Dec 26, 20205 min read

Jaguars Find Their Savior: 2021 Early NFL Mock Draft

As this wild NFL regular season is coming to its end, draft season is closer than one may think. Teams looking to find their next cornerstone piece are eyeing some of the top prospects from college football, and with the upcoming class looking as star-studded as the last, the wish of finding a star will be granted for many teams. From generational talents at QB to game-breaking skill positions, here’s how I think this draft will unfold as of Week 16.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

With a Jets win that devastated their fanbase, the Jags slide into the #1 slot and now have the opportunity to grab their possible franchise savior. Although Gardener Minshew has shown some promise, you can’t pass on a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Lawrence. This is possibly the easiest pick in the draft.

2. New York Jets: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

As previously mentioned, the Tank-for-Trevor effort from New York has failed (barring an improbable Jaguars win). Luckily for Jets fans, they can snag another franchise-altering talent in Fields. This pick comes down to whether you believe Sam Darnold has a future in the white and green, but as for now, I see Fields rocking those colors for the foreseeable future.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Plain and simple pick. The Bengals need to protect Joe Burrow at all costs. The Cincinnati offensive line failed him this year, allowing an abundance of sacks resulting in the torn ACL. Selecting Sewell will ensure that edge threats are neutralized and Burrow has time to launch the football downfield.

4. Carolina Panthers: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Here’s where the draft finally becomes interesting. Carolina has missed the presence of Luke Keuchly at LB, and adding Parsons will fill that gap fairly well. Parsons can play coverage, run across the field, and also has the ability to become an edge rusher. He is a 3-down threat with the build and talent to transfer to the next level. A QB would make sense, but with a talent like Parsons on the board at a position of dire need, you don’t pass.

5. Atlanta Falcons: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Lately, Atlanta’s secondary has been injury-riddled and disappointing. Last year’s first-rounder A.J. Terrell has been coming onto the scene lately, but quarterbacks have still been feasting on ATL’s defense. Surtain, a man-to-man corner who locks up some of the best receiving threats at the collegiate level, will solidify the secondary for years to come.

6. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Miami uses their pick from the Laremy Tunsil swap to take a dominant outside threat, Heisman award contender, and a familiar target for Tua Tagovailoa. In the absence of Jaylen Waddle at Alabama, Smith has continued to rip apart defenses all season. The Tua-Smith connection will shine bright under the lights of Hard-Rock stadium.

7. Philadelphia Eagles: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Jalen Hurts gets his new favorite target. Chase is an absolute game-breaker, and despite the fact that he opted out of the 2021 season, no one is forgetting the terror he inflicted on opposing corners. Philly needs a dependable #1 target badly, and Chase will become a matchup nightmare for defenses in the future.

8. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

The Cowboys’ cornerback room is going to go under a huge renovation next year. Awuzie and others are likely to test the free-agency market. Snagging a reliable corner such as Farley will bring much-needed talent and stability to the struggling Dallas secondary.

9. Los Angeles Chargers: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Let’s buy the stunning rookie star, and frontrunner for offensive rookie of the year, Justin Herbert, some time to throw; Cosmi can immediately step in for Brian Bulaga or Sam Tevi at tackle and protect Herbert. A great change of scenery for a position of need in L.A.

10. New York Giants: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

Rousseau’s raw athleticism and dominance will transform this mediocre New York pass rush into something to fear. With a superstar ceiling, The Giants would be crazy to not steal a defense-altering talent.

11. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

The Lions have nearly their entire receiving corps headed to free agency this offseason, and a well-rounded deep threat in Waddle will fill in well for whoever they lose. No real concern over the season-ending ankle injury.

12. San Francisco 49ers: Trey Lance, QB, NDSU

The selection of a quarterback at #12 for the Niners would be glaring. This pick is also ideal to think about in regards to Jimmy Garoppolo’s future with the team. Lance will fill in for the injury-riddled and immobile Garoppolo and give Kyle Shanahan a lot more freedom designing plays. The speed and scrambling ability of Lance will open up the field and become a real threat on the ground, something Jimmy G never had.

13. Denver Broncos: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

As Drew Lock is your starting quarterback, if a player like Zach Wilson is on the board, adding another quarterback makes sense. He can step into a loaded offense in Denver, and with the canon of an arm that he possesses, the Broncos would be an offensive juggernaut for years to come.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State

The best interior offensive lineman in the draft goes to Minnesota. Davis will clear the way for Dalvin Cook and protect Kirk Cousins without a doubt. He will top off an already young and promising o-line.

15. New England Patriots: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Known for the utilization of their tight ends, and desperately needing a weapon on offense, the Patriots will be surprised to see Kyle Pitts on the board at their mid-round selection. Pitts is arguably the best jump-ball catcher in the draft and is a unique and dominant prospect. He can flex outside to WR if needed, and Belichick will adore the utility of a player of his caliber.

16. Chicago Bears: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida

Now, placing a quarterback with limited mobility behind the Bears offensive line might be igniting a fire, but this team's quarterback play is absolutely atrocious. Both the Foles and Trubisky experiments have failed, and the only offensive production as of late from this team has been coming from a sparking David Montgomery. Giving them a potential Heisman winner will set a higher floor for this offense, and finally gives the Bears a sense of direction with their following picks and executive decisions.