17) Chicago Bears: Brock Purdy, QB Iowa State
The Mitch Trubisky experiment is over in Chicago, and Nick Foles is the ideal bridge quarterback for a young signal-caller. Purdy may not possess prototypical measurables for the position, but he demonstrated steady improvement, innate athleticism, and sound decision-making throughout his tenure at ISU.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Walker Little, OT Stanford
Despite their efforts every offseason, the Vikings always manage to field the worst offensive line in football. Little’s technique will need some refinement at the next level, but the upside-laden offensive lineman has the potential to emerge as one the best from this class in due time.
Related | 2021 NFL Draft: A deeper look at OTs Penei Sewell and Walker Little
19) Indianapolis Colts: Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas
The Colts identify Anthony Costanzo’s eventual replacement in Cosmi, an athletic offensive lineman with experience playing both tackle positions.
20) Tennessee Titans: Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota
Corey Davis could be playing his final season in Nashville, so the Titans may consider adding his replacement. Bateman, among the premier wide receivers in college football, was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award a season ago, after amassing 1,219 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
21) New England Patriots: Richard LeCounte, CB Georgia
The Patriots land one of the most versatile defensive backs in this class in LeCounte. The Georgia product is a smart, hard-nosed football player that can line up anywhere on the back end. The senior defender is a willing tackler and is surprisingly physical against the run, despite his slight build (5’11”, 190).
22) Seattle Seahawks: Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame
The Seahawks are in dire need of adding a young, developmental tackle, and they add one of the draft’s most fluid movers at the position in Eichenberg. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder started the past 26 games at left tackle for the Fighting Irish.
Related | NFL Draft 2021: The top 10 offensive tackle rankings
23) Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Thomas, EDGE Clemson
The Eagles boast an embarrassment of riches at the defensive tackle position, but the depth at edge rusher leaves a lot to be desired. Next season, Brandon Graham will be 33, and Derek Barnett has yet to live up to his first-round billing. Thomas is a blue-chip pass rusher that will be a plug-and-play option as a rookie.
24) Green Bay Packers: Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
The Packers failed to address the wide receiver position in their 2020 haul but have some much-needed speed and explosiveness in Moore. A hamstring injury limited the 5-foot-9, 180-pound pass-catcher to four games in 2019, but his athleticism and effectiveness in space will add another dimension to a Packers offense in desperate need of juice in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Related | Rising Big Ten redshirt sophomores to watch in 2020
25) Buffalo Bills: Hamsah Nasirildeen, S Florida State
The formidable Bills defense could stand to get younger at the safety position, and here they bolster the unit by adding the draft’s most highly regarded center fielder in Nasirildeen.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaylen Twyman, DT Pittsburgh
Twyman, one of my favorite prospects in the 2021 class, has the intangibles to be special. The redshirt junior, who sports a similar frame and explosive get-off to Panthers’ alum Aaron Donald, posted 12 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2019, becoming the first interior defensive lineman to lead the Panthers in sacks since — you guessed it — Donald.
27) Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Jobe, CB Alabama
Syracuse’s Andre Cisco would make sense here, as Terrell Edmunds has largely been underwhelming to this point, but here they get a long, perimeter defender in Alabama’s Josh Jobe. Jobe has limited production at the collegiate level, so you’re essentially betting on upside, but he’ll team with Steven Nelson, Justin Layne, and Mike Hilton to give the Steelers their youngest, most diverse cornerback group they’ve had in quite some time.
28) Dallas Cowboys: Andre Cisco, S Syracuse
The Cowboys have a solid starting cornerback tandem in Chidobe Awuzie and Trevon Diggs, and Jourdan Lewis is a fine nickel defender. However, safeties Xavier Woods and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix don’t project as long-term options at safety. Cisco, my top safety, has the requisite ball skills, range, and versatility to make an impact in his first season.
Related | Syracuse safety Andre Cisco poised for college football stardom
29) New Orleans Saints: Dylan Moses, LB Alabama
The Saints selected Zack Baun in April, and Demario Davis remains one of the most underrated second-level defenders in football, but the injury concerns surrounding Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonzo will always loom, and landing Moses, a three-down tackling machine, this late in the opening round is excellent value.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Jay Tufele, DL USC
The Ravens are fairly deep across the board but opt to add to their defensive line contingent that features an intriguing blend of youthful talent behind their predominantly veteran starting unit. Tufele will thrive playing opposite Justin Madubuike for the next decade.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Trey Smith, G/T Tennessee
Smith, who offers guard and tackle versatility, is selected with the intent of playing guard, where projected starter Daniel Brunskill will play the 2020 season on a one-year deal.
Related | 2021 NFL Draft: Top 10 interior offensive line rankings
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Jones II, EDGE Pittsburgh
The reigning Super Bowl Champions have few needs to speak of, but land an ascending talent in Johnson. The Pitt standout exploded for 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season and has a developing frame and skill set. In Kansas City, he should see the field as a rotational rusher almost immediately.
DiCecco’s 2021 2-round NFL mock draft | Second Round
33) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Mayfield, OT Michigan
34) Washington Redskins: Creed Humphrey, OL Oklahoma
35) Cincinnati Bengals: JaCoby Stevens, S LSU
36) Carolina Panthers: Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State
37) New York Giants: Jabril Cox, LB LSU
38) Miami Dolphins: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson
39) Detroit Lions: Tanner Morgan, QB Minnesota
40) New York Jets: Seth Williams, WR Auburn
41) Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Carman, OT Clemson
42) Los Angeles Chargers: Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State
43) Denver Broncos: Chazz Surratt, LB North Carolina
44) Arizona Cardinals: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE Oregon State
45) Atlanta Falcons: Kellen Mond, QB Texas A&M
46) Miami Dolphins (via Texans): Richie Grant, S UCF
47) Cleveland Browns: Deonte Brown, G Alabama
48) Los Angeles Rams: Paddy Fisher, LB Northwestern
49) Chicago Bears: Thayer Munford, OT Ohio State
50) Minnesota Vikings: Caden Sterns, S Texas
51) Indianapolis Colts: Tyson Campbell, CB Georgia
52) Tennessee Titans: Brevin Jordan, TE Miami
53) New England Patriots: Tyler Vrabel, OT Boston College
54) Seattle Seahawks: Elijah Molden, CB Washington
55) Philadelphia Eagles: Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina
56) Green Bay Packers: Cade Mays, G Tennessee
57) Buffalo Bills: Charles Snowden, LB Virginia
58) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alec Lindstrom, C Boston College
59) Pittsburgh Steelers: Alaric Jackson, OT Iowa
60) Dallas Cowboys: Quincy Roche, EDGE Miami
61) New Orleans Saints: Israel Mukuamu, CB Georgia
62) Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Johnson, EDGE Tulane
63) San Francisco 49ers: Asante Samuel Jr., CB Florida State
64) Kansas City Chiefs: Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma State
Andrew DiCecco is a Senior NFL draft analyst for PFN. Follow him on Twitter @ADiCeccoNFL and give him your feedback on his 2021 2-round NFL mock draft.