Farabaugh’s 4-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
17) Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota
The Bears have a massive question mark at receiver after this season. There is no guarantee that Allen Robinson will return, and with the top quarterbacks gone at this point in my 4-round 2021 NFL mock draft, they look to add another lethal weapon. In comes Bateman, who may very well be better than some receivers drafted before him. Bateman has the makings of a number one receiver with smooth footwork and great play strength. He has so many modes to win that he can be highly productive even with mediocre quarterback play.
18) Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech
Patrick Peterson has been balling out to start the season, but he is in the last year of his contract. That means there could be a massive hole in this Cardinals defense if he is not back. Farley is a lengthy, athletic cornerback with rare fluidity and ball skills for his size. Even as a rookie, Farley would make a formidable duo with Byron Murphy on this Cardinals defense.
19) Indianapolis Colts: Shaun Wade, CB Ohio State
The Colts cornerback room in general has a huge hole right now with Xavier Rhodes being a shaky option as a starter at this point in his career. Kenny Moore and Rock Ya-Sin are two good players, but they need another guy in there. Enter Shaun Wade, who adds physicality, ball skills, and an edge to this defense. Wade has no limitations in his skillset, and that is exactly what the Colts need on the boundary.
20) Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR): Pat Freiermuth, TE Penn State
With the defensive side addressed to a degree, the Jaguars look to get another weapon for Minshew. The Jaguars simply do not have a tight end that is even on the level of Freiermuth right now. Freiermuth is a strong-handed, athletic tight end that can win combat catches and get separation up the seam. He can move all around the field and straight-up bury guys into the dirt as a blocker. Freiermuth’s high upside would be welcomed in Jacksonville.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama
Alejandro Villanueva’s contract is up, and if Zach Banner was auditioning for the left tackle job, that is all but dashed with a torn ACL injury in Week 1. Chukwuma Okorafor looked good, but the Steelers may want to keep him at right tackle. Enter in Alex Leatherwood, who is smooth and quick on his feet. Leatherwood is extremely polished and brings a plug-and-play starter at left tackle to help protect Ben Roethlisberger.
22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaylen Twyman, IDL Pittsburgh
The Buccaneers are one of those teams that are pretty good right now but could have some holes develop thanks to cap restrictions in the offseason. Ndamukong Suh may not be able to come back in 2021 as a result of a shrinking cap. Jaylen Twyman would enter the picture as a strong pass rusher with powerful hands and an array of moves to beat offensive lineman. His penetration ability would be alluring for the Buccaneers.
23) New England Patriots: DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama
Julian Edelman is only getting older at this stage and the Patriots have not found a ton of high-level wide receivers aside from him. Cam Newton will need other targets to throw to, and a guy who can separate on the level of DeVonta Smith would be a welcomed addition. Smith would not only give Newton a great route-runner but also someone to push the ball to down the field as a deep threat.
24) San Francisco 49ers: Creed Humphrey, IOL Oklahoma
Everything about this makes sense. The 49ers get a clear upgrade over the often injured Weston Richburg and the serviceable, but unspectacular Ben Garland. Humphrey is a dazzling prospect with sharp technique and a sturdy base. The 49ers would get a potential future Pro Bowler by selecting Humphrey.
25) Dallas Cowboys: Paris Ford, S Pittsburgh
Xavier Woods has looked solid to open up this season for the Cowboys. However, Darian Thompson has simply struggled in the box role. Paris Ford would bring excellent athleticism and physicality that the Cowboys have not seen at the position for a long time. Ford’s a playmaker with the ability to play single-high safety as well. This one is a no-brainer for Dallas.
26) Buffalo Bills: Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas
Maybe one of the most athletic tackles in the draft, Cosmi would allow the Bills to fill in the holes left by a ton of expiring contracts at the tackle position. While he is raw and learning his way through the technical side of things, Cosmi has light feet and a loaded toolbox to work with from day one.
27) Green Bay Packers: Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina
Kevin King is entering a contract year. Although he has played well so far opposite of Jaire Alexander, the Packers have a few other contracts like David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones to worry about as well. Horn is a silky smooth cornerback with fantastic discipline and instincts. He would fill in for King right away as a starter.
28) Tennessee Titans: Christian Barmore, IDL Alabama
The Titans need an interior pass rusher to really fill out this pass rush as a whole, especially if the Titans retain Jadeveon Clowney past this season. Barmore is explosive and has the potential to be the best interior rusher from this draft class. With Jeffery Simmons opposite of him, Barmore and Simmons could be a top interior pass-rushing duo in the NFL.
29) New Orleans Saints: Elijah Molden, CB Washington
Make no mistake, if there is a hole on the Saints defense, it is at the nickel cornerback position. Molden comes in day one and fits in perfectly with this sound Saints defense. Despite some play strength issues, Molden is a sticky man coverage corner with elite instincts and scheme versatility.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Chris Rumph II, EDGE Duke
With Matt Judon in a contract season and a lack of options elsewhere, Rumph fits into the Ravens defense like a glove right away. An explosive and flexible edge rusher, Rumph is a perfect 3-4 outside linebacker and has experience working in coverage and off-ball as well. Given the Ravens’ creativity defensively, Rumph would fit in quite well.
31) New York Jets: Patrick Jones, EDGE Pittsburgh
The Jets need pass rush help just about as badly as they need a receiver. With little to no options there, they get an explosive and bendy player in Patrick Jones. Jones has savvy hands and a high ceiling given his physical tools to really help this Jets pass rush out from day one.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Asante Samuel Jr., CB Florida State
The Chiefs main need is at the cornerback position. Charvarius Ward is in the last year of his contract, thus leaving a hole in 2021. So, enter in Asante Samuel Jr. who brings ball-hawking skills and sticky man coverage ability to really upgrade the Chiefs’ cornerback room. L’Jarius Sneed has looked promising thus far, but Samuel Jr. can take this secondary to the next level and rounds out the first round of my 4-round 2021 NFL mock draft.