2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
The first half of Day 1 saw two trades, will there be more?
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S, Notre Dame
I think the league sees Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah as a linebacker. Still, any team that runs a load of Cover 1 and Cover 3 variants should consider him a strong safety/overhang defender. He’d be better in coverage on Day 1 than Johnathan Abram. He darts around the field like Flash, and he hits like he’s got a rocket engine attached to him. There’s no way Gruden doesn’t love him.
18. Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Kwity Paye is a great candidate for the multiple defensive fronts Miami likes to utilize. He’s athletic enough to play in space and strong enough to slide down to the interior. He must grow to hit his ceiling, but his upside might see him drafted even higher than this. The Dolphins can chance on his upside in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft because they have a ton of draft firepower left.
19. Washington Football Team: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Jamin Davis stood out the minute I saw him turn and burn up the seam against Kyle Pitts. His stock seemingly skyrocketed from a player who maybe goes early Day 2 to a projected first-round pick with his athletic performance at the Kentucky Pro Day. Davis is an upside pick, but behind that defensive line, he should find many wide-open lanes to attack for impact plays.
20. Chicago Bears: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Andy Dalton is not the long-term answer. Nick Foles was never the long-term answer. And it’s not Mitch Trubisky’s fault they drafted him ahead of Deshaun Watson (not hindsight) and Patrick Mahomes (admittedly hindsight). Mac Jones is an accurate passer who’s very cerebral. Learning behind Dalton should do wonders for his development.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
This is an admittedly dangerous pick, considering the news that his knee was flagged during the medical rechecks. However, his abilities are well worth the draft selection. Azeez Ojulari is a bit of a one-move wonder right now, but that one outside move he has is outstanding.
22. Tennessee Titans: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
This is possibly an even more dangerous pick. Jaelan Phillips has an extensive medical history consisting of enough concussions that UCLA wanted him to medically retire, a wrist injury, and an ankle injury. He was literally hit by a car. Oh, and *GASP* he enjoys making music.
The league doesn’t love when their athletes have interests outside of football. But Phillips is the most talented pass rusher in the class, and Tennessee doesn’t shy away from injured players (Jeffery Simmons and Harold Landry).
23. New York Jets: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
I need to see this for the hilarity of it. Grabbing the nastiest offensive tackle in Teven Jenkins in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft to pair with the supercharged brick house they already have in Mekhi Becton is downright unfair to linebackers and secondary members everywhere.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
This is a mistake. Listen, I love Najee Harris. The gap between Harris and Travis Etienne is almost an entire round grade for me. However, the Steelers lost Maurkice Pouncey and have Creed Humphrey staring them in the face here at 24. Luckily for them, though, this center class is good.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig, S, Texas Christian
The Jaguars have big needs at safety and defensive tackle, two positions lacking a ton of top-end talent to them in the draft. However, the safety class drops off a cliff quickly in terms of possible difference-makers. Trevon Moehrig is a scheme-diverse safety who can survive in man coverage and is solid in the back end as a half-field guy.
26. Cleveland Browns: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
If not for the injuries, he might be in the running for the top cornerback in this class. He possesses natural movement skills and, despite lacking a ton of in-game experience in college, is incredibly calm when he gets out of phase. Greg Newsome also has the athleticism to immediately get back into the hip pocket of receivers. He could easily be a name to circle in the mid-teens if his medicals check out.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Can Rashod Bateman play in cold weather? Yes, I’ve seen him dominate games in the snow. Can he catch generally accurate but passes well outside his frame? Yes, Tanner Morgan was his quarterback. Can he separate as a route runner? Yes, he’s outstanding in the intermediate areas of the field and is a master of the double move.
Getting a legitimate pass catcher should be a top priority for the Ravens in real life, as it was here in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft. Don’t overthink this one. He’s got WR1 potential.
28. New Orleans Saints: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Ifeatu Melifonwu is the cornerback you would build in a lab if every movie we’ve ever seen didn’t show us that’s a horrific idea. He possesses the size and movement skills to be a great cornerback at the NFL level.
However, it’s important to note that he’s the brother of Obi Melifonwu. That shouldn’t mean anything, but it might to teams. Nevertheless, “Iffy” plays with great physicality, and in speaking with him, makes that part of his game a priority.
29. Green Bay Packers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Alex Leatherwood is a great offensive tackle that has one fixable fatal flaw. His outside hand, in this case, his left hand, is a struggle for him in pass protection as a left tackle. Well, how convenient is it that he gets to shuffle his athletic frame over to the other side where that issue might magically fade away? He also provides outside-in versatility, with experience on the inside at Alabama as well.
30. Buffalo Bills: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Caleb Farley has ridiculous upside and the best pure ball skills in the class at cornerback. His length and athleticism are a continuous problem for opposing quarterbacks. Unfortunately, his back is a continuous problem for him. My top-graded cornerback might not end up a first-rounder or ever be fully healthy, but if he is healthy enough to play, he’s good enough to make a massive difference.
31. Baltimore Ravens (via KC): Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
I’ve drafted Joseph Ossai to the Ravens in every mock draft I’ve done for them, and that doesn’t change in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft. When he was delivered in the hospital, the doctors were shocked to see he came out already donning Ravens purple. He was born to be a Raven. His never-ending motor is everything Baltimore stands for. It would bring a tear to my eye if he ends up with another team.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
Christian Barmore was a part-time player at Alabama, but he made a huge impact late in his final season to secure his spot as the top defensive tackle in the class. He struggles against the run, but his issues are correctable, and his hands hit like Thor’s hammer. Playing beside resident metahuman Vita Vea should mask some of his deficiencies against the run early in his career as he develops.