The NFL Draft is a year-round process. While it takes place over three days in the spring, teams never stop preparing for it. So, even if the 2021 NFL Draft is 11 months away, it's never too early to try to get an idea of what's likely to happen.
In my mock, I try to find a blend of what teams could need following the 2020 season, and what players are the likeliest to be coveted by NFL teams. Don't take this too literally. Instead, look at it as a thought exercise about what each team needs and who seems to be the best fit for filling it.
The draft order below was determined using SportsLine's season win projections coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, with considerations made to allow for the playoffs (i.e., one AFC and NFC team each in the last two picks).
Let's go.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Considering how so many people picked apart every facet of Lawrence's game in 2019, it'll be interesting to see what happens to him in 2020 when he's projected to be the first pick. There are no sure things at the QB position, but Lawrence feels like the safest bet I've seen since Andrew Luck.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
How often is an offensive tackle the most exciting player to watch on the field? Seriously, you don't have to be a line play aficionado to notice Sewell when the Ducks are playing. He dominates opponents, and could easily end up being the No. 1 pick overall.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Ohio State has become DB U in recent years. If the Redskins are picking third next year, there's an excellent chance a Buckeyes corner goes in the top three in consecutive drafts. Excelled in the slot last season and should spend more time outside in 2020. That kind of versatility is precious in today's NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
The former three-star recruit had a monster season in 2019, finishing with 15.5 sacks. There isn't a Chase Young type in this draft class as far as the obvious pass-rusher is concerned, but Rousseau could easily emerge as that guy.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Parsons is this draft's version of Isaiah Simmons. He's a tremendous, playmaking athlete that can fill several roles comfortably at the next level.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
You know how everyone talked about how amazing the 2020 WR class was? Well, had Chase come out, it's not inconceivable to think he'd have been the first one taken off the board.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Fields has the kind of talent and potential that will likely see somebody trading up into the top three to get him come draft time. The way this board falls, however, nobody else needed a QB until the Panthers. The difference in ceiling between him and Lawrence isn't massive.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
The Lions are going to have to find a replacement for Matt Stafford at some point, and Lance is a prospect a lot of teams like. He's big, mobile, and accurate.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 9
Holland is the second Oregon player off the board in this top 10. Some might ding him a bit because he's not truly great at anything, but I don't see a weakness, either. He's also served as a returner, which is another indication of his overall athleticism and playmaking ability should he get the ball in his hands on defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Pitts was the one player who stood out to me on the Florida offense last season. He hasn't shown to be a great in-line tight end to this point, but he has the size and frame that indicates he could be. Either way, his size and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
It's depressing when you see the children of players you watched growing up showing up in mock drafts. What isn't depressing is Surtain's ability as a corner. I have Shaun Wade as my top corner in this draft as of now, but Surtain could easily be the first one off the board by next spring.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
There have been many things about Florida State that have gone wrong in recent years, but Marvin Wilson was never one of them. He's just an absolute stud in the middle of your defensive line. He's not just a run-stuffer, either, as he can get to the QB. I like him better than Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw, who were top 13 picks this year.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
An absolute mauler at the guard position. He's built like a refrigerator if your fridge hated you and put you on your butt every time you walked in front of it.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Costello was a highly-rated recruit out of high school whose career got off to an impressive start at Stanford. After a down 2019, he'll be playing in Mike Leach's offense in 2020 at Mississippi State. He's got the size NFL teams love, and a strong arm. He's not all that dissimilar from Philip Rivers, whom the Colts just signed as a free agent.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Moses missed the 2019 season due to injury, and had he played, there's a good chance he'd have left for the NFL Draft. If he stays healthy in 2020, he could end up being a top-10 pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Moore is everything the Bears offense lacks at the moment. He has game-breaking ability and is a threat to score every time he touches the football.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
The Packers finally draft a wide receiver! It's hard to know how teams will view the receivers in this class, but while I don't think it's as top-heavy as the 2020 class, I do think there's a lot of depth to it.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 18
Sterns was banged up in 2019, but is a terrific prospect. His size will be a concern to some, but he has everything else an NFL team could want in a safety.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Little was a five-star prospect out of high school, and I think there's more projection to his game than production. That projection, though, is that of a cornerstone tackle on your offensive line.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Pitts is the first TE off the board in my mock, but I'm a bigger fan of Freiermuth. The difference between the two is that Pitts is a bigger playmaking threat in the passing game, but Freiermuth isn't too far behind. The most significant difference is that Freiermuth isn't just a good blocker, but he enjoys blocking too. It's evident when watching him play.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Not all that dissimilar to Walker Little in that there's room for improvement. Played right tackle for a year at Texas before moving to left tackle in 2019. Not sure which side he ends up playing in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Farley is one of my favorite corners in the country. I don't think he'll be on top of most boards simply because he lacks the overall ability and polish of guys like Wade and Surtain, but the dude just makes plays. Actually, I suppose the best way to say it is he stops offenses from making plays.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
I love Tanner Morgan. I don't know if he's tall enough for Bruce Arians, but everything else about him reminds me of an Arians kind of QB. He has great accuracy pushing the ball down the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Based on pure ability, Thomas has a real chance of becoming The Elite Pass Rusher of this class. The problem is he didn't show it often enough during the 2020 season at Clemson. How he performs in 2021 will dictate where he goes in the draft, but somebody is going to fall in love with what he can be.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Newman strikes me as the Jordan Love of 2021. There are a lot of things about him teams will love, and they might overlook some of the glaring weaknesses. His accuracy is an issue, and if he can show improvement upon it with Georgia in 2021, he could end up as a top-10 pick. As of now, there's a lot more projection than production here.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Adebo was originally a wide receiver before moving to the defensive side. That shows up in his playmaking ability on the ball, but at times it shows up in his lack of polish as well. Of course, that's what makes him so enticing, because he's already terrific despite the overall lack of experience!
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Stokes is unlikely to be burned deep very often as he has tremendous speed. That helps him a lot in defense, though he's not very big. As a result, big, physical receivers can sometimes have their way with him.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Hutchinson showed a knack for getting in the backfield last season, and is one of the more enticing edge rushers to watch in this upcoming class. I don't think he is a top-10 kind of prospect, but he strikes me as a high-floor guy.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
The best LB in the country you've probably never heard of. He's a willing and solid tackler who shines his brightest in pass coverage.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
If Basham can show more consistency as a complete defender in 2021, he can end up as a first-round pick. I have him here simply because he's a productive pass-rusher, and that's always valued.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Physically talented and also incredibly smart. The former five-star recruit seems to know where the ball is going before the QB sometimes does. Not sure he'll ever be a playmaker in the box due to his size (the effort isn't a question, however), but as a free safety roaming on the back end, he could be a Pro Bowler.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
How boring will it be if the Chiefs draft a guard? Davis would be tremendous value for the Chiefs here. And I'm sure Andy Reid can figure out a way to use him as a receiver too. Just for fun.
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