Cards go after immediate help, pick CB

Arizona Republic NFL writer Bob McManaman offers his first edition of his 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac.

The NFL Draft is April 29-May 1 and I'm taking a look at how things could play out in the first round. Last year in my final mock draft, I correctly projected 23 of the 32 players that would be selected in the first round, with eight going to the designated team I projected.

My picks are based on observations, team needs, scouting services and various NFL sources:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15): QB Trevor Lawrence, 6-6, 220, Clemson

Lawrence has all the skills to become a standout quarterback in the NFL and the turnaround in Jacksonville might not take as long as some might be expecting.

2. New York Jets (2-14): QB Zach Wilson, 6-3, 210, BYU

Wilson is the second-best quarterback in this year’s class and the Jets would be foolish not to take him. Sam Darnold isn’t the future.

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) via Dolphins/Texans: QB Trey Lance, 6-4, 226, North Dakota State

Speaking of moving on from quarterbacks, it’s the same situation for the 49ers, who didn’t trade up nine spots to not pick a QB. Jimmy Garoppolo’s days are numbered.

4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): WR Ja’Marr Chase, 6-1, 208 LSU

Matt Ryan is still a very good quarterback and there’s no reason for a total start-over in Atlanta, so the Falcons do the smart thing and give Ryan the best wide receiver in the draft.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): OT Penei Sewell, 6-5, 325, Oregon

As tempting as it might be for the Bengals to go after a playmaker on offense at No. 5, adding a stout tackle such as Sewell to help protect Joe Burrow is the way to go.

6. Miami Dolphins (10-6) via Eagles: WR DaVonta Smith, 6-1, 170, Alabama

This might be a tad too high for Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner, but Tua Tagovailoa would love to throw passes again to his former college teammate. The Dolphins are going to be better than you think.

7. Detroit Lions (5-11): WR Jaylen Waddle, 5-10, 180, Alabama

When you lose Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. to free agency, you need some serious help at wide receiver. Waddle is going to be a great one, even if Jared Goff struggles to run the offense.

8. Carolina Panthers (5-11): QB Justin Fields, 6-3, 233, Ohio State

They might decide to stick with Teddy Bridgewater, but where there’s smoke there is fire and the rumors about drafting a quarterback of the future have been rampant for months now.

9. Denver Broncos (5-11): LB Micah Parsons, 6-3, 245, Penn State

If one of the quarterbacks listed ahead falls this far, that’s the pick. John Elway is growing more impatient by the day. Parsons, however, is the type of linebacker they’ve long been looking to add.

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10): CB Patrick Surtain II, 6-2, 203, Alabama

Imagine how opposing wide receivers are going to feel having to go up against two big, athletic cornerbacks from Alabama in Trevon Diggs and Surtain?

This is a no-brainer for the Cowboys.

11. New York Giants (6-10): EDGE Greg Rousseau, 6-6, 260, Miami

Though he opted out of the 2020 season, Rousseau looks like the real deal and can help the Giants rediscover their pass rush. He knows how to get into the backfield and create chaos.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) via Dolphins/49ers: TE Kyle Pitts, 6-6, 246, Florida

Pitts is an absolute mismatch nightmare and he might be long gone by this point in the draft. Whoever gets him is going to get one dynamic talent who is ready to be a superstar.

13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9): OL Rashawn Slater, 6-4, 315, Northwestern

The mission has been made clear to upgrade the protection around young quarterback Justin Herbert and after adding center Corey Linsley and right guard Matt Feiler, the Chargers draft a player in Slater who can play anywhere along the offensive line.

14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9): OL Alija Vera-Tucker, 6-4, 300, USC

After deciding to move on from Riley Reiff, the Vikings need a new left tackle and Vera-Tucker could easily be it. They’ve done a good job adding pieces on defense, but tackle is a position that must be addressed.

15. New England Patriots (7-9): QB Mac Jones, 6-3, 217, Alabama

It might seem like a reach for Bill Belichick to draft a quarterback who is seen as the fifth-best player at this position, but you never know with Belichick. To me, re-signing Cam Newton was an insurance policy, not a solution to the longtime starting QB spot.

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): CB Jaycee Horn, 6-1, 205, South Carolina

The Cardinals might trade out of this spot, but not if Horn is available. If he is, it makes sense to add a starting outside corner for the long haul and Horn, the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn, has said he would love to play for Arizona.

17. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8): OL Christian Darrisaw, 6-5, 314, Virginia Tech

After dismantling their offensive line during the offseason, it’s time to start putting it back together and if Darrisaw is available, he could easily be the pick here.

18. Miami Dolphins (10-6): DL Kwity Paye, 6-4, 272, Michigan

Look for the Dolphins to make a play for a difference-maker on the defensive front. Paye might need some seasoning, but the potential seems to be there.

19. Washington Football Team (7-9): OL Teven Jenkins, 6-5, 310, Oklahoma State

Finding a cornerstone left tackle for the offensive line remains an issue and Washington will address it at some point in the draft, whether the answer is Jenkins or another prospect.

20. Chicago Bears (8-8): WR Kadarius Toney, 5-11, 190, Florida

The Bears could go offensive line here, but Toney gives them a different dimension on offense and he’s a speedy receiver out of the slot who could help Andy Dalton get jump-started in Chicago.

21. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): CB Caleb Farley, 6-2, 207, Virginia Tech

Farley opted out of the 2020 season and recently underwent back surgery, which likely will make him slide in the first round. He is an amazing talent, however, and he’ll get his chance to prove it to whichever teams drafts him.

22. Tennessee Titans (11-5): CB Tyson Campbell, 6-2, 180, Georgia

Tennessee is on the hunt for a star cornerback of the future and Campbell is a big, physical prospect who might be exactly what the Titans need.

23. New York Jets (2-14) via Seahawks: CB Asante Samuel Jr., 5-10 184, Florida State

The Jets could go in multiple directions here, be it defensive line, running back or something else, but this is a great year for cornerback and it’s not as if New York couldn’t use one.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): EDGE Jayson Oweh, 6-5, 253, Penn State

Oweh doesn’t just have great size, but he ran a 4.3 40 and that’s almost impossible to fathom. With some polishing, he could evolve into a super-scary disruptive force and make the Steelers forget about saying goodbye to Bud Dupree.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) via Rams: S Trevon Moehrig, 6-2, 202, TCU

The rebuilding on defense gets even better with the best safety in the draft and Moehrig could be part of something special brewing in northern Florida.

26. Cleveland Browns (11-5): OLB Azeez Ojulari, 6-3, 240, Georgia

Ojulari would make for a nice bookend opposite All-Pro pass rusher

Myles Garrett. He’s a younger, smaller version of Chandler Jones who has a real shot to become great.

27. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): EDGE Jaelen Phillips, 6-5, 266, Miami

The Ravens will be looking to restore their pass rush after losing Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. Phillips should be available at this spot, but he might also slide into the second round.

28. New Orleans Saints (12-4): WR Rashod Bateman, 6-2, 210, Minnesota

This pick has a good feel to it for me, but the Saints could address the defense here and it wouldn’t be a shock. Bateman, though, is the type of talent that coach Sean Payton loves to utilize and develop.

29. Green Bay Packers (13-3): LB Zaven Collins, 6-4, 260, Tulsa

The time to draft a wide receiver was last year. This time, the Packers should be on the lookout for a stud linebacker who can help against the rush and the pass. Drafting a wide receiver wouldn’t hurt, either.

30. Buffalo Bills (13-3): RB Travis Etienne, 5-10, 205, Clemson

This might look like a luxury pick, but it really isn’t. Adding a young tailback like Etienne will only help keep the Bills’ high-octane offense burning stronger.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: OL Jalen Mayfield, 6-5, 320, Michigan

With the release of tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz it should be apparent what the Chiefs will be targeting with their first-round pick.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5): DL Christian Barmore, 6-5, 310, Alabama

The Buccaneers can take the best player available and be happy about it. Adding a player like Barmore, whom they can groom into a stud interior force on their defensive line, isn’t a bad choice.