2021 NFL Mock Draft: Free agency flips first round projections
By Brad Weiss
player. 58. . Quarterback. Washington Commanders. Mac Jones. 19
The Washington Football Team has added Ryan Fitzpatrick to the quarterback room via free agency, and he will bring some stability to the position. However, at 39-years old, nobody is looking at him as a long-term fix, which means Mac Jones is in play for the Washington Football Team at No. 19 overall.
This is a kid who has the talent, and grit to be very good at the next level and is fresh off one of the better seasons we have seen from an Alabama quarterback, which is saying a lot. The Washington Football Team should draft him, and have him learn behind Fitz, giving them a long-term and short-term solution.
Chicago Bears. Rashod Bateman. 20. player. 57. . Wide Receiver
The Chicago Bears are a team that desperately needs a quarterback, after signing Andy Dalton and letting Mitchell Trubisky walk in free agency. However, it looks like they will fall short of the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, which means it is likely the Red Rifle’s show in Chi-Town in 2021.
With Dalton under center, the Bears have to go out and get weapons, and they do so by adding Rashod Bateman to the wide receiver room. This is an electric playmaker, and if Allen Robinson is going to stick around on the franchise tag, why not give him some help.
Edge. Indianapolis Colts. Kwity Paye. 21. player. 46.
The Indianapolis Colts are a team that we’re able to get to the playoffs last season with Philip Rivers under center, so they have talent on both sides of the ball. Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, they need help up front along the edge on defense, and they get a great player in Kwity Paye here at No. 21 overall.
Paye is a guy who was born to get after the quarterback, and the Colts are missing that kind of playmaker on their defense. They have elite talent at linebacker, and strong players in the secondary, so Paye would be another step in the direction of this defense significantly improving in 2021.