2021 NFL Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons replace Matt Ryan

The Los Angeles Chargers are out of playoff contention, but that does not mean there is nothing to play for. In Week 15, the Chargers can play spoiler against division rival Las Vegas, who is reeling after a 6-3 start to the season, and will have to win out, and get help, if they hope to secure a playoff spot.

Los Angeles will have a top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and after picking Justin Herbert with their top pick in 2020, they add talent to the defensive backfield in Patrick Surtain II. The Chargers used a first-round pick on Kenneth Murray last year as well, so bringing in Surtain gives them solid, young talent at all three levels of the defense.

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of work to do in terms of building their roster next year, but the main thing they need to accomplish is bringing back quarterback Dak Prescott. If there is one thing the 2020 NFL season taught the Cowboys franchise is that he is the franchise, and with him back, they should be fine on offense.

On defense, they need a lot of work, and that includes upfront along the defensive line, where they need some youth in terms of the edge rusher spot. Kwity Paye is an incredibly gifted athlete who is starting to rocket up draft boards, and he could be a top-10 pick before all is said and done.

The Carolina Panthers could certainly roll the dice on a quarterback sitting here at No. 6 overall, especially if they do not think the shelf life is long on Teddy Bridgewater. He has shown that he is still a capable quarterback at the NFL level, and with the sixth pick, they could focus their attention on the defense.

At linebacker, the Panthers have a deficiency, and they could get a generational talent like Micah Parsons to take over for the retired Luke Kuechly. Parsons is slated for the top-10 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and if he is still available here, what a perfect fit he would be on this Panthers defense.