It's that time of year.
Mock draft time.
Unless you're a Dallas Cowboys fan like me. Then its been mock draft season since October.
Just picture it.
Goodell walks on stage. *Intense booing ensues*
"The 2021 NFL Draft is officially open. The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock."
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence - QB / Clemson
Why : Lawrence is the most polished quarterback we have seen in a long time. He's 6'6', 220 pounds but the mental part of his game might be the most impressive feature. His talent got Urban Meyer out of retirement and to take over a team in need of a massive overhaul.
2. New York Jets
Zach Wilson - QB / BYU
Why: New head coach Robert Saleh has spent the early part of his Jets career praising their 2018 first round pick, quarterback Sam Darnold. Although Saleh has praised Darnold, he has yet he to call Darnold "his guy". This could be a draft tactic but picking second and knowing they will have anyone besides Lawrence, I think Saleh is trying to up Darnold's trade value before the draft. I look for the Jets to move Darnold before the draft for picks and move forward with Wilson
3. Miami Dolphins
Ja'Marr Chase - WR / LSU
Why: Although I think Smith or even Waddle makes more sense here due to their play style complimenting Tua's (not to mention Tua's relationship and chemistry with both). The Dolphins need a play maker on the outside and the war room settles on Chase as the best receiver in this class.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Justin Fields - QB / Ohio State
Why: I think most scouts and front office people across the NFL will agree that Fields talent is undeniable but he'll benefit greatly from sitting behind a veteran for at least a year. The Falcons know division rival Carolina is looking to take a quarterback in round one. They take Fields for three reasons, to be the heir to Matt Ryan, he's the hometown kid (growing up a half hour outside Atlanta) and to prevent Carolina from getting him.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Penei Sewell - OT / Oregon
Why: After Lawrence to the Jaguars, this is the easiest pick to make. Cincinnati needs to invest greatly in their offensive line in the years to come. Rookie quarterbacks often get beat up for a number of reasons but a broken leg has to scare the hell out of the Bengals. Sewell is the second best player in this draft. He'll be starting at left tackle in Cincy for the next decade.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith - WR / Alabama
Why: A friend of mine and I often argue over the who the best receiver in this class is. He likes Chase and I prefer Smith. The reason is, Chase is a great receiver who will be very important to stop if the opposing team wants to win but Smith..... Smith would give me NIGHTMARES as a defensive coordinator. He can get open anywhere on the field, has a massive catch radius and can take the ball from anywhere on the field and turn it into six points in the blink of an eye.
7. Detroit Lions
Micah Parsons - LB / Penn State
Why: This just seems like the best fit in the top ten picks. Lions new HC Dan Campbell is a no nonsense, hard nose coach and will demand toughness from his team. Parsons is all of that in a middle linebacker. The Lions seem like they'll give Goff a shot at QB, so I don't see them taking a quarterback here. They'll be tasked with using the picks they got for Stafford to build a young core around Goff. Parsons is a cornerstone player. Put him in the middle of your defense for the next ten seasons and put pieces around him.
8. Carolina Panthers
Trey Lance - QB / North Dakota State
Why: Teddy Bridgewater is a very good NFL quarterback and sadly due to injuries and things outside of his control, he'll probably never be "the guy". Lance competed at the D1-AA but boy did he flash the skill set that deserved to be on a national stage weekly. Lance can sit behind a consummate professional in Bridgewater and learn how to be a quarterback in the NFL.
9. Denver Broncos
Patrick Surtain II - CB / Alabama
Why: Denver just seems like the team that is so close yet so, so far away. They do a good job drafting pieces but they are going to have to find out if Locke is the real deal before this team goes anywhere. The Broncos are thin at corner and could use one to build their new defense around. Surtain wouldn't be my first choice at CB but he seems to be the consensus #1 cornerback in this class.
10. Dallas Cowboys
Caleb Farley - CB / Virginia Tech
Why: The Cowboys are losing their top two corners and don't have the cap space to sign either of them if they want to sign Dak Prescott. The Cowboys drafted Trevon Diggs in the second round last year and pairing him with Farley could set up Dallas with a great secondary moving forward.
11. New York Giants
Jaylen Waddle - WR / Alabama
Why: The Giants could use a right tackle here but they can't pass on a playmaker like Waddle who can bring another dimension to their offense. They'll have to address offensive line and defense later in the draft but right here they get an instant difference maker.
12. San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Pitts - TE / Florida
Why: Most people will probably see this pick and be confused why the 49ers would take a tight end in the first round while they already have George Kittle. It's because I don't see Kyle Pitts being a straight up hand in the dirt only tight end. I see him lining up in the slot, lining up out wide and wherever else Kyle Shanahan can come up with.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Rashawn Slater - OT / Northwestern
Why: 2021 will be Bryan Bulaga's 12th in the NFL. With the Chargers presumably finding their franchise quarterback they must begin investing in his protection in the future. Slater is the 2nd best tackle in this class. Put on his tape against Chase Young from 2019 and enjoy.
14. Minnesota Vikings
Kwity Paye - EDGE / Michigan
Why: The Vikings invested in their secondary last year drafting Gladney and Dantzler. Getting Michael Pierce and Danielle Hunter back should help their defense tremendously. The Vikes should look to add a legitimate edge rusher opposite of Hunter. Paye is a little raw but he is one of the top athletes in this class.
15. New England Patriots
Rashod Bateman - WR / Minnesota
Why: Cam Newton won't be the quarterback in New England but I expect the Pats to have their starting QB before the draft. Bateman is the best route runner in this class. Reminds me of Devante Adams. Not crazy explosive but makes up for it by just being a natural and smooth route runner that an create separation in a phonebooth.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Najee Harris - RB / Alabama
Why: The Cards could very well go defense or tackle here but Harris just makes this offense TOO dynamic to turn down in my opinion. Murray, D Hop and Harris could become the a deadly three headed monster in the desert.
17. Las Vegas Raiders
Jaelan Phillips - EDGE / Miami
Why: The Raiders were awful against the pass last season. Mostly due to only having 21 sacks. The two things I like about Phillips are his motor and his awareness. Phillips never stops chasing the ball and rarely gets caught by play fakes or misdirection. Phillips must work on using his hands better at the next level but he has all the athleticism and intangibles a team could ask for.
18. Miami Dolphins
Travis Etienne - RB / Clemson
Why: The Dolphins running back situation was interesting to say the least last season. Six different RBs took handoffs for the 'Phins last season. Some of them flashed, none of them look like a franchise back. Etienne is a do-it-all back, who can run inside, outside, catch and pass block. Somebody Miami can tie to Tua's hip, which help him out a lot.
19. Washington Football Team
Christian Darrisaw - OT / Virginia Tech
Why: This could easily be a quarterback. Washington has a great defense right now and I'm the Washington front office would like to become contenders as soon as possible. With that being said they should build the team first then draft their quarterback. The Football Team traded Trent Williams to San Francisco during last years draft and need to replace him. Darrisaw is a long, strong and athletic tackle but he'll need work on his technique to become an elite tackle.
20. Chicago Bears
Samuel Cosmi - OT / Texas
Why: The Bears are in a similar if not exact situation as Washington. They could use a quarterback but I see them getting one via free agency before the draft. Cosmi is an athletic tackle who has experience playing inside as well. This isn't a sexy pick but it is the right pick.
21. Indianapolis Colts
Jalen Mayfield - OT / Michigan
Why: Just like the two teams prior the Colts have a good defense and overall a solid team but they're missing a franchise quarterback. They very well could go quarterback or edge rusher here but tackle makes the most sense. Colts long time left tackle Anthony Castonzo just retired. Whoever the Colts play at QB in 2021 and beyond will need protection. Mayfield has good feet and shows great patience but not passivity when pass blocking.
22. Tennessee Titans
Gregory Rousseau - EDGE / Miami
Why: The Titans signing of Jadeveon Clowney didn't really pan out. Rousseau is an athletic freak who can rush from inside and on the edge. He uses his hands effectively and rushes the passer with ferocity but lacks NFL level awareness. He'll have to work on the play recognition and run defending parts of his game. Whatever team drafts him must be patience with his progress but he has shown glimpses that he can be an elite pass rusher at the next level.
23. New York Jets
Terrace Marshall Jr. - WR / LSU
Why: The Jets got their franchise QB at #2 and now they need to surround him talent. Marshall Jr.'s talents got drastically overshadowed by JaMarr Chase and Justin Jefferson during LSU's 2019 National Championship run. Make no bones about it, Marshall Jr. is a first round talent. His long arms and 6'3 frame gives him a huge catch radius. Marshall Jr. does a great job recognizing zone coverage and shows a great understanding where to get open in it.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Alijah Vera-Tucker - IOL / USC
Why: A left tackle would be ideal here but due to the run on tackles at 19, 20 and 21, the Steelers settle for the best interior offensive lineman this draft has to offer. Vera-Tucker is a brute who rarely gives any ground in his pass protection. He shows a great understanding of defensive line stunts and ability to pick up blitzing linebackers.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Eichenberg - OT / Notre Dame
Why: Jacksonville Jaguars saw what happened to Joe Burrow last season and don't want Trevor Lawrence's rookie season to end via injury. Eichenberg reminds me of a young Joe Staley, he makes pass blocking look effortless but his true strength comes in run blocking. He is a mauler when he gets going down hill and wears out his opponent throughout the game.
26. Cleveland Browns
Christian Barmore - IDL / Alabama
Why: Browns could just go about anywhere with this pick. Wouldn't be surprised to see them take Owusu-Koramoah here. They settle on Barmore because he is the best player on their board. Barmore is the best IDL in this class and its not really close.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Azeez Ojulari - EDGE / Georgia
Why: I'm sure most Ravens' fans would like to see them take a wide receiver here but the WR class is deep, the EDGE class..... not so much. Ojulari could go much higher here but he fell to here due to a production drop off in 2020. He's the best speed rusher in this class. His first step is impressively quick, he shows a great understanding of leverage and how to bend around the corner.
28. New Orleans Saints
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - LB / Notre Dame
Why: Demario Davis is a grossly underrated as linebackers go in the NFL, but he is 32 years old and won't be around forever. Owusu-Koramoah is the best inside linebacker in this class. He plays the game with ZERO hesitation and his speed will keep offensive linemen up at night. His coverage skills are incredibly polished for a college linebacker. I see him being a generational talent in the NFL.
29. Green Bay Packers
Jaycee Horn - CB / South Carolina
Why: This one seems pretty obvious. The Packers have shown they won't invest in the wide receiver position in the first round. Kevin King was liability all season and especially in the playoffs. I'd be shocked to see the Packers resign him. Horn is a PHYSICAL corner who has also shown the speed to run with the likes of DeVonta Smith. Horn is one of the best blitzing corners I have ever seen. While his physical coverage skills in undoubtable Horn struggles tackling in the open field.
30. Buffalo Bills
Zaven Collins - LB / Tulsa
Why: Matt Milano will be hitting free agency and with Josh Allen's new contract coming down the road, the Bills must look to find a cheaper option at linebacker. If you watched Tulsa play once this season Zaven Collins has leapt off your screen. He can do it all, cover, blitz, stuff the run, rush off the edge and he always seems makes a play on the ball, whether in the air, on the ground or in the quarterback's hands.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Kadarius Toney - WR / Florida
Why: This seems like another perfect fit. The Chiefs will be losing Sammy Watkins to free agency. That will open up a spot for new blood. Andy Reid's system benefits receivers that win with speed, quickness and route running. Which is why Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman have thrived in it. Toney is very similar to both of them. Toney's speed is undeniable but his release at the line of scrimmage separates him from the receivers that haven't been taken yet.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mac Jones - QB / Alabama
Why: The Bucs arguably have one of the best young cores in the NFL. Problem is their quarterback will be 44 years old next season. Tampa must invest in a quarterback in this draft. Mac Jones would be a perfect fit. He's smart, he's got the deep ball to match Arians system and he can learn even more from the GOAT.
No comments:
Post a Comment