2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
player. 59. . TE. Miami Dolphins. Kyle Pitts. 6
Kyle Pitts is a player that defies convention and while he is listed as a tight end, his athleticism and talent allow him to do damage from all over the field. The tight end position has undergone a major evolution in this era of the NFL and Kyle Pitts may be the next step in that change.
Standing tall at 6’6″, 245lbs, Pitts ran an unofficial 4.44 40 yard dash time at his pro day to cement his status as perhaps the best non-QB in this draft. The Miami Dolphins need to add some talent around their young QB Tua Tagovailoa to truly evaluate him and what better way to do that than to give him a quarterback’s ultimate security blanket?
Pitts is reportedly being eyed by the Falcons and Bengals to be a cornerstone in their offenses so it may be a surprise if he “falls” to six but the Dolphins might have the player of the draft if they’re able to snatch him up.
player. 50. . WR. Detroit Lions. Ja'Marr Chase. 7
The Detroit Lions are in a strange position where they have a young QB in Jared Goff that is owed a ton of money over the next two years but the team may not be fully sold on him just yet. They are essentially locked into Goff until 2023 at the earliest so why not give him a few weapons to play with?
Detroit lost both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay this offseason so they have their eye on LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase to rebuild that position. Chase opted out of the 2020 season but was Joe Burrow’s favorite target on the 2019 national champion squad as he put up an absurd 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games.
He is the number one receiver in this draft and has the tools and pedigree to back up that claim. The rebuild continues in Detroit with a potential All-Pro at receiver.
8. player. 87. . CB. Carolina Panthers. Patrick Surtain II
The Carolina Panthers were one of the teams that were earmarked as a potential QB destination in the first round but the trade for Sam Darnold removes them from that conversation. The offensive weapons all seem to be set and the Panthers can focus on rebuilding a defense that was 25th in passing yards allowed in 2020.
They can do that by drafting Patrick Surtain II out of the University of Alabama with the 8th overall pick. Surtain is one of the elite defensive prospects in this draft and he brings with him a wealth of talent, size, athleticism, and experience to the cornerback position. He has the makings of a future Pro Bowler at a high-value position and can step in immediately as a starter on this team.
Denver Broncos. Mac Jones. 9. player. 45. . QB
The Denver Broncos need a QB and were one of the favorites to land Deshaun Watson but recent legal developments may keep them from making any moves for the suddenly controversial player. The Drew Lock experiment has been a failure so far as the young QB turns the ball over far too often and is not accurate enough to be a starter in the NFL.
In comes Mac Jones and his 2020 77.4 completion percentage and statistics that boast an absurd 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions in 13 games. Jones is a typical pocket passer that won’t make many plays with his legs but he has a good pocket presence to go with his accuracy and is careful with the ball.
The Broncos have a great roster aside from the QB position and can compete immediately if Jones lives up to his 2020 college season.
player. 123. . OT. Dallas Cowboys. Rashawn Slater. 10
The Dallas Cowboys just made a massive investment in QB Dak Prescott and they would do well to help protect that investment in 2021 and beyond, especially as he returns from the injury that ended his season prematurely. In comes Rashawn Slater from Northwestern who some talent evaluators have above Penei Sewell as the top tackle in this draft.
Slater opted out of the 2020 season but has started nearly 40 games in his three-year college career that saw him named to several All-Big Ten teams and a preseason All-America team before his senior season. He projects long term as an interior offensive lineman but has the talent and athleticism to play anywhere for Dallas and they have always prioritized strong offensive line play.
Slater would just be the latest in a long line of top-tier offensive lineman drafted by the Cowboys in the first round.