2021 NFL mock draft: Final first-round pick projections
We've made it fellow travelers, it's draft week.The 49ers have been the talk of the NFL landscape ever since they made the move up to acquire the No. 3 overall pick. Which quarterback Kyle Shanahan selects will have a massive ripple effect on the rest of the first round, with teams clamoring to move up to grab one of the remaining two top signal-callers.In our first post-trade mock, we made the selection based on what we would do should we ever be allowed to run a team (never going to happen). But in our final rendition, we called an audible at the line, put on our mind-reading caps and made the picks based on what we think will happen.With that said, my colleague Dalton Johnson and I present our final 2021 NFL mock draft. We'll see you next Monday for the 2022 mock. (That's a joke. Or is it?)
Let's be honest, Lawrence has probably already picked out a house in Jacksonville.
Size, arm strength, athleticism. Lawrence is the complete package. He's the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck and is seen as a generational talent. This is a no-brainer. -- JS
The draft now starts at No. 3 with the 49ers. It couldn't be more obvious the Jets will take Wilson here. Sam Darnold was shipped off to the Carolina Panthers and Robert Saleh now has his franchise QB.
Can the Jets be good? This should at least be fun. -- DJ
Yeah, I'm going to be a sheep and follow the noise.
Last time, I went against the grain with Justin Fields, but it really does feel like Mac Jones is going to be the pick. He's an incredibly accurate passer who throws with timing, anticipation and has a pretty deep ball.
It might not be the sexy pick, but it'll work. -- JS
Aside from the 49ers, the Falcons are an extremely interesting team right here. They easily could trade down or take a QB. In this scenario, they go with the best non-QB prospect in the draft.
Pitts might even be the best overall prospect in the draft. He's a matchup nightmare who can change games off the line at tight end, in the slot or even out wide. -- DJ
Could the Bengals go offensive tackle here? Absolutely, they need to protect Joe Burrow at all costs.
But there are a number of solid offensive tackles that can be had in the part of the second round. There is only one Chase. Burrow and his old LSU teammate are reunited in Cincy. --JS
The Dolphins could easily look to protect Tua Tagovailoa here and take Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. They probably should, too.
But his former teammate is too enticing to pass up. Waddle is an absolute burner and would open up Miami's offense. --DJ
The second Fields gets past the 49ers, Bill Belichick will be burning up Detroit's phone lines to go up and get a quarterback with superstar potential.
Fields has elite arm talent and top-level athleticism that should make him one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. From Tom Brady to Fields with just a blip in between. -- JS
This could be the dream scenario for the Panthers. They have their QB (we think) after trading for Darnold. They could go a number of ways here, but Sewell is too good to pass up. He could be a dominant O-lineman year after year at the next level. --DJ
Well ... this worked out swimmingly for the Broncos.
Denver couldn't go up and get Fields but Lance slides right into the Broncos' lap at No. 9. Lance has a strong arm and elite athleticism, but he will need to sit for at least one season before becoming the trigger man of NFL offense.
No matter. The Broncos finally got their man. -- JS
It's easy to see the Cowboys try to make a big swing and trade up for someone like Pitts. That's such a Jerry Jones move. But if Dallas stays put, Surtain seems like the most logical choice. He's the most sound cornerback in the draft and the Cowboys badly need help stopping the pass. --DJ
For my money, Horn might be the best cornerback in the class. He has the length, size and physicality to be a disruptive corner as a pro. --JS
This is a dream come true for Eagles fans. Philadelphia moved down six spots and still get who they might have wanted all along. Smith is the third receiver taken in this scenario. He could make a lot of teams pay for that. --DJ
Justin Herbert was pressured on 37 percent of his dropbacks during his rookie season, so the Chargers have to find a way to protect QB1. Slater has good functional athleticism and the versatility to play across the offensive line, who stood up very well against Chase Young when they faced in college. This is a big win for the Chargers. --JS
The Vikings need help off the edge and could go a number of ways here. There isn't exactly a consensus pass rusher, but it's easy to see why teams could love the tape when they watch Phillips. In 10 games this season, Phillips had eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He had a long road to get here but should wind up a first-round pick. --DJ
The Lions traded down, collected important draft capital and still get one of the best defensive players in the draft.
Parsons is an electric athlete who can be a force off the edge, tackle in space and cover backs and tight ends. --JS
Let's have some fun. The Cardinals could go with a cornerback or offensive lineman. They did add running back James Conner in free agency, but he and Chase Edmonds both are on one-year contracts. Harris also brings more to the table from Day 1.
Seeing the Bay Area native in the desert with Kyler Murray in Kliff Kingsbury's offense would be a whole lot of fun, except for the rest of the NFC West. --DJ
After blowing up his offensive line, Jon Gruden has to find a way to fill the Raiders' hole at right tackle. Darrisaw has the size, length, mobility and athletic to be a top tackle in the NFL. --JS
Offensive line? Running back? No.
Ojulari is only 20 years old and could have star potential. As a redshirt sophomore, Ojulari had 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles. Buy some stock in him right now before it's too late. --DJ
Vera-Tucker can play inside and out, but he profiles as a left tackle at the NFL level.
He's got the size, strength, mobility and athleticism to be a good offensive tackle and help bolster the Football Team's line in front of Ryan Fitzpatrick. -- JS
The top QBs are off the board, as are many of the best offensive lineman. The Bears could go for O-line help here or a fun toy for Andy Dalton. Instead, they fill the hole left by Kyle Fuller and grab a rising prospect at cornerback.
Newsome is a quick-twitch corner who could easily wind up being a steal in the draft. --DJ
At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Jenkins has big, strong hands and is a powerful run blocker with the size and strength to be a good NFL tackle. Jenkins will be a good replacement for the recently retired Anthony Castonzo. -- JS
The Titans are another strong team that could target a number of different positions. In this case, they help out QB Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry.
Pairing A.J. Brown with his former college teammate would free up the star receiver -- as well as Henry -- and give Tannehill another exciting weapon. --DJ
The Jets are building something around Zach Wilson and Etienne is the ideal running back for Mike LaFleur's offense. He's an explosive runner who is a threat in the passing game and will give the Jets' offense a much-needed ground threat. --JS
All the focus has been on offensive line and running back. The top O-linemen are gone, as well as Harris and Etienne. So, what do the Steelers do now?
Build on the defensive line with a pass rusher who at one point was seen as a top-10 prospect. It's a bit of a wild card that makes a whole lot of sense. --DJ
With Elijah Moore off the board, the Jags elect to use their second first-round pick on Christian Barmore. He's powerful defensive tackle with strong hands who can anchor Jacksonville's defensive line. --JS
There's being athletic, and then there's what Oweh did at his pro day. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, Oweh ran an absurd 4.36 40-yard dash and was explosive with his jumps.
Adding Oweh to a rotation of Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney and Takkarist McKinley would be a battle of the athletes. Oweh has everything a team is looking for from a physical standpoint, and this could the perfect situation for him. --DJ
The Ravens really need to get Lamar Jackson more weapons in the passing game.
Bateman is a great route-runner with good ball skills and an ability to win at the catch point on deep balls. --JS
Caleb Farley's back surgery and recent contraction of COVID-19 see him slide even past the Saints. The more I watch Samuel, the more I love him in New Orleans.
Samuel is only 5-foot-10 and 184 pounds. He also is an absolute dog. Put this fierce competitor on the other side of Marshon Lattimore, and the Saints now have a dangerous defensive backfield. --DJ
After Kevin King's miscues in the playoffs, the Packers need to bolster their secondary. Farley has top-10 talent but back injuries have caused him to slide down the board. Farley has game-changing ball skills and is an elite cover man. He would fit nicely opposite Jaire Alexander. -- JS
Owusu-Koramoah is one of the best athletes in the draft and can be lined up all across the defense. He can go sideline to sideline as a linebacker and is great covering the slot.
He's a defensive weapon the Bills could have a lot of fun with. --DJ
The Ravens got Lamar Jackson a weapon with their first first-round pick, now it's time to bolster the line in front of him.
Baltimore added Kevin Zeitler and is expected to sign tackle Alejandro Villanueva, but the Ravens still need help on the interior. Dickerson is a versatile prospect who can play guard or center. While he has had some injury issues, he's a solid blocker who knows how to use his frame and strength to win at the point of attack. --JS
The Bucs can go a lot of different ways here. They're strong all across the board and might simply go best player available.
Collins is a 3-4 outside linebacker who fits Tampa's defense. Collins recorded 54 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions in eight games last season. The rich get richer. --DJ
