Nason’s 2021 Mock Draft 2.0: Playoff Time

Well, we made it folks. The NFL officially completed 256 regular season games and now it’s playoff time. While the playoffs mean less football, it does mean we have the first 18 picks of the NFL Draft set in stone (assuming no trades of course). With that, it’s time for my second mock draft of the season, and the first of 2021. If your team needs a quarterback, an offensive tackle or a wide receiver, you are in luck. Enjoy and rip apart my latest predictions.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. New York Jets: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
3. Miami Dolphins (via Houston): OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
4. Atlanta Falcons: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
5. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
6. Philadelphia Eagles: WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
7. Detroit Lions: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
8. Carolina Panthers: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
9. Denver Broncos: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
11. New York Giants: Edge Gregory Rousseau, Miami
12. San Francisco 49ers: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
13. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota Vikings: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
15. New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
16. Arizona Cardinals: Edge, Kwity Paye, Michigan
17. Las Vegas Raiders: Edge, Joseph Ossai, Texas
18. Miami Dolphins: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
19. Washington Football Team: OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
20. Chicago Bears: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LA Rams): OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State
22. Indianapolis Colts: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
23. Cleveland Browns: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
24. Tennessee Titans: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Jaelan Phillips, Miami
26. Baltimore Ravens: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
27. New York Jets (via Seattle): LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
29. New Orleans Saints: CB Derion Kendrick, Clemson
30. Buffalo Bills: OL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
31. Green Bay Packers: DL Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
32. Kansas City Chiefs: OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

The Big Take Aways

The Belichick-Saban bromance is and will be a thing

There have always been strong connections between Bill Belichick and Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban, in the sense that Bill would get good input on players from Saban, and likes to draft them when he can. Currently, the Patriots have 3 former Crimson Tide players on the roster; LB’s Anfernee Jennings and Dont’a Hightower, and RB Damien Harris, and CB Cyrus Jones was drafted by the Pats in 2016. Last year, with the Patriots moving on from Tom Brady, there were rumors of Bill liking Tua Tagovailoa, but with a draft pick in the 20’s, moving into the top 5 to select the former Alabama star was a pipedream. This year, with the 15th pick, the Davey O’Brien award winner is well within the grasp of the quarterback needy Patriots, and if Jones gets Saban’s endorsement, it’s very likely he will be under center for New England sometime next season.

The battle for WR1 will be fun

Heading into this season, LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase was my clear cut #1 receiver in this class, with Jaylen Waddle a close 2nd until he got hurt and Heisman winner DeVonta Smith with an end of the 1st round grade. Now, after Chase has been off for the year, Waddle suffered a broken ankle and Smith won the Heisman, the race to be the first receiver taken is as tight as it gets. From what I am seeing around draft Twitter, Smith has taken the top spot for a lot of people, with Chase and Waddle close behind. I am personally sticking to my preseason rankings, as I think CHase is going to absolutely dominate the combine, and Waddle’s ceiling just seems higher than Smith’s for me at this point.

Lots of quarterbacks to go around

If your team needs a young quarterback, this is a good year to have that problem. Aside for the aforementioned Jones, I have 4 other QB’s in round 1 at this time, Lawrence to the Jaguars, Fields to the Jets, Wilson to the Falcons and Lance to the 49ers. Former Florida Gator and Heisman finalist Kyle Trask is another name to watch out for, as before a 3 interception game against Oklahoma (where he was missing his top 4 pass catchers) Trask was being mocked at the end of the 1st round all over the draft community. A strong Senior Bowl could be huge for his stock.

and last be not least, a new segment…

My Draft Crushes

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

As a Patriots fan, anytime I see a productive slot receiver it’s going to peak my interest. Toney had a dominant year with Kyle Trask at the helm, hauling in 70 catches for 984 yards and 12 total touchdowns, including a punt return. A dangerous route runner who does a great job getting open, he will be a weapon for any offensive coordinator and could be a late draft and stash for you fantasy football players.

Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina

Surratt is a former quarterback turned linebacker who probably made the best decision for his football career in doing so. The ultra athletic linebacker has been all over the field for the Tar Heels the last two years, totalling over 200 tackles, over 20 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. In today’s league you need your backers to not only be able to stop the run, but cover a ton of space in coverage, so Surratt’s athleticism will be very enticing to teams.

Image: Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports