For football fans, the most exciting time of every offseason is finally here. It's time for the annual NFL Draft! This year's draft is sure to be a memorable one, with no less than five quarterbacks expected to be taken in the first round alone. But where will they go? Which teams will be bold enough to trade up for their future faces of the their franchise? Here are my official predictions for the 2021 NFL Draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (QB), Clemson
We start off with the easiest pick in the draft. Trevor Lawrence has been the presumptive first overall pick for years now, and this week, he will finally hear his name called. The guy is already donating to Jacksonville area charities. Not much to say here. He will be an impact player in the league from day one.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson (QB), BYU
For whatever reason, it appears the Jets have decided that BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is their next choice to become the face of the franchise. Standing at 6'3, the kid just looks like a NFL quarterback, and all you have to do is watch a little bit of tape to see how effortlessly the ball comes out of his hand. However, he will be under immediate pressure right away as the presumptive day one starter. It will be interesting to see how the 21-year old deals with the pressure of being the second overall pick, the New York media, and early comparisons to Aaron Rodgers. He has perhaps the toughest immediate situation of any quarterback in the draft. Let's just hope it goes better than it did for Sam Darnold.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones (QB), Alabama
The 49ers didn't give up four picks, including three first-rounders, to do anything less than take a quarterback here. However, which one remains undecided. According to reports, head coach Kyle Shanahan wants Alabama's Mac Jones, while the front office prefers North Dakota State's Trey Lance. In the end, I think the front office shows support for their coach, and goes with his preferred guy. No matter what, the 49ers have their guy for the future, and Jimmy G is looking over his shoulder.
4. Denver Broncos (PROJECTED TRADE WITH ATLANTA): Trey Lance (QB), North Dakota State
The Falcons have a TON of options here. They could easily take the best player at literally any position other than quarterback, and they could still even take Georgia native Justin Fields and have him sit for a couple seasons while he learns from Matt Ryan. However, with too many needs to count, and teams dying to get into their position, I project the Falcons trade the fourth overall pick to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos will then select their quarterback of choice, whether it be Justin Fields or Trey Lance. I predict they go with Lance as their guy. It's an easy transition from the brutal North Dakota weather to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Plus, Lance will likely sit behind Drew Lock for the first couple games, before he is thrust into the spotlight.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell (OT), Oregon
The Bengals have a tough decision to make here. Take arguably the best player in the draft in Kyle Pitts, reunite Joe Burrow with his former college teammate Ja'Marr Chase, or make sure Burrow is protected for years to come. I believe the Bengals will make the right decision by selecting the best overall lineman in the draft, and hope they can keep Burrow off the injured reserve list.
6. Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts (TE), Florida
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Dolphins' quarterback situation, and one way to help would be to select one of the top two lineman in the draft. However, with Kyle Pitts still on the board, it may be just too tempting to not take him here. The former Florida Gator is being hailed as a can't miss, generational talent, and keeping him in the sunshine state just makes too much sense. Plus, with head coach Brian Flores coming straight from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, having a one-two punch at tight end with Pitts and Mike Gesicki seems like a match made in football heaven.
7. New England Patriots (PROJECTED TRADE WITH DETROIT): Justin Fields (QB), Ohio State
Speaking of Belichick and the Patriots, I believe New England will be the team to make the second big trade of the night, to go and get their future signal caller. With Brady now in Tampa, and Cam Newton near the end of his career, it makes sense for the Patriots to trade up and get Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Fields will be able to sit for at least a year, while he learns from arguably the best running-quarterback of all time.
8. Carolina Panthers: Rashawn Slater (OL), Northwestern
With Sam Darnold the new presumptive starter in Charlotte, it may be tempting to get him the best wide receiver in the draft in Ja'Marr Chase. After all, the Panthers did just lose Curtis Samuel in free agency. However, a wide receiver is no good if the quarterback can't stay up right long enough to throw it to him. That's why I have the Panthers selecting the second best offensive lineman in the draft, in Northwestern's Rashawn Slater. Slater can play any position along the offensive line, and he will give Darnold some much needed protection, following years of constantly being on the ground in New York.
9. Atlanta Falcons (PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER): Patrick Surtain (CB), Alabama
After a projected trade with the Broncos' for the fourth overall pick, the Falcons scoop up some picks, and are still able to take one of the best defensive players in the draft. Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain will immediately help sure up what was one of the worst defenses in all of football last year.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons (LB), Penn State
The Cowboys' have plenty of needs, mostly on defense. But one thing about Jerry Jones is he loves a big, flashy player. That's exactly what you get with Penn State's Micah Parsons. The Cowboys also just lost former Nittany Lion Sean Lee to retirement, so Parsons will be able to step right into that role.
11. New York Giants: Ja'Marr Chase (WR), LSU
There is always one player who people don't expect to fall outside the top 10, and this year, I believe it to be LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Chase is considered by many to be the best overall receiver in this year's class, but I predict he will fall all the way to the 11th overall pick, and land with the New York Giants, who will be more than happy to have him. There are still questions about whether Daniel Jones is the guy, but an offense consisting of Chase, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and a returning Saquon Barkley, should give you all the answers you need. Plus, the Giants selecting a big time Wide Receiver from LSU? Where have I seen that before...
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaycee Horn (CB), South Carolina
Rumor has it that the Eagles are looking to trade back even farther into the first round. This could make sense as the team has no shortage of holes to fill, but if they stay at the 12 spot, they will also have their pick at a number of top players left on the board. Last year the offense was abysmal, so it would make sense for them to go and get a top-rated receiver like Devonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle. However, with so many needs, I believe the Eagles should take the best player available, which would be South Carolina's Jaycee Horn. Horn would bring an instant sense of toughness that has been lacking in Philly's secondary for years now. Plus, with more picks in the draft than any other team, they will have plenty of opportunity to address their other needs later.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Alijah Vera-Tucker (OG), USC
Sometimes a pick just makes too much sense not to happen. The Chargers have their quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert, so now the focus is making sure he's healthy. In a no-brainer, they select the best interior lineman in the draft. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he is already right down the road at USC.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye (EDGE), Michigan
The Vikings don't have a ton of needs, so I believe they take the best offensive or defensive lineman on the board. That just happens to be Kwity Paye from Michigan. After all, head coach Mike Zimmer is one of the best defensive minds in the entire league.
15. Detroit Lions (PROJECTED TRADE WITH NEW ENGLAND): Jaylen Waddle (WR), Alabama
After trading down with New England, the Lions are another team that I could see potentially trading down again. However, in this scenario I say they stay put, and give new quarterback Jared Goff some weapons. Ideally, they would probably like to take an offensive lineman, but with both Alabama wide receivers still on the board, it would be hard not to take one of them. I say they go with Jaylen Waddle, and he picks up right where Kenny Golladay left off.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley (CB), Virginia Tech
Could you imagine an offense with Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins and Devonta Smith? It's a real possibility that we see that come to fruition, but instead, I believe the Cardinals will fill one of their biggest glaring needs. After losing Patrick Peterson to the Vikings in free agency, I think the Cardinals will take this opportunity to select Caleb Farley and sure up their back end.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Devonta Smith (WR), Alabama
What do we know about the Raiders? They like flashy, and they like speed at receiver. Plus, in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and whoever the Broncos take, you're going to need to win some shoot-outs. Insert Devonta Smith.
18. Miami Dolphins: Najee Harris (RB), Alabama
The Dolphins will no doubt be looking to get some insurance across the offensive line, but with a relatively large drop-off at the top of the board, I absolutely could see them trading out of this pick. However, if they don't get a value they like, it could be nice to give Tua a running game to help alleviate some of the pressure he is feeling. A two-headed monster in Harris and Myles Gaskin, along with an explosive offense that now includes Kyle Pitts, could smell danger for the other three teams in the AFC East.
19. Washington Football Team: Jeremiah Owosu-Koramoah (LB), Notre Dame
Is Ryan Fitzpatrick really Washington's answer at quarterback? I guess that remains to be seen. But with defensive minded head coach Ron Rivera in charge, I say they go get another top defender to add to what is already one of the league's scariest front seven.
20. Chicago Bears: Elijah Moore (WR), Mississippi
Speaking of a head-scratcher at quarterback, what are the Bears thinking going with Andy Dalton as the presumed starter? I don't know, but if that's what they're doing, it may help to get him some more speed on the outside. Moore paired with Allen Robinson is actually a pretty good duo, but I still don't think it will be enough for Chicago to compete for a division title.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Trevon Moehrig (S), TCU
The Colts are one of the most complete teams in all of football, but one thing they could use is more help in the secondary. Malik Hooker is no more, and the Colts get their replacement here.
22. Tennessee Titans: Gregory Rousseau (EDGE), Miami
The Titans are looking at a division that will likely include Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Trevor Lawrence. Which means they need to be able to get pressure if they want to see the playoffs again. Last year, they were one of the worst in the league at doing that, and it showed.
23. New York Jets: Travis Etienne (RB), Clemson
The Jets have a ton of needs, and will likely be looking to trade down. But if they do stay put, they could go in a million different directions. In this scenario, I say they take a bruising back to help take some pressure of Zach Wilson.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jamin Davis (LB), Kentucky
The Steelers love to draft defense, and to be fair, it usually works out for them. Don't fix what's not broke. Pittsburgh gets another top linebacker to compliment what is already an intimidating front seven.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jaylen Mayfield (OL), Michigan
The Jaguars are taking Trevor Lawrence. Now they just need to protect him. At Michigan, Mayfield faced some of the best pass rushers the Big Ten had to offer. So here, the Jaguars take their top rated lineman, and address their other needs later in the draft.
26. Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome II (CB), Northwestern
The Browns are not used to picking this late in the draft, but I say they make their already scary defense even scarier, and take one of the best defensive backs on the board.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jaelan Phillips (EDGE), Miami
The Ravens stay the course and do what they usually do. They take a pass rusher. They are already one of the most complete rosters in all of football, and a little more pressure on opposing quarterbacks is never a bad thing.
28. New Orleans Saints: Kadarius Toney (WR), Florida
With Drew Brees retiring, it's still unclear what the Saints' long-term plan is at quarterback. I could easily see them being one of the teams that try and trade up into the top 10, but in this scenario, I say they can't get it done. Instead, they take a speedy wide out to replace Emmanuel Sanders, and hope that will be enough to help out whoever is under center for New Orleans.
29. Green Bay Packers: Zaven Collins (LB), Tulsa
The Packers don't have a ton of needs, so I say they take a top-rated coverage linebacker, and hope he can have an immediate impact on one of their weakest parts of their roster.
30. Buffalo Bills: Levi Onwuzurike (DT), Washington
The Bills' offense is pretty solid, but you can always improve on the line. The Bills take one of the best interior defensive lineman in the draft.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Teven Jenkins (OT), Oklahoma State
The Ravens just traded away Orlando Brown Jr. to the Chiefs, and here they get his immediate replacement.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jayson Oweh (EDGE), Penn State
Did you watch the Super Bowl? The Bucs are defending champions because the Chiefs' offensive line couldn't block to save Patrick Mahomes' life. The Bucs are returning all 22 starters this year, but more depth on the pass-rush rotation is never a bad thing.
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