Looking for the latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft? You came to the right spot. Pro Football Network has you covered down to the final minute before the NFL officially kicks off the 2021 NFL Draft.
The latest NFL Draft rumors and buzz are plentiful, and we want you, the fan, to be prepared as we get close to Thursday night. With up to five quarterbacks being talked about as top-10 options, we can expect to see a lot of action with the possibility of a few trades depending on how the board officially falls. In our recent NFL Mock Draft, we see just that.
2021 First Round NFL Mock Draft | Picks 1-16
Let’s rock and roll in the city that has its hall of fame. Without further ado, shall we begin?
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Trevor Lawrence will be the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The card should already be signed and ready to be handed in.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
For over the past month, Zach Wilson has been the favorite for the Jets at No. 2 overall, as reported by Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline. This was prior to the Jets even trading Sam Darnold. It’ll be a shock if Jets general manager Joe Douglas doesn’t go this route.
3. San Francisco 49ers (from Houston via Miami): Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Mac Jones or Trey Lance? That is the question. The overwhelming favorite has been Jones, and the needle continues to point in that direction in PFN’s latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft. As reported by Pauline this past Sunday, head coach Kyle Shanahan will be the one making this decision.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
The Atlanta Falcons have taken calls for the fourth overall pick, but no trade today, folks. With quarterback Matt Ryan still playing at a high level and rumors surrounding a Julio Jones trade, adding a weapon like Kyle Pitts to Atlanta’s offense is appealing.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
With the investment in Joe Burrow at No. 1 overall in last year’s NFL Draft, it’s time for the Cincinnati Bengals to invest in keeping Burrow healthy for a full 17-game regular season. Penei Sewell is the best offensive tackle available in the 2021 NFL Draft, so he goes fifth here to the Bengals.
6. Miami Dolphins (via Philadelphia): Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
It’s rumored that Pitts is the favorite in Miami. However, they still get arguably the best pass catcher in this year’s NFL Draft in wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Will they come to a consensus and indeed invest in a player that sat out of the 2020 college football season?
7. Washington Football Team (via Detroit): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Oh boy. The Washington Football Team, for the third time in the past nine seasons, take a quarterback in the top half of the NFL Draft. In this 2021 NFL Mock Draft, they trade up 12 spots with the Detroit Lions to do it, and they dip back into the Ohio State quarterback room to take Justin Fields.
8. Carolina Panthers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Ideally, the Carolina Panthers — like many teams — would like to see Sewell slip further down the draft board. However, instead, they “settle” for possibly the top cornerback available in Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II.
9. Denver Broncos: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
There are questions surrounding quarterback Drew Lock in Denver and whether he can take the next step. A second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Lock will need to take that next step without the assistance of a new first-round weapon in 2021. Head coach Vic Fangio will love linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah‘s versatility in his defense.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
The Dallas Cowboys need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, and they take the next step with South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. The offense will handle their own with the return of quarterback Dak Prescott, so it’ll be up to Horn and others to keep the Cowboys in ball games this season and beyond.
11. Baltimore Ravens (via NYG): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Less than a week away from the 2021 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens made a move that sent offensive tackle Orlando Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs, acquiring an additional first-round pick in the process. They use that (No. 31 overall) and their original selection (No. 27 overall) to trade up with the New York Giants for Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. Lamar Jackson will be pleased, and opposing defenses will now have to figure out how to deal with all the speed on Baltimore’s offense.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will have competition from veteran Joe Flacco for the starting job in 2021, will get a boost from acquiring former Alabama teammate and 2020 Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.
13. Chicago Bears (via LAC): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Quarterback Andy Dalton may have been the best available quarterback in general manager Ryan Pace’s eyes this offseason, but he’s not a long-term option for the Chicago Bears. Trey Lance, however, very well could be, and it’s likely the Bears will need to trade up for his services. In this latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft, head coach Matt Nagy gets a future quarterback while having the Dalton bridge to get them into the future.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
If Kirk Cousins is ever going to lead the Minnesota Vikings to the postseason, he’ll need help up front. Minnesota doesn’t need to dip too far south to find themselves a versatile offensive lineman, snagging Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater.
15. New England Patriots: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
The New England Patriots are a bit of a wild card at No. 15 overall, but we know how much Bill Belichick will want to continue refining his secondary. Cornerback Greg Newsome II rises into the top 16 and is the second consecutive Northwestern prospect to come off the board in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
It’s rumored that the Arizona Cardinals are looking at wide receiver and cornerback with this pick, but the top options have already come off the board. Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins has been connected to the Cardinals’ draft plans, so he comes off the board at 16.