While we apparently will not see some of the names in action this fall due to the Big Ten and Pacific-12 Conferences postponing their 2020 seasons, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his latest 2021 National Football League Mock Draft on August 12 (subscription required).
The Jacksonville Jaguars, coached by former Syracuse Orange head man Doug Marrone, led the way, selecting Clemson Tigers junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence at No. 1.
“OK, let’s begin with a no-brainer,” McShay started.
“Lawrence is a once-in-a-decade type of quarterback prospect who currently has our highest Scouts Inc. grade on a QB since Andrew Luck in 2012 (99).
“Jacksonville dealt Nick Foles in the offseason, leaving it with just Gardner Minshew II and Mike Glennon, and Lawrence would step right in for the Jaguars as an immediate game-breaking starter.
“With a big arm, great mobility for his 6-foot-6 frame, excellent poise under pressure and off-the-charts intangibles, it wouldn’t be long before he was among the game’s best.”
The “Washington Football Team,” formerly the Redskins, occupied the No. 2 spot, taking Alabama Crimson Tide junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
A Plantation native, Surtain earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team honors from the league’s coaches in 2018, and, along with LSU Tigers sophomore Derek Stingley, Jr., has a case to be made for best cornerback in the conference.
Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields, and LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, all also juniors, rounded out McShay’s top-five to the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
Tight end Kyle Pitts, another junior, was the only Florida Gator to appear in this mock first-round, going off the board to the Buffalo Bills, who recently signed head coach Sean McDermott to a contract extension, at No. 23.
“Stefon Diggs gives Josh Allen help outside, but what about the tight end position?” McShay posed.
“Dawson Knox had flashes in his rookie season, but Buffalo still has a long way to go in seeing what it has in its 2019 third-rounder. Even if Knox pans out, adding a versatile matchup piece like Pitts to the mix would be huge.
“He should continue to get bigger and stronger as a blocker, but his combination of length, speed and route running makes him a first-round talent. Pitts, who led the Gators with 54 catches last season, is the most dangerous seam-stretching tight end in the country.”
Other notable selections include Ohio State redshirt junior cornerback Shaun Wade to the New York Jets at No. 8, Alabama wideouts DeVonta Smith (senior) to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10 and Jaylen Waddle (junior) to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 11, North Dakota State Bison redshirt sophomore quarterback Trey Lance to the Chicago Bears at No. 14, and Michigan Wolverines senior receiver Nico Collins, a Pinson, Alabama native, to the Green Bay Packers at No. 18.
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