2021 NFL mock draft: 49ers get their new franchise quarterback, but its not who you expected – CBS Sports

Clemson

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 220 lbs

Projected Team

Jacksonville

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

No need for any funny business here. Lawrence will be the No. 1 pick.

BYU

• Jr

• 6’3″

/ 210 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

2nd

This has seemed set in stone for a while now. There’s obviously a chance New York goes in a different direction, but it will be a quarterback.

North Dakota State

• Soph

• 6’4″

/ 226 lbs

There was a ton of early speculation about Mac Jones and there has been a recent surge for Justin Fields coming off the board in this spot, but the 49ers generally do not leak. I’m thinking they go in another direction, with a player whose skill set is a perfect fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The fact that the Niners essentially scripted his Monday pro day factors in as well.

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’3″

/ 228 lbs

Projected Team

Denver

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

1st

With Fields still sitting on the board at No. 4 overall, the Broncos make the Falcons an offer they can’t refuse (No. 9, 40, 144, and next year’s second-round pick) to move up for their new quarterback.

Oregon

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 330 lbs

Projected Team

Cincinnati

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

1st

Joe Burrow won’t need to worry about who his receivers are if he can’t stay upright in the pocket. The situation in front of him was a disaster last season, and it resulted in Burrow suffering a season-ending injury. The Bengals can’t let that happen again, which is why Sewell makes the most sense here. With the depth of this receiver class, they can still grab a top-end pass-catcher early in Round 2, just like they did last year.

Florida

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 240 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

Miami moves down three spots and lands arguably the best overall player in the draft. Brian Flores knows how unstoppable an offense can be with an athletic tight end who cannot be covered over the middle or in the red zone from his New England days, and he lands his version of that right here.

LSU

• Jr

• 6’0″

/ 208 lbs

Projected Team

Detroit

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Detroit loaded up on speed receivers in free agency, and here gets a No. 1 guy who is more physical and able to succeed in the short and intermediate areas of the field, providing a solid baseline for Jared Goff, and eventually, whichever quarterback the Lions tab as their long-term starter.

Alabama

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 203 lbs

Projected Team

Carolina

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

3rd

The Panthers spent their entire draft on defense last season, but still need quite a bit of help on that side of the ball. Landing one of the top cornerbacks in this class raises the floor and ceiling of their talent on the back end of the defense.

Northwestern

• Jr

• 6’3″

/ 305 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Atlanta picks up two extra selections in this year’s draft and one next year, and still lands one of the top offensive line prospects in this class. Slater has the versatility to play anywhere on the line, making him a good fit in the short and long term. The Falcons can still add more pieces on offense and defense later in the draft, where they are now stacked with multiple picks.

Alabama

• Jr

• 6’3″

/ 214 lbs

Projected Team

New England

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

2nd

With the top offensive prospects that the Cowboys might be interested in off the board but a quarterback still there, Trader Jerry moves down from No. 10 to 15 and picks up No. 46 for his troubles. The Pats, meanwhile, sacrifice only a second-round pick to get their QB of the future.

Alabama

• Jr

• 5’10”

/ 182 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Giants

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

4th

The Giants are all in on making Daniel Jones work. Adding Waddle as a complement to Kenny Golladay on the outside makes a ton of sense in that regard, giving the Giants a lot to work with in the deep passing game and opening things up for the likes of Sterling Shepard and Saquon Barkley underneath. Plus, Waddle is electric with the ball in his hands and can turn short throws into huge gains on his own.

Alabama

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 175 lbs

Projected Team

Philadelphia

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Philly moves down from No. 6 to No. 12 and still lands perhaps the same player. Not bad for a trade’s work.

USC

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 315 lbs

The Chargers have already had quite the offseason upgrading their offensive line, and continue to do so here. Vera-Tucker has played guard and tackle and can fit at either spot, allowing the team to mix and match with him and free agent signing Matt Feiler to find the best way this all fits together up front.

Miami (FL)

• Jr

• 6’5″

/ 266 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

21st

POSITION RNK

3rd

Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer could of course take yet another cornerback here, but with the way the Vikings’ pass rush has been depleted the past few years, they really need help on the edge. Phillips has some concerns with his medical history, but he is the most polished and versatile pass-rusher in this class and would help them both immediately and over the long haul.

South Carolina

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 205 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

1st

Dallas moves down five spots, picks up an extra selection, and still gets one of the top corners in the class. Horn is a physical cornerback with long arms and great athleticism, making him a good fit across from Trevon Diggs in new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s defense.

Virginia Tech

• Jr

• 6’5″

/ 314 lbs

Projected Team

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

30th

POSITION RNK

4th

Protecting Kyler Murray has to be priority No. 1 for the Cardinals. Darrisaw is a monster-sized athletic marvel who can help them do just that.

Oklahoma State

• Sr

• 6’6″

/ 320 lbs

Projected Team

Las Vegas

PROSPECT RNK

32nd

POSITION RNK

6th

2018 third-round pick Brandon Parker has not developed into a starter and, after trading Trent Brown, the Raiders have a need on the right side of the line. That makes Jenkins a strong fit in the middle of the first.

Georgia

• Soph

• 6’3″

/ 240 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

29th

POSITION RNK

5th

The Dolphins built an excellent defense last season, but still need help in the pass-rush department if they are going to maintain that level. Ojulari helps in that regard.

Penn State

• Jr

• 6’3″

/ 244 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

19th

POSITION RNK

4th

Ron Rivera’s Carolina defenses were at their best when they had Luke Kuechly making plays all over the field. He tries to recreate that in Washington by nabbing Parsons here.

Minnesota

• Soph

• 6’2″

/ 210 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

5th

It sure seems like the futures of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are riding on their success or failure this year, which means they really need this offense to take a step forward. Enter Bateman, who can complement Allen Robinson with his speed and ability to make big plays.

Alabama

• Sr

• 6’6″

/ 312 lbs

Projected Team

Indianapolis

PROSPECT RNK

18th

POSITION RNK

2nd

A big run on tackles in the first round continues as the Colts land Leatherwood to replace the departed Anthony Castonzo on the left side of the line.

Michigan

• Sr

• 6’4″

/ 272 lbs

Projected Team

Tennessee

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

1st

Tennessee needs pass rush more than almost any team in the league needs anything at the moment. Paye is an elite athlete with enormous potential coming off the edge.

Northwestern

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 190 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

You know Robert Saleh wants to start building up one of the league’s worst defense. He’s done great work with defensive backs in the past, and gets a good one to work with in Newsome, who isn’t far off from the two corners that went a bit earlier in the first round.

Notre Dame

• Sr

• 6’6″

/ 302 lbs

Projected Team

Pittsburgh

PROSPECT RNK

37th

POSITION RNK

1st

There’s been a lot of turnover on Pittsburgh’s offensive line this year. I don’t buy the chatter about a first-round running back. That’s not been Kevin Colbert’s style in the past.

TCU

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 208 lbs

Projected Team

Jacksonville

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

1st

Moehrig makes a ton of sense for a team that still needs a lot of help on the back end of the defense. Wide receiver and tackle are possibilities, but those positions have been pretty well picked over and still have plenty of depth available for Rounds 2 and 3. Instead, the Jags land the top safety on the board.

Alabama

• Soph

• 6’5″

/ 310 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

48th

POSITION RNK

3rd

This just makes way too much sense after the Browns cut Sheldon Richardson. It’s not considered that good of an interior defensive line class, so Cleveland gets the top guy available in the mid-20s.

Miami (FL)

• Soph

• 6’7″

/ 265 lbs

Projected Team

Baltimore

PROSPECT RNK

58th

POSITION RNK

9th

Attach Rousseau to Calais Campbell’s hip and make him learn everything his fellow former Miami Hurricane knows.

Notre Dame

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 215 lbs

Projected Team

New Orleans

PROSPECT RNK

26th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Owusu-Koramoah fills a couple roles for the Saints, given that he’s equally capable of playing safety or linebacker. With Demario Davis and Malcolm Jenkins heading into their mid-30s, it’s good to have some youth at those positions to bring the defense into the future.

Virginia Tech

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 207 lbs

Projected Team

Green Bay

PROSPECT RNK

25th

POSITION RNK

1st

Farley was considered a possible top-10 pick before news of his pre-draft back surgery. The value is too good for the Packers to pass up late in the first round.

Tulsa

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 260 lbs

Projected Team

Buffalo

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

2nd

Collins is enormous and a freak athlete. He can play linebacker and/or come off the edge, making him a very useful, versatile piece for Sean McDermott’s defense.

Purdue

• Soph

• 5’9″

/ 180 lbs

Projected Team

Kansas City

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

5th

Very quietly, wide receiver has become a need for the Chiefs. And if there’s any team in the league that knows how to use pint-sized playmakers with tremendous speed, it’s these guys.

Florida State

• Jr

• 5’10”

/ 184 lbs

Projected Team

Tampa Bay

PROSPECT RNK

33rd

POSITION RNK

6th

The Bucs had success with the son of a former NFL defensive back last year. Why not try for another?