Brendan Donahue's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

BY BRENDAN DONAHUE (@donnycasino)
Updated: Tuesday, March 23rd

Here are picks 17-32:

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

We've seen Gruden and Mayock get enamored with "eye-popping" draft prospects and Paye is a player that is expected to wow scouts at his pro day on 3/26. The Raiders were 25th in rush yards allowed after contact per attempt along with ranking 25th in pressure rate, so adding Paye should help improve both of those areas even though the Raiders have signed Yannick Ngakoue and Solomon Thomas, they could still use some more long-term depth on the line.

MORE: Las Vegas Raiders 2021 Mock Draft Database

18. Miami Dolphins - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

If not for his size, this is someone that may have been in consideration for Miami at No. 3 as they look to reunite Tua Tagovailoa with his former Alabama teammate. While the Dolphins did sign Will Fuller, it was only a one-year deal and Smith is a much more complete WR to go along with DeVante Parker for the long-term.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is coming off one of the most impressive seasons any college WR has ever had. Smith posted 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs and was on his way to a historic national championship game with 12 catches for 215 yards and three TDs before being knocked out of the game early due to injury. With their first two picks in this draft, the Dolphins start to build the foundation around Tua.

19. Washington Football Team - Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC

If Mac Jones is here, I would expect him to be the pick or Washington may even try to move up to try to obtain him since they surprisingly don't have a ton of holes on their team outside of QB. Instead, they go with the next best tackle/guard combo in the draft. Listed at the same exact size as Slater, Vera-Tucker would probably be best utilized at guard but does have experience at both positions.

20. Chicago Bears - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Another team looking to upgrade the QB position but ultimately settling on a WR at this point in the draft. Although looking at Bateman's college stats, coupled with his recent sub-4.4 40 at the Exos combine on 2/27 it's unfair to describe picking Bateman as "settling." Just a sophomore in 2019, he had 1,219 yards and 11 TDs while averaging over 20 yards per catch.

MORE: Our way-too-early 2022 NFL Mock Draft

21. Indianapolis Colts - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

The Colts have been quiet so far in free agency with only three official moves and one of those was formally announcing the trade for Carson Wentz. Wentz was the most sacked QB in the league last year as he has a propensity to hold onto the ball too long so trying to give him the best protection possible will be paramount. With the retirement of Anthony Castonzo, the Colts have an immediate and very pressing need to fill at offensive tackle.

22. Tennessee Titans - Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Titans had the third-fewest sacks in the league last year with just 19 and it looks like they will be losing Jadeveon Clowney on top of it. They did make a big splash with Bud Dupree, who signed a five-year deal and will certainly help create some pressure off the edge, but they still could use an upgrade along the defensive line. Phillips, who has had some medical issues and even "retired" from football briefly, may be the most talented defensive lineman in the draft, as he was the No. 1 high school recruit in the country.

23. New York Jets - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

I had Azeez Ojulari here in the first mock, but with the Jets signing Carl Lawson to a three-year deal coupled with Ajulari's disappointing pro day, I think the Jets go a different direction. New head coach Robert Salah saw first hand in San Francisco that you could still have success on offense with the running game being more of a focal point.

With a rookie QB and a lack of depth/talent of running backs on the current roster, I could see the Jets wanting to shore up that position to take some pressure off of Wilson, and who better to go to than the all-time rushing yards leader in Alabama history. Even with his impressive rushing stats that saw him average over six yards per carry during the course of his college career, it's his 43 catches at 9.9 yards per catch last year that could catapult him into the first round.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

If the Steelers are going to give it another go with Big Ben at the helm, they are going to have to protect him so look for them to go offensive line here especially given their starting left tackle is now a free agent. Mayfield is another guy who can play outside or move in depending on what the Steelers do in the offseason but he should be able to help either way.

MORE: Steelers have the most difficult 2021 NFL schedule

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Barmore has the size to stack up against the run but also the ability and explosiveness to get to the QB, as evidenced by his team-leading eight sacks last season, including one in the national championship game to also go with two tackles for loss and five overall tackles, earning him the defensive MVP of the game award.

MORE: A 'Bama defender is the No. 1 pick in our way-too-early 2023 NFL Mock Draft

26. Cleveland Browns - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

The Browns signed one of the top safeties available in John Johnson to a three-year deal but could still use some versatility on defense and few meet that criteria better than Owusu-Koramoah. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he may be a bit undersized but has shown he can make up for it not only with his ability in coverage but also attacking the line of scrimmage averaging a tackle for loss per game the past two seasons at Notre Dame.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

With Orlando Brown requesting a trade, the Ravens now have an opening on the right side of the line that Jenkins can fill. Jenkins is considered one of the better run blockers in the class, which will fit Baltimore's style perfectly.

28. New Orleans Saints - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Now that Drew Brees has officially retired, the Saints will move forward with Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill. It would probably be best to try and give the offense easy throws/decisions and Toney, although a bit undersized, is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete, who not only caught 70 passes for 984 yards and 10 TDs but also ran the ball 19 times for 8.5 yards per carry. He should be able to make the New Orleans quarterback's life easier as a moveable piece in the Sean Payron offense.

29. Green Bay Packers - Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

The lasting image in most Packers fans' minds from the NFC Championship Game is Tom Brady continuously picking on CB Kevin King. Newsome may have solidified a spot in the first round with his 4.38 40 at his recent pro day. When on the field, Newsome earned first-team Big 10 honors but injuries have been a bit of a problem in his career. He has missed parts of each of the past three seasons, which puts him just below the top 3 CBs in this draft.

30. Buffalo Bills - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

While I don't personally subscribe to taking a running back in the first round (let alone two), one or more always seem to be taken. With the Bills bringing back their entire offensive line from 2020, they could use a homerun threat at the position as Devin Singletary and Zach Moss, who were their two top RBs last year, combined for only seven runs of 20 yards or more. Compare that to Derrick Henry, who had 16 such runs on his own last season. Etienne confirmed his home run speed at his recent pro day, clocking a 4.41 40 while weighing in at 215 pounds. That would add another dynamic to an already potent Bills offense.

MORE: Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

The Super Bowl shined a very bright light on the importance of a competent offensive line. At the time, we could chalk up the incompetence of the KC O-Line in the Super Bowl to injuries, but now it's a more permanent problem with the release of both of their starting tackles.

KC has addressed the inside of the line by signing the best available free agent in Joe Thuney and also enticing Kyle Long out of retirement but could still use some help on the outside. They were reportedly in on Trent Williams before he re-signed with the 49ers. Eichenberg is a three-year starter at left tackle at Notre Dame and gives KC an experienced college player who can step in and contribute on Day 1.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Levi Onwuzurike, IDL, Washington

It's hard to find many holes on the defending Super Bowl champions' roster, but depending on whether or not they bring back Ndamukong Suh may create one. The Buccaneers led the league last year in rushing yards allowed per game at only 80.6, which is even more impressive when you see the Colts, who were the second-best team, allowed 90.5 per game. His tape is a bit inconsistent, but being able to line up next to an anchor like Vita Vea should allow him to flash some of his high-end potential more often and utilize his versatility.

Go back to 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Picks 1-16

Also, check out Kevin Hanson's 2021 NFL Mock Draft

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