2021 NFL Mock Draft: Free agency flips first round projections
By Brad Weiss
The 2021 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away, and as free agency starts to ramp up, team needs are changing at a rapid pace.
We are knee-deep in free agency when it comes to the NFL, and teams are filling needs up and down their rosters at an incredible pace. There has been no movement in terms of draft order in round one, but there has certainly been a shift in team needs.
With that said, here is our latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
player. 52. . Quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence. 1
While a lot of NFL teams have filled position groups that we deemed important in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are not one of them. With pick No. 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jaguars will hone in on Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who many consider a once-in-a-generation talent.
Lawrence will be joining a franchise that is certainly making some noise during the legal tampering period and should be much-improved on both sides of the ball. They have bolstered the defense in a big way, and in Lawrence, they get a franchise quarterback to lead them to start the Urban Meyer era.
30. . Quarterback. New York Jets. Zach Wilson. 2. player
The New York Jets have been very active in free agency, getting playmakers on both sides of the ball in Carl Lawson on the edge, and Jarrad Davis at linebacker, while adding Corey Davis to the wideout room. Those are great moves by general manager Joe Douglas, and as they head into the new league year, their roster is becoming more well-rounded.
With pick No. 2, Zach Wilson has to be the play for the Jets, who are building a solid roster and must move on from Sam Darnold. They should be able to get something for the former No. 3 overall pick, but the one thing they cannot do is bring in a rookie quarterback and have their former top-5 pick still in the building.
Miami Dolphins. DeVonta Smith. 3. player. 59. . Wide Receiver
The Miami Dolphins have the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and with that selection, they add the current Heisman Trophy winner. DeVonta Smith is a guy who can come in and really help his former Alabama teammate, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa develop, and he has the skill set to do it all for the Dolphins.
Miami has been slow during the legal tampering period, but they did add a quality tight end in Cethan Carter and added a quality backup in Jacoby Brissett. This is a team that should be playoff-bound in 2021, and the hope is that Tua can make a serious step forward in Year 2.