2021 NFL Mock Draft

BY KEVIN HANSON (@EDSFootball)
Updated: Friday, January 1st

Here are picks 17-32 in our first-round 2021 NFL mock draft:

17. Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

With Patrick Peterson, Dre Kirkpatrick and Johnathan Joseph, who's currently on IR, set to become free agents, the Cardinals will need to add corners via the draft or free agency that can contribute right away. Horn, son of former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, excels in press-man coverage due to his size, physical playing style and a competitive demeanor.

18. Indianapolis Colts - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

Not only are Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett scheduled to become free agents in 2021, but so is T.Y. Hilton. Moore is an electrifying playmaker with elite run-after-catch ability.

19. Washington Football Team - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

WFT drafted Dwayne Haskins around this spot (No. 15) a couple of drafts ago (2018), but they have already parted ways with him. As much as Alex Smith's return to the field has been a feel-good story for the presumptive winner of the Comeback Player of the Year award, the team could look to the future with Jones. Not that Smith wants to become a mentor for his heir apparent, like he was with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, but there are few quarterbacks in the league that would serve better in that type of role.

Jones has taken over for Tua Tagovailoa, the fifth pick in 2020, and has really hit the ground running in 2020 after getting a few starts following Tua's injury in 2019. Facing only SEC competition ahead of Alabama's CFB Playoff matchup against Notre Dame, Jones has completed 76.5% of his pass attempts and thrown for 3,739 yards (11.4 Y/A), 32 touchdowns and four interceptions.

20. Chicago Bears - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Based on current projected draft order, the Bears are out of reach for any of the top five quarterback prospects. While they had found some success with Mitchell Trubisky reinserted as the starter, long-term questions at the position linger. Instead of reaching for Kyle Trask here, Darrisaw, a three-year starter, has continued to improve each season. His athleticism and length will allow him to handle NFL-caliber edge rushers and he's been dominant as a run blocker as well.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

With Trevor Lawrence the lock at No. 1, the Jaguars would be wise to use their treasury chest of draft picks on putting Lawrence in a position to succeed. Cosmi has experience at both tackle spots (RT in 2018 and LT in 2019-20), but current left tackle Cam Robinson is scheduled to be a free agent in 2021.

22. Cleveland Browns - Daviyon Nixon, IDL, Iowa

While Larry Ogunjobi is slated for free agency in March, Sheldon Richardson is entering the final year of his contract, where he has the team's third-highest cap hit after Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry for 2021. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team AP All-American, Nixon had 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in eight games this season.

"He is big, mobile, agile, hostile."

- @gerrydinardo, on his Saturday Standout, @HawkeyeFootball's @DaviyonNixon pic.twitter.com/PcO918PF5X
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) November 22, 2020

23. Miami Dolphins - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

In terms of fits between teams and prospects, there may not be a better one than Collins and the Dolphins. The recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award, the versatile Tulsa defender (6-4, 260) can rush the passer or drop in coverage. Collins had four sacks and four interceptions, which includes two returned for scores, in eight games this season.

24. Baltimore Ravens - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

When playing with a lead, the Ravens run-first offense is tough to stop, but their passing offense (174.5) ranks ahead of only the Jets (170.5 YPG) in 2020. Although he's not the most explosive receiver in this year's draft class, Bateman is a polished and productive receiver that would complement Marquise Brown well and provide a boost to the passing attack.

25. Tennessee Titans - Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

Only a redshirt sophomore, Ojulari is an ascending prospect with a chance to go (potentially much) higher than this. Ojulari has tremendous bend and burst and has lead the team sacks and QB hits in each of the past two seasons.

While teams can never have too many pass-rushers, the Titans rank last in the NFL in sacks (15) heading into Week 17. Five teams have three times as many and more than half the league (18 teams) have more than double that total.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)

As much as the Titans have struggled to get to the quarterback (as noted in the pick above), that has been one of the team strengths for the Bucs (47 sacks, third in NFL). That said, Shaquil Barrett (eight sacks) is playing this season on the franchise tag and the 32-year-old (as of today) Jason Pierre-Paul (team-high 9.5 sacks) will enter the final year of his contract in 2021.

Taking an indirect path from being the No. 3 recruit in the 2017 ESPN 300 to a potential first-round pick, Phillips has eight sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss over 10 games in his first season for the Hurricanes.

27. New York Jets - Derion Kendrick, CB, Clemson

Recruited to Clemson as a five-star wide receiver prospect, Kendrick made the position switch to cornerback in 2019. Only 20 years old (turns 21 in August), Kendrick has outstanding ball skills with the upside to warrant a first-round pick.

The Jets rank in the bottom five in the league in passer rating allowed (101.2), completion percentage allowed (69.0%) and passing touchdowns allowed (30).

28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

The Steelers rank last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (84.4) and while they rank bottom five in rush attempts (353), they also rank last in the league in yards per carry (3.6). Meanwhile James Conner, who is in the final year of his deal, has struggled to stay on the field.

As a two-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Etienne surprised many by returning to school in 2020, but he would offer the Steelers a three-down home run threat that has improved as a receiver over the past two seasons.

29. New Orleans Saints - Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

The Saints will have a number of financial decisions to make in the upcoming offseason as no team is projected to be more over the cap than the Saints. Not only could Janoris Jenkins be a cap casualty, but Marshon Lattimore will play under the team's fifth-year option and seeking a massive contract extension. Over the Cap recently analyzed moves that the team could make to manipulate its cap, which included releasing Jenkins and trading Lattimore. The former five-star recruit has elite prototypical traits (size, length and athleticism) and could develop behind Lattimore and Jenkins if OTC's suggested cap moves don't materialize.

30. Buffalo Bills - Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State

After making significant improvements in his second season (2019), Josh Allen has made even bigger strides in year three. His 69.1% completion rate, 6.2% TD%, 1.6% INT%, 7.9 Y/A and 106.4 passer rating all shatter previous career highs. Stefon Diggs is having a career year with an NFL-best 120 catches and 1,459 yards. Several of the team's offensive linemen -- guards Jon Feliciano and Brian Winters and right tackle Daryl Williams -- are scheduled to become free agents in 2021, however, and Davis is my top-ranked guard prospect.

31. Green Bay Packers - Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU

Aaron Rodgers is playing at an MVP level and Davante Adams is one of top three receivers in the league. Perhaps the Packers front office will once again ignore adding reinforcements to the receiving corps, but the former top-10 recruit has the talent to hear his name called at the end of the first round. With Justin Jefferson off to the NFL (in 2020) and Ja'Marr Chase opting out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, it was Marshall's turn to shine (before opting out). Marshall (6-4, 200) had 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games this season.

32. Kansas City Chiefs - Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC

Moved from left guard (2019) to left tackle to fill the vacancy created by Austin Jackson's NFL departure in 2020, Vera-Tucker offers some positional versatility but will shift back inside at the next level. Three of Kansas City's top six linemen in terms of snaps played in 2020 will be free agents in 2021.

Alijah Vera-Tucker has allowed a QB pressure on less than 2% of pass-blocking snaps at USC pic.twitter.com/cInSkOCc4K
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 28, 2020

Go back to 2021 NFL Mock Draft, 1.0: Picks 1-16

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