There are only two teams left in the NFL Playoffs: The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Everybody else can start thinking ahead to 2021.
Now, all but two picks in this year’s draft order have been set, and those will be determined after the Super Bowl. There is a lot of intrigue ahead between now and April’s draft, and a lot of that will have to do with quarterback movement around the league.
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Matthew Stafford is going to be traded from the Detroit Lions, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees could retire, Deshaun Watson wants to get traded, and who knows what the Eagles will do with Carson Wentz.
The quarterback dominos that fall often dictate how the early part of the NFL Draft plays out.
That’s no different this year.
Who will pick quarterbacks early?
Here’s our latest mock draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson.
Nothing to see here. Welcome to the NFL, Urban Meyer.
2. New York Jets: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State.
The prospect of the Jets sticking with Sam Darnold and either picking Penei Sewell here or trading back for more draft picks shouldn’t be ruled out. Nor should the possibility that they use their treasure trove of assets to go and get Deshaun Watson. But for now, picking a quarterback here makes sense, and Fields looks like the better prospect than BYU’s Zach Wilson, even if it’s close.
3. Miami Dolphins: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama.
Like the Jets, the Dolphins are a serious candidate for Watson if he’s traded. Probably the leader in the clubhouse. If not, they need to decide if Tua Tagovailoa is the guy, and in order to put him in position succeed, they simply need better weapons. There are some questions about Smith’s size, but the Heisman Trophy winner looks like a potential star.
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Zach Wilson, BYU.
The Falcons are an ideal situation for a young quarterback to come into — Matt Ryan isn’t going anywhere for at least another year, so Wilson can learn behind him all while getting tutored by new head coach Arthur Smith, who saved Ryan Tannehill’s career.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: T Penei Sewell, Oregon.
If Sewell drops to No. 5, the Bengals might throw a parade. Even if he doesn’t, they simply need to draft an offensive lineman here. Sewell should protect Joe Burrow’s blindside for the next decade.
6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU.
The Eagles should have their pick of two of the Smith, Chase or Jaylen Waddle trio. It’d be hard to go wrong with any of them — though don’t put it past Howie Roseman to pick the wrong wide receiver. It’s kind of his thing. Chase didn’t play in 2020, but he was utterly dominant in 2019, out-producing even Justin Jefferson … who already looks like an NFL star.
7. Detroit Lions: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State.
This became an obvious target for the Lions the moment they announced (on Saturday) that they’d be moving on from quarterback Matthew Stafford. It wouldn’t make much sense for them to sign or pursue a veteran option in free agency since they’re still so far away from competing. Lance didn’t play in 2020, but he was simply stellar in 2019 and is a legitimate dual-threat weapon. He threw 28 touchdowns in 2019 — with zero interceptions. Plus, he rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
8. Carolina Panthers: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama.
This is a potential quarterback slot depending on how Carolina feels about Teddy Bridgewater after one year, but they also could lose Curtis Samuel in free agency and Waddle would even be an upgrade over him. Waddle is extremely explosive and can be moved all over the offense. The Panthers would have the best wide receiver trio in the NFL with Waddle, D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson.
9. Denver Broncos: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State.
This might come down to how Denver feels about Drew Lock. With only Mac Jones as a legitimate quarterback option here, instead the Broncos focus on the best player still available — and at a position of need. Parsons is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker.
10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama.
The best cornerback prospect in this year’s draft joining his old teammate (Trevon Diggs) to form a promising young cornerback duo. The Cowboys desperately need secondary help.
11. New York Giants: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida.
The Giants needs offensive weapons for Daniel Jones and pass rushers on defense, and this pass-rusher class isn’t considered particularly impressive at the top. The three top receivers are already off the board here, but Pitts is a perfectly fine consolation prize. He’s a physical (6-6, 245) and athletic freak that is more of a wide receiver-tight end hybrid. That might sound like Evan Engram, but don’t get mistaken — Pitts is the far better prospect. The Giants can address wide receiver in free agency.
12. San Francisco 49ers: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech.
The 49ers could lose their top three cornerbacks to free agency, and have a host of other impending free agents to tend to. Farley is a top-10 talent and can slot in right away as a starter.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: T Rashawn Slater, Northwestern.
Like the Bengals, the Chargers don’t really have a choice but to draft the best tackle prospect on the board. Justin Herbert needs better protection.
14. Minnesota Vikings: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami.
He didn’t play in 2020, but Rousseau had 15.5 sacks in 2019 and Minnesota has a particularly weak pass rush.
15. New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones, Alabama.
The Patriots quarterback situation somehow looks even more dire in 2021 than it did last year. Cam Newton was a mess, and Jarrett Stidham wasn’t good enough. Bill Belichick surely can get the low-down on Jones from Nick Saban, and if he gets the thumbs up from his old friend, this could be the Patriots’ true replacement for Tom Brady.
16. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan.
The Cardinals will get Chandler Jones back next season but he could use better pass-rushing support around him. Paye is a somewhat raw prospect, but the talent is intriguing.
17. Las Vegas Raiders: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama.
This isn’t a talent-rich class at defensive tackle but Barmore helped himself at the end of the season and finished eight sacks. The Raiders need an upgrade on the interior of their defensive line.
18. Miami Dolphins: T Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech.
The Dolphins offensive line is a work in progress. It wouldn’t be surprising if they invested in free agency, but until that happens, assume that they try to upgrade at tackle or guard with their second first-round pick.
19. Washington Football Team: T Samuel Cosmi, Texas.
Washington’s defense was surprisingly good in 2020, but their offense still has some holes that need to be filled around whoever plays quarterback in 2021. The offensive line is a particular area of weakness.
20. Chicago Bears: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota.
Perhaps the Bears consider a quarterback here, though none of the available prospects are especially inspiring. Chicago could lose Allen Robinson in free agency (if he’s not franchise tagged) and Bateman is the next-best wide receiver prospect in this class.
21. Indianapolis Colts: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida.
T.Y. Hilton is a free agent and declining anyway. Toney is one of the fastest receivers in this class and would add a serious weapon to the outside that will especially be lacking if Hilton doesn’t return.
22. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia.
Ojulari had 9.5 sacks for Georgia last season. The Titans made the playoffs despite having one of the NFL’s least productive pass rushes. Edge rusher is a no-brainer here.
23. New York Jets: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina.
The Jets will have plenty of cap space to upgrade the roster in free agency, and can address quarterback at No. 2. Their cornerback group might’ve been the least talented in the NFL last season. Drafting Horn would go a long way toward fixing that.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Kyle Trask, Florida.
Ben Roethlisberger might be retiring, and the Steelers don’t have much cap room to use on prospective free agents. The smart move would be to sign a low-budget veteran (Ryan Fitzpatrick?) as a stopgap while a rookie prospect like Trask develops.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: T Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame.
The Jaguars will need to build a better offensive line around Trevor Lawrence. This is a good place to start.
26. Cleveland Browns: CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State.
The Browns likely saw plenty of Wade, coming from nearby Ohio State. He’d join another OSU alum in Denzel Ward at cornerback.
27. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas.
The Ravens could lose Matthew Judon in free agency and Ossai (29 tackles for loss the last two years) is a good value at this spot.
28. New Orleans Saints: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame.
Off-ball linebackers just don’t get drafted as high anymore, and Owusu-Koramoah (6-1, 215) is a bit undersized, but he’s extremely athletic and a true playmaker that would be an upgrade fat linebacker for New Orleans.
29. Green Bay Packers: WR Terrace Marshall, LSU.
Maybe this year the Packers will actually get Aaron Rodgers some pass-catching upgrades. Marshall would be an intriguing compliment for Davante Adams and is yet another top wide receiver prospect coming out of LSU. They seem to grow on trees in Baton Rouge.
30. Buffalo Bills: G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State.
Most consider Davis to be the best guard prospect in this year’s draft class, and the Bills could use an upgrade on the interior of their offensive line.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami.
The Buccaneers need some pass-rushing help to compliment Jason Pierre-Paul, who is 32 and, at some point, will likely start to show signs of decline. Phillips is a perfect prospect but he’s intriguing as a pass rusher and was once considered the No. 1 high school prospect in the country.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC.
The Chiefs roster is stacked enough that they can simply take whoever they feel the best prospect on the board is in the first round. They could use a new starter on the interior of the offensive line and Vera-Tucker should be able to slot right in.
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