Garden State Gridiron - Mock Draft #5

Garden State Gridiron – Mock Draft #5

The 2021 NFL Draft is finally here! Hundreds of college football standouts will find new homes this weekend. News and rumors are changing the landscape by the hour and we are here to read between the lines and get inside the minds of NFL decision-makers. Our final mock draft will be a predictive draft, meaning that it reflects what seem to be the most likely outcomes based on the information we have. Check it out:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Trevor Lawrence – Yup.
2. New York Jets – QB Zach Wilson – The Jets do what we expect them to do.
3. San Francisco 49ers – QB Trey Lance – The original target for the trade up. Lance could truly unlock the offense we saw glimpses of with RG3. I refuse to believe that Mac Jones is the pick until I see it for myself.
4. Atlanta Falcons – OT Penei Sewell – Head Coach Arthur Smith wants to impress in his first season with the Falcons. Sewell makes the Atlanta offensive line one of the best in the league to protect Matt Ryan and help establish an offense that relies heavily on play action. Teams have inquired about trading for the 4th overall pick, but their asking price appears to be higher than teams have been willing to trade so far.
5. Cincinnati Bengals – WR Ja-Marr Chase – Cincinnati has historically prioritized the boundary positions and ignored the trenches. Partner that with the opportunity to reunite one of the most productive duos in college history may be too tempting for the Bengals to pass up.
6. Miami Dolphins – TE Kyle Pitts – Miami only would have traded back into the top 10 if they were confident they would be able to secure an elite player. Pitts is the most elite playmaker in the draft.
7. Detroit Lions – OL Rashawn Slater – One of the toughest offensive linemen in the draft becomes part of the new culture in Detroit. He’s the highest-rated tackle on many teams’ boards and can be an instant starter.
8. New England Patriots (via CAR) – QB Justin Fields – The new chapter in New England begins with the selection of Fields. The Patriots have very few holes on their roster and will have significant cap flexibility again next offseason to further build the team around Fields.
9. Denver Broncos – CB Jaycee Horn – Denver brings in the best man-cover corner in the draft. Horn has been compared favorably to Aqib Talib and he could go a long way toward containing the two young star quarterbacks in their division.
10. Dallas Cowboys – CB Patrick Surtain II – Sometimes there are natural fits in the draft and this is one of them. Surtain reunites with Trevon Diggs and the two hold down the back end of a defense in need of significant improvement.
11. New York Giants – WR Jaylen Waddle – In an attempt to give Daniel Jones every chance to succeed. Waddle and Golladay could provide a total facelift to unlock the Giants’ offense. If Daniel Jones does not deliver with this group of weapons, the Giants may be searching for a replacement next offseason.
12. Baltimore Ravens (via PHI) – WR DeVonta Smith – Baltimore’s affinity for Alabama players continues with a major trade to move up 15 spots and bring in the wide receiver fans have been clamoring for. Many Eagles fans will challenge the move, but the opportunity for five first round picks over a two-year span is too tempting for Howie Roseman to resist.
13. Los Angeles Chargers – OT Christian Darrisaw – Darrisaw may be the best pass protector in the draft right now. Justin Herbert receives some much-needed time to throw.
14. Washington Football Team (via MIN) – QB Mac Jones – Washington trades up in a bidding war with Chicago to select their quarterback of the future. Coach Rivera believes Washington could be entering their window to win and Jones provides a high-floor option to take over this emerging team with a strong defense.
15. Carolina Panthers (via NE) – OG Alijah Vera-Tucker – The Panthers select the most NFL-ready interior offensive lineman in the draft. Vera-Tucker has the potential to be an All-Pro player at the next level and the Panthers hope he can give Sam Darnold the time he needs to distribute the football to their explosive skill players.
16. Arizona Cardinals – CB Greg Newsome II – Corner is, by far, the biggest need for the Cardinals following the departure of Patrick Peterson. Many would expect this pick to be Caleb Farley, but the concern around his injuries and Wednesday’s positive Covid-19 test may be enough to sway them toward Newsome II.
17. Las Vegas Raiders – OT Tevin Jenkins – A very natural fit for the Raiders’ culture Jenkins plays with a level of violence and attitude that the Raiders covet. After moving on from multiple starters on their offensive line, Jenkins fills an immediate need.
18. Miami Dolphins – EDGE Jaelan Phillips – Phillips would be in the conversation for the top five if it weren’t for his medical concerns. If he can have a healthy NFL career, Phillips could be a cornerstone of Miami’s already strong defense.
19. Minnesota Vikings (via WFT) – EDGE Kwity Paye – Built for a Zimmer defense, Paye can be the next in a long line of reliable defensive ends in Minnesota. He is a well-rounded player who will provide value on all three downs.
20. Chicago Bears – OL Landon Dickerson – Chicago adds one of the most versatile offensive lineman in the draft to address one of their biggest needs. Dickerson would have been selected higher if not for his injury history. The Bears will gamble on his upside and likely grab a developmental quarterback on day 2.
21. Indianapolis Colts – OT Liam Eichenberg – Irishmen sure up the left side of the Colts’ offensive line. Nelson and Eichenberg complement each other well and will help protect newly-acquired Carson Wentz. Consistent play at left tackle could go a long way while Indianapolis is in their Super Bowl window.
22. Tennessee Titans – LB Micah Parsons – The slide ends here for Parsons ends here. Mike Vrabel simply can’t pass on a linebacker of Parson’s talent. Character concerns fueled the slide, but the Titans are confident that their culture can nurture Parsons into a star.
23. New York Jets – CB Caleb Farley – The Jets find a new leader on defense with their 2nd pick of night one. Farley has been falling due to medical concerns, but his talent is worth the risk for the Jets. He could be a true shut down corner if healthy.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Najee Harris – While it may seem out of character for Pittsburgh to draft a running back in the first round, their offense is dependent on a successful rushing attack and Harris’ pass-blocking skills could help protect Big Ben in what could be his final season. Don’t be surprised if they add a quarterback on day 2. Kellen Mond could be their target.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Kadarius Toney – Urban Meyer appropriately selects a player from Florida who can become the go-to slot target for Trevor Lawrence.
26. Cleveland Browns – WR Rashod Bateman – Cleveland finally gets the possession receiver they have been missing. He is a reliable target who runs great routes and can handle a heavy workload. As an immediate contributor, Bateman can help solve the passing game challenged that plagued the Browns last season (and most seasons before that).
27. Philadelphia Eagles (via BAL) – WR Terrace Mashall Jr. – After a year of Justin Jefferson being thrown in the face of Howie Roseman, he gives Eagles fans the LSU wide receiver they’ve been desiring. Marshall Jr. is an outstanding athlete who could start as the X-receiver week one.
28. New Orleans Saints – WR Dyami Brown – The run on wide receiver continues with New Orleans to provide a deep threat for Taysom Hill and/or Jamies Winston. Both quarterbacks have very strong arms and Brown’s speed would be a highly-coveted asset in Sean Payton’s offense.
29. Green Bay Packers – DT Christian Barmore – The Packers’ rushing defense has been a major weakness for several years now and Barmore can finally bring some stability to the Packers’ front. While many are expecting a wide receiver with this selection, the previous batch of receivers being selected and the deteriorating relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ brass indicates a possible focus on the defense.
30. Buffalo Bills – OT Dillon Radunz – Buffalo takes another chance on a small-school prospect with high upside. Radunz was the powerful anchor of the Bison offensive line and has demonstrated good athleticism and mobility during his time at NDSU. His ability to get on the move and block on the second level will be a major asset for the mobile Josh Allen.
31. Philadelphia Eagles (via KC, thru BAL) – CB Tyson Campbell – Philadelphia secures their starting cornerback start opposite Darius Slay. He has the size to fit Gannon’s defense and has the starting experience Howie Roseman covets in his draft selections. While his teammate Eric Stokes has received more media attention because of his impressive 40 time and interceptions, Campbell has better technique and is more NFL-ready.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Azeez Ojulari – The reigning Super Bowl champions have retained all of their starters from last season and now are adding more firepower to their pass rush. Ojulari fell to Tampa in this draft and becomes one of the best value picks of night one.

Next week, we will review the draft selections of the Giants, Jets, and Eagles to see who improved their team the most for the 2021 season and beyond.