The early April version of the 2021 NFL Mock Draft from the college football perspective, along with the main needs for every team.
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Less than a month away from the 2021 NFL Draft starting on April 29th, here’s the best-looking fit for each team along with the realistic other options from the college perspective.
2021 NFL Mock Draft, Team Needs: Early April
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars
April Mock Draft Call: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Other Realistic Options: Nothing. Done.
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
Theres no messing around here. Of course there’s a chance that one of the other top quarterback options turns out to be better than Lawrence, but you can’t be the team that passes up on a talent like this.
2. New York Jets
April Mock Draft Call: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Other Realistic Options: Trade down; QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
It’s not that Sam Darnold can’t potentially be good, but Wilson is the it prospect who could be special – and the Jets desperately need special. The big-time arm and accuracy are too good to ignore.
3. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami from Houston)
April Mock Draft Call: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State; QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Back
The smarter call would be to go with the Hall of Fame-caliber OT talent in Oregon’s Penei Sewell, but you don’t give up the future unless you have a quarterback in mind. Lance and Fields would be the shot for the stars, but Jones is going to be rock-solid.
4. Atlanta Falcons
April Mock Draft Call: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Other Realistic Options: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State; TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Back
Here’s the problem. Lance is the perfect pick for the future of the franchise. Matt Ryan is fine for the next year or two, and Lance needs time and seasoning – maybe. However, Atlanta would be passing up superstar targets to take a passer who doesn’t help them now.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
April Mock Draft Call: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
Other Realistic Options: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU; WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama; TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
It seems like the world is trying to force a pick to happen by wanting to give Joe Burrow a big-time wide receiver, especially if it’s Chase. But remember, mock drafts are just projections – we’re in the misinformation season. Cincinnati needs an offensive tackle, and Sewell is the second best football player in a draft of football players.
6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia)
April Mock Draft Call: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Other Realistic Options: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama; WR Ja’Marr Chase
Biggest Team Need: Pass Rusher
Again, remember, the world likes to try making picks happen, and Smith back with Tua Tagovailoa is fun. Just as fun would be to give the young franchise quarterback a Pro Bowl tight end with freakish talent.
7. Detroit Lions
April Mock Draft Call: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Other Realistic Options: Trade down; WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
Free agency wasn’t kind to the Lions. They brought in a few options, but they need a No. 1 guy. Don’t be shocked if they have their pick of the star prospects to give Jared Goff some help.
8. Carolina Panthers
April Mock Draft Call: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Other Realistic Options: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State; WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
There’s a good chance the Panthers will look to get active and trade up for a quarterback, but they should be able to stand pat and still get a franchise talent to build around.
9. Denver Broncos
April Mock Draft Call: OT/OG Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Other Realistic Options: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama; WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line
Can the Broncos really pass on one of the top receivers if one is still on the board – especially if it’s Smith? The Broncos really, really need offensive linemen, but can they sell that to the fan base? Penei Sewell would be the dream here, but the versatile Slater is an almost perfect pick in every way for what they need. However, it’ll be an impossible PR problem if they pass on …
10. Dallas Cowboys
April Mock Draft Call: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Back
The Cowboys have to get a defensive back, and all of the big-time prospects should still be there on the board. They don’t need a wide receiver, but if Smith or Ja’Marr Chase slides down this far, they’re not letting either one go. Don’t be stunned if Smith slides a wee bit over concerns about how slim he is.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: January
Picks 11-20 | Picks 21-32
NEXT: 2021 NFL Mock Draft: 11-20
11. New York Giants
April Mock Draft Call: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Other Realistic Options: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech; WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
Parsons is just versatile enough to fit in a variety of ways. He might not be the true edge rusher the D needs, but he’s too good a prospect with too much Pro Bowl upside to fall further.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami, from San Francisco 49ers
April Mock Draft Call: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State; CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
The Eagles aren’t going to land DeVonta Smith or Ja’Marr Chase, but getting a big-time producer in Waddle here would be fantastic for a receiving corps that needs a star. Jalen Hurts wouldn’t complain with this.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
April Mock Draft Call: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Other Realistic Options: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama; OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
This is the flip a coin spot. It could be one of the offensive linemen or one of the corners, and if it’s one of the corners, flip a coin between Farley or Surtain. No matter what, the Chargers are in a nice spot.
14. Minnesota Vikings
April Mock Draft Call: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Other Realistic Options: S Trevon Moehrig, TCU; DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
Sort of like the Chargers with the previous pick, Minnesota is in a great spot for its needs. It could use a safety, it needs pass rushers, and it has to get an offensive lineman. The Vikings can go with the best player available.
15. New England Patriots
April Mock Draft Call: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: Trade up; CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
How much work to the Patriots want to do to try moving up? It’ll take a massive deal to get high enough to get one of the five top quarterbacks, but they also need a cornerback, too. A few of the elite ones will be around this spot.
16. Arizona Cardinals
April Mock Draft Call: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Other Realistic Options: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Tackle
The Cardinals have to hope their pass rushing issues are solved with the JJ Watt signing, but losing Patrick Peterson means they need more help at corner. There should still be at least one of the top prospects still around at the 16.
17. Las Vegas Raiders
April Mock Draft Call: S Trevon Moehrig, TCU
Other Realistic Options: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern; DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Back
Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden will do whatever they’re going to do regardless of value. They’ll either go with one of the solid corners that will still be around, or they can lock up a quarterback of the secondary in Moehrig.
18. Miami Dolphins
April Mock Draft Call: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Other Realistic Options: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami; DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami
Biggest Team Need: Pass Rusher
Assume Miami gets an elite pass catcher with its spot at the 6, and then it can go hard after a pass rusher here with a few of them – including a few star Hurricanes – around to test out.
19. Washington Football Team
April Mock Draft Call: OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Other Realistic Options: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame; OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
Washington will have to find its future quarterback somewhere else – assuming Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t the long-term answer – unless it wants to go WAY too early on Kyle Trask or Jamie Newman. The defense should be fine, but the offensive infrastructure needs work. Getting Vera-Tucker here would be perfect.
20. Chicago Bears
April Mock Draft Call: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Other Realistic Options: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
There’s no quarterback here to solve the Andy Dalton issue, but the Bears have a shot at simply going the Best Player Available route. They need a little of everything, and the versatile Owusu-Koramoah could combine with Roquan Smith to create a killer linebacking corps.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: January Picks 21-32
NEXT: 2021 NFL Mock Draft: 21-32
21. Indianapolis Colts
April Mock Draft Call: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Other Realistic Options: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
A pass rusher would be great, a top corner would work, and the Colts will have their options to go with the best defensive player available. There will be more pass rushers here than top corners, and Rousseau would be a good-value steal.
22. Tennessee Titans
April Mock Draft Call: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Other Realistic Options: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line
The Titans might wait until later and load up on offensive linemen in bulk, but Jenkins is a ready-made tackle who could be an upgrade for right now.
23. New York Jets (from Seattle)
April Mock Draft Call: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
Other Realistic Options: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami; RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
Assuming it’s Zach Wilson at the 2, the Jets could be the fun team in the first round by adding a running back like Etienne or Najee Harris. They also need pass rushers and help for the secondary and more receivers and … they need a lot. Newsome is a good option who could go a whole lot earlier.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
April Mock Draft Call: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame; RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
Chicken or the egg time. Was the running game awful because of the offensive line, or the running backs, or both. The Steelers have guys at running back, but they don’t have a star if James Conner can’t regain his form. Harris or Etienne would be the guy to work around.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Las Vegas)
April Mock Draft Call: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Other Realistic Options: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota; OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
Assuming it’s Mr. Lawrence at the 1 – and it will be – the Jaguars have to build up the infrastructure. There might be options at receiver to throw at the offense, or they can help with a desperately needed offensive tackle.
26. Cleveland Browns
April Mock Draft Call: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami
Other Realistic Options: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa; WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Biggest Team Need: Linebacker
The Browns are already strong at getting to the quarterback – that Myles Garrett guy is pretty good – but they need more options. Expect at least one of the good-looking pass rushing options to slide down to here.
27. Baltimore Ravens
April Mock Draft Call: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Other Realistic Options: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson; WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
The Ravens have to give Lamar Jackson even more receiving help. Having the devastating ground game has been fun, but now the downfield passing game has to work better. They have Hollywood Brown, but they need even more.
28. New Orleans Saints
April Mock Draft Call: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Other Realistic Options: WR Terrace Marshall, LSU; WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
The Saints don’t have a desperate, glaring need, but the passing attack has to find more options in case Michael Thomas doesn’t bounce back to 2019 form – and they need them if he does, too.
29. Green Bay Packers
April Mock Draft Call: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Other Realistic Options: WR Terrace Marshall, LSU; WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss
Biggest Team Need: Linebacker
Right guy, right team, right fit. Collins is the type of all-around playmaker who would thrive with the Packers, but there might be a thought that Aaron Rodgers deserves to finally be thrown a cookie with a top first round wide receiver prospect.
30. Buffalo Bills
April Mock Draft Call: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Other Realistic Options: DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma; DE Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The Bills need pass rushing reinforcements and could use a big body or two for the interior, but the running game needs a star. Zack Moss and Devin Singletary are fine, but Etienne would be a special get here.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
April Mock Draft Call: OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
Other Realistic Options: DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma; DE Carlos Basham, Wake Forest
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
Kansas City always marches to the beat of its own draft drummer, but it can’t ignore the offensive line that has to do even more for the ground game and has to keep No. 15 as healthy as possible. The Chiefs might like more pass rushers, but offensive linemen are the bigger need.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
April Mock Draft Call: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line
What do you get the team that gets everyone back? For all of the amazing things that Tampa Bay did last year, it had to push through injury concerns at times over the last few years in the interior. Getting the best defensive tackle in the draft here to throw into the rotation would be wonderful.
