Round Three
65. New York Jets: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
66. New York Giants: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan
67. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia
The Jaguars finally get their quarterback at the top of Round 3 in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, and while Georgia’s Jamie Newman might not be the quarterback of the future, he’s a quarterback who could develop into a starting quarterback in the future, if given the opportunity.
Newman’s outlook will be clouded because of his decision to opt out in 2020; playing with Georgia could have helped him develop in areas where he needed to improve. But regardless, Newman is a high-upside passer with very good size, athleticism, and arm strength, and Jay Gruden’s offense should play to his strengths, utilizing his mobility on rollouts and prioritizing sequential short-to-intermediate completions.
68. Houston Texans: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
69. Dallas Cowboys: Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
70. Atlanta Falcons: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
71. Minnesota Vikings: Bubba Bolden, S, Miami
72. Washington Football Team: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virgnia Tech
73. Los Angeles Chargers: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
The Chargers have their quarterback in Justin Herbert; that much is now certain. Herbert has lit up the NFL in his early play, and while the wins have yet to come consistently, having a humming passing game is a very good start. Now, the Chargers need to build around Herbert, to ensure that they get his best play for years on end.
The Chargers’ offensive line is one area of concern that’s lingered for the better part of a decade, but a deep tackle class could be what they need to finally strike gold. Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins is one player who has the traits to fulfill their need for reliable blockers. Jenkins is a huge bookend at 6-foot-6, 320, and he offers an enticing mix of power and fluidity in his movement. He’s been one of the key ingredients in the Cowboys’ success this season, and in 2021, he can carry that impact over to L.A.
74. Cincinnati Bengals: Shaka Toney, EDGE, Penn State
75. Carolina Panthers: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
76. Detroit Lions: Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB
77. Denver Broncos: Payton Turner, DL, Houston
78. Washington Football Team (via SF): Seth Williams, WR, Auburn
79. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
80. Las Vegas Raiders: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The 2021 quarterback class is an intriguing one; the security takes a sharp dip once you get outside Round 1, but at the same time, there’s a lot of upside to claim, and one quarterback who possesses one of the most exciting skill sets is Cincinnati passer Desmond Ridder.
Ridder was recently labeled as a riser by Tony Pauline, and he’s noticeably improving in 2020. Before this season, he was an athletic, powerful passer with a tendency to be erratic, but he’s starting to add more consistency to his game. Derek Carr won’t be a free agent until 2023, but given his fairly visible ceiling as an above-average starter, adding Ridder as a high-upside backup who could eventually take the reigns isn’t a bad idea.
81. Chicago Bears: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
82. Philadelphia Eagles: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
83. Cleveland Browns: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
There’s a good chance the Cleveland Browns enter the 2021 season without Odell Beckham Jr., so they’ll undoubtedly need to dip into the 2021 wide receiver pool and come away with some talent. In this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, they get a receiver who can negate the difference right away with his allotment of traits.
That’s not to say that Amon-Ra St. Brown is anywhere near Beckham at the moment, but St. Brown has a quarterback-friendly skill set. He’s near-elite at creating separation with his quick twitch and agility, and he’s also a very good run-after-catch threat, so he can expand throwing windows, and also tack on yards after short completions. As USC takes the field this weekend, St. Brown should quickly re-establish himself as a top 2021 receiver.
84. Los Angeles Rams: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
85. Minnesota Vikings (via BAL): Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest
86. Indianapolis Colts: Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE, Florida State
87. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Snowden, LB, Virginia
88. Cleveland Browns (via NO): Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
89. Green Bay Packers: Adrian Ealy, OT, Oklahoma
90. Tennessee Titans: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
91. Buffalo Bills: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
92. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
93. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
It seems like there are always new Alabama draft prospects being unearthed, quietly playing at superb levels while other, more prestigious players take the spotlight. Such is the case of Josh Jobe, a junior cornerback who has excelled opposite from Patrick Surtain II in 2020, and goes to Kansas City in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
Jobe has five pass deflections so far on the year, and he’s actually allowing less yards per coverage snap than Surtain, a notable accomplishment considering Surtain’s level of play. Jobe is a stellar athletic talent with a ton of movement freedom for his 6-foot-1 frame, and he’s also very active and physical with his hands. Jobe can polish his hand technique, but he has all the upside required to be the Chiefs’ next middle-round gem at cornerback.
94. New York Jets (via SEA): Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
95. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett was one of the last selections on Day 2 in my last mock draft, and he sneaks in again this time, going to his hometown team in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickett is one of my favorite quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft, and I believe he has the traits necessary to warrant Day 2 consideration. Pickett has been sidelined with an injury for the past few weeks, and in his absence, the Panthers’ offense has looked lost and defeated.
Pickett’s injury may cause him to continue to be overlooked, but he has what it takes to be an eventual starter. Pickett has above-average athleticism and a rocket for an arm, but what truly puts together his game is his toughness, poise, and off-script ability. Pickett has shown that he can navigate the pocket amidst pressure, and he’s also shown that he can generate velocity off-platform and produce in the face of adversity. Pickett has all the makings of a true draft-day steal.