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Ahead of the second week of the Southeastern Conference’s league play-only season, Pro Football Focus (PFF) released their latest 2021 Mock Draft on October 1.
Basing their order of selections on the current Las Vegas Super Bowl odds, the New York Jets received the No. 1 pick and as expected, took Clemson Tigers junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
“There is no chance any GM in their right mind would pass or trade out of this selection,” wrote the mock draft’s author, Michael Renner.
“I don’t care how great they believe Sam Darnold to be; if they end up with the worst record in the NFL, they have to take Lawrence.
“As well as he’s played his first two seasons at Clemson, it’s scary to think Lawrence is still getting better. He’s got an absurd 95.7 passing grade through two games this season, best in the nation.”
To round out the top-five, the New York Giants picked Oregon Ducks junior offensive tackle at No. 2, the Washington Football Team nabbed Ohio State Buckeyes junior quarterback Justin Fields at No. 3, the Cincinnati Bengals reconnected quarterback Joe Burrow with his former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase at No. 4, and the Carolina Panthers, who are coached by ex-Baylor Bears head coach Matt Rhule, grabbed Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Micah Parsons at No. 5.
Two Florida Gators made the cut, as well, with junior tight end Kyle Pitts being the first off the board to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 11.
“Pitts showed last Saturday (September 26) why he’s well worth being taken this early,” Renner began.
“He hauled in eight passes for 170 yards, including four scores, against Ole Miss. He is too athletic for any linebacker and far too physical for any (cornerback) to line up against. He’s won matchups from inline and out wide over the course of his career.
“With Hunter Henry franchise tagged, there is no guarantee he will return. Even if he does, they have different enough skill sets to have both see the field at the same time and provide elite targets for Justin Herbert.”
Henry, in his fifth professional season, also starred in the SEC, playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks under then-head coach Bret Bielema.
The other Gator to appear in this mock draft was quarterback Kyle Trask, chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 15.
“If the Raiders miss the playoffs for the third-straight season under head coach Jon Gruden, you can bet all options will be on the table at the quarterback position,” Renner said.
“Trask seems like just the type of pocket passer Gruden craves, and if he plays as he did in Week 1 for the rest of the season, the Raiders will have to trade up for him. He had four big-time throws in a superb 416-yard passing day against Ole Miss.”
As Renner alluded to, Trask opened eyes with his performance in Oxford, tossing six touchdown passes, one shy of tying the school record.
Other notable selections include Miami Hurricanes redshirt sophomore defensive end Gregory Rousseau to the Miami Dolphins at No. 6 and Alabama Crimson Tide junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II to the Denver Broncos at No. 8, redshirt junior linebacker Dylan Moses to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 9, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Christian Barmore to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 12 and junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Detroit Lions at No. 13.
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