2021 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Round 1 of the NFL Draft (V2)

The 2021 NFL Draft is coming into focus for more teams each week. The conference championships are here and soon the Super Bowl will be upon us. That means that 28 other NFL teams are now locked in on the NFL Draft and free agency as they look to improve their squads. While this draft process will be different than other years, with no traditonal scouting combine, teams will still have to sift through their needs and figure out the prospect who makes the most sense for them. There's also the question about Deshaun Watson and if he'll be traded this offseason. Could the Jets or Dolphins offer up their pick to Houston in a trade? That's just one of the many storylines we'll have to watch.

The abridged college football season surely makes predicting the draft an even more challenging affair than usual, but we're here for it. We'll have several mock drafts leading up to the April 29th draft and update the latest rumors and fits as we learn more information and teams make moves prior. One signing, trade, or veteran cut can immediately change a team's needs.

We're using the draft order at Tankathon for our mock draft. A team's strength of schedule is used as the tiebreaker.

The Jaguars have long been an uninspiring franchise, but that's about the change. Hiring Urban Meyer brought instant excitement and he's assembling an experienced bunch of assistants. He has an easy decision to make with the No. 1 overall choice, Trevor Lawrence.

The phrase "best prospect since Andrew Luck" has been tired for a while, but Lawrence is stylistically 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 aren't as bad off as most top-picking teams in terms of roster quality. A new staff is needed but they can build around some solid young players on both sides of the ball. Enter Lawrence on an offense with James Robinson and DJ Chark and it's reasonable to expect a jump in 2021.

The Jets may have screwed themselves out of Lawrence, but they're snuggled into the second pick. They have the choice of keeping it or moving it for a quarterback-needy team, and really increasing their asset load. First they must decide on what to do with Sam Darnold.

Darnold has largely been the same guy he was in college, which is a turnover-prone thrower with an average arm and plus athleticism. Keeping him over Fields or Zach Wilson would be a massive mistake, in our opinion. Robert Saleh will likely utilize a West Coast scheme that would help Darnold, but starting over while they can with such a dynamic talent and still getting value out of a Darnold trade would be wise.

Fields would be the top quarterback in most classes. He's extremely athletic and smart, with a plus arm and great accuracy. Some like him more than Lawrence, and it's hard to argue that his upside isn't just as good.

The Dolphins were playing with house money during their playoff push this season. With another Texans pick to add to their young roster, they can afford to swing big. They have an obvious hole at edge-rusher and wide receiver, and taking a blocker would also be completely understandable.

The obvious link for Miami will be with DeVonta Smith. The Heisman winner tore up opponents throughout 2020, and his chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa from their time in Tuscaloosa together is undeniable. Smith is older than Ja'Marr Chase, but Miami may lean towards the hot name and comfort he'll bring Tua.

Smith is terrific at tracking balls mid-air and creating after the catch. His body type is uncommon, and his biggest fans will point towards Marvin Harrison and Isaac Bruce as comparables. I see a lot of Calvin Ridley in him.

I was on board with the Falcons moving on from Matt Ryan after 2020 if the season continued to be disastrous as it was under Dan Quinn. Sure, Ryan's massive cap hit meant they'd eat a bunch of dead money, but a team like San Francisco or Chicago could move early picks for the veteran to compete. Restarting this franchise made sense until Raheem Morris started making his name known as the interim coach.

Don't be surprised if Morris is able to keep this job. If he is, he'll want to win right away to avoid the typical cycle of internal hire and quick-fire process. Replacing Ryan with Zach Wilson or Trey Lance in 2021 simply doesn't make sense; that's a move more for 2022 and beyond.

Enter an impact defender like Parsons, and Morris can be more versatile than now. Parsons can play all linebacker positions or be an edge defender thanks to his elite athleticism and build. He's fascinating, and many evaluators think he'll be a Rookie Defensive Player of the Year candidate anywhere he lands.

The Bengals, without the services of last year’s No. 1 pick Joe Burrow, showed life at the end of the season. We don't know if Zac Taylor is good, but we know he hasn't lifted this roster like great coaches would. He must protect Burrow to have a job beyond 2021.

Enter Sewell. The athletic tackle is excellent and pairing him with 2020 first-rounder Jonah Williams would give Burrow a bookend to build around for the next decade. Some may prefer a tackle with more length, but Sewell has earned his projection as an excellent pass-protector and high-impact run blocker.

Missing out on Sewell and taking a big-time pass rusher or cornerback wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. This is a great tackle draft and those positions are just as valuable for a bad team like this.

This might be the toughest decision of the draft to this point. The Eagles could absolutely justify taking a quarterback for their new head coach and move on from Carson Wentz. Or they could load up the offense around what they have. But the Eagles also just invested a first-round pick on the unit last year (Jalen Reagor), and should have a healthier offensive line in 2021.

The new head cosch and the front office should look at the defense and start retooling. Adding talent at a barren cornerback spot is a must, and don't be surprised if Darius Slay is moved just one-year after acquiring him for mid-round picks. The Eagles are deep in the cap hole and Slay didn't play well enough in 2020 to secure his roster spot.

Even with Slay aboard, there's a huge hole across from him. Alabama's Patrick Surtain II has the size, physicality and ball skills to be a solid starter right away and develop into a star.

Four straight losses helped the Lions secure a higher draft pick in a class where it could pay off massively. The Lions could trade Matthew Stafford for another first-round pick, but hiring Dan Campbell can swing that decision since he's a "football guy" who will want to win right away. That means building around Stafford.

If that's the case, we have to play the value game. There's not a great edge-rusher in this range, so that leaves taking a right tackle or wide receiver as the best options. Both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones are likely leaving this offseason so the Lions should naturally add a receiver.

Landing Ja'Marr Chase here would be a great pick. Chase is a tremendous deep threat and is excellent creating after the catch. He has a claim as the top receiver in this class, and should develop quickly in this offense with Stafford.

The Panthers look like they'll avoid losing Joe Brady to the head coaching carousel this offseason as just one opening remains. Sitting eighth, they can take an impact defender or a quarterback if one falls to them. Although Teddy Bridgewater played decently in his first year and gave Carolina a solid return as a free-agent, he's not the type of quarterback who will take over games and transcend the roster.

That limitation could push them to take his eventual replacement over a cornerback or edge-rusher. The easy decision is if BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is on the board. Wilson broke out in 2020 like Joe Burrow did last year and is the hottest name in scouting circles.

He's strong-armed, athletic, has moxy, and playmaking ability. He has to play within structure better and become more accurate on short passes through mechanical adjustments, but the upside is high.

I expect the Broncos to be active in finding a new quarterback, making this pick a projection based on their fortunes in the trade market. Stafford will be the hot name if the new Lions staff wants to rebuild and the Broncos are a natural fit. Getting Stafford could cost them this pick based on the competition they'd have for his services.

Let's say they keep the pick and get Darnold for their second-round pick or another vet comes cheaper than this pick. Adding a cornerback is an absolute must for a defense brimming with talent.

2020 third-round pick Michael Ojemudia has been a hit, and Caleb Farley would be an ideal running mate thanks to his ability to play man and zone coverage. He's instinctive and sticky in coverage, allowing coach Vic Fangio to play whatever scheme he wishes on any down.

The Cowboys made a huge mistake when they let Byron Jones walk last offseason. The cornerbacks left on the roster are all replaceable, and have contributed to why Dallas was such a disappointment this season. They have tough decisions to make on how to proceed forward with this staff, Dak Prescott's contract situation, and how to manage an expensive roster after wasting a year.

Adding an impact cornerback is tough to do, and the last time Dallas picked in the top 10, they could've had Jalen Ramsey instead of Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott is a good back, but clearly they made the wrong decision. They can somewhat rectify their need for secondary help by adding Horn.

The South Carolina stud has everything needed to help right away. He has elite length, instincts, and ball skills. The Cowboys would be able to be more multiple in their coverages with his talent.

The Giants could look a number of ways with the 11th overall pick but they should continue to focus on areas that won them their last Super Bowl. There's some solid playmakers on the offense and if Daniel Jones is the guy, he'll make what's mostly there already work. This defense needs more impactful talent, though.

A hot, rising name is Michigan's Kwity Paye. Paye is twitched up and huge, projecting like the next Ezekial Ansah. The Giants absolutely need an edge defender who can help every level of their defense. If they can retain Leonard Williams, this becomes a truly feared unit.

Other options include receiver, an offensive lineman depending on what the plan with Nate Solder is, and a cornerback. They've invested recently into some of those spots already so going with an edge becomes even more obvious.

The 49ers may have played themselves out of a top quarterback prospect this year, but that's an incredibly impressive accomplishment considering their injuries. The 49ers get lucky in this mock and get a great value and upside swing in Lance.

He has a big arm, great athleticism, and knack for playmaking. He needs time to fix his in-pocket mechanics and footwork consistency, but they're not make-or-break bad at this time. This would allow San Francisco to move on from Jimmy G's huge salary and injury-ridden body.

The dream for San Francisco would be to land Matt Ryan or Stafford and improve the ceiling for this offense. Their own cap restraints will limit their opportunities to be creative, though.

One of the surprising hires of this cycle was Los Angeles going with Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley over Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Staley has been fantastic for the Rams and will be excellent for this defense, but the pressure is on him to build around Justin Herbert. He'd be fortunate in this scenario.

The Chargers need to protect Herbert as best as they can, and the best value here is Rashawn Slater. The athletic left tackle has excellent traits and technique already. He could even leap over Sewell thanks to his ideal build. The Chargers could take a top receiver or pass rusher too, but building the foundation of the offense is the best play.

The Vikings have limited ways to help their roster for 2021 thanks to their cap situation, but the team stuck with their coaching staff and front office after they recovered from a 1-5 start. They have to nail the draft and be shrewd with free agent signings. Jettisoning more veterans looks likely.

A primary edge rusher is a massive need even with Danielle Hunter coming back from injury. Enter Patrick Jones and a rising prospect.

He is a speedy presence who has dominated his competition this year. He has one of the fastest get-offs in the class and that could lead to an early impact on a team that has snaps to give on passing downs.

The veteran free-agent pool for quarterbacks is razor thin, but it's hard to imagine the Patriots would enter this draft without an answer there. A reunion with Jacoby Brissett seems like the worst-case scenario, and that's not too bad. The team must fill numerous holes on both sides of the ball but have a lot of cap space to do so.

They could go with an offensive playmaker here and be happy to add a quality pass-catcher, but it's not Bill Belichick's style. He'll fall in love with an edge-rusher like Joseph Ossai and refresh the front-seven talent on the unit.

Ossai is a premier speed rusher in this class for good reason. He has all the tools to be a double-digit threat yearly.

I so badly wanted the Cardinals to take CeeDee Lamb last year, and would love to see them add Pitts this draft. Larry Fitzgerald may retire, and even if he doesn't, he became a non-factor last season. Past second-round picks Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella aren't special talents.

Pitts is a phenomenal player, though, and could be argued as the top overall receiver prospect in the class despite being a tight end. He's huge, has elite hands and catch radius, and runs hard after the catch.

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury must win in 2021 and need impact players on both sides of the ball. Arizona right now is a fun team with the ability to pull upsets but the expectation is to draft better and really compete soon with Kyler Murray. Pitts will help accomplish that.

Derek Carr entered the year on the hot seat, but he's earned his keep for the immediate future thanks to more aggressive play. The Raiders offense has been solid despite mediocre receiver play and offensive line injuries, meaning it's time to bolster that unit in free agency and the middle rounds of the draft. But the impact players are needed on defense.

Taking another edge defender isn't a massive indictment on their recent investments, but rather a sign they don't have a true creator at the position. Clelin Ferrell is a nice piece and Maxx Crosby is solid, but Rousseau has the athletic upside to be a true star and make this unit take a huge leap. Rousseau has freakish movement ability and sky-high potential to win one-on-one if his technique improves.

The Dolphins already added an offensive playmaker earlier on, and now they get a defensive difference maker in versatile linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The Notre Dame product is rangy enough to play as a pseudo-safety or a coverage linebacker, and the Dolphins would be thrilled to have such a defensive weapon. They're likely one of a few teams that'll value Owusu-Koramoah as highly because Brian Flores will get the most out of him.

The Dolphins defense needs speed and a little more flexibility. As well as they played in 2020, they relied heavily on turnovers. Individual matchups weren't in their favor despite the unit jelling to the level they did. Linebacker and edge standout as two positions that are currently okay but not great.

Washington needs more playmakers badly. They also need a quarterback, but there's not one on the board in this situation. Flipping spots with the Eagles in the standings should cost them Wilson or Lance, but this coaching staff would rather get to the playoffs in 2020 than worry about the draft.

In this situation, adding speed next to Terry McLaurin is a must. Washington’s receiving corps is among the worst in the league. Jaylen Waddle is a phenomenal playmaker and falling this far would even be a steal.

Waddle, McLaurin, and Antonio Gibson would give this roster a real chance to make moves in 2021. The question of who plays quarterback next year is a legitimate one. Expect them to be in the hunt for a veteran.

Like Denver, Chicago is ripe for a veteran quarterback acquisition in 2021. They should've given Bridgewater, Newton, or Jameis Winston a chance over Nick Foles this past year and are now paying for their mistake. Maybe they're the team that takes a risk on Wentz, Garoppolo, or Darnold if those players are replaced.

Otherwise the Bears will rely on the draft to find a quarterback, but Jones and Kyle Trask aren't first-round talents. They need more playmakers on offense even if Allen Robinson is retained (that's unlikely), so picking the best explosive talent is a must.

Bateman is a big-bodied receiver who moves like a smaller player. He has soft, sure hands, good route-running speed, and smoothness. He's the ideal replacement for Robinson if he leaves, and even if not, they're both good enough to move around in formations.

The Colts are another team expected to look at different quarterback options this offseason. Darnold has been the popular name thrown around, but I wouldn't be stunned if they get Stafford or have to stay with Philip Rivers another season. Rivers has been fine considering the lack of a consistent running game and injuries at receiver.

Indianapolis could justify drafting a receiver, but it makes more sense to sign Robinson, Corey Davis, or JuJu Smith-Schuster and continue to develop Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell. That means addressing their cornerback room is a must.

Xavier Rhodes has had a solid bounceback season, but is a short-term option, and 2019 second-rounder Rock Ya-Sin has been a massive disappointment.

Florida State’s Samuel has the skill set to take the starting job and run away with it as a rookie. He has great confidence, physicality, and ball skills. He's the perfect fit for Indianapolis' zone tendencies and adds a playmaking presence.

The Titans are a solid team, but have some tough decisions to make this offseason. Their decision to not give Corey Davis his fifth-year option looks like the wrong one, and they are faced with having to pay him with a new deal or losing him. They also could use a pass-rusher and help in the secondary.

Some of these issues can be handled before the draft. Re-signing Davis might cost Malcolm Butler and Adam Humphries, but that's a fair trade off considering neither of those two have earned their big salaries. A second pass-rusher across from Harold Landry is going to be the other temptation depending on how the board falls.

We had a run on edge guys already, meaning we'll look at corner depth here. Georgia's Campbell can play press man or zone, and is a large presence on the outside. This secondary could use his length and physicality.

We've already given the Jets a quarterback and, hypothetically speaking, they may have another second-round pick for moving Darnold by this point. So we have to make sure the offense is set for Fields to thrive. Adding a bookend tackle across from stud left tackle Mekhi Becton is an absolute must.

Getting Darrisaw this late would be a huge steal. The athletic tackle has every physical trait needed to be a star in pass protection. His mobility and range of movement in the run game would also be a critical boost to a non-existent run game.

There's speculation that Ben Roethlisberer could retire, but he's owed a lot of money in 2021 and there's no successor on the roster. It's a safer bet to say he'll be back.

Replacing veterans with affordable rookies is risky, but necessary for contenders. The Steelers have to trim their cap numbers in 2021, and must deal with tackles Alejandro Villanueva and Matt Feiler as free agents on top of cap limitations. That means drafting a starter seems inevitable.

Cosmi would be an ideal fit for the offense. The Texas product will benefit from offensive line coach Shaun Surratt, who has quickly earned a good reputation for his work after Mike Munchak left. Cosmi's strong frame just needs a little time to increase his functional strength and clean up his hand usage. He projects as a good starter fairly early in his career.

Much like the Jets needing to protect their investment, the Jaguars have to do the same. Their offensive line isn't a complete disaster thanks to their bookends being so good, but upgrading the interior is a must. The link between their new coach and his former recruit, Davis, is undeniable and would be an obvious landing spot.

A stellar guard for Ohio State, Davis is ready to play in Year 1 at a high level. He's a powerful downhill blocker in the run game but quick and smooth enough to pull as the lead on gap plays. His scheme versatility makes him incredibly attractive.

The Browns enjoyed a terrific season, but there's a slew of needs to be addressed this offseason. The end of the Odell Beckham-era looks more likely than ever, so a speedy receiver like Rondale Moore to replace him could be similar to the Vikings replacing Stefon Diggs with Justin Jefferson. But the receiving depth in this class is awesome so we're going to add a defensive playmaker first.

Tulsa's Collins is the most well-rounded linebacker in the class thanks to elite range. He'll immediately be an asset in the passing game, and is the rare coverage linebacker who plays with physicality in the run game. Cleveland tried investing into linebackers Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips, and Mack Wilson, but none have stuck as reliable options.

Collins and BJ Goodson would be a solid starting duo in nickel looks and help provide underneath support for Cleveland's more athletically limited safeties. He helps solve several issues across the critical middle of the field.

The Baltimore Ravens finished the season strongly as the offense came alive against weaker foes. They're an extremely dangerous team, but the weakness is obvious. The Ravens lack explosive, reliable options at wide receiver.

Moore looked like a top 10 pick as a freshman, and he remains one of the most gifted athletes in this class. He'd be a bargain at this point in the class and several teams must consider taking him. Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman will love utilizing his variety of skills in this offense.

As good as the Saints are, it'll be a fascinating offseason for them. The Drew Brees-era is ending, and it's likely Taysom Hill will be given the reigns. If so, the Saints must continue to build a strong roster around Hill and replace some aging, expensive veterans.

The roster will be turned over a bit and purged of deals or restructured to help buy any help out of a $96 million hole. Continuing to invest into the secondary will be critical since Janoris Jenkins is so expensive and aging, and Marshon Lattimore needs a running mate.

Stokes would be a solid get in the late-first even if his name isn't popular now. The lengthy, physical corner would immediately give this unit a developmental starter with the upside to bully opposing receivers. This division is deep with impact receivers so finding quality corners is key.

Tampa Bay has some tough cap decisions to make and will be up against the limit as they push for a Super Bowl in 2021. An edge-rusher, offensive lineman, or linebacker could all be in the mix. But as we've watched the Buccaneers stable of tailbacks lead the league in drops, it's clear they have a need there.

Harris really ran away with his opportunity in 2020. He's a complete back, powerful and athletic, fast and versatile. Harris is a luxury, and maybe Tampa goes after James White instead, but imaging him in the backfield instead of the rotation that Tampa is using now is exciting.

The Bills had a fantastic breakout season thanks to Josh Allen's improvement and the addition of Stefon Diggs. The defense has taken a step back and there's a huge need for a cornerback across from Tre'Davious White, but ensuring the offense remains a strength is critical. Allen needs competent blocking and the run game can't be forgotten as part of their identity.

Enter Tennessee guard Smith. The powerful run blocker is a massive presence, and helps the Bills add a reliable body to a position that was ravaged by injuries in 2020. It's possible the Bills find two new guards this offseason and landing Smith certainly fixes the position for the next five years.

We've already seen in the postseason some missed opportunities for the Packers to score but failed to due to drops. There's no excuse to avoiding the issue this offseason. They should get aggressive this offseason and try to actually help Aaron Rodgers.

The Odell Beckham-to-Green Bay rumors are mostly fan made, but it'd be a phenomenal fit if it were to happen. Or the Packers could steal from the Bears by signing Robinson away and keep this pick. Failing to land another plus starting receiver means they should use their first-rounder on a true compliment to Davante Adams.

A downfield presence like Marshall gets the nod in this mock. The 6'3", 200-pound speedster has had two great seasons at LSU, and is a big-play threat every pass. He's already capable of winning on vertical routes and everything that plays off go routes, like curls, comebacks, and dig routes, meaning he can play right away for this offense.

The rich get even richer on offense in this mock. The Chiefs have supreme flexibility thanks to their affordable and solid defense being in place, and the knowledge that coach Andy Reid will get the most out of whatever offensive linemen he trots out. A top-tier guard is tempting, but receiver is a real need for this offense in 2021.

Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson will be free agents and it's hard to justify bringing either back unless Watkins takes another pay cut. His injuries keep his value low and his per-game production has dipped to career-low levels. Robinson hasn't been an impactful player either, leaving the bulk of the work to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.

Adding Toney to this unit would be insane. Toney is what the Chiefs thought they were getting in Mecole Hardman, which is a terrifying deep threat who can run more than one route effectively. He'd seamlessly fill Watkins' role and provide a boost on special teams when Hill isn't returning punts.