2021 NFL Mock Draft 2021: 1.0

It is about that time to dive into a new draft class, and take an early swing at how the whole draft will play out, here is how i think the chips will fall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

1. Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence QB, Clemson

Okay the writing has been on the wall since Lawrence won the National Championship his true freshman year. The Georgia product has everything you want in a franchise QB, the arm that can make all the throws, prototypical size, the ability to process the field, and some athletic prowess to create when things break down. Jacksonville has been tearing apart the team, with piece like Jalen Ramsey, A.J Bouye gone, and Yannick Ngakoue disgruntled, and unwilling to play. They added added some offensive pieces in the draft, but it will not be enough help Minshew garner enough steam, and wins to keep the job going into 2021.

2. New York Jets, Penei Sewell OT, Oregon

This Adam Gase era will come to a close by the end of 2020, there is not much more to say then he just sucks the life out of offenses as a head coach, and has been a train wreck since that first introductory press conference. I think that the new Jets brass will ride with Darnold at the very least one more year, and take Sewell, who was the best offensive lineman in the country as a sophomore. They will kick the newest Jet Mekhi Becton to the right tackle spot, and give Darnold some well needed protection.

3. Cincinnati, Ja'Marr Chase WR, LSU

The Bengals got their man this year in Joe Burrows, but that will not equate to wins in the first year, as the Bengals are still young, and the lack of true OTA's will lead to slower progression for rookies in 2020. Add that to a very tough division, its a recipe for a low win total. Bringing in Ja'Marr Chase makes perfect sense, as AJ Green's contract is up at the end of the year, and he would pair well with the 33rd pick this year Tee Higgins. Chase is by far the best receiver in the class, and probably would have been taken top 3 this year. We saw Denver surround their young signal caller with weapons, Bengals should do the same.

4. Chicago, Justin Fields QB, Ohio State

The Bears are stuck in quarterback purgatory, with Mitchell Trubisky, who they already came out, and said in not so many words, that they would not be picking up his 5th year option. Nick Foles is also in town, but he has never been able to sustain success as a start to finish starter, as the old saying goes, if you have two QB's, you have none. The Ohio State standout has the perfect type of game for today's game, and could bring stability to the quarterback position in Chicago, something they haven't had in a while.

5. Washington, Trey Lance QB, North Dakota State

If you have not heard about this kid, do yourself a favor, and go check him out, you will not be disappointed. It seams like the Bison's just keep producing talent at the QB position as of late, and Lance is no different, he developed into quite the dual threat, as he threw for 28 touchdown passes, and 14 rushing touchdowns this past season. Ron Rivera will lose patience's with Haskins, and will want to go in his own direction at the position, instead of someone he inherited. Lance will offer him that Cam Newton esque style of play, with a little less size.

6. Jacksonville (VIA LA Rams), Walker Little OT, Stanford

Jacksonville drafts their QB of the future, and i do not think that Cam Robinson is the man they want protecting his blindside. Insert the Stanford man, Little here, he offers the Jaguars someone who is very good in the pass game, as he is tough to beat for edge rushers, he has the length, and great bend. He is also a plus asset in the run game, who shows some nastiness to his game, perfect player to anchor the Jaguars line for years to come.

7. Carolina, Alex Leatherwood OT, Alabama

After a draft in which every single selection for the Panthers was on the defensive side of the ball, i think its safe to presume that the offense will be a priority in the 2021 draft. With Russell Okung getting up there in age, and an expiring contract after the 2020 season, Leatherwood would be the smart choice to grab, to protect Teddy Bridgewater, who has had a history of injuries. Leatherwood offers some versatility, kind of like Tristan Wirfs this year, and can play inside at guard, or outside at the tackle position.

8. Las Vegas, Micah Parsons LB, Penn State

Vegas is shaping up to be a nice team, but they play in arguably the toughest division of 2020. Some will say to address the quarterback position, but i feel like a defensive general like Parsons do not just show up every year. He has generational talent at the linebacker position, when you watch his tape he is all over the field, and plays sideline to sideline, as he accumulated 191 tackles in his first two season in Happy Valley, that comes out to an average of 12 tackles a game. Parsons will fit right in with Jonathan Abram, and Maxx Crosby, on that newly tooled defensive unit.

9. New York Giants, Gregory Rousseau EDGE, Miami

With Leonard William's contract coming to an end after the 2020 season, and if they choose to not resign him, that will leave a major hole on the edge of the Giants defense. Rousseau is a plug, and play on that line, and is coming off a very impressive freshman year, as he totaled 15.5 sacks, and accumulated 19.5 tackle for loss in the 2019 season.

10. Miami (VIA Houston), Justyn Ross WR, Clemson

If the Dolphins do plan on giving Tua a red shirt year, he could use a top notch receiver like Ross when he does start, and pairing him with Preston William's who showed flashes in his rookie campaign before getting hurt, that can be quite the combo. Ross burst onto the scene for the National Champion Tigers in 2018, eclipsing the 1000 yard mark, as a freshman, and being a major contributor in the championship game. He has some great body control, and should blossom in to a true number one for Watson.

11. Miami, Sam Cosmi OT, Texas

Right back on the clock, the priority has to be to protect Tua Togavailoa, their new franchise QB, and they did a nice job in the latest draft, with the addition of Austin Jackson, and two other lineman, but the right tackle spot still has some questions, and it may be the most important position on the line. Since Tua is a lefty, the right tackle protects the blindside, instead of the left tackle. Cosmi made the right choice of returning to school for his senior year, by many scouts estimation, as he was very raw, high potential player, who could use more seasoning. His ideal length, and athleticism will be key traits at the next level.

12. Atlanta, Xavier Thomas EDGE, Clemson

The Tigers keep coming off the board early in the draft, and it comes in the form of a pass rusher, the position that is deeply needed for the Falcons. Thomas will add a much needed injection of talent on that defensive line, that i for see being much of the same in 2020, even with Dante Fowler Jr in the mix. Thomas was a freshman All American his first season, but fell off a bit in 2019, but Dabo Swinney has put that on the change of scheme to a 3-3-5, but expect him to use Thomas in a more opportunistic way.

13. Detroit, Jaylen Waddle WR, Alabama

There is the possibility that the Lions decide to move off of Matthew Stafford after another season without the playoffs, but i am not ready to jump on that boat, so i will go another route. The cupboards will be bear at the receiver position after the 2020 year, as guys like Marvin Jones, Geronimo Allison, and Kenny Golladay are all unrestricted free agents. I do think they get Golladay signed to a big deal, but it would be wise to pair him with a speedster like Waddle. He was stuck in a crowded Alabama receiver room, but with the departure of Jeudy, and Ruggs he should see an up tick in production.

14. New England, Shaun Wade CB, Ohio State

Ohio State is truly pumping out defensive backs at an outstanding rate, and Bill Belichick truly does love his young corners, and with Jason McCourty probably done in Foxborough after 2020, due to the fact that the team is moving towards more of a youthful foundation. Wade played primarily in the slot, but with a couple Buckeyes moving to the NFL he will get the chance to show his skills on the outside, and potentially move up the board even more.

15. Los Angeles Chargers, Seth Williams WR, Auburn

There will be a ton of decision to be made when the end of next season comes, with a bunch of names with contracts coming to an end, a couple of those names being Mike Williams, and Keanen Allen, but both will not get a new deal i would have to imagine. That is where Seth Williams comes into play, he has amazing size at 6-3, 224lbs, and was able to create plays downfield with a true freshman QB in Bo Nix, accumulating 830 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Will be a nice target for Justin Herbert for the future.

16. Arizona, Paulson Adebo CB, Stanford

With the long time veteran of the defensive backfield, Patrick Petersen likely on his way out of town, it would be time to bring some new blood to a cornerback group that gave up the 2nd most passing yards, at an average of 282 yards per game. Adebo former days as a receiver allows him to break on balls, and break up passes, or get to the receiver to make the tackle. Also show great competitiveness when going up for balls.

17. Cleveland, Dylan Mosses LB, Alabama

The Cleveland roster is constructed very well, and i know that may come as surprise me saying that since they do not make the playoffs in this scenario, but that has more to do with the division they play in, and the up in coming teams in the AFC. If it was not for a knee injury, he would have came out, and probably would have been a top 20 player gone. He had a very good sophomore year collecting 86 tackles, and 10 tackles for loss. The speed, and acceleration that he plays with at his size, is truly rare.

18. Minnesota, Jay Tufele DT, USC

Can never have too many big bodies in the middle of your defense, and the Vikings had an average run defense this year, giving up 112 yards per game, and did not do a whole lot to tighten it up this off season, and an extra defensive tackle will do that. Tufele will offer versatility in the form of being able to play in multiple different schemes, and is lightning quick, routinely beating interior lineman.

19. Denver, Marvin Wilson DT, Florida State

With all the focus on the offensive side of the ball, Elway will need to put some work in on the defensive side of the ball, and adding a nice nose tackle for the 3-4 defense will be a nice anchor for that unit. Even though Wilson does not project as someone who will get to the QB on a regular basis at the NFL level, he is perfect for the odd man front scheme that Denver runs, and will be an absolute force in the run game, as he has excellent two gap ability.

20. Tennessee, Rondale Moore WR, Purdue

The Chris Davis experiment has not worked out like the Titans would have liked, and they probably part ways with the former first rounder at the end of next year, unless he has an absolute exceptional season. Moore may be the most dynamic player in all of college football, he is the full package, explosive, great hands, the ability to make people miss at will, and versatility that teams love in today's game. What he showed his freshman year was nothing short of amazing, with 114 receptions, 1258 yards, and 12 touchdowns, while also rushing for over 200 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

21. Tampa Bay, Patrick Surtain II CB, Alabama

After giving up the third most passing yards this season, Tampa went and drafted a very good safety in Antonio Winfield Jr, to start building up that back end, but corner is still a need, and the Alabama product is the man. Surtain has been a staple for Nick Sabans defense since he stepped on campus, getting quality playing time as a freshman, something that is tough to do in Tuscaloosa. He is a big corner, who can play physical, and has a ton of upside for the Buccaneers.

22. Pittsburgh, Jamie Newman QB, Georgia

We saw the Packer go this direction in the draft, picking up the soon to be successor to their franchise quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Coming off a major surgery at an older age, no one knows how Ben Roethlisberger will look after the Tommy John surgery on his elbow, so why not have a succession plan in place, so they are not caught with their pants down, when he retires. Now insert Jamie Newman, one of the most intriguing prospect in the draft, coming from Wake Forest, as a graduate transfer, he put together a nice junior season, where we saw all the physical tools, and if he can refine the mental processing at Georgia, the Steelers are looking at the next face of the franchise.

23. Seattle, Wyatt Davis IOL, Ohio State

The Seahawks run game is the foundation of their offense, and adding a highly touted guard, and the left guard spot will be opening up, with Ethan Pocic hitting the open market after the season ends. The former 5-star recruit, Davis plays with an elite combination of agility, and power, which makes him one of the best guards in college football.

24. Dallas, Kyle Pitts TE, Florida

The Jason Witten era is over for America's team, and they are left with Blake Jarwin, who is a respectable replacement, but does not jump off the charts in terms of talent. After a slow start his freshman year, Pitts would breakout his sophomore year with 54 receptions, 649 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Pitts is able to create space at an elite level, he is also a monster when he gets the ball in his hands, and is almost impossible to get down on the first try. He would join an already exceptional collection of offensive fire power.

25. Baltimore, Andre Cisco S, Syracuse

Ronnie Stanley's contract is coming to an end, but i do see the Ravens locking him up long term, and they will exercise the 5th year option on Marlon Humphreys more and likely, so the needs for the Ravens are not glaring. An eventual replacement for Earl Thomas seems like a wise choice. The ball hawking Cisco has a knack for finding the ball with 12 interceptions in his first two year. He is also very versatile, as he is able to play the single high look, and roam the center of the field, or jump up, and cover a receiver in the slot. The transition could be seamless between Thomas to Cisco.

26. Philadelphia, Creed Humphrey IOL, Oklahoma

The rumors have been swirling about Jason Kelce's eventual retirement for a couple years now, and i think that it finally comes after the 2020 season. With that being said the Eagles like to build from the inside out on the lines, so i do not see them passing up the top ranked center in the draft, when there is a clear need. Humphrey can step right in to one of the best lines in the league, alongside Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, and Andre Dillard.

27. Green Bay, Travis Etienne RB, Clemson

So we have already seen that Packer front office seem to do things outside the box, so i thought i would follow the trend, and have the Packers taking a running back here. The whole running back room, except for newly drafted A.J Dillon are free agents after 2020, and i do not see them franchise tagging Aaron Jones. Dillon is a bruising back, but he does not have the arsenal that Etienne possesses. Etienne is a smooth runner, that has great vision, and can be used in a variety of different ways in the pass game, a good replacement for Aaron Jones.

28. Indianapolis, Carlos Basham Jr EDGE, Wake Forest

The Colts are on the verge of becoming something special, with a lot of units on their team solidified, there is one that will need some boosting up, and it is the defensive line. They did a good job acquiring DeForest Buckner, but they will be losing Justin Houston after the year, so there will be a huge void on the edge. Basham is high motor guy, with a variety of different pass rush moves, and is suited for the Indianapolis defensive scheme.

29. Buffalo, Marco Wilson CB, Florida

Brandon Beane has been building this team the right way, and adding another cornerstone positional piece is the right answer here. Josh Norman is not a long term solution, so the Bills need someone to pair with Tre'Davious White, and Wilson is the guy. Wilson is amazing in man coverage, and does not fear having his back to the ball.

30. San Francisco, Chuba Hubbard RB, Oklahoma State

Everyone knows the offense that Shanahan likes, and it involves a heavy dose of the run game. Since he has came to town he has not had a true number one back, ultimately deciding to go with a committee approach, but a top end talent would bring stability to the position. The Canadian Cowboy racked up over 2000 yards, and 21 touchdowns, and he was able to do that in big part, because of his elite sprinter speed, and amazing field vision, that would fit well with the zone running scheme, that the 49ers use.

31. Kansas City, Cade Mays IOL, Tennessee

Patrick Mahomes is about to get the biggest payday in NFL history, and it would be good for the Chiefs to use some of their high value picks on fixing the interior of their line. The one question about Mays is if he will get immediate eligibility at Tennessee, and if he does play, and come out he will be one of the best interior offensive lineman of the draft. he offers extreme versatility for the Chiefs, and has the ability to play all positions on the line, but is probably best suited for guard.

32. New Orleans, Devonta Smith WR, Alabama

Would have gone quarterback here, but with the signing of Jameis Winston, that avenue becomes a bit more murky, so with Emmanuel Sanders turning 34 going into the 2021 season would be a smart idea to get some new blood in at receiver opposite Michael ,Thomas for the future. The word that comes to mind when talking about Smith is smooth, he runs very crisp route, and has exceptional tracking skills when the ball is in the air. Will make a great future weapon for whoever is at the helm after Brees rides of into the sunset.