The 2020 College Football Season Is Trying To Break Up With You (But Doesn’t Know How)

The 2020 college football season is close to being cancelled, but it keeps fans and players hanging on.

The 2020 college football season is close to being cancelled, but it keeps fans and players hanging on.


It’s not you, it’s the 2020 college football season.

You’re fine. It’s not anything you did, but the 2020 college football season is trying to break up with you.

It’s not because of your politics.

It’s not because you aren’t supportive.

It’s not because you forgot to wear a mask that one time when picking up your salted caramel & banana cream pancake breakfast from Denny’s.

There are circumstances beyond everyone’s control, and it’s just not working out.

[jwplayer muPr0F4N]

I didn’t want to be the one to say it – because your relationship seemed so promising just a few days ago – but the 2020 college football season is a hot mess, and you’re probably better off with that really cute 2021 thing that’s about to come by in a snap.

But the 2020 college football season just can’t let you go.

It’s still wants to go out to dinner, it might want to take a trip in the spring, and it’s saying it might want to hang out in certain ways, but a B1G part of the relationship probably won’t be around anymore.

I’m sorry. Everyone wants to see you two kids get together, but it’s not looking promising.

There are other college football seasons in the sea.

The stupid 2020 college football season, Part 1

2020 has been awful. It’s been disastrous, it’s been horrific, it’s been tragic, it’s been heartbreaking, it’s been unfathomable, and it’s also been revolutionary.

Now, 2020 has taken a new turn to the stupid.

YOU … HAD … FOUR … MONTHS, college football.

Where was the coordinated plan? Where was the idea to keep the players safe? Where were the outside-the-box thoughts and ideas to do this responsibly?

This is only a multi-billion dollar business, and yet the college presidents and athletic directors came up with a fat load of nothing.

And the real kicker? It’s not even the NCAA’s fault – at least not entirely – and it really doesn’t have anything to do with state-by-state policies on mask wearing and social distancing.

Most of the Big Ten and Pac-12 states were ahead of things when it came to masks and trying to do what’s recommended, and they’re the conferences reportedly leading the charge to shut it all down because they don’t know how to come up with a safe season.

Each conference was left to come up with a plan, and no one had it. No one had any idea how to make college football go. (That’s partly because the schools can’t figure out how to make college go, either, as more than a very, very expensive streaming service, but that’s for another day.)

You had four months, and now we’re here.

The stupid 2020 college football season, Part 2

Don’t say “the MAC” as a reason why the Power 5 programs are on the brink of cancelling the season, or I’m hanging up. The Power 5 does whatever the Power 5 wants to do.

Don’t you dare say “the media” as a reason why the Power 5 programs are on the brink of cancelling the season, or I’m hanging up triple-hard.

Forget your politics for a moment. Are you THAT far gone to really believe that a college president is going to take the most unpopular stance possible by voting to cancel a college football season – which almost certainly would lead to a death threats, possible job loss, and waving goodbye to a whole lot of fund raising – because of a few articles from some sportswriter who you actually think doesn’t like sports?

Don’t say “a vaccine” as a reason why the can might be kicked to spring of 2021, or I’m hanging up with with condescension.

Really, Big Ten? You want to play college football in Minneapolis, Madison, Ann Arbor, etc., in (bleep)ing February?

Really, college football? You’re concerned about player safety now, but you’re interested in the idea of what amounts to ten months of the sport in a calendar year? You really think you can finish up a spring season in May, and turn around three months later and kick things off again?

Oh, and by the way, Big Ten, what the hell are you doing?

First, you release your full schedule on a Tuesday. It’s built with the big showdowns early and openings later, with the assumption that some games will be postponed. And then, just a few days later, you decide you might want to cancel everything?

You know what you want to do – why didn’t you just end this a week ago?

There’s a global pandemic. People would be mad, but everyone gets it, even if they say they don’t. But now, Big Ten, you’re too chicken to simply cancel your own season because you want the optics of other conferences to join you?

And … you’re so worried about playing a season, but YOU’RE STILL ALLOWING FALL PRACTICES TO GO ON?!

The stupid 2020 college football season, Part 3

I’m just that dumb to still believe that there might be some semblance of a season. This take is probably freezing cold by the time you read it, but I still don’t buy into the idea that all the conferences are 100% on board with dropping the 2020 campaign.

I’m just that dumb to believe that some conference out there is seeing what’s happening as an opportunity.

“Go ahead, Big Ten and probably the Pac-12 – quit. More TV revenue, attention, and big-time transfers for us.”

I’m just that dumb to go from 47% convinced three weeks ago to 99.3% that the College Football Playoff will be Liberty and the three service academies.

I’m just that dumb to tin-foil hat believe that – at least in some way – the conferences are doing all of this to squash the player rights movement before it gets any traction.

The stupid 2020 college football season, Part 4

I write for COLLEGE FOOTBALL News. Of course I want a 2020 college football season, but I only want it if it’s as safe as can reasonably be played.

At the end of the day, everyone, it’s just a game, and it’s supposed to be fun.

We don’t know the long-term effects of this horrific virus on the human body. The odds are overwhelming that a college-age player who gets this won’t die, but that’s not really the point.

Yeah, they’re young adults, and yeah, they’re almost all on scholarship, but they’re not professional athletes. Each one is someone’s kid who was sent off to college.

That’s why, to be brutally honest, I feel oily going too hard backing the #WeWantToPlay trending movement, since I professionally benefit from these guys – who aren’t going to get paid – who just want to go out there and have fun.

With that said, as someone who’s 100% for players’ rights …

College players – now, more than ever – desperately need professional representation looking out for their best interests.

Negotiation 101: Don’t give up your leverage.

You can’t look all desperate with your #WeWantToPlay thing, and then come up with a list of demands – as reasonable as they are.

Among those demands …

“Establish universal mandated health & safety procedures and protocols to protect college-athletes against COVID-19.”

Yeah, no (bleep). Guys, if they could’ve figured THAT out, we wouldn’t be here. And because of that …

Nah, we don’t want to lose you, 2020 college football season.

You treat us like crap, you tease us, you’re probably devastating to our health, and now you’re threatening to leave.

It’s okay. If you love something, set it free, and if it comes back it’s yours, or something creepy like that.

College football, we’re still here for you – even if you need a break so everything until everything is okay.

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Clemson’s star QB Trevor Lawrence has strong opinions about the momentum towards cancelling the fall season

As we all await the news of a cancelled fall season that at this point seems inevitable, athletes, media members, and others have taken to Twitter to voice their thoughts. Among those with strong opinions about cancelling the season is Clemson QB, …

As we all await the news of a cancelled fall season that at this point seems inevitable, athletes, media members, and others have taken to Twitter to voice their thoughts.  Among those with strong opinions about cancelling the season is Clemson QB, and likely top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence, as have other notable college athletes, has taken to Twitter to show his support for playing a season.

Tonight, he broke his opinions down even further in a series of responses to the crushing news of cancellation.

Lawrence went on to add context to his risk assessment later in the thread:

“Not to mention the players coming from situations that are not good for them/ their future and having to go back to that,” said the Clemson star. “Football is a safe haven for so many people. We are more likely to get the virus in everyday life than playing football. Having a season also incentivizes. Players being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoid contracting covid because the season/ teammates safety is on the line. Without the season, as we’ve seen already, people will not social distance or wear masks and take the proper precautions.”

While there is clearly momentum among FBS presidents and chancellors, including those in the Big Ten, to cancel the season, there is a very human element to value here for players who are losing out on an opportunity.

No matter your opinion on whether or not college football can/should be played, we can all come together in feeling heartbroken for a group of athletes who are ready to do anything they can to take the field.

 

 

Trevor Lawrence tries to save the college football season amid reports of imminent cancellation

College football is in doubt for 2020.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced a stoppage of U.S. sports back in March, optimistic expectations pointed to a college football season that would go on as scheduled.

But over the past five months, the U.S. has surpassed 5 million coronavirus cases, 162,000 deaths and still faces growing case counts around the country as a lack of federal response has led to an inconsistent approach to the pandemic from state to state.

Basically, the reality of that situation has set in with the college football decision makers. And multiple reports Sunday pointed to a postponed (or canceled) college football season getting announced in the coming days. That has led to a number of college football players spreading the #WeWanttoPlay hashtag on Twitter.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was among the players to make a last-ditch effort to save the season on social media. He tweeted this thread on Sunday:

According to Lawrence, it would be more dangerous for players to sit out the season. But his argument was essentially admitting that college football players weren’t going to adhere to health and safety guidelines at home so might as well risk getting sick by playing football with the financial support of the universities.

He thought that the promise of football would be enough to make players take the pandemic seriously.

But we’ve already seen professional athletes struggle with health protocols during season restarts. The Marlins and Cardinals had the incentive of money and competition to follow guidelines, and they still faced team-wide outbreaks. College football — comprised of unpaid and unionized athletes — would not be able to have a consistent testing and enforcement protocol across the board.

Every fan and college administrator wants to see college football played, but the current conditions in the U.S. make fall football a reckless exercise at this point.

[jwplayer pa2mrPQU-q2aasYxh]

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence wants 2020 season to be played

As the pieces start to look like college football 2020 will be postponed, one big-name player wants the season to start as scheduled. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, took to Twitter Sunday to share …

As the pieces start to look like college football 2020 will be postponed, one big-name player wants the season to start as scheduled.

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, took to Twitter Sunday to share his feelings.

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence: ‘We want to play’

As doubts swirl around the 2020 college football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s top QB prospect makes his feelings clear

The 2020 college football season is in serious doubt amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with schools and conferences at every level altering their schedules or canceling their seasons entirely in recent days.

Some of the top prospects in the country have also been making the decision to opt out of any college football that might be played this season, opting instead to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the early favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, appears to have no plans to sit out the season:

Lawrence has been destined for the top spot in the 2021 draft since his spectacular freshman season, which was capped by a dominant performance against Alabama in a blowout in for the national title. While his play ebbed and flowed throughout his sophomore campaign, he’s still widely regarded as the man to beat for that No. 1 pick.

It remains to be seen how much college football we’ll get this season, if any, but if it’s being played, you can expect to see Lawrence out there.

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2021 NFL mock draft: Which surprise QB prospect jumps into the 1st round?

See which under-the-radar quarterback leaps into the first round of this way-too-early mock for the 2021 NFL Draft

It’s never too early for a mock draft, especially as some top prospects are already opting out of the 2020 college football season to get an early start on their preparations for the next level.

The latest 2021 NFL mock draft comes from Touchdown Wire, where they have a pair of top quarterback prospects kicking things off.

To no one’s surprise, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence takes the top spot, landing with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Ohio State’s Justin Fields goes to the Washington Football Team at No. 2 overall. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance makes it a quarterback trifecta in the top 10, heading to the Detroit Lions at No. 7 overall.

But the only other quarterback to land in this first-round projection is a bit of a surprise, as Florida’s Kyle Trask stays in the Sunshine State with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 28 overall, making him the Bucs’ eventual successor for Tom Brady.

Seeing those top three land among the first 10 picks is par for the course at this point when it comes to mock drafts, but the battle to be the No. 4 passer off the board still varies widely. Georgia will have an intriguing battle this fall between a pair of transfers in Jamie Newman and JT Daniels, while the likes of Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan and Iowa State’s Brock Purdy could also get first-round consideration.

Trask replaced an injured Feleipe Franks last season and instantly improved the Gators’ offense, turning himself into one of the more interesting quarterback prospects in this year’s class. Another strong season in 2020 could easily put him in the top-32 conversation.

To check out the complete first-round mock at Touchdown Wire, click here.

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College Football Playoff Announces Schedule Changes for 2020-21 Season

The College Football Playoff has announced changes in their scheduling for the 2020-21 CFP. Details here –

The College Football Playoff has announced changes to their 2020-21 schedule.

Now that I have your attention, before you get too excited or worked up know that the changes are to date of the final College Football Playoff rankings being released and later in December and the amount of time teams are at their bowl locations gets shortened significantly while media day for these games has been canceled.

With that in mind here your official release from the College Football Playoff on August 5, 2020:

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF ANNOUNCES
SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON

The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee will release its final rankings of the 2020-21 season Sunday, December 20, executive director Bill Hancock announced. The top four teams will participate in the Playoff Semifinals Friday, January 1, in the Rose Bowl Game and Sugar Bowl. The national championship game will be played Monday, January 11, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The final rankings were originally scheduled to be released Sunday, December 6. The CFP Management Committee made the change as a result of several conferences having moved their championship games to December 12, 18 or 19.

The committee’s final meeting of the season will be December 18-19-20 in Grapevine, Texas.  The CFP will announce the full schedule of this fall’s selection committee meetings at a later date.

“With recent schedule changes for the regular season, it makes sense for the committee to make its final rankings after the conference championship games, when it can get a complete picture of the season,” Hancock said.  “The selection committee members understand the need to be flexible as we all navigate uncharted waters this season, and this move will allow them to evaluate all the available information.”

The Management Committee also shortened the post-season travel time for teams.  The two teams participating in the CFP National Championship will arrive in Miami on Saturday afternoon, January 9, 2021 instead of the usual Friday evening arrival. With this change, media day, typically held on Saturday morning in the host city, will not take place this year. Details on virtual media availabilities will be announced at a later date. The Rose Bowl Game, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl and Peach Bowl will follow a similar three-day schedule.

“In this unprecedented time, the Management Committee believes it is in the best interest for the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and staffs to complete their game-week preparation on campus, under the familiar protocols they will have used all season,” said Hancock. “This is an unfortunate consequence of the pandemic, but it is the right thing to do.”

For additional information on the selection committee and its weekly rankings, and to view the selection committee protocol in its entirety, please visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.

-#CFBPlayoff-

About the College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game. This season’s Playoff Semifinals will take place Friday, January 1, 2021, at the Rose Bowl Game and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 11, 2021, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Touchdown Wire’s “way too early” 2021 mock draft

Setting in some players to watch and potential pairings that make sense well ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.

It is never too early for a mock draft.

Of course, mock drafts in August always seem a bit early, given that we have an entire college football season ahead of us and we often see dramatic rises from players, such as Mitchell Trubisky a few seasons ago and Joe Burrow just last year. In the midst of a global pandemic? It seems even earlier, as who knows what the college football landscape will really look like over the next few months?

Assuming we get college football, mock drafts at this point in the calendar are a great reference. A watch list of sorts, outlining players that you should keep your eyes on once the games kick off. The selections can also be used to highlight perceived weaknesses on NFL rosters as training camps open, and by the time the NFL season kicks off, those weaknesses might already be addressed via late free agent movement or even a trade or two. So, take these all with a grain of salt and use them to cultivate your own watch lists over the next few weeks.

A word about the draft order. It was generated using the Super Bowl odds for each team as currently listed by BetMGM, which you can view here. In the case of ties, those were broken by their current ranking on Touchdown Wire’s Power Rankings. In addition, a special situation unfolded as the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs currently have the best Super Bowl odds. Since they cannot play in the big game, the Ravens were slid down and the NFC team with the best odds was slid up. Completely scientific as you can see…

Now, the selections in Touchdown Wire’s “way too early” 2021 mock draft:

1-8 | 9-16 | 17-24 | 25-32

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

(Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports)

Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Washington Football Team have the longest odds to reach Super Bowl LV, and due to their lower position on the most recent Touchdown Wire Power Rankings, Jacksonville is on the clock.

That leads us to Trevor Lawrence. The Clemson quarterback remains at the top of many quarterback boards heading into the 2020 season – although not all – but he has the perfect blend of traits for the modern game. You could see Lawrence running a timing and rhythm passing game like New England’s, you could see him running a boot-action based system like Minnesota’s or Cleveland’s, or you could even drop him into Baltimore’s offense and se him use his legs, which are a weapon in their own right.

Jacksonville is rolling with Gardner Minshew for the season ahead, but if they end up wit the first overall selection, odds are they’ll look to lock down a premier talent at the game’s most important position.

2. Washington Football Team: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

When discussing Lawrence it was noted that he might not be the top quarterback on everyone’s board. That is due to the rise of Justin Fields. In the wake of Dwayne Haskins moving to the NFL, the transfer from Georgia stepped into the starting lineup for the Ohio State Buckeyes and dazzled.

What might make Fields so intriguing as a prospect is his baseball background. We are seeing a generation of new passers such as Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray transition into the league with such a past, and that enables them to make throws from any base, from any arm angle and from the most crowded of pockets. Fields is the same, and he can generate velocity on his throws necessary to challenge the tightest of windows even when under fierce pressure in the pocket. Should Washington falter, Fields would be a great addition.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Quarterbacks often get pushed up boards artificially due to positional value, but there is a chance that Sewell is the best overall player in this draft class. Matt Miller, who covers the NFL Draft for Bleacher Report, stated in a recent mock draft of Sewell that his “…2019 tape showed no weaknesses. If he continues to play at that clip in 2020, he’ll be a lock to be the first overall pick if a team without a need at quarterback selects in this spot.”

Cincinnati, with the addition of Joe Burrow, has some weapons at the skill positions on the offensive side of the football. Entering 2020 however, there are questions about the offensive line. They hope to get a full season from 2019 first-rounder Jonah Williams at the left offensive tackle spot, but you need two good tackles in today’s game, and adding Sewell to the mix would be a great way to tap into the potential of Burrow and this offense.

4. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

(Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

Lots of early mock drafts have the Carolina Panthers looking to the quarterback position here, perhaps with Fields or North Dakota State passer Trey Lance. But the bet here is on Teddy Bridgewater, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady putting him in a position to be successful in 2020, allowing the Panthers to look elsewhere at the top of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Passing on LSU wideout Ja’Marr Chase might be tough for Brady, but the team has needs elsewhere, including in the secondary. There are potential names to consider at this position including Patrick Surtain II from Alabama and Tyson Campbell from Georgia, yet Farley is the selection at this spot. His medical history might be a concern, as he has a non-contact ACL tear from 2017 that cost him a season. However, Farley is the type of coverage CB that defensive coordinators covet, especially given his press coverage skills.

5. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

(Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

The Miami Dolphins had a great off-season, both in free agency and the draft. Yet oddsmakers think the team is probably a year or two away from being truly competitive, which has them picking near the top of the draft yet again.

One area they could still address is the wide receiver room. DaVante Parker seems to be finally showing what he is capable of, and had a great close to the 2019 season. In Week 17 he had quite the afternoon against Stephon Gilmore, viewed as the top cornerback in the league. But beyond Parker the Dolphins have questions at the position.

That leads us to Chase, the early front-runner for WR1. He put up huge numbers last season for the LSU Tigers, and in the process set the single season records for receiving yards and touchdowns in the SEC. No small feat from a sophomore. He is great at the catch point and has incredible change-of-direction skills both before and after the catch. Chase would be a great fit in the offense we can expect to see from Chan Gailey and the Dolphins in 2020.

6. New York Giants: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

(Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports)

Linebacker might not be the most coveted position in the modern game, but if you are going to use an early pick on an LB, you want to get a good one.

Micah Parsons is a good one.

Parsons is a true sideline-to-sideline player, who seems to be playing two steps ahead of everyone else on the field. He combines great athleticism with tremendous vision and instincts for the position. Parsons is also able to do more than most linebackers: He was a defensive end in high school and his pass-rushing traits show up when he’s allowed to attack the passer. But he also has the coverage skills you need from a linebacker if you are going to trust them in sub packages or on third downs. He can be the matchup type of defender that modern defenses need.

The Giants have a need at linebacker, even with the off-season acquisition of Blake Martinez and the growth shown from David Mayo in 2019. Parsons would be a huge injection of talent into this defense.

7. Detroit Lions: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

There are a few reasons why Trey Lance could be the selection in this spot for the Detroit Lions. First off, one has to imagine that the seat under Matt Patricia is a bit warm, especially given the expectations set in place by ownership the past off-season. If the Lions are still picking this early in the draft, odds are that a new regime is in town, and they might want to put their stamp on the future with the new face of the franchise.

Even if Patricia returns, the Lions might think about addressing the quarterback position if they are picking near the top of the board again. This is no knock against Matthew Stafford, who remains an elite talent at the position. But Stafford has battled back injuries each of the past two seasons, and the chance to lock up a potential franchise passer is often too good to pass on. Lance might be playing at the FCS level, but don’t let that fool you. He is every bit the part of a future franchise QB.

8. New York Jets: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

(Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

Patrick Surtain II might be the next player in a long line of secondary standouts from Alabama to find his way into the first round of an NFL Draft. The son of a former NFL defensive back, Surtain plays with veteran savvy and patience. Thanks to playing under Nick Saban, he’ll be ready for whatever an NFL playbook throws at him.

But in terms of his pure talent, Surtain is almost teaching tape at the position. He is patient at the line of scrimmage and never panics, but is good at getting his hands onto receivers and rerouting them off the line. He is fluid with his footwork and through his hips, allowing him to stick on receivers on double-moves and against quick cuts. He is good at the catchpoint as well, with good technique to play up through the pocket and break up potential completions. The Jets might look to a wide receiver here, depending on how Denzel Mims and Breshard Perriman pan out, but provided those players have good years, Surtain is a good fit.

Trevor Lawrence offered his support for the Pac-12 players’ boycott effort

Could other conferences follow?

As the power conferences continued to push forward with hopes of holding a college football season amid a global pandemic, players from the Pac-12 Conference went public with a threat to boycott the season if certain demands were not met.

In an article entry with The Players’ Tribune, “Players of the Pac-12” urged the conference to take specific action in the interest of player safety, social and racial justice and protecting player scholarships.

That core message seemed to have the backing of college football’s biggest star as well.

Commenting on a tweet from Washington cornerback Elijah Molden, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence endorsed the Pac-12 players’ push for fair treatment.

In Molden’s original tweet, he noted that there were components of the Pac-12 players’ demands that he didn’t necessarily agree with (though he didn’t go into specifics). But the primary point of college athletes using their voices to challenge an exploitive system was something Molden supported.

And it sounded like Lawrence was in agreement there.

[jwplayer toWXDj4e-q2aasYxh]

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.

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