Chiotti’s First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 11-20
11. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Behind 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow, the Bengals offense looks drastically different this season. They have a solid receiving core with Tyler Boyd, A.J. Green, and rookie sensation Tee Higgins. This pick could have been used to upgrade the offensive line, but I firmly believe the team will be investing money in their line when free agency opens. The Bengals need to add more playmakers to their defense and desperately need to upgrade their cornerback situation.
Patrick Surtain II from Alabama could be the playmaking cornerback that they need to start their defensive improvements. Surtain, the son of former NFL cornerback Patrick Surtain, possesses great skills that should transfer over to the pro game nicely. He plays very well as a boundary corner, squeezing the receiver to the sideline and forces the quarterback to make difficult throws into tight windows.
12. Carolina Panthers: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Adding more firepower to the offense, Matt Rhule selects arguably the most complete tight end of the class with the 12th overall selection in the first round of this NFL mock draft. Kyle Pitts has the makings of a dominant NFL tight end, possessing great size and shifty route running. In an offense that already features two of the league’s best receivers in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson and the league’s most intriguing running back in Christian McCaffrey, Pitts could help the Panthers explode in 2021.
Pitts has experience working all across the formation, working as both an in-line tight end and flexed out as a receiver. Assuming that Teddy Bridgewater is still the quarterback in Carolina in 2021, Pitts’ catch radius and athleticism will give Bridgewater another reliable target in the passing game.
13. Detroit Lions: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
Marvin Jones will be a free agent after the 2020 season, and the Lions need to add another wide receiver to help Matthew Stafford as he approaches the twilight of his career. Rashod Bateman would be the perfect addition to the Lions offense in 2021. Adding Bateman gives Stafford another quality target outside of Kenny Golladay.
Bateman has excellent route running abilities and knows how to work after the catch, excelling in breaking through arm tackles for huge gains. He has good size for a receiver, but he’s not the biggest target on the field. However, he is aggressive while the ball is in the air and finishes contested catches often, despite the overall lack in size.
14. Denver Broncos: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Denver’s defense suffered a major loss when they lost Chris Harris, Jr. in free agency, but the team traded for A.J. Bouye during the offseason to add a veteran presence to the secondary. Bouye has played sparingly after suffering some injuries early this season, and rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia has stepped in nicely, with Bryce Callahan playing both outside and in the slot. The Broncos could move on from Bouye this offseason for a cheaper and younger option in their secondary.
Caleb Farley could be the player they replace Bouye with in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Farley has experience working in both zone and man concepts and would be an ideal fit for Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme. His physical style of play would be welcome in the Mile High City.
15. San Francisco 49ers: OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
In the Niners run game, being aggressive and moving well across formations is key to opening up huge holes for the runners. Wyatt Davis, the interior offensive lineman out of Ohio State, makes perfect sense for San Francisco. His aggressive nature and fluidity make him a natural fit for Kyle Shanahan’s rushing offense, which features mainly outside zone concepts.
Davis’ work in pass protection could also help boost their offensive line play, as the Niners have given up 19 sacks on the season so far. Whether or not the Niners decide to continue with Jimmy G under center, they will need to bolster the offensive line to keep the run game going at a high level.
16. Miami Dolphins: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami (FL)
The Dolphins continue to add to the defensive side of the ball with this selection. Gregory Rousseau had a monster season in 2019, totaling 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Hurricanes. He has great size and length and certainly knows how to use it to his advantage when rushing the passer.
In this first-round mock draft, the Dolphins already added a dynamic linebacker in Micah Parsons, but add a dynamic rusher off the edge to push themselves further into defensive dominance in the AFC East. With their secondary playing at a high level, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks could be the cherry on top for Miami.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: DT Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
Sorry to disappoint anyone here, but this is not a Clemson player being selected by Mike Mayock in the first round. Jaylen Twyman could add another element to the Raiders young defensive front that features 2019 first-round pick Clelin Ferrell and their emerging star in 2019 fourth-round selection Maxx Crosby.
Twyman doesn’t have an overly imposing size in the interior of the defensive line, but he knows how to utilize his pad level relatively well, recording 10.5 sacks in his 2019 season. He utilizes his speed off the ball and low pad level to create plays in the backfield in both rushing the passer and stopping the run.
18. Chicago Bears: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Allen Robinson II has been a consistent pass catcher for the Bears, who continue to go through an identity crisis on offense. Adding a dynamic playmaker like Purdue’s Rondale Moore could help open up Matt Nagy’s playbook even more for whoever is under center for the Bears in 2021.
Moore is arguably one of the fastest, if not THE fastest wide receiver in this class, and his skill set can be utilized in several ways. Whether it’s in the quick game or deep shots, Moore is a threat to score any time he has the ball in his hands.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: OC Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
This may be Jason Kelce’s last season in the NFL, and the Eagles desperately need to upgrade their offensive line as it is. The Eagles offensive line has given up an abysmal 28 sacks so far in the 2020 season. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey seems like a perfect replacement for the veteran center.
Humphrey has the leadership skills and physical skills to be a quality center in the NFL. His past as a wrestler shows in his blocking style, as he uses his strong lower half to throw interior lineman off their angles and remains patient while not getting overly physical in his blocks.
20. Cleveland Browns: S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
The Browns made several moves to bolster their secondary this offseason and early in the season. They brought in veteran safeties Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph, and Ronnie Harrison, but they will likely be looking to draft a defensive back early in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Hamsah Nasirildeen is a do-it-all type of safety who possesses excellent length, size, and versatility. He has the size and closing speed to play in deep alignments and close to the line of scrimmage. His length gives him a wide tackling radius, and he takes full advantage of it, coming downhill fast but under control. He could become a difference-maker for the Cleveland defense in 2021.