Jordan Katz’s “What I Would Do” NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Final
The final edition of my personal mock drafts is here! For those new to my style, this is what I would do if I was in charge of all 32 teams. All the trades are in the best interest of both teams, and all the selections are based on my personal evaluation of players, as well as team needs. For those looking for my final prediction style mock draft, that will come out closer to Thursday night.
ROUND ONE
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson- The presumed number one overall pick since his freshman year will fulfill his destiny on April 29th. The key for Jacksonville will be putting the talent around him to sustain success for years to come. Andrew Luck’s career could have been a lot different if the Colts put the structure around him to make him last. Lawrence is an all-world talent, but no one can be successful at the quarterback position by themselves. Lawrence is the guy, but now Jacksonville has to build a team around him to give him a chance.
2) New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB BYU- Zach Wilson has been my QB2 throughout the draft process. His fluidity in his throwing motion from top to bottom allows him to be more accurate in the intermediate windows than the other quarterbacks not named Lawrence. On top of that, he has NFL mobility and a terrific deep ball. The Jets are locked into Wilson at two, and in my opinion, that’s the right call.
3) San Francisco 49ers (from Dolphins via Texans): Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State- If the Niners are truly committed to Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021, then Trey Lance is the quarterback that makes the most sense for them. He has a ton of NFL tools, and he’s just 20 years old. Lance can be molded into any type of quarterback because of his elite arm talent and mobility. Lance could be a star if he sits for a year or two.
4) Atlanta Falcons: Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina- Horn is my top cornerback in the draft because of his elite man-to-man skills. His ability in press coverage should help him make a seamless transition to the NFL. Horn has elite athleticism, good ball skills, and he thrived against top end competition.
Atlanta needs playmakers on their defense. Horn would be my top choice if Atlanta could not trade out of this selection.
5) Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT Oregon- Even though Jonah Williams will return to the Bengals starting lineup, they still need more help along their offensive line. Sewell is the top tackle on my board by a considerable amount. People can try to talk up Rashawn Slater’s athleticism, but Sewell’s body of work is just outstanding. Williams goes to left guard (where he will thrive), and Sewell starts at left tackle.
6) Miami Dolphins (from Eagles): Kyle Pitts, TE Florida- Miami has a nice receiving core at the moment. They added Will Fuller on a one year deal to pair with Devante Parker, and Mike Gesicki has emerged as a quality pass catching tight end.
Having said that, none of those players are at the caliber of Kyle Pitts. Pitts is a generational talent at the tight end position. He wins contested throws, his footwork allows him to beat all types of coverages, and he’s an elite athlete. Miami takes Pitts and moves Gesicki before he walks in free agency after this year.
7) Detroit Lions: Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU- Detroit lost Kenny Golladay to free agency this offseason, which means this pick is pretty simple. Whomever the best pass catcher on the board gets inserted here.
The reason I chose Chase over a guy with a higher ceiling like Jaylen Waddle is because Chase’s floor is significantly higher. The Lions need productivity on the outside, and Chase is the best player on day one of the big three wide receivers.
8) *TRADE* New England Patriots (from Panthers): Justin Fields, QB Ohio State- Carolina gave up some future assets to acquire Sam Darnold earlier this offseason. That could tempt them to trade down and recoup those assets that were lost.
New England needs a quarterback of the future because they only signed Cam Newton for one season. Plus, Justin Fields would learn a lot by sitting behind a player that his skill set is very reminiscent of.
This trade is a perfect match.
9) *TRADE* Miami Dolphins (via Broncos): Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL USC– Many people have speculated that Miami is looking to move out of six to ensure three first round selections. They can use the assets they have acquired to get three players on fifth year options.
One scenario that is not being discussed is Miami using their assets to pick twice in the top 10. General Manager Chris Grier is known for being aggressive. He has already acquired a ton of assets for the next few years. Therefore, he can use what he has already, move back into the top 10, and take an elite offensive linemen like Vera-Tucker to help complete this offense.
Editor’s Note: For those wondering why this is not Rashawn Slater, Slater and Vera-Tucker are really close on my board. I have Vera-Tucker slightly higher because of his elite footwork in pass sets.
10) Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama- The Cowboys desperately need a top flight cornerback early in this draft. They let Byron Jones walk in free agency, but really struggled in his absence. Surtain may not be my top cornerback in this draft, but he has the highest floor. Surtain is successful in multiple coverages because of his length and footwork. He will fit in very nicely in Dallas.
11) New York Giants: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Miami- Edge rusher number one on my board is Jaelan Phillips. He’s the most dynamic and well rounded pass rusher of the group. Phillips can dip and bend off the edge, he can long arm opposing tackles, and his move-set is the most complete of all the edge rushers. The Giants need a pass rusher to compliment Leonard Williams if their defense wants to be elite in 2021. Phillips can be that guy,
12) Philadelphia Eagles (from Dolphins via 49ers): Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama- If Jalen Hurts is going to be the Eagles quarterback moving forward, he needs a dynamic playmaker to help him be successful. Someone that can stretch the defense, but who can also win in short yardage situations. Jaylen Waddle is that kind of player.
13) Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, IOL Northwestern- Many are mocking a cornerback to the Chargers, but I don’t see how they pass on the top end offensive line talent in this draft. Justin Herbert is the franchise. In order for him to be successful, you must protect him. This does not seem like a hard problem to solve.
14) Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech- Darrisaw possesses elite power for the tackle position. He’s a menace in the run game, and his grip strength allows him to win reps against all kinds of edge rushers. For a team that wants to run the ball as much as Minnesota does, Darrisaw is an easy fit.
15) *TRADE* Carolina Panthers (via Patriots): Dillon Radunz, OT North Dakota State- Radunz is one of my favorite tackle prospects in this draft. His hips are extremely fluid, which allows him to re-anchor easily. He can take a punch, counter, and wall off opposing edge rushers. There are some aspects that need fine tuning, but he can start at left tackle from day one. Carolina grabs a day one starter after recouping some assets they lost in the Sam Darnold deal.
16) Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech- I do not have the luxury of the medical reports that teams receive on players. All I have to go on is what I see being reported. Farley seems to have passed every test, and this back issue does not seem like a concern to those in his camp. Therefore, I’m choosing to assume health, and slotting his excellent man cover skills to a team that desperately needs them in Arizona.
17) Las Vegas Raiders: Micah Parsons, OLB/ILB Penn State- Parsons falls once again down my mock draft board because of the value placed on other premium positions. However, Parsons is still an elite player because of his athleticism and ability to get to the passer. Vegas needs a three down linebacker in the middle of their defense, but they also need to get to the passer better in 2021. Parsons fills both needs.
18) *TRADE* Denver Broncos (from Dolphins): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame- “JOK,” is one of my favorite players in this draft. He’s a big time athlete with elite cover skills. As a former safety, he reads and reacts extremely well in zone coverage. In the NFL, he will be able to man up against tight ends and running backs. He can even go one-on-one against slot corners. Owusu-Koramoah is a modern day chess piece on the defensive end.
19) Washington Football Team: Zaven Collins, OLB/ILB Tulsa- Another elite chess piece in this draft class is Zaven Collins. Collins is an off-ball linebacker at 6’4 and 260 pounds. Yes, you read that right; a 260 pound off-ball linebacker. Collins has big time athleticism, which allows him to drop in coverage, as well as generate pressure by shooting the proper gaps. He can even come off the edge on occasion. Collins is a perfect fit at the second level of Washington’s defense.
20) Chicago Bears: Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas– Cosmi is a big time athlete that prevents edge rushers from successfully running the arch with a terrific kickslide. He’s not the best in the running game, but that’s largely because he needs to put some weight onto his frame. I like Cosmi’s technique in pass protection, which makes him an ideal left tackle for any team in this draft.
21) Indianapolis Colts: Greg Newsome II, CB Northwestern- Truth be told, I would love this pick to be Ifeatu Melifonwu. The Bears could really use a long corner on the boundary that hawks the ball.
However, Newsome fits their defensive strategy better. His length aids him in tight coverage, and he can man cover from the boundary as well as the slot. That’s the kind of guy the Colts are looking for here.
22) Tennessee Titans: DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama- I don’t really know how this happened, because I have no reservations about DeVonta Smith. Even though some question his size, he plays with physicality in his route combinations. He wins 50/50 balls too. Tennessee steals the former Heisman Trophy winner.
23) New York Jets (via Seahawks): Creed Humphrey, IOL Oklahoma- A few months ago, the Jets might have been able to select Humphrey at the top of round two. Now, the buzz surrounding Humphrey has risen to where I felt it should have been all along.
Humphrey is a nasty player up front. His grip strength is excellent, and he shows intelligence as a pass blocker. The Jets can play him at guard or center, depending on what they want to do with Connor McGovern.
24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB Alabama- This is the layup of the first round. Pittsburgh was not the same team down the stretch of 2020 because they stopped running the ball effectively. If they land a premiere running back like Najee Harris, they can make a deep run in 2021.
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams): Pat Freiermuth, TE Penn State- Rookie quarterbacks need tight ends to succeed in the NFL. They need them in the middle of the field, and they need them in the red zone. Freiermuth has been undervalued by the media all year long. He’s a terrific blocker, he separates with size in his routes, and he wins in the red zone. This is the kind of player that will help Trevor Lawrence be successful in the NFL.
26) *TRADE* Atlanta Falcons (from Browns): Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan- I know Atlanta is looking to trade backwards from four. If they are unsuccessful, they’ll likely try to move back from their second round selection to gain some assets.
However, if they are truly in a “win now,” position, this defense has to improve immediately. One way to do that, is to grab two day one starters on day one of the draft. Atlanta trades up to land Kwity Paye, who wins from all over the defensive line.
27) Baltimore Ravens: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE Georgia- While we’re on the topic of “win now,” moves, the Ravens are going to need an edge rusher to keep their defense at an elite level. I know they’ve been linked to pass catchers, but this team is built on running the ball and playing defense. Replacing Matthew Judon with an elite dip and bend pass rusher off the edge like Ojulari is the move that makes more sense in round one.
28) New Orleans Saints: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR LSU- The Saints losing Drew Brees means their receiving core needs an upgrade. While Kadarius Toney is higher on my personal board, Terrace Marshall is a better fit for New Orleans. Michael Thomas is an elite player in the 0-15 yardage window. They need a deep threat with size to also contribute in the red zone. That’s what Marshall does.
29) Green Bay Packers: Kadarius Toney, WR Florida- Unlike New Orleans, Green Bay needs the exact opposite kind of receiver. Davante Adams can do it all, including stretching the defense down the field. Toney’s ability to win with elite footwork, along with his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands, make him an excellent compliment to Adams.
30) *TRADE* New York Giants (from Bills): Landon Dickerson, IOL Alabama- It’s not a typical Giants move to trade up, but the Giants are closer than people realize. If they can add a few pieces to the interior of their offensive line, they might surprise people in a wide open NFC East.
Landon Dickerson has the versatility and intelligence to play any position the Giants need him to along the offensive line. He would bolster their interior line play from day one, particularly in the running game.
31) Baltimore Ravens: Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota- If the Ravens are all in on weapons this year, then Rashod Bateman is a dream target in round one. He makes plays with the ball in his hands, he wins 50/50 balls, and he can stretch the field. If Lamar Jackson is to succeed as a passer in this league, Bateman is his ideal target along the boundary.
32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen Mayfield, OT Michigan- There have been discussions about Mayfield moving inside at the next level, which makes me love this pick even more. The Bucs have to bolster their offensive line in order to continue the success they had in 2020. If Mayfield’s footwork is too weak in the vertical set, his power and grip strength will allow him to make a quick transition to guard at the next level.
TRADES IN ROUND ONE
1) The New England Patriots trade the #15, #46, a 2022 2nd round pick and a 2022 4th round pick to the Carolina Panthers for the #8 overall selection.
2) The Miami Dolphins trade the 18th and 36th overall selections to the Denver Broncos for the 9th and 114th overall selections.
3) The Atlanta Falcons trade the #35, #68 and #108 to the Cleveland Browns for the 26th and 89th overall selections.
4) The New York Giants trade the 42nd and 78th overall selections to the Buffalo Bills for the 30th overall selection.
ROUND TWO
33) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tevin Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State- An absolute steal that will not happen in real life. Jenkins goes to right tackle, and last year’s first round pick Jawaan Taylor moves to the left side.
34) New York Jets: Jayson Oweh, EDGE Penn State- If Robert Saleh got his hands on a raw, athletic edge rusher like Oweh, the sky would literally be the limit for Oweh’s potential at the next level.
35) *TRADE* Cleveland Browns (from Falcons): Christian Barmore, IDL Alabama- Following the trade down, Cleveland selects the player they would have picked at 26. Barmore is one of two IDL’s for me with a second round grade or better.
36) *TRADE* Denver Broncos (from Dolphins via Texans): Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Syracuse- Melifonwu’s length and ball instincts make him a very intriguing day two option for any team with a need at cornerback.
37) Philadelphia Eagles: Trevon Moehrig, FS TCU- First safety off the board here. Moehrig has the best instincts from the single high position in this draft class, which is why he is likely going to be the top safety off of the board.
38) Cincinnati Bengals: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR USC- St. Brown is one of the more underrated route runners in this draft class. He should compliment Tee Higgins very nicely in the future.
39) Carolina Panthers: Asante Samuel Jr., CB Florida State- Samuel Jr., will likely find himself in the round one conversation in real life because of his instincts in off coverage. I like him as a round two guy because he struggles with physical receivers at times.
40) Denver Broncos: Joseph Ossai, EDGE Texas- Even though Ossai is a bit undersized, he’s a really productive pass rusher that runs the arch well. I like his fit in a 3-4 defense.
41) Detroit Lions: Levi Onwuzurike, IDL Washington- Onwuzurike has elite quickness off the ball, and it helps him rush the passer effectively. He would bolster the interior of Detroit’s defense right away.
42) *TRADE* Buffalo Bills (from Giants): Carlos “Boogie” Basham, EDGE Wake Forest- Following their trade down from round one, Buffalo addresses a sneaky need. Buffalo’s edge rushers are aging, and they need an infusion of youth into that group. Boogie Basham has versatility up front, and the ability to win reps with elite power.
43) San Francisco 49ers: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson- Kyle Shanahan is one of the best in the business at maximizing value from a “running back by committee.” Imagine what he could do with a real star like Etienne.
44) Dallas Cowboys: Spencer Brown, OT Northern Iowa- The injuries to the Cowboys’ offensive line in recent years make this a position of need in this draft. Brown can sit behind Tyron Smith, improve his lateral mobility, and start when Smith’s contract runs up.
45) Jacksonville Jaguars (via Vikings): Jevon Holland, DB Oregon- Holland’s versatility to play in multiple zone looks and cover from the nickel cornerback position make him a really intriguing day two selection.
46) *TRADE* Carolina Panthers (from Patriots): Wyatt Davis, IOL Ohio State- Davis is more athletic than he’s given credit for, and he plays with immense power. He’s a day one starter for any team with a quality running back.
47) Los Angeles Chargers: Eric Stokes, CB Georgia– The Chargers will address the cornerback position early in this draft. Stokes has really good ball skills, and he’s aggressive in his technique. He needs to become less “grabby,” in man coverage, but he’s a really strong day two option.
48) Las Vegas Raiders: Josh Myers, IOL Ohio State- Vegas is going to hunt offensive linemen during the first two days. Myers is a starting center from day one because of his intelligence along the interior.
49) Arizona Cardinals: Brady Christensen, OL BYU- Christensen is an elite athlete with the ability to play guard or tackle in a high tempo offense that plays in space. Sounds like a good fit for Kliff Kingsbury, right?
50) Miami Dolphins: Richie Grant, FS UCF- There aren’t many safeties I have with a day two grade or better, but Grant is one of them. His ball skills combined with his ability to read and react from the single high spot should help him start for Miami right away.
51) Washington Football Team: Kyle Trask, QB Florida- To me, Trask is the QB that should be a day two selection. He may not have the biggest arm, but he’s sneaky athletic for his size, and he gets the ball out quickly. He also shows good intelligence on 50/50 throws.
52) Chicago Bears: Amari Rodgers, WR Clemson- If the Bears are all in on Andy Dalton and making one more run, then they need a playmaker alongside Allen Robinson. Rodgers is a dynamic receiver from the slot that should help them on third downs.
53) Tennessee Titans: Aaron Robinson, CB UCF- Nickel corner in the top 55 picks may seem odd, but not many are as good at their craft as Aaron Robinson. He’s an immediate starter for a win now team.
54) Indianapolis Colts: Kelvin Joseph, CB Kentucky- “Bossman Fat,” is a steal for the Colts here. His length and athleticism make him a very intriguing day two corner.
55) Pittsburgh Steelers: Quinn Meinerz, IOL Wisconsin-Whitewater- The pride and joy of “NFL Draft twitter,” this year has been Quinn Meinerz. Ever since he flashed at the senior bowl, many have felt he is a day two lock. Meinerz can start at center or guard for any team that has a power blocking scheme.
56) *TRADE* Las Vegas Raiders (from Seahawks): Liam Eichenberg, OL Notre Dame- Las Vegas has the picks to get aggressive in this draft. Therefore, they move up to land a versatile offensive linemen in Liam Eichenberg.
57) Los Angeles Rams: Jabril Cox, LB LSU- “BPA,” on defense will be the Rams’ strategy early in this draft. Cox is a three down linebacker with excellent cover skills.
58) Kansas City Chiefs (from Ravens): Nico Collins, WR Michigan- Don’t sleep on Nico Collins. The 6’4 receiver has big time ability down the field and can win 50/50 balls with his size. Collins slides into the vacated “Sammy Watkins role,” in the Chiefs’ offense.
59) Cleveland Browns: Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma State- The Browns receiving core is a bit of a mystery after this year. Will Odell Beckham still be a member of the team? How much can Hollywood Higgins contribute on a year-to-year basis? Expect them to draft a playmaker at some point this weekend.
60) New Orleans Saints: Paulson Adebo, CB Stanford- Adebo has some deficiencies, but he’s still learning the position. He shows excellent instincts in off coverage and good ball skills. I would take him in round two and trust my staff to coach him up.
61) Buffalo Bills: Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina- What a steal this would be. Williams is a powerful runner that excels between the tackles. He can be the workhorse back that Buffalo is desperately missing.
62) Green Bay Packers: Pete Werner, LB Ohio State- Werner may be a top 40 selection in real life, but I think there are a few linebackers with better cover skills that should go higher. Nevertheless, this is a definitive starter at the next level for years to come.
63) Kansas City Chiefs: Dylan Moses, LB Alabama- I’m not sure why everyone is so low on Dylan Moses. Sure, his tape in 2020 was really subpar. However, the weird schedule had a lot to do with his slow start. He’s incredibly intelligent, he’s a good athlete, and he understands how the offense tries to manipulate the defense. Moses should be a round two selection.
64) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE Miami- If Rousseau can round out his pass rushing move-set, this could be the steal of the draft.
TRADES IN ROUND TWO
1) The Las Vegas Raiders trade the #79 and #80 to the Seattle Seahawks for the 56th overall selection.
ROUND THREE
65) Jacksonville Jaguars: Patrick Jones II, EDGE Pittsburgh
66) New York Jets: Israel Mukuamu, CB South Carolina
67) *TRADE* New Orleans Saints (from Texans): Daviyon Nixon, IDL Iowa
68) *TRADE* Cleveland Browns (from Falcons): Jamin Davis, LB Kentucky
69) Cincinnati Bengals: Brevin Jordan, TE Miami
70) Philadelphia Eagles: Elijah Molden, CB Washington
71) Denver Broncos: Michael Carter, RB North Carolina
72) Detroit Lions: Hamsah Nasirildeen, FS/SS Florida State
73) Carolina Panthers: Baron Browning, LB Ohio State
74) Washington Football Team (from 49ers): Cameron McGrone, LB Michigan
75) Dallas Cowboys: Jay Tufele, IDL USC
76) *TRADE* Buffalo Bills (from Giants): Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE Vanderbilt
77) Los Angeles Chargers: James Hudson, OL Cincinnati
78) Minnesota Vikings: Janarius Robinson, EDGE Florida State
79) *TRADE* Seattle Seahawks (from Raiders via Cardinals): Jackson Carmen, IOL Clemson
80) *TRADE* Seattle Seahawks (from Raiders): Payton Turner, EDGE Houston
81) Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis
82) Washington Football Team: Alex Leatherwood, OL Alabama
83) Chicago Bears: Davis Mills, QB Stanford
84) Philadelphia Eagles (from Colts): Nick Bolton, LB Missouri
85) Tennessee Titans: Tommy Togiai, IDL Ohio State
86) New York Jets (from Seahawks): Trey Sermon, RB Oklahoma
87) Pittsburgh Steelers: Benjamin St-Juste, CB Minnesota
88) Los Angeles Rams: Quincy Roche, EDGE Florida
89) *TRADE* Atlanta Falcons (from Browns): Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
90) Minnesota Vikings (from Ravens): Aaron Banks, IOL Notre Dame
91) Cleveland Browns (from Saints): Trill Williams, CB Syracuse
92) Green Bay Packers: Ar’Darius Washington, CB/FS TCU
93) Buffalo Bills: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR Western Michigan
94) Kansas City Chiefs: Kendrick Green, IOL Illinois
95) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi State
96) New England Patriots: Cornell Powell, WR Clemson
97) Los Angeles Chargers: Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss
98) *TRADE* Houston Texans (from Saints): Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE Oregon State
99) Dallas Cowboys: Tommy Tremble, TE Notre Dame
100) Tennessee Titans: Hunter Long, TE Boston College
101) Detroit Lions (from Rams): Chazz Surratt, LB North Carolina
102) San Francisco 49ers: Andre Cisco, FS Syracuse
103) Los Angeles Rams: Stone Forsythe, OT Florida
104) Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE Oklahoma
105) *TRADE* Houston Texans (from Saints): Tyson Campbell, CB Georgia
DraftStock.Net 