NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Welcome to our mock draft 1.0! We're here to breakdown this years NFL Draft on April 29th. We decided to go no trades for the first few while we let the offseason play out a little. Below is our entire 1st round picks based off team needs, scouting reports, and pre-draft data. We're in for a blockbuster offseason as most teams have major free agency decisions to ponder. That being said we expect our final mock to look a lot different than this one, once teams start putting the pieces together we'll get a better scope of where their headed come draft time. Make sure to follow our twitter @TheUpsidePlay for more draft analysis and future mocks.

#1 Jacksonville Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence QB | Clemson

Trevor Lawrence is highly regarded as one of the best quarterbacks to come out of the college ranks in recent memory. The Jaguars picked a great time for a 15 game losing streak and were rewarded the number one pick this past season. His high IQ and ability to extend plays with his legs and push the ball down field puts him at the top of the QB landscape in the 2021 draft.

#2 New York Jets- Penei Sewell OT | Oregon

Sewell is far and away the top tackle in the draft. The Oregon product is the pick here for New York to begin the Robert Saleh era. The Jets front office has already said they feel comfortable going ahead with Darnold, and this draft will allow them to take a top 5 reciever at #23. The Jets go with size and strength early and get some well needed protection for Sam Darnold at #2.

#3 Miami Dolphins (Via Texans)- DeVonta Smith WR | Alabama

DeVonta Smith just completed one of the best college football seasons ever from a Wide Receiver. His Heisman winning season included 117 catches for 1856 and 23 touchdowns. He is a polished route runner with great hands and even at 175 pounds he creates solid separation for his future QB to get him the ball. Miami gives Tua a real burner and grabs Smith at #3.

#4 Atlanta Falcons- Zach Wilson QB | BYU

Zach Wilson and Justin Fields have been the talk of the town the past couple weeks as the NFL community waits patiently to see who the 2nd QB off the board will be. Atlanta has a need for one as Matt Ryan enters his age 36 season next year & Zach Wilson is their guy. Wilson is an athletic and mobile QB who has been described as a, “Confident, competitive playmaker with a high football IQ.” The Falcons take Wilson at #4 and stash their QB of the future.

#5 Cincinnati Bengals- Ja’Marr Chase WR | LSU

Ja’Marr Chase opted out of the 2020 season but his 2019 season was amazing. With Joe Burrow as his quarterback he put up a season only DeVonta Smith was able to rival. In this mock it was hard not to pair Chase with his old college teammate. Chase is built more like the number 1 receiver he projects to be at 6’1 and 208 pounds. Chase has the hands and body control to become a star in the NFL, Bengals get a good one at #5.

#6 Philadelphia Eagles- Patrick Surtain II CB | Alabama

I’m sure Eagles fans would love to see Smith or Chase fall to them at 6 but in this one they just missed out. The Eagles have a huge need at corner and can easily fix that by grabbing Surtain here. Surtain might have gotten lucky with the Combine being canceled as many experts were questioning his speed. I still believe that his length and ability to be physical at the top of routes will make him a top pick this year.

#7 Detroit Lions- Micah Parsons LB | Penn State

Detroit Just traded away Matt Stafford for Jared Goff and 3 draft selections including 2 First round picks in 2022 and 2023. Now we don't think Jared Goff is a Franchise Quarterback at all but we do think he is solid enough for the Lions to take a different approach with this pick. Micah Parsons is the best linebacker in this draft and could give the Lions another Defensive cornerstone to build around after taking DB Jeff Okudah last season.

#8 Carolina Panthers- Justin Fields | Ohio State

With the Lions most likely out of the running for a QB at 7, Carolina should be jumping with Joy if Justin Fields drops this far. Of course with no trades in this mock Fields goes a little lower as we could see him go as high as #2. Fields is a rare blend of athleticism and accuracy. Carolina has great pieces in that offense and this pick could easily make them relevant again. Carolina could go defense here if Fields is unavailable but we expect Fields to start the season behind Teddy Bridgewater but could end up starting before the mid-way point in the season.

#9 Denver Broncos- Caleb Farley CB | Virginia Tech

The Broncos have major needs in the secondary, specifically the CB position. Farley is a BIG corner coming in at 6’2, 207 with some scary speed to pair along with it. Farley is explosive and has shown the tools necessary to be physical on the jam and have the recovery speed in the off chance he does get beat on the line. The Virginia Tech product is a perfect press corner with lockdown potential at the next level, Denver takes the secondary help at #9.

#10 Dallas Cowboys- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah OLB | Notre Dame

The Cowboys need Athletes on their defense and Owusu-Koramoah is just that. A thinner linebacker at only 216 pounds can explode off the line and create pressure from the outside. He can also drop back in coverage as a hybrid safety and run stride for stride with most running backs and tight ends. Defensive versatility is growing more and more valuable, the Cowboys get a high ceiling player here.

#11 New York Giants- Kwity Paye EDGE | Michigan

The Giants were not a great defense last year and selecting Paye could definitely help shore up that part of the defense. Paye might have been another player who was hurt by the canceled combine as he’s an athletic freak at 6’4, 277. The Giants could come out and take a wide receiver who can help Danny Dimes grow but I think they will throw the bag at an established wide receiver.

#12 San Francisco 49ers- Jaycee Horn CB | South Carolina

The 49ers have 30+ players to sign or let walk this offseason, 9 of which are players in the secondary. Jaycee Horn is another big press corner at 6’1, 205 who has excellent ability to jam and contain his opponents while still showing competitiveness around the catch point. He has the potential to be a CB1 in the NFL with his ability to disrupt receivers in the press. The 49ers grab some much needed help in the secondary and take Horn at #12.

#13 Los Angeles Chargers- Rashawn Slater OT | Northwestern

Justin Herbert stepped in and showed us why he was worthy of a top pick in last year's draft. He did that with the worst offensive line unit in football. Slater would give the Chargers a versatile lineman who can start out on the edge and make his way inside if need be. The Chargers run game was also one of the worst in football, if they want to get the most out of Herbert that starts with selecting an offensive lineman who can open things up for them in the run game.

#14 Minnesota Vikings- Christian Darrisaw OT | Virginia Tech

The Vikings need help on their O-Line. It really goes to show you how good Dalvin Cook is, putting up the numbers he had in the situation he was in. The Vikings hit a home run last year with Justin Jefferson and now hope to do the same with VT’s Darrisaw who should step in and be the starting LT for years to come. He’s 6’5, 315 and is a top lineman in the class who can help right away.

#15 New England Patriots- Kyle Pitts TE | Florida

Bill Belichick and athletic tight ends are a match made in heaven, and regardless of how desperate they are for a future QB I can’t see him giving up on the opportunity to draft the physical freak Kyle Pitts. The Florida product is a legit 6’6, 245 with major route running ability. He was arguably one of the toughest matchups all year for SEC defense as he finished with 12 TD’s and 17.9 yards per catch on the year. He’s a plug and play guy and a perfect safety blanket for whoever the Patriots throw out at QB.

#16 Arizona Cardinals- Alijah Vera-Tucker IOL | USC

The Cardinals just miss out on Kyle Pitts and decide to add some beef up front to help keep Kyler Murray’s jersey clean and take the top IOL in the draft out of USC. Vera-Tucker is a versatile lineman, spending some time at USC at LT. He is a solid 6’4, 300 and really excels in run block schemes. He showed the ability to stay on his feet in college and avoid the blow by, something that will help Kyler escape the pocket if needed and extend plays.

#17 Las Vegas Raiders- Gregory Rousseau EDGE | Miami

There is no sugarcoating it, the Raiders defense is terrible. They had 21 sacks this season which was 29th in the NFL. Gruden and Mayock should finally do something to solidify the defense after going in heavily on their offense in the last two seasons. Rousseau is a monster at 6’5 260 and before opting out of the 2020 season he had 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. To me, that's exactly what the Raiders should be looking for this offseason.

#18 Miami Dolphins- Samuel Cosmi OT | Texas

At 6’7 310 Cosmi is a huge human being who could play both tackle spots and should be able to shore up that offensive line to protect Franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa. Cosmi could step in and provide a big upgrade to an offensive line who wasn’t giving Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed consistent holes to run through. The Dolphins look to hit big on both 1st round picks with the lengthy tackle at #18.

#19 Washington Football Team- Trey Lance QB | North Dakota

Realistically Lance will most likely get drafted higher by a team who’s trading up, we decide to have our 1.0 be without trades so him falling to 19 is purely based off that and the lack of game tape/competition. Lance is 6’4, 200 pounds with an absolute cannon. He showed extreme precision in college and the ability to throw the deep ball effectively and accurately. He’s a true dual-threat QB with a rocket arm, if he somehow drops to 19 Washington will waste no time on the clock selecting him here.

#20 Chicago Bears- Jaylen Waddle WR | Alabama

The Bears are most likely going to lose Allen Robinson in free agency but could help soften the blow with this selection of Waddle. The Bears could be starting a different QB this season with Trubisky currently a free agent. Waddle is a speedster but he breaks all the typical stereotypes of fast players. He’s not just a “go route” type of player. He is a solid route runner and wins at the line of scrimmage. Don’t let that 5’10 185 frame fool you, he’s tough as nails and could be a very good WR in the near future.

#21 Indianapolis Colts - Mac Jones QB | Alabama

This is another situation where once the pre-draft trades and signings will affect the overall scope of this pick. What we know now is the Colts need a new man under center with Phillip Rivers retiring and Jacob Eason/Jacoby Brisset being the other options in Indy we likely could see a QB at #21. Mac Jones was the unsung hero of the National Champion Crimson Tide, he’s a 6’2 pocket passer with composure and accuracy. He’s a high IQ guy who can move his eyes through the progression and make the right decision. Jones in the first round after the year he had shouldn’t raise too many eyebrows.

#22 Tennessee Titans- Christian Barmore IDL | Alabama

The Titans were 30th in the league in sacks with 19 and could use help solidifying their D-Line. Barmore is a raw DL who had 8 sacks this past season. The Titans have been willing to take players who project to be stars but just need a little more time. Barmore fits that and could become a very big presence in the middle of that defense at 6’5 310.

#23 New York Jets (via Seahawks)- Rashod Bateman WR | Minnesota

The Jets still get a top WR in the draft at #23 and take Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman. Coming into the year he was a very highly regarding prospect who most expected to be #2 or #3 WR off the board. He’s 6’1, 210 with the ability to play all over the field. He has the potential to be a solid route runner with true downfield ability. Bateman has great ball skills and strong hands, his versatility and release package will help make him a threat early.

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers- Alex Leatherwood OL | Alabama

The Steelers could go in a lot of places with this pick but the smart choice here is to grab an offensive lineman who has experience at Guard and Center. A multiyear starter at Alabama he has the experience to come in and play a heavy amount of snaps for a team that should be trying to compete for a super bowl title. The ground game was atrocious in 2020, Leatherwood is a step in the right direction to establish the run.

#25 Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams)- Zaven Collins OLB | Tulsa

Jacksonville had a ton of success a couple years ago by having a dynamic defense who could stop the best offenses at any time. Grabbing Lawrence at the top of the Draft is a dream come true but Collins at 26 is a solid pick as well. Collins was a Highschool QB and Linebacker and made the full time switch to OLB when he got to Tulsa. His skillset could make him go even higher but a lot of people around this draft are concerned about the level of competition he faced.

#26 Cleveland Browns- Azeez Ojulari Edge | Georgia

The Browns need to fill multiple positions in their defense, so a versatile player like Ojulari is a perfect plug in for Cleveland. He has the potential to fit in the 3-4 or 4-3 as a tough OLB/DE. He’s 6’3 , 240 and features an explosive first step and showed incredible ability to defend the run. He’s very good moving laterally and has shown fantastic athleticism at Georgia. Cleveland gets another piece to the puzzle at #26 and helps refine their defense with this pass rusher.

#27 Baltimore Ravens- Wyatt Davis OG | Ohio State

Baltimore is a team that is content with running the ball on every play. Davis is a multi year starting guard who is a very able and willing run blocker. This fit could help Lamar Jackson get back to his MVP level season and could help 2020 2nd rounder JK Dobbins grow. Baltimore bolsters the OL here and gets Lamar a little insurance up front.

#28 New Orleans Saints- Nick Bolton LB | Missouri

Bolton is always around the football and is a very good side-line to side-line cover linebacker. With 220 tackles in his college career he can be another great piece in an already great defense. The Saints are rumored to be without Drew Brees due to retirement but we don’t think the Saints will draft a QB, especially while they’re in a win now mode.

#29 Green Bay Packers- Eric Stokes CB | Georgia

We all saw what happened in the NFC Championship game, the Packers need help in the secondary. Stokes has the potential to be an elite zone corner with the ability to press early and thrive on the outside. He showed extreme strides in his man to man coverage over the last year and proved he could be physical at the line of scrimmage. His hands have been a concern despite the interception totals, but Stokes is a tier 2 corner that the Packers can't pass up on here.

#30 Buffalo Bills- Daviyon Nixon DL | Iowa

Nixon is a raw Defensive lineman who might need a little more time to develop into a full time starter but he could come in right away and give Buffalo some much needed run stuffing snaps. Nixon had 45 total tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss. He has the ability to become a very disruptive force up the middle for a team who just played in the AFC Championship game.

#31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Joseph Ossai OLB | Texas

Ossai projects as a coverage linebacker who can occasionally get to the passer. Tampa Bay already has a solid defense but with minimal holes here they can take the best player available. Ossai has all the tools to grow into a top OLB at the next level. Learning from Devin White and Lavonte David will surely help him

#32 Kansas City Chiefs- Jaelan Phillips EDGE | Miami

Jaelan Phillips is a monster Edge rusher at 6’5, 255. He struggled with injury early on but showed he can be versatile and can easily play 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB as he’s skilled at stopping the run and getting to the QB. He has prototypical size and length for the NFL and has the power and athleticism to compete right away. He needs to improve his hand technique but I expect the former 5-star recruit to fly up the draft boards if he gets a solid pro-day opportunity.

- Ryan Mobley, Upside Play || Vincenzo Sciacqua, Upside Play

Photo credit: Steven Branscombe, Getty Images

Links

Mock Draft, Order and Big Board http://www.tankathon.com/nfl/mock_draft

Team Needs https://thedraftnetwork.com/team-needs

Scouting Reports: https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreports.php