Just under three weeks until the NFL Draft, here is my “NFL mock draft” series. This will be done with no trades, treating every team like my baby and analysis on all 259 picks. At the end will be a breakdown of what each team did in my mock. Part I, the First Round.
Our NFL mock draft: round one
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (QB) Clemson – We’ve known this was the number one guy for years and now Jacksonville has a guy to build around
New York Jets: Zach Wilson (QB) BYU – I love his arm talent which is important when you play in a place that gets as windy as Metlife Stadium
San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones (QB) Alabama – Winner, leader and throws the ball with great anticipation. Loses his top WR in college then builds another to the Heisman.
Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance (QB) North Dakota St – I’m looking at 2023 with this pick. He gets handed the keys from Matt Ryan and is still only 23 when he becomes the franchise.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase (WR) LSU – I do find keeping the Franchise upright to be important but this combo is too good to pass up and the Reilly Reiff signing helps the O-Line.
Miami Dolphins: Kyle Pitts (TE) Florida – The Dolphins move around and end up with the best talent in the draft. The formations and ways you can use Pitts are endless.
Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell (OT) Oregon – This would just solidify the group upfront and make Jared Goff more effective with time.
Carolina Panthers: Patrick Surtain II (CB) Alabama – First kind of curveball. Look around the division at wide receivers that have to be covered. You need a stud vs these players.
Denver Broncos: Justin Fields (QB) Ohio St – The weapons are in place, they need the guy to throw and take advantage of backs turned on man coverage and get the scramble yards. Drew Lock isn’t the answer.
Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn (CB) South Carolina – Second generation stud who matched up with the best in the SEC. He brings an attitude to a defense that needs a mindset.
New York Giants: Micah Parsons (LB) Penn St – Can do it all at the linebacker level and with the talent up front who needs to be doubled, he can roam free and make plays.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jaylen Waddle (WR) Alabama – Speed, playmaking, and the ability to help in the return game. Back-to-back years for a first-round wide receiver but they’ll complement each other well.
Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater (OL) Northwestern – He is a plug-and-play guy at any of four positions with a huge needed attitude and toughness.
Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw (OT) Virginia Tech – The future blindside of the Vikings as they add to a young core.
New England Patriots: Christian Barmore (DL) Alabama – The Pats didn’t pass on Richard Seymour with WR on the board in 2001, forward 20 years and they do it again. Great scheme versatility.
Arizona Cardinals: Azeez Ojulari (EDGE) Georgia – Personally, I’m not sure Chandler Jones is on the team come Week #1. This is a guy who at worst is a pass rush specialist to start.
Las Vegas Raiders: Alijah Vera-Tucker (IOL) USC – They’ve cleaned house at this spot and get a good young building block to make Carr and Jacobs better.
Miami Dolphins: Devonta Smith (WR) Alabama – The Heisman trophy winner and Kyle Pitts added in round one. Tua will have no excuses.
Washington Football Team: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB) Notre Dame – We know the front is elite, now to add some playmaking behind them. Three down LB
Chicago Bears: Teven Jenkins (OT) Oklahoma St – Despite making the playoffs, the O-Line was not good in 2020.
Indianapolis Colts: Kwity Paye (EDGE) Michigan – The Colts need to add that young, stud EDGE presence who you need a scheme for weekly.
Tennessee Titans: Rashod Bateman (WR) Minnesota – Absolute steal who will reap playing the opposite side of A.J Brown and vice-versa.
New York Jets: Erik Stokes (CB) Georgia – Coverage became more important in this division with picks 6 and 18. And it’s a need.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris (RB) Alabama – An element that was missing in Pittsburgh last season that really turned them one-dimensional.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig (S) TCU – A solid secondary pick to add to C.J Henderson and a certain free agent signing.
Cleveland Browns: Jaelan Phillips (EDGE) Miami – Phillips comes in with talent and a lot of one on one opportunities with Garrett on the other side.
Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh (EDGE) Penn State – The Ravens always find quality on the EDGE, Oweh blew away with numbers.
New Orleans Saints: Zaven Collins (LB) Tulsa – A super athletic guy who can play inside or outside.
Green Bay Packers: Terrace Marshall (WR) LSU – Aaron Rodgers gets his first-round WR to play opposite Adams. The other WR can finally be slotted into proper roles.
Buffalo Bills: Caleb Farley (CB) Virginia Tech – Beane and McDermott pull off the heist of the draft at the end of the first round with a Top ten talent they can have for five years. They can afford to bring him along slowly.
Kansas City Chiefs: Landon Dickerson (IOL) Alabama – The Chiefs put him alongside Joe Thuney and keep the pocket clean, more OL to come for the Chiefs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Newsome II (CB) Northwestern – No real stress to find a starter with all 22 returning but a position you need against the high-powered offenses if you want to get to the top again.
The next article, teams prepping for Day Two. @E2GBuddy