2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 National Fanatic(@jamfed)
3/29/2021 by James Fedewa @jamfed
While 2020 seemed like an eternity, 2021 is off to a very quick start and this draft season seams like it’s coming / going very quickly too. After the big 49ers / Dolphins trade, followed by the Dolphins / Eagles trades, draft implications are boiling, and we are looking at quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3…
And here we go:
| PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE | REASON |
| 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. Lawrence was going to be the #1 pick since 4 years ago… |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | QB | BYU | After the Miami / 49ers trade, I do believe the Jets go quarterback here. I’m sure the 49ers offered the same deal for the Jets #2 pick, but the Jets must have turned it down (maybe because they plan on drafting a QB here). Sam Darnold was not exactly the total problem for the Jets, but he is still tradeable and they could get a 2nd round pick for him. *If the Patriots can get Darnold some how, that would be so epic. |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers (via MIA, via HOU) | Justin Fields | QB | Ohio State | What a Crazy and aggressive trade by the 49ers. When the trade was announced, it was in the middle of the BYU Pro Day, so this deal could have been made earlier in the week, and I do not think Zack Wilson will be available at #3. So they must have been thinking Justin Fields (or Trey Lance). Shanahan coached Robert Griffin III in DC, and that season, RG3 won rookie of the year. Fields is bigger, stronger and more accurate QB than RG3, so it could be a great fix. |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Penei Sewell | OT | Oregon | Feels like Atlanta is a still strapped down with Matt Ryan. Ryan’s contract is really sticky, and it doesn’t look like they can do anything without him, without taking on major dead cap space. Sewell is a special talent with incredible strength and I plug him anywhere on the O-Line that has an open spot. He makes blocking big guys look easy. |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Ja’Marr Chase | WR | LSU | The Bengals could go offensive line, and Slater could be a great pick here, but Riley Reiff might delay that positional option. AJ Green is gone, and if you can replace him with Burrow’s incredible college teammate, then it seams like a no brainer. Chase plays receiver like a bully. |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins (via HOU, via PHI) | Kyle Pitts | TE | Florida | Miami trades down, then back up? What the F?? Pitts is a beast and one of my favorite players in this draft, but I view him more of an oversized wide receiver, vs. a trim 240 lbs. tight end. Pitts can be an intimidating WR1 in the NFL, but would you spend two first round picks on a tight end? I would not, but maybe for a WR1. Pitts is WR1. |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Trey Lance | QB | North Dakota State | The Lions could draft wide receivers in this spot, but Smith and Waddle are a little undersized for a top 10 pick, plus Waddle’s ankle injury could cause a mini-slide. And I think the Jared Goff addition is fools gold. Sure he could start for a year (before being traded again), but Trey Lance could be an amazing addition for the future of the franchise. Lance is the type of QB that can carry a team, al la Russell Wilson-ish. |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Mac Jones | QB | Alabama | Just feels like Carolina is targeting a QB, and the 4th QB in this draft is no slouch either. OC Joe Brady did wonders for Joe Burrow’s at LSU in 2019. Imagine what Joe Brady could do with Mr. Jones? Good things man, good things… I like Brady’s brain, as you can tell he can read and process defenses very well. His deep ball is very impressive. *or does Carolina trade this pick (plus future first rounders) for Watson??? |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Patrick Surtain II | CB | Alabama | Deshawn Watson rumors to Denver are massive, which would be incredible (if it were to become true), but I do not think Denver has enough draft capital to get Watson. Even if Denver offered the #9 overall pick, and three future first round picks, it would still leave Houston without a QB to draft with this #9 pick. So, Vic Fangio drafts BPA, and you know he loves his CB’s. Surtain is the Best DB in this draft. |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Jaycee Horn | CB | South Carolina | Dallas tends to draft best pure talent vs. team need and vs. positional value, but this selection might be all of the above for the Cowboys. Horn is a great prospect at this spot and will start immediately. I really love Horns attitude and aggressiveness, as he already has the prototype size. (WR Joe Horn’s son) |
| 11 | New York Giants | Jaelan Phillips | EDGE | Miami (FL) | The Giants are having a very impressive offseason so far, adding several quality free agents. Yet, most NFL teams are adding inexpensive one year rental free agents, the Giants are offering quality multi-year, standard type of contacts (vs. pandemic reduced salary cap deals). Phillips is my top Edge defender in this class and could play in several spots on the D-line. |
| 12 | Philadelphia Eagles (via SF, via MIA) | Jaylen Waddle | WRS | Alabama | Waddle is so fun to watch, as his speed and vision are very impressive. The Eagles did draft a decent WR prospect last year in Jalen Reagor, and adding this speedster could help the whole receiving corp even more. |
| 13 | Los Angeles Chargers | Rashawn Slater | OT | North-western | Justin Herbert really impressed last season, his offensive line was trash. Mike Pouncey never saw a snap, both Trai Turner & Brian Bulaga played in about 6 games each. Those three veteran O-linemen robbed the Chargers $30 million in 2020 salary. For the 7th straight year, the Chargers still need to work on a decent O-line, and within this free agency period, they are off to a great start. If Slater falls this far, Chargers fans will . |
| 14 | Minnesota Vikings | Kwity Paye | EDGE | Michigan | Paye is an intimidating thick 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 | Azeez Ojulari | EDGE | Georgia | The Patriots should draft a quarterback here, and Patriots fans would love to have Mac Jones selected, but he’s already gone. Ojulari is a fantastic pass rushing prospect and could play multiple positions for the Pats D, specializing as pass rusher. |
| 16 | Arizona Cardinals | Christian Darrisaw | OT | Virginia Tech | Arizona has been very aggressive this offseason, with multiple quality free agent moves, which is nice. CB is a need, but Caleb Farley’s back injury scares them off. Left Tackle could be an upgrade over DJ Humphries, and Darrisaw could be that improvement and too good to pass up. |
| 17 | Las Vegas Raiders | Micah Parsons | ILB | Penn State | The Raiders defense needs help at several levels and will be the top need. Since Mike Mayock has taken over as GM, he really needs to find a superstar, as he keeps drafting average first round “role-players”. Parsons might have a couple red flags (for hazing), but that is OK by Mayock. |
| 18 | Miami Dolphins | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | OLB | Notre Dame | JOK is a unicorn. He can play several positions, including outside linebacker, nickel corner and strong safety. With Kyle Van Noy gone, there’s an open starting spot. The Dolphins draft (so far) looks outstanding, and so does their future draft capital. |
| 19 | Washington Football Team | Alijah Vera-Tucker | OG | USC | Is it crazy to think that an NFL playoff team does not need a super star quarterback? Well, Washington did in 2020. 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. We will see if Fitz can succeed, again. Vera-Tucker is very versatile and highly touted, and I’d play him at left tackle vs. guard. |
| 20 | Chicago Bears | DeVonta Smith | WR | Alabama | The Bears really needed a new veteran quarterback ASAP, as their coach & GM are on a short leash and need to win now (or get canned). In comes the Red Rifle to save the day, Andy Dalton. The best way to help Andy is to give him some additional weapons. Adding Smith makes Chicago’s top three WR’s look pretty good (on paper). |
| 21 | Indianapolis Colts | Gregory Rousseau | EDGE | Miami (FL) | OLB Justin Houston is staying in Indy, but the aging pass rusher needs a predecessor. Left tackle is a need, but Rousseau’s talent and upside looks too promising to pass up. |
| 22 | Tennessee Titans | Christian Barmore | DL3T | Alabama | Barmore is a big tall DT and many see him as a 3-tech DT. I think he would be a better 5-Tech DE prospect in a 3-4, and exactly what the Titians need. Pair Barmore with Jeffery Simmons on the DL, that could be a disruptive and powerful force. Barmore is like Richard Seymour with more waggle . |
| 23 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Zaven Collins | OLB | Tulsa | Collin’s is an old school thumping linebacker. He could be a 260 lbs. middle linebacker, or an 3-4 OLB edge pass rusher can could drop in coverage or sack the QB. Very talented instant impact player for NYJ. |
| 24 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Teven Jenkins | OT | Oklahoma State | Jenkins is a big and mean right tackle, and looks like the type of linemen born to play in a Steelers uniform. His stock has been rising and if the Steelers want to run the ball, they better invest in their O-Line. Jenkins is a nasty overachiever. |
| 25 | Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) | Caleb Farley | CB | Virginia Tech | Jacksonville really needs some quality cornerbacks and are willing to take the Farley risk (back problems, previous ACL tear). Farley is an quality athlete and will be an very good pro. Ramsey 2.0 (or Jason Verrett 2.0) |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns | Joseph Ossai | EDGE | Texas | Ossai, paired with Myles Garrett could be a great pass rushing duo. The Browns will not rely on Tak as a viable threat, but more of a reclamation project |
| 27 | Baltimore Ravens | Trevon Moehrig | S | TCU | Moehrig plays free safety, but covers like a corner and hits like a strong safety. Moehrig reminds me of an Eric Weddle type and is very physical and savvy. He might even be able to play cornerback… |
| 28 | New Orleans Saints | Greg Newsome II | CB | North-western | 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. Jackrabbit was released and Newsome can fill that void. |
| 29 | Green Bay Packers | Landon Dickerson | OC | Alabama | The Packers lose an All Pro center, and quickly fill his void with a great new O-line prospect. Sure, it’s not another speedy wideout, but Rodgers will be safer wtih this pick. |
| 30 | Buffalo Bills | Liam Eichenberg | OT | Notre Dame | I don’t know why, but generally, every year, I pick offensive linemen for the Bills. They do have a petty good O-Line, but they could use improvements. Looking at the Bills depth chart, their whole O-line is filled with Right Tackles. Eichenberg gives them a real left tackle. |
| 31 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jalen Mayfield | OT | Michigan | KC will draft the best O-linemen available, hopefully a tackle. Mayfield is a plug in play right tackle (and a big upgrade to current RT Remmers). Still feels like Eric Fisher will comeback on a 1 year discount contract, so they’ll be OK. |
| 32 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Rashod Bateman | WR | Minnesota | If I hear, “we are getting the band back together,” I’m gonna puke. Antonio Brown has yet to re-sign, and Godwin is on a 1 year tag and Mike Evans has great moments, but he makes too many mistakes with his price tag. Reshod Bateman can hit top speed in 2 steps and can be better and faster than all three of Tampa’s 2020 receivers. I think Bateman is a WR1, with good blend of speed, size, vision and brains. I like how he trusts his speed, deciphering tacking angles and how he speed though traffic. |
Posted on March 29, 2021, in NFL. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
National Fanatic 
do you know anything about team needs beyond the top ten???????? do your homework!!!
I do my homework daily and have done several dozen mock drafts this season. Team needs and prospect availability are always factors in every selection. What’s your real gripe here? What’s your real complaint? Or do you just throw “internet anger” at a wall, to see if it sticks? Let me guess, you are a Browns fan?