2021 NFL Mock Draft: Kwity Paye, Zach Wilson rise in latest projection, New Orleans adds Joe Horn's son
Four quarterbacks are taken in the first round of this latest mock draft
By
Josh Edwards
•
1 min read
There are four quarterbacks comfortably in the first round conversation but there are a few others that have the opportunity to elevate their profile over the next five-plus months. The latest projection features a shake-up in the Top 5 and a changing of the guard in New England.
There has already been significant change among first round projections and the season is little more than halfway over. There is still an opportunity for prospects to earn money in 2020.
Remember, the draft order below was determined using SportsLine's reverse Super Bowl odds following Week 9 action.
Let's kick this off!
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Trevor Lawrence to New York. How many more ways can I justify this selection over the next five and a half months? The most intriguing aspect of the Jets decision-making is when and where the team trades Sam Darnold.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Jake Luton might make the rest of the season entertaining for Jaguars fans but he is not the future at the position. Jacksonville needs a new face to the franchise and Justin Fields would give them a tractor rather than a trailer at the quarterback position.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Cincinnati would start Penei Sewell at left tackle and move Jonah Williams to either guard or right tackle. High tides raise all ships and the addition of Sewell would improve the overall talent level of the five starting Bengals linemen.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Kwity Paye's rise into the Top 5 is a testament of his hard work and the corresponding results on the field through three games. While it has not been a walk in the park for the Michigan program, Paye has made his craft look easy. The interior defensive line is one area of strength for the Giants. It remains to be seen whether New York will retain Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams but the addition of a dynamic talent would drastically improve the pass rush productivity.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Neither Dwayne Haskins nor Kyle Allen are the future at the quarterback position in Washington. Zach Wilson is a large statured quarterback that is showing improvement in his ability to drive the ball downfield. Washington would need to add some additional wide receiver and/or tight end help.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
With or without Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, Ja'Marr Chase would be a welcomed addition in Los Angeles. They have talent at all three levels of their defense and, unless an offensive lineman elevates his play to warrant consideration, wide receiver is a worthwhile investment.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 7
Miami's direction in the first round depends upon the faith in Preston Williams, Devante Parker, Mike Gesicki, etc. ... If Brian Flores does not believe those players are in the long-term plans, then they could motion to address the positions in the first round rather than Micah Parsons.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Patrick Surtain II would start at one cornerback position opposite either A.J. Bouye or Michael Ojemudia.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz will be back but there is hardly confidence that either will develop into Jason Witten. Kyle Pitts is a beast with the ball in the air and will help turn some of those 50-50 balls into big gains.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Call me naive but I think Carolina is comfortable sticking with Teddy Bridgewater unless Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields are available. The mission becomes addressing the talent surrounding Bridgewater. The offensive line could stand to be upgraded and that opens the door for the selection of Wyatt Davis.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Detroit has taken some shots along the front seven but the production is not meeting the expectations. A first-round pick was invested into Jarrad Davis and there were rumors that the team was going to move on from him at the NFL Trade Deadline. The addition of Dylan Moses is a fresh start for Matt Patricia or whoever is hired next year.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Gregory Rousseau is a long but raw edge defender. As an opt-out, each day puts him farther away from the last time scouts saw him perform in a real game setting. Training reports and in-person evaluation will be important in determining where he is selected next April.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
New England is rebuilding its roster. Although Cam Newton has not been the sole reason for the team's struggles, it is hard to envision Bill Belichick bypassing the opportunity to take a quarterback early in favor of a veteran quarterback with substantial injuries that was signed in late June.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
The return of Dalvin Cook has made the Minnesota offense unrecognizable. They have dominated on the ground over the past two weeks and it has almost been enough to make everyone forget that they are overcoming less than stellar interior offensive line play.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
San Francisco has been devastated by injuries this season and attention has turned to 2021. The secondary is a group that could be improved. Caleb Farley is a larger cornerback with high end potential.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Miami gets to pair Christian Barmore with Christian Wilkins after already selecting linebacker Micah Parsons. The defense has been great through the coaching of Brian Flores but supplementing the roster with blue-chip talent will make them even more dynamic in the long run.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Cleveland has turned over every edge rusher stone: Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue and, most recently, Takk McKinley. They have made their intentions known and Jayson Oweh would quell the need for assistance.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Joseph Ossai is less of a linebacker and more of an edge rusher this season. He has been getting home often and is leading the nation in forced fumbles. The idea is that Ossai would eventually take over for Robert Quinn.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Las Vegas' defense has not been up to snuff this season despite investing heavily in the group during the offseason. Johnathan Hankins can be replaced through the addition of Marvin Wilson.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Philadelphia is eventually going to move on from Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. Travis Fulgham has been a revelation but it could be foolish to place the franchise's fate in the hands of an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion. Jaylen Waddle would be a great complement to Fulgham and would allow the Eagles to take the top off the defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is a productive edge rusher that could learn from Justin Houston until he is ready to ride off into the sunset.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Patrick Peterson is not going to play forever. Arizona has shown a propensity to get younger and allowing the free agent to walk after the season would clear up salary cap space in a year where the figure is coming down.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Tennessee has received next to zero pass rush production from Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley. It would behoove them to add a blue-collar talent like Quincy Roche.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 24
Jacksonville has D.J. Chark but that is essentially the only threat. Laviska Shenault Jr. has done some really good things underneath but Justin Fields could use another outlet. Tylan Wallace is difficult to check on the field when healthy and capable of winning every jump ball down the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Buffalo's defense has not lived up to its billing this season. In an effort to return to form, the Bills select an active linebacker that can fill gaps in the run game and seamlessly drop into coverage.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 26
The Jets added their quarterback of the future and elect to secure a long-term weapon for Trevor Lawrence. Denzel Mims flashed on Monday night against the Patriots but New York needs more production from the unit.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Green Bay's defense has regressed from last season and it could stem from the loss of Blake Martinez. The addition of Chazz Surratt would give the Packers a stable element at the heart of their defense. The development of Kamal Martin could alter this line of thinking eventually.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Michael Onwenu has been mesmerizing with the way that he transitions from one position to the next with the Patriots. Rashawn Slater is similar in the sense that he can certainly hold up at right tackle if called upon but would be a difference maker along the interior offensive line.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Tampa Bay addressed the right tackle position in the form of Tristan Wirfs but left tackle remains a concern. Christian Darrisaw has been a welcome surprise this year. He could lock down that left side for Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
The Steelers have not had stable tight end production since Heath Miller departed. Pat Freiermuth makes the short journey from Happy Valley to Pittsburgh.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Long-time NFL wide receiver Joe Horn's former team drafts his son at the bottom of the first round. The Eli Apple experiment failed and Janoris Jenkins is near the end of his career.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Kansas City could stand to upgrade their interior offensive line. The cornerback group is another that needs an infusion of talent.
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