The time is finally here for the NFL Draft and that means we will see a new crop of college players getting a start on their professional football career. It is always interesting to see what these teams are thinking going into the draft and hearing all of the buzz surrounding possible scenarios, including trade deals and other things that set up for the future of each team. There have already been some trades that have shaken things up, but will we see some more before the night is over? We’ll find out, but nevertheless, it should be an exciting night for football fans. Here are our 1st Round Projections.

2021 NFL Mock Draft

- 1: Jacksonville Jaguars: QB, Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)

Like most drafts in the past, the number one pick is usually a lock going into the day of the draft and this is going to be the case this year. Lawrence has consistently been at the top of mock drafts all year and it would be a total shock if they go with someone else at number one. Jacksonville seemingly has a high draft pick each year, but this year is a little different. Urban Meyer has the reigns and he will look to give the Jags a new identity heading into the Urban Meyer era. Lawrence is one of the highest rated prospects ever, so I am anxious to see how he adapts to the NFL.

AustYn: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

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

And like most number ones, the number two is usually pretty predictable and it will also be the case this year. Zach Wilson had an incredible Junior season at BYU and worked his way up the draft board and will very likely be the 2nd pick in the draft. The Jets traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers and are without a QB. Wilson fills the void and could be their long-term QB. I personally am not very high on Wilson, but apparently scouts and front offices see a lot of potential in him.

AustYn: Zach Wilson, BYU

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

Here’s where things get a little dicey. The 49ers moved up to get this pick and they’re not going to mess around here. They will draft a QB, but which QB will it be? I think it will be Justin Fields. The Niners may want a QB, but they have the most security at QB at the moment. They don’t necessarily need a QB, but an upgrade, especially when they’re drafting at 3rd, could be just what they want. Given Fields’s health risks, he may be somewhat of a no-go for a lot of teams, but I think the Niners are the team that can take the most risk.

AustYn: Kyle Pitts, Florida

- 4: Atlanta Falcons: TE, Kyle Pitts (Florida)

I think the Falcons will move out of this spot, but I am going to pick it as if they are choosing at 4. There is talk that the Falcons may be moving on from Julio Jones, but that is just rumor at this point. Pitts opens up that pass game even more and with the Falcons hiring a new head coach who wants to make a splash on offense, Pitts checks those boxes. Pitts had a solid year at Florida last year, but he made some noise at the Combine with his 4.4 40-yard Dash time. I think this is a bit of a reach for a TE, because most elite Tight Ends aren’t drafted in the first round historically. If the Falcons keep the pick, I think Pitts is their pick, but if they trade, I think it will be Justin Fields picked in the 4 spot.

AustYn: DeVonta Smith, Alabama

- 5: Cincinnati Bengals: OT, Penei Sewell (Oregon)

This pick for the Bengals will be all about supporting Joe Burrow. Burrow is their QB of the future and getting him some help will be crucial to not only his success, but the Bengals success as well. This will be a bit of a toss-up, but I think the Bengals take O-Line here. They could decide to take Ja’Marr Chase or even DeVonta Smith, but I think their WRs are already solid enough. If they give Burrow protection, he will lead them to where they need to be. Ja’Marr Chase will likely be the choice if they decide to go with a WR. Chase and Burrow had a wonderful connection at LSU and the Bengals may be looking to capitalize on that prior relationship.

AustYn: Penei Sewell, Oregon

- 6: Miami Dolphins: WR, DeVonta Smith (Alabama)

If the Dolphins stick with Tua, they want him to be as comfortable as possible and much like the reasons why Chase is a good possibility for the Bengals, I think Miami will be thinking similarly. Smith and Tua have a past history at Alabama and they were great together. The Dolphins have a decent receiving core, but they could always improve. I think all other top WR prospects are in play here including Jaylen Waddle, but I think they will reunite Smith and Tua.

AustYn: Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

- 7: Detroit Lions: WR, Ja’Marr Chase (LSU)

The Lions offense has basically been turned upside down and they need players, as simple as that. Jared Goff is their QB now and Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Marvin Hall, and Danny Amendola are all gone. While they could use some work in a lot of areas, Chase fills that offensive playmaker void. Goff will have a lot less options in Detroit, so it will be interesting to see him this season but picking a good WR like Chase will put them on the right track.

AustYn: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

- 8: Carolina Panthers: OT, Rashawn Slater (Northwestern)

The Panthers gave up a decent amount for Sam Darnold and I think they should do everything they can to protect him. I can’t see the Panthers picking a QB and honestly, I think that would be a mistake. They need protection for Darnold and more importantly, Christian McCaffrey. Slater fills the void and they are safer on offense. A win-win for a team that is trying to gain credibility.

AustYn: Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

- 9: Denver Broncos: QB, Mac Jones (Alabama)

All signs are pointing toward the Broncos choosing a QB with this pick and are a possibility to move up to draft a QB. They have options here, but I think they’ll snag Mac Jones. Jones probably is the QB that fans get least excited about, but the fact of the matter is, he had the best season for a QB at Alabama in the history of the program last season. He also seems like he would be a good fit for Denver.

AustYn: Trey Lance, North Dakota State

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

The Cowboys are always an interesting team to keep an eye on in the draft, but they seriously need secondary help. This has been a glaring need for a long time and it looks like they will have the top defensive prospect on the board.

AustYn: Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

- 11: New York Giants: OLB, Zaven Collins (Tulsa)

The Giants have honestly had a really solid offseason and they could go off-script here. This is my most surprising pick as of yet, but at the 11 pick, you can get a little risky to get the pick that you want. Zaven Collins is a good prospect and the Giants need outside linebackers. Collins is a stretch at 11, but I think he could be great for the Giants.

AustYn: Micah Parsons, Michigan

- 12: Philadelphia Eagles: WR, Jaylen Waddle (Alabama)

WR has been a glaring need for the Eagles over the last couple of seasons and with Jalen Hurts leading the offense now, he needs some options to throw to. Jaylen Waddle fills the void and adds more options to the offense. Health will be a big factor for the Eagles this year, but Waddle would be a good pick for Philly here at 12.

AustYn: Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

- 13: Los Angeles Chargers: OT, Christian Darrisaw (Virginia Tech)

Justin Herbert surprised a lot of people last year and they need to protect him. There aren’t a ton of high-level options on O-Line in this year’s draft, but there are a few options at 13. Darrisaw will fit right in and will help to protect the star QB that the Chargers have.

AustYn: Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

- 14: Minnesota Vikings: DE, Kwity Paye (Michigan)

The Vikings are solid enough on offense and they could grab an O-Lineman here, but I think they’ll draft defense here. Kwity Paye is the best available defensive prospect and I think they will take him. They need D-Line help, but there aren’t really any DT prospects worthy of wasting a 1st-Round pick on.

AustYn: Christian Barmore, Alabama

- 15: New England Patriots: QB, Trey Lance (North Dakota State)

I have a feeling that the Patriots are bluffing to move up in the draft, because why not? I do think that they will select a 1st round QB, but I think they will go with Trey Lance. I can’t see Lance falling beyond the 15th pick. They could allow Cam Newton to play out his 1-year deal and give Lance the reigns next year.

AustYn: Justin Fields, Ohio State

- 16: Arizona Cardinals: OG, Alijah Vera-Tucker (USC)

The Cardinals improved a lot this offseason. They signed AJ Green, JJ Watt, Malcolm Butler are becoming a team to look out for. Although their O-Line wasn’t awful last year, it wasn’t great. Kyler Murray is their QB of the future and they need to protect him. Vera-Tucker is the best Guard prospect in the draft and I think it is a good possibility that he could be playing for the Cards in 2021.

AustYn: Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

- 17: Las Vegas Raiders: S, Trevon Moehrig (TCU)

The Raiders are a good team that seemingly needs help in a lot of areas, if that makes sense. They have all of the offensive weapons that they could ever need or want, and it looks like they’re moving forward with Derek Carr. Moehrig could help their struggling secondary, but they could go with a number of defensive option available to them at 17.

AustYn: Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

- 18: Miami Dolphins: OT, Teven Jenkins (Oklahoma State)

This will be the Dolphins second choice in the first round and I think they will use it on offense again. While it seems that there is more of an abundance of defensive players in this area, Teven Jenkins is considered one of the more underrated Linemen in the draft. Drafting O-Line could be a smart decision, especially considering they have a young QB with an injury history.

AustYn: Jaelan Phillips, Miami

- 19: Washington Football Team: ILB, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame)

Washington is a really solid team. They made a run last year and even made it to the playoffs. I think they’ll have an even better upcoming season, but there are some things to improve upon. I think Ron Rivera will solidify that defense. Owusu-Koramoah will solidify the middle linebacker spot for the Football Team.

AustYn: Zaven Collins, Tulsa

- 20: Chicago Bears: WR, Rashod Bateman (Minnesota)

The Bears have struggled getting consistent options on offense and they will likely address that need tonight. Bateman fills the void, but things are a little questionable moving forward with Andy Dalton handling the offense. Can Dalton jump right in and play? Yeah, but he isn’t exactly an ideal option. If they surround him with good options, he has no excuse to brutally fail.

AustYn: Greg Newsome II, Northwestern

- 21: Indianapolis Colts: DE, Jaelan Phillips (Miami)

The Colts competed right up until the end of the regular season but fell short in the playoffs. They have a new QB in Carson Wentz and they still have a solid core offense, but their defense was the main reason why they were so good last season. They lost Denico Autry to inter-divisional rival Tennessee Titans and I think they will try to fill that void. Jaelan Phillips is the best available to fill the void.

AustYn: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

- 22: Tennessee Titans: WR, Elijah Moore (Mississippi)

The Titans desperately need WR help. Elijah Moore could be just what they need. He also is a former teammate of AJ Brown, so I think he could fit right in. The Titans lost Corey Davis, Adam Humphries, and Jonnu Smith, so needless to say, they need offensive option to take pressure off of Derrick Henry and Brown.

AustYn: Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

- 23: New York Jets: CB, Jaycee Horn (South Carolina)

The Jets have already likely picked their franchise QB, so what is next? They need help in the secondary. Surprisingly enough, Jaycee Horn was taken off of the board and honestly, I would be surprised if he fell this far, but if he does, look for the Jets to snag him.

AustYn: Kwity Paye, Michigan

- 24: Pittsburgh Steelers: RB, Najee Harris (Alabama)

The Steelers pretty much have everything that need to be a successful team, but what is their most glaring need? It is definitely Running Back. The Steelers have traditionally always had bigger lead backs and Najee Harris is that guy in this draft. Late-1st Round isn’t a stretch for him either. This would be a good spot to pick him.

AustYn: Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State

- 25: Jacksonville Jaguars: CB, Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech)

I think most of the higher-level O-Linemen will be taken off of the board by the time the Jags choose again, but they could use some help at most positions. I think Caleb Farley is a great option for them. He is a big guy in the secondary and it is also going to be cool to see a guy get drafted from Maiden, NC. Maiden is pretty close to where we are at.

AustYn: Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

- 26: Cleveland Browns: ILB, Micah Parsons (Michigan)

It is odd to see the Browns with such a low draft pick and they had a great year last year. They will look to continue their success this season, but there are some things that they still could use. MLB is one of them. Micah Parsons will probably be off of the board already, but if the Browns see that he is available, I doubt he will fall below them.

AustYn: Azeez Ojulari, Georgia

- 27: Baltimore Ravens: OT, Liam Eichenberg (Notre Dame)

Orlando Brown was sent to the Chiefs this week and they need help at the Tackle spot. The Ravens don’t have many needs anywhere, but they could always solidify the O-Line because Lamar Jackson isn’t exactly a QB that likes to stay in the pocket.

AustYn: Joe Tryon, Washington

- 28: New Orleans Saints: WR, Rondale Moore (Purdue)

The Saints could use another fast Receiver in their lineup and they will get it with Rondale Moore. He ran a 4.29 at the combine and it will be a stretch in the first round for him, but I think he would fit right into the Saints offense.

AustYn: Trevon Moehrig, TCU

- 29: Green Bay Packers: OLB, Azeez Ojulari (Georgia)

The news about Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay is somewhat surprising, but the show must go on. Ojulari fills their pass-rushing void, but I think I’m with the majority of people when I say that I’m interested to see how this Rodgers drama shakes out.

AustYn: Kadarius Toney, Florida

- 30: Buffalo Bills: RB, Travis Etienne (Clemson)

The Bills basically have everything that they want on their team, but they have had some really inconsistent RBs in the last few years. Etienne addresses that need and he would fit right into the Bills offensive gameplan.

AustYn: Travis Etienne, Clemson

- 31: Baltimore Ravens: ILB, Jamin Davis (Kentucky)

This will be the Ravens second choice in the first round and I honestly don’t know what they will pick. I think teams like this go with the best available and just move on.

AustYn: Jamin Davis, Kentucky

- 32: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Newsome II (Northwestern)

Tampa Bay doesn’t really need anything. I am simply choosing the best available.

AustYn: Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame

Yacs

The Sport Chief's 2021 NFL Mock Draft

2021 NFL Mock Draft