2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders add elite LB in full first-round mock
By Nick Ellis
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders add elite LB in full first-round mock
The next Alabama receiver to go is Jaylen Waddle, as the Detroit Lions badly need wide receiver talent with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr leaving via free agency this offseason. Waddle could arguably be the best receiver in this class, as some have him ranked that high, as an injury robbed him of most of his 2020 season.
The Lions have to get a wide receiver to pair with Jared Goff, as they already have their running back and tight end of the future with D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson. If the Lions don’t take whoever is left between Waddle, Chase, and Smith, they may have trouble getting Goff some help for the season.
The Teddy Bridgewater experiment in Carolina did not go as planned, and they will more than likely take either Justin Fields or Trey Lance with this pick. I went with Fields because I assume teams will look at him as more battle-tested, clearly playing the tougher schedule in college, and leading his team to a national title game last season.
Fields has good size, accuracy, and athleticism, which is a must in NFL quarterbacks today. Fields appear to be the real deal, but drafting a quarterback from Ohio State is always a risk, and hopefully, Fields can reverse that trend for the Panthers.
The Denver Broncos could use some help all across their offensive line, and Rashawn Slater is a player who could fit in just about any position. Considered by most to be the second-best offensive lineman in the draft, the Broncos would be smart to work to protect Drew Lock, or whoever they end up with at quarterback this season.
Denver has done a nice job improving the defense so far in free agency, so going offense here in the top-10 makes a lot of sense, especially if Lock is the guy going forward.