Trevor Lawrence has been the number 1 pick in this draft since his freshman season. The gunslinger has thrown for over 10,000 yards during his three-year career at Clemson and played in all of the last three college football playoffs, winning a national championship in 2018. Rumor has it that new Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer has already given Trevor the playbook.
The Jets currently roster James Morgan and David White as their only two quarterbacks after trading Sam Darnold to the Panthers. With this in mind, it’s practically a lock that Saleh and Co. pick a QB at 2, the only question is which one. While many have Fields as the second-best QB in the class, Wilson seems to be the favorite of the decision-makers in New York. Wilson has some elite traits and could definitely develop into a true superstar, however, there are many question marks around the level of competition he faced at BYU.
When the Niners made the trade up to three, rumors began to swirl about Shanahan possibly being interested in Alabama quarterback, Mac Jones. However, the reports seem to be swinging towards the Buckeyes’ passer, Justin Fields. In fact, Justin Fields recently became the betting favorite for the third pick in Vegas after Kyle Shanahan attended Ohio State’s second pro day to see Fields perform. Fields have been the 1B to Lawrence’s 1A since the two were high school recruits, and he could very well bring San Francisco to the next level.
WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE
The Washington Football Team sends their 19th, 51st, and 74th picks in this year’s draft along with their 1st and 3rd round picks in 2022 and their 2023 1st round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in return for the 4th pick in this year’s draft.
Predicting trades is hard, but I’m going to try anyway. It seems quite obvious that the Falcons are looking to move out of the fourth spot in this year’s draft as they don’t have the biggest need at QB and have plenty of other positions they do need. The major players that are suspected to possibly be contacting Atlanta are Denver, Chicago, New England, and Washington. All four teams are looking for their quarterback of the future and likely have enough capital to facilitate such a trade. In this mock, it’s Ron Rivera and the Football Team that get a deal to go through with the Falcons.
Lance would likely be a great fit in Rivera’s system as he has some similar rushing traits to a young Cam Newton. WFT would likely try to recreate the 2015 Panthers’ Super Bowl team with the same combination of young running QB and elite defense that brought Carolina to the big game.
As the draft nears, experts have narrowed in on two names for the Bengals pick at 5: Penei Sewell and Ja’Marr Chase. Sewell is an elite offensive line prospect and largely considered the best blocker in this year’s class. Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase is an elite WR who played at LSU with current Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow and seems to be getting a strong recommendation from his former teammate. However, the Bengals had the worst offensive line in the league last season and saw great success from last year’s second-round pick, Tee Higgins, at the WR position. For those reasons, I have Cinncinnati selecting Sewell here.
The Dolphins are in a prime position to compete following this year’s draft. They have a young QB in Tua Tagovailoa as well as a strong roster and great culture. Luckily for them, the Houston Texans pick which they received in the Laremy Tunsil trade turned into pick 3 in this year’s draft which they then turned into pick 6 while adding more future draft assets.
With this pick, it seems to come down to four players: Alabama WR Devonta Smith, LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, or Oregon OT Penei Sewell (all of which the team has met with). Obviously, Sewell isn’t available for them in this mock, but the other three are. However, Chase is an amazing receiver prospect, having amassed 1,780 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in 2019 before sitting out in 2020. Chase and new Dolphins’ signee Will Fuller could prove to be a dynamic duo playing across each other for years to come.
The Lions have quite a few holes to fill on both sides of the ball along with a new coaching staff, making them a difficult team to predict in this year’s draft. They could even trade down from this spot to accrue more picks and fill as many holes in their roster as possible. Although, they stay put in this mock and select Penn State MLB Micah Parsons. Parsons has elite speed, running 4.39 at his pro day. On the field, Parsons was a first-team All-Big10 selection at LB in 2019 as well as the Big10 LB of the year. However, Parsons elected not to play due to COVID in 2020. Parsons has elite talent at a coveted position, but there are some character concerns for the young linebacker. Because of this, he could be drafted as early as 7 or much later. However, I think Parsons has grown as a person since those issues plagued him and he’ll fit in well with the tough culture that Lions’ HC Dan Campbell is trying to build.
Kyle Pitts is one of the freakiest players in this draft, he ran a 4.44 40 yd dash at Florida’s pro day while possessing above average size. Pitts has the longest wingspan of any pass-catcher measured in the last twenty years. He could be the final infinity stone for Carolina’s collection of pass-catchers, which already boasts elite talent at the RB and WR position in a creative scheme created by Matt Rhule and Joe Brady. If the Panthers add a playmaker like Pitts, the only question would be just how good can Sam Darnold be?
The Denver Broncos selected Drew Lock in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but Lock hasn’t quite done enough to warrant the organization’s full faith and trust. Denver may be willing to give Lock another shot, but if they want to look elsewhere and Jones is still available at 9 it will be a very interesting decision for the front office. Jones played an incredible season for the Crimson Tide in 2020, winning the national championship while throwing for 41 touchdowns and 4,500 yards. However, Jones played with elite teammates at Alabama, and many worry his stats may be a product of his teammates’ skill more than his own.
Cornerback is probably the Cowboy’s biggest need for the draft, and the only way I see them picking another position is if someone like Pitts or Sewell is somehow still available at 10. As for the cornerbacks in this class, three prospects have elevated themselves above the others: Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, and Caleb Farley. Farley has some injury concerns and didn’t play in 2020 so I believe Dallas will be selecting between Horn and Surtain. Both prospects are very athletic and have the requisite height and length which new Cowboys’ DC Dan Quinn often looks for in corners. I, personally, prefer Horn to Surtain because I believe Horn has a higher ceiling even though Surtain likely offers a higher floor.
Rashawn Slater is easily the consensus 2nd tackle in this class, with some analysts ranking him above Sewell. The Giants rank 21st in Brad Wire’s offensive line rankings at the moment and need help at both guard and tackle. Slater played tackle at Northwestern, but some analysts believe he may be a better fit at guard due to his arm length and skillset.
Another name to watch for New York is Penn St. LB Micah Parsons, who has met “numerous times” with Giants DL coach Sean Spencer according to Giants beat reporter Art Stapleton.
WE HAVE A TRADE TO ANNOUNCE
The Indianapolis Colts send their 21st, 54th, and 165th picks in this year’s draft along with their 4th round pick in 2022 to the Philadelphia Eagles in return for the 12th pick in this year’s draft.
The Colts have built a strong team from top to bottom, but the wide receiver corps has been a little lackluster over recent years and T.Y. Hilton is only on a one-year deal. Moving up to get a star WR like Smith allows Indianapolis to build their offense of the future alongside Carson Wentz, Jonathan Taylor, and their excellent offensive line.
The Chargers have worked to fill out their CB corps throughout this offseason, but adding one more CB who can start on the outside should be one of their main draft priorities. If they don’t pick a corner in the first, it will very likely happen in the second round. Surtain is a very strong prospect whose definitely NFL-ready, offering the ability to start and perform early on in his career.
After Sewell and Slater, many front offices and analysts disagree about how the rest of the offensive line class should be ranked. However, Darrisaw is one of the few names often listed behind the top two. He had an elite season in 2020, allowing zero hits or sacks all season and consistently opening holes in the run game. Although there are concerns around Darrisaw stemming from him only having one season of strong performance.
Minnesota is definitely in need of help along their offensive line as they were consistently poor in pass protection, giving up 39 sacks in 2020.
New England would love to have a QB fall to them at 15, but without that happening, they’ll likely need to build the rest of their offense. The Pats’ current top WRs don’t look like anything close to an elite group at the moment, as the group consists of Nelson Agholor, N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers, and Kendrick Bourne. Adding an elite WR like Waddle will help offset the retirement of former star Julian Edelman as the team looks towards the future.
The Cardinals have built a strong passing attack with Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, but Murray is still often pressured in the pocket. Adding a strong offensive lineman to the fold will help Murray avoid duress and push the offense to the next level. Jenkins is a very powerful blocker and does an excellent job in the run game while still being able to use his skillset against pass rushers at an average level. He can continue to develop his game at the next level and become an even better pass blocker.
With Horn and Surtain already off the board, Farley is easily the best cornerback prospect available for Las Vegas at 17. The Raiders require help at the position as last year’s rookies, Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette, failed to help the defense as rookies and didn’t show the potential that the Raiders thought they had on draft day 2020.
Paye is an athletic freak coming off the edge who tested incredibly well at his pro day. With Miami already adding Chase to their offense, looking to add to their defense with their second pick would be a smart move as they only generated a league-average amount of pressures last season. If the Dolphins want to build their defense, but feel that edge isn’t a need, they’ll likely be looking at linebacker or safety. Prospects for them there would include Trevon Moehrig, Zaven Collins, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
The Atlanta Falcons have a massive issue with their secondary, as they allowed the most pass yards per game in the entire league last season. Adding some help in that area, whether it be corner or safety, is of utmost importance so the Falcons can capitalize on the last few years of Julio Jones’ and Matt Ryan’s careers.
Newsome offers elite zone capabilities with the athletic traits to also provide good coverage in the man-to-man game. At 6’1″, the standout corner allowed just 12 receptions on 34 targets in 2020 before turning in a very solid pro day performance.
With Allen Robinson playing on the franchise tag after showing very little interest in signing a long-term deal in the Windy City, the Bears are likely going to need a WR to play alongside Darnell Mooney in the near future. Rashod Bateman has the ability to be a true alpha for the Bears, as the 6-foot wideout runs great routes and attacks the ball at the catch point.
Other positions of interest for the Bears likely include cornerback, offensive tackle, and quarterback. However, the former seems unlikely unless Chicago trades up in the first round.
The Eagles traded back to this pick in this mock draft, and I think they’d be ecstatic with how it played out. Because the Eagles have reportedly had a lot of contact with the Terrace Marshall, according to Kyle Brandt of the NFL Network.
Marshall would give the Eagles a quick, tall receiving option with an excellent contested-catch ability to play opposite the speedy Jalen Reagor.
After the Jets selected Zach Wilson at three to fill the void at QB, they’re still left with issues in their secondary and offensive line. Samuel would likely be able to come in and be the ball hawk that Robert Saleh needs to fill out the secondary. While Samuel’s height may be an issue for some teams, Saleh’s 49ers’ defense saw success with 5’10” Jason Verrett playing outside last year.
Samuel wins by reading the WR and QB and reacting quickly to the thrown ball, as he had eight pass breakups in 2020 while only being targeted 32 times per PFF.
The Titans lost Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith to free agency this offseason and spent most of their cap space on the defensive side of the ball. Because of this, receiving weapons are likely on GM Jon Robinson’s mind and who knows receiving weapons better than the Titans’ main receiving weapon, AJ Brown? Brown has been seen on Twitter lobbying the Titans’ front office to reunite him with his former teammate.
Moore shouldn’t just be on Tennessee’s radar due to Brown’s endorsement though. The speedy WR is one of the best slot WR prospects in the draft and he dominates the middle of the field, often making difficult catches through contact. Moore has even shown the ability to play outside on occasion.
The Steelers had one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, but they lost edge rusher Bud Dupree and linebacker Vince Williams during the offseason. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) is one of the most versatile defensive prospects in recent memory, joining the likes of Derwin James and Isaiah Simmons. In fact, JOK saw large numbers of snaps in the box, on the d-line, and at slot corner for the Fighting Irish in 2020. He’s the type of player that a creative defensive coordinator could use all over the field and he could provide a lot of help to Pittsburgh.
The Jaguars really have two very obvious needs after selecting Trevor Lawrence with the first pick: tight end and safety. There are no first-round talents at tight end after Kyle Pitts, but Trevon Moehrig is an excellent safety prospect. Moehrig led all NCAA safeties in pass breakups in both 2019 and 2020 and wasn’t afraid to lay the hit stick on receivers after they caught the ball. In addition, Moehrig brings the versatility to also perform at the slot CB position.
Overall, Moehrig could complete the Jaguar’s new-look secondary alongside free agency signees Rayshawn Jenkins and Shaquill Griffin.
In my opinion, Barmore is a much better talent than usually available at pick 26, but defensive tackle isn’t a glaring need for many teams and Barmore isn’t as special of a prospect as guys like Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver. If he does fall this late in the draft, Cleveland would likely be very happy adding him to their squad as the Browns recently saw their starting tackle, Larry Ogunjobi, join the Bengals. In Cleveland, Myles Garrett, Jadaveon Clowney, and Christian Barmore would give opposing offensive-line coaches nightmares.
After losing Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon in free agency, edge rusher is a glaring need for Baltimore. Ojulari could be the answer to their problems, as he possesses elite quickness and “bend” around the edge. Ojulari saw great success in 2020 against some of the top offensive tackles in the SEC, including Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, as he posted a 91.7 pass-rush grade from PFF.
The Saints’ largest needs in this year’s draft are on the defensive side of the ball, as cornerback, defensive line, and linebacker are all concerns. In this mock, New Orleans goes after the former of those three and adds small school star, Zaven Collins. At 6’5″ and 259 lbs, Collins has surprising movement skills and is a great coverage linebacker. In addition, Collins showed great ability as a blitzer in college, posting a 90.6 pass-rush grade per PFF.
Overall, Collins has the toolset to become an elite LB if he’s well-coached and he could elevate the Saints’ defense in a multitude of ways.
Much to Aaron Rodgers’ chagrin, the Pack selected a QB in the first round of last year’s draft instead of a receiver. I’m not letting them make the same mistake in this mock, as the cheesehead offense could truly be unstoppable with another star WR alongside Davante Adams. While Moore is diminutive in height at just 5’7″, he’s an athletic freak. Moore has elite strength, speed, and burst. He posted numbers above the 90th percentile in the three-cone, 40 yd dash, and vertical jump at his pro day. Moore is a dynamic weapon, possessing the ability to both make plays in the short game and get open deep on vertical routes.
The Bills have a very solid roster, which is why they’re picking at 30 in this year’s draft. However, NFL teams can never have enough pass-rush. Especially with the Bills’ current defensive ends, Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison, both over the age of 30.
Rousseau is a bit of an unknown as he looked small on his 2019 tape before opting out of the 2020 season and showing up at his pro day this year having bulked up quite a bit. He may need some time to acclimate to the NFL, but he has elite traits in his athleticism and size that could turn him into a real weapon and Buffalo is just the place where he’ll have some time to develop without being forced to produce right off the bat.
The Chiefs’ performance in the Super Bowl should have shown enough to realize that they need help on the offensive line, and KC hasn’t been able to resign tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz so far this offseason. With this in mind, offensive tackle could very easily be the pick for Brett Veach in the first round.
Christensen isn’t heavily talked about as a first-round pick, but he’s one of my favorite prospects in the class and has elite technique that will be valuable immediately. Christensen has started every game for three straight years for the Cougars and was a first-team All-American in 2020 and posted the highest PFF college blocking grade ever. There are a few knocks on Christensen though, as he may actually be better suited as an NFL guard and he served a Mormon mission prior to starting his football career and he is already 23 years old. However, I don’t think his age should scare away a team like Kansas City, whose competitive window is already wide open.
The Bucs have an incredibly complete roster, returning every starter from a Super Bowl-winning 2020 squad. Because of their depth, the Bucs may be willing to make a pick that builds their team for the future and Tom Brady will be 44 years old this season and he’s not signed past 2022. If Jason Licht gets Brady’s blessing, letting Trask learn behind the G.O.A.T. could provide him with meaningful development before he even takes an NFL snap.
