Kevin Hanson's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
Updated: Friday, January 15th
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Several high-profile prospects, such as Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Alabama's DeVonta Smith, have already declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the deadline for underclassmen to petition for special eligibility must do so by Monday (Jan. 18th) and the league will send the list of players to teams on Friday (Jan. 22nd).
Following such an unusual year, seniors will have until March 1st to notify the league if they plan to return to school.
With the NCAA granting a fifth year of college football eligibility, the NFL informed clubs this morning that players who have completed four years must notify the league by March 1 if they intend to forego the 2021 NFL Draft and return to college, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 14, 2021
With that said, the following is our updated 2021 NFL mock draft.
NFL Mock Draft - Round 1
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Losers of 15 consecutive games, the Jaguars leave 2020 as the winners of the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. Believe it or not, Jacksonville has never owned the rights to the top pick despite picking inside the top 10 in all but one draft since 2008.
Lawrence, the presumptive top pick for several years, is arguably the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck and this will be an easy decision as the team transitions into a new era. Including the opportunity to draft a franchise-changing quarterback at the top of the draft, the Jaguars have a total of nine picks through the first five rounds in addition to a league-high available cap space in 2021.
2. New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
With so many positions in need of upgrade on their roster, the Jets could look to trade back a few spots with another QB-needy franchise. Although Sam Darnold hasn't yet shown that he's the long-term answer and he has missed three-plus games in all three seasons, the former top-three pick is only 23. Either Fields or BYU's Zach Wilson would be worthy of the No. 1 overall pick in any other year, but it's unclear at this point which quarterback Joe Douglas would prefer if he doesn't trade back.
Fields showed incredible toughness by how he played after James Skalski was ejected for targeting as he lit up a talented Clemson defense for 22-of-28 for 385 yards and six touchdowns in the semifinal game of the College Football Playoff. Although he wasn't as impressive against Alabama in the national championship, Fields has prototypical size (6-3, 225), elite athleticism and the arm strength to make all of the throws. The dual-threat quarterback has thrown 63 touchdowns to only nine interceptions and added 15 rushing touchdowns in his two seasons as Ohio State's starter.
3. Miami Dolphins - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Like with Justin Fields and Zach Wilson as QB2, there will be plenty of debate between Chase and Alabama's DeVonta Smith as WR1 in 2021. Even though Chase opted out in 2020, the 2019 Biletnikoff Award recipient would have been the WR1 had he been eligible to declare with last year's talent-laden crop of wide receivers.
As a true sophomore, Chase had 84 receptions for 1,780 yards (21.2 Y/R) and 20 touchdowns. Not only did he lead the country in yardage and touchdown, no receiver had more 15-yard receptions (46) or 25-yard receptions (25) than Chase in 2019.4. Atlanta Falcons - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Per Spotrac, Matt Ryan (22.99%) will account for nearly one-quarter of the team's 2021 salary cap. While the new regime could go in a number of different directions, this will be the first time that the team will pick inside the top four since they selected Ryan third overall in 2008.
Barring a trade, this scenario would allow Wilson the opportunity to serve as Ryan's apprentice for a season. Charted by PFF with the lowest rate of turnover-worthy plays this season, Wilson uses his mobility to make and extend plays and is accurate throwing downfield.
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Upgrading the offensive line needs to be one of the team's top offseason priorities and this represents an ideal draft-day scenario for the Bengals. While Sewell opted out of the 2020 season, the 2019 first-team AP All-American was dominant in his true-sophomore campaign and won't turn 21 until October.
Continue reading Kevin Hanson's 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Mock Draft Databases:2021 NFL Draft Big Board
Our 2021 NFL Draft Big Board ranks the top-100 draft-eligible prospects for this year's NFL draft.
Rank | Prospect | Pos. | School | Year | Hgt | Wgt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Clemson | JR | 6-6 | 220 |
2 | Penei Sewell | OT | Oregon | JR | 6-6 | 330 |
3 | Ja'Marr Chase | WR | LSU | JR | 6-1 | 200 |
4 | Micah Parsons | LB | Penn State | JR | 6-3 | 244 |
5 | Kyle Pitts | TE | Florida | JR | 6-6 | 239 |
6 | Justin Fields | QB | Ohio State | JR | 6-3 | 228 |
7 | Patrick Surtain II | CB | Alabama | JR | 6-2 | 203 |
8 | Jaylen Waddle | WR | Alabama | JR | 5-10 | 182 |
9 | DeVonta Smith | WR | Alabama | SR | 6-1 | 175 |
10 | Caleb Farley | CB | Virginia Tech | rJR | 6-2 | 207 |
2021 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 100 Prospects |
For our top 10 per position, check out our 2021 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup 3.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Arizona Cardinals from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in August 2020 mock drafts for the Cardinals:
EDSFootball - Hanson (1/1)
17. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
San Diego Union Tribune (12/31)
17. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Touchdown Wire - Schofield (12/31)
17. Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
But they face some questions about the future of their defensive front. Markus Golden and Haason Reddick are pending free agents, and Arizona lost Chandler Jones for most of the season with a biceps tear. Adding another versatile, athletic player up front will give them another injection of talent to that group. Kwity Paye fits that bill. Long, explosive and aggressive, he is a great fit with what Arizona is doing defensively.
PFF - Gayle (12/29)
17. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
CBS Sports - Wilson (12/29)
17. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Keep reading our Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft Roundup
More teams:
- Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft Roundup
- Chicago Bears Mock Draft Roundup
- Los Angeles Chargers Mock Draft Roundup
- Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Roundup
- Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft Roundup
- Tennessee Titans Mock Draft Roundup
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