My first edition of my 2021 NFL Draft Big Board was updated last month, so it is only right I release an updated mock draft too. We are now eight weeks into the NFL season, and can get a decent grip of who is going to be pushing for the playoffs and who is already looking towards the draft.
Picks 32-25
32. Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore might have traded for Yannick Ngakoue but I still don’t think the edge position is set for them. Not only is he on a one-year deal, Matthew Judon is currently on a franchise tag. The Ravens need to get better at getting after the passer if they ever want to stop Patrick Mahomes or Russell Wilson. Jaelan Phillips is one of the many talented edge rushers on the Miami Hurricanes squad. He can play the Will linebacker position or slide inside to play actual defensive end. Phillips was the No. 1 player in the Class of 2017, and has plenty of upside for this late in the NFL Draft.
31. Travis Etienne, Running Back, New York Jets (SEA)
Le’Veon Bell is gone and that leaves a noticeable hole at running back for the Jets. Say what you want but LaMichael Perine is not the answer either. Travis Etienne is one of the biggest playmakers in this draft class. He can burst off big plays in between the tackles, or bounce runs outside. He also has great receiving skills and gets plenty of YAC too. If Mekhi Becton continues to grow into the tackle we expect him to, Etienne could ironically be Le’Veon Bell 2.0.
30. Sam Cosmi, Offensive Line, Green Bay Packers
Matt LeFleur has put together a very lethal offense with Aaron Rodgers and Co. and the best way to make that fail is to allow the offensive line to thin out. Currently the Packers have very little depth along the offensive line, and could even improve their starting unit. Sam Cosmi from the University of Texas is a prospect that can play both guard positions, and right tackle for Green Bay. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to build this team to run through Aaron Jones as Aaron Rodgers gets older.
29. Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs
Once again the Kansas City Chiefs find a way to increase the talent on their roster. Patrick Surtain should not be here this low but that is how this mock draft fell. Some big boards have Surtain II as their No. 1 cornerback in the class and has been taken in the Top 10 of some mock drafts. Similarly to Trevon Diggs, he is a long, rangey cornerback that is physical at the line of scrimmage. L’Jarius Sneed flashed very early on for the Chiefs but was lost for the season a few games back. While it would be a young one, Sneed and Surtain II could be a very exciting duo for Kansas City.
28. Quincy Roche, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite being flipped like a 7-year old boy by Khalil Mack, Tristan Wirfs has been a great addition to the interior of Tampa Bay’s offensive line. Therefore I think they can address the offensive line later, and help this defense. The secondary is young and improving game by game. Devin White and LaVonte David are one of the more athletic linebacker duos in the NFL. Quincy Roche can help the Buccaneers get after the quarterback and cause some turnovers.
27. Creed Humphrey, Center/Offensive Lineman, Pittsburgh Steelers
Creed Humphrey has been one of the best offensive linemen to come out of Oklahoma in a long time. Over Cody Ford, over Bobby Evans and even over Orlando Brown. He played center for the Sooners his entire career, but can definitely slide to guard, or even tackle if the Steelers asked him to. I don’t know how much longer Big Ben will be playing for the Steelers, but each season gives them yet another reason to invest in the offensive line. With the injuries and poor play across the unit, Humphrey would provide extreme value for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
26. Jevon Holland, Safety, New Orleans Saints
This seems a tad high for Jevon Holland as he doesn’t flash any traits at an elite level. He is good in coverage, can tackle, has two years of starting under his belt, and will do everything you can ask him to do. He has the size to cover tight ends and does it well and has speed to keep up with Pac-12 receivers. This is why I am okay with the New Orleans Saints drafting him here. Malcolm Jenkins is falling off fast for the Saints, and they need to upgrade badly.
25. Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Buffalo Bills
Creed Humphrey makes a lot of sense here, but I love thinking of giving Josh Allen a weapon like Kyle Pitts. Dawson Knox is a very good tight end, but I think Pitts would vastly change the Bills passing attack. This year Florida has had the most lethal one-two punch in college football with Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts. Pitts has caught seven of Trask’s 14 touchdown passes (that’s half for you that aren’t good at math). Josh Allen has shown that he is ready to take the next step in his NFL career, and drafting a tight end like Pitts gives him one more piece to get there.
Picks 24-17
24. Caleb Farley, Cornerback, San Francisco 49ers
This could quite possibly be the steal of the draft if this were to actually take place. Farley is someone you will see all over mock drafts due to him opting out from Virginia Tech to focus on the draft. He has the size, skill set, and experience of a 1st round cornerback, and has some of the best ball skills in the draft class. Farley is a converted wide receiver, which would explain his ability to come down with the ball and battle contested catches so well.
23. Ja’Quan Bailey, Defensive End, Tennessee Titans
Yes the Titans did just sign Jadaveon Clowney this offseason to pair with Harlod Landry but that doesn’t mean he is an answer. Not only is JaQuan Bailey obviously younger than Clowney, he will be a lot cheaper too.
22. Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
Sadly a broken ankle has ended Jaylen Waddles season way too early. Even with that injury I would still take him in the 1st round. The Bears might have a lot of questions at quarterback, but I just don’t know if you go Kyle Trask or Zach Wilson in the 1st round. There will be some quarterbacks on the trade market after this year, and building the roster up first would be smart. Jaylen Waddle gives whoever is throwing the ball in Chicago a dynamic weapon to throw to. He can also be electric in the return games as well for the Bears, allowing Tarik Cohen to take less hits.
21. DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts
T.Y. Hilton is coming to an end in Indianapolis, and are currently lacking speed in their receiving core. Parris Campbell obviously carries some speed with him, but he is also rarely on the field as of yet.
20. Walker Little, Offensive Tackle, Philadelphia Eagles
I have serious doubt that Carson Wentz will remain quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he definitely won’t if they continue to not protect him. Jason Peters is a year or two away from retirement and needs more maulers along that offensive line. Walker Little was a five-star prospect out of high school, and has received plenty of praise from NFL scouts. Injuries have caused him to slip down draft boards, but at one point Little was projected to be a Top 10 selection. With the selection of Walker Little the Eagles get much needed help on the offensive line.
19. Carlos Basham Jr, Defensive Line, Cleveland Browns
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns made a move at the trade deadline for edge help. Until then though I will have them addressing that issue through the draft. Carlos Basham Jr can line up inside or out along the defensive line and provide pressure from either position. Cleveland has been looking to stack up another edge rusher across Myles Garrett for roughly two seasons now. The Oliver Vernon experiment did not work, Emmanuel Ogbah didnt work, Chad Thomas didn’t work. For the past season and a half Basham has done everything to make the Cleveland Browns believe he could be the one to make it work.
18. Jaylen Twyman, Defensive Tackle, Jacksonville Jaguars (LAR)
Without a doubt one of the most threatening interior pass rushers in the draft, Jaylen Twyman could push to be a Top-12 pick if he can have a great NFL Draft process. He opted out of this season which puts him a tad behind considering Pitts lack of major air time. The Jacksonville Jaguars have completely shipped off their key defensive lineman, and looked to start fresh. Twyman is a great addition to try and revamp a once feared defensive unit.
17. Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
The amount of weapons that the New England Patriots have on their roster is very poor. Even if Cam Newton isn’t the quarterback next season, the Pats still should upgrade the receiving unit. Julian Edelman is aging, N’Keal Harry has yet to prove anything in the NFL, and no one can seem to stand out as a No. 1 option. Rashod Bateman would immediately be the best receiver on the Patriots roster. He has very similar attributes to DaVante Adams from the Green Bay Packers. Just like Chicago, if the Pats can just focus on building a roster that is suitable for a quarterback first, it will make finding one that works a lot easier.
Picks 16-9
16. Marvin Wilson, Defensive Tackle, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have had pretty unique draft classes under Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden, but one thing is for sure and that is they love “football guys”. Players that have a high I.Q. and great leadership. They also need interior defensive line help. Marvin Wilson has begun a slight slip down draft boards, but that tends to happen with constant double teams. He also isn’t Derrick Brown’s level of interior lineman, causing somewhat of a roller coast of expectations for the Seminole. At the same time Marvin Wilson still fills a lot of needs that the Raiders are looking to fix.
15. Alex Leatherwood, Offensive Lineman, Arizona Cardinals
It’s time to protect Kyler Murray. This offense is on the cusp of being amazing, it needs some protection for that to happen. Not just that but your franchise quarterback should never be hit, especially if he is 5’10. Isaiah Simmons was a great pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, but if Arizona continues to play with fire and not protect Kyler Murray it might just come back to bite them. Leatherwood can play inside or at either tackle position for Arizona, coached by Saban and has been battled tested through Alabama’s scheduling. This would be a safe but smart pick for the Cardinals.
14. Trevon Moehrig, Free Safety, Miami Dolphins
Who would have thought Miami’s pick would be after the one given to them from Houston. After addressing the middle of the field, they can now build on an already very talented secondary. It’s no question they developed a large hole when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers. Many will question Moehrig being selected this high, but I will stand by this sleeper selection all day.
13. Trey Smith, Offensive Guard, Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford has shown no decline thus far, so why not better protect him? We also just saw a wonderful performance from De’Andre Swift which is one of the few bright spots Detroit has had in years. Trey Smith is a first team All-SEC offensive guard who will immediately battle for the top offensive lineman on their roster. He can open up the running game for Swift or Johnson, and keep the QB up right (whoever that may be in the future).
12. Elijah Molden, Cornerback, Carolina Panthers
And the run on cornerbacks has begun! The Panthers have plenty of holes in their roster that need to be fixed giving them plenty of options here. Alex Leatherwood, DeVonta Smith, and even Kyle Pitts would be interesting to add to a Joe Brady offense, but the Panthers need more talent in their secondary. Troy Pride Jr has provided good value for a 4th round selection, and Donte Jackson is a good, not great, cornerback. Elijah Molden has potential to become their No. 1 cornerback, but worst case they add some much needed depth to the position.
11. Shaun Wade, Cornerback, Denver Broncos
After going all in on the offensive side of the ball the past two years, it is time to focus on the defense. A once stout defensive unit has slowly turned into a shell of itself, and a weakened secondary is a big reason why. Justin Simmons is a dog, but could be out of Denver very soon. Adding Shaun Wade won’t just fix that problem, it will help give the secondary a face.
10. Trey Lance, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
Enough is enough with Kirk Cousins. The Minnesota Vikings have a roster that should be able to compete for an NFC North title, and at the very least be able to surely beat the Detroit Lions. Trey Lance will not just save the Vikings salary cap situation, he will bring in a breath of fresh air to the offense. He can actually be a threat in the read-option game with Dalvin Cook, opening up the offense even more.
9. Dylan Moses, Linebacker, Miami Dolphins (HOU)
Miami hit the restart button on their defense this off-season, sending off practically anyone of value. It is also obvious that the Dolphins wanted to focus on the offensive side of the ball with the 2020 NFL Draft. Dylan Moses could have already been a Top 10 pick if he didn’t have his junior season taken away by an early ACL injury. This year his draft stock has seemingly lowered, but I believe once the NFL Combine rolls around scouts will perk back up.
Picks 8-1
8. Wyatt Davis, Offensive Guard, Dallas Cowboys
This might be a tad high for Wyatt Davis to be selected but the Cowboys shouldn’t care. He has plenty of versatility across the offensive line which is exactly what the Cowboys need right now. Elijah Molden or ShaunWade would make sense here too, but Trevon Diggs has looked great so far, making the offensive line a more impactful need. Davis can challenge Connor Williams while providing depth if Smith or Collins were to get hurt again.
7. Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers
This might seem a little high for a cornerback, but with Penei Sewell off the board this is the Chargers taking the best player available at a position of need. Jaycee Horn was a little bit of a mystery for me but after his performance against Auburn I am sold. He can line up with any kind of receiver, at any area of the field. The Chargers are thin and aging at cornerback, and only have one interception from their secondary in 2020. With the pressure that Joey Bosa, and the rest of that front-seven can produce Jaycee Horn should have plenty of opportunity to make plays on the ball.
6. Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow had the best collegiate football season of all time at LSU, so why not get his No. 1 receiver from that season too? A.J. Green is not who he once was, and even gave himself a time table on retirement this offseason. Cincinnati’s offensive line is still a mess once Sewell is off the board no offensive lineman really is worthy of a top six selection. Ja’Marr Chase made Jerry Jeudy an after thought with his performance in 2019. I strongly believe he could have been the No. 1 receiver taken last year, and I feel even stronger about that this time around.
5. Gregory Rousseau, Defensive Lineman, Atlanta Falcons
Tak McKinley is most likely heading to free agency this offseason giving the Falcons yet another failed attempt at drafting a pass rusher. Dante Fowler has been a good signing, but Atlanta will need more pass rush for this defense to finally make a turn around. Gregory Rousseau is a huge edge rusher that can line up multiple ways for the Falcons. He has limited production out of the University of Miami but had a monster 2019 campaign.
4. Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Washington Football Team
Trent Williams is gone and left a massive need at the tackle position for Washington. It would be tempting to take Trey Lance here but fourth overall is simply too high for him currently. Penei Sewell on the other hand is debatably the best player in this draft class, and will help the growth of whoever is under center for them. They still do have Alex Smith, and Dwayne Haskins on the roster and could always look to a veteran like Jameis Winston in 2021. Taking Sewell is a very safe pick for a franchise in desperate need for a base to build off of.
3. Micah Parsons, Linebacker, New York Giants
Gregory Rousseau will be an extremely enticing prospect for the New York Giants but Micah Parsons is too talented to pass on. He has the skill set to play inside or outside linebacker for the Giants, and still provide pressure off the edge. The New York defensive line is also an underrated unit based on their performance this season. 2020 2nd round pick, Xavier McKinney, should be back full form next year too. Parsons, McKinney, Tomlinson, and Leonard Williams would give the Giants a lot of promising pieces across the defense.
2. Justin Fields, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has had flashes of really solid talent on the offensive side of the ball this year. James Robinson looks to be a steal, D.J. Chark has continued to look like a reliable NFL receiver, and Laviska Shenault sweats potential. Gardner Minshew is a great quarterback, teammate, and person but he just aint Justin Fields. Last season Fields threw 41 touchdowns, only three interceptions (two against Clemson), and rushed for another 10 on the ground. The dude is a scoring machine. Bringing in a talent like him could turn this Honda Accord into an McLaren P1 immediately.
1 . Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, New York Jets
Sam Darnold isn’t the problem in New York, it is Adam Gase and his lack of ability to develop Darnold is the problem. Sadly for Darnold though, I don’t see a new head coach (cause Adam Gase is FOR SURE getting fired) passing on Trevor Lawrence to start his new regime. They take his Clemson teammate Travis Etiennte with their second 1st round pick to replace Le’Veon, and suddenly this is a pretty different offense. The Touchdown Jesus fits New York perfectly, and will allow them to hit a restart on the Adam Gase era.
Please fire Adam Gase.