This is Nick Pedone's 2021 NFL Mock Draft, predicting and previewing the NFL Draft for all 32 first-round selections.
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| Round 1- Pick 1 |
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Duh. Let's not get fancy. Let's not overthink this. The best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, head coach Urban Meyer would still be hosting television shows if it weren't for Lawrence.
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| Round 1 - Pick 2 |
With Sam Darnold being shipped out, GM Joe Douglas showed his hand here. Wilson gives the Jets *another* shot at a long-term answer at QB, in the newly-founded Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur era.
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| Round 1 - Pick 3 |
If Kyle Shanahan really drafts Mac Jones, I will fall out of my seat. I just cannot see that realistically happening until I hear the words spill out of the commissioner's mouth. Fields is an athletic quarterback with a solid arm and NFL pedigree. Also, why the hell would you trade all the way up to here for Mac Freakin' Jones?
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| Round 1 - Pick 4 |
While a quarterback-needy team could take a jump up into this spot, Atlanta stays put. Matt Ryan is under contract until 2024. Pairing Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley with a generational athlete like Pitts would surely help newly-hired Arthur Smith.
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| Round 1 - Pick 5 |
Look, I get pairing Joe Burrow with Ja'Marr Chase is the cute, fun thing to do. But if the Bengals don't protect Burrow, they are going to be bad for a long time. Sewell is a highly-touted lineman prospect that we've heard about for years. Protect your most valuable asset.
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| Round 1- Pick 6 |
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The Miami Dolphins are all-in on Tua Tagovailoa. There's no Ryan Fitzpatrick to save the day anymore. The Dolphins just added Will Fuller in free agency, so adding the speedy Chase gives Miami a dynamic offense in the AFC.
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| Round 1 - Pick 7 |
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Detroit should probably trade out of this spot. They have Jared Goff now, but more holes and organizational questions than one No. 7 overall selection can solve. For the sake of this mock, drafting Jaylen Waddle helps fill the void left by the departed Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. and Marvin Hall. Goff needs weapons, but they could still solve this via trade down.
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| Round 1 - Pick 8 |
Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
Personally, I like the idea of protecting Darnold with this pick. Sure, adding DeVonta Smith could be a replacement and upgrade to the recently-departed Curtis Samuel. But, adding Slater, who is best fit as a guard today, could continue to cement a rebuild in Matt Rhule's Carolina.
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| Round 1 - Pick 9 |
Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Vonn Miller is back. Justin Simmons is back. Denver adds Parsons, a do-it-all linebacker that could rush the passer. Drafting Parsons surely does not help the anemic Drew Lock-led offense, but it allows John Elway to get back to their bread and butter that won him Super Bowl 50: Defense.
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| Round 1 - Pick 10 |
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Every mock draft you read will have this pick, and I am not about to go against the grain. Surtain II is the top corner in this class and helps Dallas strengthen defensively to make a legitimate run in 2021.
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| Round 1 - Pick 11 |
Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Dave Gettleman was probably punching air two selections ago, missing out on Micah Parsons. Last season, the Giants took Andrew Thomas to protect Daniel Jones at No. 4 overall. Adding Darrisaw gives Jones no more excuses. Losing Kevin Zeitler in free agency, the G-Men draft Darrisaw, whose stock is rapidly rising, just outside of the Top 10.
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| Round 1 - Pick 12 |
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Despite a plethora of defensive talent available at this selection, Philadelphia addresses their biggest area of need since their Super Bowl victory with a reigning Heisman wideout. Smith gives Jalen Hurts a legitimate No. 1 option.
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| Round 1 - Pick 13 |
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC
Time for Los Angeles to seriously protect Justin Herbert. Defensively, they are already set with Joey Bosa and Derwin James. Offensively, they have Keenan Allen. Drafting Vera-Tucker, who is a true guard, gives the Charges versatility up front.
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| Round 1 - Pick 14 |
Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
By all accounts, defensive end Danielle Hunter wants out of Minnesota, and the Vikings are already thin at that position. Adding Paye in this slot allows Minnesota to stay competitive in the NFC North while getting ahead of a long-term problem at defensive end.
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| Round 1 - Pick 15 |
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
What if the run on quarterbacks in the Top 5 just never materializes? Oh my... Is that Bill Belichick's music? Nobody spent more cash in 2021 free agency, and now Belichick sits back and nabs a mobile quarterback, something he has sought after for years. Lance gives the Patriots, who still employ Cam Newton, a ton of options moving forward. I would not be surprised to see the Pats move up to make this pick.
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| Round 1 - Pick 16 |
Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
I absolutely love where the Cardinals are at. They added J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler in free agency. They already have Budda Baker and Isaiah Simmons. Adding Ojulari helps replace Hasson Reddick's 2020 production and helps Watt get after the quarterback.
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| Round 1 - Pick 17 |
Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Las Vegas addressed a lot of needs in free agency. They could truly go best player available, and they do so. The son of Joe Horn, Jaycee, could get drafted by this point, but the way the board falls, Jon Gruden is able to land a lockdown defensive back.
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| Round 1 - Pick 18 |
Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
After adding a skill position at the top of the draft, Miami can sit back and address defense here. Phillips stays in the sunshine state and moves from the Hurricanes to the Dolphins, giving Miami the defense needed to compete with Josh Allen's Bills twice a year.
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| Round 1 - Pick 19 |
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
I did not like the Washington Football Team winning all those games late in the season. The quarterback of the future is not on this roster, despite investing in wideouts like Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Ron Rivera is a defensive-minded head coach and landing Owusu-Koramoah gives him so much versatility? Is he a linebacker? Is he a ROVER? Could he rush the passer? Rivera can't resist.
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| Round 1 - Pick 20 |
Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Back to reality. This is where Mac Jones should be drafted. Chicago could tell themselves that Andy Dalton is their answer at quarterback, but that birdsong is going to get old after a few weeks. Instead, Dalton could start and Jones could sit back and learn, possibly earning a start after a few weeks to try and not waste yet another year of Allen Robinson.
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| Round 1 - Pick 21 |
Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
The Indianapolis Colts are going to be in trouble if they fail to protect Carson Wentz like Philadelphia did. Anthony Castonzo retired, so the Colts need to address this need to protect Wentz and running back Jonathan Taylor.
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| Round 1 - Pick 22 |
Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Corey Davis is with the Jets now, and the Titans need to replace that production somehow. Why not do so with emerging star A.J. Brown's college teammate? The 5-foot-9 Moore gives Tennessee immediate help in the slot. Is this a reach? Sure. But this player won't be available when the Titans pick again.
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| Round 1 - Pick 23 |
Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
Oweh did not record a sack during his final season at Penn State, but that should not stop the defensive-minded Saleh from swooping up a first-round defensive end to help curate the future of his defense. Walking away with Wilson and Oweh would be an impressive first night for the Jets.
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| Round 1 - Pick 24 |
Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
The Steelers wisely let James Conner walk in free agency, but have not made any efforts to replace him. Benny Snell is not the future there. Adding Harris at the end of the first round allows Pittsburgh to replace their other needs, defensive end, cornerback and offensive line later in the draft.
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| Round 1 - Pick 25 |
Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
The Jaguars are still solid in their linebacker room and have young players at defensive end and cornerback. Drafting Barmore in the first round adds quality youth in the middle of that defense to compliment ideal youth talent.
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| Round 1 - Pick 26 |
Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
The Browns already added Troy Hill and John Johnson III from the Los Angeles Rams. Drafting a feisty defensive back, Newsome gives the Browns an insurance policy for the returning Greedy Williams and the sometimes-injured Denzel Ward. This selection allows Joe Woods to run sets with a ton of defensive backs.
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| Round 1 - Pick 27 |
Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
The Ravens lost Matthew Judon to Belichick's free-agent shopping spree, so drafting Rousseau fills that void. The Ravens will need an offensive tackle at some point, but they still employ Orlando Brown. He's an explosive, athletic player with a ton of upside and potential for John Harbaugh to pull out.
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| Round 1 - Pick 28 |
Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The New Orleans Saints have not drafted a receiver in the past two years. Michael Thomas will be back but Tre'Quan Smith is nothing but a question mark with Emmanuel Sanders gone. The Saints will have a new quarterback and might as well provide them with a solid option.
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| Round 1 - Pick 29 |
Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
With Aaron Rodgers still seemingly in his prime, the Packers should do what they can to protect and lengthen it, despite drafting Jordan Love last season. The Packers need a first-round playmaker, but the top receiving targets are gone. Do the smart thing and reinvest in the offensive line.
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| Round 1 - Pick 30 |
Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
Many mocks don't have Moehrig dropping past the Jaguars at No. 25 overall, and for good reason. He's a savvy defender that can play all over the field. This is the best player available selection for the Bills, who add a defensive player to help close the gap to Kansas City.
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| Round 1 - Pick 31 |
Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
This could be perceived as a small reach, but the Chiefs need to protect the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. The days of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz are over. Despite five offensive linemen being drafted in the Top 25, this is a selection that Kansas City has to make.
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| Round 1 - Pick 32 |
Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Tampa employs Devin White and Lavonte David, two of the best linebackers in the NFL. Shaq Barrett off the EDGE is not shabby either. They could be tempted to draft Asante Samuel Jr., but adding Collins gives them so many different possibilities defensively and prepares them for the future.
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