Offensive star headed to Cardinals?
Arizona Republic NFL writer Bob McManaman offers the third and final edition of his 2021 NFL mock draft.
The NFL Draft is Thursday through Saturday 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 will help lead a Jaguars’ revival that will bring the NFL franchise back to relevancy quicker than most people think.
(Previous picks: Lawrence/Lawrence)
2. New York Jets (2-14): QB Zach Wilson, 6-3, 210, BYU
With Sam Darnold having been traded to Carolina, the Jets are ready to introduce their new and improved franchise quarterback.
(Previous picks: Wilson/Wilson)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) via Dolphins/Texans: QB Trey Lance, 6-4, 226, North Dakota State
They didn’t trade all the way up from No.12 to not pick a quarterback. The question is, which one? Will it be Lance or Mac Jones from Alabama? Jones might be the most NFL-ready, but Lance has the skill set to bring much more to the position. Personally, I like the idea of drafting former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts to pair with George Kittle.
(Previous picks: Lance/Justin Fields)
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): TE Kyle Pitts, 6-6, 246, Florida
At some point the Falcons will need a new franchise quarterback, but they’re sticking with Matt Ryan for another year or two and doing the right thing by giving him quite possibly the best offensive weapon in the entire draft. Pitts will be a mismatch nightmare for years and years. Who’s willing to trade up to No. 4 to steal him away?
(Previous picks: Ja’Marr Chase/Lance)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): OT Penei Sewell, 6-5, 325, Oregon
I’m not budging off this pick, even though selecting former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will be incredibly tempting. Protecting Joe Burrow, their young franchise quarterback, should be the Bengals’ top priority.
(Previous picks: Sewell/Sewell)
6. Miami Dolphins (10-6) via Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, 6-0, 208, LSU
If Pitts doesn’t fall to them, the Dolphins will be more than happy to select Chase. He’s the top-rated prospect among wide receivers and he’ll help make Tua Tagovailoa that much better. Miami is building something special.
(Previous picks: DeVonta Smith/Pitts)
7. Detroit Lions (5-11): WR DeVonta Smith, 6-1, 170, Alabama
The Lions really wouldn’t draft a quarterback here, would they? Nah. I still think it’s going to be a wide receiver, and in Smith they get an outstanding route runner and playmaker after letting both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. walk as free agents.
(Previous picks: Jaylen Waddle/Chase)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-11): CB Jaycee Horn, 6-1, 205, South Carolina
The Panthers are in great position here to significantly improve their roster at multiple positions. It could be at offensive line (Rashawn Slater) or wide receiver (Jaylen Waddle), but Horn would be a huge shot in the arm for their secondary. I think he’s better than Patrick Surtain II and Surtain II is a stud. (Previous picks: Fields/Smith)
9. Denver Broncos (5-11): QB Justin Fields, 6-3, 228, Ohio State
Denver probably should draft former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons here. He’s the best defensive player in the draft. But John Elway can’t help himself in this situation; Fields is too irresistible for him to pass and Drew Lock isn’t the answer.
(Previous picks: Parsons/Parsons)
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10): CB Patrick Surtain II, 6-2, 203, Alabama
Jerry Jones might be tempted to make a splash by trading up for Kyle Pitts, but I think he’ll get talked out of it. Besides, Surtain II is the real deal and he will flourish in a secondary with fellow former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs. (Previous picks: Surtain II/Surtain II)
11. New York Giants (6-10): OT Rashawn Slater, 6-4, 315, Northwestern
I’m not sure Slater gets past the Panthers or the Broncos, but if he does, the Giants should and probably will scoop him up to solidify things in front of Daniel Jones. Slater can play anywhere on the line and will be an upgrade wherever they put him.
(Previous picks: Gregory Rousseau/ Slater)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) via Dolphins/49ers: LB Micah Parsons, 6-3, 245, Penn State
As great as former Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle would look in the Eagles’ offense, the fact that a stud linebacker with super-elite speed and strength like Parsons falls to them at No. 12 is an absolute steal. Parsons projects as a longtime star at the pro level. (Previous picks: Pitts/Jaylen Waddle)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9): OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, 6-4, 300, USC
No change, but it’s between VeraTucker and Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw. Vera-Tucker can play both guard and tackle and is a little more polished. Otherwise, Darrisaw would fit in just as nicely as future protection for young QB Justin Herbert.
(Previous picks: Slater/Vera-Tucker)
14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9): DL Kwity Paye, 6-4, 272, Michigan
The popular pick for the Vikings has been an offensive lineman and with three of them off the board, they could go with Darrisaw out of Virginia Tech. Something tells me they are seriously seeking improvement on the defensive front, so I’m sticking with Paye as the pick.
(Previous picks: Vera-Tucker/Paye)
15. New England Patriots (7-9): QB Mac Jones, 6-3, 217, Alabama
I’ve never felt completely comfortable with this pick knowing how Bill Belichick operates. But I do know he’s going to draft a quarterback at some point whether he trades up for one or not. For the third time in a row, I’m projecting it’s Jones, whom they groom for the future.
(Previous picks: Jones/Jones)
16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): WR Jaylen Waddle, 5-10, 180, Alabama
With Surtain II and Horn not available, the Cardinals could still address their situation at cornerback by drafting Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley or Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II. But not if Waddle falls to them at No. 16. This would be an unexpected steal and although it might not happen, Waddle makes for the ideal pick to fill the void as the team’s next No. 2 wide receiver and its immediate answer as a returner on special teams.
(Previous picks: Horn/Horn)
17. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8): OT Christian Darrisaw, 6-5, 314, Virginia Tech
(Previous picks: Darrisaw/Darrisaw)
18. Miami Dolphins (10-6): RB Najee Harris, 6-2, 230, Alabama (Previous pick: Paye/Rousseau)
19. Washington Football Team (7-9): LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 6-2, 220, Notre Dame
(Previous pick: Teven Jenkins/Jenkins) 20. Chicago Bears (8-8): OL Teven Jenkins, 6-5, 310, Oklahoma State (Previous pick: Toney/Toney)
21. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): CB Greg Newsome II, 6-1, 190, Northwestern
(Previous pick: Farley/Newsome II)
22. Tennessee Titans (11-5): CB Caleb Farley, 6-2, 207, Virginia Tech
(Previous pick: Tyson Campbell/Jalen Mayfield)
23. New York Jets (2-14) via Seahawks: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, 6-5, 266, Miami
(Previous pick: Asante Samuel Jr./ Samuel Jr.)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): EDGE Jayson Oweh, 6-5, 253,
Penn State
(Previous pick: Oweh/Oweh)
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15) via Rams: DL Christian Barmore, 6-5, 310, Alabama
(Previous pick: Trevon Moehrig/Barmore)
26. Cleveland Browns (11-5): LB Zaven Collins, 6-4, 260, Tulsa (Previous pick: Ojulari/Ojulari)
27. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): EDGE Greg Rousseau, 6-6, 260, Miami (Previous pick: Phillips/Phillips)
28. New Orleans Saints (12-4): S Trevon Moehrig, 6-2, 202, TCU (Previous pick: Rashod Bateman/Farley)
29. Green Bay Packers (13-3): WR Terrace Marshall Jr., 6-3, 200, LSU (Previous pick: Collins/Collins)
30. Buffalo Bills (13-3): WR Kadarius Toney, 6-0, 193, Florida (Previous pick: Travis Etienne/Campbell)
31. Baltimore Ravens via Chiefs: WR Rashod Bateman, 6-2, 210, Minnesota
(Previous pick, Chiefs: Jalen Mayfield/ Marshall Jr.)
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5): WR Elijah Moore, 5-9, 185, Mississippi
(Previous pick: Barmore/Moehrig)