A 1-Round 2021 Mock Draft

With the draft right around the corner, who gets who?

The NFL Draft is where franchisees can turn their fate around by drafting young & exciting prospects. Sometimes, the saviour of their team can be found in the first round. Other times, it can be found in the 199th pick.

It's very hard projecting the career of a player once he enters the NFL, as we have seen with various players like when the 1998 San Diego Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf, a QB who was projected to have a bright career in the NFL but had the exact opposite. Or even when the 2000 New England Patriots drafted the afro mentioned Tom Brady 199th overall, who at the time was a nobody. Brady is now considered to be the GOAT in the NFL & is still going strong at 43, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Superbowl victory.

Teams also have to supply their draft picks with adequate support, something which the Indianapolis Colts didn't do when they drafted QB Andrew Luck 1st overall in 2012. They had arguably the worst O-Line in the league & pushed Luck into early retirement.

The draft is a place where teams have to have a fine balance of picks if they want to be an annual contender.

That being said, let's hop right into my draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on the clock.

No. 1 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence - QB, Clemson

This was the easiest pick in this draft, no doubt. Lawrence is up there in the Mount Rushmore of generational QBs (John Elway, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck & Trevor Lawrence). The Jaguars are a rebuilding team, who are desperate for a QB. With this pick, a new, exciting era begins in Jacksonville.

No. 2 - New York Jets - Zach Wilson - QB, BYU

The Jets have made their intentions clear, after trading Sam Darnold, who they selected third overall in 2018. Wilson solidified his spot as the second-best QB in the draft, following an impressive showing at his Pro Day. The Jets provided the exact opposite of help to Darnold during his time with the organization & new head coach Robert Saleh should make it his utmost priority in doing the opposite with Wilson. Much like with the Jaguars, a new era begins in New York.

No. 3 - San Francisco 49ers (via Houston Texans from Miami Dolphins) - Justin Fields - QB, Ohio State

Despite an inconsistent 2020 season, Fields had an impressive Pro Day & still is the QB2, according to some people. Despite reports suggesting the 49ers are deeply interested in Alabama QB Mac Jones, I feel Fields is more well-adapted to the modern NFL, as he can run fast, yet is an equally good passer. If the 49ers hit a home run on this pick, they can be contenders for the next decade or so.

No. 4 - Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts - TE, Florida

During his time in Florida, Pitts established himself as one of the best prospects the TE position has ever seen. His unique athletic abilities that make him comparable to a WR is truly one of kind for his position. Adding Pitts, QB Matt Ryan will have Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, now with Pitts as his go-to targets in Atlanta.

No. 5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase - WR, LSU

Despite it being no secret that the Bengals need a player that can play OL, reports have emerged that 2nd year QB Joe Burrow wants the Bengals to take his former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase. WR is a need for the Bengals, as their premier pass catchers are Tyler Boyd & Tee Higgins, who aren't WR1 calibre. Also, if the reports are true & the Bengals still take Penei Sewell, they risk angering Burrow. The last time the Bengals angered their QB of the future, it didn't go down too well.

No. 6 - Miami Dolphins - DeVonta Smith - WR, Alabama

DeVonta Smith had an electrifying 2020 season, giving him to Heisman Trophy, making him the WR to do so, since Desmond Howard in 1991. The Dolphins require a WR & Smith's season makes him unmissable for the Dolphins. This pick will also reunite Smith with second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa, as they played together in Alabama. This pick will certainly help Tua, who had a rocky start to his NFL career.

No. 7 - Detroit Lions - Penei Sewell - OT, Oregon

The Bengals taking Ja'Marr chase may be the best thing that's happened for the Lions. With a new rebuild underway in Detroit, Dan Campbell can give Jared Goff some weapons to work with in Jaylen Waddle or protect him by taking Sewell. Ultimately, Sewell is the best OL prospect since Tyron Smith & the Lions already have TE T.J. Hockenson, who is currently one of the best receiving TEs in the league. These factors combined make Sewell the obvious choice for me.

No. 8 - Carolina Panthers - Caleb Farley - CB, Virginia Tech

Despite the recent back surgeries he has been going through, along with the fact that he opted out of the 2020 season, I still feel that Caleb Farley is by far the best CB in this class. With the Panthers trading for QB Sam Darnold, the QB position feels settled in Carolina & with me feeling that their defense needs work, I gave them Farley. Farley, with his ability to make big plays at any given moment, along with his injury history, is the definition of a low floor & high ceiling player.

No. 9 - Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons - LB, Penn State

With Von Miller's days in Denver being numbered, it seems like the perfect time to start planning for a defense without him. Despite QB Drew Lock taking a huge step back in 2020 & not seeming like the long-term option at QB, I feel that taking Trey Lance is a very risky pick & Parsons is a much better prospect. This pick will complete the rebuild of the deadly Broncos defense that carried to a Superbowl victory in 2015. Despite character concerns, teams have been vocal in saying that they believe it's immaturity & he will become more disciplined upon joining the NFL.

No. 10 - Dallas Cowboys - Kwity Paye - DL, Michigan

Paye is one of the most electrifying prospects in this draft. His combination of athleticism, power make him unmissable. The Cowboys' defense was one of the worst in the 2020 season & if they don't do anything, it will surely hold back the explosive offense they have. With him being paired up with DeMarcus Lawrence, expect the DL of the Cowboys to look like the real deal.

No. 11 - New York Giants - Jaylen Waddle - WR, Alabama

Waddle is my favourite WR in this class, as I believe he has a high floor & a high ceiling. If his NFL career works out, he can be compared to the likes of Tyreek Hill & I believe his floor can be comparable to that of Cordarrelle Patterson. Waddle also provides explosiveness, something I feel hasn't been present, since Cleveland Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. left. I also see Waddle as a safety valve, if recently signed John Ross doesn't work out & if Kenny Golladay's injury issues continue, as Sports Injury Predictor has given him a 91% chance to get injured this season, which I believe can be detrimental to the Giants' momentum if he gets injured in the middle of a playoff push.

No. 12 - Philadelphia Eagles - Patrick Surtain II - CB, Alabama

While WR is a need, I feel we have to give the 2020 1st round pick Jalen Reagor some time to develop, rather than write him off as a bust. When paired with Darius Slay, the coverage of the Eagles will look much better than last season. Surtain may even be the first CB taken, as teams may view Farley's back procedures as a concern.

No. 13 - Los Angeles Chargers - Christian Darrisaw - OT, Virginia Tech

With the Chargers finding their QB of the future in Justin Herbert, it's on the Chargers to fix their needs at the OT position. The Chargers have already started the work, adding Corey Linsley & Matt Feiler this offseason. Adding Darrisaw will further improve the OL & will buy Herbert valuable time when in the pocket.

No. 14 - Minnesota Vikings - Rashawn Slater - OT, Northwestern

Slater would have surely gone ahead of Christian Darrisaw, had he not opted out of the 2020 season, as during matchups with players like Chase Young, he dominated. With the release of former OT Riley Reiff, the Vikings now have a spot to fill in the OT position. If there is a way to change the Vikings reputation of settling for minimum quality level players in the OL position, it's this pick.

No. 15 - New England Patriots - Trey Lance - QB, North Dakota State

Trey Lance falling to the Patriots seems like the final piece of the rebuild. With the Panthers trading for QB Sam Darnold, there weren't teams that desperately needed a QB, or there were far better players that fit their needs. While people may argue that they need to try QB Jarrett Stidham, based on the fact they could transform a 6th round pick into the GOAT, I feel Tom Brady was a very good QB and went under the radar of scouts & fell into the hands of the Patriots. The risk of taking Lance is that you have to assume that what you saw in 2019 was no fluke, as he threw for 42 TDs, with 0 INTs, as he only played 1 game in 2020, where he was mediocre.

No. 16 - Tennessee Titans (projected trade with Arizona Cardinals) - Trevon Moehrig - S, TCU

Arizona Cardinals receive: 2021 1st round pick, 2022 3rd round pick

Tennessee Titans receive: 2021 1st round pick

Following the release of S Kenny Vaccaro, the Titans need a S. The defense of the Titans was one of their darker spots in 2020, holding the offense back to an extent. I feel the starting piece to building a dominant defense should start with the selection of Moehrig, who not only is an electrifying S, but also won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2020, an award that is given to the best defensive back of the season.

No. 17 - Las Vegas Raiders - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - LB, Notre Dame

The Raiders' defense is a defense that could use help. In the first half of 2020, the Raiders were a pleasant surprise, beating teams like the Kansas City Chiefs. They seemed to be a sure playoff team. However, in the second half, the holes began to start showing & one of these holes came up in the LB position. Cory Littleton had a disappointing 2020 season, while Nick Kwiatkowski had injuries riddle his season. I feel it's time to replace either one of them. Koramoah also does seem to be too good to pass up considering the position they are in in terms of draft position.

No. 18 - Miami Dolphins - Travis Etienne - RB, Clemson

This pick may be one of my least favourite picks in this mock draft. Etienne isn't a first-round talent, yet the Dolphins need a RB. I wanted to trade them out of this pick, but I felt the Dolphins have done enough trades this offseason & this would be way too much. That being said, Etienne is by far the best RB in the class & if Tua continues his underwhelming play, the Dolphins will have to turn to running the ball. As of now, the Dolphins do not have a long-term option at RB, with their best RB being Myles Gaskin, who isn't the RB1 that a team that is in contention should be starting.

No. 19 - Washington Football Team - Azeez Ojulari - LB, Georgia

With the departure of Kevin Pierre-Louis, Washington has a hole to fill in the LB position. They can go with the wildcard option with taking free agent Melvin Ingram, but I feel that Ojulari will be the better choice in the long run. Ojulari is an exciting prospect that has improved every season with his time in Georgia. He is undoubtedly one of the high ceiling high floor players this draft.

No. 20 - Chicago Bears - Mac Jones - QB, Alabama

While I am not a fan of this pick, as I believe that there are better prospects that fit the Bears' needs, if the Bears pass up on Mac Jones, the fanbase will almost certainly chase Matt Nagy & Ryan Pace out of Chicago with pitchforks, as they overpaid QB Nick Foles & signed QB Andy Dalton, an unexplainable move, given Dalton's quality. Then again, if Jones doesn't end up being a bust, he may be the final piece of the Bears rebuild. With Jones' playing style resembling old-fashioned QBs, it will be interesting to see how Jones' career plays out in the NFL.

No. 21 - Indianapolis Colts - Alijah Vera-Tucker - OT, USC

Following the retirement of Anthony Castonzo, the league's best OL have a hole to fill. The interesting case about Vera-Tucker is that he only has 1 season under his belt as a T, as he spent the other 2 years at USC playing G. However, in the 1 season he played as a T, it seemed like he was made for the role, as he scored a 9.03/10 on the RAS scale. In 2020, he also won the Morris Trophy, an award given to the best offensive lineman. Even as a G, Vera-Tucker would still be considered one of the best players in the draft & would pose a good replacement for G if the Colts need one.

No. 22 - Arizona Cardinals (projected trade with Tennessee Titans) - Asante Samuel Jr. - CB, Florida State

Arizona Cardinals receive: 2021 1st round pick, 2022 3rd round pick

Tennessee Titans receive: 2021 1st round pick

Following longtime CB Patrick Peterson signing with the Minnesota Vikings, the Cardinals have a huge need at CB. They can address this in the draft, selecting Samuel Jr. While his height may seem to be a red flag for teams, we have seen smaller CBs succeed in the NFL recently, like Tre'Davious White & Jaire Alexander. Also, QBs had a 46.2 QBR when passing to a WR that was being covered by Samuel last season, which is the lowest in this class. He can also help improve the struggling defense of the Cardinals, making the job easier for one of the league's best offenses.

No. 23 - New York Jets via Seattle Seahawks - Rondale Moore - WR, Purdue

Moore is one of the most thrilling players in this draft class, with his other-worldly speed. The major red flag in Moore, however, is that he has an issue of getting injured way too often and on a position like WR, it could take a toll on his body, causing him to become a bust. I feel that the Jets should take a WR, as Jamison Crowder, much like Moore, has a long injury history. If this pick works out, The Jets will have one of the league's best WR depth chart, featuring Corey Davis, Rondale Moore & maybe even Crowder, if he's able to stay off the rehabilitation bed.

No. 24 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Teven Jenkins - OT, Oklahoma State

With the Steelers not yet resigning OT Alejandro Villanueva this offseason, it becoming increasingly clear that the team will be looking to address the need through the draft. The Steelers can also select Alabama's Najee Harris with this pick, but I'm still not entirely convinced of this year's RB class. That's why I ended up selecting Jenkins. Jenkins is one of those prospects who seemingly got better each passing season. However, the downside to Jenkins is tat he is 24 years old, while most prospects are 21 to 22 years old. Jenkins built his reputation at Oklahoma State as one of the country's best run blockers, while being more than up to the task at pass blocking.

No. 24 - Jacksonville Jaguars via Los Angeles Rams - Kadarius Toney - WR, Florida

Now that the Jaguars have their future franchise QB in Trevor Lawrence, they need to get him some help. This can come in the form of an OL or TE, but I think Toney is the best prospect that fits the needs of the Jaguars. I am nowhere near convinced with current WRs Laviska Shenault & D.J. Chark, who I feel are great WR2 players & aren't good enough for the primary receiver role. If Lawrence needs a legitimate chance to succeed in Jacksonville, it's this pick.

No. 26 - Cleveland Browns - Jaelan Phillips - DL, Miami

With this pick, the Browns can surely be placed in the conversation of best DL in the league. With the addition of Jadeveon Clowney, paired with Myles Garrett & now Phillips, this defense may be one to look out for in 2021. Phillips may be one of the best players on this draft and surely would have gone in the top 20, had concussions not hamper his time in UCLA, which led to his retirement from the sport, only for him to come back, this time representing Miami & to remind everyone how much of a freak show he is. If the injuries don't ruin his career as they did at UCLA, he should be one of the most dominant players this league has seen.

No. 27 - Las Vegas Raiders (projected trade with Baltimore Ravens) - Christian Barmore - DL, Alabama

Baltimore Ravens receive: 2 round pick, 2022 4th round pick

Las Vegas Raiders receive: 1st round pick

As mentioned, the Raiders defense could use some help. Following the departure of DL Maliek Collins to the Houston Texans, DL has become one of their bigger needs. In the final games of the 2020 season, came to life, by being Alabama's best defensive player. His stimulating play makes him unmissable on the football field. If the 2 picks of the Raiders work out, the offense will be getting some much-needed help & the Raiders could be a potential underdog in the 2021 NFL season.

No. 28 - New Orleans Saints - Joseph Ossai - LB, Texas

Following a disappointing season for the Saints, considering they were the favourites to win the Lombardi Trophy in 2020, it's become clear that the Saints have a lot of holes in their team they need to fix. One of them is LB. Except for Demario Davis, who had an exceptional 2020 season, the Saints' LB Depth Chart is underwhelming, to say the least. Ossai can also play EDGE, which is another need of the Saints. Despite his opt out season in 2020, Ossai is surely a home run pick for the Saints.

No. 29 - Green Bay Packers - Levi Onwuzurike - DL, Washington

The Packers defense let the historically good Packers offense big time in 2020. This led to the eventual exit of the Packers in the NFC Championship, where sloppy play cost them the game. To make this defense (that in my opinion is only a few moves from being elite) dominant, they need young blood. This is why I'm giving the Packers Onwuzurike. Despite opting out of the 2020 season, Onwuzurike is most definitely one of the best DL players this draft & will provide DL Kenny Clark with some much-needed help.

No. 30 - Buffalo Bills - Jaycee Horn - CB, South Carolina

The Bills established themselves as one of the teams to look out for in the future, following an impressive 2020 season. While the Bills do look like one of the NFL's most complete teams, I feel their defense could use some help. Despite concerns about his attitude, after he opted out in the middle of the 2020 season, he backed his game up with a superb Pro Day. If he can get rid of his tackling woes, he should be one of the more dominant players this league has seen.

No. 31 - Baltimore Ravens via Kansas City Chiefs - Jayson Oweh - EDGE, Penn State

Despite not having the greatest 2020 season, Oweh made up for it & reminded scouts why he's worth a first-round pick in his Pro Day. Following the departures of Matthew Judon, Jihad Ward & Yannick Ngakoue, the Ravens have to rebuild their DL, which managed to sack QBs 39 times in 2020. With his explosiveness, Oweh will make for an unmissable player of the field in 2021.

No. 32 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Rashod Bateman - WR, Minnesota

With the final pick in this mock draft, I have the Buccaneers drafting a replacement for WR Antonio Brown, who I believe is going to the Seattle Seahawks. Drafting Bateman will make him the 3rd Minnesota product that the Bucs have selected in the past 2 drafts (2020 & 2021), as they selected S Antoine Winfield Jr. & WR Tyler Johnson in 2020. Drafting Bateman may be better than resigning Brown, as Brown comes with his very volatile character, which prove to negatively affect the Bucs' locker room. Despite a disappointing 2020 season, Bateman should surely be a core WR for the Bucs for a long time.

Sources: CBS Sports, The Draft Network, Fansided, Walter Football, Getty Images, USA Today, Atlanta Falcons, The Huddle Report, Pro Football Reference, SB Nation, nj.com, ESPN, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, PFF Draft, Pro Football Focus, Forbes, Baltimore Ravens, Lineups, Pro Football Network