2021 NFL Mock Draft, Team Needs: College Football Perspective, Early April

The early April version of the 2021 NFL Mock Draft from the college football perspective, along with the main needs for every team.

21. Indianapolis Colts

April Mock Draft Call: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami

Other Realistic Options: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Biggest Team Need: Defensive End

A pass rusher would be great, a top corner would work, and the Colts will have their options to go with the best defensive player available. There will be more pass rushers here than top corners, and Rousseau would be a good-value steal.


22. Tennessee Titans

April Mock Draft Call: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State

Other Realistic Options: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami; CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line

The Titans might wait until later and load up on offensive linemen in bulk, but Jenkins is a ready-made tackle who could be an upgrade for right now.


23. New York Jets (from Seattle)

April Mock Draft Call: CB Greg Newsome, Northwestern

Other Realistic Options: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami; RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Biggest Team Need: Defensive End

Assuming it’s Zach Wilson at the 2, the Jets could be the fun team in the first round by adding a running back like Etienne or Najee Harris. They also need pass rushers and help for the secondary and more receivers and … they need a lot. Newsome is a good option who could go a whole lot earlier.


24. Pittsburgh Steelers

April Mock Draft Call: RB Najee Harris, Alabama

Other Realistic Options: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame; RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle

Chicken or the egg time. Was the running game awful because of the offensive line, or the running backs, or both. The Steelers have guys at running back, but they don’t have a star if James Conner can’t regain his form. Harris or Etienne would be the guy to work around.


25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Las Vegas)

April Mock Draft Call: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame

Other Realistic Options: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota; OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan

Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle

Assuming it’s Mr. Lawrence at the 1 – and it will be – the Jaguars have to build up the infrastructure. There might be options at receiver to throw at the offense, or they can help with a desperately needed offensive tackle.


26. Cleveland Browns

April Mock Draft Call: DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami

Other Realistic Options: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa; WR Kadarius Toney, Florida

Biggest Team Need: Linebacker

The Browns are already strong at getting to the quarterback – that Myles Garrett guy is pretty good – but they need more options. Expect at least one of the good-looking pass rushing options to slide down to here.


27. Baltimore Ravens

April Mock Draft Call: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida

Other Realistic Options: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson; WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver

The Ravens have to give Lamar Jackson even more receiving help. Having the devastating ground game has been fun, but now the downfield passing game has to work better. They have Hollywood Brown, but they need even more.


28. New Orleans Saints

April Mock Draft Call: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Other Realistic Options: WR Terrace Marshall, LSU; WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

Biggest Team Need: Wide Receiver

The Saints don’t have a desperate, glaring need, but the passing attack has to find more options in case Michael Thomas doesn’t bounce back to 2019 form – and they need them if he does, too.


29. Green Bay Packers

April Mock Draft Call: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa

Other Realistic Options: WR Terrace Marshall, LSU; WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

Biggest Team Need: Linebacker

Right guy, right team, right fit. Collins is the type of all-around playmaker who would thrive with the Packers, but there might be a thought that Aaron Rodgers deserves to finally be thrown a cookie with a top first round wide receiver prospect.


30. Buffalo Bills

April Mock Draft Call: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

Other Realistic Options: DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma; DE Carlos Basham, Wake Forest

Biggest Team Need: Defensive End

The Bills need pass rushing reinforcements and could use a big body or two for the interior, but the running game needs a star. Zack Moss and Devin Singletary are fine, but Etienne would be a special get here.


31. Kansas City Chiefs

April Mock Draft Call: OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan

Other Realistic Options: DE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma; DE Carlos Basham, Wake Forest

Biggest Team Need: Offensive Tackle

Kansas City always marches to the beat of its own draft drummer, but it can’t ignore the offensive line that has to do even more for the ground game and has to keep No. 15 as healthy as possible. The Chiefs might like more pass rushers, but offensive linemen are the bigger need.


32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

April Mock Draft Call: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama

Other Realistic Options: DE Terrell Basham, Wake Forest; TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State

Biggest Team Need: Offensive Line

What do you get the team that gets everyone back? For all of the amazing things that Tampa Bay did last year, it had to push through injury concerns at times over the last few years in the interior. Getting the best defensive tackle in the draft here to throw into the rotation would be wonderful.

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