2021 NFL Mock Draft by James Fedewa
3/3/2021 by James Fedewa
Mock drafts and draft season is going to be a little odd with no 2021 NFL Combine, but it is always great to watch game tape on each NFL prospect. The “Underwear Olympic” is always cool to watch, but I get it, COVID-19 is still lingering around. Here is my “1.0 version” of 2021 NFL Mock Draft:
| Pick | Team: | Player Position School | Notes & Quotes: |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson | The consensus #1 overall prospect, and the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. Yes, he does look pretty amazing and has all the tools to build a team around. The size, the speed, the arm, the pedigree and The Hair, T-Law has it all… |
| 2 | New York Jets | Penei Sewell OT Oregon | I do not think the Jets go quarterback here. Sam Darnold was not exactly the total problem for the Jets. Providing the offense another premier tackle prospect could really be an amazing combination and a solid foundation to build a new identity around. The Jets ride with Sam for another season, and could possibly have the best O-Line in the league. Trading down could also be a savvy option, to a QB needy team, but Sewell is a special talent and I plug him at left tackle immediately, and move Mekhi Becton to RT. |
| 3 | Miami Dolphins (via HOU) | Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU | Predicting what the Dolphins might do in this draft is really fun with these mock drafts. They have some really good draft picks this year and they could go several different directions, but taking the best wide receiver prospect is a solid choice. I could actually envision a trade with Houston with this pick, but lets just assume the Texans keep Deshawn Watson (for the moment). Releasing Kyle Van Noy gives the Dolphins a little more cap space to get Watson too. |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Patrick Surtain II CB Alabama | Matty Ice is going to be a Falcon for a very long time. I just cannot picture Atlanta giving up on Matt Ryan in the next couple of years, so I think they’ll try to improve their defense first. Surtain is the best (and safest) CB in this draft. It’s more of a logical pick than anything. Yes, they do need some pass rushers, but they can find some in the later rounds. |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern | The Bengals could go with a defensive end, cornerback, linebacker, but since their prize QB was injured mid season, I think they will try to protect Joe Burrows a little better. Slater can be a really good left tackle, but he can play anywhere on the O-line too, which is a super bonus. |
| 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | Kyle Pitts TE Florida | I could actually see Philly attempt to draft a quarterback here, but they really need DB’s and pass catchers, and some new blood on the O-line. Pitts is a beast, but I view him more of an oversized wide receiver than a trim 240 lbs. tight end. He can be an intimidating WR1. |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | DeVonta Smith WR Alabama | The Lions could lose all their wide receivers this free agency offseason, so why not draft some receiving help. Smith is a bit undersized, but heis special. Goff can lean on DeVonta and T.J. Hockenson, and hopefully they can keep Galladay for another season. |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Zach Wilson QB BYU | I honestly do not believe Zack Wilson will slide this far. Carolina will probably have to trade up to get him, and he will be a great additional to a team that already has several great offensive weapons. |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Justin Fields QB Ohio State | I do not believe Fields will last this long in the draft either. Denver would have to trade up to get him and it could cost them a lot, just to move up a few spaces. Deshawn Watson rumors to Denver are massive too, which would cost even more, but I think Denver continues to try to draft a starting QB, instead of trade for one. Fields would be a massive upgrade over Drew Lock. |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech | Dallas tends to draft best pure talent vs. team need and/or value, but this selection might be all of the above . Farley looks like a great CB and possible the best corner coming out this year, and Dallas needs more DB’s big time. |
| 11 | New York Giants | Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina | The Giants struck out by drafting then releasing Deandre Baker, when he was innocent the whole time (what a waste of a first round pick / innocent until proven guilty). They still have a hole in their secondary and Horn would be an epic fit for the Giants. Within six years, this will be the 3rd CB drafted in the first round by the Giants, but this could be the best one yet (Eli Apple in 2016 too). |
| 12 | San Francisco 49ers | Jaylen Waddle WRS Alabama | Waddle is so fun to watch. His speed and vision are very impressive. I do think the 49ers are pretty much set with their two young WR’s, but adding waddle gives Jimmy G some really great weapons. A cornerback is a target here, but the big three are already off the board. |
| 13 | Los Angeles Chargers | Christian Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech | Justin Herbert really impressed last season, and his offensive line was pure trash. Mike Pouncey never saw a snap, Brian Bulaga played in about 6 games and Trai Turner played in about 10 games. Those three veteran O-linemen robbed the Chargers $30 million in 2020. Feeney and Lamp should be retained and they will be cheap, but for the 7th straight year, the Chargers still need to work on a decent O-line. Darrisaw is a great left tackle prospect and should ease the pressure that was always on Herbert. |
| 14 | Minnesota Vikings | Kwity Paye EDGE Michigan | Paye is an intimidating physical freak. He still needs to refine is pass rush moves, which can be learned at the next level. Minnesota could use an OT or CB here as well, but pass rusher seems to be their top priority. |
| 15 | New England Patriots | Micah Parsons ILB Penn State | The Patriots should draft a quarterback (or a wide receiver) with this pick, but do not expect Mac Jones to be selected here, especially with Parsons still available. Parsons is a gifted player and can play multiple defensive positions in New England, something Bill Belichick really hunts for in an LB. |
| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | Alijah Vera-Tucker OG USC | Tucker can play left tackle or play guard, but in AZ, he slides in at right tackle and starts day one (and he will eventually take over at left tackle once DJ Humphries’ contract expires). Vera-Tucker is very versatile and highly touted. OLB pass rusher is another option here, with Hassan Riddick possibly leaving in free agency. |
| 17 | Las Vegas Raiders | Gregory Rousseau EDGE Miami (FL) | The Raiders defense needs more consistent pass rushers. Yes, Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell are good defensive ends, but as you know, you can never have too many pass rushers. Rousseau is more than just a pass rusher too, and he makes plays all over the field. *Since Mike Mayock has taken over at GM, he really needs to find a super star, as he keeps drafting first round role players. This might be the guy… |
| 18 | Miami Dolphins | Jaelan Phillips EDGE Miami (FL) | The Dolphins need more pass rushers, period, and an outside speed rusher is a great fit. Phillips is very tall, and very fast, with all the tools you need to develop into a preimer edge pass rusher. The Dolphins draft (so far) looks outstanding. |
| 19 | Washington Football Team | Trey Lance QB North Dakota State | Is it crazy to think that a playoff team does not need a super star quarterback? Well, Washington did it. Sure, they had a quick playoff exit, but they might be very close to becoming Super Bowl contenders, if they can get their QB situation fixed. Lance looks like a perfect fit in DC. A scrambling QB with a big arm that might be able to “do it all.” Lance gets a lot of Dak Prescott comparisons, but Dak needs good receivers to excel. IMO: Lance looks more like Russell Wilson and can become the entire offense. He will need a year of learning the pro-game, so expect him to be the 3rd QB in 2021. |
| 20 | Chicago Bears | Liam Eichenberg OT Notre Dame | The Bears really need a new quarterback, but their coach / GM are on a short leash and need to win now (or get canned). The best way to help Nick Foles is to provide better protection. More receivers is a great idea too, but at this point, take the left tackle. Look for a younger reclamation QB to be the backup QB here, like a C. J. Beathard, Joshua Dobbs or even a Blake Bortles (The Boat). |
| 21 | Indianapolis Colts | Azeez Ojulari EDGE Georgia | OLB Justin Houston could stay in Indy, but he could still demand quite a bit of money, too much money for the aging pass rusher. Ojulari is a lot more athletic than J.Houston and would make a great replacement. What are the odds that you replace a Georgia star with another Georgia star? Ojulari is a fantastic 3-4 OLB prospect. |
| 22 | Tennessee Titans | Christian Barmore DT Alabama | Barmore is a big tall DT and is a great 5 Tech DT prospect, and exactally what the Titians need. Pair Bamore with Jeffery Simmons on the DL, that could be an disruptive and powerful force. |
| 23 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Rashod Bateman WR Minnesota | Bateman’s stock has been up and down this draft season, but I see his potential as a quality WR1. He reminds me of a Curtis Conway type of speed receiver. He has good height and can really hit top speed in two steps. |
| 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Mac Jones QB Alabama | The Steelers get lucky and finally get a QB prospect at the right time. Sure, they can groom Dwayne Haskins for a year and try to get something out of him, but he is like a free lottery ticket that could maybe win, but probably loses again. Jones in Pittsburgh really feels right (and Mason Rudolph really looks wrong). |
| 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah OLB/SS Notre Dame | Jacksonville really needs some quality cornerbacks with this pick, but this pick is too good to pass up. Owusu-Koramoah can start at strong safety, and help rebuild this JAX defense back up again. |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns | Trevon Moehrig S TCU | With a quality free-safety prospect in Moehrig, the Browns secondary looks extreamly good. Moehrig reminds me of an Eric Weddle type of FS and is very physical and savvy. He might even be able to play cornerback… |
| 27 | Baltimore Ravens | Joseph Ossai EDGE Texas | The Ravens could be losing all FOUR of their current OLB’s (all are free agnets) and need the best edge prospect, just to fill a roster spot. |
| 28 | New Orleans Saints | Greg Newsome II CB Northwestern | It looks like the Saints to have a plan, and are cutting/restructuring many of their current players, just to get under the salary cap. That being said, they can go many directions with this pick, depending on who they eventually cut and/or trade. Marshon Lattimore could be the odd man out (@ $10MM) and still demand very nice trade value. Newsome can fill that huge void |
| 29 | Green Bay Packers | Rondale Moore WRS Purdue | The Packers give Rodgers his requested new toy / new weapon. Moore is quite the opposite of the current Packers big receivers; a small and quick slot guy, quick and fast. |
| 30 | Buffalo Bills | Zaven Collins OLB Tulsa | Collins is a throwback linebacker; a big, thick & quick thumper. He reminds me of Takeo Spike or Dont’a Hightower. Pair him with Tremaine Edwards, and they have some big ass intimating linebackers (bye bye Matt Milano) |
| 31 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jayson Oweh EDGE Penn State | Every team can use more pass rushers and I think KC takes the best pass rusher available. Last year, they got cocky and thought it was cute to draft an RB in the first round, which I think was a waste of a pick. KC’s running back by committee are not 1st round picks. |
| 32 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Daviyon Nixon DT Iowa | I think Ndamukong Suh will leave in free agency and Nixon would be an excellent replacement. Nixon has the brain and body to dominate in Tampa. |
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