2021 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers trade up for Justin Fields
By Brad Weiss
50. . Quarterback. Detroit Lions. Trey Lance. 7. player
The big noise around the NFL this past week, outside of Championship Sunday, was the fact that the Detroit Lions plan to move on from Matthew Stafford. During his time with the Lions, Stafford proved to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, and he still should have a ton of good football left in him.
With the No. 7 overall pick, the Lions waste no time in bringing in his successor, adding North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance. Lance is another quarterback who can get the job done with his arm or his legs, and he will get a chance to start right away in the Motor City.
Linebacker. Cincinnati Bengals. Micah Parsons. 8. player. 56.
After trading back with the Carolina Panthers, the Cincinnati Bengals hold the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With this selection, the Bengals add arguably the No. 1 defensive talent in this draft class, selecting Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.
Parsons is the kind of linebacker who plays sideline to sideline, and would definitely be a three-down backer in Cincinnati. The Bengals have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball, and in Parsons, they get a guy who could captain this defense for years to come.
45. . Cornerback. Denver Broncos. Patrick Surtain II. 9. player
With the No. 9 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos bring in a guy who will instantly help them out in their secondary. With this pick, the Broncos select Patrick Surtain II, an NFL-ready cornerback from the University of Alabama, whose father played in the NFL.
Denver still has to decide on what they plan to do with quarterback Drew Lock, and if they decide that he’s the answer going forward, look for them to address the defense here. Surtain is going to be one of the better young defensive backs in the NFL next season, and he should start on this defense from Day 1.