2021 NFL Mock Draft: Trevor Lawrence heads to Jacksonville

The Carolina Panthers are another NFC South team that has struggled all season long, and they have recently fired their general manager. Looking ahead, they are a team that will be looking to add a lot of fresh talent to Matt Rhule’s roster, and that includes possibly making a long-term change at quarterback.

Teddy Bridgewater is a capable NFL quarterback and could start for the team next season, but Zach Wilson may be too hard to pass up here at No. 4. Wilson has everything you look for in an NFL quarterback, and this could be a perfect spot as he learns behind a consummate professional in Bridgewater early on.

The Atlanta Falcons lost another tough game this past weekend, and it seems like no matter who the head coach is, they find a way to lose late. This has been a terrible season for the Falcons, who still have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but will be making wholesale changes next offseason.

If they decide to stay with Matt Ryan at quarterback, they end up selecting the most elite cornerback in this draft class at No. 5 in Patrick Surtain II. This is a kid who is NFL-ready right now, and on the Falcons, he would improve a secondary that will need a lot of work this offseason.

The Miami Dolphins are still on pace to get to the playoffs this season, after defeating division rival New England in Week 15. They can eliminate the Las Vegas Raiders from playoff contention by heading to the desert on Sunday and winning, notching their tenth win and improving their playoff standing.

So why are they picking at No. 6? That is because they traded away Laremy Tunsil to the Houston Texans for this pick, and at six, they get an elite edge rusher to add to the mix on defense. Gregory Rousseau will likely be the first edge off the board, and after playing for the Miami Hurricanes, he stays home with the Dolphins.