2021 NFL Mock Draft, First Round Picks 13-20
13. Los Angeles Chargers
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: OT/OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
It would be NFL Draft malpractice to not do whatever it takes to keep Justin Herbert as healthy and happy as possible. The Chargers should have their choice of options for the O line, and Vera-Tucker brings the versatility to keep building up the front five.
Team Needs 1. OT, 2. DB, 3. DT
Backup Mock Draft Call: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
The Chargers will take one top offensive lineman, and the Vikings will take the other. If it’s not Christian Darrisaw, it’ll be Alijah Vera-Tucker – or Rashawn Slater if he slides. However, if Justin Fields or Trey Lance falls, watch out for the Vikings to move this pick to stockpile picks – they don’t have a second rounder. And that move might just be made with the team drafting with the 15 …
Team Needs 1. OT, 2. DE, 3. QB
Backup Mock Draft Call: OT/OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
15. New England
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
This is likely when the mock draft goes kablooey. If New England really does want to go with a quarterback, it’ll move up to get the guy it wants. However, the team needs wide receiver help even more. By the way, Bill Belichick, has a rough track record for picking quarterbacks other than the moon shot at 199 in 2000, and he’s even worse at drafting wide receivers outside of the Julian Edelman seventh round flier in 2009.
Team Needs 1. QB, 2. WR, 3. DL
Backup Mock Draft Call: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
16. Arizona
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
Or Northwestern’s Greg Newsome, or Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley if he’s still here – it’s going to be a corner. A wide receiver might be a luxury if one of the big names slides on down, but any help for the secondary is a must.
Team Needs 1. CB, 2. RB, 3. WR
Backup Mock Draft Call: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern
17. Las Vegas
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Oramoah, Notre Dame
Big, giant, steaming pile of read-the-room call No. 1 – No. 2 (no snide jokes accepted) to come in a moment. The Raiders need defensive playmakers, they love big-time athletes, and they don’t tend to care a lick about value when it comes to getting their guys.
Owusu-Orahoah just fits as an all-around part of a defensive puzzle that needs a whole lot of pieces. It’s a wee bit high for the Notre Dame hybrid, but in that AFC West, you need guys who can run. However, the safe and sane call would be TCU’s Trevor Moehrig as the quarterback of the secondary.
Team Needs 1. OT, 2. LB, 3. S
Backup Mock Draft Call: S Trevor Moehrig, TCU
18. Miami
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
It might be tempting to go with another wide receiver even after taking one – most likely – with the sixth overall pick, and a running back would be wonderful, but a top pass rusher is a need that has to be filled. There’s going to be fantastic value here.
Team Needs 1. WR, 2. OL, 3. DE
Backup Mock Draft Call: DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
19. Washington
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: QB Davis Mills, Stanford
And here’s the big, giant, steaming read-the-room call No. 2.
Don’t be the slightest bit shocked if 1) Mills goes a lot earlier than this and/or 2) goes ahead of one – and maybe two – of the big five quarterback prospects. Here’s part of the call – either someone freaks out that Chicago is going to take Mills and trades up, or the Football Team takes an offensive tackle that it needs very, very badly, and the Bears grab the QB.
Team Needs 1. OT, 2. QB, 3. LB
Backup Mock Draft Call: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
20. Chicago
2021 NFL Mock Draft Pick: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
We will never, ever, ever know if the Bears really wanted Davis Mills if he goes before this pick. After the Mitchell Trubisky fiasco, the trust in the powers-that-be isn’t going to be there to mortgage the future by trading up to get a quarterback. Offensive tackle is a must, and the Bears could go with one of the sliding corners still on the board.
Team Needs 1. QB, 2. OT, 3. CB
Backup Mock Draft Call: QB Davis Mills, Stanford