On the Clock: Previewing the 2021 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is one of the most anticipated events for diehard football fans across the nation. Every spring, some of college football’s most talented players place their names in the NFL Draft, hoping to get their name called.
For those unfamiliar with the draft process, here’s a little information. There are seven rounds in the NFL draft where approximately 250 picks are made.The order of the draft each round is based on regular season standings from the previous season. The team with the worst record in the league will pick first in each round. While the Super Bowl champion will pick last. This year, it’s the Jacksonville Jaguars who will pick first. They had the worst record in the NFL by winning only 1 of their 16 games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who won the Super Bowl, will pick last each round.
However, this order doesn’t have to stay permanent. Oftentimes, teams like trading up in the draft to steal a player they like. These trades do not have to happen during the draft. A few weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers traded up nine spots to pick 3rd overall. But doing that cost a big price. The 49ers traded away two future 1st round picks and their 3rd round pick to move up.
Also, there’s at least 32 compensatory draft selections scattered out between the 3rd and 7th rounds of the NFL draft. These selections are given to teams who lost more free agents the previous offseason than acquired. In a new rule, teams who hire minority head coaches and general managers can gain a compensatory draft selection.
WHO MIGHT YOUR TEAM PICK IN ROUND 1???
Dallas Cowboys: 10th Overall Pick
Teams Biggest Needs: CB, OL, TE, EDGE
Top Candidates: Christan Darrisaw, OL, Virginia Tech; Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern; Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
Chicago Bears: 20th Overall Pick
Teams Biggest Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB
Top Candidates: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama; Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State; Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State; Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Christan Darrisaw, OL, Virginia Tech; Teven Jenkins, OL, Oklahoma State; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Green Bay Packers: 29th Overall Pick
Teams Biggest Needs: OL, WR, CB,
Top Candidates: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech; Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina; Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern; Asante Samuel Jr, CB, Florida State; Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia; Teven Jenkins, OL, Oklahoma State; Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue; Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida; Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
Teddy’s 3-Round NFL Mock Draft With Trades
Round 1
- Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
- Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
- 49ers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
- Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
- Bengals: Penei Sewell, OL, Oregon
- Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
- Lions: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
- Panthers: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
- Broncos: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
- Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
- Patriots (via Giants): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
- Eagles: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
- Chargers: Christian Darrisaw, OL, Virginia Tech
- Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
- Giants (via Patriots): Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
- Cardinals: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
- Raiders: Teven Jenkins, OL, Oklahoma State
- Dolphins: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
- Washington: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
- Bears: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
- Jets (via Colts): Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
- Titans: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
- Colts (via Jets): Alex Leatherwood, T, Alabama
- Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
- Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
- Browns: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)
- Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
- Saints: Asante Samuel, CB, Florida State
- Panthers (via Packers): Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky
- Eagles (via Bills): Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
- Ravens: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)
- 49ers (via Buccaneers): Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Round 2
- Jaguars, Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
- Jets: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
- Falcons: Elijah Molden, S, Washington
- Dolphins: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
- Bills (via Eagles): Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
- Bengals: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, LSU
- Packers (via Panthers): Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
- Broncos: Dillon Radunz, T, North Dakota State
- Lions: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri
- GIants: Quinn Meinerz, OL, Wisconsin-Whitewater
- Buccaneers (via 49ers): Carlos Basham Jr, EDGE, Wake Forest
- Cowboys: Pat FIermuth, TE, Penn State
- Bears (via Jaguars): Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
- Patriots: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
- Chargers: Jevon Holland, CB, Oregon
- Raiders: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
- Cardinals: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
- Dolphins: Liam Eichenberg, OL, Notre Dame
- Washington: Jaylen Mayfield, OL, Michigan
- Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OL, Texas
- Titans: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
- Colts: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
- Steelers: Landon Dickerson, OL, Alabama
- Falcons (via Seahawks): Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma
- Rams: Wyatt Davis, OL, Ohio State
- Chiefs: Creed Humphrey, OL, Oklahoma
- Browns: Alim McNeill, DL, NC State
- Saints: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State
- Jets (via Bills): Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
- Packers: Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas
- Chiefs: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
- Buccaneers: Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
Round 3
- Jaguars: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
- Bills (via Jets): Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
- Texans: Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech
- Seahawks (via Falcons): Walker Little, OL, Stanford
- Bengals: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami (FL)
- Eagles: Tay Gowan, CB, UCF
- Broncos: Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
- Lions: Richie Grant, S, UCF
- Packers (via Panthers): Trey Smith, G, Tennessee
- Washington: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
- Cowboys: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana
- Giants: Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State
- Chargers: Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville
- VIkings: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston
- Raiders: Ar’Darius Washington, S, TCU
- Raiders: Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
- Dolphins: Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pittsburgh
- Washington: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
- Bears: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M
- Bills (via Eagles): Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
- Steelers (via Titans): Stone Forsythe, T, Florida
- Jets: Kendrick Green, G, Illinois
- Titans (via Steelers): Marvin WIlson, DL, Florida State
- Rams: Tre Brown, CB, Oklahoma
- Browns: Osa Odighizuwa, Dl, UCLA
- Vikings Get: Andre CIsco, S, Syracuse
- Browns: Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State
- Panthers (via Packers): Josh Palmer, WE, Tennessee
- Bills: Joe Tyron, EDGE, Washington
- Ravens: Brady Christensen, T, BYU
- Buccaneers: Tommy Togiai, DL, Ohio State
- Giants (via Patriots): Jackson Carman, Ol, Clemson
- Chargers: Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE, Vanderbilt
- Saints: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
- Cowboys: Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane
- Titans: Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina
- Lions: Bobby Brown III, DL, Texas A&M
- Buccaneers: Dax Milne, WR, BYU
- Rams: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
- Ravens: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis
- Saints: Patrick Johnson, EDGE, Tulane
Notable Trades (based on pick number and 2022 rounds):
Patriots Get: 11,
Giants Get: 15, 96, 120
Jets Get: 21
Colts Get: 23, 146
Panthers Get: 29, 92
Packers Get: 39, 73, 2022 5th
Eagles Get: 30, 161
Bills Get: 39, 84
49ers Get: 32
Buccaneers Get: 43, 102
Bears Get: 45
Jaguars Get: 52, WR Anthony Miller
Falcons Get: 58
Seahawks Get: 68, 108, 187
Jets Get: 61
Bills Get: 66, 154
Steelers Get: 85
Titans Get: 87, 245