Mock Draft 2.0 - The Week Before

 

It's less than a week before the NFL draft, so I figured I had a second go. Since my last Mock, the following things have happened: 

- San Francisco traded up to #3

- Carolina traded for Sam Darnold

- The developing Deshaun Watson legal case

- Miami traded down, then back up again

- The Bears tried to trade for Russell Wilson

- Drew Brees formally retired

- Aaron Rodgers hosted Jeopardy

The teams that now need a QB include outside of the obvious top three of Jacksonville, NYJ and San Francisco are, in draft order: 

Maybe, apparently Atlanta

Denver

Maybe still Carolina

New England

Washington

Chicago

Probably New Orleans

That makes nine teams, which ramps up the desperation to chaotic levels. So essentially, throw this Mock Draft out by...well, by the end of the sentence. Oh well.

Did I miss anything? Probably. Anyway, here we go: 

1) Jacksonville Jags - Trever Lawrence, QB, Clemson

Jags make the easiest decision in franchise history. Let's just hope they don't mess Lawrence up.

2) New York Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Jets attached themselves to Wilson a couple months ago and nothing appears to have changed their minds. Wilson has a little Rodgers to his game, but can he adapt to the shift from BYU to NY?

3) San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

All the signs are pointing to Mac Jones but SF don't leak, and Kyle Shanahan has payed close attention to Fields and his athleticism and recent pro days. Adding his talents to his scheme removes the offensive ceiling on San Francisco entirely. 

4) Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Trey Lance is an intriguing pick but adding Pitts to Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley gives the Falcons an immediately absurd passing offense. 

5) Cincinnati Bengals - Jamarr Chase, WR,  LSU

Sewell should absolutely be the pick here, but Bengals can't resist pairing Burrow up with his favourite weapon in college. Lets hope he has a neck left to throw it to him, though. 

6) Miami Dolphins - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Miami get the best tackle to give Tua the time he needs, and with Chase and Pitts gone, Sewell is the best value. 

7) Detroit Lions - Jalen Waddle, WR Alabama

After losing Kenny Golladay to the Giants, Detroit take another elite to ruin - I mean, develop. Waddle has the speed to catch Goff's overthrown balls, at least.

8) Washington Football Team - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Washington make the big move, throwing the 19th pick, and their next first round picks and a second rounder from 2022 to move up 11 spots to take Lance, who could spend a year sitting behind a place-holder before giving the WASHINGTON DEMON CATS something to get excited. 

9) Denver Broncos - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Denver stay put after Atlanta hangs up and takes Pitts, and Bellichick is too stubborn to swing big enough and Chicago don't have enough assets to get up. Leaving Mac Jones falling to Denver and walking into a good situaiton; a play-off ready team that needs a pro-ready guy to lead them. Mac is absolutely that, and will be a breath of fresh air as a leader after Drew Lock. 

10) Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama 

This makes a ton of sense, so will probably be the opposite of what Jerry Jones does, who might need to be given chloroform to stop him trying to trade up and take Kyle Pitts, or draft Devontae Smith. Surtain is the CB #1 for a team that was historically bad defensively last season.

11) New York Giants - OL, Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

Giants have been tempted to move down apparently, but in this scenario they have the chance to pick between two excellent OL's - Slater and Vera-Tucker. They take the highly rated and versatile Slater, who should give the returning Saquon Barkley bigger holes to run through and Daniel Jones enough time to throw (hopefully to the team in blue year). 

12) Philadelphia Eagles - Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Eagles are unsure about Hurts but this gives that team a #1 WR that they desperately need, and a guy that will have a massive chip on his shoulder after winning the Heisman and somehow being undervalued in the draft process. Perfect for Philly.

13) LA Chargers - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virgina Tech

Step 1: Draft good QB. Step 2: Protect good QB. Chargers working the plan.

14) Minnesota Vikings - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Mike Zimmer openly trashed his own defence so will be chomping at the bit to add Parsons, who would be top 10 in another draft class, an athletic wrecking ball who could line up all over the defence and provides Zimmer with a guy to compliment the returning Anthony Barr. 

15) New England Patriots - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramorah, LB, Notre Dame

Bellichick has thrown money at his roster issues this summer, but absolutely will not give up 3 first round picks to take a QB. He stays put, takes the best ILB in the draft and takes someone like Kellen Mond or Kyle Trask in the second round to turn into Jimmy G 2.0. 

16) Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

'Zona have offense in spades, but can't cover a thing in a division where they face Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Matt Stafford and the revitalised LA Rams and Shanahan's offense with a new QB. Jaycee Horn helps that immediately. 

17)Las Vegas Raiders - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC

The Raiders, in a baffling move atop of several in the last couple seasons, got rid of half their offensive line. Vera-Tucker is a versatile lineman who will be a cornerstone for several years. Be sensible, Gruden.

18) Miami Dolphins - Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Miami let go of Kyle Van Noy and add an edge presence to develop under Eric Bienemy.

19) Carolina Panthers - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

After losing Curtis Samuel to Washington and adding Sam Darnold, Carolina give their new QB a weapon to join McCaffery, DJ Moore and Robby Anderson in an intriguing offense. 

20) Chicago Bears - Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

The Bears stay put after their trade-up plans fail due to their lack of appealing assets. They take a corner to replace the outgoing Kyle Fuller, who they let go to pay their lack of appealing assets. Sigh, Bears. 

21) Indianapolis Colts - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

The Colts get incredible value as a top-15 athlete like Paye is sitting there. An elite defence gets another weapon. 

22) Tennessee Titans - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

A top-10 pick until surgery made teams nervous, Farley still is an elite corner prospect that fills a desperate need in Tennessee, who couldn't stop a nose bleed last year. 

23) New York Jets - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

The Jets get who they hoped Le'Veon Bell would be in Harris. A Wilson-Harris partnership could be the partnership of an exciting pairing in New York for years to come. 

24) Pittsburgh Steelers - Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

With Harris off the board and the Steelers renowned for making sensible draft decisions, Pittsburgh opt to get a back later in the draft while taking a three-year-starter at Center to fill the retiring Maurkrice Pouncey's cleats. 

25) Jacksonville Jags - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

After getting Lawrence and having a decent amount of offensive weapons, the Jags pick up the best DT in the draft to plug in some of the holes in the middle of their front.

26) Cleveland Browns - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Cleveland are an elite LB away from having a terrifying defence. Browns hoping Davis can be that final piece for a contending side. 

27) Baltimore Ravens - Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

Baltimore sees their Judon replacement fall into their laps. Everyone gets angry, classic Ravens.

28) New Orleans Saints - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Saints starting filling in the gaps in their defence starting with the tackling machine from Tulsa. 

29) Green Bay Packers - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Sam Cosmi is the BPA for a team that let go of a key piece of their OL in Corey Linsey this off-season. I'm sure they'll get a WR in round 2 or 3. Probably.

30) Buffalo Bills - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Buffalo have a plan that looks suspiciously like the LA Chargers plan. Teven Jenkins will help the Bills protect Allen so he can keep throwing 70 yard bombs to Stephon Diggs.

31) Kansas City Chiefs - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

This makes no sense, as Kansas need OL help and corners, but with all the first round OL's off the board at this stage, I liked the idea of Andy Reid saying 'fuck it' and drafting another elite RB and rotating Etienne-Edwards Helaire alongside Hill and Kelce in the recieving core. You can't rule it out, and thinking about it is fantastic.

32)  Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Gregory Rosseau, EDGE, Miami

Same logic here, but on the other side of the ball. Tampa already have the best pass rush in football, so Arians decides to send it nuclear as Tampa have no immediate needs and add a stunning athlete in Rosseau who can rotate and develop alongside JPP, Shaq Barrett and the monstrous Vita Vea. 

NFL Mock Draft: 2021

 

As the playoffs rumble on in the NFL and the college season comes to a typically explosive close, many football fans will be turning away from their varying stages of heartbreak on the TV to the eternal optimism of the draft. 

As a Chicago Bears fan, this is something I have intimate knowledge of. 

This is my first attempt at a Mock Draft write-up for a few years (my last one had Teddy Bridgewater going #1 overall to the Texans, so that went well) but in the light of the Alabama Globetrotters stomping all over Ohio State last night, it seems topical to give one a try. 

This is a trade-free one, though I absolutely think there are going to be several - I can see teams like the Colts, 49ers, WFT or even Bill Belichick dusting off his fax machine (I refuse to believe he has a smart phone) to try and move up and acquire a passer in a seemingly loaded draft. 

Anyway, in this one - assume that Indianapolis have traded for Carson Wentz following a Rivers retirement, the Lions have moved Matt Stafford to the WFT for a 2nd round pick (and how interesting would that be?) and Bellichick 'likes what we have' in Jarrett Stidham or a 3rd round pick out of Old Dominion or something. Miami in this one have decided to stick with Tua after Houston asked for the entire Dolphins draft class in '21-23 and the 1972 Superbowl team. 

This leaves the Jags/Jets (the latter moving Sam Darnold to the Steelers for a 3rd round pick while Big Ben figures out how many working limbs he has left), the Bears and the Saints, who watched Drew Brees bow out at the conclusion of the season - irrespective of how it ends (for the record, I think they lose to Green Bay in Lambeu).

Ready? Cool, let's begin.

1) Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB,  Clemson

I was tempted to have Fields here in light of the Urban Meyer rumours, but even with a former Buck-Eyes coach at the Jags helm, Lawrence is just the better Quarterback. Jags get their next decade under center with the most polished prospect since Andrew Luck.

2) New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

Jets don't get Lawrence, but Fields is the next best thing. Losing against Alabama is no shame, and Fields has so many elite qualities that the Jets should be pleased with their selection.

3) Miami Dolphins - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Miami stick with Tua and choose to protect him with the best OL in the draft. 

4) Atlanta Falcons - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn St

Could be a spot for Zach Wilson here but in this parallel, the Falcons rightly decide that the offense was not the problem at all last season and take a Von Miller-esque OLB to spice up their pass rush.

5) Cincinnati Bengals - Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Some mocks have Smith going out of the top 10, but in this one the Heisman winner doesn't make it out the top 5. The Bengals are tempted to trade out, but instead give Joe Burrow his new favourite toy on offense while replacing legendary veteran AJ Green. 

6) Philadelphia Eagles - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU

The Eagles trade Wentz but decide that Hurts has done enough to earn a start in 2021 and in doing so, give their offense a jolt with the man who spent most of the year as this draft's WR1. 'Bama's Waddle was a possibility here too, but the ankle injury means Philly take no chances with Chase. 

7) Detroit Lions - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The Lions are delighted as Wilson falls to them at #7 here, after trading Stafford away and hiring a new GM - Wilson's selection marks a new era with D'Andre Swift, and a hopefully healthy Kenny Golladay in 2021.

8) Carolina Panthers - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

With Wilson, Fields and Lawrence already gone, the Panthers give Teddy Bridgewater a potentially generational TE prospect in Pitts. 

9) Denver Broncos - Trey Lance, QB, N. Dakota St

The Broncos take another shot on a QB here, with Lance aiming to break a now very long line of Elway replacements. 

10) Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys don't do anything stupid and take the cornerback with the highest ceiling in the draft to fix the leakiest defence in the league.

11) New York Giants - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

It's an NFC East/Alabama double as the Giants take the best available WR in Waddle, a speedster that will open a Giants offense and allow NYG to accurately assess Daniel Jones in Year 3. 

12) San Franciso 49ers - Caleb Farley

Probably the best overall CB in the draft and a top 10 pick in a lot of drafts - the 49ers get their Richard Sherman replacement. 

13) LA Chargers - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

The Chargers have their QB, and now they need to protect him. Cosmi thrived in a pass-heavy scheme for Texas, and will surely need to replicate that for Justin Herbert. 

14) Minnesota Vikings - Kwity Paye, DL, Michigan

The Vikings defensive line suffered all season and got worse after trading Yannick N'gakoue to the Ravens. They pick up the best DL in the draft in a very Viking-sy pick. 

15) New England Patriots - Rashod Bateman, Perdue

Assuming the Patriots stay here, which is always an idea fraught with risk, Belichick takes a skill position player and opts to chase a veteran at QB, while also probably drafting one later. Bateman's skill in the slot appeal to Josh McDaniel's scheme in New England, who may have found his Julian Edelman replacement in the Perdue receiver. 

16) Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Arizona were bottom half of the league in defensive DVOA and Jaycee Horn's size and length has him rising up mock drafts.

17) Las Vegas Raiders - Gregory Rosseau, DL, Miami 

The Raiders have a burgeoning offense under Gruden but need defensive help and Rosseau feels like a classic LAV pick; athletic, long and explosive - pairing the Miami product with Clelin Ferrell could just what the doctor ordered while facing Patrick Mahomes twice a year. 

18) Miami Dolphins - Rondale Moore, WR, Perdue

Another weapon for Tua after protecting his blindside with the third overall pick. Moore gives the Dolphins offense a true dynamo with 'game-breaking ability', an after-the-catch demon that could take advantage of Tua's short throw accuracy. 

19) WFT - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, MLB, Notre Dame

I love this pick for WFT, who trade for Matt Stafford and then give Ron Rivera his Luke Kuechly, a leader who will fit nicely on a young and terrifying defence. 

20) Chicago Bears - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Mac's draft stock rises after an impressive performance in the CFB and the Bears add a QB that with the right offensive scheme could be a smart, accurate and mature option. Jones will never be Aaron Rodgers, but could be the Bears equivalent to Dak Prescott if Matt Nagy develops him. 

21) Jacksonville Jags - Christian Darrisaw - OT, Virginia Tech

The Jags pool their resources in protecting Trevor Lawrence, taking a tackle that will be an immediate help in pass protection. 

22) Indianapolis Colts - Alex Leatherwood - OT, Alabama

A tough call as the Colts are pretty stacked everywhere, but they choose to strengthen what might already be the league's best OL with a pick that should allow Carson Wentz more time in the pocket than he got in Philadelphia. 

23) Cleveland Browns - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

The Browns, for maybe the first time ever, don't have any major needs on offense at all so sit back and take a physical LB that will fill the stat sheet and support Myles Garrett up front. 

24) Baltimore Ravens - Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson

The Ravens, in a Patrick Queen-esque pick, give their secondary a much needed boost with a corner just off a dominant season for the Tigers. 

25) Tennessee Titans - Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio St

Wade took a hit last night after being burned by Devonta Smith, but Smith will probably be doing that to guys every week next year. The Titans begin to fix a defence that has been a weakness all season. 

26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

Consecutive OL picks in as many years as Tampa once again puts protection around Tom Brady. 

27) New Orleans Saints - Kyle Trask, QB, Florida

The Saints are a draft wildcard and apparently have faith in Jameis Winston in a post- Drew Brees world, but Trask is a talented prospect that could thrive in Sean Payton's offense. 

28) Buffalo Bills - Asante Samuel, CB, Florida St

Bills look set on offense around Josh Allen but need to shore up the secondary. Samuel is a high ceiling prospect that would help here. 

29) New York Jets - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson 

With Justin Fields locked up, the Jets give him a three-down back with explosion to get the play-action game going. With a new coach, Justin Fields and Travis Etienne in the backfield, the Jets are an immediately thrilling offensive proposition in 2021.

30) Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenburg, OT, Notre Dame

Steelers have Sam Darnold to fill in for Ben Roethlisberger and choose to invest in their offensive line and open holes for a run game. They could take Harris from 'Bama, but the OL feels more Pittsburgh, especially if Maukrice  Pouncey retires. 

31) Green Bay Packers - Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

Green Bay's defence improved tremendously over the course of the season, but the Packers double down on run protection with a stat stuffing long term replacement to Blake Martinez, who left in FA last season. 

32) Kansas City Chiefs - Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

Kansas can sit back and take the best corner remaining, with the stellar offense set for the next couple years at least. The Chiefs ranked 22nd in Defensive DVOA in 2020 (one below the Jets!) and absolutely need some coverage.