This mock draft was completed by our team of writers. The picks were split up by division and are as follows:
NFC West: Pierre
NFC South: Mo
NFC North: Nick
NFC East: Brad
AFC West: Carlos
AFC South: Isaiah
*AFC East & North were a collaborative effort*
Disclaimer: Direct your anger towards the person deemed responsible for your favorite team’s picks.
Round 1
1) Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (QB), Clemson
This pick needs no explanation. Lawrence is without a doubt the top QB prospect in this draft and according to some, the top QB prospect in the last handful of drafts.
2) Jets: Zach Wilson (QB), BYU
The Jets have traded Sam Darnold. This is almost as guaranteed as the Lawrence pick. They need their QB of the future. Wilson has reportedly spoken to former Jets QBs about what playing in New York is like. Joe Douglas hasn’t tipped his hand, but this is a safe bet.
3) 49ers: Trey Lance (QB), North Dakota State
There is legitimate buzz surrounding Mac Jones and the 49ers taking him with the 3rd overall pick. However, the Niners already held the 12th overall pick. It is very likely that Mac Jones would’ve been available had the team stayed there. They didn’t, they moved up to 3rd overall and even gave up additional draft capital. The pick is reportedly coming down to Lance and Jones. This is nothing against Mac Jones, but I’ll believe they traded up for Mac Jones when his name is called by Roger Goodell on Thursday night. Lance to the Niners.
4) Falcons: Justin Fields (QB), Ohio State
This is where the draft truly starts in my opinion. The Falcons have a number of paths they can go down with this pick. Matt Ryan isn’t getting any younger and neither is Julio Jones. They also have holes on defense. New general manager, Terry Fontenot reportedly wants a QB with the 4th overall selection and new head coach, Arthur Smith reportedly wants a weapon on offense (First name starts with a K and Last name starts with a P). Teams start with the QB position and with the strength of this draft, they can grab a pass catcher later on.
5) Bengals: Penei Sewell (OT), Oregon
This pick is gonna come down to a want vs. a need. The Bengals and Joe Burrow may want a certain wide receiver, but they need protection up front. Penei Sewell is the top tackle in this class and can play either tackle or guard position. Sure, Cincinnati signed Riley Reiff this offseason, but Reiff shouldn’t prevent them from taking a tackle of Sewell’s caliber. Protect the QB first and foremost.
6) Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase (WR), LSU
This is about surrounding Tua Tagovailoa with talent. The team signed Will Fuller in the offseason and already has Devante Parker on the roster, but they need a dynamic true number one wideout, Chase provides that.
7) Lions: Rashawn Slater (OT), Northwestern
Rashawn Slater is a safe pick here. Slater doesn’t get beat often and he can play all five positions along the offensive line. The Lions could go QB here, but I’d like to think they’d give Jared Goff every opportunity to prove himself as a franchise QB. Rashawn Slater furthers that thinking
8) TRADE (Eagles send the 12th pick, 84th pick, & 123rd pick to the Panthers in exchange for the 8th pick) Eagles: Kyle Pitts (TE), Florida
Kyle Pitts fell past Atlanta and Howie Roseman moves up and gets the versatile weapon. Pitts plays inside and outside and gives the Eagles a matchup nightmare for defenses to gameplan against.
9) Broncos: Micah Parsons (LB), Penn State
Vic Fangio loves talented linebackers. Of course there are the off the field flags when it comes to Parsons, but if everything checks out, Parsons makes a lot of sense for Denver. Von Miller isn’t getting any younger and Parsons would bring some explosiveness to the Broncos defense.
10) Cowboys: Patrick Surtain (CB), Alabama
The Dallas Cowboys almost HAVE to go cornerback with this pick. They’ve signed help at safety, drafted an offensive weapon last year and gave up the 7th highest passer rating in the NFL last season. Surtain is the most pro-ready cornerback in the draft and gives Dallas a bonafide number one cornerback.
11) Giants: Jaylen Waddle (WR), Alabama
Waddle gives the Giants a compliment to their big fish signing in free agency, Kenny Golladay. With Sterling Shepard suffering a rash of injuries the last two seasons, Waddle becomes the team’s number one deep threat. This is a selection like the Dolphins pick earlier. When you have a QB that you want to be your franchise QB, give him the opportunities to make plays and supporting cast to prove himself in the NFL. Waddle gives the Giants a dynamic and explosive wideout.
12) Panthers: Devonta Smith (WR), Alabama
The run on Alabama prospects continues as the Panthers select the 6’1 166 pound wideout. After losing Curtis Samuel in free agency and acquiring Sam Darnold, Carolina decides they need to exhaust every resource into figuring out if Darnold can be a franchise QB or not. A McCaffrey-Anderson-Moore-Smith offense with Joe Brady designing and calling plays will be a nightmare for defenses.
13) Chargers: Christian Darrisaw (OT), Virginia Tech
When you have a young and talented QB, the main objective should be to protect that QB. The 6’5 314 pound Darrisaw checks off that main objective. Darrisaw is aggressive and violent and he can anchor the Chargers offensive line for years to come. He’s stout and strong in pass protection and violent and physical in the run game.
14) Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker (OT/OG), USC
Much has been made about Vera-Tucker throughout this draft process. “Is he a tackle?” , “Is he a guard?” And the sole answer is, Yes. Vera-Tucker can play inside at guard or outside at tackle and has been effective at both. After letting Riley Reiff go, there remains a huge hole at left tackle and there are holes at both guard spots. Vera-Tucker at least helps to solve of those problems
15) Patriots: Mac Jones (QB), Alabama
Everything about Mac Jones screams: New England Patriots quarterback. His play-style, his look, and his build. Jones gives the Patriots a QB of the future and the value here is much better than it would’ve been at 3rd overall. Jones has an adequate repertoire of pass catchers to work with in Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith, and Hunter Henry. Jones is set up in a system with structure that knows how to utilize and develop a QB.
16) Cardinals: Jaycee Horn (CB), South Carolina
Longtime cornerback, Patrick Peterson walked in free agency. Horn has what many view as the ‘it factor’. He has the highest ceiling of any corner in this draft and he plays with the confidence and swagger that the Cardinals defense needs in the secondary. Horn has the size and length to shadow top receivers in the NFL.
17) Raiders: Tevin Jenkins (OT), Oklahoma State
The Las Vegas Raiders traded away tackle Trent Brown to the Patriots this offseason. There is a glaring hole at right tackle and Jenkins has the versatility and strength to play either tackle spot, as he played both at Oklahoma St.
18) Dolphins: Zaven Collins (LB), Tulsa
The Dolphins selected Ja’Marr Chase earlier, now they grab the versatile linebacker out of Tulsa. Collins can literally do-it-all. He can rush the passer, drop into coverage, intercept passes, and everything in between. At 6’5 259 pounds, Collins is exceptionally athletic. He’s explosive and has a combination of traits that should make any team salivate. The Dolphins also lost Kyle Van Not and Shaq Lawson this offseason.
19) Washington Football Team: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB), Notre Dame
Washington lost weakside LB Kevin Pierre-Louis in free agency. JOK can play there as well as almost everywhere else on defense. He can make plays in space, between the tackles, and is an impact player as a blitzer. Owusu-Koramoah plays with fierce competitiveness and flies around the field. Washington has one of the best defensive lines in football, which will only allow JOK to develop and maximize his traits.
20) Bears: Christian Barmore (DT), Alabama
There isn’t a quarterback worth taking here, so the Bears opt to go defensive line with their first round pick. With Akiem Hicks name in trade rumors along with the fact that his contract has one year remaining on it, the Bears opt to look into the future and selected the best defensive tackle in the class. He is strong, explosive, and has violent hands at the point of attack. Barmore flashes a ton of potential as a pass rusher. This is a pick concerned with the future.
21) Colts: Greg Newsome (CB), Northwestern
There was no clear trade at this spot. The Colts have a huge need at cornerback. There isn’t a true alpha in the room right now. Greg Newsome is a nice sized technically sound corner who can excel in a variety of coverages. Newsome provides a long terms answer at corner in a room filled with veterans (Xavier Rhodes – 30 and T.J. Carrie – 30).
22) Titans: Eric Stokes (CB), Georgia
The Titans have multiple areas they could choose to address here. They elect to address the secondary. The Titans pass defense gave up the 4th most yards through the air last season (according to NFL.com). Adoree Jackson is no longer with the team, Johnathan Joseph didn’t work out, Kristian Fulton was injured for most of his rookie season, and Desmond King was let go after the team traded a draft pick for him. They signed Janoris Jenkins in the offseason, but that is far from enough. Stokes helps sure up their back end in a major way. Stokes allowed the second-lowest completion percentage (18.2%) in the FBS last season.
23) Jets: Kwity Paye (DE), Michigan
Robert Saleh is the new head honcho in New York. Saleh’s defenses have always had top level defensive ends.. The Jets signed DE Carl Lawson, but outside of him, the next most notable name is Vinny Curry, who will be 33 when the NFL season starts. Paye is a high ceiling player who gives Lawson a running mate.
24) Steelers: Najee Harris (RB), Alabama
The Steelers lost starting running back James Conner in free agency. Najee Harris gives the Steelers a bonafide 3 down back. Harris is a versatile back who amassed 4,624 scrimmage yards and 57 touchdowns in 4 years at Alabama. The Steelers haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since 2008. That changes this year.
25) Jaguars: Rashod Bateman (WR), Minnesota
Trevor Lawrence gets a top 5 receiver in this draft with the Jaguars 2nd first round pick. Jacksonville lost 3 wide receivers (Keelan Cole, Chris Conley, & Dede Westbrook) in free agency. Bateman gives Jacksonville an impact player to help the transition of its number one pick.
26) Browns: Jaelan Phillips (DE), Miami
Phillips undoubtedly would’ve gone higher in this draft if not for injury concerns. This selection gives Myles Garrett a partner in crime who has one of the highest ceilings of any player in this draft.
27) Ravens: Azeez Ojulari (DE), Georgia
The value of Ojulari is too much for Baltimore to pass up. Adding Ojulari to a position with Jaylon Ferguson, Pernell McPhee and Calais Campbell, is a nightmare for opposing offenses. Baltimore believes in the development of their defensive line and that philosophy is furthered with this pick.
28) Saints: Terrace Marshall (WR), LSU
The Saints lost Emmanuel Sanders this offseason. And outside of Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, there isn’t much high level talent at the skill positions. Marshall gives James Winston a nice sized pass catching target to pair with Michael Thomas on the outside.
29) Packers: Liam Eichenberg (OT), Notre Dame
The Packers have some reshuffling to do up front. They lost starting center, Corey Linsley in free agency. Left tackle David Bakhtiari tore his ACL before Week 17 last year and may miss the start of the 2021 season. Backups Lane Taylor and Ricky Wagner also are no longer with the team. The team has Elgton Jenkins, who can take over for Linsley at center, but outside of Jenkins, the team needs help along the offensive line. The 6’6 306 pound Eichenberg provides that and more in bulk.
30) Bills: Gregory Rousseau (DE), Miami
The Bills EDGE rushers are getting up in age. Outside of AJ Epenesa, Jerry Hughes will be 33 by the start of the NFL season, Mario Addison will turn 34 near the start of the season, and Trent Murphy is 30 years old. The position group needs an injection of youth and for a contending team, Rousseau will have time to develop his game behind a group of veterans.
31) Ravens: Trevon Moehrig (S), TCU
Moehrig gives the Ravens the ability to be even more deceptive than they already are defensively. Moehrig would give Baltimore the ability to play three safeties at one time. Moehrig would rotate into the secondary when Deshaun Elliot drops down into the box. The biggest plus with selecting Moehrig is, he gives Baltimore a true top level safety. Moehrig has range, versatility, and ball skills. The rich get richer with this pick.
32) Buccaneers: Travis Etienne (RB), Clemson
There aren’t many holes on the Tampa Bay roster, but if there is one to point out, its’s the lack of a pass catching running back. The Bucs take a page out of the Chiefs playbook from a year ago and select a dynamic and versatile running back at 32nd overall. Etienne eclipsed 1155 receiving yards over four years at Clemson. Not to mention, he’s the leading rusher in Clemson history and the ACC’s all-time leading rusher.
The Philly Blitz 