Category: Mock Drafts

Mock draft watch: Kiper and McShay go different ways on the Lions pick

One likes a WR while the other goes for a QB

The celebrated draftnik duo of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN offered up a dual mock draft of the top 10 picks for the 2021 NFL Draft. And the pair went in decidedly different directions with the Detroit Lions pick.

The Lions are currently sitting at No. 9 overall despite being just one game out of the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. Players the two both had gone before the Lions pick during the broadcast portion of the mock and not the written one, to give a perspective of the player pool that is already drained:

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence

Ohio State QB Justin Fields

Oregon OT Penei Sewell

Penn State LB Micah Parsons

LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase

Alabama WR DeVonta Smith

Florida TE Kyle Pitts

Kiper was adamant the Lions need a wide receiver and offered up a trio of Chase, Smith and his teammate Jaylen Waddle. With Chase already off the board and Smith also off McShay’s board, the choice would be Waddle. Kiper also mentioned Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman, a playmaking wideout.

McShay opted for Zach Wilson, the fast-rising quarterback from BYU.

“Let’s get the Lions their quarterback of the future to build around under a new coach and GM. Wilson is special,” McShay concluded.

In the published piece, this was the consensus pick. It’s worth noting that Kiper insisted he rates North Dakota State QB Trey Lance higher than Wilson.

2021 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks come off the board early, often

Five quarterbacks come off the board in this new 2021 NFL mock draft, including four in the top 10

Every year, the NFL draft conversation starts and ends with the top quarterback prospects, and next year’s event will be no different. There are plenty of big names in the 2021 class, but how many of them will crack the first round, or even the top 10?

If the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports is any indication, the answer is plenty.

Quarterbacks take the top two spots in this mock, with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence heading to the New York Jets, and Ohio State’s Justin Fields landing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next passer off the board is North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who goes to the Carolina Panthers at No. 7 overall. A fourth quarterback makes it into the top 10, as BYU’s Zach Wilson joins the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 overall.

One more quarterback joins the first-round ranks in this projection, as Alabama’s Mac Jones is selected by the Chicago Bears at No. 13 overall. Florida’s Kyle Trask is the odd man out in this mock, failing to crack the first round at all.

Wide receivers and offensive linemen are well-represented in this projection, making up 12 of the 32 picks, including three of the top six selections. Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell is the first non-quarterback off the board (No. 3 overall, Cincinnati Bengals, while LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase is the first pass-catcher to hear his name called (No. 6 overall, Philadelphia Eagles).

To check out the full first-round mock at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=624298]

2021 NFL mock draft: Could Zach Wilson go ahead of Justin Fields?

In his latest 2021 NFL mock draft, Dane Brugler of The Athletic throws a curveball at the No. 2 overall pick

For months now, it’s seemed like a forgone conclusion that Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields would be the first two quarterbacks off the board in the 2021 NFL draft.

But the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler goes a different route, putting BYU’s Zach Wilson in the No. 2 spot. Brugler’s mock has the New York Jets taking Lawrence at No. 1, and the Jacksonville Jaguars opting for Wilson over Fields at No. 2.

Brugler says Wilson has the kind of skill set that will easily translate to the NFL game:

The first curveball of this mock draft. In October, I wrote how Wilson had put himself in the conversation to be the second quarterback drafted and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him selected this high. With his natural accuracy and ability to execute off-platform, Wilson’s play translates very well to the next level.

Few things are truly shocking anymore when it comes to the NFL draft, and considering how well Wilson has played this season, it’s not too far-fetched to believe he could end up leapfrogging Fields for the QB2 spot in this class. Both passers are extremely talented, giving a team like the Jags a fantastic scenario in being able to pick between them without even having the No. 1 overall pick.

Fields lands at No. 6 overall in Brugler’s projection, heading to the Carolina Panthers as the eventual successor to Teddy Bridgewater.

The next quarterback off the board in this mock is Trey Lance, who cracks the top 10 by going to the Washington Football Team at No. 8 overall. Alabama’s Mac Jones is the only other quarterback who lands in Brugler’s first round, heading to the New Orleans Saints at No. 31 overall.

To check out the full projection at The Athletic, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=624298]

2021 NFL mock draft: 3 quarterbacks in the top 5?

See where the top quarterback prospects land in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports

We’ve known for quite a while that Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields were destined to be top-five picks in the 2021 NFL draft, but a newcomer is crashing the party.

BYU’s Zach Wilson has been lighting it up this season for the Cougars, sending his draft stock through the roof.

In the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, Wilson lands at No. 4 overall to the Washington Football Team, following Lawrence (No. 1 overall, New York Jets) and Fields (No. 2 overall, Jacksonville Jaguars).

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards believes Washington is ready to move on from Dwayne Haskins, especially with a prospect like Wilson on the board:

Although not the second quarterback selected, Zach Wilson did not have to wait long to hear his name called. Wilson offers size, arm strength and mobility. Washington obviously does not like what it has seen from Dwayne Haskins so they move on.

The only other quarterback to crack this first-round projection is North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who lands with the San Francisco 49ers at No. 12 overall, while Florida’s Kyle Trask and Alabama’s Mac Jones don’t make the cut.

Teams with multiple first-round picks load up on top talent in this forecast, with the Miami Dolphins giving quarterback Tua Tagovailoa plenty of help (LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase, Oklahoma OL Creed Humphrey), the Jacksonville Jaguars continuing their rebuild on both sides of the ball (Fields, Alabama DL Christian Barmore), and the New York Jets hoping to start a new chapter (Lawrence, South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn).

To check out the full mock draft at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=624298]

2021 NFL mock draft: 1st-round projections with big surprises

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft from The Sporting News is full of surprising picks

It’s a bit early in the process to truly be shocked by any mock draft, but there are still a handful of early surprises among some of the most recent projections out there.

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft from The Sporting News is one example, though it’s no surprise that Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence takes the No. 1 overall spot, heading to the New York Jets.

No, the surprise picks start at No. 2, where this projection has the Washington Football team passing on Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields for Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

Parsons is a stud prospect in his own right, for sure, but is he worth the No. 2 pick, especially considering Washington’s need for a franchise left tackle, and the recent demoting of Dwayne Haskins?

It’s also surprising to see the Atlanta Falcons pass on Fields at No. 4 overall, instead opting for Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau. Rousseau fills a more immediate need, but passing on the chance to take a blue-chip quarterback process who could sit and learn behind Matt Ryan is an odd decision, especially with a new head coach coming this offseason.

Other top prospects who go later than expected in this mock include a trio of talented pass-catchers: LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase (No. 7 overall, Miami Dolphins), Alabama’s wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (No. 25 overall, Chicago Bears), and Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman (No. 32 overall, Kansas City Chiefs).

One surprising name most fans might not expect to see in the first round is Pitt edge defender Patrick Jones II, who climbs the board all the way up to the Miami Dolphins at No. 14 overall in this mock.

To check out the full first-round forecast at The Sporting News, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=623696]

2021 NFL mock draft: Ending the Drew Brees era in New Orleans

Could the New Orleans Saints spend their first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on a replacement for Drew Brees?

While his Monday Night Football comeback was impressive, there’s still no denying that Drew Brees could be playing his final season as an NFL quarterback.

Yes, the New Orleans Saints have a pair of talented potential replacements in Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston, but would that stop them from spending their first-round pick in next year’s draft on another young quarterback?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has the Saints making Florida’s Kyle Trask the heir apparent to the future Hall of Famer

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson breaks down why the Saints could opt for Trask over Winston and Hill as the team’s future at quarterback:

Drew Brees continues to struggles to throw the ball down the field, and that won’t magically improve as he gets older. Trask has only helped himself this season after just earning the starting job a year ago for the Gators. There’s a lot to like about his game, even if he’s a traditional drop-back quarterback in an age where athleticism is a big part of QB play.

Trask is the fourth quarterback off the board in this mock, following Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 overall, New York Jets), Ohio State’s Justin Fields (No. 3 overall, Washington Football Team) and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance (No. 12 overall, Minnesota Vikings).

One of the fastest-rising prospects in the country, Trask has been dominant for the Gators so far this season. The 6-5, 240-pound senior has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards through his first three games, with 14 touchdowns and just one interception, completing over 71 percent of his passes.

It’s still not a given that Brees retires after this season, and with the financial investment the Saints have made in Hill, he’s still in play as the team’s franchise quarterback if Brees hangs up his cleats. But the Saints could go in a different direction in next year’s draft, if the right player falls to them.

To check out the full first-round projection at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=623458]

Mock draft watch: Lions add much-needed speed in Draft Wire’s latest

The Lions top 3 WRs in 2020 are all free agents after the season

The latest mock draft from our friends at Draft Wire adds some much-needed speed to the Detroit Lions offense at a position that could be undergoing a major overhaul next offseason.

Picking at No. 9 overall, based on the current 2021 NFL draft order after Week 4, the Lions take Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. He’s a tremendous prospect with a game built around world-class speed. Check out his handiwork from last Saturday’s win over Texas A&M,

The Lions could have dire need at wide receiver after the 2020 season. THe team’s top three wide receivers, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola, are all scheduled to be free agents. Even if Golladay returns, adding a dynamic playmaker like Waddle would be a great way to keep the Lions offense potent.

 

 

2021 NFL mock draft: Small-school studs crash top 10

Could North Dakota State put two prospects in the top 10 in the 2021 NFL Draft?

We’ve seen one North Dakota State star make his way into the top 10 of an NFL draft class, but could we see two of them do it next year?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has Bison quarterback Trey Lance and offensive tackle Dillon Radunz both landing among the top 10 selections.

Lance heads to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall as the eventual successor to Matthew Stafford, while Radunz goes to the Denver Broncos at the very next pick to protect Drew Lock.

This mock starts predictably enough at the top, with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence going No. 1 overall to the New York Jets, and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields landing with the Carolina Panthers at No. 2. LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (No. 3 overall, New York Giants), Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (No. 4 overall, Miami Dolphins) and Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell (No. 5 overall, Cincinnati Bengals) round out the top five.

A flurry of interior offensive linemen find their way into this first-round forecast, led by Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis (No. 6 overall, Washington Football team). Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey (No. 14 overall, Los Angeles Chargers), Tennessee’s Trey Smith (No. 15 overall, Las Vegas Raiders), Alabama’s Deonte Brown (No. 19 overall, Tennessee Titans) and Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum (No. 30 overall, Kansas City Chiefs) join Davis in the first round.

A handful of big-name prospects also go later than expected in this projection: Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau (No. 11 overall, Atlanta Falcons), Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II (No. 28 overall, San Francisco 49ers) and Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (No. 29 overall, New York Jets).

To check out the full first-round mock at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=623273]

2021 NFL mock draft: A 1st-round replacement for Drew Brees?

Could the New Orleans Saints target a successor for Drew Brees in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft?

Drew Brees is in the twilight of a Hall of Fame career, but will the New Orleans Saints spend a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on his eventual successor?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has the Saints selecting their quarterback of the future in North Dakota State’s Trey Lance at No. 29 overall.

Lance has been getting first-round love all year long after throwing 28 touchdowns and no interceptions as a redshirt freshman for the Bison last season. Without a full season of work in 2020, it’ll be hard to imagine him going in the top 10 (where many early projections have slotted him), but that could leave him in an ideal situation with a team like the Saints.

Quarterbacks also take the top two slots in this mock, with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence going to the New York Jets at No. 1 overall, and Ohio State’s Justin Fields heading to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 2 pick. Lance is the only other quarterback to land in this first-round projection.

Two big names that go later than expected are Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who lands with the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 5 overall, and LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who falls out of the top five and gets snatched up by the Washington Football Team at the No. 6 pick.

Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II (No. 3 overall, New York Giants) and Miami edge defender Gregory Rousseau (No. 4 overall, Miami Dolphins) round out the top five picks.

To check out the full first-round projection at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=623273]

2021 NFL mock draft: Jets replace Sam Darnold with Trevor Lawrence

Would the New York Jets spend the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence?

The 2020 NFL season is off to a rough start for a handful of teams, but few have looked as rough as the New York Jets over the first two weeks.

They have much bigger problems that just their quarterback, but if the Jets end up with the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, could they hit the rest button at the game’s most important position?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, which has the Jets spending the top pick on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson explains the thought process for New York ending the Sam Darnold era:

The Jets couldn’t even compete with a 49ers team that traveled across the country and was decimated by injury. And this isn’t Sam Darnold’s fault, he’s just a victim of circumstance, but if the Jets end up with the No. 1 pick (and they certainly look like the league’s worst team through two games, they’re taking Lawrence, who has been lights out in two games for Clemson.

As Wilson notes, the Jets have way bigger problems than Darnold’s play, but if they land that top pick, it would be hard to imagine them passing up on one of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen in years.

This mock has a more intriguing pick at No. 2 overall, with the Carolina Panthers passing on Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell and LSU Ja’Marr Chase in favor of Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

Fields lands with the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall as Matthew Stafford’s eventual successor, while Sewell and Chase land with the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II rounds out the top five, going to the Cincinnati Bengals.

North Dakota’s Trey Lance is the only other quarterback in this first-round projection, heading to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 12 overall.

To check out the full first-round mock at CBS Sports, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=623273]