As we start the back half of the 2020 NFL season, the 2021 NFL Draft doesn’t seem so far away anymore. The top end of the draft order is becoming clearer each week as some teams begin to separate from the rest of the pack. Team needs for 2021 have become more evident in the last few weeks. There’s no better time to unveil a first-round 2021 NFL mock draft.
Some teams will be in the market for a new young quarterback to lead their team for the future, while other teams may be looking at bolstering certain areas of their defense with a lockdown cornerback. For this mock, I utilized Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator to compile what the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft could look like.
Chiotti’s First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 1-10
1. New York Jets: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
The Jets are in the driver’s seat for the first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, which means they will have won the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. While former first-round pick Sam Darnold has been relatively underwhelming in his first few seasons, it would be difficult to see the Jets pass up on an opportunity to select Lawrence. Will he solve all the Jets’ issues? No, but he will provide a bigger boost to the offense than Darnold could. If the team continues to build the offensive side of the ball as they did with their 2020 class, they could set Lawrence up for success early in his career.
Moving on from Darnold before his rookie deal is up may seem like a poor decision by some, but passing up on Lawrence would be an unforgivable offense for general manager Joe Douglas. His throwing abilities, size, and mobility make him the presumed lock as the first overall selection.
The future for the Jets with Lawrence would look bright with a potential franchise left tackle in Mekhi Becton, and a quality starting receiver in Denzel Mims paired with the consistent passing threat of Jamison Crowder. With Adam Gase likely out of the picture for 2021, Lawrence and the rest of the Jets will likely have a fresh coaching staff for a fresh start in the league.
2. New York Giants: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
With the second straight New York pick of the first round, the Giants enter familiar territory by selecting an offensive tackle with their first pick in consecutive years. 2020 first-round selection Andrew Thomas has struggled mightily to start his career and has even been benched by the team at times for his inconsistent play. Solving this problem, the Giants double down and select arguably the best offensive tackle prospect we’ve seen since Joe Thomas in the young Penei Sewell out of Oregon.
The 2019 Outland Trophy winner is already a polished run blocker that can bring “the nasty” in pass protection as well. Using his quick feet and long wingspan along with his strong hands, Sewell is able to eliminate both speed and power rushers off the edge. Thomas has not played the left tackle spot well for the Giants, and it has resulted in some ugly reps for the offense. Drafting Sewell could force the Giants to move Thomas to either the right side or even inside as a guard.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
The Gardner Minshew experiment has been fun and entertaining, but it’s time for the Jaguars to get serious if they want to return to the AFC Championship Game or beyond in the future. Justin Fields is available here for the Jags, and it would be wise for them to upgrade the quarterback position.
Fields may still be considered a raw quarterback prospect by some, but his skills are undeniable, and he has all the makings of a future franchise quarterback. His arm talent and ball placement will cause some argument for him to be QB1 of this class.
While Minshew was the fan-favorite and he did, at times, lead the Jaguars offense, Fields is simply the better option. It is very much a possibility that the Jaguars could keep Minshew around, as his services as a backup and guide to Fields could be beneficial. Fields’ experience in up-tempo, RPO offenses adds another plus as a top-end draft prospect, as NFL offenses continue to shift to an RPO-driven attack. With the Jaguars’ blossoming wide receiver core, Fields could be set up with a decent offense in his rookie season.
4. Miami Dolphins (from Houston): LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
The Dolphins defense has improved greatly under the guidance of second-year head coach Brian Flores, and with the Texans’ first-round pick in their ownership, they have an opportunity to add more gunpowder to this defensive unit. By adding the electric linebacker Micah Parsons out of Penn State, the Dolphins could be building the scariest defense in the AFC East.
Parsons could fill multiple roles in the Dolphins defense that is currently one of the worst run defenses in the league. His freaky athleticism allows him to be effective in both pass and run coverage, covering the field quickly and filling gaps with ease.
Not only can Parsons fill a role as an off-ball linebacker in Flores’ system, but he can come off the edge as a pass rusher. Originally recruited to Penn State as a defensive end, Parsons has enough experience as a pass rusher that his burst and athleticism could be used in obvious passing situations. Whatever role Miami chooses for the young linebacker, he could have an impact instantly.
5. Dallas Cowboys: DT Marvin Wilson, Florida State
The Cowboys defense has been a problem this year. The loss of Dak Prescott has hurt the offense, but the defense was struggling even with Prescott on the field. Aldon Smith has been a pleasant surprise in his first season back from off-field issues, and the team is still paying a lot of money to Demarcus Lawrence, so it seems right that Dallas addresses the interior defensive line.
Insert Marvin Wilson, the physically dominant defensive tackle from Florida State. Seeing Wilson go this high might shock many, but his presence could help the Cowboys improve their run defense, near the bottom of the pack in the league.
Wilson plays with a high motor and great physicality on the defensive line. He already has several moves to use when rushing the passer and has the strength and power to be a dominant force on the inside. Dallas is struggling in every facet of their defense, but they have the pieces like Smith, Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, and Leighton Vander-Esch to be a quality front seven, but Wilson could help solve some of the issues in the interior of the defensive front.
6. Atlanta Falcons: CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State
The Falcons have one of the worst pass defenses in the league and have blown huge leads this season due to their inability to stop the pass. Kendall Sheffield, Isaiah Oliver, and 2020 first-round pick A.J. Terrell have struggled this season, and the Falcons need to upgrade their secondary badly. Shaun Wade, the cornerback out of Ohio State, could be an intriguing pick for the Falcons with the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Primarily a slot defender, Wade could give the Falcons a quality slot cornerback, a position that has become increasingly valuable in the league. Wade has experience in both man and zone concepts from the slot but has the size and speed necessary to work outside as well. This level of versatility could bring new life to the Atlanta secondary and give them a young tandem to look forward to in the future.
7. Washington Football Team: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
While the case could be made for Washington to take a quarterback here, it’s unclear what their stance is on the position at this time, and there’s plenty of other positions that need to be addressed. Terry McLaurin has been a bright spot for the Washington offense, but the team lacks another true playmaker at wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase would be an ideal selection to build up the offense for the next quarterback of the Football Team.
Blessed with sticky hands and possessing nuanced route running, Chase and McLaurin could pair up to make one of the better young wide receiver duos in the NFC. Chase can create space within his route running and seems unbothered when it comes to physical defenders trying to offset his timing.
Whether the quarterback in Washington in 2021 is Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, or someone else, giving them more weapons on the offensive side of the ball isn’t going to hurt their chances at success.
8. Los Angeles Chargers: LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
The Chargers traded up in the late first round of the 2020 draft to select Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, but in this mock draft for the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, there is no trade needed to land a top linebacker in this class. Dylan Moses is an excellent athlete at the linebacker position and plays with great sideline-to-sideline speed, along with impressive instincts. Pairing Moses with Murray could give the Chargers defense an upgrade at the linebacker spot, replacing Denzel Perryman.
While there may be some concerns over his knee injury that caused him to miss the 2019 season, Moses appears to be back to form in his senior season. He has some work to do in coverage, but his speed and ability to shut ball carriers down in open space make him one of the top linebacker prospects in this class. He also has something to offer when rushing the passer, utilizing his explosive speed and power off the edge.
9. New England Patriots: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Cam Newton looked like his old self early in the 2020 NFL season but has since fizzled to mediocrity. While the lack of offensive weapons surrounding Newton is cause for concern, it still is highly likely that the Patriots could look at a quarterback if they land in the top 10 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Trey Lance could be their quarterback of the future.
The North Dakota State product has many great physical tools that helped him rightfully earn the buzz as a top quarterback in this class, but he’s far from ready for the NFL game just yet. He possesses great mobility, good arm strength, and is an accurate passer for the most part. He still needs to work on his overall mechanics, but I doubt if he was drafted by New England that he would be a starter as a rookie.
Lance will get the time needed to improve his game before Belichick throws him to the wolves.
10. Minnesota Vikings: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Justin Jefferson has been one of the league’s top wide receivers as a rookie, and Adam Thielen has continued to be one of the most efficient receivers in the league. The Vikings offense is still missing that third impact receiver, and they could find it in Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. Coming off an ankle injury that ended his 2020 campaign, Waddle is poised to be one of the top receivers taken in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Waddle’s speed is what makes him such a dangerous and intriguing selection for the Vikings in the first round of this NFL mock draft. Utilizing his speed in the short and long passing game could help open up even more for their dominant running game behind Dalvin Cook. With dangerous receivers already on the field in Jefferson and Thielen, it leaves plenty of opportunities for Waddle to burn one-on-one matchups for huge gains.