Free Agency is an exciting time for NFL fans in a similar fashion to the draft. There is that feeling like this offseason, your team might finally make a big move for a major star or fill that hole that bothered you all last season. There is also that unsettling expectation of disappointment for many fans who just know that their team will either wait too long and sign no one but the 9th best offensive lineman on the market, or sign a big name and find out they aren’t what they used to be. With the draft approaching and everyone tossing out their mocks of how quickly Jacksonville can draft Trevor Lawrence, we thought we would add a little fun to the offseason with our own Free Agency Mock Draft.
This draft was performed with live results from Football MD with Johnathon Mendoza and Dalton Davidson on Sunday, March 7, 2021. It is, of course, already out of date with Dak re-signing with the Cowboys. However, the point of the draft was never for accuracy, but for pure speculative fun, showing what teams have the opportunity to go grab a big name, what some teams have a positional need for, and who the best free agents are. This will all begin to shake out March 15th when “legal tampering” begins and will get serious on St. Patrick’s Day, the 17th.
Of course, some of the teams near the bottom of the list have no, or negative, salary cap space at this time. So they may not be signing free agents as much as they are making more available. That said, it just would not feel right to exclude them from making a fun pick.
John and I drafted for each team in alternating positions, live on the clock. To catch our next show, tune in on E2G’s website every Sunday at 9 am MST, and feel free to call in and let us know how we can diagnose your team’s ails and prescribe a solution on Football MD.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Dalton
Trent Williams
After seeing Joe Burrow go down to an ACL tear last year, not to mention the multitude of sacks he took behind a weak offensive line, I was heartbroken for the kid and his fans. There are tons of great wide receivers available, but you only get Trevor Lawrence once. He is touted as one of the greatest prospects at quarterback we have ever seen. Protect your investment with the best Tackle you can find and veteran leadership on a young team would not hurt.
New York Jets – John
Kenny Golladay
Whether the Jets roll with Sam Darnold or pick up Zach Wilson, this Jets team has absolutely no weapons. Give the kid, whichever one it is, a shot to make some plays. Go get him one of the most talented wideouts in the game and start showing some offensive firepower.
New England Patriots – Dalton
Leonard Williams
New England’s identity is in its defense right now with an excellent secondary. Where Watt was the biggest name to hit the free agency market this offseason, Williams might be the most valuable. He is an excellent and improving pass rusher and a stout run defender. Make this defense dominant and grab one of the best defensive linemen in the game.
Indianapolis Colts – John
Chris Godwin
Carson Wentz had absolutely no help in Philadelphia. So show him you are invested in his development and success by getting him some. A big name wide receiver like Godwin could be the difference for Wentz making his comeback on an already strong Colts roster.
Denver Broncos – Dalton
Dak Prescott
Sorry Buzz Lightyear fans, but Lock has not shown he has the talent to lead this team. If Denver has the chance, they need to find an upgrade at quarterback. And where drafting has been unsuccessful, perhaps signing a proven talent could be the choice. It was the right choice not so long ago with this team signing Peyton Manning and winning a Super Bowl. Perhaps, a younger star quarterback could create more than one.
Washington Football Team – John
Juju Smith-Schuster
Three wide receivers in a row for John, but who can blame him? This wide receiver free agency class is the most exciting one in memory. There are true stars potentially on the market if tags do not get slapped or contracts worked out. Juju could bring a little bit of flair and firepower to this team working opposite Scary Terry McLaurin, though Washington will have to get their quarterback situation figured out no matter what talent they have on offense.
Cincinnati Bengals – Dalton
Russell Okung
Everyone expects the Bengals to go and draft Penei Sewell and they should. Signing a veteran tackle like Okung would not change that plan, but it would give Sewell the opportunity to develop at Right Tackle as a rookie and learn from a veteran like Okung, while keeping Burrow extra safe. When it comes to protecting this incredible talent, an extra offensive lineman is an excellent idea.
Carolina Panthers – John
Lavonte David
The Panthers made great strides developing their defense in 2020, but they can take it much further with Matt Rhule’s coaching. He notably drafted defense on all 7 of his picks in the 2020 draft. A strong free agency signing might allow him to feel comfortable spending at least one of his 2021 picks on offense.
Miami Dolphins – Dalton
Leonard Fournette
Like Air Supply, the Dolphins created a run game out of nothing at all last year with names like Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed after Jordan Howard and Matt Breida proved disappointing and not durable enough. Adding a running back who is having a career revitalization after winning a Super Bowl might be the trick for a team that has its identity in playing defense and running the rock. Also, it would be cool to see Fournette play for all three Florida teams.
Los Angeles Chargers – John
Brandon Scherff
The Chargers have an amazing prodigy in Justin Herbert. However, they showed to be a bit too dependent on a rookie quarterback despite having promising running backs. It may be time to upgrade the interior of the offensive line, lean a little more on the running attack, and protect Herbert at the same time. Offensive line is never a bad call to protect a franchise quarterback and the Chargers seem to have one.
Houston Texans – Dalton
Jameis Winston
This may seem like an awful idea, and it probably is. However, if the Texans do trade Deshaun Watson before the draft as it feels like they have to, they might need a quarterback to replace him. Winston has talent, that much is clear. His decision making leaves a bit to be desired though, to say the least. At the very least, his raw arm talent might give the Texans a chance to steal a few wins and hopefully be exciting enough to get fans into seats.
Baltimore Ravens – John
Allen