Cards now target CB in McManaman’s NFL Mock Draft 2.0
Arizona Republic NFL writer Bob McManaman offers the second edition of his 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac.
The NFL Draft is April 29-May1 and we take 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 a chance to become a
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A look at the top defensive tackles available in the draft, legend in Jacksonville and his talents will make the Jaguars relevant again before you know it.
(Previous pick: Lawrence)
2. New York Jets (2-14): QB Zach Wilson, 6-3, 210, BYU
As noted in my first mock draft, Sam Darnold isn’t the future and since then, the Jets have dealt him to the Panthers, opening the door for them to snag Wilson as their new franchise quarterback.
(Previous pick: Wilson)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) via Dolphins/Texans: QB Justin Fields, 6-3, 233, Ohio State
It’s still a quarterback, but now I have the 49ers going with Fields over North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Alabama’s
Mac Jones has been the popular pick here, but Fields, to me, projects as the better long-term solution. How dynamic would Florida tight end Kyle Pitts look in a starting lineup opposite George Kittle, though?
(Previous pick: Lance)
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): QB Trey Lance, 6-4, 226, North Dakota State
Lance is a little raw, but he has tremendous upside and there’s been whispers the Falcons will sweep in to grab him and let him learn under Matt Ryan before eventually turning the keys over to him. Personally, I think they’re better off taking one of the top three wide receivers or tight end Kyle Pitts.
(Previous pick: Ja’Marr Chase)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): OT Penei Sewell, 6-5, 325, Oregon
It will be difficult to pass on a stud playmaker like tight end Kyle Pitts or wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, but the smart thing to do when you have a young franchise quarterback like Joe Burrow is making sure you protect him first and Sewell will be a landmark cornerstone in Cincy.
(Previous pick: Sewell)
6. Miami Dolphins (10-6) via Eagles: TE Kyle Pitts, 6-6, 246, Florida
All the top wide receivers are here for the picking, but as good to great as all of them are, there’s only one Kyle Pitts. He is a total mismatch nightmare and gives Tua Tagovailoa a target like no other. Expect the Dolphins to receive some enticing trade proposals for this pick.
(Previous pick: DaVonta Smith)
7. Detroit Lions (5-11): WR Ja’Marr Chase, 6-1, 208 LSU
In this scenario, the top-rated receiver falls to the Lions and after losing both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. to free agency, all of Michigan rejoices. You know, if Jared Goff can get him the ball.
(Previous pick: Jaylen Waddle)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-11): WR DaVonta Smith, 6-1, 170, Alabama
After acquiring Sam Darnold from the Jets, Carolina doesn’t need to add another young quarterback to the mix. Remember, they still have Teddy Bridgewater, too. Go get one of the next-best receivers in this year’s class, either Smith or his former Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle.
(Previous pick: Fields)
9. Denver Broncos (5-11): LB Micah Parsons, 6-3, 245, Penn State
As I mentioned in my first mock draft, if one of the quarterbacks listed ahead falls this far, that could be the pick. The Broncos might also opt to try and trade up to get one of them. Assuming they don’t, then Parsons makes the most sense. He’s the best defensive player in this draft and Denver needs a new stud linebacker.
(Previous pick: Parsons)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10): CB Patrick Surtain II, 6-2, 203, Alabama
There have been rumblings that Owner Jerry Jones direly wants to trade up to snag Kyle Pitts. It would be worth it, too, in my opinion. But the Cowboys can’t go wrong adding am elite cornerback like Surtain to pair with another former Alabama corner in Trevon Diggs.
(Previous pick: Surtain II)
11. New York Giants (6-10): OL Rashawn Slater, 6-4, 315, Northwestern
Yes, they drafted an offensive tackle last year in Andrew Thomas, but Slater would absolutely bolster the Giants’ front five in that he can play anywhere and eventually take over at left tackle and allow Thomas to slide to the right side, where he is more comfortable.
(Previous pick: Greg Rousseau)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) via Dolphins/49ers: WR Jaylen Waddle, 5-10, 180, Alabama
If Waddle lasts this long, it’s a total steal for the Eagles and it might be enough to make quarterback Jalen Hurts finally believe he has a future in Philly. Waddle is a combination of Tyreek Hill and Anquan Boldin and Hurts will thrive with him as his new, long-term favorite target.
(Previous pick: Pitts)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9): OL Alija Vera-Tucker, 6-4, 300, USC
It’s still an offensive lineman, but with Slater off the board, the Chargers take Vera-Tucker. He can play tackle but could be an All-Pro at guard. It’s a great addition for young quarterback Justin Herbert after the team already added
center Corey Linsley and right guard Matt Feiler in free agency.
(Previous pick: Slater)
14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9): DL Kwity Paye, 6-4, 272, Michigan
As much as they could be targeting an offensive tackle here, I can see Mike Zimmer lobbying for more defensive help up front and Paye is a highly-rated prospect who can step in right away and help make a difference.
(Previous pick: Vera-Tucker)
15. New England Patriots (7-9): QB Mac Jones, 6-3, 217, Alabama
If Parsons, the linebacker from Penn State, were to fall this far then he would probably be the pick. But with Jones available and staring Bill Belichick in the face, Belichick can’t resist the opportunity to train his next, new franchise quarterback. Cardinals fans need to be on alert, however. Belichick might opt for Jaycee Horn instead.
(Previous pick: Jones)
16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): CB Jaycee Horn, 6-1, 205, South Carolina
Something tells me that Horn won’t last this long — and he probably shouldn’t. If he is, it’s a no-brainer for the Cardinals. If he isn’t available, I can’t see GM Steve Keim going with one of the top-rated running backs, even though new addition James Conner is only under contract for one year. The next-best option: staying with a cornerback at 16 and deciding whether it’s Caleb Farley or Greg Newsome II.
(Previous pick: Horn)
17. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8): OL Christian Darrisaw, 6-5, 314, Virginia Tech
The Raiders need to rebuild their offensive line and drafting Darrisaw is one way to help make it happen. Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State is another option they could consider.
(Previous pick: Darrisaw)
18. Miami Dolphins (10-6): EDGE Greg Rousseau, 6-6, 260, Miami
After adding a massive talent on offense in Pitt, who might be the best overall player in the draft, the Dolphins land one of this year’s best edge rushers in Rousseau and he gets to stay in Miami. Keep an eye on this team in 2021.
(Previous pick: Paye)
19. Washington Football Team (7-9): OL Teven Jenkins, 6-5, 310, Oklahoma State
Left tackle remains a priority and Jenkins would be a good fit here, although Washington is said to be coveting a linebacker high in the draft as well.
(Previous pick: Jenkins)
20. Chicago Bears (8-8): WR Kadarius Toney, 5-11, 190, Florida
I’m sticking with Toney as the pick, although I’ve been hearing the Bears could go cornerback here and take wither Caleb Farley or Greg Newsome II. Toney would give the Bears a different dimension on offense, however, and as previously noted, he’s a speedy receiver out of the slot who could help Andy Dalton get jump-started in Chicago.
(Previous pick: Toney)
21. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): CB Greg Newsome II, 6-1, 190, Northwestern
It’s still a cornerback, but now it’s Newsome II, who is rising on a lot of draft boards. As good as Farley is, I’m expecting him to drop because of his medical history, even though doctors have given him very favorable reviews.
(Previous pick: Farley)
22. Tennessee Titans (11-5): OL Jalen Mayfield, 6-5, 320, Michigan
They could go with a cornerback here, either Tyson Campbell or Farley, but I’m switching to offensive line help, where Mayfield could provide a solid foundation for the future.
(Previous pick: Campbell)
23. New York Jets (2-14) via Seahawks: CB Asante Samuel Jr., 5-10 184, Florida State
The Jets might not be able to pass on Farley, but if they do, I’ll stick with this pick for now. They could go defensive line or linebacker here and I won’t be surprised.
(Previous pick: Samuel Jr.)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): EDGE Jayson Oweh, 6-5, 253, Penn State
Comment: A running back or a cornerback might be the pick, but Oweh still makes the most sense to me. He’s got uncanny speed for his size and could be a dynamic player for years to come.
(Previous pick: Oweh)
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) via Rams: DL Christian Barmore, 6-5, 310, Alabama
The Jaguars undoubtedly will focus on a defensive player here, but it could be just about any position, really. I think they’ll look to improve up front as they continue their rebuild and Barmore offers them a quality run-stuffer with some ideal inside pass-rush burst.
(Previous pick: Trevon Moehrig)
26. Cleveland Browns (11-5): OLB Azeez Ojulari, 6-3, 240, Georgia
No change. Pairing Ojulari with AllPro pass rusher Myles Garrett would be a devastating combination to throw against opposing offenses.
(Previous pick: Ojulari)
27. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): EDGE Jaelen Phillips, 6-5, 266, Miami
I wouldn’t blame them for going with a big wide receiver or a cornerback here, but the Ravens need to replenish their pass rush following the free-agent departures of Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue and Phillips projects as the best pass-rusher available on the board.
(Previous pick: Phillips)
28. New Orleans Saints (12-4): CB Caleb Farley, 6-2, 207, Virginia Tech
If Farley drops this far, it’s probably a crime. That’s the NFL draft, though. If it happens to play out this way, the Saints will be the benefactor and can only rejoice assuming all the medical records check out on their end. This guy is a special player who, if healthy, can help revitalize the secondary.
(Previous pick: Rashod Bateman)
29. Green Bay Packers (13-3): LB Zaven Collins, 6-4, 260, Tulsa
They could go with a wide receiver here — either Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman or LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr. — but Collins remains the pick. He’s a runstuffer and is exactly what they’ve been lacking in the middle of their defense. He also excels in passing situations.
(Previous pick: Collins)
30. Buffalo Bills (13-3): CB Tyson Campbell, 6-2, 180, Georgia
Comment: Campbell could be gone by this point, but the Bills should pounce on him if he’s still available. They can strengthen their secondary with this prospect, who has good size and coverage ability.
(Previous pick: Travis Etienne)
31. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Terrace Marshall Jr., 6-3, 200, LSU
Previously, I projected an offensive tackle to the Chiefs and that might still happen after the team released Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. But with so many tackles now off the board, Kansas City adds a big target for Pat Mahomes who can play on the outside and take the spot that used to belong to Sammy Watkins.
(Previous pick: Jalen Mayfield)
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5): S Trevon Moehrig, 6-2, 202, TCU
The Bucs managed to return the majority of their Super Bowl championship team, so there’s no telling which direction they’ll go with this pick. Nabbing the best safety in the draft in Moehrig,would be a dynamic option for their defense.
(Previous pick: Christian Barmore)