2021 NFL Mock Draft: A Quarterback-Heavy First Round
Published by Daniel Lewis on April 27, 2021
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The 2021 NFL Draft is just a few days away. While the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the country, this year will represent a return to a semblance of normalcy with an in-person draft.
Although the individual team-player matches remain unclear, many pieces of this year’s draft appear certain. It is very likely that five quarterbacks will be selected in the first round — Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones — akin to the 2018 draft. In addition, it is likely that the top 10 picks this year will be mostly offensive players, featuring wide receivers mixed in with quarterback selections.
Below are team-by-team predictions for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles): Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
7. Detroit Lions: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
8. Carolina Panthers: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
9. Denver Broncos: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
11. New York Giants: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers): Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT/G/C, Northwestern
14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
15. New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
16. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
18. Miami Dolphins: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
19. Washington Football Team: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
20. Chicago Bears: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
22. Tennessee Titans: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
23. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks): Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, DE/OLB, Penn State
28. New Orleans Saints: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
29. Green Bay Packers: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
30. Buffalo Bills: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
31. Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City Chiefs): Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Tryon, DE, Washington
Although the individual team-player matches remain unclear, many pieces of this year’s draft appear certain. It is very likely that five quarterbacks will be selected in the first round — Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones — akin to the 2018 draft. In addition, it is likely that the top 10 picks this year will be mostly offensive players, featuring wide receivers mixed in with quarterback selections.
Below are team-by-team predictions for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles): Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
7. Detroit Lions: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
8. Carolina Panthers: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
9. Denver Broncos: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
11. New York Giants: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers): Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT/G/C, Northwestern
14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
15. New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
16. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
18. Miami Dolphins: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
19. Washington Football Team: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
20. Chicago Bears: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
21. Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
22. Tennessee Titans: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
23. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks): Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, DE/OLB, Penn State
28. New Orleans Saints: Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
29. Green Bay Packers: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
30. Buffalo Bills: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
31. Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City Chiefs): Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Tryon, DE, Washington