Garden State Gridiron - Mock Draft #1

Garden State Gridiron – Mock Draft #1

It’s April and the 2021 NFL Draft is just four short weeks away! We’ve seen a ton of pro days and social media hype videos for the top prospects. News and rumors are flying in every direction and it can be difficult to decipher fact from fiction. This will be our first predictive mock draft highlighting the selections we think are most likely on draft night. Check it out:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Trevor Lawrence – No surprise here.
2. New York Jets – QB Zach Wilson – Appears to be the favorite for this spot. He checks every box to be a successful NFL starter.
3. San Francisco 49ers – QB Mac Jones – The best scheme fit for Shanahan. The 49ers are in win-now mode and Jones is the most pro-ready prospect remaining.
4. Detroit Lions (via ATL) – QB Justin Fields – The true replacement for Matthew Stafford. He may have the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this class.
5. Cincinnati Bengals – WR Ja’Marr Chase – The idea of reuniting one of the most explosive offenses in college football history may be too tempting to pass up. There will be good offensive linemen available early in round 2.
6. Miami Dolphins – OT Penei Sewell – Solidify the offensive line to give Tua Tagovailoa the best chance to succeed.
7. Atlanta Falcons (via DET) – TE Kyle Pitts – Atlanta walks away with the most dangerous playmaker in the draft, even after trading down.
8. Carolina Panthers – QB Trey Lance – One of the tip-tier quarterbacks falls to the Panthers and he becomes the future of the franchise.
9. Arizona Cardinals (via DEN) – CB Jaycee Horn – Patrick Peterson’s replacement. He will instantly become a key part of their defense.
10. Dallas Cowboys – CB Patrick Surtain II – Jerry Jones reunites the Alabama cornerbacks to sure up their secondary.
11. New York Giants – LB Micah Parsons – One of the most authoritative players in the draft. Dave Gettleman loves tough football players for the Giants.
12. Philadelphia Eagles – WR Jaylen Waddle – Pair Waddle with Reagor, Sanders, and Hurts, and the Eagles’ offense is full of big-play threats
13. Los Angeles Chargers – OT Rashawn Slater – Beefing up the offensive line to protect Justin Herbert and create lanes for Austin Ekeler.
14. Minnesota Vikings – DE Kwity Paye – A new pillar of stability in Mike Zimmer’s front four.
15. New England Patriots – WR DeVonta Smith - A new top receiver comes to New England for Cam Newton to hopefully increase his touchdown count from last season.
16. Denver Broncos (via ARZ) – LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Denver picks up some extra draft assets while adding a new centerpiece to their defense.
17. Las Vegas Raiders – CB Caleb Farley – Following a fall due to injury concerns, the Raiders land the cornerback with the most raw talent.
18. Tennessee Titans (via MIA) – OT Christian Darrisaw – The run-heavy offense of the Titans gets another road grader to clear the way for King Henry.
19. Washington Football Team – LB Zaven Collins – A massive enforcer in the run game and in coverage makes the Washington defense one of the best in the league.
20. Chicago Bears – OT Samuel Cosmi – One of the worst offensive lines from last season gets some much-needed help.
21. Indianapolis Colts – DE Gregory Rousseau – A phenomenal athlete falls to the Colts to form a dangerous pass-rushing combination with DeForest Buckner.
22. Miami Dolphins (via TEN) – RB Najee Harris – The Miami offense adds a star running back to complement their strong defense and earlier offensive line selection.
23. New York Jets – RB Travis Etienne – One of the most electric players in the draft heads to New York and gives Zach Wilson a dynamic weapon out of the backfield for the Jets.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – OC Creed Humphrey – Can step right into the void left by Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – DT Christian Barmore – The best defensive tackle lands in Jacksonville and adds some much-needed stability to the interior of their defensive line.
26. Cleveland Browns – DE Azeez Ojulari – Cleveland has been interested in adding a complementary pass-rusher to free up Myles Garrett.
27. Baltimore Ravens – WR Rashod Bateman – Baltimore finally finds a stable answer to their possession receiver issues.
28. New Orleans Saints – CB Greg Newsome II – Could form a dangerous cornerback duo with Marshon Lattimore and could fill in as New Orleans’ top corner if Lattimore faces suspension because of legal issues.
29. Green Bay Packers – OG Alijah Vera-Tucker – The best interior offensive lineman falls to the Packers as one of the best value picks in the entire draft.
30. Buffalo Bills – DE Joseph Ossai – The porous Buffalo defense gets some help up front to relieve some pressure from the offense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Jalen Mayfield – A rebuilding offensive line adds a tremendous athlete with high upside who could protect Patrick Mahomes for the rest of his career.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – WR Kadarius Toney – The defending Super Bowl Champions replace Antonio Brown with a younger version of the same skill set. Toney adds an explosive option in the slot and the return game.

We will be releasing mock drafts each week leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft to explore the top options and latest news surrounding the teams and prospects.