2021 NFL Mock Draft: Kyle Pitts lands in the top-5 of the first round
By Brad Weiss
player. 32. . Edge. Arizona Cardinals. Kwity Paye. 16
The Arizona Cardinals are certainly a team on the brink of the playoffs, after barely missing out during the 2020 NFL season. They have their quarterback and one of the elite weapons in football at wide receiver, but the defense still needs work, especially at getting after the quarterback.
At pick No. 16 overall, the Cardinals turn their attention to the edge rusher spot, bringing in Kwity Paye from the University of Michigan. This is a kid who can flat-out get after the quarterback, and would significantly improve this Cardinals pass rush in Year 1.
28. . Linebacker. Las Vegas Raiders. Micah Parsons. 17. player
The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball, and they get a big-time prospect here at pick No. 17 overall. With this selection, the Raiders get arguably the best defensive player in this draft class, bringing in Micah Parsons, a talented linebacker from Penn State University.
Parsons could very well land in the top-10 this draft, but as the dominoes fall the way they do in this mock, he is available to the Raiders. Mike Mayock cannot overthink this one, as Parsons fixes a linebacker group that has been a serious issue for years.
18. player. 10. . Edge. Houston Texans. Gregory Rousseau
With pick No. 18 overall, the Houston Texans make their second of two first-round picks, both gotten from the Miami Dolphins for quarterback Deshaun Watson. After replacing Watson at pick No. 3 overall, they replace J.J. Watt here at No. 18, bringing in edge rusher Gregory Rousseau from the University of Miami (FL).
While Rousseau is likely never to be the player Watt was, as Watt is going to the Hall of Fame, he does fill the void left by Watt deciding he wanted out in Houston. The Texans are either going to get a huge haul for Watson or watch him sit on the bench and in this mock, they swing a deal to add two quality players in April.