Michigan football: Potential landing spots for Jalen Mayfield in 2021 NFL Draft

Maybe a slightly better offensive line gets them to the Super Bowl?

At this point of their competitive life cycle, it is all about the micro-adjustments for the Buffalo Bills. This is one of the best teams in football. They are coming off back-to-back postseason berths, their first division title this century and were one win away from getting back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993. Maybe adding to the offensive line is what gets them there?

Taking Mayfield at No. 30 would be right around the time he should be coming off the board, so the Bills would not be reaching by picking him with this selection. By doing so, it would also mean taking a former blue-chip prospect coming out of high school and preventing him from going to the one team you need to beat in the AFC if you want to get to the Super Bowl: Kansas City.

This would be a great way to stick it to the Chiefs, as there could be a run for offensive linemen in the latter stages of the first round. While Buffalo was not embarrassed in the Super Bowl because of poor tackle play, offensive issues were a reason the Bills were unable to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead back in January. Buffalo can afford to take Mayfield here and may be rewarded for it.

Could be integral in helping usher in a new franchise quarterback

We have arrived at the most likely destination for Mayfield in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers make the most sense here for a few reasons. One, they will be picking around the time he is projected to come off the board at No. 24. Two, Pittsburgh has historically done a great job of developing offensive line talent. And three, he can help usher in a new era at quarterback for them.

Ben Roethlisberger will be year-by-year at this point in Pittsburgh. Unless you are a Mason Rudolph or a Duck Hodges truther, you know darn well Pittsburgh’s next franchise quarterback is not on their roster. So by getting out ahead of it and drafting an offensive tackle prospect like Mayfield in the first round, he could be seasoned by the time a new star signal-caller arrives.

For as long as Roethlisberger is on the roster, the Steelers are in win-now mode. Investing in a position group that will help get every last little drop out of him before he retires would be advantageous. So would investing for their future. Pittsburgh is not expected to take a franchise quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, but come 2022, the Steelers will surely be in the mix for one.

As we look at these five potential landing spots for Mayfield in the draft, one thing rings true. He is not going to be coming off the board in the teens under any circumstance. Though he may be dipping down draft boards, he could end up in a better situation for him by going to a winning organization that already has other high-quality offensive linemen on their competitive roster.

What teams should look at drafting Mayfield out of Michigan in the first round of the NFL Draft?

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