For months now, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell have felt like top-five locks for the 2021 NFL draft.
But if the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah is any indication, both plays could be in for a draft-day slide of sorts.
In his initial first-round projection, Jeremiah has Fields falling to No. 8 overall, sending him to the Carolina Panthers as the fourth quarterback off the board. Going ahead of Fields in Jeremiah’s mock are Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars), BYU’s Zach Wilson (No. 2 overall, New York Jets), and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance (No. 4 overall, Atlanta Falcons).
Jeremiah thinks the Panthers would be wise to stop Fields’ tumble and make him the team’s long-term solution after Teddy Bridgewater:
I don’t think Matt Rhule will be picking this high again in the near future. Now is the time to secure the long-term answer at QB.
Sewell falls even further than Fields, finally landing with the Dallas Cowboys at No. 1 overall. Jeremiah acknowledges that Sewell could go much higher, but doesn’t rule out a slide to the bottom of the top 10:
Sewell could go as high as No. 3 overall to the Dolphins, but there’s a chance he slips to the Cowboys. They need to get younger and more talented along the offensive line.
While stranger things have certainly happened on draft day, it would be surprising to see both of these prospects fall outside the top five picks.
To check out Jeremiah’s complete first-round projection at NFL.com, click here.
