NFL Mock Draft 2021 First Round- First Edition (February 5th)

We have yet to crown a 2020 NFL Champion, but that is going to be decided in Tampa Bay on Sunday 7th February and I mentioned in my Championship Game Picks thread that I would hopefully have time to create a couple of Mock Drafts before the actual 2021 NFL Draft takes place in April.

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.

NFL Mock Draft First Round 2020 (April 23rd)

So how is everyone doing?

This is without a doubt the strangest period of time I have lived through and I am sure many others are feeling the same. Everything we have taken for granted in the Western world has ground into a halt and that includes the things we love.

I have missed sports in general and it is a sad time to think this is when the NBA PlayOffs should be days from beginning, the Major League Baseball season would have been well underway and the European Football Leagues would have been entering the portion of the season when hopes are dashed and dreams are achieved.

The Tennis Tour would have begun the run to the French Open and we would have been plenty occupied from those who love any form of sport that is usually played in April.

Of course it all pales into insignificance when it comes to protecting those we love around us and so I have been taking the advice from governments very seriously- stay home, protect those around us and hopefully we will return to some level of normality in the weeks and months ahead.

Make no mistake, things will eventually get better but for now we have to follow the advice being given to make sure no one unnecessarily loses loved ones. I have already felt that impact around me so this is not an overblown message from the media, but a serious concern we all have to take on head on by making sure we are keeping our distance from others.


The same goes for the NFL where Free Agency was conducted in an unfamiliar way, but that is nothing compared to how the 2020 Draft is going to be run. I just hope all the teams have invested in top broadband providers in what is hopefully going to be the one and only time we have to see the NFL Draft in the manner it will be conducted this year.

Free Agency has already bared its teeth with the biggest move being Tom Brady's decision to join the NFC and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending two decades with the New England Patriots.

On the face of things you may think it is a backwards step, but the NFC looks much more open than the AFC (avoiding facing Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes before the Super Bowl is a boost in anyone's language) and the Buccaneers are loaded Offensively which makes them one of the favourites in the Conference.

And I would sign up to see Tom Brady versus Drew Brees twice this year all day long!

There is work for the Buccaneers to do if they are going to use the two years with Brady to win another Super Bowl, but the team is in a 'win now' position and I really like their chances to at least make the big game once in that time.


That was the big move, but as a Miami Dolphins fan I was mostly interested to see how the next stage of redeveloping this team would go.

Before the 2019 season the Dolphins were actively shipping away the majority of their assets which meant having a big Draft arsenal and plenty of cap space going into this off-season. Overachievement in the season meant a team who were expected to end with between 0-2 wins had 5 on the season, but a top five Draft position is not going to harm them at all.

Importantly they have gotten some big deals over the line in Free Agency with the standout signing being Byron Jones from the Dallas Cowboys. Along with Xavien Howard the Dolphins have locked down the Corner positions, while I am pleased with the Kyle Van Noy and Emmanuel Ogbah signings too which go along with Shaq Lawson to give Miami some punch up front on the Defensive side of the ball.

It all points to Miami taking an increased focus on fixing the Offense in the Draft and they have the capital to do that which automatically makes the team a much better prospect in 2020, especially if the Coaching staff can get more out of the team as they did in 2019.

With the Patriots weakened, the Dolphins and Buffalo Bills will be looking to take advantage, but like much of the League, it is all about getting it right in the Draft.


So a Mock Draft- usually I don't have the time to write this out with work and sports being run, but it is something that we all love to speculate on. I have to make some 'mock trades' just for the fun of it, but the Draft is regularly one which springs a lot of surprises so trying to second guess teams is not an easy thing to do.

Like many, this is going to look so dumb after the first five Picks are made on Day 1 with the surprises we see in the NFL Draft, but it is just a bit of fun and nothing to take too seriously.

1. Joe Burrow (QB)- go back twelve months and I was reading previews for the upcoming College Football season which had written they expected a big improvement from Joe Burrow as he moved into the starting spot as Quarter Back of the LSU Tigers.

However in the same preview he was rated as the fifteenth best QB prospect that would be eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft.

2019 proved to be a huge season for Burrow who led the Tigers to the National Championship and at the same time greatly improved his own stock to the point he is an obvious Number 1 Pick. Barring the house being given to Cincinnati for this position in the Draft, Burrow will be the new franchise Quarter Back for the Bengals.

Am I convinced about Burrow? Not completely with the potential of him being a one season wonder, but his character isn't in question and Cincinnati have to take him here.

2. Chase Young (DE)- there has been some suggestions from the Washington Redskins that they are doing their due diligence about the Quarter Backs in the 2020 Draft, but I do think that is smoke and mirrors.

It would take plenty of Draft capital for a team to move into this spot and I am not sure any team will want to offer what Washington will consider.

With that said Washington are getting the chance to pick a potential star at the next level- there is a recovery job being done in the nation's capital, but Chase Young is a great piece to add to the Defensive Line. Perhaps trading away Trent Williams will give Washington more resources to add the Draft, but with this many holes on the roster you have to take the best possible player on the board and that is Young.

3. LA CHARGERS TRADE with the DETROIT LIONS
Justin Herbert (QB)- I would be more surprised if the Detroit Lions were to pick Number 3 in the Draft than if they were able to pick some additional Draft capital and see either the Miami Dolphins or the Los Angeles Chargers move into this position.

It makes little sense for the Lions to do anything else, especially as they won't be slipping that far down the Day 1 Draft spots and in my Mock I have the Chargers being the team to pull the trigger.

Miami have the potential to do the same, but I think they seem happier in the Number 5 spot barring yet another team moving ahead of them. The Chargers seem to be more convinced about Justin Herbert than the Dolphins and at Number 6 in the Draft I think there is more urgency for them to move into the Number 3 or 4 spot than the Dolphins.

There is a chance that Detroit still pick here with the Giants looking to trade out of the Number 4 spot, but my feeling is that someone will just get a touch twitchy and make the move.

I am not at all sure about Herbert and am desperate for Miami to avoid him- he hasn't played away from Oregon and looked very inconsistent in 2019 against teams that are perhaps a tier below the very elite in College Football. His stock has risen in the weeks leading to Draft day, and I think that will see him picked high, with the Chargers supposedly very keen on him.

4. Jedrick Wills (OL)- the stories coming out of New York that the Giants have been scouting up Justin Herbert seem to be completely designed to produce a trade that will add Draft capital for the team.

If the Detroit Lions are not able to make a deal, it would not surprise me if the Giants are able to move down a couple of spots and still pick up the player I have registered for them here.

For this mock I have the Giants unable to make a deal, although I do think there is a potential for someone like the Jacksonville Jaguars to offer enough compensation to skip ahead of the Miami Dolphins if they feel they want to take a Quarter Back here.

That wouldn't surprise me at all, especially if they can deal away Yannick Ngakoue for what the Jaguars have been looking for. If they do that, I would expect them to trade above the Miami Dolphins, but for this Mock I have the Giants upgrading the Offensive Line and also someone who can pave the way for Saquon Barkley for years to come.

5. Tua Tagovailoa (QB)- any news story you read at this time of the year is designed to scramble what other teams are thinking and I think that is the case with the Miami Dolphins looking at other options in the Draft.

In a perfect world they don't have to move from this spot to take the Quarter Back that has been high on the agenda for a long time and ever since the 'tanking' was put in place last season. Injuries to Tua Tagovailoa are a concern, but in this day and age it is not a selection that is going to hinder Miami for years to come if they get this wrong.

Tagovailoa went into the 2019 season as the clear Number 1 Quarter Back and I think that will still be the mindset for the Dolphins despite the injuries he has suffered. Another year of 'Fitz Magic' can see Tagovailoa get healthy, and worst case scenario for the Dolphins is they are picking very high again in twelve months time and can change the direction of the team if Tua is shown to be too banged up for the next level.

I am not sure how I feel about Tua, especially the lack of athleticism that seems to be the way forward for players in this position in the NFL. However I think Miami have targeted him for some time and they can select him without losing any of the other host of early selections they have in the next two Drafts.

6. DETROIT LIONS TRADE with the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Jeff Okudah (CB)- in this Mock Draft the Lions are able to move down and add some additional capital as well as being able to pick the player they are most likely to take in the Number 3 spot if they stand pat.

Jeff Okudah looks to be the best Corner in the Draft and the Lions have lost Darius Slay who has been moved to the Philadelphia Eagles.

This looks a no brainer for a team who are rebuilding the Defensive unit in a 'make or break' season for the Coaching staff.

7. Isaiah Simmons (LB)- the Carolina Panthers are clearly in rebuilding mode with a first year staff, but the biggest holes are on the Defensive side of the ball. They did do some work to address the Offense in Free Agency, so anything but a Defensive player being picked in the First Round would be a surprise.

Adding more Picks by trading down is a possibility, but the way my Mock is unfolding I think the pressing needs begin to be addressed here.

The retirement of Luke Keuchly means there is a gaping hole to be filled by Isaiah Simmons and it would be surprising if the Panthers pass on someone who can be effective from a number of positions on the field

Derrick Brown is a possibility here too, but Simmons looks the more obvious choice.

8. DENVER BRONCOS TRADE with the ARIZONA CARDINALS

Jerry Jeudy (WR)- the Broncos have some Draft capital which helps them move ahead of other rivals who will be looking to upgrade their Wide Receiver corps.

I really was at loggerheads with this selection in the Draft as the Cardinals could easily select Derrick Brown here, but with a General Manager who is used to making moves and the lack of selections in the Draft I do think they can drop down and still fill a need.

Adding selections will help the Cardinals and the Broncos should be keen with the capital they have to offer in a trade as they get their first choice Receiver. That helps Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton going forward and I do think the Broncos have identified Jeudy as the best Receiver in the Draft.

9. Derrick Brown (DL)- there are plenty of Draft selections for the rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars so I don't think there will be much interest in dropping down here.

With as many holes as the Jaguars have, I do think they will select the best player available for them and that is the monstrous Derrick Brown on the Defensive Line.

Both Calais Campbell and Marcell Dareus are gone, and the Jaguars struggled to stuff the run last season so Brown makes the most sense. CJ Henderson is another they could target, but I think Brown is the selection here.

10. Tristan Wirfs (OL)- the Right Tackle position has been dealt with in Free Agency, but the Cleveland Browns protect Baker Mayfield a little more by taking the second Offensive Lineman off the board.

Like many teams as you move down the Draft positions there is a chance the Browns will trade down to add to their selections, but I don't think they find a willing partner here and take a player to fill a real position of need.

Things could change if Odell Beckham Jr is moved on in a trade prior to the Draft and Cleveland could go for a Wide Receiver ahead of the Jets and the Raiders, but right now I think they go with an Offensive Lineman to give their Quarter Back the best chance of success in 2020.

11. CeeDee Lamb (WR)- the Jets have a number of positions to address in the Draft, but the loss of Robby Anderson makes this an easy choice for a First Round selection.

With Jerry Jeudy off the board in my Mock, the Jets go with CeeDee Lamb as the gift for Sam Darnold.

There is a chance the Jets go with an Offensive Lineman to offer their Quarter Back better protection, but Darnold needs someone to throw to and I think that might be the more pressing concern in this position.

12. Henry Ruggs (WR)- it would be a big surprise if the Las Vegas Raiders do not take a Wide Receiver in the First Round and I think they can do that without moving up the Draft positions.

With both Jeudy and Lamb off my board in the Mock Draft, the Raiders pick up Henry Ruggs and don't have to give away any further Picks. There is a chance Las Vegas think about doing this earlier if they like one of the other two Receivers a lot more, but I think they will be happy with any of the three leading players at that position and give Derek Carr a chance to prove he is the franchise Quarter Back going forward.

13. ATLANTA FALCONS TRADE with the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

CJ Henderson (CB)- in my Mock Draft the top three Receivers are off the board ahead of the San Francisco 49ers who are in the thirteenth spot thanks to a trade made with the Indianapolis Colts.

With a lack of Draft selections, the 49ers find a willing partner to see them move down a few spots and pick up an extra Pick.

I have the Atlanta Falcons making the trade as they look to move ahead of the Arizona Cardinals who may also be looking to upgrade the Defensive Back positions. This is a big season for the Falcons Coaching staff and I think they will be looking to pick up the clear second best Corner in the Draft with Jeff Okudah already off the board.

The 49ers can still pick a player of need a few spots down so this looks to make sense for both teams.

14. Andrew Thomas (OL)- I know there are some suggestions that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be moving up the Draft positions to take their Offensive Lineman earlier, but I think they can land one even if they stay where they are.

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have arrived in this part of Florida and that means the Buccaneers are in a 'win now' spot. The Offensive Line is the obvious weakness on this side of the ball and being able to land Andrew Thomas here is a huge boost for the team.

Any potential trade could depend on what the Arizona Cardinals do with the Number 8 Pick in the Draft- if they stay there and pick up an Offensive Lineman I do think Tampa Bay will look to move up behind them to take one, but in this Mock things work out perfectly for the Buccaneers who look a real power in the NFC already.

15. ARIZONA CARDINALS TRADE with the DENVER BRONCOS

Mekhi Becton (OL)- Kyler Murray has asked for some more Offensive help to take the next step in his career.

DeAndre Hopkins has been signed from the Houston Texans, but Murray will need time to make plays for his Receivers and Arizona get fortunate.

They are able to trade down in my Mock and still pick up a top Offensive Lineman in Mekhi Becton who has perhaps been overlooked by some teams due to the flagged drug test which recently hit the press.

He might be the fourth Lineman off the board, but the Cardinals have additional Draft capital and fill a big need in this Mock.

16. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers TRADE with the ATLANTA FALCONS

Javon Kinlaw (DE)- the San Francisco 49ers have traded away DeForest Buckner for the Indianapolis Colts First Round selection, but they use that to add some Draft capital as well as being able to take the player they likely would if they stayed in the thirteenth spot.

In this Mock Draft they are able to make the trade with the Atlanta Falcons and select Javon Kinlaw who will come in and fit Buckner's vacated spot.

17. K'Lavon Chaisson (DE)- I think the Dallas Cowboys have a number of options here and all make some sense.

There is the obvious need at Corner Back and Defensive End which can be filled here or they can choose to move down the Draft board and still have a very good chance of being able to fill positions of need.

One team I toyed with moving into this spot was the New England Patriots who could be keen on picking up Jordan Love as the potential Quarter Back of the future, but the way my Mock has worked out means they could stay at Number 23 and still be able to pick Love if they wanted.

This is a spot in which AJ Epenesa, AJ Terrell, Kristian Fulton, Jaylon Johnson could all fill, but I think the Dallas Cowboys might be encouraged by the upside K'Lavon Chaisson brings as they look to play him opposite DeMarcus Lawrence in the position vacated by Robert Quinn.

18. Josh Jones (OL)- after picking the Quarter Back of the future, the Miami Dolphins have to make sure they are able to protect him and I think that is why they will use the second First Round Pick on an Offensive Lineman.

Some Mocks have Cesar Ruiz settled in here, but Miami did sign Ted Karras for that position and instead may choose to upgrade the Tackle positions with Josh Jones from Houston.

Jones looks very capable at the next level and I would not be surprised if Miami are targeting at least one more Offensive Lineman in the Draft with the amount of selections through the first two Rounds. Ezra Cleveland is another name being linked with the team, but may be able to be picked in the Second Round so I think they go with the superior graded talent in Jones here.

19. Kristian Fulton (CB)- Eli Apple was supposed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders in Free Agency but seemingly has changed his mind.

That might just strengthen the mind for the Raiders when it comes to the second Draft selection in the First Round and I think they could pick Kristian Fulton here as the Corner Back to slot in where Apple was expected to go.

With Henderson and Okudah off my board, the Raiders pick the third Corner Back here.

20. Xavier McKinney (S)- the Jaguars have lost a lot of pieces on what was a stellar Defensive unit just a couple of years ago and I think their second First Round Draft Pick will also be used on that side of the ball.

In my Mock Draft Derrick Brown has already been selected to help the Defensive Line, but the Jaguars back that up by picking arguably the best Safety in the Draft.

There are options at Corner Back too with AJ Terrell still on the board, but the Jaguars continuing to take the best player of need and that is Xavier McKinney.

21. Justin Jefferson (WR)- there is a chance that the Eagles will move up the Draft standings if one of either Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb or Henry Ruggs drops below Number 12 in the order, but in my Mock Draft all three are gone.

For a long time the talk about the Eagles has been taking Justin Jefferson and I think he will still be there if they are picking at Number 21.

More weapons for Carson Wentz are needed and I think this goes some way to addressing that without having to give up Draft capital.

22. Jaylon Johnson (CB)- this is a spot the Minnesota Vikings have picked up in trading Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, but the choice looks to be replacing pieces on the other side of the ball.

All three top Corner Backs from 2019 have moved on and Mike Zimmer is a Defensive Coach who will want to pick up someone to at least fill in. With three Corners off the board, Jaylon Johnson looks like someone the Vikings can pick up here ahead of AJ Terrell.

Johnson is ranked pretty highly by Pro Football Focus and this fills an obvious need for the Vikings as their fans look to see how they convert the stock picked up in moving Diggs.

23. BALTIMORE RAVENS TRADE with the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Patrick Queen (LB)- both the Patriots and Ravens have plenty of Draft Picks in 2020, but the Baltimore Ravens could entice a trade up with New England who don't have a Second Round Pick where Baltimore have two.

Maybe future considerations are given up as Baltimore look to get in front of the New Orleans Saints and take Patrick Queen who looks to be the clear Number 1 Linebacker in the Draft.

That would suit the Ravens and I also think the Patriots might be keen to drop down and add a Second Round Pick if possible assuming the rumours about not being overly convinced by Jordan Love is true.

If Baltimore are not able to make the trade, I would fully expect Queen to be gone in the next spot with the New Orleans Saints.

24. Grant Delpit (S)- this would be a popular choice in New Orleans if a loaded roster was able to give themselves another Defensive Back who played his College Football up the road at LSU.

Patrick Queen would be the obvious choice here if the Ravens haven't jumped ahead and taken him and I think if he is on the board he will be picked by the Saints.

Some are suggesting Sean Payton may be keen on Jordan Love, but I think Drew Brees signing for two years and Taysom Hill on the roster means they won't be picking a Quarter Back. This is a small window for success for the Saints with Brees at QB so they have to pick players who can play a part now, and adding a Defensive Back to the team can't be a bad thing when you think they have the Buccaneers sitting in the same Division.

Grant Delpit has some huge upside at Safety and he would be someone that may be able to match up with Rob Gronkowski.

However I think there is a potential for New Orleans to pick him up a few spots down so I would not be surprised if someone jumps back into the First Round to pick here and give the Saints some additional Picks having only five in the Draft in 2020 going into this one.

A trade down is most likely in my opinion, but for this Mock I will plug in Delpit here. Other options could be AJ Terrell or AJ Epenesa as New Orleans look to load up the Defensive side of the ball to compete with the talent Tampa Bay have put together.

25. Jalen Reagor (WR)- the Vikings might be in 'win now' mode, but this is a roster with a number of holes that need to be filled on both sides of the ball.

On Day 1 of the Draft I would expect the Vikings to select someone to help on both sides of the ball.

Having selected a Corner Back at 22, I have the Vikings looking to replace Stefon Diggs at 25 and the speedster out of TCU looks to be the player that fits the mould best. Laviska Shenault Jr will interest teams, but I think the Vikings go for the slightly shorter Jalen Reagor who has speed in abundance.

26. D'Andre Swift (RB)- the Dolphins have picked a Quarter Back and an Offensive Lineman in this Mock and there is every chance they pick another one here.

They might be reaching a little bit to do that and instead may want to pick up the first Running Back in the Draft before those coming up have a chance to do that.

D'Andre Swift could be the player to pair up with Jordan Howard in the backfield with Day 2 concentrating on strengthening the Line further. He looks to be the best Running Back in the Draft and may be the second part of the tandem in the backfield that Miami will be looking to turn the franchise around as Swift lines up behind Tua Tagovailoa.

27. AJ Epenesa (DE)- a poor Combine day has affected his stock, but this could be a god chance for the Seattle Seahawks to pick up a replacement for Jadeveon Clowney.

This is a spot from which the Seahawks may decide to trade down and pick up some extra Draft capital and it would not surprise me if that is the case.

But if the Seahawks do stay here I think they could decide to take an edge rusher who has better game tape than the Combine showing and has slipped into a good position.

28. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS TRADE with the BALTIMORE RAVENS

Jordan Love (QB)- there have been rumours both ways regarding New England's interest in Jordan Love and in this Mock they are able to trade back and still able to pick the player they might have gone with in their original position.

The Patriots do have Jarrett Stidham on the roster and he would have spent a year learning under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That can't be discounted and perhaps the Patriots pick up more Draft selections by trading out of the First Round and having enough to stock up the front of the Defensive unit which has lost some key players.

However for this Mock Draft I will have Love landing here as the selection to take over from Brady.

29. Curtis Weaver (DE)- the Tennessee Titans would love for someone to trade in with the Seattle Seahawks in this Mock scenario and have AJ Epenesa land with them here.

It is clear that the Defensive Edge needs addressing and in this spot I slide in Curtis Weaver even if he was dominant at a level in College that was not against Power 5 opponents.

Yetur Gross-Matos is another potential selection for the Titans and they can address the Offensive Line on Day 2.

30. Tee Higgins (WR)- the Aaron Rodgers window for success at the Green Bay Packers is closing rapidly and there is no doubt the Quarter Back looks to have declined in recent seasons.

Last season the team did win thirteen games, but I can't count too many that were on Rodgers' back but rather an improved Defensive unit which kept the team in games.

The two heavy losses to the San Francisco 49ers shows a team that needs more Offensive weapons as teams continue to double Davante Adams. While Tight End will be addressed in later Rounds, the Packers do have some intriguing choices at Wide Receiver at the end of the First Round.

I have placed Tee Higgins here, but Green Bay could easily go Brandon Aiyuk, Denzel Mims, Laviska Shenault Jr or Michael Pittman Jr.

I think Higgins may be the best fit with his size as a big target in the End Zone.

31. Michael Pittman Jr (WR)- the 49ers are able to pick a Defensive End with their first Pick in the First Round and this time they help the other side of the ball.

Losing Emmanuel Sanders means there is room to bring in a Wide Receiver and they may go for a big body in Michael Pittman Jr to play opposite Deebo Samuel.

Jimmy Garroppolo is not the most accurate, but he can throw the ball up and let Pittman Jr use his size to make some plays and it might give the 49ers one of the best Receiving corps in the NFL when you add George Kittle to the cause.

The 49ers could choose to let someone high in the Second Round move in with the potential to take a Wide Receiver there and add Draft selections.

32. AJ Terrell (CB)- the Kansas City Chiefs look like a loaded team going into the 2020 season as they look to defend as Super Bowl Champions, but that doesn't mean there aren't any holes to still fill.

As good as the team are, losses in Free Agency in the Secondary means the Chiefs are in a position to bring in AJ Terrell here in my Mock.

At the back end of the First Round I would expect some teams to trade out of position to add Draft stock and that is the case with the Chiefs too. But I also think if the Draft lands like this they can pick up one of the better Corner Backs in the 2020 Draft and fill a real need for now and years to come.

That's the way it rolls in my Mock Draft, but as I said from the very beginning it could look very foolish just an hour into the real Draft on Thursday evening.

Rumours are running rampant with teams looking to move up and down the positions so things can get messy very quickly.

Players like Trent Williams and Yannick Ngakoue could both be moved for First Round selections with the latter being linked to the Las Vegas Raiders who have two selections in the first thirty-two on Thursday. That will again change the entire outlook of the Draft and make a mockery of any Mock you read.

It will be fun as always and fans are going to both love and hate selections made throughout the evening. The virtual setting will be weird to say the least, like playing Madden in real life, but it is a big moment for the thirty-two names that will be called.

Enjoy it.