2021 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Round 1 of the NFL Draft (V7)

Sep 7, 2019; Knoxville, TN, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) looks to pass the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The phrase “best prospect since Andrew Luck” has been tired for a while, but stylistically, Lawrence is reminiscent of Luck. He’s massive, athletic, has a huge arm with very good accuracy, and is a smart player. He looks for chunk plays effectively and routinely challenges tight passing windows.

The Jaguars added a ton of depth in free agency and secured one of the better secondaries in the league with key additions. Their draft should continue to bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball to lock-in the foundation of the roster. 

The Jets made their decision on the quarterback position when they traded Sam Darnold to Carolina for a solid haul. This new regime gets the benefit of a completely fresh start. A strong draft class can accelerate their rebuild quickly. 

Wilson will be the next face of the Jets barring any Laremy Tunsil-like incident. The creative passer is coming from a similar scheme as to what the Jets’ offense will run under Mike LaFleur. His arm talent and ability to create outside of the pocket give him great potential.

The Mac Jones connection to San Francisco has been great content for media to speculate about but the noise hasn’t been coming from the 49ers. The coaching staff has ties to Justin Fields through the Quarterback Collective camp and this can’t be overlooked. It’d be shocking to see the 49ers go any other direction than the talented Buckeye passer. 

Fields will thrive with more timing reads than the receiver-option-heavy system at Ohio State, and he has the physical tools to be the best overall playmaker in the class. Expect him to push Jimmy Garoppolo for the starting job sooner than later, if Jimmy G is still on the roster post-draft. 

Everyone wants to give the Falcons a quarterback but their offseason hasn’t allowed the luxury of taking a player who will contribute in two years. Atlanta has added exclusively depth guys in free agency due to cap limitations. This roster has to get an impactful starter in Round 1 to hope their 2021 will be different than 2020.

The best overall talent is Kyle Pitts. The versatile pass-catcher can be whatever Atlanta needs him to be, and can be the future of the franchise with Calvin Ridley as Julio Jones ages. A playmaker corps of Jones, Ridley, Pitts, Hayden Hurts and running back Mike Davis is a fantastic group for Matt Ryan.

The Bengals are sitting in a perfect spot to land a top receiver or blocker. They’ll be tempted to protect Joe Burrow with one of the big names but would be better off taking advantage of the class depth at the position. Adding a premier receiver is a rare chance to round out the playmaker cast. 

Chase has excellent hands, toughness, route-running, and burst near the catch point. He’s a great overall athlete and the most complete receiver. The rest of the AFC North will hate facing Burrow with Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd at his disposal. 

Some look at Miami’s trade back up to the sixth overall pick as an overpay but they were clearly comfortable with whomever falls to them. Worst case is Atlanta and Cincinnati take playmakers, and Miami still gets the chance to take one of the other top-two names, or a top blocker. Dropping from three overall to six also netted them an extra first and third-round pick.

The receiver who makes the most sense for their current roster is Smith. DeVante Parker and Will Fuller allow Smith to be moved around as a versatile piece like he was at Alabama. We saw Tua Tagovailoa have great rapport with Smith already so this is a perfect landing spot. 

The Lions can continue to stack assets if the board falls like this. Taking a Patriots first-rounder in 2022 would give them a ton of ammunition to rebuild the roster next season without losing too much this year. Unless they love Lance, trading down makes sense. 

Meanwhile, New England needs long-term help at quarterback. Lance gives them an ideal developmental prospect with insane potential. He could be the next Josh Allen if his accuracy can be fine tuned. 

The Panthers gave up on the quarterback derby shortly after the 49ers moved up. Trading for Darnold allows them to take the best overall player at No. 8 and worry about the position in the future, if ever. An offensive tackle makes too much sense.

Some teams have Rashawn Slater over Sewell at tackle but the Panthers should pair the Oregon star with Taylor Moton. The sheer size, power, and athleticism of the bookends would immediately give them one of the most physically imposing tandems in the NFL. 

Denver never addressed the quarterback position in free agency and now they’re stuck either shopping for a veteran like Teddy Bridgewater or hoping one drops to them. Their cap situation makes trading for a veteran more difficult, so going with Mac Jones offers more upside long-term and is more realistic. Jones can immediately come in and win the starting job from Drew Lock.

Though Jones doesn’t have the strongest arm, he’s highly accurate and shows advanced understanding of timing and coverage leverage. The Broncos offense needs consistency from their quarterback and Jones can bring that. Concerns over his ability to create off script are fair and limit his overall upside. 

The pro day season has been kind to all of the top cornerbacks but we’ve seen Jaycee Horn really separate himself. The 6’1”, 205-pounder posted elite numbers across the board, reinforcing his excellent tape and perceived upside. Horn can be a phenomenal starter early in his career.

Dallas needs exactly that after botching the position the last few seasons. They’ve seen little production and playmaking in the secondary. Horn can help turn that trend around. 

The Giants did well to add Kenny Golladay in free agency but the loss of Kevin Zeitler is painful. It’s imperative Daniel Jones has time to utilize his weapons this season, or else he and general manager Dave Gettleman could be on the outs. Taking a top blocker would help fill the biggest question mark on the unit, right guard.

Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater has the size to play either tackle or guard. With Andrew Thomas and Nate Solder outside already, Slater could complete the unit at right guard. He’s an excellent pass blocker and athletic run blocker.

The Eagles were able to get a great return for Carson Wentz, and then again by moving down with Miami. The board fell nicely here with Jaylen Waddle and Patrick Surtain available. Though it’s easy to justify taking a receiver, it’s rare to see teams invest into first-round receivers in back-to-back drafts. Surtain is a better prospect than Waddle considering the positional value. Pairing him with Darius Slay gives the defense excellent physicality and length. 

Arguably the biggest winner of the offseason to this point has been the Chargers. They’ve rebuilt most of their woeful offensive line for Justin Herbert, and have a healthy slew of picks and cap room moving forward. Continuing the solidify the offense or taking a top corner are priorities.

A big winner from the pre-draft process is Vera-Tucker. He’s more of a finesse blocker but he can play left tackle or guard right away. The Chargers may also want to avoid Caleb Farley’s back problems considering how the franchise has been snake-bitten with injuries. 

Minnesota could use help all over their roster so this pick is all about filling a valuable need with the best overall player. The offensive line class is strong thanks to its depth and versatility. Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw has the tools to pay off as a star. 

Suddenly Minnesota would have one of the youngest but most athletic lines in the NFL. Losing Riley Reiff’s veteran savvy will sting but Darrisaw can be a legitimate left tackle right away. 

This is the definition of getting your cake and eating it too. The Lions can justifiably take Waddle at No. 7 overall, so trading down and landing him is exactly how a great front office operates. The Lions’ regime would be hard-pressed to do better than this scenario.

Waddle will help Jared Goff after the Lions’ receiving corps was devastated in free agency. His speed is unreal, but he’s not just straight-line fast like Henry Ruggs. He could be the best receiver in this class when we look back at it in a few years. 

Arizona still has several areas of need even after bargain-shopping in free agency. But this staff needs to win now, so taking a high-impact position here is critical. They can’t afford to see a slow-developing prospect like Isaiah Simmons happen again with whichever rookie they pick here.

The best pass-rusher in the class is Phillips. He has a history of injuries that must be fleshed out, but he can rotate in with the aging duo of Chandley Jones and J.J. Watt. In turn, this will help a woeful cornerback room as well. 

We’ve seen the Raiders draft highly-productive players from big schools under Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. The results have been poor, and they need to reprioritize athleticism and dynamic traits. There’s no better value than Parsons here.

Parsons sat out 2020 but remains capable of completely changing the face of any defense. He’ll need to get more comfortable in coverage to maximize his ability to move in space, but the ingredients are there for him to be as good as Fred Warner. The Raiders absolutely need to find their version of an elite new-age linebacker. 

The Dolphins could double down on offensive playmakers by taking Najee Harris but it’s a great running back class. Waiting allows them to address the huge hole for an edge-rusher. Getting faster and more athletic at the edge spot is a must for Brian Flores.

Michigan’s Kwity Paye stands out instantly on film thanks to a blend of strength in the run game and quickness off the edge on passing plays. Miami can develop him into a major contributor without asking him to start thanks to some veteran depth. 

Ron Rivera’s Football Team did well to make the best of a tough veteran quarterback market. Ryan Fitzpatrick can bring monstrous performances to help win unlikely battles, and will help his young receivers put up serious numbers. The Washington defense can get an uplift with the offense more settled.

Versatile and rangy safety Trevon Moehrig can unlock a talented defense and take them to the next level. Landon Collins is more of a box safety and linebacker, and Moehrig can play single-high to protect his corners. 

Chicago had a tough free agency after veteran quarterbacks opted for greener pastures elsewhere. Andy Dalton brings more competence to their offense but a limited upside. They tried to acquire Kenny Golladay and this showed their hand as to how they want to improve the unit. 

Getting speed on the offense is key. Marshall can play inside or out, has good size, and is fast enough to get downfield and be a threat. It makes sense we could hear his name called earlier than we thought after several receiving prospects measured in shorter than listed. 

The Colts sat out free agency to the chagrin of many. They’re now left with several key holes despite sitting on a ton of cap space. It’s key they protect Carson Wentz, because we’ve seen how poorly he plays when protection is anything but great.

Texas’ Samuel Cosmi had good tape but an even better pro day. He tested as an elite athlete at tackle. We’ve seen how well this unit has been coached up, and Cosmi can ascend to franchise blindside blocker with the Colts.

The Titans underwent some serious change this offseason. Losing Corey Davis and Adoree’ Jackson left major holes in their long-term planning. Giving quarterback Ryan Tannehill a legitimate second receiving target will be a must.

Minnesota star receiver Rashod Bateman gained steam when he blazed a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at his pro day but he showed on tape how talented he is. Much like Davis, Bateman can play inside or out, and wins with his size as much as his speed. 

The Jets follow up the Wilson pick with another key decision at No. 23. Adding another pass-rusher to go with Carl Lawson is huge for Robert Saleh’s defense. The speedy and athletic Azeez Ojulari would be a steal here.

Ojulari has average size but the burst to give blockers headaches all game long. It’s not a surprise his pro day was so impressive. The Georgia product was a force all season long in 2020. 

Change hit the Steelers this offseason thanks to being cap-strapped but it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Retaining JuJu Smith-Schuster was a nice surprise, and they mitigated the need to reach for a blocker here. However, the board fell perfectly to get a great tackle prospect.

Jenkins doesn’t have the same movement ability as some others in the class but he is fantastic with his hands. He’s ready to play Day 1, making him perfect for Pittsburgh’s situation. He’ll make Ben Roethlisberger’s life easier. 

Urban Meyer has a lot of options with his second first-round pick. The Jags could take a receiver or look to bolster a defense with several needs. Going with the best overall player makes too much sense.

The defense still could use another stud next to Josh Allen after pass-rusher after K’Lavon Chaisson disappointed in 2020. Rousseau is an athletic and long body who needs good coaching, but Meyer’s shown throughout his career he can get the most out of this type of athlete. 

Everyone knows the Browns have made it clear they don’t highly value the linebacker position but their offseason has allowed them to address the position if the right guy is on the board. Collins has the production, athleticism, and versatility for the front office to lock up a playmaker on a rookie deal. There’s not many clear upgrades still on the board besides him.

There’s not a linebacker on the Browns’ roster locked in as more than a temporary presence. Collins can be on the field all three downs or move around as a pass-rusher. 

Baltimore has a big need for a receiver, so adding both a veteran and a high-end rookie only makes sense. Their cap situation makes it imperative that a contributor be found immediately. A rising name is Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore.

Moore is a terror from the slot, boasting great size and pure speed. He’ll give Lamar Jackson and this offense needed consistency and explosiveness. They’ll have to get creative to land a reliable veteran with their cap limitations but Moore at least gives a boost to one starting spot. 

The Saints went through massive changes as expected thanks to being in cap Hell. The offense needs a receiver to look more threatening, but waiting until Day 2 might make more sense because of how short the class is on impact defenders. It also helps Sean Payton’s squeezed production out of no-name receivers in the past. 

Never would a corner as talented as Farley still be available unless there was injury concerns. His back surgery is big, and could knock him out of the first round despite being as talented as anyone in the class. But if he can avoid further issues, he’ll give the Saints a rare tandem to build around.

The receiver class lost some zest when Rondale Moore measured in at 5’7”. Instead of taking a diminutive pass-catcher to bolster the offense, the Packers always take the best value. Landing Newsome is a big steal as they need a star to pair with Jaire Alexander.

Capable of playing in zone and press-man, Newsome has some of the best hips in the class. His breakout 2020 season with Northwestern established his ability to dominate one side of the field. 

After a tremendous breakout 2020 season, the Bills have flexibility with this pick. They could take a top running back and complete the offense. Or they can look to lock in the defense, which took a step back last year and should be better.

Getting a great second corner would be a big boost for the unit. Tyson Campbell is a perfect fit into their Cover 2 base, boasting great length and physicality. The Bills would instantly have a top-tier secondary. 

Credit has to be given to the Chiefs for how they quickly revamped their offensive line. Injuries and high cap numbers forced change, and the Chiefs took the challenge on quickly. They almost landed left tackle Trent Williams to go with Kyle Long and Joe Thuney.

Lucas Niang and Mike Remmers could take the tackle positions, leaving center as the lone need. But if the Chiefs don’t view Niang as the immediate answer, getting a left tackle for 2021 is imperative. Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood is a plug-and-play starter who can be at least serviceable if not solid. 

The Bucs have the ability to take the best available player thanks to their solid roster construction. Running back is possible but re-signing Leonard Fournette keeps the position set for now. They should take a flier on a high-upside prospect like Jayson Oweh.

Oweh had little production (seven career sacks and none in 2020) but a legendary pro day. He ran like Calvin Johnson, sporting a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at 252 pounds. His speed and size must be harnessed into a third-down role, but he could be the next Danielle Hunter if he reaches his athletic upside.