Williamson’s First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 11-20
11) Denver Broncos: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Denver Broncos were inextricably linked with the top offensive tackle prospects in last year’s loaded class, but come draft night opted to load up on weapons for Drew Lock, with Jerry Jeudy being the first-round selection. The jury is still out on Drew Lock after a rollercoaster of a season so far. At the moment, the Broncos’ organization seems to have faith in him, and if that is the case, they must address the offensive tackle position in the 2021 NFL Draft.
That is exactly what they do in this first-round NFL mock draft, opting to select Texas left tackle Samuel Cosmi. As well as NFL ready size – 6’7″, 307 pounds – Cosmi has the versatility that the NFL craves, having played left tackle and right tackle during his time at Texas. He has shown quick feet and hands during his college career, and his athleticism was apparent in a receiving touchdown for the Longhorns in 2019.
12) San Francisco 49ers: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The clamor amongst San Francisco 49ers fans for a change under center would suggest that this pick could be used to find a replacement quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, three of the four starters in the secondary are out of contract at the end of the season, and Richard Sherman turns 33 prior to the NFL Draft.
That’s why with the 13th overall pick in this first-round NFL mock draft, the 49ers snag Ohio State standout Shaun Wade. The fourth-year cornerback could have been a first-round pick last year but returned to boost his draft stock. After playing predominantly as a slot corner, he has seen snaps outside for the Buckeyes this year, proving his versatility and ability for the NFL. Wade has great size and ball skills and is a willing and able blitzer.
13) Detroit Lions: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Despite a difficult start to the season for Michigan, Kwity Paye has had an exceptional start to 2020, and his 2021 NFL Draft stock is soaring. Paye had a productive season for the Wolverines in 2019 but is already on pace to blow that production out of the water in this shortened season. At 6’4″, 272 pounds, he is a young man in an NFL ready body and uses that to devastating impact as a power rusher and effectively in the run game.
The Detroit Lions have struggled to find an impactful pass rush answer for some time now, making the arrival of Paye in this first-round NFL mock draft music to Lions fans’ ears.
14) Minnesota Vikings: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
There are a number of athletically gifted pass rushers in this 2021 NFL Draft class. Jayson Oweh may well be the most athletic “freak” of them all. Allegedly, Oweh can run a 4.33-second 40-yard dash as well as putting up some eye-opening numbers for the short shuttle, vertical jump, and broad jump. All of this is at a 6’5″, 257-pound frame.
Oweh has had limited opportunity up to now to translate his athletic ability to the field, biding his time behind the likes of Yetur Gross-Matos. 2020 has been his first opportunity to start, and although Penn State has been awful through three games, Oweh and fellow pass rusher Shaka Toney have been impressive. Oweh is second on the team in total tackles and tackles for loss.
In this first-round NFL mock draft, he lands on the Minnesota Vikings, a team bereft of any meaningful pass rush, which is reflected by them having one of the worst defenses in the NFL through Week 10 of the NFL season.
15) New England Patriots: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Love or hate Tom Brady, there is no escaping the fact that the New England Patriots haven’t been the same team without him. Jaret Stidham seemed like the succession plan, but the signing of Cam Newton proves there isn’t the confidence from within the program in him, and Newton hasn’t been able to conjure up the comeback we hoped for.
With their first-round pick in this NFL mock draft, the Patriots find their new face of the franchise in BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. The Cougars are having a fairy tale season, and Wilson has been the driving force behind it. Mobile, with impressive decision making, pocket awareness, and an arm to make NFL caliber throws time after time, Wilson has been one of the most exciting 2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch this season and is fully deserving of a first-round selection.
16) Chicago Bears: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
The clear priority for the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft is at the quarterback position. Somehow, unbelievably, the play of Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky has them with enough wins to keep them out of the early run on the top available talent at the position. Although I expect them to address the need within the first two days of the draft, they use their first-round pick in this NFL mock draft to shore up the second biggest area of need: the offensive line.
Rashawn Slater may not be a household name, but you better be sure that he will be by April. A strong, competitive offensive lineman who held his own against Chase Young last season, Slater is equally competent as a pass blocker or getting involved in the run game. At 6’3″, the biggest question mark will be where he lines up in the NFL, but given that the Bears need help across the line, he should slip straight into a starting role.
17) Cleveland Browns: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Is the Odell Beckham Jr. experience in Cleveland over for the Cleveland Browns? The star wide receiver hasn’t lived up to his superstar status, has been subject to continued trade rumors, and had season-ending surgery for an ACL injury. With Jarvis Landry the only other wide receiver of note, the Browns add an exciting playmaker in this first-round NFL mock draft.
Devonta Smith might lack the speed of former teammate Henry Ruggs III or the impressive frame of Jerry Jeudy, but he combines outstanding catchability with after the catch elusiveness to devastating effect. He led Alabama in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2019 and currently leads the Crimson Tide with eight touchdowns this year. That would be a significant improvement for a Browns’ receiver room that has just six touchdowns between them in 2020.
18) Tennessee Titans: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Getting Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle this late in the first round of this NFL mock draft is an absolute steal for the Tennessee Titans. Prior to his season-ending ankle injury, Waddle was on pace to lead the nation in receiving yards, averaging an incredible 22.3 yards per catch and securing four touchdowns.
With incredible speed and catch skills, combined with the ability to make a man miss in the open field, Waddle deserves to be in the conversation as the first wide receiver taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it is possible that his injury status will see a slight drop in his stock.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Despite linebacker being a glaring need for the Philadelphia Eagles in recent seasons, they haven’t used a first-round pick on the position since Marcus Smith was the 26th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. All that changes in this first-round NFL mock draft with the Eagles selecting an ascending star, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
An incredible athlete, Owusu-Koramoah fits the profile that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz looks for when compiling his defensive roster. His athleticism shows up on film, where he is a consistently disruptive force, whether that is at the line of scrimmage or in coverage. His stock has risen dramatically as part of Notre Dame’s unbeaten season and transition to the ACC, leading the team in total tackles and tackles for loss in the Fighting Irish’s statement win.
20) Arizona Cardinals: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
Although the Arizona Cardinals’ defense has been improved since last year, and they added defensive line depth in the previous NFL Draft, the interior of the line is still an area of need, and they address that in this first-round NFL mock draft.
Christian Barmore has a 6’5″, 310-pound frame that, combined with his defensive tool kit, makes him a dominant presence on any NFL defensive line. He had limited experience coming into this season, but Barmore should parlay a season of starting reps into an increase in his 2021 NFL Draft stock. Incredibly powerful defensive tackle who is stout against the run but has success in getting to the quarterback, too.