. Phillips knows a thing or two about getting to the quarterback.
23. New York Jets (via Seattle): LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Having addressed QB with the number two overall selection, I think the Jets turn to the other side of the ball to give Robert Saleh someone to work with. Both he and Fred Warner thrived while working together in San Francisco, and I think we could expect a similar result with Collins in New York.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
The Steelers seemed to have a solid O-line last year with a respectable passing game yet couldn’t really run the ball efficiently. Najee Harris seems to be the perfect fit for them and may be the piece to put this offense together.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams): T Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
Having already selected football jesus, aka Trevor Lawrence, protection for him comes next.
26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
The Browns could use a solid LB in the middle of that defense and Koramoah slides in for Cleveland to scoop him up.
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Lamar Jackson should be praying for a wide receiver draft night. Also, preferably one over six feet. Bateman fits both of these requirements.
28. New Orleans Saints: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
A good ol’-fashioned MIKE for the middle of that defense.
29. Green Bay Packers: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
The Packers seem to hate drafting receivers early so I will refuse to give them one(sorry Aaron Rodgers). Instead, I give them Eric Stokes to play opposite of Jaire Alexander. He seems to fit new DC Joe Barry’s zone-heavy scheme fairly well.
30. Buffalo Bills: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
The Bills can deploy Rousseau all over their defense and I’m confident that McDermott can get the most out of him.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: T Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
If you watched any of the Super Bowl, chances are you saw Patrick Mahomes running backward. That’s because his offensive line was injured and generally speaking just not good. Drafting Leatherwood, who has SEC experience, would add great depth should their injury issues continue.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: IDL Christian Barmore, Alabama
The defending champs could use a little help along the interior and get a beast with Barmore. Back-to-back Bama players to round out the first round.