D.J. Jarka’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft

With one day left before the start of pro football’s biggest offseason event, this is my official 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

Before we jump into this fun tradition, I rendered this one without any trades. There was not any I could picture clearly. However, I think with so much intrigue regarding this year’s quarterback crop, there could be a lot of movement.

That being said, let’s get on with the picks!

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson – As usual for the first overall pick, this is the easiest one to project. Lawrence enters the draft as the highest rated quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck and may be the Jaguars’ cornerstone at the position they lacked over the last several years. With new coach Urban Meyer in the fold, it will be interesting to see how him and Lawrence will mesh. Meyer is vastly experienced with working with young players throughout his collegiate coaching career, but his system and style has yet to be tested in the NFL. If Lawrence and Meyer both click together and each reach their topside potential, this could be one of the top quarterback-coaching combinations in the entire league.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson QB BYU – Going quarterback here became a foregone conclusion once Sam Darnold was traded to Carolina. The whispers in the wind strongly indicate that Wilson will be the pick here. Wilson looks to possess all the tools needed to be an elite passer at the pro level. The biggest concern is the last season he played against mostly sub-optimal college teams.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones QB Alabama – The belief is the 49ers jumped to this spot to pick the next best quarterback available, with it rumored to be down to Jones or Trey Lance. Jones was the most heavily linked for most of the time since they made the trade, but I would not be shocked if Lance were picked. It will be interesting to see what happens with Jimmy Garoppolo going forward. Will he be cut free-and-clear or could he be traded to another quarterback needy team (i.e. New England)? Although unlikely, I think Kyle Pitts would be a nice fit here.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts TE Florida – Pitts is the best non-quarterback prospect in the entire draft. Although Matt Ryan is getting older, I think Arthur Smith believes there is enough left in his tank to revitalize him and adding such a dangerous weapon as Pitts would go a long way toward doing that. The rumors that a Julio Jones trade may occur are disappointing because I think a Pitts-Jones-Calvin Ridley receiving combination could be one of the best in the league.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU – For a long time, I pegged Penei Sewell here considering how the Bengals need to continue protecting Joe Burrow as much as possible especially after his knee injury. However, Chase is the top receiver in a stacked wide receiving class that would make Cincinnati’s receiving corps top notch alongside a solid veteran like Tyler Boyd and the emerging Tee Higgins.
6. Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle WR Alabama – I think Miami would take Chase if still there but if not, the Dolphins will reunite Tua Tagovailoa with one of his former Alabama teammates in Waddle or DeVonta Smith. The Dolphins want to ensure Tua is the franchise quarterback that they think, so equipping him with a player that draws comparisons to Tyreek Hill seems like the right choice.
7. Detroit Lions: DeVonta Smith WR Alabama – Detroit feels like the first wildcard pick in the draft. The Lions may be in a prime spot to trade back with a team that wants one of the remaining elite quarterbacks. There is a chance they may take one themselves, but I think they want to see how Jared Goff can perform. If they stand pat, taking last season’s Heisman Trophy winner makes a lot of sense considering they lost Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. and I do not think Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman are suitable replacements. Some people take issue with his frame, but I think he is talented enough for that to not be a problem.
8. Carolina Panthers: Penei Sewell OT Oregon – I saw this as a quarterback landing spot until the Darnold trade. I think Micah Parsons is a strong possibly here, but if Sewell slips such as this scenario, he will be too hard to pass up. Also look for Rashawn Slater as a possibility.
9. Denver Broncos: Micah Parsons LB Penn State – A quarterback could be chosen here, but Denver might go the veteran route instead of a rookie. Parsons is the best defensive prospect in the draft and the Broncos could use an upgrade in the middle of its linebacking group.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II CB Alabama – As much as Jerry Jones loves Pitts, he will not land him if the Cowboys stay at No. 10. I think Surtain is the best cornerback in the draft and would be a slam dunk if Dallas chooses to stay put.
11. New York Giants: Jaelan Phillips EDGE Miami – I think the Giants would like to add weapons for Daniel Jones, but after missing out on the elite wide receivers and Pitts, they turn their attention to the pass rush.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina – If Howie Roseman thought he could land one of the top wide receivers prior to trading down to this spot, he was wrong. The Eagles look like another trade back candidate but also could trade back up to grab a wide out (maybe a package that includes Zack Ertz?). There were some rumblings about picking a passer here, but I am not buying it. With all that considered, I see addressing the secondary in this scenario as their best option.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern – After the recent deleted tweet about trading up with the Lions, there were strong indications that the Chargers are looking to upgrade at offensive tackle. Slater would be a nice fit and some experts think he might be better than Sewell.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech – This looks like another potential trade down spot. This might be a reach, but I think Minnesota wants to address the offensive tackle position if it remains at No. 14.
15. New England Patriots: Justin Fields QB Ohio State – Bill Belichick gets his quarterback of the future. Considering how aggressive New England was in free agency, I can see them trading up for Fields, or whichever quarterback they like the most. All the other AFC East teams will be not be happy if this occurs.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Greg Newsome II CB Northwestern – The Cardinals have one of the most potent offenses in the league so adding a top young defensive player makes sense here. With longtime staple Patrick Peterson gone, Newsome can walk in and be the starter opposite Malcolm Butler on Day 1.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama – I always enjoy seeing what the Raiders do with their first rounder. It regularly seems to be the least predictable pick in the draft. With Jon Gruden, there will always be rumors swirling of taking a quarterback that he falls in love with. Instead of that route, I see them upgrading their offensive line with Leatherwood.
18. Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye EDGE Michigan – With their second first round pick, I could see the Dolphins go in variety of directions. A stud running back like Najee Harris, Travis Etienne or Javonte Williams could be the final piece to assembling their offense. Miami also needs to replace Kyle Van Noy and an edge rusher such as Paye or several others still on the board would fit the need.
19. Washington Football Team: Trey Lance QB North Dakota State – Washington certainly has more pressing needs, but I think Lance would be too hard to pass up here. Ryan Fitzpatrick brings short-term stability to the position and Taylor Heinicke showed some good signs but neither have the upside that Lance possesses. Lance is an intriguing prospect in that he showed many top qualities that are looked for in a franchise quarterback but also has some unique doubts around him regarding the level of competition he faced and the total amount of experience he holds. I think those negatives make him the most likely of the five first round quarterbacks to slide in the draft.
20. Chicago Bears: Teven Jenkins OT Oklahoma State – The Bears would be mad in this scenario missing out on Lance by one pick. They have an obvious need at quarterback, but I do not see them reaching for Kyle Trask or Kellen Mond in this case. Whoever ends up as their primary signal caller, they will need more offensive line help which is why I went with Jenkins here.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech – I could see Farley going higher than this. If Newsome was still on the board, he may also be the pick for the Colts.
22. Tennessee Titans: Elijah Moore WR Ole Miss – A.J. Brown is a stud. However, there are many questions behind him on the depth chart. I think Tennessee goes with whoever they feel is the best wide receiver or tight end available, considering they lost Jonnu Smith in the offseason.
23. New York Jets: Azeez Ojulari EDGE Georgia – Much like the Dolphins, the Jets could go in several different directions in this spot – maybe even more so considering how many holes remain on their roster. Upgrading the pass rush will be critical in helping the team regain relevancy and Ojulari is one of several edge rush options the Jets may go to help that area.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris RB Alabama – I felt pass rush would be the most likely route here for the Steelers as they search for a replacement for Bud Dupree. But in recent days, there were reports that they fancy Harris. Even prior to the departure of James Conner, there was looming questions about Pittsburgh’s running game. Harris would step in immediately as the starter and bring more dynamic skills than any other running back currently on the roster.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rashod Bateman WR Minnesota – Even with the addition of Marvin Jones Jr., the Jags will be spreading the offense out with Lawrence at the helm and more quality receiving depth will be needed. Jones, Bateman, D.J. Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. would give Jacksonville a solid group for Lawrence to step into and provide Bateman extra time to develop further if needed since he would not be forced to be the immediate primary option.
26. Cleveland Browns: Christian Barmore IDL Alabama – The recent signing of Jadeveon Clowney removes pass rush as a need. Adding Barmore to the inside would give Cleveland one of the most formable defensive lines in the league.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Tryon EDGE Washington – With the first of two late first rounders, Baltimore looks to add to its pass rush with Tryon. However, an offensive tackle after the Orlando Brown Jr. trade makes sense, as well.
28. New Orleans Saints: Jamin Davis LB Kentucky – Sean Payton recently stated that the team needs to draft a young quarterback. Trask and Mond will likely still be here but I think both are too early to take. If the Saints like one of the top passers, I am not sure they hold enough capital to swing a trade up for them. There is a big hole at middle linebacker and Davis could slot in immediately as the starter.
29. Green Bay Packers: Zaven Collins LB Tulsa – After taking a backup quarterback, a backup running back and a blocking tight end with its first several picks last draft, it became obvious that Brian Gutekunst does not view the draft as a necessary route to provide Aaron Rodgers with more immediate offensive weapons. I see that continuing with the Collins picks, granted there is a need to solidify the inside linebacker position.
30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne RB Clemson – There are some rumblings that if Etienne is on the board when the Bills pick, that he will be the selection. There were even some hints that Brandon Beane may trade up to take him ahead of teams like the Dolphins, Jets and Steelers. Etienne brings an explosive play element that is missing amongst the other Buffalo running backs and would be a more viable threat out of the backfield. He can even be a threat lining up in the slot. The Bills could also justifiably go edge rush or cornerback here.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Kadarius Toney WR Florida – Even with the signing of Sammy Watkins, Baltimore could still use another upgrade at wide out. A trio of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Watkins and Toney would give Lamar Jackson his best group of wide receivers he ever played with in Baltimore. Offensive tackle is again a strong possibility here with someone like Liam Eichenberg still available.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jayson Oweh EDGE Penn State – With the re-signing of Antonio Brown, it seems like the Tampa Bay front office will look toward picking a pass rusher with the final pick of the first round. There are numerous ways the Bucs could go, but I think the speedy Oweh is too tempting to pass up. With Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett returning (much like the rest of the roster) for the reigning Super Bowl Champions, Oweh can sit behind them and develop before cracking the starting lineup.