Round One | Picks 17-32
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
The Raiders have to find a way to generate pressure after failing to do so in 2020, and that is precisely what I have them doing in this 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft.
Kwity Paye is 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, and is being rumored to run in the 4.5 range, which is something I can’t even wrap my head around. Guys that size shouldn’t be that athletic. He has an incredible burst off the line and motor that does not stop. He is going to be a terror in NFL backfields for the next 10 years.
18. Miami Dolphins: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Miami is in an incredible spot here. After adding a WR for Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins could go in several ways. The offensive line is an option, as is a running back. However, they choose to double-down on their strength and add one of the most versatile defenders in the class.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an intriguing player — he plays with a physicality above his size at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds.
Owusu-Koramoah racked up 142 total tackles in the last two years for Notre Dame, including 24.5 for loss. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. The Notre Dame LB is fast and can play sideline to sideline; he is everything you want out of a modern NFL OLB. If a team falls in love with Owusu-Koramoah, he could go inside the top 10.
An already-great defense lands a steal in my 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft.
19. Washington Football Team: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Who is going to be under center for Washington next season? Assuming they address this in free agency, upgrading the offensive line would be a smart choice.
Christian Darrisaw can play on either side of the line and excelled in both the rushing and passing game. He is an immediate starter and helps fill a hole. Brandon Scherff’s potential departure only adds to the need in the trenches.
20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
One thing that is certain: WR Allen Robinson’s future is in doubt. It’s been a complete failure by the organization to keep one of the NFL’s elite receivers on their team. While it’s hard to find anyone who could fill Robinson’s shoes, Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman can come close.
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Bateman is a nuanced route runner with strong hands and the ability to catch the critical 50/50 ball. He only played in five games in 2020 before opting out, but his 2019 season is what sticks out. While lined up with Tyler Johnson, Bateman hauled in 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. The draft community was buzzing after reports he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash.
Get ready to see a lot of inflated testing numbers with no NFL Combine.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC
The retirement of Anthony Castonzo put GM Chris Ballard in a difficult bind. While defensive line is a logical choice, after trading for Carson Wentz, protecting him needs to be the focus.
Alijah Vera-Tucker committed to USC as a left tackle, played right guard as a sophomore, left guard in 2019, then went to left tackle for his final season in college. He has all the versatility one could ever want. Vera-Tucker is the top interior offensive lineman in this class due to his work at multiple positions. Having him last this long in the first round of my 2021 NFL Mock Draft might be a bit generous.
22. Tennessee Titans: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Mike Vrabel and the Titans might have got the steal of the draft with Gregory Rousseau sliding to No. 22 in my 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft.
They desperately need edge support, and Rousseau is as good as there is in this class. Rousseau is a top-10 talent, but his rawness could see him slip to the 20-ish range — if it happens, the Titans need to run to the virtual podium. He is a freak athlete and arguably the best pass rusher of the class. He can step in and, from Day 1, be the disruptor they hoped they were getting in Jadeveon Clowney.
23. New York Jets: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
The Jets got their QB of the future in Wilson, and now they need to give him a running back to match.
In the Shanahan-style offense, explosive backs are the perfect fit for a wide-zone rushing system. Travis Etienne has some of the best burst we have seen in recent years and was hyper-productive at Clemson, scoring 78 touchdowns over his four-year career. While I believe Najee Harris is the better overall running back, Etienne is the best fit for this system.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement has the Steelers in limbo trying to decide which hole on the offensive line to fill first. They will enter 2021 needing to replace three of their five starting positions up front.
Samuel Cosmi has all the tools and was arguably the best player on the Texas squad for the past few seasons. At 6-foot-7, 305 pounds, Cosmi has some of the longest arms in this whole class. He is not the quickest off the ball but has more than enough quickness to keep a defender in check and scrape up to the next level. He is raw, and that makes him an intriguing prospect.
This pick in my 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft is one I struggled mightily with due to the Steelers’ numerous needs. Offensive tackle makes sense, and I could see the Steelers taking Zaven Collins here due to his versatility. If they wait on the interior offensive line, you could see them target Senior Bowl star Quinn Meinerz.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
When you get a franchise QB, there are two choices — get him weapons or protect him. In this 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft, Urban Meyer chooses the latter and doesn’t want to run the risk of what happened to Joe Burrow happening to Trevor Lawrence.
Jalen Mayfield can play either tackle or guard and underwent baptism by fire in the Big Ten as he faced the best of the best, including Yetur Gross-Matos and Chase Young. Mayfield is an athletic tackle who should have no problem protecting Lawrence for years to come.
26. Cleveland Browns: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Zaven Collins has the cover skills to defend running backs and tight ends. Collins moved around Tulsa’s defense and made an impact all over the field, recording 236 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 8 pass breakups through three seasons while winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the nation’s best defensive player.
Pairing him with Myles Garrett is a frightening combination.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
At Georgia, Azeez Ojulari showed a great burst off the line and bent exceptionally well when he hit the corner. Over his last two seasons, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound edge rusher logged 15 sacks. The selection of Ojulari addresses a significant need in my 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft as the Ravens have a dearth of edge rushers on their 2021 roster.
If not getting help to generate pressure, the Ravens must add pass catchers.
28. New Orleans Saints: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
The Saints need help on all three levels of their defense. According to Over the Cap, the Saints are a league-high $69.5 million over the cap. Any moves they make to address roster holes will have to come through the draft as they work to drop their 2021 payroll.
Over the last two seasons, Trevon Moehrig had 20 pass breakups and 6 interceptions while playing downfield and delivering powerful hits on ball carriers. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, the Saints snag the class’ top safety with their first-round pick in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
29. Green Bay Packers: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
Could the Packers continue to pass on giving Aaron Rodgers more pass-catching options? Doubtful. Not only do the Packers get Rodgers more help, but they get one of the best receivers of this class in Terrace Marshall Jr.
What Rodgers will love is how heads up Marshall is mid-play. Rodgers loves to work and get outside the pocket; there is no better receiver in this class on sensing that and working back to the ball than Marshall. He has 4.5 speed and runs solid routes — Marshall is someone Rodgers can trust in contested-catch situations.
30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
The Bills need to find a solution to Matt Milano, and Nick Bolton would slide in and fill the void in the linebacker unit.
He can cover side to side and can fill against the run even if slightly undersized. Bolton was an All-SEC linebacker, registering 217 tackles (135 solo), 4 sacks, and 13 deflected passes.
The other option to consider here is Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth. Yet, after being knocked out of the playoffs due to their defense, I believe that will be the focus.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Although I did this in my 2021 First Round NFL Mock Draft, 31 other GMs have the job to make sure this does not happen under any circumstance. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid do not need more incendiary, quick wide receivers who run ridiculous routes off the line. I don’t want to speak this into existence, but here I am doing just that.
Kadarius Toney has one of the most dangerous receivers in this class. As much as I want to see the fantasy points rack up, I can’t in good conscience ask for what I did in this 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft to come true.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)
The Buccaneers are looking to go back to the Super Bowl and keep as many pieces from last year’s roster. They have a handful of players set to be free agents, and their defense is what allowed them to make the playoff push they did in 2020.
A UCLA transfer, Jaelan Phillips brought a rare mix of speed, power, length and could stop the pass and run game. Yes, you would like to see a larger sample size, but he can play in any defense from Day 1. Adding Phillips as the final pick in my 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft contributes to their depth and keeps their championship window fully open.
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Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.