First Round | Picks 21-32
21. New Orleans Saints: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
The Saints’ lack of talent at the receiver was made painfully clear this season in their games without Michael Thomas. It doesn’t help that Drew Brees looks like a shell of himself, but the guys that the Saints have starting would be third or fourth options on most teams.
Bateman is someone who can take the top off a defense. He averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2019, and 11 of his 60 catches went for touchdowns. Without Tyler Johnson, Bateman will be the go-to guy in the Golden Gophers’ aerial attack, where he will put his speed and big-play ability on full show. He is the type of player the Saints’ offense desperately needs to complement Michael Thomas in the passing game.
22. Cleveland Browns: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
The Browns pass rush has taken the attention off of their lackluster linebacking core, but after a 31 point loss to Pittsburgh, the holes in the middle of the field are becoming more visible. Losing Joe Schobert to the Jaguars was a big loss, and B.J. Goodson and Sione Takitaki aren’t long-term starters.
Surratt began his career at UNC as a quarterback before making the switch to linebacker his junior season, where he finished second in the ACC with a whopping 115 tackles, 15 of them for loss including 6.5 sacks. His quarterback intellect gives him the ability to read plays while in zone coverage better than most linebackers. This is only his second season playing linebacker, and he will only get better. His nose for the ball is exactly what the Browns need in the middle of the field.
23. Chicago Bears: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
The Bears are using former wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson as a feature running back; that tells you all you need to know about their backfield situation. David Montgomery is okay but not great, and the Bears need someone who can make plays out of the backfield and in the passing game to complement Allen Robinson. Having them select a premier NFL-ready running back in the first round makes sense in this mock draft.
Etienne brings an Alvin Kamara-type of style to the table. He is a great downhill runner and very shifty. Trevor Lawrence has looked his way a lot more now that Tee Higgins is catching passes from Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Etienne has game-changing speed but also can fight off defenders and extend the play. Fans in the windy city may see some parallels to the late great Gale Sayers in his game, and Etienne would be a great addition to a team that is starving for a great running back.
24. Buffalo Bills: TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
The Bills need a good tight end like a thirsty man needs water, so having them select Pat Freiermuth in this first-round NFL mock draft makes all the sense in the world. Dawson Knox and Tyler Kroft have been solid placeholders, but Josh Allen needs a big playmaker to rely on.
Freiermuth was really the No. 2 option for Sean Clifford in Penn State’s offense last season behind K.J. Hamler. His speed is very good for his size. He has the leap of a volleyball player going up for a spike, which helps him win jump balls with his already tall frame, and he has the best hands at his position. He’s far from being just a receiving tight end; his blocking is very stellar, which would help the Bills in the run game. This pick would be a slam dunk for the Bills’ offense, and Josh Allen would have a new toy to play with on Sundays.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Jay Tufele, USC
The Jaguars lack pressure up the middle and are last in the NFL in sacks per game. They are also allowing over 140 yards rushing per game, all of which can be chalked up to the middle of their defensive line. Abry Jones has been a liability, and Taven Bryan has been disappointing since he was drafted in the first round in 2018.
Tufele is one of the more versatile defensive lineman in the draft. He can be put on the interior or the edge and is a handful wherever he is. He has the power to get up the middle and the speed to get off the edge, netting 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2019. With Josh Allen already manning the outside, one can assume that Tufele would play on the interior. Having that extra pressure would take the load off of their young secondary and force mistakes, giving Gardner Minshew and the offense more opportunities to put up points.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
The Steelers’ depth, or lack thereof, will be on full display after losing Devin Bush for the season. Robert Spillane looked good against Cleveland, but I don’t think he is a long-term guy, and the same can be said for Ulysees Gilbert. It’s basically Vince Williams and a lot of unproven guys alongside him.
The rest of the league better pray that Nick Bolton doesn’t fall to the Steelers. He is arguably the biggest hitter in this draft and also has the ability to make plays in pass coverage. Having Bolton lined up next to Devin Bush would quickly become one of the best duos in the middle of any defense in football. He is very energetic, a very big personality, and would fit right in with the Steelers core of young defenders. In my first-round NFL mock draft, Nick Bolton to Pittsburgh could end up being one of the picks of the draft should it come to fruition.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami
Tampa Bay needs to get younger off the edge. Ndamukong Suh will be 34 in January, Jason Pierre-Paul is 31, and William Gholston will be 30 when the next season starts. They are second in the league in sack percentage and have one of the best overall defenses in the league, but knowing Todd Bowles, he’d love a fresh face to have for the future.
Roche plays on the other side of Gregory Rousseau, and together they are the best pass-rushing force in the nation. They combined for 28.5 sacks in 2019, Roche accounting for 13 of them, along with 19 tackles for loss. Having him plug into the rotation before making him a full-time starter would give the Bucs depth and eventually a budding star off the edge.
28. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Patrick Jones, Pittsburgh
While the Titans currently sit at 5-0, their defense hasn’t impressed, to say the least. They are allowing just over 25 points per game and are 28th in sack percentage. It’s clear that they need some help off the edge to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Jones had 8.5 sacks in 2019 and already has seven through six games, including a three-sack performance against Louisville. His tall frame mixed with his quickness off the edge has proven effective against opposing tackles. The Titans’ weakest link has been their pass rush. Jones would be a great pick at this point in the first round and an immediate impact player upon arrival.
29. Green Bay Packers: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Green Bay was crucified for their handling of the 2020 NFL Draft, not taking a receiver in the deepest receiver class in history when it was abundantly clear they needed one. While other guys such as Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard have stepped up when called upon, Green Bay could use a true home-run hitter for Aaron Rodgers to throw to.
Rondale Moore is the swiss army knife of this receiving class. Whether it’s in the passing game, returning quicks, jet sweeps, you name it – he is a house call waiting to happen. He is the fastest receiver and maybe the fastest player in this draft. That speed gives Green Bay many options in terms of where to put him in formations, whether in the slot or on the outside. Packers fans have been begging for a guy like Moore.
30. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
The Ravens pass rush has been good, but Calais Campbell will be 35 when the 2021 season comes around. They could also use another guy who can rotate in and supplement both Campbell and Derek Wolfe.
Basham had 10 sacks in 2019 and already has four through four games in 2020. He would be a great addition as he is sound in both the run and pass game and is very good at beating blockers on the inside. Grooming him behind Campbell while giving him solid reps in the rotation could help him grow into the starting role once the time comes.
31. New York Jets (from Seattle): G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
As I previously mentioned, whoever is lined up under center for the Jets next season needs protection. They need to blow up the entire offensive line. Anyone not named Mekhi Becton is expendable.
Davis is maybe the fiercest blocker in this class and also the most versatile. He can move to either guard position and is very good at taking out defenders in open space while also opening gaps between the tackles. The Jets haven’t had a run game in what feels like forever. Adding Davis with Becton would give them two very good offensive line pieces to begin their offensive rebuild around, and they land him in my first-round NFL mock draft.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: S Caden Sterns, Texas
The Chiefs defense has been very good. They are the third-best passing defense in the league when it comes to yards per game, and they have playmakers up and down the defensive side of the ball. That said, Daniel Sorensen has his limitations, and this is the last season of his contract.
Sterns has the ability to play well in both zone and man coverage. He can be their nickel guy, or they could even rotate him with Rashad Fenton. Plus, his capabilities in coverage would allow Tyrann Mathieu to roam around in the box more often and open up the defense to more unique schemes. He is great in coverage with top-notch play recognition, and he would be a great tag team partner for the Honey Badger. With all of the talent they have on offense, Kansas City should look to upgrade at safety.
You can follow Jarrett on Twitter @JbaileyNFL and Pro Football Network @PFN365 and give your feedback on his midseason first-round NFL mock draft.