2021 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterbacks dominate the Top 10, but defense controls the board

During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers used one of their two first-round picks on Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. The pick proved to be a good one, as Herbert would go on to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year, so the Chargers found their new franchise quarterback.

Moving forward, the Chargers need to do everything they can to protect him, and they do so by drafting Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater with pick number 13. In Slater, the Chargers get a franchise left tackle for the foreseeable future, as protecting Herbert has to be priority number one for this franchise moving forward.

The Minnesota Vikings have made it clear that Kirk Cousins will be their quarterback next season, bringing stability to the most important position in football. The offense is loaded with solid young talent, including running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the team’s first-round pick last year.

With their first-round pick this year, the Vikings turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball, bringing in Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore. This is a guy who’s going to be a major disruptor at the next level, and the Vikings need all the help they can get upfront along their defensive line.

The New England Patriots hold the number 15 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, and some believe that they are going to bring a quarterback in with the selection. However, if Bill Belichick’s track record has told us anything, it is that he is more likely to bring in a veteran quarterback to replace Cam Newton this off-season in free agency or a trade.

With this pick, the Patriots bring in the best tight end in this draft class, drafting Kyle Pitts from the University of Florida. This guy has the talent to be the next Rob Gronkowski in New England, giving whoever is under center a real security blanket at the tight end position.