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.
