1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence | QB, Clemson
- Not only is Trevor Lawrence a generational quarterback on-the-field, but he is exactly who I would want to lead my team off-the-field. That makes him the perfect prospect. Zach Wilson is cool, but he is no Trevor. (Cole Nevins)
- The pick that took 8 minutes when everyone knew the Jaguars would take him the minute they got the first pick. Lawrence is obviously a generational talent who will change the Jaguars as they attempt to bring fantastic football to Duval. (Noah Gutfleisch)
- The biggest shocker of the draft at one; Trevor Lawrence has been slotted in at this pick for 3 years now. He will add instant value to the Jags and likely come in as a top 10 QB. (Maccus Dinsmore)
2. New York Jets
Zach Wilson | QB, BYU
- This BYU QB has been going up draft boards for a while now, and his great performance in college earned him the 2nd overall pick. He had the highest passing grade in the FBS last year, and his ability to make difficult throws is very impressive. (Richard Duma)
- Wilson jumped Fields in most mock drafts early this month. After shoulder surgery in 2019, if Wilson can stay healthy, it is not out of the realm of possibility to look back at this draft and see the supremely talented Zach Wilson as the best QB in this draft. (Skye Flanagan)
3. San Francisco 49ers
Trey Lance | QB, North Dakota State
- Trey Lance is a great fit for the Niners. Some may be concerned with Lance’s uncertain ceiling, he has all the intangibles to be a great NFL quarterback. Lance has the mobility and big play chance that could resonate well with the 49ers. (Patrick Lendon)
- The 49ers did not decide to take Mac Jones or Justin Fields and surprised many with Trey Lance. This trade reminds me a bit of the Lamar Jackson pick, as they take a game shaking QB with Lance who will be quite a difficult QB to decipher and add another layer to Shanahan’s offense. (Noah Gutfleisch)
- After speculation that the 49ers could possibly take Mac Jones, they took the North Dakota State product Trey Lance. At 6’4” and 20 years old, Trey Lance has lots of potential with his mobility and physical tools. He had an insane TD/INT ratio of 28 to zero in 2019 with 2,788 yards. (Richard Duma)
4. Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts | TE, Florida
- He’s listed as a tight end, but will probably line up at wide receiver in the NFL on most offenses. Pitts is a monster, and can be comparable to a slightly bigger and slightly slower Calvin Johnson with his measurement and potential catching ability. With 770 yards and 12 TDs in only 8 games played last season, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the league. (Richard Duma)
- Pitts is a dynamic receiver that adds a 3rd elite option to the Falcons offense. The cards are all in place for Matt Ryan to return to MVP form in 2021. I expect for Pitts to come in and put up 700 yards and 8 TDs year 1. (Maccus Dinsmore)
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase | WR, LSU
- The top official wide receiver in this draft, he’s a beast physically, and has great potential as a route runner. Chase can make an immediate impact on this Bengal team, and has lots of room to grow. (Richard Duma)
6. Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle | WR, Alabama
- While his injury history is a concern, Waddle is likely to be a top receiver in the league in the future. He’s very swift, and he will be an issue for any cornerback covering him. (Richard Duma)
7. Detroit Lions
Penei Sewell | OT, Oregon
- The best offensive lineman in the draft, the Detroit Lions now have an offensive line highlighted by Sewell, Frank Ragnow, and Taylor Decker. Building a good O-line is essential for any rebuild, and the Lions are succeeding at doing just that. (Richard Duma)
8. Carolina Panthers
Jaycee Horn | CB, South Carolina
- Quite a surprising pick, the Panthers get the guy who they like as the first corner of the board. Horn should bolster a weak secondary, though he is not as exciting of a pick as Farley or Surtain. (Noah Gutfleisch)
- A very unexpected pick from the Panthers. While Horn is probably going to be a great cornerback in the NFL, the Panthers probably should’ve taken a WR to help out Sam Darnold. (Richard Duma)
9. Denver Broncos
Patrick Surtain II | CB, Alabama
- It was either Surtain or Horn that would be the first cornerback taken in this draft, and while Surtain was the latter, he still was picked about where he was projected. The highest-graded cornerback in college football last year, Surtain will likely be an amazing cornerback in the NFL, though Justin Fields was still on the board. (Richard Duma)
- The Broncos make a fantastic pick here. Patrick Surtain is the type of guy that will immediately be a pro-bowl caliber player year one. The Broncos just got a franchise cornerstone, adding an impressive piece to their rebuild. (Patrick Lendon)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Dallas)
Devonta Smith | WR, Alabama
- Last season’s heisman winner, Devonta Smith is limited by his size, but is an amazing route runner, is quick, and is smart. It might take him a little bit to get adapted to the NFL game as most rookies, but once he figures out how to deal with bigger corners, Devonta Smith will be more than a headache for opposing defensive coordinators. (Richard Duma)
- Devonta Smith is a guy that is willing to attack the ball. This pick is great for the Eagles. The offense in Philly just got a whole lot better. Smith is a very versatile player. The former heisman trophy winner will make an immediate impact in Philadelphia. (Patrick Lendon)
11. Chicago Bears (via NYG)
Justin Fields | QB, Ohio State
- Many think Fields is the second best QB in this draft class, and for good reason. Coming out of a national championship appearance, Fields is very accurate and mobile. He had a completion percentage of about 70 last season, with 2,098 yards, 22 touchdowns, and a 120.4 passer rating. On top of this, his 2019 season was even more impressive. (Richard Duma)
12. Dallas Cowboys (via Philadelphia)
Micah Parsons | LB, Penn State
- The Cowboys are in massive need of defensive help, and Micah Parsons was the best defensive player on the board. Though he opted out of the 2020 season, and has some off-field concerns, Parsons is an amazing run defender, an incredible blitzer, and can tackle with the best of them. (Richard Duma)
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Rashawn Slater | OT, Northwestern
- The perfect pick for the Chargers. They needed to help protect Justin Herbert, and LA just did a great job of helping that cause by drafting Slater. While he opted out of the 2020 season, Slater is very quick on his feet, and only allowed 5 pressures in 2019. (Richard Duma)
- As a Chargers fan I am a big fan of the pick. Slater might be the most pro ready offensive lineman in the draft and he will slot right in to the starting line up at LT. He offers immediate protection for Herbert and fills a need that they have been desperately needed to fill for years. (Maccus Dinsmore)
14. New York Jets (via Minnesota)
Alijah Vera-Tucker | G, USC
- The Jets got Zach Wilson with the 2nd pick in this draft, and Alijah Vera-Tucker was brought in to help out the blocking unit. While they might’ve been able to get him at their original position instead of trading up, Alijah Vera-Tucker was an amazing pass blocker in college. (Richard Duma)
15. New England Patriots
Mac Jones | QB, Alabama
- A pick that was actually somewhat anticipated before the draft, the Patriots drafted heisman candidate Mac Jones to officially take the torch from Tom Brady after the Cam Newton experiment ultimately led to the Patriots missing the playoffs last season. Mac Jones is very accurate, and almost threw for 4,500 yards last season with 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a 141.6 passer rating. (Richard Duma)
16. Arizona Cardinals
Zaven Collins | LB, Tulsa
- The Arizona Cardinals needed some defensive help, and they got it with Zaven Collins. While this pick was a reach, Zaven Collins will definitely help out in coverage, but he needs to work on his tackling to be an elite linebacker in the NFL. (Richard Duma)
17. Las Vegas Raiders
Alex Leatherwood | OT, Alabama
- While Leatherwood is a great offensive lineman, it makes no sense to take him in the first round, especially when Darrisaw was still on the board. (Richard Duma)
- Confusing pick for the Raiders. Alex Leatherwood is a solid player, but they really should have traded down and got him while getting more value. Not a great selection here. (Patrick Lendon)
18. Miami Dolphins
Jaelan Phillips | DE, Miami
- While he has an injury history, Phillips is a beast on the edge. He recorded 42 pressures last season, has the frame of an NFL player at 6’5” and 266 pounds, is quick, and can hit you hard. (Richard Duma)
19. Washington Football Team
Jamin Davis | LB, Kentucky
- They already have a great defensive line, and Jamin Davis to add to that front 7 is going to help their defense out even more. Jamin is amazing against the run, and has great size and athleticism. While he lacks some coverage skills, he’ll definitely help out in Washington. (Richard Duma)
20. New York Giants (via Chicago)
Kadarius Toney | WR, Florida
- The Giants just signed Kenny Golladay, and getting a good receiver alongside him will help the Giants out in the next few seasons. They could’ve had a few strategies with this pick, but they went the receiver route, and it definitely wasn’t a bad option. He still has work to do with his route running, but he’s great in the open-field after the catch and can create yards after the catch. (Richard Duma)
21. Indianapolis Colts
Kwity Pate | DE, Michigan
- The Colts already have a great defense, and Kwity Paye as a pass rusher only helps that cause. At 6’4” and 272 pounds, he definitely has the frame. Paye is also very athletic, very strong, and had a 87.1 pass-rushing grade last season. (Richard Duma)
22. Tennessee Titans
Caleb Farley | CB, Virginia Tech
- Farley has been falling down the draft boards with the rise of Jaycee Horn recently, and he ended up getting picked at 23. The Titans had some options here, and Farley is a corner that is great in man-to-man coverage, (which they needed), has incredible ball skills, insane closing speed, and has great size at 6’2” and 207 pounds. (Richard Duma)
- The Titans get incredible value with this pick at 22. Farley fell in many mock drafts due to injury, but still possesses remarkable skill for a corner. The Titans score big here, and if Farley stays healthy, The Titan’s pass defense will be very good next season. (Patrick Lendon)
23. Minnesota Vikings (via NYJ)
Christian Darrisaw | OT, Virginia Tech
- Darrisaw fell more than he should’ve, as he is arguably the 2nd best offensive lineman in this draft class, (while most would put him in the 3rd slot behind Sewell and Slater.) This was the easy pick for the Vikings, as he was the best available player on the board. At 6’5” and 315 pounds, Darrisaw has amazing size, and didn’t allow a single sack or hit in 2020. (Richard Duma)
- The Vikings fleeced the Jets here. They traded down and got by far the better lineman. Darrisaw is a perfect fit for their zone run offense and he will hold up the other end of the line from O’Neill. He will add the perfect protection for Kirk and allow for him to play like a top 15 QB. (Maccus Dinsmore)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris | RB, Alabama
- The Steelers DESPERATELY needed an infusion of youth at the running back position after letting James Conner walk. They get the most complete back in the class in Harris. He can be a day one RB1 for this squad, and adds to an already stacked offense. He just made the Steelers offense a bit more dangerous. (Ismail Sy)
- The Steelers add a running back here but fail to address their crumbling run blocking. Harris will be absolutely thrown into fire behind this mediocre line and his transition to the NFL will be slown greatly because of it. While Najee is a great running back I doubt he will have as high an impact as he is expected too (Maccus Dinsmore)
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne | RB, Clemson
- Urban… What are you doing man? You need to protect Trevor Lawrence, and getting a running back after James Robinson just had an incredible season is not the way to go at all. Etienne is a good running back, but it makes no sense for the Jaguars to take him here with what their needs are. (Richard Duma)
- This is the worst pick of the draft. The Jaguars struck gold with James Robinson last season and they are throwing that out the window. Both Etienne and Robinson command carries and now they do not have enough carries for either. Urban, you don’t want people to be calling for your job before your team even takes the field. (Maccus Dinsmore)
- This is such an awful, awful pick. Jacksonville has a top five running back already and selects another running back. Travis Etienne is a solid running back and will likely do fine. However, it makes absolutely no sense in any way to select another running back. This pick is one of the worst of the worst in the draft. (Patrick Lendon)
26. Cleveland Browns
Greg Newsome II | CB, Northwestern
- Newsome was the best cornerback available, and for a Browns team looking to take that next step with Myles Garrett already leading their defense, they took Greg Newsome to help in the secondary. He’s amazing on his feet, but his acceleration isn’t great. (Richard Duma)
27. Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman | WR, Minnesota
- An underrated wide receiver in this draft class, Bateman fills a very big need for Baltimore. He’s incredible when he’s lined up on the outside, and he’s a good all-around receiver who isn’t the fastest, but makes up for it with his ability to release off the line of scrimmage. (Richard Duma)
- Fills a need for the Ravens. Bateman is a complete receiver that is needed in this offense. He will become a favorite of Lamar Jackson’s and just made the Ravens offense even more dangerous. Bateman can be one of the best receivers in this class and the Ravens are huge winners here. (Ismail Sy)
28. New Orleans Saints
Payton Turner | DE, Houston
- Turner is a good defensive end, but I wouldn’t say it’s the right pick for the Saints. They already have enough defensive lineman, and could definitely use some help in other positions. (Richard Duma)
- This pick is mediocre at best. The Saints desperately needed a corner, or a wide receiver. As painful as it was to see Newsom and Bateman get drafted back to back right before 28th, the Saints still needed to fill their holes, which they didn’t do. The Saints do fill a hole with Hendrickson gone, and Turner is still a solid player. This pick gets a C+. (Patrick Lendon)
29. Green Bay Packers
Eric Stokes | CB, Georgia
- Eric Stokes is a good cornerback to pair alongside Alexander on the defensive side of the ball, but it seems like they’ve basically given in to Aaron Rodgers demand to leave, as the Packers took defense instead of another weapon for him. Stokes is fast, and is a great man-to-man corner. (Richard Duma)
30. Buffalo Bills
Gregory Rousseau | DE, Miami
- 6’6”. 260 pounds. He’s been falling a bit in draft boards, but he had a whopping 16 sacks in the 2019 season. While he has some trouble getting himself free from offensive tackles, he still is young and has lots of room to improve. (Richard Duma)
31. Baltimore Ravens
Jayson Oweh | LB, Penn State
- The Ravens chose to take an Athletic pass rusher two rounds earlier than usual, and although I didn’t see it coming, it makes sense. He’s a freak athlete who nobody can truly project into the league, but the Ravens have been known for developing edge rushers, and they probably like the power far more than most people, which was one of the main reasons I avoided this spot for Oweh in mock drafts. I expect this to work out in a few years, but it makes you wonder if they could’ve gotten a guy in round 3 like they do all the time. (David Perez)
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Tryon | DE, Washington
- Joe Tryon feels like a project for the Bucs here. In 2019, his pass rushing grade was only 71.9, but at 6’5” and 262, he has good enough size to be a defensive end in the NFL. He also is very explosive, so if Tampa can develop him right, Tryon can be an important piece in Tampa. (Richard Duma)
