The first round of the 2021 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 29. Below, DraftKings contributors Reid Fowler, Geoff Ulrich, Julian Edlow, Garion Thorne and Steve Buchanan give their predictions for the first 10 picks.
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Reid Fowler’s NFL Mock Draft Top 10
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | QB |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | BYU | QB |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Justin Fields | Ohio State | QB |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida | TE |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Penei Sewell | Oregon | OT |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins | Ja'Marr Chase | LSU | WR |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | DeVonta Smith | Alabama | WR |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Rashawn Slater | Northwestern | OT |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
The Jaguars will select their franchise quarterback here and not waste too much time with the decision. The consensus No. 1, Lawrence has been touted as one of the best prospects to come along since Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning. The Clemson product was terrific in college and will look to spark the Jaguars’ 21st-ranked passing offense with his accuracy, athleticism and arm strength.
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson (QB, BYU)
Some have Wilson as the most talented in this draft, and while I don’t think he’s the first- or second-best QB in this class, it feels like the Jets need to make a splash at this spot. Wilson has durability and off-the-field issues, but none of that seems to sever the connection between him and the Jets. He’s got incredible arm strength, can throw accurate passes at different arm angles and is efficient running when his number is called. Wilson has some issues with reading through his progressions too fast, not letting plays formulate before making decisions and throwing some awful passes into double coverage. Still, he threw for just under 3,700 yards and 33 TDs at BYU last season. He’s my third-ranked QB in the draft, but his personality and arm strength play too well in the New York media market.
3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields (QB, Ohio St)
The 49ers traded away three first-round picks and a third-rounder to get in the No. 3 spot, which means they’re looking to get one of the top-three QBs. There’s a lot of buzz that Mac Jones is going to San Francisco, but I’m not buying it. Yes, he’s accurate and makes good decisions, but the 49ers need a shot of adrenaline on offense, and Fields is that guy. Getting a mobile, accurate passer who can stay in the pocket is vital, and Fields checks off most boxes in a Shanahan offense.
4. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
The fourth pick is potentially the first time we’ll see some action with a team trading up for Kyle Pitts — he’s that special. The Falcons are in a fantastic spot and have the option of taking their next franchise quarterback, draft Pitts, who’s arguably the best talent in this year’s Draft or get a bounty in draft capital and rebuild the franchise in the coming years ahead. We should see Atlanta’s front office give Matt Ryan one more year with all the talent on the offensive side and go with Pitts. Hayden Hurst isn’t working out as well as the team hoped for, and being able to pair Pitts with the tandem of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley is too good to pass up.
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell (OT, Oregon)
It’ll be challenging to pass on Pitts if Atlanta elects to go QB or trade down. Still, if last year was any indication of what the Bengals need, it’s to protect their future and franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, who suffered a brutal knee injury mid-way through last season. Sewell is the consensus No. 1 at his position and a franchise left tackle. The Bengals will have two studs in Sewell and Jonah Williams protecting Burrow when he comes back.
6. Miami Dolphins - Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
The first wide receiver will go off the board and bolster up the passing game for Tua Tagovailoa next season. Chase will be a welcome addition alongside Devante Parker and newly acquired Will Fuller, who is on just a one-year deal. Chase is the ideal No. 3 in this offense and could offer upside if (or when) Parker and Fuller miss games due to injury.
7. Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama)
Goff should be the QB for this year (at least) in the Motor City, which means the Heisman Trophy winner heads to Mowtown to help out a dismantled wide receiver room which saw both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. walk in free agency this offseason. Smith may drop further down if the Lions buy the negative publicity about Smith’s size. If that’s the case, Smith could fall out of the top 10, which would be blasphemous for a pass-catcher who can run every route on the route tree and plays much bigger than his size.
8. Carolina Panthers - Rashawn Slater (OT, Northwestern)
The Panthers’ front office will want to protect Sam Darnold and ensure the trade they made for him this offseason pans out. The Panthers will be getting a tackle who played just under 40 games over three seasons but opted out of his senior year. Slater can play on either side of the line and can also play guard if need be.
9. Denver Broncos - Trey Lance (QB, North Dakota State)
There’s a chance the Broncos go with a defensive player here, but it’ll be hard to pass up on a quarterback. Lance provides much more upside than Mac Jones, and Lance could be the replacement Denver has been looking for since Peyton Manning retired. Lance doesn’t have to start right away with Drew Lock still in the building, which is ideal for Lance given his limited game-time experience. Passing up on the highest upside quarterback in this draft is too much to leave on the table.
10. Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain II (CB, Alabama)
The Cowboys ranked dead last in almost every pass defense statistical category last season, and Surtain II is the best cornerback coming out of this year’s draft. Dallas gave up 29.6 points per game and 34 pass touchdowns to opponents last season, which tied for the third-most in the NFL. The Cowboys went out and acquired a bevy of defensive backs in free agency, but none are as good or have the upside Surtain II could bring. He can cover the entire field, and new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will be getting a pro-ready defensive back who can make an impact right away.
Other first-round skill position selections
12. Philadelphia Eagles - Jaylen Waddle (WR, Alabama)
Speed is always a need, and it doesn’t matter if you already have it. DeSean Jackson is gone and having a tandem like Waddle and Jalen Reagor will allow Travis Fulgham to be a true outside wide receiver. Jalen Hurts also played with Waddle during their time in Alabama, which could make the transition for both players that much easier.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kadarius Toney (WR, Florida)
New head coach Urban Meyer will welcome this pick with open arms, electing to get young talent to add for the aforementioned Lawrence. Toney was a mismatch in college and should provide versatility in Jacksonville with experience in the slot, in the backfield as a runner and as a kick/punt returner.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR, LSU)
Marquise Brown is not an outside receiver, and the Ravens desperately need one to help Lamar Jackson. Marshall has decent size and never got as much recognition as he probably deserved playing behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson the year prior. Marshall can catch the deep ball and had a high contested catch rate at LSU.
28. New Orleans Saints - Rashod Bateman (WR, Minnesota)
The Saints will be moving on from future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees in 2021 and they’ll need to get more help on offense, especially across the middle, with Jared Cook also taking his talents out of the bayou. Bateman is a pure route runner and has a big catch radius, which might be needed with the quarterback duo of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill under center.
Geoff Ulrich’s NFL Mock Draft Top 10
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | QB |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | BYU | QB |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Mac Jones | Alabama | QB |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida | TE |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Penei Sewell | Oregon | OT |
| 6 | Chicago Bears* (From Miami) | Justin Fields | Ohio State | QB |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Ja'Marr Chase | LSU | WR |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Rashawn Slater | Northwestern | OT |
| 9 | New England Patriots* (From Denver) | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
1. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Jaguars get their franchise QB, a player who showed progressive growth every year in his three seasons at Clemson. He’d be a favorite to perform well in almost any situation but should thrive in the Jags’ Darrell Bevell-led offense, a system that allowed Matthew Stafford to attempt the eighth-most deep balls last season. Think of a quicker version of Josh Allen who will also need to hone in his immense arm strength into the quicker, precision passing of the pro game. Even if he has growing pains, his athleticism will likely make him an impact fantasy starter from day one.
2. Zach Wilson (New York Jets)
Wilson is going to the Jets, who are in desperate need of a restart after years of floundering with poor HC-QB combos. A natural stud in the passing game, Wilson’s last season at BYU produced gaudy stats, including a 73% completion percentage — which was a full eight percentage point improvement over his average from his first two seasons. He did have great protection in college and hasn’t played against as much elite competition as some of the other top QBs. His ceiling is massive, but his adjustment to the NFL has the potential to be rocky. It is the Jets after all.
3. Mac Jones (San Francisco 49ers)
I think Kyle Shanahan covets Jones. Jones had a monster season at Alabama in 2020 but undoubtedly benefited from Alabama having one of the best groups of talent ever at wide receiver. San Francisco possesses some of the best after-the-catch receivers in the league themselves, and Shanahan has always put a premium on good pocket distributors, relying on his play-calling ability to overcome arm-talent issues with players like Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins. Jones fits the Shanny mold, and I think he remains their ultimate target.
4. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta could be hoping to catch the now Drew Brees-less Saints off guard and challenge for the division title in 2021. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and capable of a sub-4.5 40 time, Pitts is uber-talented and likely could be viewed as something of a Julio Jones replacement, despite playing TE. Don’t forget, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez combined for 27 TD between 2009 and 2012, and I’m sure the QB wouldn’t mind trying to replicate this connection in his later years. Teams will try to trade up for Justin Fields here, but I’d guess the price will be too high. I think Atlanta will be happy to stay put and grab the most elite and versatile pass catcher in the draft.
5. Penei Sewell (Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals have been linked to Joe Burrow’s former teammate Ja’Marr Chase, but with Burrow coming off major knee surgery, they will feel the pressure here to bolster their offensive line. Cincinnati also shored up WR last season, using a second-round pick on Tee Higgins, and Sewell has remained as the clear-cut number one OL in this draft since January. Perhaps they head fake everyone and go Chase or Rashawn Slater — the second-rated OL — but Sewell seems like the easy fit.
6. Justin Fields (Chicago Bears from Miami Dolphins)
This is where things could start to pick up. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last week that the Dolphins are taking offers to trade out of the sixth spot. With Pitts likely going to Atlanta and the Dolphins having signed Will Fuller in the offseason, Miami bypassing a receiver to add more draft capital makes a ton of sense. The Bears have been hyper-focused on getting a true franchise QB all offseason (they reportedly offered three first-round picks for Russell Wilson), and Fields carries less “Trubisky-like” question marks than Trey Lance does. If San Francisco passes on Fields, look for Chicago to go all out to grab him.
7. Ja’Marr Chase (Detroit Lions)
With the departure of Matthew Stafford, Detroit seems likely to grab a shiny new toy at the draft to quell its fanbase. Chase is big, fast and barely 21 years old. He put up a monster season his sophomore year in college before opting out in 2020, but he was regularly beating older cornerbacks at just 19. Detroit has revamped their receiver core a bit with Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, but neither has been a reliable No. 1 receiver for most of their careers; although, both could be considered good mentors for Chase. He feels like the best overall WR prospect in the draft and should offer tons of appeal to Detroit here.
8. Rashawn Slater (Carolina Panthers)
While anything is possible, I think the Panthers have settled on Sam Darnold as their starter for next season, which means they likely won’t be going QB here. They could trade back, but if Slater is still on the board, it seems very probable the Panthers snatch up the consensus No. 2 OL and get some immediate help for Darnold. Slater is versatile and showed up well against tough competition in college, with some even suggesting he should be the first OL off the board in this draft.
9. Trey Lance (New England Patriots from Denver Broncos)
There have been rumors of a Teddy Bridgewater trade to Denver and no real links to any of the top four QBs. History tells us that one or more of the QBs will fall further than expected, and Denver is already well-stocked with young talent at WR. The cost to move up here from 15 won’t be super high, and we know from the Patriots’ offseason that they have no desire to go through a slow rebuild. Bringing the raw Lance in to work with (or behind) a former MVP in Cam Newton would seem like a good dynamic. Look for the Patriots to be interested if any of the top five QBs are available at nine.
10. Patrick Surtain II (Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys’ highest-graded CB last season (via PFF) was Trevon Diggs at 58. They’ve now lost top corners in Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie each of the past two offseasons and desperately need an influx of talent in their secondary. After unexpectedly going offense last season in round one — and seeing their team rank fifth-to-last in points allowed in 2020 — the Cowboys seem likely to take one of the top-rated corners here. The big-bodied Surtain looked great when tested by high-level competition at Alabama last season and has been linked to Dallas by tons of news outlets already.
Other predictions
Jaylen Waddle to Philadelphia Eagles at No. 12
DeVonta Smith to Miami Dolphins at No. 18
Travis Etienne to New York Jets at No. 23 or Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 24
Julian Edlow’s NFL Mock Draft Top 10
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | QB |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | BYU | QB |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida | TE |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Ja'Marr Chase | LSU | WR |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins* | Justin Fields | Ohio State | QB |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Penei Sewell | Oregon | OT |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Jaycee Horn | South Carolina | CB |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Rashawn Slater | Northwestern | OT |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
1. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
A no-brainer here, with the Jags hoping to turn a new page in franchise history. Lawrence has elite upside, and will work with Urban Meyer towards transitioning two very successful college football careers into NFL success.
2. Zach Wilson (New York Jets)
I am not as 100% sold as most seem to be on Wilson being the second-best QB in this class, but he is a very solid prospect. The Jets pulled the plug on Sam Darnold to hand the franchise to Wilson, so we’ll see how that goes.
3. Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers)
I was ready to put Justin Fields here, who I feel is the second-best QB prospect in this draft. But with reports that the Niners are down to Lance or Mac Jones from Alabama, I’m slotting Lance in as the pick. For starters, the Jones hype this high in the draft has never made sense to me. Of course, it could happen, but I’m not convinced Jones isn’t just a decent QB that was able to put up monster numbers behind some of the best lineman, and with some of the best pass-catchers in the country. San Fran say it is genuine in keeping Jimmy Garoppolo because the player they have their eye on it a project. That makes much more sense that the Niners would be going after the high upside play that might take more time, which is Lance.
4. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta has a lot of options here. I’m not convinced it keeps the pick, but I do think Pitts is the best non-QB prospect in this draft. Replacing Matt Ryan with someone like Fields is appealing, but let’s also remember that Julio Jones’ name has come up on the trade block. Bringing in another generational pass-catcher will help Matty Ice and this offense now, and provide an elite target for the QB of the future when the Falcons do land that player.
5. Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
This is another really tough pick in my mind. Joe Burrow is coming off a serious knee injury, and the Bengals could use help on the offensive line. At the same time, would Cincy be smarter to give Burrow an elite weapon, and former college teammate in Chase? I’d probably go with offensive line, but something tells me the franchise will give Burrow what he wants.
6. Justin Fields (Miami Dolphins — Pick Will Be Traded)
The Dolphins have been linked to receivers here, but they had some pretty good weapons last season, and just added Will Fuller to the mix. If the team is committing to Tua Tagovailoa, going offensive line makes more sense to me. But I also said I think this could be a wild draft for trades, and if Fields makes it out of the top-five, teams will really look to jump up and grab him. New England, Chicago, Washington, Denver, or even Carolina could look to jump up here and grab the decorated Ohio State prospect.
7. Penei Sewell (Detroit Lions)
Sewell is the top OL prospect in the draft, and could wind up being the pick at No. 5 by the Bengals. If he makes it past Cincy, his floor is going somewhere in the next few picks. Detroit has so many needs, and could go WR following the departure of Kenny Golladay. Jaylen Waddle would be an option here in my mind, but with Sewell falling, I could see Detroit taking him to protect Jared Goff in his first year with the team. Given how many needs the Lions have, this pick could easily be moved.
8. Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers)
The Panthers are making noise to also be in the market for a WR, and still sneakily involved in the QB landscape. When it comes down to it, they seem to have a capable offense, and have someone in Christian McCaffrey that they want to touch the ball 25-plus times per game. Going defense with this pick should help Carolina the most, and you’d expect the Panthers to be familiar with a local product. The Panthers clearly missed James Bradberry after he signed with the Giants, and this gives them a high-upside corner to finally replace him.
9. Rashawn Slater (Denver Broncos)
I think the Broncos would move on from Drew Lock if the opportunity was there. Maybe they wind up swapping with Miami, and OL would make sense with this pick. There are still some great receivers on the board at this stage, but Denver infested heavily there in last year’s draft. I have no idea which direction the Broncos go, but getting healthy after a down year, this defense should be pretty good already. If forced to make the pick at this stage, maybe buy some protection for Lock, or whoever winds up at QB.
10. Patrick Surtain II (Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys were supposed to invest in defense last year, but then CeeDee Lamb slide to them in the middle of the first-round, and they just added onto their weapons. This time around, it’s tough to see Dallas passing on a shutdown corner, especially since it’s a desperate need. I’ll just say, don’t be surprised if Jerry Jones tries his best to move into the top-five for Pitts.
Garion Thorne’s NFL Mock Draft Top 10
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | QB |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | BYU | QB |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Mac Jones | Alabama | QB |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida | TE |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Penei Sewell | Oregon | OT |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins | Ja'Marr Chase | LSU | WR |
| 7 | Detroit Lions | Jaylen Waddle | Alabama | WR |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Rashawn Slater | Northwestern | OT |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
1. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
There really isn’t a lot that needs to be said here. Lawrence has been pegged in this spot for what feels like the better part of two years and the Jaguars pulled off a 15-game losing streak to get their franchise quarterback. A week ago, Lawrence took to Twitter to thank Jacksonville fans for all the wedding gifts they’d sent for his recent nuptials. He also stated he’d be donating $20,000 to a local charity. At this point it’d be a little awkward if he wasn’t the first player off the board.
2. Zach Wilson (New York Jets)
While the 2021 Draft does have the potential to get wild, the consensus seems to be that the drama will start at pick three. That’s because the Jets have found their Sam Darnold replacement in Wilson. The 6’3 pivot is coming off an amazing Junior season at BYU, where he averaged 11.0 yards per pass attempt and finished the year with a 11.0 TD/INT ratio. Maybe he doesn’t have the mobility of some of the other QBs in this class, but Joe Douglas gets a busy week started with Wilson.
3. Mac Jones (San Francisco 49ers)
No team has put up as much of a smokescreen as the 49ers since trading with the Dolphins for this pick, though some would make the case that this is among the most obvious selections on the board. For me, I’ve simply heard too much noise about Kyle Shanahan coveting Jones to ignore the hype. It’s certainly possible that Jones doesn’t possess the raw tools to ever be anything more than a “system QB” at the NFL level, but, if you had to choose a system, you’d almost definitely take Shanahan’s.
4. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Would the Falcons consider trading down here? Is any team willing to part with the sort of assets it would take to acquire this pick? Would a team like the Broncos even have to trade-up with the way the board has been trending the past few weeks? For the purpose of this exercise, I won’t be guessing trades, but I do think Atlanta stays put Thursday evening. They’ll take the generational talent in Pitts and create a receiving corps that will have fans and fantasy owners drooling throughout the summer and fall. The Falcons actually racked up 7.5 pythagorean wins in 2020, with a little more luck in 2021, they’re competing for a wild card spot.
5. Penei Sewell (Cincinnati Bengals)
Here’s the real tipping-point of the Draft. If the Bengals take Sewell, the consensus no. 1 offensive lineman on the board, I believe the rest of the top 10 gets a little chalky. However, if Cincinnati instead decides to pair Joe Burrow with LSU wideout Ja’Marr Chase, things get complicated really quickly. In my opinion, the Bengals simply need protection more than they need another weapon. Cincinnati ranked 25th in adjusted sack rate (7.6%) and 31st in adjusted line yards (3.9) last year. There’s also the matter of Burrow’s season-ending injury.
6. Ja’Marr Chase (Miami Dolphins)
Following a season where the Dolphins were, at times, starting the likes of Isaiah Ford and Mack Hollins at receiver, the team is quite obviously looking to improve their skill positions. Chase appears to be a stunning prospect, though he is a full-year removed from an amazing sophomore campaign that saw him rack up 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. If he’s still on the board, he’s the pick. That is, unless Miami’s front office gets an enticing offer from the Bears or the Broncos. The Dolphins do love trading draft capital.
7. Jaylen Waddle (Detroit Lions)
The Lions are a real wild card team in these proceedings. That’s sort of what happens when you could use help at literally every position on the field. My head says that new head coach Dan Campbell and the front office plays it relatively safe by selecting offensive lineman Rashawn Slater, yet one look at Detroit’s WR depth chart is all you need to recognize the glaring holes it has at the position. There’s a real possibility the Lions attempt to trade down here to acquire more capital.
8. Rashawn Slater (Carolina Panthers)
Look, trading for Sam Darnold isn’t exactly what I would call settling the QB position for the long-haul. Still, at the end of the day, the Panthers gave up real assets to bring the former first-round pick in this offseason and it would be wise to give him an opportunity to show what he can do for the franchise. It would also be wise to keep him upright. Slater can certainly help with the latter.
9. Trey Lance (Denver Broncos)
I truly believe that Justin Fields has the capacity to be the second-best quarterback in this class, and that his recent fall from grace is unjustified. However, if John Elway and the Broncos have the opportunity to draft a raw QB dripping with potential and tools, they’re going to do it 100 times out of 100. As we all know, Elway has a type. The Josh Allen comparisons are inevitable when it comes to Lance, and while Allen’s path will be difficult to duplicate, Lance’s ceiling is tantalizing.
10. Patrick Surtain II (Dallas Cowboys)
Let’s bookend this mock with another layup. Surtain is -125 on the DraftKings Sportsbook to be the first defensive player off the board and he’s also -200 to be a top 10 pick. Well, let’s cash some tickets, because few players and teams have been as connected throughout this process as Surtain and the Cowboys. Dallas loaded up the skill positions last season when it drafted CeeDee Lamb, now it can fill the void left by Byron Jones last offseason.
Steve Buchanan’s NFL Mock Draft Top 10
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick # | Team | Player Name | School | Position |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | QB |
| 2 | New York Jets | Zach Wilson | BYU | QB |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Justin Fields | Ohio State | QB |
| 4 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Pitts | Florida | TE |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | Penei Sewell | Oregon | OT |
| 6 | Miami Dolphins | Ja'Marr Chase | LSU | WR |
| 7 | New England Patriots* (From Detroit) | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Rashawn Slater | Northwestern | OT |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Mac Jones | Alabama | QB |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | Patrick Surtain II | Alabama | CB |
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1. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
I mean, yeah.
2. Zach Wilson (New York Jets)
The draft doesn’t really begin until pick three, as the Jets have been besotted with Wilson for quite sometime now. While Wilson only has one real impressive year of college under his belt, the numbers he did post last season were mouthwatering for a team in desperate need of production under center. Wilson completed 72.7% of his 337 pass attempts for 3694 yards 32 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His ability to throw off-balance and accurately has drawn high praise and something Jets fans will undoubtedly see early, as Wilson will be penciled in to start in Week 1.
3. Justin Fields (San Francisco 49ers)
Arguably the biggest debate of the draft, the Niners settle on Fields and keep QB Mac Jones on the board. Plenty of rumors were flying on Monday saying that the Niners were out of the running for Fields and would instead take either Jones or QB Trey Lance. Personally, I think Fields is still the choice and would fit into the Kyle Shanahan offense. Fields can literally do it all and the quarterback position for the Niners has been extremely limited since Jimmy Garoppolo has come onto the scene with his lack of mobility and injuries. It’s time to unveil a new look in San Fran.
4. Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Honestly, I would LOVE to see the Falcons trade out of this spot. This team has so many holes to fill that it’s hard to really pick one as a top priority. Grabbing a quarterback here wouldn’t be the worst move they could make but in the end, Pitts is being described as an absolute game changer. Adding to this potent offense isn’t a bad strategy by any means. With QB Matt Ryan expected to to remain under center, Pitts and his massive 6’6” 240 frame will be a boding figure over the middle of the field. With rumors that the Falcons are also fielding calls on WR Julio Jones, targets could be here for the taking.
5. Penei Sewell (Cincinnati Bengals)
This could easily be a spot where WR Ja’Marr Chase could be taking but the priority for the Bengals needs to be their offensive line. The built in chemistry with their time at LSU cannot be discounted, as these two who the national championship in 2019. However, protecting Burrow should be the priority and that’s where I think the Bengals land.
With the ability to play both left tackle and guard, Sewell should be a pivotal piece in a line that desperately needs help. Last season, the Bengals offensive line allowed pressure on 31% of the Bengals total drop backs between Burrow, Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley.
6. Ja’Marr Chase (Miami Dolphins)
The Dolphins had what felt like a carousel of characters at receiver last season. After DeVante Parker, it never felt as if they had a solidified receiver alongside of him. To the Dolphins credit, they did add Will Fuller V on a one-year prove it deal. Grabbing Chase make for an excellent WR3 in his rookie season. This almost feels like the ideal situation for the Dolphins, similar to what we saw play out last year for the Cowboys, who nabbed WR CeeDee Lamb at pick 17. It played out perfectly and was a no-brainer. With Chase being the most talented player on the board offensive beside Pitts, the Dolphins don’t have much to think about here.
7. Trey Lance (New England Patriots from Detroit Lions)
TRADEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
The Patriots swoop in and grab their quarterback of the future and draft Lance as the Lions scoop up some picks. I think we all can agree the Lions are not contending in 2021 regardless of who is under quarterback. They are reportedly willing to trade back in the draft and I think this move makes sense.
With Cam Newton under center, the transition would be a much easier one, as the Patriots had a mobile quarterback for the first time in decades. While Lance is still extremely raw, the Patriots did their part in loading up on weapons, especially in the middle of the field with Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. The AFC East is suddenly getting tighter and tighter and if they don’t act now, the reign of supreme could be over for the Patriots. With quarterback being the last piece of the puzzle for this team, moving up to seven make sense.
8. Rashawn Slater (Carolina Panthers)
If you’re going to make a splash for a quarterback in the offseason, it would be wise to make sure he’s protected. Slater would do the job for the Panthers, who grab him at eight. Slater is multi-talented and has five-position eligibility, giving the Panthers an immense amount of flexibility. Teddy Bridgewater was under pressure on just under 31% of his dropbacks last season, so loading up this line for Darnold is necessary. He’s no stranger to being under a ton of pressure to begin with but last year when he was working with a clean pocket, Darnold had a 68.1% completion percentage, six of his nine pass touchdowns thrown and 6.4 YPA. Nothing mind blowing here but then again, that’s working with that Jets “offense” last season.
9. Mac Jones (Denver Broncos)
With Fields going to the 49ers, Jones slides down to nine into the lap of the Broncos. We’ve heard plenty of chatter that the Broncos would move up, ensuring they were able to nab a quarterback but I think they can stand pat and still land their guy. The Broncos have done an excellent job of surrounding QB Drew Lock with weapons to go to but simply hasn’t been able to execute. While Jones is the least mobile of the quarterbacks available overall, it’s not something the Broncos would need. Instead, they can rely upon his accuracy to do exactly what this offense is built on, which is getting the ball in the hands of their receivers.
10. Patrick Surtain II (Dallas Cowboys)
While the Cowboys could use some help on the offensive line, they’re nabbing the most talented corner on the board. It’s another glaring need for the ‘Boys, who were simply ravaged by opposing receivers. According to Pro Football Focus, the Cowboys had one of the lowest coverage ratings in the league last season, landing at 27th overall. While Surtain doesn’t have a ton of top speed, he makes up for it with his excellent man coverage, a part of the Cowboys game that was lacking in 2020.
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