Mock Drafts – Page 79 – Syndication Server

2021 NFL mock draft: How does Jamal Adams trade impact 1st round?

The Jamal Adams trade could have a big impact on the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, and early projections are already reflecting that

The blockbuster trade between the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks sent All-Pro safety Jamal Adams from the Big Apple to the Emerald City, and it also had a big impact on future draft considerations for both teams.

The Jets got a pair of first-round picks from the Seahawks in the deal, as well as a third-rounder in next year’s draft.

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report reflects what this could do for the Jets in the first round next year, as they now have a pair of first-round picks in the upcoming draft to keep building around quarterback Sam Darnold.

With their original pick, this projection has the Jets landing an elite wide receiver prospect to help Darnold, LSU’s J’Marr Chase. Later in the first round, this mock has the Jets bolstering Darnold’s offensive line with Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis. While there are certainly big needs on defense for the Jets (corner, pass rusher), giving Darnold the supporting cast he needs to succeed should be the Jets’ top priority.

The rest of this mock starts out predictably enough, with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick. But a big surprise comes at the No. 3 pick, where the Carolina Panthers opt for North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance over Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who falls to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall.

The only other quarterback to crack this top-32 projection is Georgia’s Jamie Newman, who will have to battle fellow transfer JT Daniels for the starting spot this fall if he wants to build himself into a first-round pick next April.

Next year’s running back class will be headlined by a trio of seniors who could have been early picks in the 2020 draft. This mock sends Clemson’s Travis Etienne to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 overall, and Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 29 overall, while Alabama’s Najee’ Harris falls out of the first round.

To check out the full first-round mock at Bleacher Report, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=622311]

Mock draft watch: Draft Wire’s latest hits with player but misses with position priority

Dylan Moses is a very good prospect but the Lions have much more urgent needs elsewhere

The latest 2021 NFL Draft projections from Draft Wire have a distinct Bob Quinn flavor to the Detroit Lions in the first round. As Quinn has often done as the Lions GM, the player here is a good one but not necessarily at the most pressing of positional needs.

Luke Easterling from our brother site projects Alabama off-ball LB Dylan Moses to the Lions with the No. 9 overall pick. The draft order is based on current Super Bowl odds.

It’s an interesting projection. The Lions will need to replace former first-round pick Jarrad Davis, and veteran Christian Jones will be 30 and entering the final season of his contract. Detroit does have Jamie Collins locked up for years and promising young Jahlani Tavai, however.

The two players projected directly after Detroit picks seem to fill the Lions’ more pressing needs. Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle would make a lot of sense for an offense that projects to lose both Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola — and perhaps pending free agent Kenny Golladay too — from the WR corps. Florida State big man Marvin Wilson, a very active and talented defensive tackle, follows Waddle in the mock.

[vertical-gallery id=47172]

2021 NFL mock draft: Which top QB takes a tumble?

See which top quarterback prospect nearly falls out of the top 10 in the latest mock for the 2021 NFL Draft

In most early projections for the 2021 NFL Draft, we’ve seen a pair of quarterbacks battling for the No. 1 overall pick, as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields both make strong cases for that top spot.

But in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, while Lawrence indeed takes the No. 1 slot, Fields nearly falls out of the top 10 altogether. Lawrence goes to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1, while Fields tumbles all the way to No. 9 overall, where the Las Vegas Raiders snatch him up.

There are a few teams picking earlier who could conceivably be in need of a quarterback, which makes all of them passing on a talent like Fields questionable, at best. If Washington ends up picking at No. 2, they could easily decide that Dwayne Haskins isn’t the man for the job, while the Carolina Panthers (No. 4 overall) and Detroit Lions (No. 7 overall) could each use a better long-term plan behind their current veteran starters.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/derrick-henry-gets-paid-why-was-aaron-curry-a-bust-and-lets-dive-into-the-2021-draft-class

The only other quarterback to crack this first-round mock is North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, who lands with the Chicago Bears at No. 15 overall. Other top prospects like Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan, Iowa’s Brock Purdy, and Georgia’s transfer tandem of Jamie Newman and JT Daniels all have to wait until Day 2.

Among the other surprises in this mock are two off-ball linebackers landing in the top five (Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Alabama’s Dylan Moses), and a pair of interior offensive lineman climbing into the top 12 (Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis, Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey).

To see the full first-round projection at Bleacher Report, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=621982]

2021 NFL mock draft: A surprise pick at No. 1?

If he doesn’t go No. 1 overall, how far could Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence fall in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Ever since his stellar freshman season at Clemson, it’s seemed a forgone conclusion that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft as soon as he was eligible.

But what if someone else takes the top spot next April?

That’s what happens in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, which has Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields knocking Lawrence off the top of the mountain, landing at No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lawrence falls to No. 4 overall in this projection, heading to the Carolina Panthers after Washington takes Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell, and the Cincinnati Bengals add Joe Burrow’s former LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Lawrence would have to be considered a huge steal at that point, and it’s hard to imagine Washington passing on a quarterback if they’re still picking that high after two years of Dwayne Haskins under center.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/its-always-mock-draft-season

The next quarterback comes off the board at No. 7 overall, where the Detroit Lions pull the trigger on North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Just a reshirt sophomore, Lance would be in a perfect situation in Detroit, able to sit behind an experienced veteran in Matthew Stafford for at least a year before having to take over the starting job.

The only other quarterback to make the cut in this first-round mock is Georgia’s Jamie Newman, a transfer from Wake Forest who heads to the Chicago Bears at No. 14 overall to end the failed Mitchell Trubisky era in the Windy City.

To check out the full mock draft at Bleacher Report, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=621982]

Mock draft watch: Lions land help in the middle of the defense in Draft Wire’s latest 2-rounder

The latest 2-round mock draft from our friends at Draft Wire offers defensive help up the middle, but with an asterisk.

Picking at No. 8 in the first round and No. 41 in the second, an order based on the updated Super Bowl odds, the Lions land two defenders who would bolster the defense up the gut. However, both players carry injury concerns.

Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses is a natural replacement for Jarrad Davis, the team’s last first-round linebacker, with the eighth pick. Moses was widely considered the top off-ball LB in the 2020 NFL Draft class before a season-ending injury kept him off the field. He returned to Alabama to make good on the prior hype.

Caden Sterns, a rangy safety from Texas, gets the nod in the second round. He’s an impact player but missed nearly all of 2019 with a knee injury.

If they’re both healthy during the college season, this would wind up being an enviable haul.

2021 NFL mock draft: Is Trevor Lawrence already a lock at No. 1?

Is Clemson quarterback already the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft?

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.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/madden-21-vent-session-predicting-the-nfls-leading-rusher-and-more

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.

[vertical-gallery id=621529]

2021 NFL mock draft: Which teams land top QB prospects?

See who lands next year’s top QB prospects in the latest 2021 NFL mock draft

It’s never too early for a mock draft, and we already have a handful of projections for next year’s event, showing off a loaded class with big names on both sides of the ball.

Top quarterback prospects like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields are likely to battle for the No. 1 overall pick, while there are some worthy challengers at other positions, especially if that pick isn’t secured by a QB-needy team.

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft comes from Pro Football Network, and it kicks off with a no-brainer, as the Jacksonville Jaguars opt for Lawrence at No. 1 overall as their quarterback of the future. Fields lands at No. 4 overall to the Carolina Panthers, giving new head coach Matt Rhule a backup plan if Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t live up to expectations.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/its-always-mock-draft-season

A third quarterback sneaks into the top 10 in this mock, as North Dakota State’s Trey Lance heads to the Detroit Lions at No. 8 overall. Matthew Stafford still has plenty left in the tank, but for a redshirt sophomore like Lance, going to a team that could allow him to sit for a year or two would be an ideal landing spot.

Two more quarterbacks find their way into the top 32 picks in this two-round projection, as Iowa State’s Brock Purdy lands with the Indianapolis Colts at No. 19 overall, while Wake Forest-to-Georgia transfer Jamie Newman goes to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 25 overall.

The most surprising picks in this mock’s top 10? Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore at No. 7 overall to the New York Giants, and Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 9 overall. Big-name wide receivers like Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith being left out of the first round was equally surprising.

To check out the full two-round projection at Pro Football Network, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=621529]

2021 NFL mock draft: 3 QB prospects in top 10, but in what order?

See where Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Trey Lance land in this latest 2021 NFL mock draft

We’re still nearly a year away from the 2021 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped us from making way-too-early projections for next year’s big offseason event.

The conversation always centers around the top quarterback prospects, and next year’s class promises to deliver plenty in that department. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance are all getting preseason hype as potential top-10 picks, and are already battling it out for that No. 1 overall spot.

In the latest 2021 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report, Lawrence gets the nod at No. 1, heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fields lands in Washington at No. 2 overall, while Lance goes to the Detroit Lions at No. 9 overall.

Lawrence and Fields are expected by most to fight for that top spot, with Lance as the dark-horse challenger coming from the FCS level, similar to what we saw from Carson Wentz when he came out of Fargo. Lawrence saw some regression last season after a stunning freshman campaign, but he’s still the easy pick to go No. 1, unless Fields takes things to another level in 2020.

https://its-always-draft-szn.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1

Gardner Minshew is entertaining, but his presence shouldn’t keep the Jags from taking a rare prospect like Lawrence if they do indeed land next year’s top pick. Washington would have to be convinced that Dwayne Haskins, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, isn’t worth passing on the next-best quarterback in the 2021 class in order to take Fields at No. 2. Lance in Detroit would be ideal, as the redshirt sophomore would get to sit behind an established veteran in Matthew Stafford for at least one season before having to start.

The only other quarterback to crack this first-round mock is Jamie Newman, who is transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia to take over for Jake Fromm. This projection sends him to New Orleans in the latter part of the round, where he would join what looks like a loaded depth chart for now, with Drew Brees currently listed alongside both Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston.

To check out the full mock draft at Bleacher Report, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=621529]

Mock draft madness: Lions bolster the D in Draft Wire’s 2-round crystal ball

Mock draft madness: Lions bolster the D in Draft Wire’s 2-round crystal ball for the 2021 NFL Draft

At this time of the year, mock drafts have no real predictive value. Nobody knows what team will pick at what slot, or what the player pool will look like.

I’m reminded of the Iron Maiden classic, “Can I Play With Madness”

Can I play with madness? The prophet stared at his crystal ball
Can I play with madness? There’s no vision there at all
Can I play with madness? The prophet looked and he laughed at me

Yet they do have some value, no joke. Preseason mock drafts are all about projecting potential needs for each team and presenting ideas of college prospects who might be able to fill those needs. It’s a great time to get familiar with the prospects who will get talked about and dissected in the football media over the next year.

Our friends at Draft Wire gave Lions fans a couple of interesting names to know heading into the season in their recent two-round mock draft.

In the first round, Penn State LB Micah Parsons got the nod with the No. 6 overall pick (the order is based on current Super Bowl odds). Parsons is the choice over players like Alabama LB Dylan Moses, his Crimson Tide teammate, CB Patrick Surtain, and a vast group of offensive tackles who all show some legit promise.

With the second-round selection, the name to know is Texas safety Caden Sterns. That doesn’t seem to really fit with the bigger perceived needs, but it’s a good idea to consider that everything is on the table at this early juncture.

Can I play with madness? He said, “you’re blind, too blind to see”
“Oh, listen to me,” said the prophet

Alabama WR Devonta Smith is the 1st player projected to the Lions for the 2021 NFL Draft

Preseason mock drafts are valuable more as watch lists and perception of team need more than they are for their predictive value

With the body of the 2020 NFL Draft not even cold yet, the life force of the draft media has already poured forward into 2021. The first mock drafts for next April’s extravaganza are already out. One early 2021 mock offers a hint at where the Lions could be looking to fill holes next year.

The way-too-early projection from Bleacher Report and analyst Matt Miller is for the Lions to select Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith with the No. 7 overall pick. While the draft slot is disappointingly high, the concept of taking a wide receiver in the first round is one Lions fans are going to need to get used to over the next year.

Remember, the Lions do not have a single wide receiver under contract beyond 2020 except 5th-round rookie Quintez Cephus, who has yet to sign his first deal.

Smith has already posted some very impressive game tape for the Crimson Tide. As Miller notes,

Devonta Smith exploded onto the scene for Alabama in an impressive wide receiver room this season but still managed to impress with massive performances like his five-touchdown game against Ole Miss. His production might take a hit with a new quarterback, but his traits point to Round 1, as he looks like a clone of Jerry Jeudy.

Preseason mock drafts are valuable more as watch lists and perception of team need more than they are for their predictive value. Treat them as such and they’re fun and informative.