Garden State Gridiron - Mock Draft #4

Garden State Gridiron – Mock Draft #4

The 2021 NFL Draft is just one week away! Pro days are complete. Draft boards are set. Teams are now laying the groundwork for Draft Day trades while rumors about prospects make their way through the media. Today’s mock draft will be an advisory draft, meaning that it would be my recommendation if in the shoes of each team’s draft decision-maker. Check it out:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Trevor Lawrence – Saw that coming.
2. New York Jets – QB Zach Wilson – One of the worst-kept secrets in New York.
3. San Francisco 49ers – QB Justin Fields – Rumors about his processing skills are unwarranted. They are clearly attempts by teams to affect his perception and possibly drum up a trade market.
4. Atlanta Falcons – QB Trey Lance – Could develop behind Matt Ryan, who will be tied to the team for the next two seasons following a contract restructure. The expectation would be for the young Lance to take over by the end of that span.
5. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Penei Sewel – Sewel is a plug and play starter at tackle who can grow with this young Bengals offense to protect Joe Burrow for years to come.
6. Denver Broncos (via MIA) – QB Mac Jones – Jones can come in and immediately take advantage of the talented group of receivers in Denver. The Broncos can’t afford to waste this collection of young talent on rookie contracts.
7. Detroit Lions – WR Ja’Marr Chase – Chase becomes the new top target in Detroit in his rookie season. The receiver room in Detroit is very bare and Chase’ presence changes the outlook immediately.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (via CAR) – TE Kyle Pitts – Carolina recoups the approximately value given up in the Sam Darnold trade and Philadelphia gets the best skill-position player in the draft.
9. Miami Dolphins (via DEN) – WR Jaylen Waddle – Miami finally settles in at the 9th pick and gets the most explosive receiver in the draft. He is a familiar face for Tua and can create some yards after the catch to supplement some of the quarterback’s weaknesses.
10. Dallas Cowboys – CB Patrick Surtain II – Surtain is reunited with his college teammate, Diggs, to help rebuild the vulnerable Dallas defense.
11. New York Giants – OL Rashawn Slater – Slater is considered the best offensive lineman in the draft by some teams. He can play any position on the offensive line and can contribute to the Giants immediately.
12. Carolina Panthers (via PHI) – CB Jaycee Horn – The Panthers move back and still address one of their biggest needs on defense. Horn gets to stay regionally local to where he went to college and can become the new leader of the Carolina defense.
13. Los Angeles Chargers – OT Christian Darrisaw – A very talented offensive lineman that is a natural fit for the Chargers’ offense. This pick seems to naturally fall into place after the top 12.
14. Minnesota Vikings – WR DeVonta Smith – The Vikings offense gets even more dangerous after double-dipping on first-round receivers in consecutive years. Adam Theilan can move back into the slot, where he has historically had the most success, for the latter years of his career.
15. Tennessee Titans (via NE) – OT Teven Jenkins– Mike Vrabel makes a trade with his former employer to grab their right tackle of the future to keep the offense running through Derrick Henry.
16. Arizona Cardinals – CB Caleb Farley – Arizona finds a Patrick Peterson replacement in Farley, who was considered the best corner in the draft by many prior to his injury.
17. Las Vegas Raiders – OL Alijah Vera-Tucker – After hitting the rest button on their offensive line, Mayock and Gruden bring in one of the most versatile linemen in the draft. Vera-Tucker can start year one at any position the Raiders need.
18. Miami Dolphins – EDGE Jaelan Phillips – Miami takes the first pass-rusher of the draft and it’s someone their local scouts watched very closely. Connections within the organization should be able to gather the most comprehensive medical and mental information available.
19. Washington Football Team – LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – One of the most versatile players in the draft heads to Washington in a scheme that values linebacker speed and coverage ability. Wu has experience at both linebacker and safety, making him a perfect scheme fit.
20. Chicago Bears – OL Alex Leatherwood – Has experience all over the offensive line and the Bears need to add talent at multiple spots. Leatherwood’s versatility increases his value to Chicago.
21. Indianapolis Colts – OT Liam Eichenberg – Left tackle is the biggest need for the Colts and Eichenberg is one of the most NFL-ready players in the draft. This opportunity to lineup next to fellow former Notre Dame OL Quenton Nelson, who can help supplement for Eichenberg’s short arms.
22. New England Patriots (via TEN) – LB Zaven Collins – Put this humongous man next to Dont’a Hightower and you have one of the scariest linebacker duos in the league. Hightower’s long-term status is uncertain and Collins could eventually inherit that role.
23. New York Jets – CB Greg Newsome II – A very good cornerback who is flying under the radar in this draft. He could be the future CB1 for the Jets, who don’t have an established starter on their roster.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Najee Harris – The Steelers miss having a reliable option at running back and their recent mid-round bandages haven’t gotten the job done. Harris is very powerful and the best pass-protector in the draft.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – RB Travis Etienne – The Jaguars give Trevor Lawrence a security blanket by bringing in his college teammate as Urban Meyer recreates the Clemson offense.
26. Cleveland Browns – WR Rashod Bateman – The Browns add an outside receiver to fill the missing piece in their wide receiver room. Cleveland also takes advantage of their draft position by keeping Bateman away from Baltimore.
27. Baltimore Ravens – EDGE Azeez Ojulari – Baltimore has their choice of edge-rushers with several appealing options on the board at this time. Ojulari fits the SEC affinity of the Baltimore personnel staff and can line up in multiple positions across the front seven.
28. New Orleans Saints – LB Micah Parsons – This may be the point where the player’s talent outweighs character concerns. Parsons can help the Saints as a pass-rusher and in coverage. Cornerback will also be highly considered here.
29. Green Bay Packers – WR Terrace Marshall Jr. – Aaron Rodgers finally gets another legitimate threat in the wide receiver room. Marshall Jr. can be a piece who can help extend Rodgers’ success in Green Bay.
30. Detroit Lions (via BUF) – DT Christian Barmore – The highest-rated defensive tackle in the draft. He is a great culture fit for the new coaching staff in Detroit. Walking away from night-one with the top-ranked wide receiver and defensive tackle is a big success for Detroit.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Samuel Cosmi – The Chiefs get a new starting tackle to replace their former starters who will not be returning. He is an experienced starter and a wall of a human.
32. Miami Dolphins (via TB) – S Trevon Moehrig – Miami trades up for the only top-tier safety in this draft. Moehrig projects as the missing piece to make the Dolphins’ secondary one of the best in the league.

Next week, we will release our final predictive mock ahead of Draft Night.