The Golden Angeleno's 2021 First-Round NFL Mock Draft
By Peyton Schultze
The 2021 NFL Draft takes place in Cleveland, Ohio, this year (via News 5 Cleveland).
The 2021 NFL Draft is finally here.
After so much leadup to one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory, Thursday night is the time for some of the best college football players in the world to finally be selected by all 32 teams over the next several days. Storylines galore have taken over the headlines for this year’s class, especially with as many as five quarterbacks expected in the first ten picks and so much depth at positions such as offensive tackle, wide reciever, and cornerback.
There is bound to be plenty of controversy regarding each team’s selection, as well as talk about some shocking potential trades, which should making for a thrilling night on Thursday. With that said, here is our first-round mock for the 2021 NFL Draft, featuring several key trades and surprising selections that we project throughout the night.
#1, Jacksonville Jaguars: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Considered one of the best quarterback prospects of all-time, Lawrence will be an immediate star once he suits up for his first game in the NFL (via People.com).
The Jaguars have long been considered one of the bottom-five franchises in the league, looking year after year for a franchise building block to finally find some long-term footing in the crowded AFC. The team brought in college football legend Urban Meyer for the head coaching position in this past offseason, but Jacksonville is still looking to make a splash with the top overall pick in this draft.
Enter Trevor Lawrence. A generational prospect who has long compared to the likes of John Elway, Andrew Luck, and Peyton Manning, Lawrence figures to step in right away as the full-time starter in Jacksonville as the first overall pick in this year’s draft after one of the best college careers for a starting quarterback in recent history. With such accuracy, precision, and high IQ decision-making, Lawrence is the ideal pocket quarterback, yet he also flourishes when on the run and in designed-run scenarios. He is the perfect pick for the Jaguars, and figures to be a pro for a long, long time.
#2, New York Jets: Quarterback Zach Wilson, BYU
Wilson may have his fair share of doubters, but could be a franchise-changing player with so much upside (via CBS Sports)
New York has long been starved of a great franchise quarterback, which makes this draft even more important following the departure of Sam Darnold. But with Robert Saleh now running the show for the Jets, the organization finally has hope for a sudden turn of events in a crowded AFC East, although the Bills will be tough to beat. Does Zach Wilson have what it takes to be the face of the Jets at the second overall pick?
Although he has his fair share of doubters, Wilson is the Mahomes-model of modern quarterbacks that teams around the league are suddenly looking for. With a cannon of an arm, excellent accuracy outside of the pocket, and key elusiveness that makes him tough to tackle, Wilson was a star at BYU and figures to be the centerpiece of the Jets for the next decade. He must be surrounded by a nice offensive line and some key weapons on the outside to succeed right away, but this right-handed gunslinger has all of the tools necessary to become the league’s next big thing.
#3, San Francisco 49ers: Quarterback Mac Jones, Alabama
There may not be a tougher choice in this year’s draft than the 49ers with the third overall pick, which could end up being the starter for last year’s Alabama championship squad, Mac Jones (via Niner Noise).
The most controversial pick of the first-round happens rather quickly at the third overall selection, where the 49ers are apparently looking for a starting quarterback to replace often-injured incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo. But after weeks of speculation following their trade up, will the Niners settle on Justin Fields, Trey lance, or Mac Jones with the third pick?
All signs right now point toward Jones, although there is certainly room for a massive surprise come draft night. Head coach Kyle Shanahan seems to be the biggest voucher for Jones within the organization after his spectacular year with the Crimson Tide in the 2020 college football season, and his insertion into the San Francisco lineup could be the ideal landing spot for the even-keeled quarterback. But the 49ers are capable of surprising a lot of people with their pick on Thursday, so do not be shocked if another prospect is selected. Jones is the guy for now, but things could get sticky quickly in the Bay Area if general manager John Lynch has his way with the team.
#4, Atlanta Falcons: Tight End Kyle Pitts, Florida
Pitts has a chance to be the first non-quarterback off the board in the draft, which could be the highest draft position ever for a tight end (via The Falcoholic).
The Falcons have a lot of options at the top of this draft: should they add to a solid offense, fix a key spot on defense, or turn the league on its head and trade the pick to a team like Denver or New England? There are many possibilities that lie ahead for the team, and while there are no wrong answers with so many talented players at the top of this draft, the pressure is all on the Falcons to step up to the plate and knock this selection out of the park.
Atlanta may receive a ton of offers from teams around the league for the fourth overall pick, but our guess is that they’ll hold on and take arguably the best non-quarterback in this draft. Pitts is an athletic freak at the tight end position, and with such size and speed to go along with excellent hands, he fits the mold of the perfect modern-day tight end. Adding him to an offense with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Calvin Ridley should only help this offense take another step forward, which could mean big things for the Falcons in 2021.
#5 Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell, Oregon
Sewell is considered a generational tackle, which could be much-needed to protect Joe Burrow in Cincinnati (via The Phinsider).
Cincinnati was a team that played significantly better than their record actually showed in the 2020 regular season, which could point to a huge leap forward this season if they can ride their momentum from the closing moments of last year. But the Bengals must first nail their first-round draft pick, where they seem to be down to two positions to help stabilize a promising offense led by the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Bengals could always add to a nice wide reciever group by targeting Joe Burrow’s college teammate in Ja’Marr Chase, but the smart move is likely to address the offensive line by targeting a barrier on the edge like Penei Sewell to keep Burrow healthy. The fact that Burrow was seriously hurt in the first year of his career should make this choice even easier for the Bengals to draft the massive Sewell, who will be an immediate starter in the league. Sewell has future Pro Bowler written all over him coming our of Oregon, and he will give Cincinnati an edge against strong AFC pass rushers in many games for the future if they end up taking him with the fifth pick.
#6, Miami Dolphins: Wide Receiver Ja‘Marr Chase, LSU
Despite opting out of the last season, Chase is likely to be the first wide receiver off the board in this draft (via USA Today’s FTW).
Despite barely missing out on the playoffs in the 2020 season, the Dolphins enter the 2021 NFL Draft with a high pick due to prior trades with the Texans. But even though their offense showed some flashes in 2020 and their defense created turnovers at such an extreme rate, how will the Dolphins address their problems at hand through this draft?
While Miami could also use some help on the offensive line, the organization is surely feeling some pressure to prove that last year’s first-round pick in Tua Tagovailoa is the real deal. Giving Tua a magnificent player like Ja’Marr Chase on the outside may be exactly what this offense needs, and even though Chase has not played in over a year due to opting out of last season, he appears to be a surefire star within the first few seasons of his career. The former LSU wide receiver seems like he will make an immediate impact in South Beach, and he will be very fun to watch for the next decade or so if the Dolphins select him with their first-round pick.
#7, Detroit Lions: Linebacker Micah Parsons, Penn State
The Lions could go in many directions at this pick, but Parsons would give them a fair shot at having the best overall defender from this draft (via CBS Sports).
The Lions are a team in the middle of a massive organizational rebuild, which means they have some real needs across the board. Detroit may be one of the most unpredictable teams in this year’s draft due to how many holes they must fill on their roster, although quarterback does not appear to be an immediate option with Jared Goff now in town. But what side of the ball will they address with the seventh overall pick, or will they end up trading down altogether?
The best bet for the Lions is that they’ll take the bets overall player on their board in the form of Micah Parsons. The former Penn State linebacker is a foundational piece on defense, and even though he may not be the flashiest pick in such an offense-crazed league, he may be the best possible selection that a team like the Lions could make. Detroit needs leaders on both sides of the ball as they enter an uncertain future, and Parsons is the perfect candidate to help transition this team into the next era of football in Detroit.
TRADE #8, New England Patriots: Quarterback Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Lance has a ton of raw upside, which could make him a perfect fit alongside Cam Newton in New England (via Pro Football Network).
We have our first major trade of the draft. Although Carolina initially had this pick in the draft, New England moves up in front of Denver in order to put themselves a position to take a quarterback with the eighth overall pick. Nevertheless, the choice is a very complicated one for a team still moving past the Tom Brady-era of football, which is sure to make this one of the most, if not the single most, exciting selection in this year’s draft.
Yet even though it is a tough call between Trey Lance and Justin Fields, Lance seems like the ideal quarterback mold that New England is trying to create. A very mobile quarterback coming out of North Dakota State, Lance could be well-served sitting out the first season of his career behind incumbent starter Cam Newton. It would still be a shock to see the Patriots actually trade up to take a quarterback in this year’s draft after twenty years of sitting back patiently in the draft, but head coach Bill Belichick may have a couple of things up his sleeve in this year’s draft.
#9, Denver Broncos: Quarterback Justin Fields, Ohio State
While Fields seems to be falling a bit in the draft, he could seriously benefit from being drafted by a team with a much more complete roster like the Broncos (via Bleacher Report).
Few teams in this draft are as hard to predict as the Denver Broncos. On one hand, they only have quarterback Drew Lock on deck for next season, although he had a rather nice finish to the 2020 regular season after a rough initial start. But on the other hand, the Broncos could really use a top-end linebacker, cornerback, or pass rusher to add to what figures to be one of the better defenses in the AFC next season under Vic Fangio, which makes their call at 9th overall even harder.
Yet the lingering thought of having to compete with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert in the AFC West for the next decade could force Denver to take a quarterback, which is likely to be Fields. There is a good chance they would prefer Lance over Fields if the process plays out and both are available, but the former Ohio State quarterback might be better suited with a team like the Broncos that has a good offensive line and plenty of young talent around him on offense already. His stock is dropping sharply for unknown reasons, which means a marriage between Fields and the Broncos could play out very well in the very near future.
#10, Dallas Cowboys: Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
The Cowboys may be aggressive in this draft, but Surtain should be on the board for them at the tenth overall pick if they do not move up (via Alabama Crimson Tide).
Dallas may think they have a chance at moving up in this draft for the likes of Kyle Pitts, but it would take a massive package for the team to really match up with other suitors of the fourth overall pick. Yet this could be a great opportunity for the franchise nonetheless, as the Cowboys are in the market for immediate help for their struggling secondary that needs some big-time improvement.
Patrick Curtain II is the perfect option for the Cowboys at #10, and although it is a very small margin of difference between Curtain and Jaycee Horn, the Jones family will be convinced by the level of competition that ‘Bama played against in the College Football Playoff, where Curtain was excellent. Curtain is an immediate threat on the outside against speedy wide receivers for a defense that must improve in 2021, and forming an all-Alabama secondary is sure to get Cowboys’ fans on their feet.
#11, New York Giants: Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Giants’ fans may not be thrilled with the idea of giving Daniel Jones more help rather than addressing some other important needs on their roster, but New York has a real chance at winning the NFC East next year with a good draft. So rather than go after Horn to help boost the secondary, the Giants turn toward last year’s Heisman winner to help turn around Jones’ fortunes. It could be a big risk if Smith’s size questions end up becoming true, but it could also be a massive reward if Smith continues to be the phenomenal wide receiver he was for all of last season at Alabama.
#12, Philadelphia Eagles: Cornerback Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
The Eagles have so many needs heading into this draft that it is hard to say which side of the ball they will address in the first round. But after trading back in a very curious fashion, the Eagles may get a little lucky if they can still find Horn on the board at the 12th overall selection. The former South Carolina product could easily be considered the best man-to-man corner prospect in this year’s class, and could finally give the Eagles the secondary threat they have been missing for so many years.
#13, Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive Tackle Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
The Chargers have some potential options at the #13 overall pick including an offensive tackle, pass rusher, and cornerback, and it would not be a surprise to see them trade this pick if Slater is off the board. But if the former Northwestern tackle is still available by the time that Los Angeles is on the clock, this could be a very easy pick. The Chargers really are not that far off from being a playoff team next year if they can stay healthy, and giving Justin Herbert a strong offensive tackle gives the team a great chance at competing in the AFC next year and for future seasons to come.
#14, Minnesota Vikings: Offensive Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
The Vikings were so horrendous on defense that you would have to think that they would go with defense in the first-round under head coach Mike Zimmer. But Minnesota has been so terrible at guard for several seasons now, and you would have to wonder if the organization is having doubts about Dalvin Cook’s health in the long-term if he keeps taking a beating at the line of scrimmage every weekend. It may not be a perfect pick, but Vera-Tucker could help stabilize a shaky offensive line that needs some consistency for the next several seasons.
TRADE #15, Carolina Panthers: Offensive Tackle Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Carolina has so many unique routes to go with in this year’s draft, which gives them so much leverage heading into the draft if they do end up trading down. Yet it does not seem like they need to add to a skill position on either side of the ball, and the insertion of Sam Darnold into the lineup means they need to protect the youngster up front if he wants to stay upright. Darrisaw is the type of player that could play as soon as he steps foot on the field, which means the Panthers could use him as a reliable player to protect their new signal caller from Day 1 in the building.
Waddle could be a very welcome addition to a Colts’ offense that needs another top playmaker (via USA Today).
TRADE #16, Indianapolis Colts: Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
The Colts need to add to their pass rush, but the idea of Jaylen Waddle falling this far down the board may be too much for them to pass up on in a trade up. With Carson Wentz under immediate pressure to succeed after his poor play in Philadelphia last season, the Colts need to give him everything and anything they can that would put him in a position to succeed. The phenomenal play of Waddle at Alabama could give the Indianapolis’ offense a much-needed spark if he can stay healthy, which could make for an easy first-round pick for the Colts.
#17, Las Vegas Raiders: Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
A pass rusher or linebacker? That is the toughest question that the Raiders face entering this draft, which could make-or-break the status of Jon Gruden’s defense for the 2021 season. Yet the prospect of passing on Notre Dame’s top linebacker may be too strong for Las Vegas, as they need some immediate help on the second level of a defense that has struggled to stop anyone over the past few seasons. He will be a welcome addition to Raider Nation, and a player who should start right away in Week 1 of next season in Las Vegas.
#18, Miami Dolphins: Edge Rusher Kwity Paye, Michigan
If the Raiders end up passing on Paye, then Miami is the perfect opportunity for him to succeed right away. As arguably the top overall pass rusher in this draft class, the Dolphins could be getting a bargain at the 18th overall selection if they can add even more impact to Brain Flores’ already-strong defense. It is not the easiest pick with some other strong offensive players still available, but it may be the move that the Dolphins need to get into the playoffs next season.
#19, Washington Football Team: Offensive Tackle Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Washington has a tough choice at the 19th overall pick with needs for linebacking and offensive line help, but the team has to get better up front on offense in order to possibly contend for a second straight NFC East title in the 2021 season. This may force Jenkins off the board a little earlier than many people expect, although he will make a strong impact on the offensive line right away for Washington. Jenkins is a super athletic tackle, and he fits the modern-day mold of offensive linemen being able to slow down some of the quickest pass rushers in the sport.
#20, Chicago Bears: Cornerback Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Despite back issues hurting Farley’s chances of being a top-ten draft pick, he may land in an ideal situation with the Bears, who are in need of a cornerback following the departure of Kyle Fuller. Chicago is interesting because they feel like a team that could sneak up into the top ten to select a quarterback (look at the #8 and #9 spots as possibilities), but if they end up sitting back, Farley could be their reward for patience. Andy Dalton takes over on offense this season, and while that side of the ball may struggle a bit once again, Farley adds another piece to a defense full of weapons all over the field.
The Cardinals are in the market for a running back, and the workhorse Williams could be a perfect fit for them in this year’s draft (via PFF).
TRADE #21, Arizona Cardinals: Running Back Javonte Williams, North Carolina
Arguably the biggest surprise of the first-round comes from the Arizona Cardinals, who will look to fill a massive hole at running back by trading down in the draft. The team did just add James Conner in free agency, but Williams gives the team a massive power back ready to maul whatever opponent sits in front of him. It’s a tough call between him and Najee Harris on the board, but Williams has gained more and more steam with every passing week leading up to the draft.
#22, Tennessee Titans: Edge Rusher Jaelan Phillips, Miami
It is no secret that the Titans boast one of the worst pass rushes in the entire league, which means that Phillips stilling being on the board could make for a very simply solution. Arguably one of the most complete defensive players in this entire draft, Phillips had an outstanding career at the University of Miami (FL) and could continue to bring his game to the next level in the NFL. With a relentless motor and a great work ethic, the Titans may be able to address their greatest weakness with this pick.
#23, New York Jets: Cornerback Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
Newsome II adds to the trend of a flurry of cornerbacks in this year’s draft, which could be a huge addition for Robert Saleh’s defense in New York. Newsome II has some frightening injury history, but there are many people who believe that he could be the second best, or even the best, cornerback from this class if he had not suffered so many lingering injuries at Northwestern. If he can overcome the injury bug, the Jets could be getting a real bargain at the 23rd overall pick that they received from the Seahawks in a trade for Jamal Adams.
#24, Pittsburgh Steelers: Running Back Najee Harris, Alabama
Steeler fans may have interest in adding to the offensive line or the secondary, but Harris seems like the best fit for the team in this year’s draft class. Harris was sensational at Alabama for his entire college career, and the fact that he already has so much on-the-field experience has to be an attractive proposition for a team that really struggled to get any kind of run game going last season. He is a key piece that the Steelers need for 2021, and he will help to ease the pressure off the aging right-arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
#25, Jacksonville Jaguars: Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore, Alabama
It will be hard for the Jaguars to go wrong with any selection here, but it is hard-pressed to think that they will go after any other position other than wide reciever or their front seven. And while there are some promising wide receivers left on the board, the idea of Barmore keeps growing stronger as we get closer and closer to draft night. This is where Urban Meyer’s scouting at the college level could be a huge focus, and while it may be unpredictable, we will roll with the ferocious defensive tackle at this selection… for now at least.
Rousseau could create even more chaos for a defensive line in Cleveland that just keeps getting better and better (via Miami Herald).
#26, Cleveland Browns: Edge Rusher Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Another very talented Miami defensive player, the Browns could opt to load up on a pass rush that could give any team in the league problems up front. It is a tough call considering the Browns may need some help in the secondary and on the second level at the linebacker position, but Cleveland would be wise to add a straight up force like Rousseau to get after quarterbacks in the AFC. This is a pick that could easily be traded, but look for the Browns to go with the best available fit on draft night if they end up staying put and selecting with the 26th overall pick.
#27, Baltimore Ravens: Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
It is time for the Ravens to start getting Lamar Jackson some actual receiving weapons on the outside. That makes the prospect of drafting Bateman so interesting for Baltimore, who is an exceptional reciever outside the numbers with big hands and great body control against opposing corners. Matching Bateman up with Hollywood Brown instantly gives the Ravens some legitimacy at the position, and it could easily make Jackson’s passing numbers rise even higher in 2021.
#28, New Orleans Saints: Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
One team is going to take the risk on Samuel Jr. in the first round, who has such exceptional speed and athleticism that it makes up for any sort of lack of size on the outside. As one of the bright spots on Florida State’s iffy team last season, the young corner would be a great fit for a New Orleans team that could always use some help in the back end. But don’t rule this exact spot as a place that could be traded for a late-round quarterback, especially if rumors fly about head coach Sean Payton looking for the true successor to Drew Brees.
#29, Green Bay Packers: Wide Receiver Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Something tells us that Green Bay is going to hear all of the noise from last year’s draft and give Aaron Rodgers another wide receiving weapon on the outside. Although he already has a strong cast of players around him, adding Moore to this offense would give Rodgers and company another useful player to stretch the ball down the field alongside Davante Adams. The Packers have very few holes that they need to immediately address, and even though they could go after an offensive line prospect, they’ll finally listen to the fans and get Rodgers some much-needed offensive help.
#30, Buffalo Bills: Safety Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Buffalo can really go in any direction that they want considering they really do not have any key needs across the board, which means the best available player could be the easiest route. If that is the case, Moehrig could be an easy choice for a Bills’ squad that could always use some help in the secondary, especially if he finds a way to fall down this far the board. There really is not any particular reason for this slide, and the Bills could be a getting a huge addition to their defense with this late of a pick in the back end of the first-round.
#31, Baltimore Ravens: Offensive Tackle Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
Baltimore made waves around the league last week in trading Orlando Brown Jr. as part of a package deal to Kansas City, which means they have to nail down this selection. It is not super far fetched that the Ravens could even double up with wide reciever or look toward adding a pass rush to a somewhat weak front seven, but replacing Brown Jr. seems more likely than any at this point. Michigan’s Mayfield is the best first-round option this late in the draft, and while he may not turn a ton of heads, he will fit right in with what the Ravens do at his natural right tackle position.
#32, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Defensive Tackle Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
The Buccaneers do not have enough weaknesses on their roster to seriously mess up this selection, which means they have the luxury of simply adding depth at this point. Luckily, Washington’s defensive tackle Onwuzurike should still be available at this point in the draft, a player who has all the tools needed to clog lanes in the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense. The Bucs’ could always trade this pick as well, but after the magic of last year’s draft class, look for the organization to try to add even more power to a defense that is looking to become back-to-back Super Bowl champions.