Seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft, Round 1: Broncos, Bears commerce up for QBs
Printed: Apr 23, 2021 at 01: 50 PM
EDITOR’S NOTE: This mock draft was updated following the Kansas City Chiefs’ acquisition of Orlando Brown in a commerce with the Baltimore Ravens.
If the mountainous Charles Dickens had been mute with us as of late, he would potentially write a peculiar regarding the NFL draft. (OK, perchance now not, but please roll with me right here.)
His myth would potentially revolve round a grumpy mature man who reads NFL mock drafts and complains about them.
“Every fool that goes about writing mock drafts ought to be boiled in his bear pudding,” the persona could perchance perchance narrate.
But then one evening, three spirits would appear to display cover the curmudgeon the light. One could perchance perchance be the “Ghost of Things that SHOULD Be”, a 2nd the “Ghost of Things that WOULD Be” and in the end the “Ghost of Things that COULD Be.”
The first spirit would repeat that mock drafts are in overall now not a imaginative and prescient of what the author believes every crew could perchance moreover mute carry out. The apparition would repeat that these projections are now not intended to display cover there is but most attention-grabbing one participant at every pick that is the loyal one for the crew to make a selection.
The 2nd specter appears to repeat that any prediction, whether or now not attempting to forecast football sport outcomes, financial process or the weather, is modelled on past events. As a consequence of this truth, mock drafts are attempting to display cover what could perchance perchance be — if groups followed patterns from outdated years. The kindly presence will then repeat that there are repeatedly adaptations between past and future events — so no mock draft will most definitely be 100 percent like minded.
The third ghost will then nearly the aged football fan, explaining that mock drafts signify most attention-grabbing one of many replacement scenarios that would unfold on draft weekend given every franchise’s participant opinions and quick- and lengthy-term wants.
After hearing the guidance of the ghosts, our in uncomfortable health-tempered protagonist sings a brand new tune, exclaiming that he’ll “honor mock drafts in my coronary heart, and utilize a see at to protect them there all offseason! I am going to recollect that mock drafts are now not what SHOULD or WOULD be, but most attention-grabbing what COULD be!”
Please revel within the following seven-round mock in that vein. Preserve in ideas that this projection doesn’t profit from the 11th-hour recordsdata that can trickle out main as a lot as Round 1. It does provide some scenarios as meals for idea, and gives a standard boulevard draw on the fetch gamers could perchance perchance topple.
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The Jaguars will quickly dangle their new franchise quarterback. Lawrence potentially already has a accurate estate agent scoping out properties in Jacksonville. Urban Meyer extinct free company to re-form the roster with new outdated abilities and now must add younger depth round his fundamental person passer.
Wilson’s athleticism, precision throwing from the pocket and on the crawl, and assured attitude will map him a “unparalleled-be conscious” NFL participant in no time.
Or now not it’s easy to fetch why 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan would savor Jones’ efficiency, intelligence and option-making. Then over again, I invent now not bid the 49ers’ replacement is that sure-nick. Trey Lance and Justin Fields are every appropriate as capable of working an NFL offense and every possess plus athleticism. This selection could perchance moreover race all of the vogue down to the wire.
I wouldn’t blame the Falcons for picking Trey Lance right here as the crew’s future starter. Then over again, adding Pitts’ supreme receiving skills to those of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley is seemingly to be too unparalleled for GM Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith to race up. I’m sure outdated quarterback Matt Ryan would agree.
The Bengals could perchance moreover mute now not overthink this pick. Joe Burrow bought wound within the pocket closing twelve months. The offensive line has been a sore space for years. Actual pick Sewell, and let the 2020 No. 1 pick safely distribute the ball to his receivers.
Denver Broncos
(by Lions)
Total Manager George Paton needs his man at quarterback and would be keen to present up a third-round pick this twelve months and a 2nd-round want in 2022 to forestall other groups from leapfrogging him to land Fields. The broken-down Bulldog and Buckeye will most definitely be a substantial chief for the Broncos and create plays from the pocket and on the race that pressure defenses loopy.
Chicago Bears
(by Panthers)
Chicago can’t stand pat if it needs to turn into a Super Bowl contender. Andy Dalton was a nice pickup for the 2021 season, but discovering a loyal playmaker on the issue is the actual procedure the Bears can climb the NFL energy rankings. They would perchance commerce their first- and third-round picks this twelve months (Nos. 20 and 83) and next twelve months’s first-rounder to race up — unparalleled take care of Kansas City did for Patrick Mahomes and Houston did for Deshaun Watson four years within the past.
Detroit Lions
(by Broncos)
The Lions would rather commerce their pick to Denver than Unique England (or other eager events) because they’d end within the tip 10, allowing them to make a selection the refined linebacker new head coach Dan Campbell needs within the guts of his protection.
Surtain joins his broken-down Alabama teammate, Trevon Diggs, on the outside of the Cowboys’ protection. Actual fetch him on the road of scrimmage and let him work his magic with supreme physicality and ball skills.
Paye dropped to 261 kilos for his pro day, allowing traditional supervisor Dave Gettleman to take a look at the broken-down Wolverine standing up within the Giants’ protection. His agility and strength are most attention-grabbing for successful and setting the brink.
Any other bodily nook, Horn solidified his space within the tip dozen picks with an renowned display cover of athleticism at his pro day (4.40 40-yard stride, 41.5-jog vertical jump). The Eagles desire a number of cornerbacks, and can seemingly pick two within the first three or four rounds.
Many quiz Los Angeles to make a selection a left type out, but the Chargers could perchance perchance bid Trey Pipkins (or a rookie picked later) can procure the job done. Smith has the sturdy palms, body alter, intelligence and quickness to excel within the slot in 2021 whereas Keenan Allen and Mike Williams work outside. Then, if Williams leaves as a free agent after the season, Smith can race outside if valuable.
Slater will most definitely be a in truth appropriate left type out within the NFL, but his 6-foot-4 1/4 body and 33-jog palms could perchance perchance protect him out of the tip dozen decisions. Tristan Wirfs fell out of the tip 10 closing twelve months for equivalent reasons. Will groups study that lesson and pick Slater earlier? If now not, the Vikings will gladly snap him up and plug him in as Kirk Cousins’ blind-side protector.
On the upward thrust one day of the pre-draft course of, Newsome could perchance perchance find yourself being the third cornerback chosen, due to Caleb Farley‘s neatly being considerations. Arizona could perchance moreover mute savor the Northwestern product’s stunning total ability issue, making him a viable replace for the departed Patrick Peterson.
The Raiders plug in Jenkins at appropriate type out, the fetch he can utilize his strength and nefarious attitude to interchange free-agent disappointment Trent Brown.
Phillips stays in Miami for as a minimal one other four to 5 years, bolstering an edge neighborhood looking assist with Shaq Lawson outta town. Phillips is the entire kit — the actual cause he would be on hand right here (or later) is his scientific history.
Ron Rivera brought a neatly-diagnosed face over from the Panthers in Curtis Samuel, and now provides one other explosive, versatile weapon in Toney. Toney’s ability to work from the slot or outside will allow him and Samuel to confuse defenses, making Terry McLaurin even more helpful. Unique quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick undoubtedly approves.
Carolina Panthers
(by Bears)
The cost of Darrisaw is too sturdy for the Panthers to race up, even if they dangle 2019 2nd-round pick Greg Slight can play left type out. To present new quarterback Sam Darnold the handiest probability at success, they wish to fetch the handiest 5 linemen on hand to them.
Inexperienced Bay Packers
(by Colts)
Farley’s abet course of could perchance perchance issue off him to topple down draft boards a bit, but his size and athleticism on the outside will pressure the Packers to present up the 29th total pick and two late-fourth-round decisions for the Colts’ slot. This could perchance perchance be the fourth straight twelve months Total Manager Brian Gutekunst has traded up within the first round (Jaire Alexander, 2018; Darnell Savage, 2019; Jordan Worship, 2020).
Tennessee coaches could perchance perchance map potentially the most of Collins at outside linebacker thanks to his athleticism, or he could perchance perchance play interior thanks to his bulk. Either procedure, they procure a substantial participant who’s appropriate origin to scratch the floor of his seemingly.
The Jets procure a accurate backfield risk in Harris, who proved himself a playmaker whether or now not browsing for holes between the tackles or grabbing passes within the flat. Zach Wilson will take care of having this man on his side.
Humphrey has all the pieces a crew would favor in a heart: He has sturdy palms (from his wrestling days), is athletic ample to race in quandary as neatly as present plus race protection, and ceaselessly is the chief of the road. The Steelers want that form of man to interchange the retired Maurkice Pouncey.
The Jaguars positioned the franchise observe on Cam Robinson, but Vera-Tucker could perchance perchance mute compete for the starting left type out job in 2021. Although Robinson stays in issue, AVT will now not decrease than play the dear sixth-man role in 2021 forward of slipping into a starting job at type out or guard in 2022.
The present release of Sheldon Richardson made the defensive type out space an very impartial appropriate larger want for the Browns. Onwuzurike’s sport is a nice aggregate of Richardson’s and that of Larry Ogunjobi, who departed by free company. Onwuzurike’s quickness off the snap is stunning, and he can moreover map potentially the most of his low center of gravity to protect the road within the crawl sport.
The Saints are skinny at linebacker. JOK steps in on the outside, lining up against slot receivers and offering a tall pop against outside runs.
Indianapolis Colts
(by Packers)
Even after difficult down by commerce, the Colts land the replace for lengthy-time left type out Anthony Castonzo. Eichenberg is viewed as a guard by some, but GM Chris Ballard could perchance moreover dangle diversified ideas; despite all the pieces, appropriate type out Braden Smith was projected as an interior linemen when Ballard chosen him within the 2nd round in 2018.
Atlanta Falcons
(by Bills)
The addition of Kyle Pitts earlier begs for a substantial race on protection, if the crew is to compete for the NFC South title in 2021. Although the broken-down Nittany Lion did not dangle a sack closing season, he did invent 5 the outdated twelve months. He can (and can) procure to the quarterback.
But one other Friday commerce within the NFL makes the two groups keen very chuffed. Orlando Brown finds a crew desperately looking a left type out and the Ravens race up 27 spots as neatly as to receiving a third- (No. 94) and fourth-round (No. 136) want (plus a fifth in 2022). Leatherwood could perchance moreover mute invent now not dangle any factors taking half in on the suitable side for the Ravens, and his trip at guard and left type out could perchance perchance show treasured if accidents hit Baltimore’s line over again this season.
Rousseau’s an stunning match for Tampa Bay because he can play the 5-methodology to present veterans William Gholston and Ndamukong Suh a breather. He can moreover stand up at instances, which could perchance perchance address a want for Tampa in 2022 if Jason Pierre-Paul had been to race on in free company. Suh and Gholston are moreover scheduled to be free agents after this season, so I wouldn’t be stunned if the Bucs pick out front-seven defenders with their first two picks.