CLEVELAND, Ohio — The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has essentially been locked in for months. We know it’s going to be Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.
The question is who No. 2 will be. Ohio State’s Justin Fields looked like a lock. But some struggles against Indiana and Northwestern opened the door for BYU’s Zach Wilson to make a battle of it. Wilson had a breakout season in 2020 for BYU after two seasons of mediocre numbers, albeit against a weak schedule. Those numbers have Wilson right now as the trendy choice for some at No. 2.
Fields helped take Ohio State to the national championship game vs. Alabama this season. Plus, he was simply sensational against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl.
This debate will probably be the biggest topic of draft discussion for the next two months until draft night. See which quarterback went No. 2 here in our latest mock draft. This time, we’re doing something different. Instead of it being just Tim making the picks, we decided to make it a dueling mock with Ellis joining in on the fun.
We took the 32 first-round picks and alternated between making and analyzing the picks. So for example, Tim will make a pick and Ellis will offer his thoughts. We will then go back and forth through the rest of the first round.
Tim has the odd-numbered teams, and Ellis the even-numbered teams.
So here is our latest mock draft.
(Tim) 1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, quarterback, Clemson
Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds.
2020 stats: 231-334 (69.2 percent), 3,153 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs.
Ellis’s reaction: No brainer to take Trevor Lawrence here. Urban Meyer came out of retirement to land the perfect gig. Now he has his quarterback. The draft starts at No. 2.
(Ellis) 2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, quarterback, BYU
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
2020 stats: 247-334 (73.5 percent), 3,692 yards, 33 TDs, 3 INTs.
Tim’s reaction: I’m in the camp that believes Justin Fields might be the better option than Wilson. But I understand it, especially given Fields’ problems against Indiana and Northwestern. However, I’m also worried that Wilson essentially had only one good year and did so against a weak schedule.
(Tim) 3. Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans: DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.
2020 stats: 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, 23 TDs.
Ellis’s reaction: A Heisman trophy winner, pairing DeVonta Smith with Devante Parker, Tua Tagovailoa and another Alabama weapon Miami will draft later (stay tuned) makes the offense dangerous very quickly.
(Ellis) 4. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Fields, quarterback, Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 223 pounds.
2020 stats: 158-225 (70.2 percent), 2,100 yards, 22 TDs, 6 INTs.
Tim’s reaction: This is the right way to go for the Falcons. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones aren’t getting any younger, and a new front office should signal a rebuild. Bringing Fields back home is a good way to start.
(Tim) 5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, offensive tackle, Oregon
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 325 pounds.
Ellis’s reaction: Watching the Bengals live twice this year, it was obvious Cincinnati needed offensive line help. Back in October I said pencil the Bengals in for the top offensive lineman available. Here we are. They must start protecting Joe Burrow and that starts with Penei Sewell.
(Ellis) 6. Philadelphia Eagles: Ja’Marr Chase, wide receiver, LSU
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds
2020 stats: Opted out of season.
Tim’s reaction: Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson in 2020 already looks like a bad decision. Going back to LSU to grab Chase is the best way to remedy this.
(Tim) 7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver, Alabama
Height, weight: 5-foot-10, 182 pounds.
2020 stats: 28 receptions, 591 yards, 4 TDs.
Ellis’s reaction: With the Lions expecting to lose Kenny Golladay either this season or next, Waddle makes sense here and also gives Jared Goff a weapon. Detroit could be in the market for Trey Lance, but Waddle is a safe choice.
(Ellis) 8. Carolina Panthers: Patrick Surtain II, cornerback, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds.
2020 stats: 22 solo tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 12 passes defensed, 1 INT.
Tim’s reaction: The Panthers have to be better on offense. But considering they had just seven interceptions all season, they must be better at defending the pass. I can get on board with Surtain here.
(Tim) 9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, cornerback, Virginia Tech
Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 207 pounds.
2020 stats: Opted out of season.
Ellis’s reaction: After loading up with offensive talent for quarterback Drew Lock a year ago, Denver gets back to finding young defensive studs. To me it’s a toss up between Surtain or Farley as the No. 1 corner. Vic Fangio lands a replacement for A.J. Bouye.
(Ellis) 10. Dallas Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, offensive tackle, Northwestern
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 315 pounds.
Tim’s reaction: This might have been a good spot for Micah Parsons considering how bad Dallas’ defense was. But the Cowboys also have to worry about protecting Dak Prescott. Slater can certainly fill one of the tackle voids, especially considering they have to block Chase Young twice a season.
(Tim) 11. New York Giants: Gregory Rousseau, edge rusher, Miami
Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds.
2020 stats: Opted out of season.
Ellis’s reaction: I’m surprised to see my colleague Tim select Rousseau at No. 11. Not because it’s a bad pick, but this is as early as I’ve seen Rousseau go among mocks I’ve studied. However, Tim is sharp and understands that by April, Rousseau likely will be a top 12 selection. I love this pick for the Giants.
(Ellis) 12. San Francisco 49ers: Kwity Paye, edge rusher, Michigan
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 280 pounds.
2020 stats: 16 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFLs.
Tim’s reaction: Paye’s athleticism is extremely exciting. I love the fit that he could have opposite Nick Bosa. The 49ers got to a Super Bowl on the back of a dominant front four. Adding Paye gives them a shot to replicate that.
(Tim) 13. Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, offensive tackle, Virginia Tech
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 314 pounds.
Ellis’s reaction: Like the Bengals, Los Angeles has a young quarterback it must do everything to protect. Christian Darrisaw started as a true freshman and three years later could be the No. 2 tackle off the board.
(Ellis) 14. Minnesota Vikings: Jaelan Phillips, edge rusher, Miami
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 260 pounds
2020 stats: 45 tackles, 8 sacks, 15.5 TFLs, 3 passes defensed, 1 INT.
Tim’s reaction: I like Phillips, but I don’t know if I’d draft him ahead of Micah Parsons or Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. But I understand the need for a pass rusher in Minnesota. Phillips has great upside as long as he can stay healthy like he did in 2020.
(Tim) 15. New England Patriots: Kyle Pitts, tight end, Florida
Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 239 pounds.
2020 stats: 43 receptions, 770 yards, 12 TDs.
Ellis’s reaction: I love Pitts here. I would’ve liked to see Giants grab him at No. 11. Daniel Jones needs weapons and Pitts should generate plenty of mismatches. But the Pats need weapons too. Once Bill Belichick finds a QB, he’ll have a nice weapon for him in Pitts.
(Ellis) 16. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, linebacker, Notre Dame
Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds.
2020 stats: 62 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovered, 3 passes defensed, 1 INT.
Tim’s reaction: I am a fan of Owusu-Koramoah, but him going ahead of Micah Parsons is interesting. The Cardinals drafted a similar player in Isaiah Simmons last year, although Owusu-Koramoah is smaller. Getting him here could allow the Cardinals to have a very fluid and unpredictable defense if those pieces are implemented properly.
(Tim) 17. Las Vegas Raiders: Micah Parsons, Penn State
Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 245 pounds.
2020 stats: Opted out of season.
Ellis’s reaction: I’m glad Tim took Parsons at some point because I was never going to. Simply put, he’s off my board for some behavioral issues. Allegedly, Parsons has made some questionable decisions while at Penn State. Look into it yourself and decide, but he’s 100 percent off my board.
(Ellis) 18. Miami: Najee Harris, running back, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds.
2020 stats: 251 carries, 1,466 yards, 24 TDs, 43 receptions, 425 yards, 4 TDs.
Tim’s reaction: I’d have taken Travis Etienne before Harris because of his speed and power combination. I know Harris faster than he looks and is strong. But Etienne is almost the perfect back to me.
(Tim) 19. Washington Football Team: Trey Lance, quarterback, North Dakota State
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 221 pounds.
2020 stats: 15-30, 149 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
Ellis’ reaction: If Washington can avoid trading up and actually land Lance here then that’s a home run. However, come draft day I suspect some of these quarterback-needy teams will need to trade up. Regardless, I love Lance at No. 19.
(Ellis) 20. Chicago Bears: Rashod Bateman, wide receiver, Minnesota
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds.
2020 stats: 36 receptions, 472 yards, 2 TDs.
Tim’s reaction: Here’s your replacement if Allen Robinson leaves in free agency. The more I’ve seen of Bateman in highlights, the more I like. He has great physical skills, but his toughness is my favorite attribute of his. Good pick here, although they do have to figure out what to do at quarterback.
(Tim) 21. Indianapolis Colts: Mac Jones, quarterback, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 214 pounds.
2020 stats: 311-402 (77.4 percent), 4,500 yards, 41 TDs, 4 INTs.
Ellis’ reaction: We all know the Colts need a quarterback but I don’t think they’ll look to the draft to answer that question. Colts GM Chris Ballard is one move away from flirting with AFC Championship contention. Sam Darnold or Carson Wentz put them there, not Jones. But if they do pick Jones then there is a lot to like about the prospect. He’ll do well in the league but not right away.
(Ellis) 22. Tennessee Titans: Azeez Ojulari, edge rusher, Georgia
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds.
2020 stats: 30 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11.5 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, 2 passes defensed.
Tim’s reaction: I made this pick in my last mock, so I naturally agree with this decision. He’s a great fit in a 3-4 base and gives the Titans another talented edge rusher. After getting just 19 a year ago, they desperately needed to fix that part of the defense.
(Tim) 23. New York Jets via Seattle Seahawks: Terrace Marshall Jr., wide receiver, LSU
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds.
2020 stats: 48 receptions, 731 yards, 10 TDs.
Ellis’ reaction: The Jets need weapons and Terrace Marshall Jr. is that guy. As the Tigers’ No. 1 option this season he averaged 100 yards per game and scored double-digit touchdowns. He isn’t the athlete his teammate Chase is but his floor seems very safe.
(Ellis) 24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Liam Eichenberg, offensive tackle, Notre Dame
Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 305 pounds.
Tim’s reaction: There’s other linemen I like in this spot more than Eichenberg, including Samuel Cosmi of Texas. But I do like the idea of addressing the offensive line. Given the success of players like Quentin Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, there’s good reason to trust in linemen out of Notre Dame.
(Tim) 25. Jacksonville via Los Angeles Rams: Samuel Cosmi, offensive tackle, Texas
Height, weight: 6-foot-7, 300 pounds.
Ellis’ reaction: NFL front offices seem to be making more of an effort to protect young quarterbacks rather than simply drafting pass catching talent. The Bengals and Chargers must do it and the Jags follow as well.
(Ellis) 26. Cleveland Browns: Zaven Collins, linebacker, Tulsa
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 260 pounds.
2020 stats: 53 tackles, 4 sacks, 11.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 4 interceptions.
Tim’s reaction: I understand that linebacker is as big a need for the Browns as any right now. But I personally have a hard time passing over Jaycee Horn of South Carolina if he makes it this far. Horn could give the Browns the physical corner with size they thought Greedy Williams might be. Collins could be a good fit, but going corner is a better value in my opinion.
(Tim) 27. Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, edge rusher, Penn State
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 252 pounds.
2020 stats: 38 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 1 pass defensed.
Ellis’ reaction: I really like Oweh as a prospect. But the Ravens have a lot of questions at edge rusher. Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue are question marks to return. Meaning Oweh would be asked to start and I’m unsure if he’s ready for that. I’d love to see the Ravens find a pass catcher with a large catch radius here but Terrace Marshall Jr. went off the board four picks ago.
(Ellis) 28. New Orleans Saints: Jaycee Horn, cornerback, South Carolina
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds.
2020 stats: 10 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 6 passes defensed, 2 INTs.
Tim’s reaction: Horn falling all the way to No. 28 would be a dream for the Saints. With their cap situation, they will need to shed some salary. Marshon Lattimore is in the last year of his rookie deal. I like Horn’s physical play and thought he could be a good fit for the Browns. But he’s a steal at this point.
(Tim) 29. Green Bay Packers: Kadarius Toney, wide receiver, Florida
Height, weight: 6-foot, 193 pounds.
2020 stats: 70 receptions, 984 yards, 10 TDs.
Ellis’ reaction: It only took 29 selections but I finally agree with Tim. That was a joke. We’ve agreed on plenty but I’m 100 percent on board with this selection. Green Bay needs a playmaker. Toney, though not the most complete route runner, provides the explosiveness Packers fans are craving.
(Ellis) 30. Buffalo Bills: Nick Bolton, linebacker, Missouri
Height, weight: 6 foot, 230 pounds.
2020 stats: 95 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 TFLs, 5 passes defensed.
Tim’s reaction: It’s another good choice from Ellis here. Matt Milano might be a cap casualty in Buffalo, especially with Josh Allen due some big money in the next couple of years. Bolton is one of the best tackling linebackers in this draft and can add another physical presence to a strong Buffalo defense.
(Tim) 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Alijah Vera-Tucker, interior offensive lineman, USC
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 300 pounds.
Ellis’ reaction: Assuming anyone reading this mock watched the Super Bowl, then this pick makes perfect sense. Kansas City lost right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to an opt-out last season. Adding Vera-Tucker and getting Duvernay-Tardif back puts the Chiefs in prime position to avenge their Super Bowl defeat.
(Ellis) 32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, defensive tackle, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.
2020 stats: 37 tackles, 8 sacks, 9.5 TFLs.
Tim’s reaction: Ellis read my mind on this one. I mocked Barmore to the Buccaneers in my previous mock. With Ndamukong Suh turning 35, Barmore seems like a great replacement. If Barmore hadn’t played well in the playoff, defensive tackle might have been shut out of the first round entirely.
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