This is actually a pretty early time for the first Mock, but I am looking to have at least two more with one taking place in the week when the new NFL season officially gets underway, and the other in the days before the Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday 29th April 2021.
A lot will change between now and then with trades and team needs changing depending on how Free Agency develops. For the first Mock Draft I am planning to keep teams in their current spots and I will then add any Mock Trades and moves in the second Mock Draft I put together in mid-March.
In the days leading up to the 2021 Draft I think we will know the likely order teams will be selecting at, although things can change markedly on the night.
I will have a thread up for the Super Bowl Pick on Sunday, but this should be published before that so I am selecting Kansas City in Number 32 and Tampa Bay in Number 31 as the Chiefs are favoured to win back to back Championships.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence: the arrival of Urban Meyer as Head Coach of the Jaguars has raised some questions as to what Jacksonville will do with the Number 1 Pick in the 2021 Draft.
Meyer's links with Ohio State have pushed the Justin Fields narrative, but I think it would be one of the biggest surprises in Draft history if the Jaguars do not select Trevor Lawrence here.
The Quarter Back looks like a generational talent and has long been considered as the player who will go as Number 1 whenever he declares for the Draft.
2. New York Jets- Zach Wilson: for a long time the question was whether Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields will go first, but there is a growing movement behind Zach Wilson of BYU being the second Quarter Back that goes in the Draft.
I have him down with the New York Jets in this opening Mock Draft selection, but there is a huge disclaimer at play.
First up I think the Jets are going to be firmly in the discussion for any trade that can be worked out for Deshaun Watson and that will mean this Pick is moved to the Houston Texans who could go a number of positions instead of Quarter Back, especially if they like Sam Darnold enough to have him part of the trade.
The Jets have a new Coaching staff that have no connection with Darnold, but they might like him enough to take a big time talent on the Offensive Line to prevent their Quarter Back from seeing 'ghosts'.
Or perhaps the Jets new Coaching staff decide to take the Quarter Back I have selected here and start a new era at the position in 2021.
3. Miami Dolphins- Penei Sewell: like the Jets I expect the Miami Dolphins to try and entice Deshaun Watson to South Florida and that would mean this selection is no longer theirs.
I also think the team are likely to pass this selection on to a team who might be desperate to take one of the top Quarter Backs, but if Miami are forced to Pick here they could do worse than Penei Sewell.
Strengthening the Offensive Line for Tua Tagovailoa is one thing, but Sewell looks like being one of the top Linemen in the NFL for years to come and it is so important to dominate the trenches.
4. Atlanta Falcons- Micah Parsons: there are a number of ways the Atlanta Falcons could go.
They could choose to finally Draft Matt Ryan's replacement or they can trade down and stockpile more selections to improve a team that underperformed in 2020.
Micah Parsons may have chosen to sit out the 2020 season, but he can provide an upgrade at Linebacker for the Falcons and is considered one of the top Defensive players in the Draft.
5. Cincinnati Bengals- Ja'Marr Chase: last season it was an easy choice for Cincinnati to select Joe Burrow as the Number 1 Pick in the 2020 Draft, but the injury suffered by the franchise Quarter Back will likely mean targeting improvements on the Offensive Line this time around.
If Penei Sewell happens to drop I think that will be an easy selection for the Bengals, but in this Mock I have him gone by now.
They could potentially reach for another Offensive Lineman, but instead I have the Bengals picking Ja'Marr Chase to give Burrow another big time Receiver and especially with AJ Green likely to be moving on.
He sat out this season so DeVonta Smith has closed in on Chase in the Wide Receiver top prospects list, but I think the fact he played with Burrow at LSU in 2019 and over 1700 Receiving yards would see the Bengals select this Receiver.
6. Philadelphia Eagles- DeVonta Smith: it is a new era in Philadelphia as far as the Coaching staff go and we are yet to hear whether Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts will be the starting Quarter Back going forward.
The Eagles have fallen quickly from their Super Bowl success, but a big issue last season was the lack of consistent playmakers on the Offensive side of the ball. Injuries hurt and I think the Eagles will look to resolve that early by taking either DeVonta Smith or Ja'Marr Chase in this spot.
In this Mock Chase is off the board, but Smith is coming in off a big season and looks like a Receiver who will be ready to make an impact at the NFL level immediately.
7. Detroit Lions- Kwity Paye: Matthew Stafford is no longer a Detroit Lion, but the arrival of Jared Goff means the Lions are unlikely to be interested in a Quarter Back here as Justin Fields continues to slide.
They could trade down if Fields is coveted by another team, especially as Detroit have a number of holes throughout the roster that need filling with the rebuild starting this season.
If one of the top Receivers falls down the order this is a logical spot for them too, but in a Division with Aaron Rodgers (for now) I think the Lions need more disruption on the Defensive Line and the pass rush of Kwity Paye could be a help.
8. Carolina Panthers- Kyle Pitts: After a year in the starting role as the Quarter Back, Teddy Bridgewater may be wondering if his time with the Panthers is over.
They could easily look to take a Quarter Back here, but the Panthers might also be in the hunt for Deshaun Watson. It would not be a massive surprise if they are do think to bring in another veteran and instead look to improve the Receiving options by taking Kyle Pitts to offer a big target at Tight End.
I am a big fan of Pitts and I think he showed at Florida that he is ready to play at the next level and Carolina can finally replace Greg Olsen who was the long-time TE here.
9. Denver Broncos- Caleb Farley: John Elway may choose to go the veteran route to provide a real challenge to Quarter Back Drew Lock who does not look like the franchise player at the position.
If Justin Fields is available here there may be some interest, but Denver have a number of issues on the Defensive unit that will need addressing.
Patrick Surtain II had a really good season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, but at this stage the feeling is that the decision to sit out the 2020 season has not hurt Caleb Farley's standing and he may be the best Corner Back in the Draft that offers Denver immediate help in the Secondary in a Division where they face Patrick Mahomes twice a season.
10. Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Surtain II: 2020 was a very difficult year for the Dallas Cowboys and it is clear they have some issues to address in the Draft.
There is every chance they could decide to take someone like Wyatt Davis or Rashawn Slater to bolster an Offensive Line which was devastated by injury in the 2020 season, but Dallas also need to upgrade the Defensive side of the ball.
Patrick Surtain II might be the top name on the board that fills a need for the Dallas Cowboys and I think they will select him here.
11. New York Giants- Gregory Rousseau: The NFC East was a poor Division in 2020 and all four teams have plenty of areas that need to improve if they are going to challenge for Championships.
Daniel Jones remains the Quarter Back with the New York Giants, but they don't give him any more help here and instead focus on the Defensive Line.
After sitting out in 2020, Gregory Rousseau does not see his Draft stock hurting too much and he is picked up to give the Giants someone to bring the pass rush.
12. San Francisco 49ers- Justin Fields: in my first Mock Draft I have Justin Fields being the unfortunate player who slips down the board as we tend to see most seasons.
Jimmy Garoppolo's position as the Quarter Back for the 49ers is under threat and I would not be surprised if he is moved on which will leave Kyle Shanahan in a position where he will perhaps look to bring in someone new in the Draft.
Some think Shanahan will be looking for a veteran with the 49ers in 'win now' mode, but in my Mock I think he would find it impossible to pass up someone like Justin Fields who could thrive in the system run in San Francisco.
The slide comes to an end.
13. Los Angeles Chargers- Rashawn Slater: the Chargers have the franchise Quarter Back, but the new Coaching staff will know Justin Herbert needs a little more time to make his plays down the field.
He may have sat out the 2020 season, but Rashawn Slater is well respected as someone who can really offer the Chargers a big upgrade on the Offensive Line and give Herbert some protection.
14. Minnesota Vikings- Wyatt Davis: it feels like the Minnesota Vikings have had a window for success, but that window is beginning to close at a rapid rate.
There are some serious holes to sort out on both sides of the ball, but in the First Round they could look to improve the Offensive Line which did not keep Kirk Cousins on his feet and also drive open some more lanes for Dalvin Cook.
The Vikings could look to improve the Defensive Line as well as the Secondary, but I have them taking the best player on the board who can help them immediately.
15. New England Patriots- Jaylen Waddle: Cam Newton is gone and the New England Patriots could look to replace him with another veteran for the 2021 season.
It has been a long time since the New England Patriots were able to select someone in the First Round as high as this having missed out on the PlayOffs, but there is no doubt that whoever is taking the snaps at Quarter Back is going to need some playmakers.
Last season it was a part of the reason Newton struggled and the Patriots can pick up Jaylen Waddle, a Receiver who can stretch the field with his speed. Injuries slowed him down in 2020, but Waddle showed what he can do when he was on the field and I think he is a good fit for the Patriots who will be looking to take their Offensive schemes forward.
16. Arizona Cardinals- Najee Harris: in each of the last two seasons only a single Running Back has been taken in the First Round of the NFL Draft, but we could have more than that this year.
The first one I believe that comes off the board is Mocked to land with the Arizona Cardinals who have Kenyan Drake heading into Free Agency. While they like Chase Edmunds, picking up Najee Harris gives them the power Running Back to play behind Kyler Murray and one who can be a pass-catching threat too.
The successes of Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry will have teams keen on picking up the latest Running Back off the Alabama production line and it could be the Cardinals who take the chance on Najee Harris as they continue giving Murray as many Offensive weapons as he needs.
17. Las Vegas Raiders- Christian Barmore: there are a number of ways the Las Vegas Raiders could go as they perhaps bid to improve the Offensive Line, while the likes of Trey Lance or Mac Jones could be intriguing to the team.
Some are still not convinced that Derek Carr is the future for the Raiders at Quarter Back with the inconsistencies he continues to display, but eventually it may be decided that the Raiders need to find a way to get more pressure on opponent's Quarter Backs.
Taking an improving player like Christian Barmore could offer the Raiders some penetration on the Defensive Line as they seek a way to improve the pass rush in a Division where Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert could be problems in years to come.
18. Miami Dolphins- Travis Etienne: depending on any move for Deshaun Watson, this is a selection that may have been traded away come Draft Day.
If the Dolphins are still looking to rebuild through the Draft which has proved to be a good policy in recent seasons, I do think they will be looking to improve their Offensive skill players to help out Tua Tagovailoa.
I would love to see Miami make a move for someone like Allen Robinson in Free Agency and that may leave the way open to pick up Travis Etienne in the Draft to improve the Running Back position. Travis Etienne would be a threat catching the ball out of the backfield to give the entire Offense a boost and also the young Quarter Back assuming Tua is back.
19. Washington Football Team- Christian Darrisaw: there is likely going to be a change at Quarter Back this season for the Washington Football Team with Dwayne Haskins gone and Alex Smith looking past his best.
Making the PlayOffs as the NFC East Champion means it is unlikely for Washington to be in a position to Draft one, although Trey Lance and Mac Jones are available in my Draft.
It may be a reach to grab Jones and Lance may be more of a project although both could easily go here. However I have Washington looking to improve the Offensive Line which gave up an eye-watering 50 Sacks last season and taking Christian Darrisaw may give them Left Tackle protection for years to come.
20. Chicago Bears- Rashod Bateman: Mitchell Trubisky may be moved on and that could see the Chicago Bears in for a Quarter Back, while Allen Robinson is heading to Free Agency and could leave.
Assuming the Quarter Back situation is resolved by keeping the unit together or perhaps even working out a way to bring in a veteran, I think the Bears have options in this spot.
The likelihood of Robinson leaving means the Bears will need more help at Receiver and I have them tabbed to pick Rashod Bateman over Rondale Moore with the latter being a bit too similar to Darnell Mooney. Injury concerns also see Moore slipping further down the Rankings for some teams and the Chicago Bears can't afford to take too many risks with the Coaching staff in a precarious spot heading into 2021.
21. Indianapolis Colts- Rondale Moore: with Philip Rivers retired, the Indianapolis Colts are likely going to be looking to bring in a veteran signal caller to compete with Jacoby Brissett for the starting role next season.
This is a team that is capable of winning now and so I think they may look for a project Quarter Back in this years Draft rather than selecting one in the First Round.
Rondale Moore has some concerns about durability, but he is a huge potential playmaker at the next level and will give the Colts a new Offensive threat with some key performers potentially not returning at Wide Receiver.
22. Tennessee Titans- Patrick Jones II: another PlayOff defeat will keep the Titans believing their window for success is still open, although some fans would like to see an upgrade in some key Offensive areas, namely Quarter Back.
For now the Coaching staff believe in Ryan Tannehill who is mainly handing the ball off to Derrick Henry and the problems for Tennessee in 2020 was the inability to rattle Quarter Backs which exposed the Secondary.
A player who is better suited to the 4-3 might be a risk, but the Titans need to find a way to get to the Quarter Back and Patrick Jones II could really help them here.
23. New York Jets- Trey Smith: assuming the New York Jets keep hold of both First Round Picks in the 2021 Draft I think they will be in a position to try and take what they feel is the best player on the board.
I am sure they would love to give my Mocked Pick Zach Wilson some Offensive help with a skill player, but they would have to reach with the majority of the top Receivers off the board and two Running Backs already taken too.
Instead I have the Jets shoring up the Offensive Line with an extremely talented player and along with Mekhi Becton could be the start of a very strong Line for years to come.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Alijah Vera-Tucker: Big Ben Roethlisberger's decision in the off-season could determine what the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to do with their First Round Pick.
If Roethlisberger retires they could take a chance on Trey Lance or Mac Jones here, but assuming he is back I think the Steelers will shore up the Offensive Line that may allow Alejandro Villaneuva to leave in Free Agency.
Alijah Vera-Tucker can play from day one and will be the player who could slot in to protect Ben Roethlisberger's blind side for now and anchor the Offensive Line in years to come.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jalen Mayfield: the Jaguars will likely select their franchise Quarter Back with the Number 1 Overall Pick and I think they will look to offer some real protection to Trevor Lawrence here.
Jalen Mayfield looks like someone capable of performing at a high mark at the professional level and I think it will be important to shore up an Offensive Line which gave up 44 Sacks last season.
26. Cleveland Browns- Nick Bolton: the Cleveland Browns finally returned to the PlayOffs at the end of the 2020 season and they will be looking to build on that in 2021.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Browns will be looking to improve on the Defensive side of the ball in the Draft and they need help at most levels.
Nick Bolton could be the selection at Linebacker as the best player of need on the board and his leadership might be crucial in shaping the Defensive unit in 2021 and beyond.
27. Baltimore Ravens- Quincy Roche: you do have to worry about the drop in production after transferring from Temple to Miami, but he still had enough success to encourage the Baltimore Ravens to pick up Quincy Roche at the bottom of the First Round.
They are potentially losing one or two pass rushers in Free Agency and the Ravens need to re-stock that unit, while it should also mean Roche can be given time to develop with his impact mainly felt on passing Downs.
Quincy Roche is capable of becoming someone who can impact the run too.
28. New Orleans Saints- Mac Jones: Defensive reinforcements are likely to be considered by the New Orleans Saints, but I think Sean Payton could look at Mac Jones as the perfect replacement for expected retiree Drew Brees.
Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are on the roster, but I think Jones will fit the New Orleans schemes and may actually give the Offensive unit a boost compared with the diminishing arm of Brees.
I am not entirely convinced about Mac Jones and whether he will be a top NFL Quarter Back, but I can see the Saints seeing him as the best player available here and look to improve the Defensive positions further down the Draft and through Free Agency if possible.
29. Green Bay Packers- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: the decision to not offer Aaron Rodgers Offensive help in the 2020 Draft has clearly not been forgotten by the Quarter Back and what he chooses to do this off-season is going to be huge.
It will shape the direction of the Green Bay Packers for years to come and I don't think Rodgers will be given much support in the First Round of the Draft if he does choose to stay.
Unlike last year, the Packers don't do anything to irritate their future of Hall of Famer as they did in 2020, but for now they can't offer him any additional weapons. Instead the Packers pick a Linebacker who can make an impact all over the field and one who will be important from day one in the NFL.
30. Buffalo Bills- Derion Kendrick: the Bills took a big step forward in 2020 thanks to the development of Josh Allen who was well supported by the team.
I love what the Bills have done Offensively, but I think they will want to improve on the other side of the ball to compete with the very best teams in the NFL.
That was underlined in the AFC Championship Game as Buffalo were beaten for the second time by the Kansas City Chiefs and I think that sees them take Derion Kendrick in the First Round to improve their own Secondary. He is still a developing player, but Kendrick has a nice size at Corner Back, played at a school used to being involved in big games and has shown an improvement between 2020 and 2019 to believe he will get better in the Buffalo zone schemes.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Joseph Ossai: depending on the outcome of the Super Bowl this spot could be taken by the Kansas City Chiefs, but since this first Mock is being put together before the Championship Game I will place the underdog Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this place in the First Round.
There is much to like about the Tampa Bay roster, but some big decisions are going to be needed to be made in the off-season with the likes of Shaquil Barrett, Lavonte David and Ndamukong Suh heading into Free Agency.
If one of the Linebackers is allowed to move on, the Buccaneers could take Joseph Ossai as a replacement- the Longhorn played well in 2020 and looks like he could make a big impact from an Outside Linebacker spot, although replacing the production of Barrett could take some time.
32. Kansas City Chiefs- Samuel Cosmi: injuries on the Offensive Line are likely to have an impact on the outcome of the Super Bowl and the Kansas City Chiefs may be looking for the future at the Tackle spots.
There is work to do for Samuel Cosmi to really impact at the next level, but he looks capable of playing at either Tackle spot and developing into a decent player in the NFL.
Andy Reid may choose to allow another team to trade into the First Round or he may choose to improve what is already a top Offensive unit in the skill positions, but the likely improvements on the Offensive Line is what I have for them here.
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