2021 NFL Draft Guide

Welcome to my draft guide for the 2021 NFL Draft. The draft is one of my favorite days of the year, and I can’t wait to see how the careers of each prospect play out. In my draft guide, you will see my big board, including fifty draft-eligible prospects, scouting reports for each prospect, and a mock draft where I act as the general manager of each team.

2021 NFL Draft Big Board

Here are my top fifty prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft. For each prospect, I wrote a scouting report in which you’ll see their strengths and weaknesses.

As you’ll see in my rankings, I value quarterbacks and premium positions the most, so these players are more likely to be at the top of my board. I also believe, above all else, that teams should draft good football players. This may seem like a simple and obvious idea, but you’ll be surprised how often teams overdraft raw prospects with a “high ceiling.” I would rather bet on players who have shown that they're capable of playing the game at a high level.

One last thing, I struggled a lot with ranking players such as Caleb Farley and Jaelan Phillips who have injury related red flags. To make this a little bit easier on myself, I’ve decided to factor their injury in my evaluation but not too heavily. I am not a doctor so I am incapable of properly determining how much their injuries could/will impact their careers. These injuries matter and will knock these guys down a few spots, but it won’t completely destroy their stock for me

Without further ado, here’s my big board

1. Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson

Strengths:

Trevor Lawrence is one of the best quarterback prospects of all time, and probably the best since Andrew Luck in 2012. What he brings to the table are elite physical tools and fantastic processing speed and decision making. He has one of the strongest arms in the class, which allows him to make throws that other prospects simply can’t make. While he may not have the speed that Justin Fields and Trey Lance possess, he is mobile enough to run zone reads and make plays out of the pocket whether he’s rushing for first downs or making throws on the run. His physical traits are elite, but what puts him over every quarterback prospect I’ve ever scouted is how he processes what he sees on the football field. His timing is excellent and he consistently makes the right decision while going through his progressions quickly. It’s obvious that he’s ahead of the curve from a mental standpoint. While his ability on the field is tremendous, what he provides off the field is impressive as well. After he pushed for college football to return and used his platform to fight against police brutality during the summer, I’m confident he can step in and be a great leader in the locker room on day one. Leadership is one of his better qualities. After three years of elite play in college and visible improvements from his sophomore year to his junior year, any doubts I previously had about Lawrence being an elite prospect quickly dissolved. There’s so much more I can say about him, but I’ll cut it short. Trevor Lawrence is pretty freaking good.

Weaknesses:

I know it may be hard to believe, but Trevor Lawrence does have some weaknesses. First off, his accuracy is a little underwhelming in relation to previous top quarterback prospects and it honestly doesn’t compare to Justin Fields and Zach Wilson’s accuracy. Watch the Syracuse game and you’ll see what I mean. I’d also like to see him improve while under pressure. He doesn’t handle blitzes and pressures as well as you’d like which is reflected by his 54.5% adjusted completion percentage while under pressure. When pass rushers get into his face, he tends to fade back and throw off his back foot rather than standing tall and taking the hit. I know this is hard to do, but you have to make sacrifices to succeed under pressure.

2. Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida

Strengths:

Kyle Pitts is truly a special tight end prospect. Despite being 6’6 and nearly 250 pounds, he moves fluidly and has the footwork to run routes and create separation like a wide receiver. He lined up outside a lot at Florida and in these instances, he showed the ability to create separation with his body and forearms. Due to his size and length, he has a massive catch radius and is extremely reliable in contested situations. His ability to track the ball and adjust his body to make difficult catches is rare for a tight end. I think he could even be a solid blocker in the NFL. He’ll have to get stronger to do so, but he blocks with enough effort and leverage to reach that level. Pitts is a wonderful athlete and will be a matchup nightmare in the NFL because he’s too fast and fluid for linebackers while also being too big and physical for cornerbacks. Good luck trying to stop him because I don’t know if it’s possible.

Weaknesses:

Functional strength is Pitts’ biggest issue. He simply doesn’t have the strength to be a good blocker right now and I wonder if his small frame will cause him to struggle vs bigger, more physical linebackers.

3. Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Oregon

Strengths:

Penei Sewell is the most physically gifted tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has great positional size while also being a freak athlete. He looks like the prototypical offensive tackle, but his movement skills are unprecedented. He can get to the second level extremely quickly and he plows through everyone in his path. His combination of mobility and raw strength is incredible and makes him one of the most naturally gifted tackles we’ve seen in the last few years. I even believe he can dominate at guard if he doesn’t work out at tackle. No matter what happens, I expect Sewell to be a stud.

Weaknesses:

Sewell is an athletic marvel, but he is very raw in terms of his technique. When he gets into pass sets he puts his hands out wide which exposes his chest and allows players to bull rush him. Once he engages with pass rushers he tends to put his hands outside their shoulders instead of their chest. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing in pass protection right now and although this didn’t matter in college, it will in the NFL. If he gets proper coaching and learns how to use his hands and arms to his advantage, he’ll be dominant. I just hope he’s able to reach his ceiling because he has a chance to be special.

4. Rashawn Slater, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

Strengths:

Rashawn Slater is arguably the best tackle in this draft RIGHT NOW. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling, Penei Sewell does, but he has the cleanest film out of any tackle in the draft and I firmly believe that he can be a high-end starter at tackle. The reason why I love him so much is his combination of technique and athleticism. His footwork is incredible and allows him to get into his pass sets quickly. Once he gets set, he puts his hands on opposing pass rushers' chests, neutralizing them in their pursuit of the quarterback. If you question his ability to play tackle, watch his performance against Chase Young and you'll be sold. I love his ability to move in space and get to the second level of the defense as a run blocker. Since he moves well in space and performs at a high level as both a pass blocker and run blocker, he provides scheme versatility and can play pretty much every position on the offensive line. Slater is a stud and is worth a top ten pick in my opinion.

Weaknesses:

Slater doesn’t have the prototypical measurements you’d like to see in an NFL left tackle. His arms are short and that is scaring people. That’s really his biggest issue as a prospect. He doesn’t look the part, but teams are going to have to let his film do the talking.

5. Zach Wilson, Quarterback, BYU

Strengths:

Zach Wilson is one of the most interesting quarterback prospects of the last four years. He is a unique blend of arm talent and precision as a processor. You’ve probably heard this a lot, but there are a lot of improvisational plays from him that truly remind me of Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. His ability to extend plays and create positive yardage in a less-than-stellar situation is incredible. Wilson was also one of the most accurate passers in the country this season, and he did so while throwing into tight windows and attempting a lot of deep passes. If a team wants to run zone reads or designed quarterback runs, Wilson is fully capable of doing that. He isn’t the most athletic quarterback in the class, but he is super elusive inside and outside the pocket and will make tacklers pay if they don’t wrap up. Overall, Wilson is an extremely fun prospect to watch, and his quick, smooth release combined with his ability to improvise at a high level makes him one of my favorite players in the draft. Although he only played at an elite level for one season, against sup-par competition, I believe his decision-making and ability to make otherworldly throws outside the pocket will allow him to thrive at the next level.

Weaknesses:

Everyone will talk about how Zach Wilson only played well for one season and that his one season of great production came against sub-par competition. Both statements are true, but I honestly don’t care because there are more important factors that will determine whether or not his skills will translate to the NFL. Probably his biggest issue as a passer is his footwork. He has an extremely inconsistent base and he doesn’t always keep his cleats in the ground when he throws the ball. Sometimes he even jumps a bit when he throws deep down the field. This will impact his accuracy in the NFL. I wouldn’t consider him to be a poor decision-maker by any means, but sometimes he is a little too fearless which will get him in trouble in the NFL. If he starts as a rookie, he may throw a lot of interceptions. I’m also a little concerned about his ball placement on deep passes. He tends to underthrow the ball when attacking the deep parts of the field and he doesn’t do a great job putting his receivers in a position to pick up yards after the catch. He definitely has room to grow as a passer, but his ceiling is extremely high and he could be special someday.

6. Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State

Strengths:

Justin Fields is a super talented dual-threat quarterback who is an incredible athlete and a precise passer. He is one of the most accurate passers in the 2021 draft and he’s able to attack all three levels of the football field with precision. His above-average arm strength allows him to make every throw, even against tight coverage. I mentioned earlier that Fields was a dual-threat quarterback. He is actually one of the more mobile quarterbacks in this year’s draft and is a serious threat as a rusher. He isn’t a shifty athlete, but he is very strong and will plow through any defenders who want to challenge him. His lower body strength also helps him inside the pocket. When opponents’ pass rush gets to him, there’s a good chance that he won’t go down on the first contact and will be able to make something out of nothing. One of his best qualities as a passer is his ability to throw the ball accurately while on the run. He can extend plays and run bootlegs while consistently making NFL throws outside of the pocket. He is supremely talented on the field, but he also provides great value in the locker room. Like Lawrence, Fields is a huge reason why we even had college football this year. He took it upon himself to use his platform to make the season happen and he was successful. I believe this shows great leadership which is huge for a young quarterback. At his best, Fields is a great quarterback prospect

Weaknesses:

I like Justin Fields and I hope his strengths eventually outweigh his weaknesses, but the worst part of his film is concerning. Watch his performances against Indiana and Northwestern from this past season and you’ll understand what I mean. Fields has three big issues - he is a bit hesitant, he won’t let plays die, and his mechanics are robotic. There are a lot of plays in which Fields gets through his reads and finds an open receiver, but he fails to get the ball out on time. He needs to learn not to hesitate once he gets through his progressions. In the NFL, his receivers won’t always be wide open, so he needs to be able to anticipate and throw his teammates open. Now let’s get into his refusal to let plays die out and throw the ball away. This issue was on full display in the Indiana game and led to him throwing some of the worst interceptions I’ve seen from a top prospect. I believe Fields can fix these issues in the NFL, but what really worries me about him is his mechanics. His throwing motion isn’t very fluid and leads to him missing throws primarily on short routes. I believe Justin Fields has the potential to be a great franchise quarterback, but his issues may ultimately limit his ceiling in the NFL.

7. Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami

Strengths:

Jaelan Phillips is a wonderful pass rusher who combines size, athleticism, and technique to dominate offensive tackles. He can fire off the line of scrimmage quickly, and once he engages with an offensive tackle, he can win in a variety of ways including spin moves, hand swipes, and even long arms. He’s even shown to disengage from blockers and stuff runs. He isn’t a perfect prospect, but he has the tools and intelligence to be a very good pass rusher in the NFL.

Weaknesses:

Phillips’ biggest issue as a prospect is his injury history. He started off at UCLA where he was forced to retire after suffering multiple concussions and ankle injuries. He was even hit by a car before his unfortunate retirement. Let me repeat, he got hit by a freaking car. The injuries that plagued him in the past are concerning, but he came back this season after not playing for an entire year and put up 15.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks for the Miami Hurricanes.

8. Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU

Strengths:

Ja’Marr Chase is what every NFL team is looking for in a no. 1 receiver. He’s fast, physical, strong, and has fairly good size. When facing press coverage, he can easily stack on top of corners and gain separation. Once he gets on top of opposing corners, he can win with speed and athleticism or he can go over the top and make ridiculous catches on 50/50 balls. I would even say he’s a good route runner. He doesn’t have Jerry Jeudy type fluidity, but he isn’t stiff like DK Metcalf. He has enough flexibility in his hips to run more advanced routes in the NFL. His physicality comes into play late in routes when he’s able to use his hands and arms to create separation. Remember how Denzel Mims utilized his physicality to get open at Baylor and the Senior Bowl? Ja’Marr Chase does the same thing, just on a smaller scale. Chase is going to be awesome and I expect him to be a high level outside receiver in the NFL.

Weaknesses:

There aren’t a lot of weaknesses in Ja’Marr Chase’s game. His biggest weakness is probably the fact that he allows cornerbacks to get their hands on him a little too often. This issue was obvious during his performance vs. Auburn. The only things keeping Chase from being the best receiver prospect ever are probably his size and lack of fluidity.

9. Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Strengths:

Jaylen Waddle is an explosive athlete with underrated skill as a route runner. Everyone knows he has elite speed, but I don’t know if people realize how nuanced his route running is. There were a few plays at Alabama where he ran pretty complex routes that require good hip flexibility and footwork. He isn’t one of the best route runners in the class, but he is good enough to turn his speed into a lethal weapon. Like Ja’Marr Chase, Waddle is very good at making contested catches. This likely won’t translate to the NFL because he is a smaller receiver, but this is a great skill to have. I expect Waddle to be a high YAC receiver in the NFL because he is a problem with the ball in his hands. He is a threat to score everytime he catches the ball due to his elite athleticism. I don’t expect Waddle to become Tyreek Hill, but he could become a very effective watered down version of him.

Weaknesses:

Size is an obvious concern for Waddle, but this won’t be detrimental because he has a very muscular build. I would worry more about the ankle injury he suffered this season. He could barely move against Alabama in the National Championship, so teams need to do their homework and make sure he’ll be able to move with the same twitchiness he had in college.

10. Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina

Strengths:

Jaycee Horn is an extremely talented cornerback who has the size, speed, and physicality to be a shut-down press-man corner. He is extremely physical and he understands how to use his length to limit the opposing receiver’s ability to create leverage. I love his ball skills. In 50/50 situations, he is so good at disrupting the play and picking up pass breakups. His combination of size, speed, length, and fluidity is incredible and I believe he has the skillset to play on an island and dominate.

Weaknesses:

Horn’s physicality is incredible, but this causes him to get penalized a lot. This doesn’t bother me too much, but he will have to learn to be more discrete with his hand usage. Another thing I don’t love is his start-stop ability. This isn’t his strong suit and since he can’t stop and accelerate quickly, he won’t be super effective in off coverage or zone coverage.

11. Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State

Strengths:

Trey Lance is a very good quarterback prospect. Unlike some raw strong-armed passers from previous drafts (Josh Allen and Jordan Love), Lance is a plus decision-maker and a more precise thrower of the football. During his 2019 season, he put up twenty-eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. His only interception as a collegiate quarterback came this season in which he only played one meaningless game of football. His arm strength and mobility are incredible and, In my opinion, the best in the class. His physical tools are outstanding. What really excites me about his game is his pocket presence. He was so good at moving within the pocket at NDSU and this allowed him to extend plays without leaving the pocket. For him to possess this skill at just nineteen years old is very impressive. Lance possesses the arm strength, mobility, and play creation to be a high lever starter in the NFL someday. It will probably take some time for him to get comfortable at the next level, but the wait will likely be worth it.

Weaknesses:

Lance is one big question mark. It doesn’t bother me that he only played one season in the FCS division of college football. What does bother me is the fact that he is inexperienced and wasn’t really tested in college. At NDSU, he played in a run-heavy offense that didn’t require him to throw the football a lot. He attempted less than three hundred passes during his final full season and he only attempted thirty passes in a game once. There was even a game in which he attempted just nine passes. That’s unreal! When he did actually get to throw the football, he wasn’t very accurate. He wasn’t completely inaccurate, but his accuracy simply doesn’t compare to the rest of the top-tier quarterback prospects. This is rather concerning because he wasn’t throwing into tight windows. His receivers were often wide open, so to see him struggle in this department is a bit worrisome. I’d be willing to bet on him succeeding at the next level, but his translation could be bumpy.

12. DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Strengths:

DeVonta Smith may be my WR3, but he is an awesome prospect. Out of my top three receivers, he’s probably the best route runner. There’s a lot of fluidity to his game and he understands how to create separation by stemming his routes in certain directions. His combination of fluidity, quality footwork, and speed makes him a very dangerous separator. He isn’t just a good route runner though, he can also make contested catches. Despite having a very thin frame, Smith consistently makes plays on 50/50 balls which is very encouraging. He was electric this season and I believe he has the tools and skillset to be a really good outside receiver.

Weaknesses:

My biggest concern with DeVonta Smith is his size. He weighs just 175 lbs. and I don’t know how much weight he can gain moving forward because he’s 22 years old and was only able to gain 10-20 pounds in four years at Alabama. Why is his frame a problem? When he lines up against long physical corners in the NFL, they’re going to be able to push him off his route and manipulate what he does as a route runner because he lacks functional strength. This wasn’t a massive issue in college, but that may be because he was used a lot on screen passes and faced a lot of off coverage vs. teams like Ole Miss and Florida. Of the top fifteen receivers in the NFL, only one of them weighs less than 190 lbs. That player is Tyreek Hill, who just happens to be a world class athlete. I love Smith as a prospect, but his frame is a serious problem and could limit his ceiling in the NFL.

13. Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Alabama

Strengths:

Patrick Surtain II is a technically sound quarterback prospect who has very good size and a high football I.Q. He can play man and zone coverage, so I think he would have great success in a defense that runs a good balance of both kinds of coverage. I really like his hip fluidity and I think he can be very good in man coverage because he is so good at using his length to his advantage. Put simply, Surtain rarely loses. Like Farley, he isn’t afraid to tackle, which is a big plus in my opinion. His pro-day numbers were extremely impressive, though I don’t necessarily trust them.

Weaknesses:

Surtain II is a very good cornerback, but I wish he was a bit more explosive. I don’t trust his forty-yard dash time and I could see him struggling to stay on top of fast receivers like DK Metcalf and Tyreek Hill because he doesn’t have great long speed. This issue also arises when he has to change directions and come out of breaks. I don’t think he’s necessarily slow or nonexplosive, but with a cornerback class this good, I have to nitpick.

14. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker, Notre Dame

Strengths:

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is one of my guys in this draft. The way he plays is so much fun to watch, but he isn’t just aesthetically pleasing. He also makes a ton of impactful plays on the football field. What makes J.O.K such a good player is his athleticism. He may be the most explosive linebacker in the entire class, including Micah Parsons. His burst is incredible and it allows him to blow up plays in the backfield. What makes him such a good prospect in my opinion is his coverage ability. He has the speed to keep up with everyone on the football field and even when players gain a step on him, he has the makeup speed to recover. I see J.O.K as a will or mike linebacker, but no matter what position he plays, I think he’ll be a high end starter.

Weaknesses:

Koramoah is a bit undersized for a linebacker, but there have been other smaller linebackers who found success in the NFL. My biggest issue with him as a prospect is the fact that he missed a good amount of tackles. He can play too fast at times and this causes him to miss tackles that he should make.

15. Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

Strengths:

Teven Jenkins may look a bit goofy, but he is one of the nastiest tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has everything you want in a tackle including strength, athleticism, and technique. He gets into his stance quickly and once he gets set, he knows how to use his hands and raw strength to win at the point of attack. Jenkins is an extremely intelligent player and he’ll bait opposing edge rushers by flashing his outside hand and putting his hands on their chest when they take the bait and try to swipe his hand away. His nuance in pass pro is truly special. I also love how physical he plays because when he gets on the field, you know he’s about to serve some pancakes.

Weaknesses:

Jenkins is a little old for a prospect at 23 years of age which limits his upside a bit. His ability to mirror opposing edge rushers could use some work once he gets to the league.

16. Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech

Strengths:

Christian Darrisaw is a big tackle who can move. He shines as a run blocker because he is extremely mobile and has a lot of power in his hands. I love the way he moves in space and how he can make blocks past the line of scrimmage due to his athleticism. He has room to grow as a pass blocker, but even then he has the size and strength to be very good in pass protection. He has a tendency to get too vertical in his pass sets, but when this happens he does a great job of pushing pass rushers past the pocket so they can’t get to the quarterback. Darrisaw isn’t as clean or as physically gifted as the top two tackles in this class, but he has a lot of potential as an all around scheme diverse left tackle.

Weaknesses:

Darrisaw is raw as a pass protector and that puts a limiter on his value as a player if that doesn’t change. His hand placement isn’t great and like I mentioned before, he tends to get too vertical in his pass sets which gives pass rushers a shorter path to get to the quarterback. He has the size, strength, and athleticism to be a versatile left tackle in the NFL, but he’ll need some time to develop and improve his pass sets.

17. Alijah Vera-Tucker, Interior Offensive Lineman, USC

Strengths:

Alijah Vera-Tucker is someone I’m confident will be a good player in the NFL. He played both tackle and guard in college and I believe he may be able to play either position moving forward. He’s mobile and I like his technique in pass pro. He gets into his pass sets quickly and has pretty good hand placement. When he engages with powerful defensive lineman, he does a good job of resetting his anchor. He provides value in the run game as well due to his mobility and strength.

Weaknesses:

I question if he will be a tackle in the NFL. Although his film at tackle is good, it isn’t great. He can get overwhelmed by speed rushers and twitchy pass rushers who know how to use their hands. Defensive lineman who can go from speed to power give him trouble as well. He’ll likely be a fine guard, but the fact that he may not be a tackle moving forward hurts his value.

18. Caleb Farley, Cornerback, Virginia Tech

Strengths:

Caleb Farley has everything you want in a cornerback in terms of physical tools. He has great size and elite speed which makes him an intriguing prospect on its own. However, that’s not the only thing to like about him as a prospect. He’s good in press-man coverage, but he can play bail technique as well. It’s nearly impossible to beat him with go routes because he has elite speed and can use a variety of techniques against them. He also does a great job of getting in receivers’ hip pocket. In off coverage, he does a great job of chopping his feet, stopping, and then accelerating to make a play on the ball. I love how willing he is to tackle ball carriers and this makes him even more valuable as a corner.

Weaknesses:

Farley has a bad habit of spinning around rather than flipping his hips when receivers stem their routes outside and break inside. This isn’t a huge issue, but speed turns are not ideal. He can also be a bit too aggressive on out routes trying to make a play on the ball which leads to him getting beat on out routes. He has great size, athleticism, and fluidity, but he isn’t technically sound right now. He needs to keep his feet moving and he opens up his hips way too early. I wish he was more physical and used his hands more. What will ultimately keep Farley from going high in the draft is his injury history. He suffered a back injury and got surgery which will take seven to twelve weeks to recover from.

19. Zaven Collins, Linebacker, Tulsa

Strengths:

Zaven Collins is a huge linebacker who dominated at Tulsa this season and provides versatility. He can fill gaps, blitz, and cover. He’s really patient when reading gaps and this allows him to make calculated decisions against the run. I like his instincts in coverage and he made some nice plays in zone coverage this year. I love what he brings to the table as a tackler as well. He has very solid explosiveness and once he gets to the ball carrier, they’re coming down.

Weaknesses:

Collins is awesome, but his athleticism leaves a lot to be desired. He isn’t an elite athlete and this keeps him from being a special pass rusher and coverage linebacker. Although he has good instincts in coverage, he doesn’t have the speed or agility to consistently cover running backs.

20. Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State

Strengths:

Micah Parsons is an unreal athlete considering how big he is. He ran a 4.43 forty yard dash at Penn State and that speed shows up on film. When he reads gaps correctly, he fires through the hole and makes tackles. I could even see him playing a little defensive end in the NFL because he can dip and bend to go along with his outlier athleticism. He needs to learn how to play the linebacker position better, but the ability to explode through gaps and move sideline to sideline is incredible.

Weaknesses:

Parsons is raw in terms of his football I.Q. He doesn’t always take the greatest angles when engaging with ball carriers and reading gaps isn’t his strong suit. Also, he doesn’t have great agility which, combined with his underwhelming football I.Q., is why he isn’t great in coverage. His role in the NFL is a bit of a question mark right now, but I would guess he’ll eventually be a strong side linebacker who could rush the passer. His development will be extremely interesting to watch.

21. Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver, Minnesota

Strengths:

Rashod Bateman is a super solid outside receiver who has a set of skills that will translate to the NFL. He’s one of the best route runners in the draft and does a good job creating separation from both the slot and the boundary. A big question heading into his pro day was whether or not he had the athleticism to be extremely successful in the NFL. He answered that by running a 4.43 forty yard dash. His athleticism, route running, and ability to generate yards after the catch by breaking tackles makes him one of the better receivers in this year’s draft.

Weaknesses:

Rashod Bateman is a good athlete, but not a great one. He also doesn’t make a lot of contested catches. This will likely limit his ceiling as an outside receiver. Another issue that could keep him from reaching his potential are his hands. He dropped 14.3% of his targets this past season which is very concerning.

22. Greg Newsome II, Cornerback, Northwestern

Strengths:

Greg Newsome II is a smart athletic corner who has the skills to play man and zone coverage. He doesn’t have much experience playing press coverage and he lacks the size and length to be successful in that role full time, but he is capable of playing close to the line of scrimmage every once in a while. Where he really shines is playing off or zone coverage and making plays on the football. He has extremely fluid hips and he has shown the ability to execute speed turns just like Caleb Farley. I also love his ball skills and how willing he is to get physical and lay the wood.

Weaknesses:

Like I mentioned above, Newsome II isn’t a press-man corner and those are the types of cornerbacks I value highly. I worry a little bit about his length and functional strength, but his I.Q. and athleticism are top-notch and worth betting on.

23. Payton Turner, Edge Rusher, Houston

Strengths:

Payton Turner is such a good edge rusher and deserves to be talked about more as one of the better edge rushers in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has very good size and elite physical tools for an edge rusher. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and can win with power or flexibility. He also showed off his versatility at Houston by playing standing up and with his hand in the dirt. He’s really good as a run stopper as well. He does a good job disengaging from offensive lineman and stopping runs early on in the play. This dude is a stud.

Weaknesses:

Turner played low level competition in the AAC and this makes his projection a bit difficult. As a player he isn’t perfect. He needs to expand his game and develop more pass rush moves because right now he relies heavily on hand swipes and natural bend.

24. Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver, Florida

Strengths:

Kadarius Toney is one of the most fun prospects to watch in this year’s draft. His movement skills are rare and allow him to break tackles and pick up YAC. His shiftiness is truly special and has led to comparisons to Dante Hall. He played primarily in the slot at Florida, but he is a deep threat from that spot. He is a unique route runner who creates separation by stopping and restarting his routes rather than dipping his shoulders and manipulating defenders with his hips. This is actually quite odd and I’ve never seen a receiver run routes this way. While at Florida, he showcased a versatile skill set as he lined up at running back a couple times this season. The last thing I want to mention, don’t get caught up in the Senior Bowl drops because he didn’t drop passes at Florida. This isn’t a legitimate issue and it’s honestly just a lazy narrative created by people who simply haven’t watched the film.

Weaknesses:

Although Toney is very fun to watch, he is quite raw. He isn’t a technically sound route runner and honestly, it doesn’t seem like he knows what he’s doing yet. Once the ball is snapped, he’s really just winging it. He also lacks the physicality and savviness as a route runner to consistently play on the outside. His ceiling is a bit of an unknown considering his age and limited collegiate production.

25. Elijah Moore, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss

Strengths:

Elijah Moore is one of the best slot receivers in the entire draft. He combines nuance as a route runner with toughness in tight coverage. He excels at performing double moves and although he doesn’t have elite speed, he’s still a legitimate deep threat from the slot. His feet are smooth and quick and this allows him to make sharp cuts on short routes. Don’t let his size keep you from drafting him because he is a baller.

Weaknesses:

Moore is a wonderful receiver despite his size, but I admit that his 5’9 185 lbs. frame limits his long-term ceiling. Another concern is the fact that he doesn’t have the elite speed that would make him a weapon on every single play. I like Moore, but he’s a day two pick primarily due to the fact that he’s small and may not be able to play on the outside in the NFL.

26. Landon Dickerson, Interior Offensive Lineman, Alabama

Strengths:

Landon Dickerson is a brick wall who excels at protecting the passer. He has great size for the position and uses his raw strength to create huge pockets for his quarterback. I love how he plays because he will not hesitate to put people on the ground.

Weaknesses:

Dickerson isn't extremely mobile which means he'll be scheme specific at the next level. Zone blocking schemes will not have any use for him. He's also coming off a torn ACL which is a difficult injury to come back from.

27. Kelvin Joseph, Cornerback, Kentucky

Strengths:

Kelvin Joseph is one of the most underrated players in the 2021 NFL Draft. He may not stack up with the top corners in this class in terms of size, but he does in speed and fluidity. He ran a 4.34 forty yard dash at his pro day which makes him one of the fastest players in this whole draft and on tape he showcases incredible hip fluidity. He has very solid size, his explosiveness out of breaks is really good, and I love the way he walls off corners along the boundary with his body. Also, he tackles which is a big plus. I understand that he played in a zone heavy scheme at Kentucky, but when he played man coverage, he did it extremely well

Weaknesses:

I believe Joseph can be a quality man corner, but he rarely played man coverage at Kentucky. That makes this ranking a bit of a projection. Also, when looking at the top press-man corners in this draft, Joseph doesn’t stand out in terms of his size.

28. Trevon Moehrig, Safety, TCU

Strengths:

Trevon Moehrig is a good safety who excels in coverage. He can run downhill and make plays in the run game, but his ability to cover is what really gets me excited. He has fluid hips and solid makeup speed, so he’s able to turn and run when receivers break at the top of their routes. He also has good length which he uses to break up passes in tight coverage. Moehrig isn’t a star-level safety like Jamal Adams, but he is very smart and has a valuable skillset.

Weaknesses:

Moehrig is awesome in coverage, but his underwhelming athleticism may limit his ceiling. He doesn’t have great long speed and he isn’t very explosive so I wonder how good he’ll be deep in coverage against fast receivers like Tyreek Hill and D.K. Metcalf. He’s a good athlete, but not a great one and that’s a bit concerning for a guy who will likely play a lot of snaps in the slot and at free safety.

29. Azeez Ojulari, Edge Rusher, Georgia

Strengths:

Azeez Ojulari is an athletic outside linebacker who wins primarily with his speed. He has a few nice pass rush moves which, combined with his athleticism, produces some unreal plays on film. He is the best speed rusher in the class and I don’t know if it’s close. One thing that’s really impressive about Ojulari is how comfortable he is dropping back into coverage. He can be effective in zone coverage because he’s such a fluid athlete.

Weaknesses:

Ojulari has the athleticism and pass rush moves to be a productive pass rusher, but his size and length is an issue. He’s a bit undersized and this showed up against Alabama. Alex Leatherwood and Deonte Brown gave him some trouble and that’s a little concerning because they aren’t held in high regard as prospects. He’s also a one trick pony as a pass rusher and I worry about how effective he can be at the next level.

30. Jamin Davis, Linebacker, Kentucky

Strengths:

Jamin Davis is a freak athlete who is a very good coverage linebacker. He ran a sub 4.4 forty yard dash at his pro day and he showed the ability to keep up with Kyle Pitts when he played Florida. He has pretty good range and he is a really good tackler in the open field. If you need a weak side linebacker who can cover anyone, here’s your guy.

Weaknesses:

Davis isn’t a super versatile player who will cover, fill gaps, and rush the passer. He has a very specific role and if you ask him to do everything, you’re going to be disappointed. Davis is very good at this one thing, but being a limited player decreases his value.

31. Asante Samuel Jr., Cornerback, Florida State

Strengths:

Asante Samuel Jr. is one of the best zone corners in this class. He played on the outside at Florida State and he did a great job of reading the field and jumping underneath routes. He also has very good acceleration and his ability to stop and start is really good.

Weaknesses:

Asante Samuel Jr. is a bit undersized to play on the outside, though I think he could do it. He also played a lot of zone coverage at Florida State and I doubt he can play press coverage at his size.

32. Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan

Strengths:

Kwity Paye is a fluid speed rusher who wins with athleticism. He has good burst off the line of scrimmage and he combines above-average speed with great footwork to get around tackles. He showed a lot of versatility in college as he played all over the defensive line at Michigan. I wouldn’t be surprised if Paye got drafted very high because he has good positional size and tested very well at his pro day.

Weaknesses:

Kwity Paye isn’t a polished all-around edge rusher. He has the speed and flexibility to get around tackles, but he lacks the strength to go through them. His underwhelming functional strength limits his effectiveness as both a pass rusher and a run stopper. It’s impressive how his feet and hands work in unison, but his ceiling is limited since he doesn’t have an effective bull rush.

33. Creed Humphrey, Interior Offensive Lineman, Oklahoma

Strengths:

Creed Humphrey is a great athlete who will dominate in a zone blocking scheme. He overpowers opposing lineman in the run game and moves really well up the field. He has very good power in his hands which keeps him from getting overpowered.

Weaknesses:

Humphrey isn't the most consistent pass protector so he will be scheme specific just like Dickerson. He can't play in a gap scheme because of this issue. Just watch his reps at the senior bowl and you'll see what I mean.

34. Levi Onwuzurike, Interior Defensive Lineman, Washington

Strengths:

Levi Onwuzurike is a twitched-up defensive tackle who has a special combination of burst and strength. He fires off the line of scrimmage so quickly and he can absolutely destroy plays because guards struggle to keep up with him. Right now he doesn’t have a ton of pass-rushing moves, but he has shown the ability to perform rips, swipes, and even spin moves. If you need a penetrating 3-tech, Levi is your guy.

Weaknesses:

The flashes on Levi’s film are incredible, but he is not consistent on a down to down basis. He’s not a nuanced pass rusher at the moment and leans heavily on his athleticism to win reps. One thing that would improve his pass-rushing ability is adjusting his pad level. He needs to bend his knees more because he plays with a high pad level which negatively impacts his leverage.

35. Christian Barmore, Interior Defensive Lineman, Alabama

Strengths:

Christian Barmore is a good pass rushing defensive tackle who has great positional size and quality physical tools. He has extremely quick feet and moves pretty well for a player his size. By no means does he have elite burst, but he can get off the line very quickly. He has excellent length to go along with the rest of his frame which allows him to move guards out of the way using rips and swipes. When Barmore wins a rep, he fires through the offensive line and completely blows up the play. He plays with good leverage and knee bend as well, so don’t expect him to get overpowered at the next level.

Weaknesses:

Barmore’s one big issue is that he gets neutralized and moved off the line of scrimmage in one-on-one situations too often. He needs to improve his functional strength once he gets to the NFL. Also, he isn’t an extremely twitchy athlete, so his upside is limited.

36. Mac Jones, Quarterback, Alabama

Strengths:

Mac Jones is a solid quarterback prospect. He is one of the more accurate passers in this draft and he consistently makes quality decisions. He also happens to be a very quick processor and is possibly the best processor in the class. One of his best qualities is his ability to manage the pocket. He doesn’t have the mobility to make plays outside of the pocket, but he can move around and avoid pressure. Although he doesn’t have elite arm strength, he is one of the best deep-ball throwers in this class. This is due in part to his ability to manipulate defensive backs with pump fakes. He is so good at opening up his receivers this way. When his mechanics are perfect, he is a machine throwing the football.

Weaknesses:

Mac Jones simply doesn’t have good enough traits to be drafted very high in the first round. He doesn’t have a super-strong arm and he lacks the mobility that would allow him to extend plays outside of the pocket. One of my biggest concerns is his effectiveness under pressure. When pass rushers get in his face, his footwork and lower body mechanics fall apart. There are times when his footwork falls apart even with no pressure in his face. This affects his accuracy and arm strength in these situations. He could be an effective starter someday because he is smart and accurate, but I don’t know how successful he’ll be throwing into tight windows and playing with less of a talent gap between his team and opponents in the NFL.

37. Dillon Radunz, Offensive Tackle, North Dakota State

Strengths:

Dillon Radunz is a left tackle with great mobility and a versatile skill set. His agility is incredible which allows him to get into his pass sets quickly and move fluidly in the run game. He excels as a run blocker, but he can get things done in pass protection. He doesn’t get overwhelmed by speed or power very often and when he does give up leverage, he can move and push edge rushers past the pocket.

Weaknesses:

Radunz is already twenty three years old and he played against low level FCS competition at North Dakota State. That makes his evaluation very tricky. What worries me the most is his strength. He didn’t display overwhelming power in college and that concerns me since he was playing at the FCS level. I would’ve expected him to have more power in his hands.

38. Terrace Marshall Jr., Wide Receiver, LSU

Strengths:

Terrace Marshall Jr. grabs your attention as soon as you look at his profile on paper. He’s 6’2 200lbs., runs a 4.53 forty-yard dash, and is just 20 years old. That combination of size, athleticism, and youth is really impressive. What he does on the field is impressive as well. Since Marshall Jr. is a bigger receiver, he has a stiff lower body, but sometimes he showcases good footwork and the ability to create separation on slants. Due to his size and length, I also believe he will be able to consistently make contested catches and catches away from his body. At LSU, he primarily played inside and was effective as a deep threat in this role. Don’t sleep on his athleticism, because he can burn you if you don’t pay attention to him.

Weaknesses:

This isn’t surprising considering his build, but Marshall Jr. doesn’t have a lot of fluidity in his lower body which causes him to round off his routes rather than making sharp cuts. This also keeps him from sinking his hips which further limits his ability as a route runner. I like how he was able to take over Justin Jefferson’s role in the slot, but he was never “the guy” at LSU and I question whether or not he can play on the outside.

39. Liam Eichenberg, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame

Strengths:

Liam Eichenburg is a very solid tackle who has a high floor. His pass sets are textbook and he does a good job getting into them quickly. Once he gets set, he does a great job placing his hands on opposing pass rushers’ chest. His hand placement is really good in the run game as well, and he uses his functional strength to create open holes for his running back. His strength, agility, and versatility make him extremely valuable.

Weaknesses:

Eichenberg is quite old for a prospect which, combined with his non-elite athleticism, gives him a low ceiling. In pass pro, his base tends to get wide which can impact his balance and cause him to get overpowered. When teams run stunts or send heavy blitzes his way, Eichenberg struggles to adjust which leads to him getting beat.

40. Ronnie Perkins, Edge Rusher, Oklahoma

Strengths:

Ronnie Perkins is a very underrated edge rusher in this draft. He won’t grab your attention with elite physical traits, but he wins in a variety of ways. He is extremely flexible and does a great job converting speed into power. He can even help your team stop the run. Perkins can step in and be a quality player immediately.

Weaknesses:

The fact that Perkins had an outlier half-season in 2020 is a little concerning, but I’m more concerned with the fact that he doesn’t have

41. Rondale Moore, Wide Receiver, Purdue

Strengths:

Rondale Moore is an extremely dynamic athlete who played mostly in the slot at Purdue. At his pro day, he ran a 4.32 forty-yard dash, making him one of the better athletes in the entire class. He can create big plays with the ball in his hands and his ability to pick up YAC on screens and handoffs will make any offense more dangerous. He’s elusive in the open field which makes him hard to tackle and he has the fluidity and explosiveness to be a very dangerous receiver in the right hands. Although he’ll likely only be a slot receiver in the NFL, he should be able to succeed in that role due to his speed and underrated route running. He will create separation at the next level by varying his tempo (speeding up and slowing down) and breaking swiftly at the top of his routes.

Weaknesses:

He played just seven games over the last two seasons because of injuries. His limited availability is a big concern and should be for any team considering drafting him. He had a minimal role within Purdue’s offense as well, and he wasn’t used as a deep threat very much. He had a very limited route tree as a lot of his targets came on slants, shallow posts, and other short routes. His production in college was heavily inflated because a large chunk of his yards came on screens. The more I watched his film, I began to see a lot of drops that just shouldn’t happen.

42. Javonte Williams, Running Back, North Carolina

Strengths:

Javonte Williams is a wrecking ball who can pretty much do it all. He plays the game ferociously and does a great job of picking up extra yardage by breaking tackles. There’s a reason why he led the nation in yards per carry - he’s nearly impossible to tackle on first contact. While he is a devastatingly good runner, he also provides value as a receiver and pass blocker. With his age and versatile skill set, I think he can be a very good player.

Weaknesses:

My only worry about Javonte Williams is his long speed. He simply doesn’t have the speed to break off big runs consistently. This won’t limit how successful he’ll be in the NFL, but it would be nice if he had closer to 4.4 speed.

43. Najee Harris, Running back, Alabama

Strengths:

Najee Harris is a brick house with impressive nuance as a running back. With his size, you’d think he’s stiff and a bruiser, but that’s not the case. He is a very patient and elusive runner who does a great job reading holes and making tacklers miss once he gets past the line of scrimmage. His feet are awesome and his shiftiness is really impressive considering his size. I also think he could be pretty good as a receiver because he has good hands and his twitchiness as a runner could translate to the passing game. One thing that frustrates me with many running back prospects is that they can’t create big plays once they get to the second level of the defense. Harris can, though this may be limited once he gets to the NFL because he isn’t extremely fast. Harris is a good prospect and can be a three-down back in the NFL.

Weaknesses:

Speed is Harris’ biggest weakness. He simply doesn’t have the speed that the best running backs in the NFL have. This will limit his big-play potential in the NFL which will ultimately limit his upside. He could use some work as a pass blocker too.

44. Travis Etienne, Running back, Clemson

Strengths:

Travis Etienne is an explosive running back who has good vision and provides versatility as an offensive weapon. He can impact the game as both a rusher and receiver which will allow him to stay on the field on third downs. Once he hits a hole, he can break tackles and create big plays with his speed. He has really good lower body strength which is why he’s able to break tackles and gain yards after contact. What he brings to the table as a receiving back is extremely valuable.

Weaknesses:

Despite having really good speed, Etienne didn’t have a ton of explosive plays this season. He’s good at hitting holes and breaking tackles to get three to five extra yards, but he doesn’t rip off many 20+ yard touchdown runs like previous running back prospects. Another issue is he lacks agility and elusiveness. He doesn’t make defenders miss with jukes and spin moves. Instead, he wins past the line of scrimmage by outrunning defenders or going through them. This isn’t terrible, but at his size, I don’t know how effective he’ll be at breaking tackles, and his lack of quick-twitch athleticism limits how effective he’ll be at creating plays once he reaches the second level of the defense.

45. Jevon Holland, Cornerback, Oregon

Strengths:

Jevon Holland is a very good defensive back who can play cornerback and safety. He has very good speed and makes a ton of plays at the catch point. I like his makeup speed as well and this allows him to close gaps when he gets out of position. He can tackle too which is huge for a safety.

Weaknesses:

Holland has the skills to play safety, but he didn't very often at Oregon. If he does play cornerback, he'll be pigeon holed into a nickelback role because he doesn't have great speed for a corner.

46. Richie Grant, Safety, UCF

Strengths:

Richie Grant is a smart safety who reads the quarterbacks eyes and uses that information to make plays in coverage. He has good short area speed and uses this to run downhill and make plays in the run game. I really like his ability to tackle and I believe he showed he can make plays deep in coverage against Tulsa.

Weaknesses:

Grant doesn’t have elite long speed which may cause him to struggle in cover three if he’s asked to cover a large portion of the field. Although I really like the skill set he provides, what really scares me about him is his age. He’s twenty three years old which, combined with his underwhelming long speed, gives him a pretty low ceiling.

47. Dynami Brown, Wide Receiver, North Carolina

Strengths:

Dynami Brown is an explosive outside receiver who will make his money as a vertical threat. He has a variety of releases at his disposal and he fires off the line of scrimmage with unreal explosiveness. I really like his vertical route running and long speed and I believe he can be a dangerous weapon as a number two outside receiver.

Weaknesses:

I would love to be all in on Brown, but he has two issues that will limit his ceiling:

1. He doesn’t generate a lot of YAC

2. He doesn’t make a lot of contested catches

These issues are pretty big for a guy who has a limited route tree and will likely be confined to a role in which he is a deep threat on the outside. I also wish he was a tad bit faster to maximize the output he could have with his playstyle.

48. Nico Collins, Wide Receiver, Michigan

Strengths:

Nico Collins is a big tall receiver who has elite speed and has nuance as a route runner. He didn't play this season, but he showed up to the senior bowl and dominated opposing defensive backs with flud releases. I also like his ability to make contested catches in the redzone.

Weaknesses:

Like I said above, Collins didn't play this season so I'm not sure what he'll look like in an actual game right now. I also question if he can make plays outside of of running vertical routes.

49. Ifeatu Melifonwu, Cornerback, Syracuse

Strengths:

You cannot convince me that Ifeatu Melifonwu wasn’t built in a lab. Like Caleb Farley, he is extremely big but has unreal fluidity and movement skills. His ability to flip his hips and continue running is incredible. I love his size because his length allows him to make plays on the football at the catch point. If you want a potential star outside corner in the second round, take this guy and develop him.

Weaknesses:

Although I love Melifonwu’s physical tools, I admit he is raw. He doesn’t have a ton of experience playing press coverage and I would love to see him do a better job using his length to his advantage. He has 32.25” arms yet he plays like he has little dinosaur arms. It’s very frustrating and I just want to see him play with a bit of Jaycee Horn’s physicality. His lack of physicality and that “screw you” mentality shows up in the run game. He is an extremely poor tackler and against Clemson he gave up a couple of big runs because he doesn’t know how to tackle properly.

50. Elijah Molden, Cornerback, Washington

Strengths:

Elijah Molden is a slot corner who simply makes plays. He is extremely smart and reads the field faster than most players. This, combined with his solid explosiveness, allows him to make plays that other players simply can’t make. He’s a very fluid athlete and in coverage he does a great job transitioning and sticking with receivers. He only played one game at safety in college, but I believe he could play the position well due to his processing speed and tackling ability. Molden is a very good slot corner and is worth a pick on day two.

Weaknesses:

Physical tools are the biggest question mark with Molden. He is undersized for an outside corner and ran an underwhelming 4.59 forty yard dash at his pro day. Simply put, he will not play on the outside in the NFL. As I mentioned earlier, he only played safety for one game at Washington so he will likely be stuck playing slot corner at the next level. That isn’t a bad thing, but it does lower his value.

2021 NFL Mock Draft

Here is my official mock draft for the 2021 NFL Draft. In this mock draft, I will be acting as the general manager of each team that has a first-round pick. This isn’t supposed to be a prediction of what will happen on draft night. Instead, I want to show what I would do with each pick If I made the final decision for each team. Also, there won’t be any trades in this mock because they’ll make this exercise more difficult than it needs to be.

For each pick, I took into consideration my own talent evaluation of each player, team needs, and team payrolls. These picks will have a long-lasting effect, so I must take into account everything to make sure I make the best possible selection.

I believe in using the draft to gain value. This means I value drafting the best player available over someone who fills a need. Just to be clear, I will never draft someone if they don’t fit a team’s scheme or if their talents won’t be maximized in a specific team’s system. I simply refuse to draft lesser talent just to suffice a need. That’s what free agency is for.

With all that out of the way, here is my official mock draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson

The Jaguars are in the midst of a full rebuild, but they have a good foundation that they can build upon to be successful in the future. They have plenty of draft picks, a lot of cap space, and a bunch of talented young players on their roster including D.J Chark, James Robinson, C.J Henderson,and K’Lavon Chaisson. Now they have a chance to draft their franchise quarterback who can take control and lead them as they develop into a playoff-caliber team.

Gardner Minshew is a solid quarterback in his own right, but teams need an elite quarterback to reach their potential and Trevor Lawrence can be that guy. Lawrence is one of the best quarterback prospects of all time and his combination of size, arm strength, mobility, and decision making is extremely rare. He can be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL one day and drafting him will immediately make the Jaguars a better team.

2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson, Quarterback, BYU

Now that the Jets have traded Sam Darnold, this selection is a lot easier. Zach Wilson is an accurate passer with a big arm and special playmaking ability. His ability to improvise and make plays outside of structure is rare and reminds me a little bit of Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech.

Wilson needs to work on his footwork and improve his field vision a little bit, but he has the skills to become a special player in the NFL. I warn you, his rookie year might be rough because he is extremely aggressive throwing down the field. However, if you put in the time and effort to develop him and put him in the best position to succeed, he can be a star.

3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State

The 49ers made a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins to go from the twelfth pick to the third pick. In the deal, they gave up their 2021 first round pick (no. 12), a third round pick, and their 2022 and 2023 first round picks. They gave up a lot to move up nine spots, but they did so to get a potential franchise quarterback.

Kyle Shanahan’s system is very quarterback friendly so anyone they pick will likely have success, but my QB3 is Justin Fields and I believe he could elevate Shanahan’s west coast offense.

Fields is an accurate passer with above average arm strength, but his athleticism will add a new element of danger to the 49er’s offense. I think it’s fair to say that Fields has some issues as a processor, but I am extremely confident that Shanahan will be able to mask those issues through his play calling. Fields isn’t the perfect prospect, but his physical tools, deep ball accuracy, and ability to throw on the run make him worth this pick.

4. Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State

It happened! The first four picks of my mock draft are all quarterbacks.

The Falcons have a very poor roster with a lot of needs on both sides of the ball. Last year they were terrible both offensively and defensively and I believe they are beginning to rebuild. Since Matt Ryan is on a terrible contract and will be gone in two years, I want a quarterback who has a lot of upside and will make this rebuild as smooth as possible. Trey Lance is a bit raw compared to the other top quarterback prospects, but if he sits for a year, which he will in Atlanta, he has a chance to shine in Arthur Smith’s offense.

5. Cincinnati Bengals - Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida

I understand that the Bengals’ offensive line was not very good last season, but Kyle Pitts is one of the best skill position prospects we’ve seen in years. The Bengals are in an interesting situation here because there are two offensive lineman available that are worth this pick. However, their biggest need on their offensive line is the interior and they can fill that need on day two or three. Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater would be great here, but they don’t fix all their issues on the offensive line.

This is a very difficult pick to make, but I’m going with the best player available in Kyle Pitts. Pitts can play anywhere whether you line him up along the boundary or inline with the offensive line. If he were listed as a wide receiver, he would be the number one receiver in the class and his combination of size, speed, strength, and fluidity will make the Bengals’ offense exponentially better right away.

6. Miami Dolphins - Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU

Will Fuller V is on a one year deal and the Dolphins need one more receiver to fill out their receiving core. I want to see if Tua Tagovailoa is actually a franchise quarterback and the way to do that is by surrounding him with elite weapons.

Ja’Marr Chase dominated college football in 2019 as a nineteen year old and possesses the skills to be a dominant x receiver at the next level. This is easy.

7. Detroit Lions - Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

The Detroit Lions have a lot of needs on offense including wide receiver and offensive tackle. Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith could be in consideration here considering they have a very weak wide receiver core, but I believe the best pick for the future would be Penei Sewell.

Right now, the Lions have a sub-par offensive line with a lot of room for improvement at right guard and right tackle. Tyrell Crosby is in the last year of his contract and Penei Sewell would be an immediate upgrade. I’m very high on Sewell and whether he plays tackle or guard in the NFL, I expect him to succeed.

8. Carolina Panthers - Rashawn Slater, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

I thought the Carolina Panthers made a mistake taking Derrick Brown last year because they had a chance to draft a left tackle in Jedrick Wills. Fortunately, they have an opportunity to draft their franchise left tackle right here and that’s what I’m going to do.

Rashawn Slater is an excellent tackle prospect who has great foot speed and positional versatility. I would be pretty surprised if he isn’t good at the next level because his film is incredible. With this selection, the Panthers’ offense is looking pretty good. They have Sam Darnold, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Christian McCaffrey, Taylor Morton, and now Rashawn Slater. If Darnold pans out in Carolina, this could be a very fun offense to watch.

9. Denver Broncos - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker, Notre Dame

The Broncos would’ve been in a great spot to take Jaycee Horn had they not signed Ronald Darby in the offseason, but they still need a linebacker to finish off their defense and I absolutely love Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah. He’s basically a missile on the football field and I love watching him play in coverage. This pick would make the Broncos’ defense extremely dangerous and would give them a better chance to compete with the Chiefs.

10. Dallas Cowboys - Jaelan Phillips, Edge Rusher, Miami

The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was horrendous last year and they just hired Dan Quinn to be their defensive coordinator. Quinn’s defense struggles to generate pressure, so I’m going to give them the best edge rusher in the class to pair with Demarcus Lawrence.

11. New York Giants - Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Although the Giants did just sign Kenny Golladay, they still need help at wide receiver. They’re going all in on Daniel Jones this season to see if he is truly their franchise quarterback. I like this mindset, so I’m going to oblige by giving him Jaylen Waddle. Waddle has elite speed and will create separation from the slot with his nuanced route running. This is such a good fit and might be my favorite pick so far.

12. Philadelphia Eagles - DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Oh no...here he comes...it’s the Slim Reaper!

DeVonta Smith is such a skilled receiver and would immediately be the number one option for the Eagles who are desperate for talent in their receiving core. Jalen Hurts can only do so much without talent around him, so I want to give him a reliable target.

13. Los Angeles Chargers - Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State

I was absolutely wrong about Justin Herbert last year and it seems like he truly is a franchise quarterback. Since he had a historically good rookie season, I’m all in on him and want to make sure he is in a position to succeed. To accomplish this, I need to fix the offensive line and attempt to give him a franchise left tackle. Jenkins is an athletic tackle with fantastic technique and unreal power at the point of attack. He played right tackle in college so the transition to left tackle may be difficult, but his foot speed and technique are too good to pass up.

14. Minnesota Vikings - Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech

The Vikings did a good job putting a bandaid on their cornerback needs by adding Patrick Peterson in the offseason. Therefore, I’m not going to pick a cornerback. Instead, I’m taking the best tackle available in Christian Darrisaw to fill the massive hole at left tackle. Darrisaw isn’t the cleanest tackle prospect, but he has a ton of upside and could be special especially in the run game.

15. New England Patriots - Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina

The Patriots really need a linebacker, but Zaven Collins and Micah Parsons are not worth passing up on Jaycee Horn. Horn is a physical press man corner who has elite speed and really good ball skills. Pairing him with Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson would give the Patriots an incredible cornerback room.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Surtain, Cornerback, Alabama

Stop reading this and go look at the Cardinals’ cornerbacks on their depth chart. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

I’m sorry you had to see that. Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford? Ew, gross!

They have to get a cornerback here and Patrick Surtain is my top player available. He excels in both man and zone coverage and has the physical tools to be very good in the NFL.

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Alijah Vera-Tucker, Interior Offensive Lineman, USC

The Raiders tore apart their offensive line in the offseason so as the acting GM, I’m gonna undo their mess. Alijah Vera-Tucker played both tackle and guard at USC and he played both at a fairly high level. I think he likely plays guard in the NFL, but if the Raiders want to try him at right tackle, they absolutely should. He has quick feet, good mobility, and a solid anchor. He should succeed even if he doesn’t play tackle.

18. Miami Dolphins - Zaven Collins, Linebacker, Tulsa

The Miami Dolphins’ defense was really good last year and it just got even better. Zaven Collins is a jack-of-all trades linebacker who has very good instincts. He isn’t a great athlete, which is why he’s still available, but he can rush off the edge or play zone coverage. Collins is simply a good football player.

19. Washington Football Team - Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State

I’m lower on Micah Parsons than the consensus, but this is a good spot for him. It sucks that there isn’t an offensive tackle worth taking here because Washington desperately needs one, but this is still a good pick.

Parsons is an electric athlete who is a very good blitzer and has the physical tools to develop into a decent coverage linebacker. He will be really good as the SAM linebacker in Washington.

20. Chicago Bears - Caleb Farley, Cornerback, Virginia Tech

After releasing Kyle Fuller, the Bears are in need of a cornerback to place next to Jaylon Johnson. Caleb Farley has an injury red flag, but he is the most physically gifted cornerback in the class. His movement skills are elite and make him worth picking here.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Greg Newsome II, Cornerback, Northwestern

Greg Newsome II is a smart cornerback who excels in zone coverage while also having the ability to play man coverage near the line of scrimmage. He won’t be a great press-man corner, but he does have great instincts and really good ball skills.

22. Tennessee Titans - Rashod Bateman, Wide Receiver, Minnesota

I absolutely love this fit for the Titans. They need another receiver to put next to A.J. Brown, and Rashod Bateman has outside/slot versatility while being an excellent route runner. The Titans’ offense would improve if they add Bateman.

23. New York Jets - Payton Turner, Houston, Edge Rusher

I’m very high on Payton Turner and believe he is the second best edge rusher in the class. His combination of size and athleticism are incredible, but his ability to stop the run is what really makes me excited. The Jets need another edge rusher and Turner can be that guy.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Landon Dickerson, Interior Offensive Lineman, Alabama

The Steelers need to draft an offensive lineman here, so I considered Landon Dickerson and Dillon Radunz. Dickerson is higher on my board and is such a good pass blocker that I can’t pass him up. If he recovers from his ACL injury, he’ll be an awesome center in the NFL.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevon Moehrig, Safety, TCU

I don’t love this year’s safety class, but I do like Trevon Moehrig. He can play in the slot or deep as the single high safety and I love his fluidity in coverage. The Jaguars need a safety and Moehrig would be a great fit.

26. Cleveland Browns - Jamin Davis, Linebacker, Kentucky

The Browns have a pretty weak linebacker core and Jamin Davis is a guy who has elite athleticism and is one of the better coverage linebackers in the class. He will be a very good weak side linebacker for the Browns.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Azeez Ojulari, Edge Rusher, Georgia

If Rashod Bateman falls to this pick on draft night, the Ravens should take him. Unfortunately he didn’t in this scenario, so I’m going to take Azeez Ojulari to try and improve their pass rush. Ojulari is an outside linebacker with elite speed which will make him very difficult to stop in the NFL.

28. New Orleans Saints - Kadarius Toney, Wide Receiver, Florida

Kadarius Toney is my personal favorite slot receiver in this class and he’ll be a good second fiddle to Michael Thomas. His ability to generate YAC with the ball in his hands is insane but he’ll take some time to become a nuanced route runner. Have fun covering Michael Thomas and Kadarius Toney.

29. Green Bay Packers - Elijah Moore, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss

The Green Bay Packers’ offense was elite last year, but I think they could use some more consistency at wide receiver. I absolutely love Elijah Moore because he’s tough at the catch point and is one of the best route runners in the draft. He also tested very well and will be a deep threat from the slot.

30. Buffalo Bills - Kelvin Joseph, Cornerback, Kentucky

Kelvin Joseph played in a zone-heavy scheme in college, but I believe he has a chance to do much more in college. He has solid size for a corner and I really liked what I saw from him in his limited man coverage snaps. He has elite speed, fluid hips, and pretty good ball skills. Also, he did a great job against the Alabama receivers and caught an interception while covering DeVonta Smith.

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Dillon Radunz, Offensive Tackle, North Dakota State

The Chiefs got destroyed in the Super Bowl due to injuries to their offensive line and they decided to cut both starting offensive tackles. As a result, they have a huge need at tackle. To fill this need I’m taking Dillon Radunz who tested extremely well and has ideal measurements to be a quality tackle in the NFL.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kwity Paye, Edge Rusher, Michigan

The Buccaneers don’t have many needs on their roster and Jason Pierre-Paul has one year left on his contract. I want this defense to play at an elite level for years to come, so I’m picking Kwity Paye. I’m lower on Paye than most people, but he’s a freak athlete who can stop the run and has enough bend to be a solid pass rusher in the future. He’ll need to develop more pass rush moves, but he could be special.