2021 NFL Mock Draft: Eighth Edition

 Here is my eighth edition of my 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson: This is about as a slam dunk of a draft pick that there has been since perhaps Andrew Luck going first overall in 2012. It may take some time, but there's a chance that Lawrence and Urban Meyer can make the Jaguars a formidable franchise for the next decade and a half.

2. New York Jets- Zach Wilson, Quarterback, BYU: This selection has felt like a lock for a few months now after six months ago many people thought this was going to be Justin Fields. Wilson, coming off a breakout season in college would really fit fell in new offensive coordinator Mike LeFleur's offense with his tremendous arm talent.

3. San Francisco 49ers- Mac Jones, Quarterback, Alabama: Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance will be the talk of the town regarding this pick. This time I'm rolling with Jones with this selection as speculation continues on which quarterback the Niners will take here. There are some out there that feel that Jones was a product of the great talent around him in college and others that believe his Senior season was no fluke.

4. Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Pitts, Tight End, Florida: The Falcons are absolutely a prime trade down candidate with teams trying to move up to select a quarterback or another position of need. Lets say they keep the selection and they use it on Pitts, who would be the pick if the Falcons are trying to extend Matt Ryan's prime as Pitts is perhaps the best tight end prospect since Rob Gronkowski.

5. Cincinnati Bengals- Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Oregon: This should absolutely be the pick for the Bengals if they stay at five, although selecting Joe Burrow's former teammate JaMarr Chase would entice the team. Protection for Burrow is needed after the offensive line failed him last season, which resulted in the ACL injury that ended Burrow's promising rookie season.

6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles)- JaMarr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU: The Dolphins coming away with Chase or Kyle Pitts would be a major win for the team, especially Tua Tagovaiola. Chase is someone who opted out a season ago, which some think may hurt his draft stock, but the talent and upside is really at a high level which will be hard for the Dolphins and other teams to pass up on.

7. Detroit Lions- Jaylen Waddle, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be an interesting decision for the Lions whether to stay at seven and take the player of their choice or they trade down and gain assets, which is what they should do. If they do the former and stay put, Waddle would be a solid choice due to the Lions lack of weapons on offense as he would provide some electric play with his great route running and speed.

8. Carolina Panthers- Rashawn Slater, Offensive Tackle, Northwestern: The Panthers have options with this selection and although some mocks have them addressing their cornerback situation, they should focus this selection to help Sam Darnold succeed. Slater is somebody that would immediately make the Panthers offensive line better due to his versatility.

9. Denver Broncos- Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State: John Elway would be ecstatic if Fields fell down to his lap. He is someone who was seen as a lock to go second overall in the fall, but his stock dropped due to inconsistencies during a shortened Big-10 season. If Fields were to land here, the Broncos would join the Chiefs and Chargers for division supremacy for years to come.

10. Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Sutain II, Cornerback, Alabama: The Cowboys have been linked to Sutain for quite a while now due to their dire need at the position. Sutain is somebody that has been battle tested a lot in college and has the physicality and ball skills to be successful as they finally replace Byron Jones.

11. New York Giants- DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Giants goal this offseason is to provide Daniel Jones all the help in the world to succeed. They complete that goal by taking Smith, who's an all world talent and he and Kenny Golladay instantly become one of the best receiving duos in the entire league and this selection also prevents the division rival Eagles from taking the reigning Heisman winner.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (from San Francisco 49ers via Miami Dolphins)- Jaycee Horn, Cornerback, South Carolina: With the big three receivers off the board, Eagles take another position of need in cornerback. Horn is somebody is that really has shown ability to play well against elite competition being in the SEC and he's someone that could really help them against the talented NFC East receivers.

13. Los Angeles Chargers- Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech: The Chargers are a team that is closer to contention than folks think. Here I have them taking the talented lineman in Darrisaw, who would provide great protection for Justin Herbert and has the tools to be a Pro Bowl tackle.

14. Minnesota Vikings- Kwity Paye, Defensive End, Michigan: The Vikings have a choice here and most people believe they'll go with a lineman, but the question is what side of the ball? Here I have them going with the talented pass rusher in Paye, who really would give the Vikings insurance incase they lose Danielle Hunter in the future with his status up in the air.

15. New England Patriots- Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State: The Patriots should not take a quarterback with this pick, unless they make a bold move and move up for Justin Fields due to the fact that their offseason moves indicate that they want to return to Super Bowl contender status. Lance to the Pats has been a popular take of late and if anyone could help develop Lance into his potential not many saw, it's Bill Belichick.

16. Arizona Cardinals- Alijah Vera-Tucker, Offensive Tackle, USC: This would be a solid choice for the Cardinals, who can use some offensive line help to protect Kyler Murray. With the recent retirement of Marcus Gilbert, Vera-Tucker can come in and replace him with his versatility.

17. Las Vegas Raiders- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker, Notre Dame: This would be a solid selection for Jon Gruden and Company as they select a position of need pick with Owusu-Koramoah. He will provide exactly what new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley would like- speed, athleticism, and cover ability.

18. Miami Dolphins- Najee Harris, Running Back, Alabama: The Dolphins should go defense and address the pass rush with this selection, if not trade down. I don't love Harris being picked this high, but the match isn't a bad one. The Dolphins running backs weren't great last season and Harris has the ability to find holes through offensive lines and he would reunite with Tua Tagovailoa in this scenario.

19. Washington Football Team- Micah Parsons, Outside Linebacker, Penn State: This would be a major steal for Washington as they make a solid pass rush unit even better. Parsons's character issues is what has teams weary and it could cause him to drop in this draft.

20. Chicago Bears- Caleb Farley, Cornerback, Virginia Tech: This would be a solid pick for the Bears, who have options here with this pick as they can pick whatever hole on their roster they have. Farley opted out last season and that combined with the back surgery he had makes this a risky pick, which could be a great pick if he is healthy and produces up to capability.

21. Indianapolis Colts- Tevin Jenkins, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State: This would be a logical pick for the Colts, who need a tackle with Anthony Costanzo retiring. Jenkins is somebody who's stock is rising with the draft coming up in two days due to his clean footwork and knows what to do in space.

22. Tennessee Titans- Azeez Ojulari, Defensive End, Georgia: This would be a solid pick for the Titans, who need help on their pass rush. New addition Bud Dupree cannot do it alone and Ojulari is someone who got better every year in college and is someone that is versatile.

23. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)- Trevon Moehrig, Safety, TCU: The Jets have a lot of holes on their roster and they can go anywhere with this pick. Moehrig is somebody that I felt was overshadowed due to playing in the Big-12 and he and Marcus Maye would be a nice duo.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Jayson Oweh, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Penn State: The Steelers have some options here with this pick and here I have them snagging the in state talent in Oweh. He provides versatility that the team lacks and would help replace the free agent loss of Bud Dupree.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars- Wyatt Davis, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State: Davis here at 25 would be a major reach and there are better offensive lineman available in theory of this mock draft. Davis is somebody that obviously has ties to Urban Meyer with Ohio State which would make this match possible.

26. Cleveland Browns- Christian Barmore, Defensive Tackle, Alabama: The Browns are a team that don't have that many holes on their roster. Barmore is somebody that would bolster their interior of their defensive line and help Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney get their sacks.

27. Baltimore Ravens- Jalean Phillips, Defensive End, Miami: This would be a solid pick for the Ravens, depending on whether Phillips remains on the field or not. Pass rush is a need for the Ravens with the departures of Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon, which makes this pick realistic.

28. New Orleans Saints- Greg Newsome, Cornerback, Northwestern: Newsome you can make a case would be a steal at this point considering people are projecting Newsome to go in the mod to high teens-low twenties. His overall skill set is what will make teams excited.

29. Green Bay Packers- Rondale Moore, Wide Receiver, Purdue: The Packers finally get Aaron Rodgers a weapon as a first round pick! Moore is someone I feel that is super underrated heading into the draft due to his inconsistencies, but he does "check all the boxes" in terms of what teams look for in drafting players.

30. Buffalo Bills- Asante Samuel Jr, Cornerback, Florida State: The Bills to me are a trade down candidate due to their lack of needs and teams in the top of the second round potentially trading back into the end of the first. Samuel Jr is someone who I feel is underrated and him and Tre White is a nice duo.

31. Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City Chiefs)- Alex Weatherwood, Offensive Tackle/Guard, Alabama: With the trading of Orlando Brown, they replace him with here with the pick they acquired in the trade with the Chiefs. Weatherwood is a plug and play guy as he's versatile and you can make a case he should go higher than this.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gregory Rousseau, Defensive End, Miami: Six months ago, folks looked at Rousseau as a top ten pick lock and boy has he fallen. The Bucs brought the band back together to get the best quarterback of all time his eight ring, but a few of their defensive lineman are set to be free agents in a year so this pick makes sense as Rousseau can learn from these veterans and then become a starter afterwards.