The 2021 NFL Draft is a little more than three months away. As teams across the league begin to hire coaches and front office executives, the teams are signaling which direction they are headed.
After this weekend’s divisional round games, four more teams know where they will pick.
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Taking into account the new hirings across the league and the results of the latest playoff games, here is the latest first-round mock draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Can you imagine the scene right now? Eight minutes after commissioner Roger Goodell declared the draft open and the Jaguars officially on the clock, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has the camera focused on him with his family surrounding him. The camera then switches to head coach Urban Meyer and owner Shad Khan looking from the Jags war room, giving Lawrence his moment before selecting him as the top pick in the draft.
2. New York Jets: T Penei Sewell, Oregon
If the Jets cannot trade this pick to get Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, general manager Joe Douglas has seen the value of a true franchise left tackle up close. Douglas was a scout for the Baltimore Ravens when Jonathan Ogden was building his resume toward the Hall of Fame. Douglas also saw what Jason Peters was able to do. Sewell brings a blend of athleticism, good feet, and enough nastiness needed for an offensive lineman to warrant being taken second overall. It’s not the flashiest pick, but it is the right one long term.
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
The Dolphins want to build around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Adding the elusive and dynamic Smith with Devante Parker will make the Dolphins dangerous on offense.
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
The Falcons could use an edge rusher with this pick. However, with Matt Ryan getting older and the team conceivably not picking this high again, the Falcons select Wilson and have him sit behind Ryan for one year and develop under new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
The Bengals take the Penn State linebacker with the hopes he will become a disruptive force for years to come in Cincinnati.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
This pick could be the hardest to project because of the uncertainty at head coach and the possibility of the Eagles trading down to acquire more picks, especially if a team is in the market to select a quarterback. The Eagles take the LSU wide receiver to couple with Jalen Reagor and hope that the combination can become a potent duo for either Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts.
7. Detroit Lions: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
If the Lions decide to stay with quarterback Matt Stafford for another season and not take Justin Fields or Trey Lance, the Lions will look at their secondary and take Surtain, hoping he will become the shutdown corner the Lions lost when they traded Darius Slay to the Eagles.
8. Carolina Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
The Panthers get their quarterback of the future in Justin Fields. The Panthers have a history of having mobile quarterbacks start for the team, including names such as Cam Newton and Teddy Bridgewater. Zone read plays with Fields, and running back Christian McCaffrey would be tough to stop.
9. Denver Broncos: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Just missing out on Fields, the Broncos decide to pass on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Instead, the team looks to bolster their secondary, selecting the Virginia Tech cornerback.
10. Dallas Cowboys: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Seeing the top two cornerbacks off the board, Cowboys new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn gets a new pass rusher in Rousseau. Rousseau can play multiple spots along the line and is a good pass rusher.
11. New York Giants: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
12. San Francisco 49ers: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
13. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
14. Minnesota Vikings: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
15. New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
16. Arizona Cardinals: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
17. Las Vegas Raiders: LB Joseph Ossai, Texas
18. Miami Dolphins: OL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
19. Washington Football Team: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
20. Chicago Bears: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
21. Indianapolis Colts: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
22. Tennessee Titans: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
23. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): RB Najee Harris, Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams): OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
26. Cleveland Browns: LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
28. New Orleans Saints: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
30. Buffalo Bills: OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
31. Green Bay Packers: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
32. Kansas City Chiefs: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
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