NFL Mock Draft V1!

Welcome to Draft Prep Season! Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, I’ll post a series of Mock Drafts, Team Cards with player needs and more! All of my mock drafts take my Model Z generated position needs, league rumors and general predictions into account. Enjoy!

The Highlights:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars — QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
   The Jags get their guy! I love this Jags team more than most, as they only have a few glaring needs, rather than a ton. QB, TE, C, IDL and S being the main needs in my opinion.
2. New York Jets — QB Zach Wilson, BYU
   The debate is Wilson or Fields at this point. They can dream about Deshaun Watson, and he may make the mistake of going there, but I think the Texans play hard ball and make him stay. Other than the bright lights, why would he want to go to the Jets? I don’t understand those rumors.
3. Miami Dolphins — OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
   “A Generational Talent” is what Sewell is being labeled as. There is a lot of bling at the top of this draft in QBs and WRs, but I have a “D” grade at the OT position for the Dolphins and I think they stick with Tua.
4. Carolina Panthers via ATL —QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
   The Falcons are a tough team to figure out with the Matt Ryan and Julio Jones rumors. I think they both stay and I don’t see a reason to add another WR with so many other needs. I say trade out and get some more help. In comes Carolina who won’t see the top 10 in the draft again next year, get your guy now. Joe Brady will have some fun with this offense.
5. Cincinnati Bengals —WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
   The LSU reunion is on! I think the Bengals would rather have Sewell here, but Chase is a good consolation prize. I’ll take Chase over Smith and Waddle any day of the week, and I don’t think that’s an LSU bias. Chase will be a star.
6. Philadelphia Eagles — WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
   Eagles drafting another WR, eeesh. There are other needs like OL and LB, but WR is the most notable. Parsons is another option, but I think they go WR.
7. Detroit Lions — LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
   I’ve seen some people project the Lions as the worst team in the league next year. I think that’s a bit exaggerated, but they won’t be good. Only two “D” grades for needs on my model and that’s Guard and Interior DLine. I think you go for best available and I think that’s Parsons who has also been named a “Generational Talent”, but has some off-field rumors to deal with.
8. Atlanta Falcons via CAR — EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
   Paye is a physical freak of a defender and an EDGE defender is a glaring need for the Falcons. The Falcons in my opinion are only a few players away from competing again and a player like Paye gets them that much closer.
9. Denver Broncos —QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
   The Drew Lock experiment sounds over with a pick like this, but I think he’ll still get the chance to keep his job. Why? Lance will be a bit of a project in my opinion. He’s a run heavy, gunslinger at 6' 3" and yes he played at NDSU, but that’s no reason to not give him a shot. I like this guy.
10. Dallas Cowboys —CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
    The Cowboys need corners bad. I don’t think the Diggs draft was a bust yet, but they still need another one and Farley is arguably the best in the draft.
11. New York Giants — OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
    Let’s pretend we all believe in Daniel Jones (I do) and that Barkely comes back healthy next year. You have to help those two guys by filling the offensive line needs, and Slater can step in and do that any a few postions. Dare I say that the Giants could be playoff bound in 2021, this time with a winning record.
12. San Francisco 49ers —TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
    This is either a shocker of a pick, or a genius pick. I don’t care who is throwing the ball, if you have Deebo, Aiyuk, Kittle and Pitts as your targets and one of the best Olines in the game, that’s a scary offense.
13. Los Angeles Chargers — OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
    Protect Justin Herbert.
14. Minnesota Vikings —CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
    This defense won’t be as bad as they were last year when they get Danielle Hunter and Erik Kendricks both fully healthy, but they still have a ton of needs, specifically at the cornerback position. Some have Surtain as the #1 CB in this class, I have Farley slightly ahead but it’s close.
15. New England Patriots — WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
    The main concern is the QB position and I think they solve that with a veteran, not a rookie. I think Bill wants someone to win with now, not a project. The WR needs are big, and Waddle has the upside to be the best in this class depending on how he returns from injury.
16. Arizona Cardinals — DI Christian Barmore, Alabama
    Fix this Defensive Line!
17. Las Vegas Raiders — EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
    This dude is lanky! The Raiders have two “D” grades on the needs list for me, EDGE and Safety. A bit of a project but I think it’s a good fit.
18. Miami Dolphins — LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
    LB is the only glaring need on the defensive side of the ball for the Dolphins in my opinion. This guy can do it all too, specifically in coverage.
19. Washington Football Team — WR Terrace Marshall, LSU
    Alright, this one is a biased pick. But seriously, this dude is a first-round talent and some team is going to get a gem. The QB is a question for Washington, but whoever it is, they need more than just McLaurin to throw to.
20. Chicago Bears — OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
    Cosmi is a tough one to figure out and is all over the board in mocks and rankings. He’s been exposed a handful of times and has some work to do but I like him. Whoever the Bears go with at QB, they need a little more help on the line.
21. Philadelphia Eagles via IND — OT Alijah Vera-Tucker
    In this mock, I project Wentz to be dealt to Indy for Rock Ya-Sin and this 21st pick. With Smith being drafted earlier this round and an OT here, the Eagles set up Hurts for success.
22. Tennessee Titans — LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
    The Titans are one of the few teams without a “D” rating on the needs sheet, but the LB position gets a “C”. The Titans defense wasn’t great down the stretch, and Bolton can come in and lead this defense.
23. New York Jets — OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
    Help your new QB with some Oline. The Jets surprisingly only have four “D” grades in my model, QB, RB, OG and EDGE. Maybe they trade up for one of those later in the mock…
24. Pittsburgh Steelers — LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
    This Steelers defense should look better next year with the return of Bud Dupree and Devin Bush, but still could use a Linebacker like Collins on a team with no glaring needs except for maybe the QB position.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars — WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
    This dude has shot up draft boards, and for good reason. I saw it personally as an LSU fan, this guy is tough to tackle and we made him look like Tyreek Hill out there. The Jags have other needs, but a weapon like Toney to go along with Chark and Shenault is a great start for Trevor
26. Cleveland Browns — CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
    One of the more complete teams in my model, a physical corner like Horn will be a great compliment to Denzel Ward on the other side.
27. Baltimore Ravens — WR Rashad Bateman, Minnesota
    Bateman is the #5 WR on my big board, but is the 6th taken in this draft only because I like the fit in Jacksonville for Toney. I think Bateman is NFL-ready and Lamar would love another target.
28. New Orleans Saints — QB Mac Jones, Alabama
    Not the sexiest pick here especially for the LSU Saints fans, but I think Mac is better than people think. He’s smart, accurate and can control the field. The QB question mark for the Saints is a tough one to figure out and if they do “settle” for Jameis for the future, Wide Receiver is probably the play here.
29. Green Bay Packers — WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
    The Packers finally get Rodgers someone else to throw to! Moore is legit…he’s short, but he is physical and electric and can extend the play. Something that Rodgers loves to do.
30. Buffalo Bills — EDGE Jayson Oweh, Penn State
    Another physical freak of an EDGE player, a bunch of those this this class. The Bills don’t have a huge need at this position, but Oweh is the best player on the board and the Bills don’t have many needs.
31. Kansas City Chiefs — S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
    The best safety in the class in my opinion. The secondary got exposed in the Super Bowl and while Mathieu is a fun physical Safety, they need another that can cover and do it all.
32. New York Jets — RB Najee Harris, Alabama
    A little controversy here for two reasons. 1, the Jets pick in just a few picks so it’s not a huge trade up and could probably get Harris then. And 2, that it’s not Etienne as the 1st RB off the board. I like Harris better. I think of Derrick Henry with a selection like this, in that Power Backs are tough to fit in year 1 while versatile backs you can fit in anywhere. For the Jets, he starts week 1.