Tag: Jaelen Phillips

Here’s my second 2021 NFL mock draft. I tend not to project trades, and this year is no different — at least for now. The draft process is quite different this year, most notably without a scouting combine, so collegiate pro days will be more valuable than in recent years. Also important, in-game data retrieved from chips embedded into equipment, which is something we’ll see teams utilize more frequently and rely less on watching how a player performs without pads.

Anyway, we’ll be unveiling more mock drafts than ever before this year, so be sure to check back with our 2021 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

2021 NFL Mock Draft notables

• The New York Jets’ No. 2 pick … I previously mocked WR Ja’Marr Chase here, because I wasn’t convinced the Jets were done with Sam Darnold. It was looking to be the case right up until the San Francisco 49ers traded the farm to move into the No. 3 spot, which convinced me the Jets didn’t want to get out of the second slot for fear of losing their new franchise quarterback.
• San Francisco could go with Trey Lance or Justin Fields … my lean is Fields, because I see more upside there to fit what Kyle Shanahan wants to do on offense, and there’s a little greater trust factor coming from a powerhouse school.
• Back to Chase for a moment … Do the Atlanta Falcons need another wide receiver? No, probably not, but Chase’s potential is too great to pass with Julio Jones in the twilight (and probably final year) of his career with the Falcons. Furthermore, the franchise is locked into Matt Ryan for at least 2021 and probably 2022, barring a contract restructuring to spread the dead cap hits. If the team feels it can upgrade elsewhere just enough to be competitive, Chase could be a dynamic pick.

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• Denver is in a strange position following the two draft trades. The Broncos can stick with Drew Lock one more year and see if he develops once he has more cohesion around him and what should be a traditional offseason to develop his promising skills. He lost his top receiver last year, and the right tackle Ja’Wuan James opted out. James, 28, is expected to return, but the team has an out after this year if he’s not playing well. This team could go QB, LB, CB, OT … it’s rather wide open.
• Several situations that appear to be obvious directions for teams to turn don’t necessarily compute for me. I’m not saying Chicago, New Orleans, New England and/or Washington won’t add a quarterback in Round 1, but I’m not seeing the scenarios playing out favorably.

Pick	Team	Pos	Player	School
1	Jacksonville Jaguars	QB	Trevor Lawrence	Clemson
2	New York Jets	QB	Zach Wilson	BYU
3	San Francisco 49ers (via MIA>HOU)	QB	Justin Fields	Ohio State
4	Atlanta Falcons	WR	Ja’Marr Chase	LSU
5	Cincinnati Bengals	OT	Penei Sewell	Oregon
6	Miami Dolphins (via PHI)	TE	Kyle Pitts	Florida
7	Detroit Lions	WR	Jaylen Waddle	Alabama
8	Carolina Panthers	QB	Trey Lance	North Dakota State
9	Denver Broncos	CB	Patrick Surtain II	Alabama
10	Dallas Cowboys	CB	Caleb Farley	Virginia Tech
11	New York Giants	EDGE	Gregory Rosseau	Miami (Fla.)
12	Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA>SF)	LB	Micah Parsons	Penn State
13	Los Angeles Chargers	OT	Christian Darrisaw	Virginia Tech
14	Minnesota Vikings	OT	Rashawn Slater	Northwestern
15	New England Patriots	WR	DeVonta Smith	Alabama
16	Arizona Cardinals	LB	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	Notre Dame
17	Las Vegas Raiders	EDGE	Jaelen Phillips	Miami (Fla.)
18	Miami Dolphins	RB	Najee Harris	Alabama
19	Washington Football Team	WR	Kadarius Toney	Florida
20	Chicago Bears	OL	Teven Jenkins	Oklahoma State
21	Indianapolis Colts	OT	Jalen Mayfield	Michigan
22	Tennessee Titans	CB	Jaycee Horn	South Carolina
23	New York Jets (via SEA)	RB	Travis Etienne	Clemson
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	OG/OT	Alijah Vera-Tucker	USC
25	Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR)	S	Trevon Moehrig	TCU
26	Cleveland Browns	EDGE	Zaven Collins	Tulsa
27	Baltimore Ravens	EDGE	Kwity Paye	Michigan
28	New Orleans Saints	CB	Greg Newsome II	Northwestern
29	Green Bay Packers	DT	Levi Onwuzurike	Washington
30	Buffalo Bills	EDGE	Azeez Ojulari	Georgia
31	Kansas City Chiefs	OG/C	Landon Dickerson	Alabama
32	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	LB	Nick Bolton	Missouri

Here’s my first 2021 NFL mock draft. I tend not to project trades, and this year is no different — at least for now. The draft process is quite different this year, most notably without a scouting combine, so collegiate pro days will be more valuable than in recent years. Also valuable, in-game data retrieved from chips embedded into equipment.

Anyway, we’ll be unveiling more mock drafts than ever before this year, so be sure to check back with our 2021 NFL Draft Central page to keep track of all of our offerings.

2021 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

• The New York Jets’ No. 2 pick … I’m not convinced they’re done with Sam Darnold, and putting more weapons around him will help see what he can bring to the table. He’s only 23, and Zach Wilson is far from a sure thing. I can envision Wilson being the pick and Darnold remaining on the roster, but for a few reasons (durability questions, level of competition, overrated QB class), I’m not nearly as high on Wilson as others. This pick is extremely fluid.
• A trade is absolutely in play, and Carolina jumps out as one of the most viable partners. The Panthers could secure Wilson, while New York then moves back just a handful of spots and picks up multiple picks. It would then allow the Jets to spend a more palatable No. 8 overall pick on a receiver and build around Darnold.
• That being said, it makes the Miami pick at No. 3 all that much harder to project. I’m not sold on DeVonta Smith being the second-best receiver, let alone the second one chosen, and this pick almost certainly becomes Ja’Marr Chase if Wilson is the Jets’ No. 2 overall selection.
• Several situations that appear to be obvious directions for teams to turn don’t necessarily compute for me. I’m not saying Chicago, New Orleans, New England and/or Washington won’t add a quarterback in Round 1, but I’m not seeing the scenarios playing out favorably.
• Free agency opens March 17, and the player movement will undoubtedly create cause for an update after some of the dust settles.

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Pick	Team	Pos	Player	School
1	Jacksonville Jaguars	QB	Trevor Lawrence	Clemson
2	New York Jets	WR	Ja’Marr Chase	LSU
3	Miami Dolphins (from HOU)	WR	DeVonta Smith	Alabama
4	Atlanta Falcons	QB	Zach Wilson	BYU
5	Cincinnati Bengals	OT	Penei Sewell	Oregon
6	Philadelphia Eagles	TE	Kyle Pitts	Florida
7	Detroit Lions	WR	Jaylen Waddle	Alabama
8	Carolina Panthers	QB	Trey Lance	North Dakota State
9	Denver Broncos	QB	Justin Fields	Ohio State
10	Dallas Cowboys	CB	Caleb Farley	Virginia Tech
11	New York Giants	EDGE	Gregory Rosseau	Miami (Fla.)
12	San Francisco 49ers	CB	Patrick Surtain II	Alabama
13	Los Angeles Chargers	OT	Rashawn Slater	Northwestern
14	Minnesota Vikings	OG	Alijah Vera-Tucker	USC
15	New England Patriots	LB	Micah Parsons	Penn State
16	Arizona Cardinals	LB	Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah	Notre Dame
17	Las Vegas Raiders	EDGE	Jaelen Phillips	Miami (Fla.)
18	Miami Dolphins	RB	Najee Harris	Alabama
19	Washington Football Team	WR	Kadarius Toney	Florida
20	Chicago Bears	OL	Teven Jenkins	Oklahoma State
21	Indianapolis Colts	OT	Christian Darrisaw	Virginia Tech
22	Tennessee Titans	EDGE	Kwity Paye	Michigan
23	New York Jets (from SEA)	EDGE	Zaven Collins	Tulsa
24	Pittsburgh Steelers	OT	Jalen Mayfield	Michigan
25	Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)	DE	Christian Barmore	Alabama
26	Cleveland Browns	CB	Jaycee Horn	South Carolina
27	Baltimore Ravens	EDGE	Ronnie Perkins	Oklahoma
28	New Orleans Saints	EDGE	Joe Tryon	Washington
29	Green Bay Packers	DL	Levi Onwuzurike	Washington
30	Buffalo Bills	EDGE	Azeez Ojulari	Georgia
31	Kansas City Chiefs	OG/C	Landon Dickerson	Alabama
32	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	LB	Nick Bolton	Missouri