The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and they find a potential All-Pro in this full first-round mock.
The 2021 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away and the subterfuge and smoke screens are in full effect. Aside from the first pick of the draft which is as close to a certainty as you can get, the rest of the draft, including when the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock, should have plenty of movers and shakers especially in the top half of the first round.
There are 4-5 quarterbacks that many believe will be off the board in the top-10 alone and we could see a historic run of quarterbacks taken with the first four picks of the draft if things fall a certain way. We have teams that have traded up and down then back up in the top-10 which could make things very interesting.
Aside from the quarterbacks, of which we could easily see 5 taken in the first round, several players have the makings of future All-Pros and even Hall of Famers. Players like Kyle Pitts out of Florida who doesn’t fit any singular position, and Penei Sewell who is one of the most athletically gifted tackle prospects we have ever seen.
The bottom line is that this is a draft that looks to be bursting at the seams with talent and given the added uncertainty of no official NFL Combine and many top players opting out in 2020, we should have plenty of surprises and fun on day 1 of the draft. Let’s dive right in!
Note: Mock draft results provided using The Draft Network mock draft simulator
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
The Jacksonville Jaguars kick us off with a player that has been projected as the number one pick in the draft since his true freshman season at Clemson. Many believed that Lawrence would have been taken first overall after that year if he was able to declare for the draft and the next two seasons would just be a formality.
Lawrence has all of the tools and looks to be the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck was taken first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Let’s hope the Jaguars do a better job of protecting Lawrence than the Colts did Luck and that he sticks around in the NFL for a lot longer than his AFC South predecessor.
Zach Wilson had himself a legendary final season in college, racking up 3,692 yards passing, 33 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions, and tacked on 254 yards rushing and 10 rushing touchdowns in 12 games. Wilson helped lead the BYU Cougars to an 11-1 record and catapulted his name to the top of the QB prospect leaderboard.
The former Cougar has good size at 6’3″, 210lbs, and is the type of athlete that NFL teams are looking for at the QB position these days. There are concerns about him being a flash in the pan because his production jumped exponentially from 2019 to 2020 but that could also be him taking a big step in his development.
The Jets will be hoping that he works out better than the last QB they took in the top 5, the recently traded Sam Darnold.
The 49ers trade one small school QB in Jimmy Garoppolo for another in Trey Lance out of North Dakota State. Lance is one of the more intriguing QB prospects in recent memory because of how little we have seen of him at the NCAA level.
Lance started 14 games in 2019 and lead the Bison to a 14-0 record on their way to the FCS National Championship. He put up some remarkable numbers with 2,491 yards passing, 28 touchdowns to 0 interceptions, and rushed for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is the consummate dual-threat QB and could do some serious damage in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
The majority of reports have suggested that the 49ers are taking Mac Jones with the 3rd pick but this mock prefers the far more athletic Lance at this spot. We will have to wait and see what happens come draft night!
Atlanta gets their QB of the future in Justin Fields out of Ohio State who just lit up the college stage with an electrifying, albeit brief, 2020 season. Fields’ stock was never higher than after Ohio State’s victory over Clemson in the CFP Semifinal and he has built on that with an incredible pro day performance that saw him run a 4.4 40 yard dash.
Fields is an athletic marvel with the speed of a running back but the accuracy and arm of a top-tier QB. He accounted for nearly 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns in just 8 games in 2020 and has all the makings of a mobile QB that can still make all of the throws. Atlanta still has Matt Ryan on the hook for a few more seasons but having Fields as their QB of the future presents an excellent transition to the next era of Falcons football.
The Cincinnati Bengals got their QB of the future in 2020 in Joe Burrow but unfortunately for him, they did not put much of an offensive line in front of him. Burrow was sacked 32 times in 10 games and ended up missing the final stretch of the season due to a knee injury that occurred on, you guessed it, a play where he was sacked.
In comes Penei Sewell from Oregon who projects as a day one starter and could either overtake former first-round pick, Jonah Williams, at LT or slide inside to play OG until newly acquired RT Riley Reiff hangs them up. The Bengals have plenty of weapons on offense but they need to protect their former Heisman Trophy winner and keep him healthy for the long haul. Drafting Sewell is another great step towards doing that.
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
The New York Giants have a decision to make soon on the future of former first-round pick Daniel Jones as he enters the third year of his career. They put a big-time weapon around him with the addition of Kenny Golladay in free agency and they do the same by snatching up Jaylen Waddle with the 11th overall pick.
Waddle was injured for much of the 2020 season but is one of the premier receivers in the draft and has the ability to be a game-breaker for the Giants. Drafting him would give New York a wealth of talent on offense and would give Daniel Jones no excuses as he tries to prove he is worthy of being a franchise QB.
The Philadelphia Eagles are in full-time rebuild mode after trading Carson Wentz to the Colts and they begin that process by selecting a player that many believe is the best cornerback in the draft. Just like Patrick Surtain II, Jaycee Horn is the son of a former Pro Bowler in Joe Horn and boasts all of the measurables and talent to be worthy of a top-15 pick.
Horn is a three-year starter out of South Carolina and has the size at 6’1, 205 and showed off his speed with a 4.39 40 at his pro day in March. The Eagles have plenty of needs up and down the roster but locking in a potential Pro Bowler at cornerback is a great way to start their rebuild on defense.
The Los Angeles Chargers have a franchise quarterback on their roster in Justin Herbert who stepped in unexpectedly early in the season and showed a level of ability and maturity beyond his years. Herbert was one of the surprises of the 2020 season and his growth has accelerated the timeline of the Chargers as they look to knock off Kansas City from their perch atop the AFC West.
Herbert was sacked 32 times in 2020, tied for 11th in the NFL, and the Chargers know they need to improve along the offensive line to keep him upright. Bringing in Christian Darrisaw, who projects as an immediate starter and potential franchise left tackle which is a position of need for LA. Darrisaw is a three-year starter from Virginia Tech and has the talent and experience to be a day-one starter for the Chargers at LT.
The Minnesota Vikings lost their long-time LT Riley Reiff to free agency and now have a massive hole on the left side of their offensive line with his departure. Alijah Vera-Tucker is an option for them at pick 14 considering he played the position for USC though many project him as a guard at the NFL level.
Vera-Tucker has plenty of athleticism which he displayed with a 5.10 40 and 32-inch vertical at his pro day at 6’4″, 308lbs, and has all of the makings of a long-term starter in the NFL. The Vikings’ offensive identity is built around a nasty run game and Vera-Tucker could step in immediately and be an asset in that regard no matter if he plays guard or tackle.
The New England Patriots were big spenders in free agency as they looked to rebuild their roster after a down year in 2020 and they choose to focus on offense with the selection of DeVonta Smith from Alabama with the 15th pick. The slight receiver ran away with the Heisman Trophy in 2020 and cemented himself as the best receiver in college football with 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Smith is on the smaller side at 6’1,175lbs and most of the concerns around him are about his size but he has the talent and ability to make big plays regardless of his size. The Patriots have not had much luck drafting receivers in the first round but they will look to break that drought by adding the electrifying Smith in this year’s draft.
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
The Arizona Cardinals are building a contender in the NFC West with their free-agent additions and they continue to put together a scary good offense with the addition of Travis Etienne from Clemson. Etienne was one of the best backs in college football and has plenty of versatility to his game.
The former Tiger had a 2,000 yard from scrimmage season in 2019 and followed that up with 1,500 in 2020 as he came back for an unexpected senior season and did little to hurt his draft stock. The Cardinals already have an elite WR in DeAndre Hopkins and adding Etienne as another weapon for Kyler Murray to target would help boost their offense to the next level.
The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding their offensive line after some massive turnover in the position group and they continue to do so with the addition of Teven Jenkins from Oklahoma State. Jenkins was a three-year starter for the Cowboys and has played both left and right tackle during his career but has primarily been a RT as a starter.
Jenkins has great size at 6’6″, 320lbs, and is one of the standouts in a strong class of offensive tackles. He had a tremendous pro day which showed all of his excellent traits, including 36 reps on the bench press and a 4.96 40 time. The big man projects as a long-term starter for the Raiders and could form a great bookend with franchise LT Kolton Miller.
The Miami Dolphins make their second pick of the first round with the selection of OLB/DE Jaelan Phillips from the University of Miami. Phillips also played for UCLA but became a top prospect in his final college season with the Hurricanes after sitting out the 2019 season due to transfer rules.
Phillips has prototypical size at 6’5, 266lbs and ran a 4.56 40 in his pro day to show off his elite athleticism as well. The California native was a terror in 2020 as he racked up 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks for Miami as he cemented his status as a future first-round pick. Miami’s defense was great in 2020 and will be even better in 2021 with the addition of players like Jaelan Phillips.
The Washington Football Team gets one of the most intriguing prospects in the NFL Draft in LB Micah Parsons of Penn State with the 19th overall pick. Parsons is an elite-level pass rusher who also has the speed and athleticism to make plays in space though he is still learning how to be an effective pass defense.
Parsons opted out of the 2020 season but solidified his place as a top prospect with an incredible pro-day performance on top of two years of excellent play for the Nittany Lions. He measured in a 6’3″, 235lbs and posted a 4.39 40 time and a 34-inch vertical leap. Parsons is an athletic marvel with great instincts for the game and looks to be an impact player at the NFL level.
The Chicago Bears add one of the more explosive players in the 2020 NFL Draft in Greg Newsome II out of Northwestern with the 20th overall pick. Newsome played in Chicago’s backyard at Northwestern and is a player they should be very familiar with as he grew up in Chicago and played at an elite level just down the road.
Newsome has good size at 6’1″,190lbs, and posted an impressive 4.38 40 at his pro day to show that he has the speed to match his impressive physicality. The Bears need a replacement for Kyle Fuller and they have a ready-made one in Greg Newsome at this spot in the first round.
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
The Indianapolis Colts use the 21st overall selection to draft a great receiver in Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman. Indianapolis made a big splash when they traded for Eagles QB Carson Wentz and they need to add some offensive talent around him which is where Bateman comes in.
After a brief senior season thanks to COVID, Bateman projects as a long-term starter in the NFL that is equally comfortable in the slot or as an outside receiver. He put up solid numbers in a run-heavy offensive in Minnesota and gives Wentz and the Colts another receiving weapon aside from Michael Pittman and TY Hilton.
The Tennessee Titans jettisoned most of their starting defensive backfield after a poor 2020 season and they start that rebuild with the consensus top safety in the draft, TCU’s Trevon Moehrig. Scouts drool over the combination of size and speed that Moehrig brings to the table and he should come in and be a starter straight away.
Moehrig has shown a great nose for the ball with 7 interceptions in his college career and he is not afraid to mix it up as a tackler with 100 tackles combined in his last two seasons. He projects as a long-term starter at free safety but can play box or strong safety as well.
Azeez Ojulari is one of the premier pass rushers in this year’s draft class and the New York Jets do well to snatch him up with the 23rd overall pick. The former Georgia Bulldog had 8.5 sacks in 2020 including 3 in the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati which essentially decided that game in Georgia’s favor.
Ojulari also had 12.5 tackles for loss and showed plenty of strength and athleticism on tape and at his pro day. A defensive line that features Ojulari along with Carl Lawson and Quinnen Williams is a scary prospect for all the other teams in the AFC.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had the worst run game in the NFL in 2020 and while that has plenty to do with offensive line play, they look to add some explosiveness to their offense with the addition of Najee Harris with the 24th overall pick. Harris was a two-year starter for Alabama and was a key figure in their national championship-winning 2020 season.
The California native racked up nearly 1,900 scrimmage yards in 2020 in 13 games, including 1,466 yards rushing. He is an explosive and dynamic back that can do plenty of damage on the ground or through the air. Alabama running backs and running wild in the NFL and Harris looks to be the latest who will make a big impact at the pro level.
The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to rebuild their offense with the addition of Javonte Williams out of North Carolina. The Jaguars have a capable back in James Robinson but the addition of Williams will give their offense even more firepower and versatility.
Williams was a two-year starter at UNC but caught fire in 2020 with 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns in just 11 games. He tacked on another 300 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving to cement his place as a top-tier running back ready to make some noise in the NFL.
2021 NFL Draft: Las Vegas Raiders fill void on offense in full first-round mock
The Cleveland Browns need some help on the defensive line and they use the 26th overall pick to find a player with huge potential in Kwity Paye from the University of Michigan. Paye has great size at 6’4″, 272lbs, and has production to match with 11.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in 28 career games. Pairing him with Myles Garrett could make for a dynamic duo on the defensive line for a team that is quickly becoming a true contender with their offseason moves.
The Baltimore Ravens continue to add some firepower on offense with the addition of WR Elijah Moore out of Ole Miss. Moore is a bit on the smaller side at 5’9, 185lbs but is one of the fastest players in the draft after running a 4.35 40 time at his pro day. He can make an immediate impact as a true deep threat for Baltimore and gives them a weapon on special teams in the return game as well. Production is not a concern as well for Moore as he totals 2,441 yards and 16 touchdowns on 189 catches in 3 seasons at Ole Miss.
The New Orleans Saints had a dominant defense in 2020 and they add another cornerstone piece in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of Notre Dame with the 28th overall pick. Owusu-Koramoah is a dynamic playmaker at the LB position who has a nose for the ball and the athleticism to make plays at the next level. Some mocks have Owusu-Koramoah coming off the board in the top-15 so him being available at 28 would be a steal for New Orleans.
The Green Bay Packers continue their tradition of not picking an offensive skill player in the first round by choosing LB Zaven Collins out of Tulsa with the 29th pick. Collins has tremendous size at 6’4″, 260lbs, and has the positional versatility to play as an off-ball linebacker or edge rusher. He looks to be a tremendous asset to a Packers defense in need of playmakers and would be a fine addition especially this late in the first round.
The Buffalo Bills are building a true contender in the AFC East as they continue to load up on both sides of the ball in free agency. They turn their focus to defense in the first round with the addition of Jayson Oweh from Penn State. Oweh had a down year in 2020, as did Penn State as a whole, but flashed plenty of production and potential in previous seasons to earn this first-round selection. The Buffalo defense was average in 2020 and a leap would propel them to being a true contender for not just the AFC crown but the Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs had an excellent defense in 2020 but one of their weaknesses was at LB, a position they address by selecting Jamin Davis out of the University of Kentucky with the 31st pick. Davis is a tackling machine who racked up 102 tackles in 10 games in 2020 but also had 3 interceptions and 1.5 sacks to show off his versatility. He has great size at 6’4,234lbs and ran a very impressive 40-yard dash in the 4.37-4.41 range to show off his incredible athletic ability as well.
The Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their ring on the backs of an elite defensive line and they add yet another impact player to the group with Christian Barmore out of Alabama. Barmore is a two-year starter who had an incredibly productive 2020 season with 9.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks in 11 games as an interior defensive lineman.
The former Crimson Tide stud projects as an immediate rotational player in 2021 and a long-term replacement for former All-Pro Ndamukong Suh.