2021 NFL Mock Draft (Post Week 12)

1) Jets- Trevor Lawrence/QB/Clemson

A slam-dunk pick for the Jets. They replace Darnold with the most heralded QB prospect since Luck and Manning. Now it's about what they do the rest of the draft to build around him.

2) Jaguars- Justin Fields/QB/Ohio State

Sure, the Jags would love to see Lawrence slip to them. But that's not going to happen. Fields is a fabulous consolation prize. Jags will be able to hopefully load up their young core in this draft around their new QB in Fields.

3) Bengals- Penei Sewell/OT/Oregon

Bengals don't need a QB after signing Burrow. Could look to trade down with any teams looking to draft Lance/Wilson. Getting your QB who just ripped up his knee some protection up front is an ideal pick. Oh yeah, and Sewell is only one of the most hyped Tackle prospects in years.

4) Cowboys- Patrick Surtain II/CB/Alabama

Super odd to see the Cowboys this high. QB has to be a consideration. Heard rumblings DAL could try to move up to draft Lawrence. Would have to be Dak, the 4th pick, and then some in order to pry the #1 pick from the Jets with a potential HOF QB on the board. Surtain gets inserted right into the CB #1 slot in DAL and immediately upgrades their most major need.

5) Chargers- Micah Parsons/EDGE/Penn State

Would've loved giving Herbert his LT from college for the rest of his career. Gotta think they'll consider moving up, especially after last year trading up for Murray. This is just taking the most talented player on the board. Melvin Ingram's contract expires and whether they bring him back or not is a bigger question mark than it would have been a year or two ago.

6) Panthers- Trey Lance/QB/North Dakota State

This is an interesting one. Bridgewater is under contract for too much to cut ties with next year, but giving Lance a year to learn under Teddy and Rhule could have him as their starting QB in 2022 and beyond. Secondary is the other consideration, but sitting at the sixth pick, nobody in the secondary is worth taking this high. Lance is with his huge potential ceiling both as a runner and a thrower.

7) Eagles- Ja'Marr Chase/WR/LSU

WR has been a glaring need for years now. Alshon should hang them up, he's just not healthy enough anymore. Reagor can barely stay on the field already. Greg Ward was a QB. Enough putting together a scrap heap for the Eagles QB (Hurts?) to deal with. Chase gives them a bonafied WR 1 that will open everything up, helping the TE's too.

8) Football Team- Zach Wilson/QB/BYU

The fit with Wilson and Rivera is questionable, so that's something to monitor as time progresses. QB is obviously the problem for Washington, and as inspirational as Alex Smith's comeback was, he's not the long-term answer at QB. Haskins clearly isn't either, and Wilson has flown up board this season with his electric play, exciting the country. The Mormon Manziel goes top 10.

9) Lions- Kwity Paye/EDGE/Michigan

Oh, the Lions. Finally pulling the trigger on firing Patricia, it's time for a regime change. The offense will be able to be fielded next year after adding some WR's later in this draft, but the defense has some serious problems. Speed off the edge is one of the major ones, and the Lions look inside their own state to see this stud speed rusher from Michigan. Paye has come out of no where this year to be a lone dominant force on an otherwise disappointing Michigan team, who could even potentially see their coach go back to the NFL where he came from.

10) Falcons- Gregory Rosseau/EDGE/Miami

Vic Beasley went from leading sacker to absolute nothingness. The Falcons have been craving more of what he gave them ever since that year. Rosseau is raw, but has the speed and length the Falcons are missing on the edge. The defense needs to get pressure on the QB, because the Falcons have been getting diced up all year.

11) Dolphins (HOU)- Samuel Cosmi/OT/Texas

The Dolphins are still loaded with picks, even after having the same situation the last two years. They have their QB, and giving your QB some more protection is something every team is interested in. Austin Jackson seems to be more of a natural RT, making Cosmi able to slip into the LT role. However it pans out with who starts where, this is a great get for the Dolphins who also pick again before the end of the 1st round.

12) Broncos- Caleb Farley/CB/Virginia Tech

Ojemudia was a solid pick for them late in the draft last year, but he's not a CB 1. Bouye has no dead cap for next year, and even if they do keep him around, it seems to be for only one more year since his play has regressed a bit. Farley gives the defense a long outside presense to go toe-to-toe with big-bodied WR's.

13) Vikings- Creed Humphrey/iOL/Oklahoma

The Vikings are a running team. Meaning their O-Line is a vital part of their success. And that makes sense that they're picking 13 because it has been lacking this year. This helps Cook run better, gives Cousins more time to find his weapons. Helps everyone on that side of the ball. Even helps the defense by probably keeping the O on the field for longer. Humphrey is a savvy veteran that can probably play any interior position.

14) Bears- Rashawn Slater/OL/Northwestern

The Bears just need O-Line, it is horrendous what they are currently working with. Slater is a great pick for them because he can play any position (legit) on the O-line. Whoever ends up being the QB in Chicago next year needs some help up front.

15) Patriots- Kyle Pitts/TE/Florida

Ryan Izzo isn't a TE1 and anyone who says he is, I'm not sure what to say to you. Pitts brings a big question mark as to what he's going to do. Belichick loves having options with his players. Pitts can function as their WR1 and TE1. Whoever ends up being QB will love this pick.

16) 49ers- Wyatt Davis/iOL/Ohio State

Shanahan is gonna love this guy. The interior for the 49ers is aging, and Davis can play either guard spot. I can already see them running a counter and pulling Davis in front of the RB. This is a great system, player fit.

17) Raiders- Carlos Basham Jr/EDGE/Wake Forest

The Raiders are always fun to mock for. Gruden tends to pick players from big schools and would prefer a guy who is ready to play now. Basham is a SR which you would think would make him drop, but not with the Raiders on the board. They go for experience, and they need someone to give that Mahomes guy a hard time. Basham can.

18) Ravens- Jayson Oweh/EDGE/Penn State

Oweh is someone who has come on strong this season. Judon is headed for FA along with Bowser, so the EDGE presense for the Ravens is lacking. Interior O-line is also a consideration, but with Davis and Humphrey off the board, the Ravens nail a different need.

19) Giants- Alex Leatherwood/OL/Alabama

The Giants offensive line is awful. Andrew Thomas is solid and should probably be at RT. Leatherwood has played everywhere, so this allows the Giants to make-shift their line and throw Leatherwood at their weakest spot. Danny Dimes smiles.

20) Cardinals- Shaun Wade/CB/Ohio State

The Cardinals really like this pick. Wade, had he come out last year, would have likely been a top 10 pick. Peterson is aging and Murphy is better suited in the slot. Kirkpatrick wasn't the worst, but Wade is a potential future CB1.

21) Bucs- Christian Darrisaw/OT/Virginia Tech

Is this Brady's last year? It seems like he's at least going to give it one more go, and if that's the case, giving him protection is key. The defense doesn't need much, the skill positions on offense are set, this just makes all the sense. Give Brady more time to get all these weapons the ball.

22) Dolphins- Dylan Moses/LB/Alabama

The Dolphins have the perfect position of just maximizing talent with every pick. When you have this many picks, you aren't necessarily forced into taking a certain position because you know you can nail that later. Moses is the best player left on the board.

23) Colts- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/LB/Notre Dame

Darius Leonard gets a running partner. Good luck trying to get outside against these two LB's with their insane speed. With the rookie from Stanford last year, the Colts now have a loaded LB corps.

24) Browns- Marvin Wilson/iDL/Florida State

The Browns are notorious for taking the "talent" on the big board. They got Greedy Williams last year, DPJ from Michigan. They take the exciting, hyped prospect. This is Wilson, who could've gone in the first half of the 1st round last year.

25) Jaguars (LAR)- Tyson Campbell/CB/Georgia

If I was the one drafting, Derion Kendrick would be the selection. But something tells me whoever is in charge of the Jags for the draft (Caldwell was recently fired), is going to side with the upside. Campbell is an athletic specimen for a CB and his combine numbers will be interesting to see. Putting him opposite CJ Henderson gives you two starters on the outsides for years to come. Keep the rebuild going.

26) Jets (SEA)- Liam Eichenburg/OT/Notre Dame

You just drafted Trevor Lawrence. Have you seen Darnold play behind the current o-line? You don't want to drive T-Law into considering retirement from the get go do you? Don't overthink this one, protect your investment.

27) Titans- Jaylen Waddle/WR/Alabama

This is just insane value for where the Titans are picking. A lack of WR's in the first round would surprise many, but the depth of the class led to this. Waddle is a great fit opposite AJ Brown in this already stacked offense. Think you wrapped your head around containing Brown and Henry? Meet Waddle, most likely the 40 champion of the 2021 combine. The offense becomes even more explosive.

28) Bills- Alijah Vera-Tucker/OL/USC

This is a hard one. The LB's could use an upgrade, the EDGE could gain more speed, but one thing you know for sure for the Bills after this year is that Josh Allen is your guy. Feliciano is expiring and hasn't been great, seems like time to move on. Vera-Tucker is a great get for the Bills who don't have bonafied starters at really any of the starting spots. He can play anywhere on the line, something that isn't a rarity in this draft surprisingly.

29) Packers- Rondale Moore/WR/Purdue

The Packers LOVE how this draft has started. The fact that Moore fell here is wild, and that it happens to be the perfect fit for the Packers is even more wild. After last year's disaster of a draft, the Packers get Rodgers(?) the weapon he's been waiting a few years for opposite Adams. Moore is an absolute burner who will stretch the field more than Lazard will.

30) Chiefs- Jevon Holland/S/Oregon

The Chiefs offense doesn't need help. At all. So this points you in the direction of defense, which limits your scope of prospects. Sorenson isn't cutting it. Mathieu with some help would be dangerous. If you can make it so no defense can stop your offense, AND make it super difficult to keep up with the score because of your pass defense, that's not fun for the other teams.

31) Saints- Elijah Molden/CB/Washington

The Saints are a team that values the nickel. They put up a lot of points, which means other teams are trying to pass to catch up. Enter Molden, a dominant nickel, who can also line up all over the field. With shades of the Honey Badger, the Saints use this swiss army knife to inject some youth into their team and shed some of their numerous contracts.

32) Steelers- Walker Little/OT/Stanford

Tackle has been an issue since Banner went down for the season. Villanueva is a FA and is aging. Banner was your sixth O-lineman just a year ago. It's clear that whether it's Ben or someone else, they need help on the edges and Walker Little is a rookie veteran, coming back for his senior year even when he was a high prospect last year. This fit makes sense.