Welcome to the first NFL mock draft of the season!
Just want to add this note before you start reading, none of these picks are how I would personally make these picks. This mock is based of off NFL rumors and team needs. There are no trades in this mock draft, 2.0 should be full of trade scenarios. Also, this mock is being done before free agency (next mock should be after free agency), so picks are based off of some free agency predictions.
Enjoy the mock, and let me know on my twitter account @HunterFireFF what you think.
#1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence – Quarterback – Clemson
Lawrence is one of the best quarterback prospects we have seen since Andrew Luck. Jacksonville has an easy pick here in a major rebuild of the team. Lawrence becomes an instant contender for being a top-10 dynasty QB.
#2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson– Quarterback – Brigham Young University
Zach Wilson is a very intriguing prospect. Rumors have it that some scouts and teams have him higher than Justin Fields heading into the draft. With teams getting little time with each prospect, we could very well see Wilson go this high solely based on his ceiling. Even though I’m not very high on Wilson, all it takes is one team to believe. For the Jets, assuming they move on from Sam Darnold, will be in the market for a quarterback. I see them taking either Wilson or Fields here.
#3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston): DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama
The Dolphins have a couple interesting ways they can make this pick, and all of it depends on what they do in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. There is a chance they will trade this pick away at some point. But for this mock I went with them sticking with Tua as their starter, and if that’s the case, it would be smart to build the offense for him to excel. Wide Receiver is a need, and it only makes sense to give Tua his old teammate from Alabama. Smith is a top receiver in this class, and it isn’t a stretch for him to be the first receiver off the board.
#4. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State
Fields is probably the #1 pick in an other draft year, he just happens to be behind Lawrence this year. In this mock we have Wilson going to the Jets, so the Falcons would be ecstatic to grab Fields here at pick four. Matt Ryan is on the wrong side of his career, and getting the chance to find his replacement with Fields is a dream scenario.
#5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Oregon
The Bengals have two directions they can go with this pick. It’s either gonna be either a Tackle or a Receiver. In this scenario I have the Bengals signing a high-end receiver in free agency, so they pick the best OT prospect we’ve seen in some time. Sewell would be an instant starter and game-changer, and should help Burrow stay on his feet in 2021.
#6. Philadelphia Eagles: Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, Louisiana State University
Even with the addition of Jalen Reagor last season, receiver is still a major need for the Eagles. If Chase fell to 6, the Eagles would be getting a future superstar almost at a bargain. Chase will help Jalen Hurts develop, and will make new coach Nick Sirianni’s job a lot easier in his first season.
#7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Alabama
Waddle is a fantastic prospect, and might even be the best receiver in this class. With him missing most of the 2020 season however, we could see a couple teams using recent results as a tiebreaker between two prospects. Waddle would be a great fit in Detroit, especially if (when) they lose Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones in free agency.
#8. Carolina Panthers: Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida
Pitts is one of the best tight end prospects we’ve seen in a really long time. He will be an instant playmaker on any offense he joins. With the NFL being a very copy-cat league, lots of teams are going to want to find tight ends that can win easy one-on-one matchups, ala Travis Kelce. Pitts can do that, and will be able to jump in to any offense with ease. I have the Panthers getting a new quarterback in free agency, so that opens up the options here. But I can’t see them passing up this chance to grab Pitts.
#9. Denver Broncos: Rashawn Slater, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern
Slater has a case to be the best tackle in this class, even better than Sewell. Slater will be an instant NFL starter, and would be a good fit for a struggling Broncos team.
#10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Alabama
This is one of the easier picks of the draft. The Cowboys need defensive help, especially in the secondary. Surtain is most likely the consensus #1 corner in this class. Dallas makes this pick and moves on quickly.
#11. New York Giants: Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State
The Giants have a few different ways they could go with this pick. Could use a better receiver, maybe shore up there 0-line. But I think New York wants to make their very good defense even better. Parsons does exactly that .
Pick #12. San Fransisco 49ers: Caleb Farley, Cornerback, Virginia Tech
The 49ers are a good team that fell to the injury bug in 2020. They are too good of a team to be picking this high in the draft. So they should use this as a blessing to grab a top-end prospect. Farley will be able to replace Richard Sherman right away, and potentially be able to play better as a rookie.
Pick #13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christain Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech
L.A. found a diamond in the rough with quarterback Justin Herbert. Now they need to keep him healthy. Drafting Darrisaw does exactly that. He is a great OT prospect that will fir right in with what the Chargers are looking to accomplish with Herbert at the helm.
Pick #14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan
The Vikings went from being one of the best defenses in the NFL, to being arguably one of the worst. Fixing that side of the ball will need to be a top priority for Minnesota this offseason. Drafting Paye will be a great help. Paye has great edge rushing skills, and will be a major problem for opposing offensive lines.
Pick #15. New England Patriots: Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State
Trey Lance is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He has a great ceiling, and as a chance to be one of the best quarterbacks to come out of this group. The biggest knock on him is that he only played one season, and it was against lower D1 talent. Because of this, some teams might pass on him, but I don’t think he falls any farther than this pick. New England would be getting their starter for the next 15 years with Lance here.
Pick #16. Arizona Cardinals: Gregory Roussuae, Edge Rusher, Miami
Arizona needs help on defense if they want to be a contender. Roussuae will be a major help with that.
Pick #17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker, Notre Dame
The Raiders need to keep doing what they’ve been doing, rebuilding the defense through the draft and the offense through free agency. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a raw linebacker prospect, and fits to what the Raiders are wanting to do on defense.
Pick #18. Miami Dolphins: Najee Harris, Running Back, Alabama
Assuming the Dolphins don’t address running back in free agency, Harris should be the pick here. They would be giving Tua another former teammate, and Harris is in my opinion the best running back in this class. Harris could be a 1000 yard rusher as a rookie, and should thrive in Miami’s offense for years.
Pick #19. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, Quarterback, Alabama
If Washington were to take Jones here, they would have a couple options at their disposal. They could let him sit for the year, and play behind Alex Smith. Or they could move on from Smith, and let Jones and Taylor Heinicke battle in training camp for the job. Either way, they need help at quarterback sooner rather than later, and Jones should be able to walk in and run a pro offense.
Pick #20. Chicago Bears: Terrace Marshall Jr, Wide Receiver, Louisiana State University
Assuming that the Bears lose Allen Robinson to free agency, they will need a new #1 receiver. Anthony Miller and Darnell Mooney are solid receivers, but don’t have the size to be a true #1 receiver. Marshall is 6’3″, and even though I’m not banking on him becoming Allen Robinson overnight, he will be able to meet the target share void that Robinson is leaving behind.
Pick #21. Indianapolis Colts: Samuel Cosmi, Offensive Tackle, Texas
With the Colts losing Anthony Castonzo to retirement, they will need a replacement to protect whoever is their quarterback for 2021. Cosmi can do exactly that.
Pick #22. Tennessee Titans: Zaven Collins, Edge Rusher, Tulsa
Tennessee had no pass rush in 2020. Actually, they ranked 31st according to PFF. So that should be the teams #1 priority for 2021. Collins can step in right away and be a difference maker for this defense.
Pick #23. New York Jets (via Seattle): Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State
After drafting Zach Wilson at two, the Jets need to invest in protecting him. They have one of the best lineman from last years class in Mekhi Becton, so continue to build that line with Jenkins here.
Pick #24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Travis Etienne, Running Back, Clemson
Pittsburgh is most likely going to move on from James Connor, and should be looking for his replacement in free agency or in the draft. Etienne is in my opinion the best pass catching running back in this class. He brings both speed and elusiveness to the table, and can help this Steelers team reach a Super Bowl again.
Pick #25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams): Christain Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
After grabbing Lawrence, the Jaguars need to focus on making their defense better. Here they take their best chance at stuffing Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor with by drafting Barmore.
Pick #26. Cleveland Browns: Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina
Horn is the best press corner in this class, and shouldn’t fall this far down. Cleveland would be getting a steal here if this were to happen.
Pick #27. Baltimore Ravens: Azeez Ojulari, Edge Rusher, Georgia
Baltimore will most likely be losing a lot of their current defensive lineman due to cap concerns. This isn’t the worst class to need pass rushers though. Ojulari is a good prospect that should flourish in Baltimore’s defense.
Pick #28. New Orleans Saints: Joseph Ossai, Outside Linebacker, Texas
New Orleans can go a million different ways with this pick. I see them as a potential trade down candidate. But for the sake of this mock we have them taking an OLB, and Ossai would be a great fir for this team.
Pick #29. Green Bay Packers: Nick Bolton, Outside Linebacker, Missouri
If the Packers follow how they normally draft here, this pick will make no sense. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt this year and giving them a solid linebacker prospect in Bolton.
Pick #30. Buffalo Bills: Alex Leatherwood, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Buffalo don’t have many needs heading into 2021, but the offensive line is a bit of a concern. Leatherwood is a 322 pound machine, and should be able to help Josh Allen stay in the pocket during 2021 and beyond.
Pick #31. Kansas City Chiefs: Wyatt Davis, Inside Offensive Lineman, Ohio State
Super Bowl 55 showed the Chiefs that they have a bigger weakness on the offensive line than they thought. Eric Fisher is most likely missing the entire season with a torn Achilles. The interior of the line as been an issue for a little bit, and needs to be a top priority to keep Mahomes healthy. Davis is one of the better interior lineman in this class, and would be an instant contributor to this line.
Pick #32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jayson Oweh, Edge Rusher, Penn State
Depending on what happens in free agency, the Buccaneers won’t have many weaknesses heading into 2021. So why not get younger at a position that’s getting old. Oweh is a raw talent that won’t need to come in and start.