It’s still just July, but if early projections for the 2021 NFL Draft are any indication, next year’s No. 1 overall pick might already be locked up.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence already appears to be the heavy favorite to be the first selection come next April, and the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from 247 Sports reinforces that assumption, sending him to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their most recent projection.
The next quarterback off the board in this mock is Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who lands with the Carolina Panthers at No. 4 overall. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, a redshirt sophomore and one of the biggest potential wild-cards in next year’s class, is mocked to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 17 overall in this projection.
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Iowa State’s Brock Purdy is the only other quarterback to land in these top 32 picks, heading to the New Orleans Saints at No. 31 overall. Other top prospects in next year’s quarterback class, such as Georgia’s Jamie Newman and Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, don’t make the cut.
Some of the biggest surprise picks in this mock include Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 5 overall, and the Chicago Bears opting for Clemson running back Travis Etienne at No. 19 overall.
To check out the complete first-round projection at 247 Sports, including some other names to keep an eye on outside the top 32 picks, click here.
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