We’re officially just three weeks away from the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and a ton of unanswered questions will soon be answered.
How many quarterbacks will go in the top five? Will the San Francisco 49ers take North Dakota State’s Trey Lance or Alabama’s Mac Jones? How far will Ohio State’s Justin Fields fall? Are the Patriots poised to move up for a quarterback? What will the Giants and Eagles do? Where will the Jets turn after taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall?
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Here’s my latest full first round mock draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
A generational prospect for a franchise that desperately needs a stable quarterback.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Sam Darnold is gone. The Jets will soon belong to the gunslinger from BYU.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Many will snicker at this selection and talk about all the upside the 49ers are leaving on the table. Something tells me Kyle Shanahan knows what he’s doing when it comes to offense.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The best player in the 2021 NFL Draft. Defenses are going to have nightmares trying to cover Pitts, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Joe Burrow reunites with his former college teammate to recreate a dynamic duo.
6. Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
7. Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
8. Carolina Panthers: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
9. Denver Broncos: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
TRADE: New England trades the No. 15 overall pick and a 2022 third-round pick to the New York Giants to move up to the No. 11 pick.
11. New England Patriots: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Fans will clamor for an offensive play maker with this pick, especially with the Heisman Trophy winner sliding down the board. But the Eagles will land a big-time corner with the capability of becoming a No. 1 in the NFL.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
15. New York Giants: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Dave Gettleman does the unthinkable: Trade down and collect assets. The Giants pass on the idea of taking Smith at 11, instead opting for a defensive star in Parsons.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
18. Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
19. Washington Football Team: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
20. Chicago Bears: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
21. Indianapolis Colts: Jaelen Phillips, DE, Miami
22. Tennessee Titans: Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia
23. New York Jets: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
No corner available late in the first round fits Robert Saleh’s style quite like Newsome II. He’ll be starting quickly in a new defense.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
26. Cleveland Browns: Zaven Collins, OLB, Tulsa
27. Baltimore Ravens: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
28. New Orleans Saints: Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State
29. Green Bay Packers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
30. Buffalo Bills: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC
TRADE: Eagles trade No. 37, No. 122 overall and a 2022 fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay for the No. 32 overall pick.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
The Eagles came into the draft with the most selections (20) of any NFL team over the next two seasons. Howie Roseman cashes in some to complete a total remake of the secondary. Moehrig is the kind of player that can be a ball hawk in the NFL.
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Joe Giglio may be reached at [email protected].
