Kevin Hanson's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 9.0

BY KEVIN HANSON (@EDSFootball)
Updated: Thursday, April 22nd

Continuing my 2021 NFL Mock Draft, here are picks 17-32:

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Even though the Raiders extended left tackle Kolton Miller this offseason, they moved on from three other starters -- Trent Brown, Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Hokies, Darrisaw improved each season and is especially dominant as a run blocker. He'd be able to step in Day 1 to replace Brown.

18. Miami Dolphins - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Emmanuel Ogbah led Miami with a career-high nine sacks, but the team parted ways this offseason with Kyle Van Noy (six) and Shaq Lawson (four) and Ogbah is entering a contract year. Paye is a freakish athlete that topped Bruce Feldman's Freaks' List heading into last season. While more projection than production entering the NFL, Paye's combination of rare physical gifts with his non-stop motor should allow the Dolphins to get the most out of his immense upside.

19. Washington Football Team - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

The lightest (221 pounds) of my top 15 linebacker prospects, Owusu-Koramoah is a three-down, modern-day linebacker with the versatility to be used as a linebacker, safety or nickel defender that has outstanding coverage range. As one defensive coach told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, Owusu-Koramoah "moves like a good DB. ... He's a freak with his transitions and he's physical. He's a heat-seeking missile." Over the past two seasons, JOK has racked up 24.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and an interception.

20. Chicago Bears - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Before last month's back surgery, Farley was in the mix to be the draft's CB1 and a top-10 pick. While there's a good chance he still falls to the second half of Round 1, Farley told Peter King earlier this month that he's been "cleared by NFL docs for the 2021 season."

For a GM-coach duo already on the hot seat, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy will likely appreciate the immediate returns that Farley could offer at a position of need if he's indeed ready for the start of 2021. Farley has an ideal combination of size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), athleticism (sub-4.4 forty) and ball skills (six INTs in two seasons).

21. Indianapolis Colts - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Primarily a starter at right tackle at Oklahoma State, Jenkins also has experience at both left tackle and guard. Posting an impressive Relative Athletic Score (RAS), Jenkins has excellent body control and is an absolute bully in the run game. At a minimum, he'd be an upgrade over free-agent addition Sam Tevi.

22. Tennessee Titans - Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

While the Titans signed Bud Dupree to a massive free-agent deal, Jadeveon Clowney is now in Cleveland after a disappointing season and Harold Landry will be a free agent after the 2021 season. Meanwhile, the Titans had only 19 sacks (third fewest) in 2020. A redshirt sophomore, Ojulari led the SEC with 9.5 sacks in 10 games and the 20-year-old edge rusher saved his best game for last with three sacks and two forced fumbles in Georgia's win over Cincinnati in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

23. New York Jets - Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC

Given a lack of length (32 1/8" arms), Vera-Tucker is likely better suited to play guard at the next level, but he boosted his stock by how well he played when replacing Austin Jackson at left tackle for the Trojans last year. Vera-Tucker's movement skills, balance and versatility put him inside the top 20 of our 2021 NFL Draft Big Board.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

As much as I wouldn't draft a running back in the first round, it's at least something that the Steelers will consider. In fact, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently wrote that the Steelers will draft a running back "most likely in the first round, no later than the second." The all-time career rushing leader in Alabama history, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns and added 43 receptions for 425 yards and four more scores last season.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

It's a weak class for defensive tackles, as NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah recently called this the worst DT class since 2003 (when he started scouting). That said, Barmore is my top-ranked interior defensive lineman in this year's class.

The redshirt sophomore had 9.5 tackles for loss including eight sacks and three forced fumbles in 2020 and played his best football down the stretch. Six of Barmore's sacks came in the final six games of the season and Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari was the only SEC defender to record more sacks in 2020.

26. Cleveland Browns - Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State

Even though the Browns signed Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal, the Browns are still in the market for a long-term presence opposite Myles Garrett. Despite the lack of sacks in 2020, Oweh was more disruptive than the stat sheet would indicate and has rare traits.

As Bruce Feldman noted in his annual Freaks list, Oweh is "the most explosive one of the bunch" (of athletic freaks). The 257-pound defender ran a 4.36 forty with a 39.5-inch vertical at Penn State's Pro Day.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

With the Ravens losing Matt Judon to the Patriots, the versatile Collins can step in and fill his void. The recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award, Collins demonstrated his ability to rush the passer (four sacks) or drop in coverage (four interceptions). Per PFF, Collins had the highest ocverage grade among draft-eligible LBs (by a significant margin).

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

When asked on NFL Network at Senior Bowl, Toney said that he models his game after Alvin Kamara. Now the duo will become teammates (if the draft plays out this way). With the team releasing Emmanuel Sanders earlier this offseason, adding a versatile playmaker like Toney to the receiving corps would be a great fit for Sean Payton's offense.

29. Green Bay Packers - Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Whether or not the Packers are willing to use their first-round pick on a linebacker, Davis has earned his share of Round 1 buzz and inside linebacker is one of the team's top needs. While inexperienced as a one-year starter, Davis had a breakout 2020 campaign (team-high 102 tackles) and he's a rangy, three-down linebacker with explosive athleticism and length.

30. Buffalo Bills - Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Bills ranked middle of the league in team sacks (38, T-15th), but no Bills' player had more than five sacks in 2020. In addition, starting defensive ends Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison are both on the wrong side of 30.

Opting out of the 2020 season, Rousseau ranked second in college football in sacks in 2019. While the majority of that production came while rushing from the interior, Rousseau has unreal length and his best football is ahead of him.

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Before the Chiefs released starting (but injured) tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, it would have been reasonable to slot a tackle here given how much pressure they allowed in the Super Bowl. While it's possible that the Chiefs could bring one or both back, it's become even more of a pressing need for 2021 and beyond. While he lacks ideal length and strength, Cosmi was a three-year starter at Texas with experience at both right tackle (2018) and left tackle (2019, 2020) and possesses outstanding athleticism.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Elijah Moore, WR, Mississippi

The Buccaneers will attempt to run it back with all 22 starters returning from their Super Bowl squad. One key player missing is wide receiver Antonio Brown. Considering Tampa also used their franchise tag on Chris Godwin, Moore helps to fill Brown's 2021 void while also providing long-term insurance beyond 2021 in the event they can't re-sign Godwin.

Posting video game-like numbers in Lane Kiffin's offense with three 200-yard games, Moore finished 2020 with 86/1,193/8 over eight SEC games. While those numbers were aided by the Ole Miss offense, Moore has both speed (4.35 forty) and dynamic run-after-catch ability and PFF charted him with the lowest drop rate among SEC wide receivers in 2020.

Continue to 2021 NFL Mock Draft 9.0: Round 2

Return to 2021 NFL Mock Draft 9.0: Picks 1-16

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