2021 NFL Mock Draft from the college football perspective, along with the main needs for every team. Which pick makes the most sense?
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With the underclassmen who want to go to the next level declaring their intentions, now we know most of what the top 32 in the 2021 NFL Draft should look like in some way, shape or form.
This will be adjusted from time to time right up until Trevor Lawrence is announced as the first pick to Jacksonville in Cleveland on Thursday evening, April 29.
From the college perspective, here’s the best-looking fit for each team along with the realistic possible other options who should proabably be on the board.
2021 NFL Mock Draft, Team Needs: January First Look
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars
January Mock Draft Call: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Other Realistic Options: None, unless the Jaguars trade out of this spot for an all-time haul of draft picks.
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
Mike Glennon was starting by the end of the season. Urban Meyer didn’t take the gig for Mike Glennon – or Gardner Minshew. Lawrence is an all-timer of a pro prospect at the level of John Elway and Andrew Luck.
2. New York Jets
January Mock Draft Call: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Other Realistic Options: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon; LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The Jet faithful will be desperate for a quarterback, and it’s going to happen. Wilson is the high-riser in the draft world, he has the accuracy Sam Darnold doesn’t, and he’s the pivot into a new era for a franchise starting over.
3. Miami Dolphins (from Houston)
January Mock Draft Call: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
Other Realistic Options: Trade Down, LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
Assuming Houston doesn’t try getting this pick back in exchange for Deshaun Watson in some sort of mega-deal – really, Miami, give Tua a little while longer – then this is the no-brainer. Some draft boards will have Sewell as the best overall player in the draft, even over Sunshine. Watch out for the Dolphins to try trading out of this to a team desperate for a quarterback.
4. Atlanta Falcons
January Mock Draft Call: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Other Realistic Options: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State; QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
Do you keep going with Matt Ryan or go for the need pick? It’s a bit too early for the defensive back the team desperately needs, and Ryan still has life left at 36 going into the 2021 season. Parsons helps Atlanta’s never-ending quest to get a playmaker on the outside.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
January Mock Draft Call: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
Other Realistic Options: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama; CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
This is where it gets really fun. Obviously the Bengals aren’t going with a quarterback and could trade down, in a dream world they get Penei Sewell falling here, or they add another great receiver to make the O even more devastating. Chase or DeVonta Smith – there’s no wrong answer.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
January Mock Draft Call: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
DeVonta Smith, Jalen Waddle, or Ja’Marr Chase. The Eagles can give the sad offense a giant boost with someone to help make the downfield game go.
7. Detroit Lions
January Mock Draft Call: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Other Realistic Options: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Line
Do the Lions go with one of the great wide receivers on the board or do they move on from Matthew Stafford and start with a new quarterback to be the franchise guy? Stafford is only going to be 33 and has a ton of trade value to a New England, Indianapolis or Denver. Fields isn’t going to fall any further than this, even if someone trades up for him.
8. Carolina Panthers
January Mock Draft Call: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Other Realistic Options: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama; WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
The Teddy Bridgewater experience was fun and all, but that’s about to change. The Panthers can sit back and wait and see who drops their way, but that’s dangerous. They may have to move up to get Lance or Justin Fields.
9. Denver Broncos
January Mock Draft Call: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
Other Realistic Options: QB Mac Jones, Alabama; CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Line
The franchise needs to make a gigantic call on Drew Lock. Is it worth taking another great receiver to help him out, cut bait and go with a quarterback, or go for the help for a defensive line that has to start doing a lot more?
10. Dallas Cowboys
January Mock Draft Call: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Back
It’s going to be SO tempting to go with a dangerous receiver to go along with CeeDee Lamb and the good group already there, but the defense needs a whole lot of live bodies. It’ll be a dream world if Surtain falls here.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: January
Picks 11-20 | Picks 21-32
NEXT: 2021 NFL Mock Draft: 11-20
11. New York Giants
January Mock Draft Call: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Other Realistic Options: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama; DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Biggest Team Need: Cornerback
There are a whole slew of ways the Giants need to go. A few good receivers could fall to this spot, the offensive line could get a boost, or the secondary could find a strong corner to be the lockdown guy for the next several years.
12. San Francisco 49ers
January Mock Draft Call: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
Other Realistic Options: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern; OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line
Throw a dart at any one of a number of top offensive linemen sure to fall and the 49ers will grab one. However, if Patrick Surtain or Caleb Farley happen to fall, getting a corner is possible.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
January Mock Draft Call: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida; OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
The Chargers will have their pick of strong offensive tackles to fill a need spot, but there’s a superstar quarterback in Justin Herbert in place who needs more top-shelf weapons. There’s no way Waddle falls any further than this.
14. Minnesota Vikings
January Mock Draft Call: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Other Realistic Options: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern; DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle
The defense needs the most overall help, but there are too many good offensive linemen still on the board to not find some instead help to keep Kirk Cousins upright.
15. New England Patriots
January Mock Draft Call: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Other Realistic Options: QB Mac Jones, Alabama; DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
The world will want to force a quarterback for Bill Belichick, but he can go get a Matthew Stafford or keep Cam Newton. The receiving corps is woefully inept even after addressing it over the last few years. Pitts is the tight end who can change that.
16. Arizona Cardinals
January Mock Draft Call: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Other Realistic Options: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue; CB Derion Kendrick, Clemson
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The offense is fine, but there’s a shot the Cardinals go with a lightning-fast weapon like Rondale Moore to take the top off a D. The other side of the ball could be coming together in a hurry, and a great pass rushing prospect would be a big step forward.
17. Las Vegas Raiders
January Mock Draft Call: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern; OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Tackle
The Raiders don’t like to go the conventional route, but they need to play it down the middle – or up the middle – defensively to lock up a front line that was shoved around way too easily. Barmore would be a great value pick here.
18. Miami Dolphins
January Mock Draft Call: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Other Realistic Options:
Biggest Team Need: Linebacker, Wide Receiver
It all depends on what the Dolphins do with the third overall pick. Do they keep it and go with a top lineman, or do they trade away the picks in a package for Deshaun Watson. If they’re still here, they need more receiver help, and a good one is sure to drop.
19. Washington Football Team
January Mock Draft Call: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue; OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
The Football Team has to make amends for the total disaster of a Dwayne Haskins pick by getting a quarterback to build around. Jones might not be dynamic, but he’s accurate, he’ll move the offense, and shhhhhhh … he’s a much, much better value prospect than a few of the guys who’ll go in the top ten.
20. Chicago Bears
January Mock Draft Call: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Other Realistic Options: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern; OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
The Bears have to address the offensive line throughout the draft with a big upgrade needed, but mostly, they need more weapons. Assuming the Mitchell Trubisky show goes on – and assuming there isn’t a decent quarterback who drops here – the receiving corps needs help.
2021 NFL Mock Draft: January Picks 21-32
NEXT: 2021 NFL Mock Draft: 21-32
21. Indianapolis Colts
January Mock Draft Call: CB Derion Kendrick, Clemson
Other Realistic Options: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina; DE Patrick Jones, Pitt
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
If the Colts are moving on from Philip Rivers, they can go after any one of a number of other good quarterback options – most likely Matthew Stafford – to step in right away. The defense needs secondary help, though, and the value will be at corner.
22. Tennessee Titans
January Mock Draft Call: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
Other Realistic Options: DE Patrick Jones, Pitt; DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
Biggest Team Need: Defensive Line
The Titan defense did just fine in the playoff loss to Baltimore, but it was a problem all year. That side of the ball has to be better than lousy, and having a big-hitter like Bolton to build around would be a start.
23. New York Jets (from Seattle)
January Mock Draft Call: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
Other Realistic Options: WR Amon-Ra St-Brown, USC; OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End, Wide Receiver
What do the Jets do at the two? Assuming they go with a quarterback knowing they can address other needs here, they can pass on Oregon’s Penei Sewell with the second pick knowing a few strong tackles will be here.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
January Mock Draft Call: OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
Other Realistic Options: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama; LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback
You know that Pittsburgh running game that took over the season? Of course you don’t because it didn’t exist. The line needs tackles more than the interior, but Davis is just the type of infrastructure pick that always works for this franchise.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Las Vegas)
January Mock Draft Call: OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Other Realistic Options: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina; WR Amon-Ra St-Brown, USC
Biggest Team Need: Quarterback, Offensive Tackle
Of course Jacksonville will go with Trevor Lawrence at the 1. Now it needs a few great offensive linemen to keep him looking pretty.
26. Cleveland Browns
January Mock Draft Call: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Other Realistic Options: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa; CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Biggest Team Need: Linebacker
Finding more playmakers for a an okay linebacking corps is a must. Owusu-Koramoah checks a whole lot of playmaking boxes. So does Zaven Collins – this is a nice value spot.
27. Baltimore Ravens
January Mock Draft Call: WR Amon-Ra St-Brown, USC
Other Realistic Options: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson; S Jevon Holland, Oregon
Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver
Lamar Jackson needs more options to make the offense less run reliant. Hollywood Brown is a playmaker, but finding a No. 2 guy might just make all the difference for the attack.
28. New Orleans Saints
January Mock Draft Call: DE Patrick Jones, Pitt
Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The offense should be fine with a combination of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill under center, but finding reinforcements for an already great pass rush and defensive front should be the easier get at this spot.
29-32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
January Mock Draft Call: DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The defense is already good, and getting a good pass rush could work, but adding even more help to an already great defensive front might be just enough to keep this all going with TB12 running the other side.
29-32. Buffalo Bills
January Mock Draft Call: S Jevon Holland, Oregon
Other Realistic Options: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina; S Trevon Moehrig
Biggest Team Need: Defensive End
The Bills will have the luxury of upgrading and bumping up wherever they want. A little more help for the secondary is the easiest call with several good defensive backs in value spots late.
29-32. Green Bay Packers
January Mock Draft Call: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Biggest Team Need: Cornerback
Why does everyone keep whining about Aaron Rodgers needing first round receiver help? The guy is going to win the MVP with the crew already in place. Defensive back is going to be the value play late in the first round, and several good defensive parts will be here.
29-32. Kansas City Chiefs
January Mock Draft Call: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line
It’s Kansas City, so throw out any prospect you like and you might not be all that far off. Collins makes too much sense to add more playmakers for a team that’s loaded with them.
