The Minnesota Vikings have gotten out to a tough start to the 2020 NFL season, and they draft a quarterback high in our latest 2021 NFL mock.
The fans of the NFL were treated to a battle of the best of the best on Monday night, as a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens matchup closed out Week 3. This has been an exciting season so far, and some surprising teams sit atop the latest projected draft board, and we try to navigate which college prospects should be on their radar.
Here is our latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft, with the order courtesy of tankathon.com.
It has been a series of errors for the Atlanta Falcons this season, and there are calls for head coach Dan Quinn to lose his job. The Falcons have looked good early in games, only to lose in horrific fashion late, and seem to be a bit snake-bitten since their devastating loss in the Super Bowl a few years back.
Currently holding the No. 1 overall pick, I do not see how they can pass on a true franchise quarterback prospect like Trevor Lawrence. Sure, Matt Ryan is still good, and the offense has not been in the issue, but it seems like Lawrence going No. 1 overall is carved in stone no matter who picks here.
The New York Giants suffered a terrible loss in Week 2, as star running back Saquon Barkley tore his ACL and will now miss the rest of the season. Even with the team playing a seriously banged-up San Francisco 49ers team this past weekend, they still could not do anything on either side of the ball, and are likely headed towards a top-5 pick.
With guys like Barkley and Daniel Jones already high picks, the Giants should use this No. 2 overall pick on the defensive side of the ball. New York should lock in the best overall defensive player in this draft in Micah Parsons, adding a linebacker that can captain this defense for the foreseeable future.
The Minnesota Vikings have been shockingly bad this season, and the time may be coming to turn the page on the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins is a solid NFL quarterback, and has had his moments wearing the purple jersey, but passing up on Justin Fields at No. 3 overall should not happen.
In Fields, the Vikings could get a player that can be the leader of this franchise for years to come. They already brought in a dominant wideout in Justin Jefferson, and their running back, Dalvin Cook, is elite, so Fields could be the last piece of the puzzle.
The Denver Broncos roster has been riddled by injuries this season to some of their most important players, including a Hall of Fame edge rusher in Von Miller, and their starting quarterback, Drew Lock. This is a season that will likely land them in the bottom of the division, and picking very early in round one next April.
With this pick, they need to address their offensive line, and Penei Sewell from Oregon is widely regarded as the best offensive lineman in this draft class. Sewell is someone who will step in and start on the left side right away, and the Broncos need a long-term solution at protecting Lock’s blindside.
The New York Jets are once again one of the laughingstocks in the NFL, and they are likely to move on from head coach Adam Gase. The Gase experiment in New York got off to a rough start when he was bug-eyed at his press conference, and it has only gone downhill from there.
Quarterback Sam Darnold needs a new head coach, and better players around him, as they are starting to waste time in terms of his development. On defense, they also need some kind of pass rush, so I believe they take the best edge rusher in this class by selecting Gregory Rousseau from Miami at pick No. 5 overall.
The Miami Dolphins will eventually hand the ball to rookie Tua Tagovailoa, who was one of the more coveted players in last year’s draft class. If healthy, he can be the kind of franchise quarterback that this team has been lacking, and all signs point to that being the case.
With the No. 6 overall pick, the one they got from the Houston Texans for Laremy Tunsil, the Dolphins should look to add a weapon for Tua. Ja’Marr Chase is a guy who is not falling out of the top five or six picks of the draft, and he would be a perfect player to put atop the depth chart in Miami for years to come.
The Philadelphia Eagles are having a nightmare of a 2020 NFL season, and there are already fans clamoring that the team should make the move from Carson Wentz to Jalen Hurts at quarterback. While it may be way too soon to start talking about that, one thing is for sure, the Eagles need to turn things around if they want to make a move in a very winnable NFC East.
On defense, they have to do a better job against the run, which is why they should use the No. 7 overall pick on Marvin Wilson. This is a guy who could help the team stop the likes of Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott in their division, bolstering a defensive line that has been run over in 2020.
The Cincinnati Bengals have found their franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow, who proved on Sunday that he can stand in the pocket at the NFL level and deliver the football despite getting crushed by the defense. Burrow was taken out for one play after an illegal hit looked to end his afternoon, then led the Bengals to a tie with the Eagles.
Watching the Bengals through the first three weeks, they need help along the offensive line, and Samuel Cosmi would be a great addition to team with Jonah Williams at offensive tackle. These guys would be bookends for the Bengals for years to come, protecting their No. 1 asset in Burrow.
The Dallas Cowboys need some serious help in their secondary, and they can improve the group by bringing in the best cornerback in this draft class. In fact, Patrick Surtain II is one of the more can’t-miss corners we have seen in a long time, and he should make a seamless transition to the pro game.
While it is likely the Cowboys will be picking a lot further down in the first round, as the NFC East is trash this season, and they have the most talented roster. If they are picking this high, they immediately improve their defensive backfield, which makes them even more dangerous on that side of the ball.
The Los Angeles Chargers suffered a terrible loss at home to the Carolina Panthers, and it is starting to look like it might be a long season for the Bolts. There are some bright spots, including quarterback Justin Herbert, who looks ready to be a full-time starter at the NFL level after taking over for the injured Tyrod Taylor.
On defense, the Chargers need more help in the secondary, especially considering they play Patrick Mahomes II twice a season. At No. 10, Caleb Farley could be available, and outside of Patrick Surtain II, I do not believe there is a better cornerback in this draft class.
The New Orleans Saints have gotten out to a rough start to the 2020 NFL season, losing in primetime in back-to-back weeks. First, they lost on the road to the Las Vegas Raiders, and then this past Sunday, they lost at home to the Green Bay Packers in a potential NFC title game matchup.
Drew Brees has not looked right this season, and Father Time may finally be starting to catch up to him. With the No. 11 overall pick, the Saints should select his successor, and Trey Lance from North Dakota State is one of those guys who can step in for Brees in 2022, especially if the vet comes back for one more season.
The Carolina Panthers made wholesale changes in terms of their roster this offseason, and through the first three games of the season, there have been mixed results. Last weekend, they had to take on the Los Angeles Chargers on the road without star running back Christian McCaffrey, but were still able to come away with the victory.
Teddy Bridgewater is a solid quarterback, and head coach Matt Rhule has not looked overwhelmed in his first go-around at the NFL level. With the No. 12 pick, they should look to add one of the more versatile offensive lineman in this draft class, bringing in Wyatt Davis to be a protector for Bridgewater, and a monster in run blocking for McCaffrey.
The Detroit Lions pulled off a nice road victory the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, as Matthew Stafford threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions. Detroit was able to pick up their first win of the season, but the schedule does not get any easier, as they welcome the New Orleans Saints to town in Week 4.
Stafford has been terrific this season, and all signs point to him having a lot left in the tank. With their first round pick in 2021, they should look to bring in protection, especially in the interior, and Alex Leatherwood is a versatile interior lineman who can play both center or guard at the NFL level.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their franchise quarterback in Gardner Minshew, and in the 2021 NFL Draft, they will have to shots in the first round. With the No. 14 overall pick, they should look to get a weapon for Minshew, adding the best tight end in this draft class in Kyle Pitts.
Pitts brings a new dimension to this Jaguars offense, as they already have some talented wide receivers in D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. to name a few. Pitts opens up the middle of the defense better than any other tight end coming out, and that will do wonders for Minshew’s development under center.
With their second first round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins should switch their focus to the other side of the ball after adding a wideout early. The Dolphins defense brought in some quality veterans this offseason, but I still like them to add one of the best linebackers in this draft class at pick No. 15.
Dylan Moses from Alabama is the kind of middle linebacker you can build your defense around, and Miami is building up a solid, young roster. Head coach Brian Flores is a terrific defensive mind, and in Moses, he gets a linebacker that is smart enough to run his defense, and talented enough to start right away.
The Las Vegas Raiders had a rough go of it on the road on Sunday, as they traveled East to take on the New England Patriots. Though the defense played well early, forcing multiple three-and-outs during the first quarter, it did not last, and the Patriots ran all over them in a 36-20 loss in New England.
Safety Johnathan Abram struggled throughout, and while he should be fine, he needs a legitimate starter alongside him. Erik Harris is a nice depth guy, but Jevon Holland is the best safety in this draft class, and he would slide right in as an immediate starter in Las Vegas.
The Indianapolis Colts have actually looked good with Philip Rivers under center, and you have to think they are going to challenge in a wide open AFC South. With the Houston Texans struggling out of the gate, and the Jacksonville Jaguars a year away from contending, it should come down to the Colts and the Tennessee Titans.
While it remains to be seen how long Rivers will be the quarterback, the team should bring in some more weapons for whoever is under center in 2021. Jaylen Waddle has top-10 talent as a wide receiver in this draft class, and would be a nice compliment to T.Y. Hilton on the outside.
The San Francisco 49ers got the victory in Week 3, as they luckily took on one of the worst teams in football in the New York Giants. It has been a season where the 49ers have been decimated by injuries, and you have to wonder if they still have a legitimate shot at repeating as the NFC champions in 2020.
Looking at their roster, San Francisco needs some help in the defensive backfield, especially at the safety position. Hamsah Nasirildeen is a guy who could step in and start right away in this secondary, as they look to get a bit younger back there. Nasirildeen tore his ACL last November, that shouldn’t have an effect on his draft status.
The Washington Football Team may decide to go another route in terms of the quarterback position next April, so there is a good chance they move up in round one to get one of the top guys. Dwayne Haskins was put on notice by head coach Ron Rivera this past weekend, and will have to prove to his new coach that he is the right guy for this team moving forward.
Regardless, the Washington Football Team has very few weapons on the outside, and while Terry McLaughin is a fantastic talent, he needs some help. Rondale Moore is widely considered one of the top wideouts in this draft class, and could be one of the first off the board, but if he is still there at No. 19, he is a steal for Washington.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got lucky in Week 3, as they went on the road and took on a Denver Broncos team that has been destroyed by the injury bug. Still, Tom Brady did his thing, throwing the ball all over the field, and anytime you go into Mile High and get a victory it is something to be proud of.
One area where this team should look to address in the 2021 NFL Draft is on the edge, as they could use another edge rusher opposite Shaquil Barrett. Jayson Oweh from Penn State is an absolute menace off the edge, and having these two guys would give the Bucs a tremendous young duo at the position group.
The Cleveland Browns have shaken off a bad loss in the season opener to the Baltimore Ravens to win two straight, and they are now over .500 for the first time in what seems like forever. Baker Mayfield is playing a better brand of football, and if they can keep him upright, he looks the part of a franchise quarterback once again.
Looking at his offensive line, he needs better protection on the interior, and Creed Humphrey is a player who could play center or guard at the next level. Protecting Mayfield is priority No. 1, and running back Nick Chubb can run through the tackles, so Humphrey would be a solid addition up front.
The Baltimore Ravens took a hard punch to the mouth on Monday Night Football to close out Week 3, as the Kansas City Chiefs went into Baltimore and beat them pretty soundly. That game was supposed to be a preview of the AFC title game, but it is clear the Ravens have some more work to do before they are in the same class as the Chiefs.
Still, this is a tremendous young team, and getting star quarterback Lamar Jackson some more help at wideout makes sense. Teaming a guy like Rashod Bateman with Hollywood Brown would give the Ravens two dynamic playmakers on the outside, and that could help them finally get over the hump in the playoffs.
The Arizona Cardinals suffered a tough loss at the hands of the Detroit Lions this past weekend, losing at home in a game they needed to have. This is a team that has a chance in a suddenly open NFC West, as while the Seattle Seahawks are having a solid year, both the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers look very beatable.
Looking at their roster, the Cardinals need to improve the edge rusher position, and Carlos Basham Jr. is someone who is not falling out of the first round. This guy is adept at getting after the quarterback, and in a division with Russell Wilson, that has to be a priority on defense.
The New England Patriots played host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, and let the young Raiders team know that they are still a team to beat in the AFC. Despite a sub-par game from quarterback Cam Newton, the Pats ran all over the Raiders defense, cruising to a 36-20 victory in a game that could have Wild Card implications down the road.
Up front on defense, the Pats need some help, and Jaylen Twyman from Pitt is one of the more versatile defensive linemen in this draft class. He is solid against the run, can get after the quarterback, and would be a nice project for head coach Bill Belichick.
Thanks to the trade they made with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2019 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars hold two first round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. While they address the offensive side of the ball early in this mock, they go defense late in round one, grabbing a top cornerback in this draft class.
Shaun Wade from Ohio State is another in a long list of NFL-ready corners this program has developed, and he would slide right in as a starter in Jacksonville. They are going young, and Wade has the talent to be a shutdown guy at the next level, making this a solid late first round pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be picking at No. 32 overall, as this draft order is based on record and strength of schedule. When all is said and done, they are my pick to once again be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy over their heads, but for the sake of this order, they stand here at No. 26 and get a solid defensive lineman.
Adding Christian Barmore to a defensive line that includes Chris Jones is downright scary, as the rich continue to get richer in terms of the Chiefs. After signing Patrick Mahomes II for the next decade-plus, they are not going anywhere, and Barmore helps an improving defense get even better.
The Chicago Bears got that Nick Foles magic to work for them in Week 3, as he replaced the ineffective Mitchell Trubisky and led his team to their third win of the season. It looks like it will be the Foles show the rest of the way, and good thing too for the Chicago fan base, as this team has the defense to make a serious run.
Going forward, the Bears have to get better along the offensive line, and they need the kind of versatility that Trey Smith can bring them. This guy can play all over the line, and if Foles is the man to lead this team in the future, he needs all the protection he can get.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got their quarterback back this season, and have promptly gone back to being one of the better teams in the AFC. They have gotten out to a 3-0 start to the season, and have a real statement game coming up in Week 4, as they go on the road to take on the undefeated Tennessee Titans.
One area where the Steelers have really improved via the last few drafts is the defense, and they continue to bolster that side of the ball with this pick in 2021. Quincy Roche is a premier edge rusher in this draft class, and the thought of he and T.J. Watt getting after the quarterback is downright scary.
The New York Jets are once again a laughingstock in the NFL, and you have to think that the Adam Gase Era ends with a loss to the injury-riddled Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Luckily for the fan base, the team does have a legitimate starting quarterback in Sam Darnold, and hold two first round picks next April.
With the second pick, given to them by the Seattle Seahawks for Jamal Adams, the Jets should look to improve their secondary. Andre Cisco is one of the better safeties in the NFL, and plays his college ball in New York at Syracuse, making him a perfect fit for this Jets team.
The Tennessee Titans have come back from a loss in the AFC title game to look like a team that wants to go back there, getting off to a 3-0 start. They have looked good on both sides of the ball, and you have to think that no team, outside of maybe the Kansas City Chiefs, wants to see them in the playoffs.
One area they should address via the 2021 NFL Draft is tight end, as a nice pass-catcher like Pat Freiermuth from Penn State could open up the defense for their elite running back, Derrick Henry. Freiermuth is a special player, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill could use a security blanket over the middle.
The Green Bay Packers look like the team to beat in the NFC this season, this after dismantling the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 3. Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind, and the defense has stepped up, which is recipe for disaster for the rest of the NFC.
With a late first round pick next April, Green Bay has to get Rodgers a weapon on the outside, and Chris Olave from Ohio State would be a nice compliment to Davante Adams and Allen Lazard. Lazard is playing out of his mind, and is a good young player, and in Olave, they now have a solid three-headed monster at the position.
The Buffalo Bills had one heck of a roller coaster of a game on Sunday, getting out to a huge lead, blowing it, and then winning in the final seconds. Watching that game, they need some help at the cornerback position, and they can get a good one late in the 2021 NFL Draft in Paulson Adebo from Stanford.
The Bills look like a legitimate contender in the AFC, and while the Kansas City Chiefs are the obvious favorite, they hold the final pick in Round 32 based on this draft order. Josh Allen is proving he is for real, and after their comeback in Week 3, the whole NFL landscape is on notice.