2021 NFL Draft
First Round Pick by Pick Analysis
#1: Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
The pick we were all expecting happened. Trevor Lawrence checks all the boxes as a draft prospect and now he is the guy charged with rebuilding the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite a recent history of peril, Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence make the future look bright for the Jaguars.
#2: New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
The second pick was also a forgone conclusion. Zach Wilson is Robert Saleh’s first pick and now the Jets have a quarterback with all the potential around him as long as they get him protection and weapons. Zach Wilson has the highest upside of any prospect in the draft.
#3: San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
This is the first surprise of the night. Trey Lance was in tears as his limited college experience is overlooked because of his potential in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. This is a small school prospect who has big upside as the new quarterback of the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo might be the bridge, but Lance is the future of the 49ers.
#4: Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
This is where I had him mocked and this pick makes a lot of sense. Pitts is an absolute matchup nightmare and an elite receiving tight end. The Falcons now have a lot of receiving options for Matt Ryan and that could carry over to when the Falcons get the heir to Matt Ryan’s throne.
#5: Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
This is the first pick that left me scratching my head. Penei Sewell was on the board and they need to build protection around Joe Burrow. Chase is a big receiver who can make contested catches, but I think he is overrated as a route runner. Joe Burrow threw to Ja’Marr Chase at LSU which is a nice side story despite me disagreeing with the pick.
#6: Miami Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle is a speedster and he is fully healthy after being injured a lot of 2020. I think DeVonta Smith is a better prospect, but this move is not a miss. Waddle can also be a deep threat for Tua Tagovailoa who also played at Alabama.
#7: Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
This is a nice addition for the Lions. The Lions are building a good offensive line with this pick. The plot twist for me is that Sewell might become a right tackle in 2021 with Taylor Decker being the left tackle for the Lions. I still think, it is smart for the Lions to pick up the young tackle who could have some grace starting his career on the right side.
#8: Carolina Panthers: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
We thought Jaycee Horn had a good Pro Day and would be picked higher, but we didn’t know it would be this high. Jaycee Horn crushed his pro day and was a playmaker for the Gamecocks. Matt Rhule goes defense early for the second year in a row.
#9: Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Broncos surprised me by not taking Mac Jones or Justin Fields. Patrick Surtain is the best cornerback in this draft, and they have a long history of corners. Now the Broncos have a very good defense and a very good secondary. Patrick Surtain was said to be an unentitled star by Nick Saban which is a huge compliment.
#10: Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Eagles trade their first-round pick and a third-round pick to make this selection. The Eagles get the Heisman trophy winner who took over games in college. Smith becomes the guy in the slot and now their receiving core is much better.
#11: Chicago Bears: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
The Bears traded two firsts, a fourth and a fifth for a quarterback. Justin Fields is a much different quarterback than the options they have had in recent history. They could change the offense for the better in Chicago. I question what they gave up for him, but think they have a real quarterback option in the windy city.
#12: Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Cowboys traded down, but still got Micah Parsons. This is a freak of an athlete and a guy who has a lot of upside. I think he becomes their linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. They have a lot of high pedigree players at linebacker, but the question is production.
#13: Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater Jr., OL, Northwestern
Rashawn Slater does not have good tape but tested off the charts at his Pro Day. He is very strong. I am surprised this is who they are going to try at left tackle. I would have thought Cosmi or Darrisaw here instead.
#14: New York Jets: Alijah Vera-Tucker, RT, USC
The Jets become the first team to get two picks in the night. They took a guy who could help Mekhi Becton protect Zach Wilson. I think this is a necessary pick when taking a quarterback like Zach Wilson. The Jets have had a nice night.
#15: New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
The Patriots could not have gotten a better fit. Josh McDaniels now has a QB that can execute his offense like Tom Brady. The Patriots will have a high tempo and the right system for Mac Jones. As an AFC fan, I am not happy Bill Belichick waited and got his guy.
#16: Arizona Cardinals: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
Zaven Collins was a standout at Tulsa and there is no doubt this is a good small school pick. He is a playmaker and that fits the Cardinals defense. The Cardinals have a big need at linebacker, but take a step forward with the Collins pick. Alex Khvatov was right that he was going to go early than where we had him mocked in the draft.
#17: Las Vegas Raiders: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Mike Mayock makes another bonehead pick in the first round. I think the Mike Mayock experiment has been a failure after this pick. Leatherwood is a Day Two Value, and there is plenty of other tackle talent on the board.
#18: Miami Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami (FL)
The Dolphins made a good pick with Jaelan Phillips. I love his get off. This might not have been the position of need, but he is the best edge rusher in this draft. I like the direction of the Miami Dolphins as of late.
#19: Washington Football Team: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
I was kind of surprised this is a first round pick. I feel like every year there is a linebacker pick that just puzzles me. The Washington Football Team is a team on the rise, but I am not a fan of this pick. I will say this is the right position to take though.
#20: New York Giants: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
I like this pick, but I see him as more of a second-round value. This is a playmaker who can help you in the return game. With Shepard in the slot and the addition of Golladay, I don’t see this pick as a great fit. Gettleman misses the mark again.
#21: Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
This is a big need for the Indianapolis Colts. This edge class is not great, but I still think the Colts made the right move. Sometimes these twitchy edge rushers prove to be better pros than the great sack producers in college.
#22: Tennessee Titans: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
This is a guy who has some potential, but he has had some injury issues and that is why he fell to 22. Kristian Fulton did not have a good rookie year, and this could be the Titans saying they are ready to make changes already. Cornerback was a need.
#23: Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
This is a guy who is commonly thought of as a first round pick. This isn’t the way I would go, but you can never have too many good linemen. Darrisaw will be Kick Cousins’ new blind side protector and now they may be a team with some good bookends with Brian O’Neil at right tackle.
#24: Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
I had a feeling this would be the pick. The Steelers need a feature back and now Harris becomes that. He is an elite athlete and had great body control at 6’2. This is the best running back in this draft.
#25: Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The run on running backs has started and this will help Trevor Lawrence. He now gets his college running back in the pros. I guess Urban Meyer was a secret admirer of the Clemson Tigers.
#26: Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
This is a guy that I didn’t expect the league to regard as high, but this is a guy who can be a very good pro cornerback and was a strong corner for the Wildcats. The Cleveland Browns are much stronger on the defensive side of the ball and look out.
#27: Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The Ravens made yet another good pick. This guy is an elite route runner and a guy who looked like the best receiver in this class in 2019. He didn’t have a great 2020, but he is still good value here for the Ravens who need a receiver on the outside. Nicely done.
#28: New Orleans Saints: Payton Turner, DE, Houston
I don’t really understand this pick. I think things are going to start to slip for the Saints losing Drew Brees. They needed to add to their offense with this pick. I’m not a fan of the selection.
#29: Green Bay Packers: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
This is a nice selection for the Packers. Stokes is an elite athlete. I like Tyson Campbell better, but I approve of Stokes’s tape. The Packers have their replacement for Kevin King.
#30: Buffalo Bills: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami (FL)
This is where I think he should be picked. The major media has been overrating this guy. He is a first-round worthy pass rusher with his production. Defensive end in their four-man front is a need. The Bills will need to be stronger on the defensive side of the ball if they are going to win the AFC.
#31: Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, LB, Penn State
Oweh tested off the charts and that is why the Ravens took him. I don’t know if he has the tape to be a first rounder. I’ve watched football long enough to trust the Ravens to draft good linebackers. We will see, I guess.
#32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Tryon, OLB, Washington
This is a pick that I like for the Bucs. The rich get richer with this pick. This has to be the quickest that the first round has ever gone. The Bucs also made this pick quick as well.
