THE EXTRA YARD: Alf’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

(This is a NO TRADE MOCK DRAFT. For more, download Three Yards Per Carry)

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)

Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson Junior 6’6″ 220 lbs

The Best QB Prospect since Andrew Luck. This time..for real.

2. New York Jets (2-14)

Zach Wilson QB BYU Junior 6’3″ 210 lbs

Zach Wilson really ran up boards in a short amount of time. The Jets went from a lock for Lawrence to blowing their draft position, to settling in and being happy with the BYU signal caller at #2.

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (from Miami through Houston)

Justin Fields QB Ohio State Junior 6’3″ 223 lbs

Some serious Tea Leaf reading suggests that this move up to #3 was made for Justin Fields.

4. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)

Kyle Pitts TE Florida Junior 6’5″ 239 lbs

An extension for Matt Ryan, and one last shot at it with a Unicorn to pair with Ridley/Jones.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)

Penei Sewell OT Oregon Junior 6’5″ 325 lbs

Rumors that Burrow is pushing for Chase, are just rumors (disputed), and Bengals brass needs to protect their investment. First OT goes off the board here.

6. Miami Dolphins (10-6) (from Philadelphia)

DeVonta Smith WR Alabama Senior 6’1″ 170 lbs

I wonder what the Dolphins brass would do presented with the choice between Chase and DeVonta. My gut says they get the guy that is very familiar with their second year QB. Instant chemistry matters.

7. Detroit Lions (5-11)

Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU Junior 6’1″ 208 lbs

While Detroit sends away Golladay and Jones, they need talent at the position. This is a gift.

8. Carolina Panthers (5-11)

Trey Lance QB North Dakota State RS Sophomore 6’3″ 224 lbs

A big move for Watson didn’t martialize, and while they may have tried to move up to #3 with Miami, they should be content to develop Lance going forward.

9. Denver Broncos (5-11)

Mac Jones QB Alabama RS Junior 6’2.5″ 217 lbs

Broncos have a pretty talented roster, but Drew Lock has not settled the QB position.  He gets competition for it now.

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)

Patrick Surtain II CB Alabama Junior 6’1″ 203 lbs

A Cowboys defense that was historically bad, pairs one promising Bama CB (Diggs) with another.

11. New York Giants (6-10)

Micah Parsons LB Penn State Junior 6’2″ 245 lbs

Giants made an investment on skill talent, and were big spenders overall in free agency.  Parsons gives them a signature player for the Defense.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1) (from Miami Dolphins through San Francisco)

Jaylen Waddle WR Alabama Junior 5’10” 182 lbs

Their gambit to move up for a QB didn’t work, so you have to give Jalen Hurts every opportunity to succeed. The move down from #6 pays big dividends.

 

13. Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)

Rashawn Slater OT Northwestern Senior 6’4″ 315 lbs

With Herbert, Skill players in Tow, Tackle help is necessary with an aging Bryan Bulaga as the only reliable starter at OT.

14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech RS Junior 6’2″ 197 lbs

Farley has a real case for CB1, and the Vikings should be over the moon to get him here.

15. New England Patriots (7-9)

Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina Junior 6’1″ 205 lbs

With J.C. Jackson ready to break the bank, and Gilmore on the way out, Horn makes too much sense here at #15.

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

Azeez Ojulari EDGE Georgia RS Sophomore 6’3″ 240 lbs

Cards continue to add to the Defense to help a STACKED offensive group.

 

17. Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)

Alijah Vera-Tucker IOL USC RS Junior 6’4″ 300 lbs

LT Kolton Miller gets a partner on the left side for now. Vera-Tucker has also played Left Tackle before, which affords the Raiders some flexibility in the future.

18. Miami Dolphins (10-6)

Najee Harris RB Alabama Senior 6’2″ 230 lbs

There has been plenty of smoke on this pairing, considering all the smiling faces, and fist bumping in Mobile between Dolphins coaches and Najee Harris. CO-OC Eric Studesville has (correctly) pounded the table for a RB before. He gets rewarded for it here and a quasi superhero reunion is formed.

 

19. Washington Football Team (7-9)

Christian Darrisaw OT Virginia Tech Senior 6’5″ 314 lbs

A team building well at all positions, besides tackle, makes Darrisaw an obvious choice here.

 

20. Chicago Bears (8-8)

Teven Jenkins OT Oklahoma State RS Senior 6’6″ 315 lbs

Bears can use some skill talent, but it has to start up front with them. Jenkins is a perfect fit.

 

21. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

Jaelan Phillips EDGE Miami RS Junior 6’5″ 258 lbs

Colts can use a pass rusher, and Phillips may be the best off the edge for the job.

22. Tennessee Titans (11-5)

Jalen Mayfield OT Michigan RS Sophomore 6’5″ 319 lbs

Titans can use a ready made Right Tackle to start on day 1 and Jalen is it. After their failed Isaiah Wilson experiment, they finally get it right here, for an AFC contender reliant on a sledge hammer run game.

 

23. New York Jets (from Seattle 12-4)

Rashod Bateman WR Minnesota Junior 6’1″ 210 lbs

Zach Wilson early. Get him a weapon later. Bateman is a physical chain mover, perfect as a security blanket for a rookie QB.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Travis Etienne RB Clemson Senior 5’10” 210 lbs

Steelers are desperate for a RB, and another home run threat is exactly what Steelers need for Big Ben’s last shot at another title.

 

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams 10-6)

Greg Newsome II CB Northwestern Junior 6’1″ 190 lbs

The defense needs help, and here they add a CB to pair with 2nd year player C.J. Henderson.

26. Cleveland Browns (11-5)

Kwity Paye EDGE Michigan Senior 6’4″ 277 lbs

Olivier Vernon’s injury leaves a vacancy opposite of all-world end Myles Garrett, who himself battled injury in 2020.

 

27. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

Jayson Oweh EDGE Penn State RS Sophomore 6’5″ 257 lbs

Has that rangy, long, edge defender look that the Ravens love.  Oweh in time develops into a consistent threat to QB’s off the edge.

28. New Orleans Saints (12-4)

Zaven Collins LB Tulsa RS Junior 6’4″ 260 lbs

This Defense is/was begging for a versatile LB to pair with Zach Baun. Collins is a similar player to Baun, but quite possibly the clear cut BPA at this point.

29. Green Bay Packers (13-3)

Christian Barmore IDL Alabama RS Sophomore 6’5″ 310 lbs

The Packers take a swing here on a day 1 starter, to compliment Kenny Clark on the interior DL.

 

30. Buffalo Bills (13-3)

Javonte Williams RB North Carolina Junior 5’10” 220 lbs

Not a reach when there is a “run” on RB’s for 2021 standards. Bills would be content with any of the top 3 backs, and they get one of them here.

 

31. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

Alex Leatherwood OT Alabama Senior 6’5″ 312 lbs

A Team that jettisoned both starting tackles, replaces one with a 2020 draft pick (Lucas Niang), the other with Leatherwood after a precipitous drop.

 

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)

Levi Onwuzurike IDL Washington RS Senior 6’3″ 290 lbs

What do you get the team that has everything? A versatile interior Defensive lineman for the rotation is my guess.

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.