With a quarter of the 2020 NFL season in the books, we are starting to get a clearer picture of who the best and worst teams are. We’re also getting to see what positions each team will be looking to improve in the offseason as we march towards the 2021 NFL Draft. In this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, I’m not drafting based on the selections I would make personally, but rather trying to predict how the NFL will value these players.
Whether you love or hate the players your favorite team draft in this NFL mock draft, let me know on Twitter at @MVScouting.
3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Round One
1) New York Jets: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
We kick off this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft with the New York Jets. The Jets invested a lot when they moved up in the 2018 NFL Draft to select USC quarterback Sam Darnold. Unfortunately, New York failed to surround Darnold with a competent coaching staff and capable roster, and it looks as though his time in New York is coming to an end.
I don’t expect Adam Gase to remain the head coach for much longer, and whoever takes over the job will want to select the best quarterback prospect in at least eight years in Trevor Lawrence.
2) New York Giants: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
One thing that shocks me is how little national media has talked about the performance of Daniel Jones. In 16 career starts, Jones has led the Giants to a 3-13 record (0-4 this season), has thrown 17 interceptions, and lost 13 fumbles. That’s 30 turnovers to 28 total touchdowns that he’s registered.
If the G-Men remain one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, and ownership chooses to move on from David Gettleman, I could absolutely see a new front office taking a QB.
3) Atlanta Falcons: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Falcons should not be picking in the top three, but here we are in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft. The roster is far too talented, and they have a franchise quarterback with at least 3-4 more good years of football left. Their offense is good enough to contend for a Super Bowl but their defense is so putrid, they’ve started 0-4. Adding an impact player like Parsons provides a boost to the team’s pass defense, run defense, and pass rush. Parsons is an elite talent at a major need for Atlanta.
4) Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
This isn’t even Miami’s selection, yet they still land my top overall player in 2021. Sewell is the best tackle prospect I’ve ever evaluated, and my expectation is that he’ll receive one of the highest grades, if not the highest grade, I’ve given a prospect. He lacks elite athletic ability, but his motor, play strength, and consistency are already at an All-Pro level.
The most insane part about that is that he’ll only be 20 years old to start his rookie season. The Dolphins can plug Sewell in at right tackle, Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside, and pair him with 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson, who is impressing thus far at left tackle.
5) Cincinnati Bengals: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Ideally, Sewell would be on the board for Cincinnati. Unfortunately, he goes one pick too early, and there are no other linemen worthy of a top-5 pick in this class. So Cincinnati takes the best player available, Alabama star Dylan Moses.
Moses is an elite coverage linebacker who matches up very well in a division that features Mark Andrews, David Njoku, and Austin Hooper. He also possesses rare sideline-to-sideline speed, and his instincts against the run are elite. He’s the X-factor against a QB like Lamar Jackson. The Bengals improve both facets of their defense with Moses.
6) Washington Football Team: Trey Lance, QB, NDSU
Sadly, it seems as though Dwayne Haskins is not in the future plans for the Washington Football Team. I expect the offense to continue struggling this season and Washington to be in the quarterback hunt this offseason. They get the last option of the 2021 first-round QBs, but some might view this as a steal.
Trey Lance has all the potential in the world. He’s a great athlete with special arm talent, and he had one of the best seasons by a quarterback in FCS history. NFL GMs will be scared by a lack of games played and the competition he faced, but Lance has the overall talent to be an elite player at the quarterback position.
7) Detroit Lions: Marvin Wilson, IDL, Florida State
Ideally, the Lions are under new management when they make this selection. A talented team with one of the most underrated quarterbacks in NFL history, it’s time to give Matthew Stafford a chance at a ring. The Lions desperately need help on the defensive front, and, with the top linebacker gone, the best defensive player is defensive tackle Marvin Wilson.
Wilson is an explosive athlete with great play strength. He even had several plays overpowering standout Jets rookie tackle Mekhi Becton. Wilson would instantly have a bid as the Lions’ best defensive players.
8) Jacksonville Jaguars: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
I’m salivating at the thought of the Jaguars pairing Farley with 2020 first rounder CJ Henderson in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Here are two young, elite athletes at one of the most important positions in the game. Farley and Henderson would compete for CB1 and would make life hell for opposing receivers. Farley’s elite athletic ability and ball skills make him a high-ceiling prospect, and he’s currently the favorite to be my CB1 at the end of the draft process.
9) Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
The Broncos were crushed by injuries this season, and yet they’ve still been able to remain competitive. 2020 third-round pick Michael Ojemudia has been a lovely surprise and has performed like one of the best rookie cornerbacks this season.
Related | CB Patrick Surtain II is an ideal fit for the Denver Broncos in 2021
Pairing him with Surtain would give Denver an elite young CB duo moving forward. Surtain would immediately fit in Vic Fangio’s match-zone defense, where he can let his elite football IQ and instincts take over.
10) Miami Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Miami should be using this draft to invest in Tua’s future. What’s a better way to invest in a quarterback than drafting the top tackle and consensus top receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Ja’Marr Chase is an elite contested ball receiver who’s aggressive after the catch and is one of the best deep threats I’ve ever evaluated. I’m a bit lower on him than the consensus due to a lack of elite size and athletic ability, but if Tua is willing to let it rip and give Chase a chance to bully corners, he’ll be a successful rookie.
11) Carolina Panthers: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Teddy Bridgewater has the Panthers’ offense producing, but the defense has struggled giving up over 25 points per game. Adding a versatile defender like Shaun Wade to the secondary makes a lot of sense, especially considering that Donte Jackson will be a free agent after the 2021 season. Wade could man the slot as an elite nickel cornerback before replacing Jackson on the boundary as the team’s CB1.
12) Minnesota Vikings: Creed Humphrey, iOL, Oklahoma
The Minnesota interior offensive line has been a train wreck, and with none of the top quarterbacks available, the pick for Minnesota was obvious.
Probably the best interior offensive lineman we’ve seen since Quinton Nelson, Creed Humphrey is a nasty tone-setter in the heart of the Oklahoma offensive line. He’s got elite play strength combined with a fierce attitude, and he’s as consistent as they come in pass protection. Take Humphrey and play him at any interior position you feel he’s needed at most.
13) Los Angeles Chargers: Sam Cosmi, OT, Texas
I’m not nearly as high on Cosmi as the consensus, but his athletic ability is undeniable, and I could easily see an NFL team falling in love with him. He’s been more consistent so far in 2020, which bodes well for his final film grade. However, where he’s drafted likely comes down to just how impressive he is at the NFL Combine. If Cosmi impresses in his testing, expect him to be a top-15 selection.
14) Dallas Cowboys: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
Sky-high potential. When Jay Tufele is playing with good leverage, he’s a game wrecker. Fans had a lot of hope for the Dallas defensive line this season, and they’ve been downright horrendous, as arguably the worst defensive front in the NFL.
Despite possessing an NFL frame at 6’3, 305 pounds, Tufele is a fluid athlete who dominates moving horizontally — not something you commonly see from a man weighing more than 300 pounds. He has the athletic ceiling to be a double-digit sack getter from the defensive interior, but he still has work to do from a technique standpoint.
15) Las Vegas Raiders: Trey Smith, OL, Tennessee
The 15th pick in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders. I wrote “OL” for Trey Smith instead of “iOL” because I believe he possesses the physical skill-set to play at either guard or tackle at the next level. He plays guard for Tennessee, and that’s where I expect a team to play him as a rookie, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him become an emergency right tackle in his career and just find a way to stick there.
With Richie Incognito getting up in age, it could make sense to draft his replacement early. Adding Smith to an already talented Raiders offensive line would continue to solidify the unit as a strength for the foreseeable future.
16) Arizona Cardinals: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami
Many believe the NFL is going to be high on Rousseau due to a blend of impressive physical tools and strong production as a redshirt freshman. However, I think teams will be hesitant to take him in the first half of round one due to a lack of refinement and only a single season of film.
The Cardinals, however, have never been hesitant to pull the trigger on high upside, high-risk selections. They’d jump at the chance to pair Rousseau with Chandler Jones, which is why he’s the selection here in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
17) New England Patriots: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
The back half of the first round in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft begins with the New England Patriots. The Patriots desperately need outside receiver help, and Bateman sitting on the board made too much sense. A well-rounded receiver with minimal downside while still maintain an impressive ceiling, adding Bateman would make for a strong group of receivers with Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry on the team. The question now remains, who will the Patriots quarterback be in 2021?
18) San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Jones II, EDGE, PITT
Patrick Jones is my personal EDGE1, and he’s a perfect running mate to pair with 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Nick Bosa. Jones provides more burst off the LOS and a bit more fluidity, but he’s still naturally strong and sets a dominant edge. San Francisco desperately wanted to see Creed Humphrey at this pick, but Jones is an excellent consolation prize.
19) Chicago Bears: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Based on everything we’ve seen, it feels unlikely that Allen Robinson wants to return to Chicago after this season. That leaves a hole to fill at receiver, and with Waddle on the board, this is a no-brainer. Waddle adds a level of explosiveness that the Bears offense lacks. If Anthony Miller can continue to take steps in his development, and Darnell Mooney continues his impressive rookie season, adding Waddle might give Chicago the most exciting, young, WR trio in the NFL.
20) Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
The Eagles are 1-2-1, yet selecting 20th overall. What a testament to the state of the NFC East. The division is awful, and speaking of awful, so are the Philadelphia linebackers. Nate Gerry seeing the fields has Eagle fans and NFL analysts bewildered. At the same time, Duke Riley and Shaun Bradley have not been much better.
Nick Bolton is an elite athlete who’s a dominant open-field tackler and looks very comfortable in coverage. Putting behind a very stout Philly defensive line would allow him to utilize his elite speed freely and make plays from one sideline to the other.
21) Cleveland Browns: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
One of the most complete players in the class, Holland is a mismatch piece that will make a living covering tight-ends and big slots at the next level. He’s also a strong run defender and even flashes as a pass rusher.
He’s not overwhelmingly big, nor is he an elite athlete, so his ceiling will be limited. However, his floor is about as good as it gets, and worst-case scenario, Cleveland (at least in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft), gets a slot corner who doubles as a third safety in dime packages.
22) Indianapolis Colts: Dillon Radunz, OT, NDSU
Yes, that’s two North Dakota State players in the first round of this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Some might think this as too high for Radunz; others may think it’s too low. The NFL seems to be high on the NDSU product, and it makes sense.
He’s a strong athlete, who crushed his level of competition, and doesn’t have any major flaws that would prevent a team from playing him early as a rookie. The change in his level of competition will be a massive jump, but we’ll hopefully see him take on some of the nation’s top senior edge rushers at the Senior Bowl.
23) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carlos Basham, EDGE, Wake Forest
“Boogie” Basham was one of the nation’s most disruptive pass rushers last season, and he’s looking just as dominant this year. An average athletic profile gives him a limited ceiling, but Basham’s hot motor, use of pass rush moves, and play strength give him a high floor as an NFL edge defender. JPP will be 32 with a single year left on his deal, and Shaq Barrett could be on another team by the time Tampa is on the clock in the 2021 NFL Draft.
24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
Big, powerful, and downright nasty. The Steelers are in desperate need of a young, talented tackle, and Carman could be the guy they plug into the left tackle spot for the foreseeable future. He’s a natural people mover, and despite having a massive frame, his feet are quick and smooth. He still needs development to develop further as a pass protector, but the skills are there for him to be an elite left tackle.
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR): Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Weapon. That’s the only word to truly describe Kyle Pitts. Since the start of this season, Pitts has been unguardable, posting 12 catches for 227 yards and six touchdowns in two games.
Jacksonville has a gaping hole at the tight end position, and we know how successful Jay Gruden was when he had a healthy Jordan Reed. Adding Pitts to an already loaded Jacksonville receiving corps could spell trouble for the rest of the AFC South. That’s why he’s the pick here in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
26) Tennessee Titans: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
Oweh is expected to test as one of the best athletes in NFL history. Despite having a massive 6’5 frame, the expectation is that he’ll test more like a wide receiver than a pass rusher.
Pairing Oweh with Harold Landry would give Tennessee one of the most explosive edge rush duos in the NFL. Add that to developing superstar Jeffery Simmons, and you have a trio that will give nightmares to opposing quarterbacks.
27) New Orleans Saints: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S, Notre Dame
Someone you may not know yet, but you should, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is the next positionless defensive star. He blurs the line between linebacker and strong safety and he’s constantly making plays against the run while blanketing players in coverage. For a Saints roster that doesn’t need much, a player who can do almost everything well makes perfect sense in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
28) Buffalo Bills: Jaylen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
With right tackle Daryl Williams on a one-year deal, drafting a new right tackle makes a ton of sense for a Bills roster that really isn’t in need of much. They would benefit from an edge rusher, but I don’t like the value of anyone here.
Mayfield is a natural right tackle, who’s smooth pass set and flash plays will be sure to grab the attention of NFL scouts. I also believe he’s a strong athlete who should have a strong combine showing, further leading a team to select him in the first.
29) Green Bay Packers: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
This feels…wrong. With a receiver class as deep and talented as this one, someone was bound to fall further than they should. In this scenario, it was Rondale Moore in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
Moore is one of the few people on the planet who could be in the same class as Jaylen Waddle and be viewed as the superior athlete. He’s going to test like one of the best athletes we’ll ever see, and it shows on tape. He’s explosive and elusive, and very difficult to take down. The Packers desperately need to invest in weapons outside of Davante Adams, and Moore fits the bill perfectly.
30) Baltimore Ravens: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Some of the best hands I’ve ever evaluated, I’ve only seen DeVonta Smith drop one pass in all the games I’ve watched. Whether it be film evaluation or live viewings, he plays like there’s glue on his gloves. He’s also a nuanced route-runner and an above-average athlete.
The Ravens could desperately use a player with hands like Smith, as he should instantly become Lamar Jackson’s go-to target. It’s also worth noting that PFN’s Tony Pauline is hearing that Smith is the more highly rated Alabama receiver than teammate Jaylen Waddle.
31) New York Jets (via SEA): Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State
Some view Davis as a top-15 talent. They point out his impressive play strength and his impressive fluidity and body control for a big player. However, I think he’s an inconsistent finisher, particularly in the open field, and he could stand to improve his hands in pass protection. His athletic testing could play an important role in where he’s drafted.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
The 32nd pick in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs, thus signaling another Super Bowl championship. I was very tempted to give the Chiefs the top skill-position player left on the board, simply because I could see them going that route. However, given the state of the cornerbacks’ room, I think investing in the secondary would be the wiser route.
Samuel has had a very strong start to the season, and he projects best as an elite nickel cornerback in the NFL. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t find success on the boundary. He’d be an instant boost to a shaky Kansas City cornerback unit.