2021 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Round 1 of the NFL Draft (V8)

We’ve finally reached draft week with the 2021 NFL Draft kicking off Thursday in Cleveland. Big trades, pro days, and free agency has led to a ton of change since the Super Bowl. We’re getting a clearer picture of what might unfold during the first-round. There’s already a ton of rumors out there and that will continue to be the case through the draft as teams look to build their teams for next season. It’s about to be a crazy week, especially if someone like Julio Jones actually does get traded.

Our latest mock draft reflects what we’ve seen thus far in free agency and projects who fits where the best. We’ll break down all 32 picks and give some of the latest intel from around the league.

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 should have one of the better secondaries in the league thanks to 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 a Laremy Tunsil-like incident. The creative passer is coming from a similar scheme as to what the Jets will run under new coordinator Mike LaFleur. His arm talent and ability to create outside of the pocket give him great potential.

There’s little clarity around the 49ers’ intentions with this pick. The coaching staff has connections to Justin Fields and Trey Lance, but the buzz around Mac Jones persists. No one knows who exactly the pick will be. The latest buzz points to either Lance or Jones.

Trading up to No. 3 to grab Lance makes more sense than Jones. Jones could slip out of the top-10 if the 49ers pass on him. Lance would give Kyle Shanahan an immense physical skill set to develop.

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—or potentially gets traded, as recent rumors suggest could happen. 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 playmakers or a top blocker. Dropping three spots also netted them an extra first and third-round pick.

Miami will be happy with either Alabama receiver, Waddle or DeVonta Smith. Waddle has overtaken Smith as a prospect because he’s a better athlete with a more reliable frame. Miami might be able to trade down and still land the Heisman Trophy winner.

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 Fields or Mac Jones, trading down makes sense.

Meanwhile, New England needs long-term help at quarterback. Fields is an elite talent and falling this far is shocking. He’d be the top pick in most classes.

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.

Jaycee Horn has really separated himself from all the other corners after his pro day. 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.

This range is difficult because the corner run will begin and defenders will swiftly come off the board. The Giants have been linked to receivers, corners, edge players, and linebackers. Their roster needs help so any one of them is justified.

Linebacker Micah Parsons is a freak athlete and I think Dave Gettleman settles on him if Jaycee Horn isn’t available. Parsons will be the most dynamic linebacker the franchise has had in some time. He has the potential to be the next Bobby Wagner.

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 DeVonta Smith 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 Alijah 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. Landing a guy many consider to be the most pro-ready tackle at this juncture is a fantastic value for the Vikings.

Slater can play either tackle position and has the ideal athleticism for today’s NFL. No team in the league will be able to match the blend of physical traits Minnesota would have with Slater, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, and Bria O’Neill. We as NFL fans deserve to see such a talented group together on one unit.

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

Smith will help Jared Goff after the Lions’ receiving corps was devastated in free agency. Teams are rightfully concerned about his slender frame but a good offensive coordinator can keep Smith away from press coverage and manufacture touches. Goff excelled when he could get the ball into his playmakers’ hands in Los Angeles, and the Lions should give him options who can create in a similar fashion.

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.

Newsome is a big riser despite durability concerns. His ability to play off coverage will help tremendously in Arizona, where only Byron Murphy is a reliable presence as Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford age. He has great potential thanks to fantastic ball skills and instincts.

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. Getting a confident and experienced player will also help maximize the results from their haul.

Tulsa’s Zaven Collins fits the bill for what they’d love. He was uber productive and tested well athletically. His ability to step onto the field Day 1 and be a force as a linebacker can’t be undersold.

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.

Deciding whether to address the offensive line or linebacker position isn’t an easy one for Washington. This class boasts great depth at tackle, though. And Ron Rivera surely wants his version of Shaq Thompson on his defense.

JOK is the ideal modern-day linebacker. He’s an amazing coverage presence who can handle his business close to the line of scrimmage. My money is JOK would win Defensive Rookie of the Year in Washington.

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.

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 Allen Robinson, Bateman can play inside or out, and wins with his size as much as his speed.

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 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. With needs at receiver, cornerback, tight end, and pass rusher, they can justify almost any name here. The Titans can get a potential top-10 talent if they’re willing to consider guys with injury histories.

If so, then Farley is a tremendous value. Coming off a back surgery, Farley is a gamble since back injuries can rear their head at any time. But he’s arguably the top corner in the class when healthy. He’d be able to compete with Kristian Fulton in 2021 and then takeover for the aging Janoris Jenkins in 2022.

The Jets follow up the Wilson pick with another key decision at No. 23. Another cornerback would be helpful, but so would another pass rusher to complement free agent pickup Carl Lawson. The Jets can quickly become a feared unit if they get a star here.

Rolling the dice on Phillips can take them to a new level. Though he has a history of injuries and interests outside of football, he was dominant in 2020 with the Hurricanes. He’s the best pure pass rusher in the class.

Linked to the Steelers since early in the draft process, Najee Harris embodies what this franchise always projects. He’s tough, athletic, and able to serve as a workhorse for a transitioning offense. The Steelers need offensive line help too, but Harris is clearly the best back in the class.

This coaching staff has been able to get rookies up to speed in the past and make the most out of Day 2 picks. Taking Harris and passing on a better offensive tackle would show their confidence in their staff once again.

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.

The Browns probably don’t love their options in this scenario as many big names that fit are gone. But there’s still a good corner left on the board in addition to some edge choices. Grabbing a starting-caliber corner would be ideal to help this roster compete at an even higher level in 2021.

Campbell is raw, but an elite physical specimen. He’ll fit into a defense that’ll ask him to worry about vertical routes more than hard in-breaking cuts and being isolated without help. Campbell can handle a rotational job early on and eventually grow into a starter.

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.

A roster clearly needing help after losing numerous contributors on their journey to be cap compliant, the Saints have to go with the best player available. A starting corner or receiver would be helpful but the board didn’t help them out any. Getting a contributor for the next decade in Jamin Davis is a great consolation prize.

Davis is fast and furious on the field. He’s rising up the boards because he’s capable of playing all three downs. He’d complement Demario Davis immediately and eventually replace the veteran.

There’s a lot of interest in Kadarius Toney in the late first-round. He could go as high as 20th to Chicago or make it to the Ravens at 31. It’d be shocking to see him not get picked in this range.

The playmaker would inherit the versatile role Randall Cobb once had in Green Bay. Toney’s a strong ball carrier with better acceleration and quickness than overall speed. Aaron Rodgers would rejoice to see such an addition to the unit.

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.

Without a clear great corner to add here, taking the most explosive back in the class makes sense. The Bills don’t have a true alpha in the backfield, and Etienne is the speedster who can round out an exciting unit. Buffalo would also benefit by keeping the Clemson star away from the Jets and Dolphins early second-round picks.

The Ravens could look to bolster their offensive line with this pick, but the value is better with Tryon. The Washington pass rusher is ready-made to contribute right now thanks to great hand usage and solid athleticism. He’d be yet another high-floor pass rusher for the franchise to groom.

Tryon has many interested suitors in the back-half of the first round. His ability to help in the run game shouldn’t be overlooked.

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.