2021 NFL Mock Draft: How will the Patriots navigate the first round?
We're just one day away from the much-anticipated 2021 NFL Draft. In a brand new episode of the Next Pats Podcast, Tom E. Curran, Phil Perry, and DJ Bean conducted one last live first-round mock.
The New England Patriots currently own the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While many fans hope to see Bill Belichick and Co. acquire a quarterback in Round 1, it's unlikely they'll be able to acquire one of the top options unless they trade up.
Even if a QB doesn't fall to them in the first round, the Patriots could still address other positions of need in their offense. In Phil Perry's most recent mock drafts, New England has an affinity for a certain Alabama product.
Perry's final seven-round Patriots mock draft
NFL Mock Draft: Pats trade up for a Nick Saban favorite
But what if the Patriots decide to punt on the 15th pick and trade down? Given Belichick's draft history, it wouldn't be a huge surprise, and it's exactly what happened in Perry, Tom E. Curran, and DJ Bean's live first-round mock on the latest Next Pats Podcast.
Here are the mock draft results with the trio alternating picks:
No reason to overcomplicate things. The Jags hotfoot it to get their pick in for the Clemson quarterback.
Chalk. A great storyline to follow is that Justin Fields was the No. 2 guy forever. If the Jets get this wrong after getting Sam Darnold over Josh Allen wrong? Hoo boy!
It's easy to knock him because of his relatively limited ceiling, but if the Niners feel Jones' floor is that of a 10-year starter, that would be worth giving up the farm for. This should make Jimmy Garoppolo available via trade soon after the selection is made.
Best player in the draft, Lawrence included, in my opinion. Pair him with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones at the end of their times in Atlanta and watch what happens.
They have to protect Joe Burrow. As much as I’d love to give them Ja’Marr Chase by moving down and stockpiling picks, giving last year’s No. 1 overall pick the best lineman in the draft is the safe move.
The Dolphins can add Chase to a receiving corps that already includes DeVante Parker and Will Fuller and give Tua Tagovailoa the type of talent he needs in order for him to show he was worthy of a top-five pick a season ago.
They could entertain the idea of Justin Fields or Trey Lance, but in the end -- with all the wideouts that have gone out the door -- Detroit takes the best one left.
Surprise! Fields would be the obvious pick here if they didn’t trade for Darnold, but they did and they don’t have a left tackle to protect him. This is a slight reach, but that’s OK.
Lance is more pro ready than you think. One of the smartest football minds in this draft class, his physical tools are just as impressive. The Broncos need an upgrade over Drew Lock. Badly.
The first defensive player of the draft comes off the board and heads to Dallas, which has been sniffing around his hindquarters for a while now.
This is a sure thing at guard, where the Giants moved on from Kevin Zeitler. He could also be their right tackle with Nate Solder a big question as he comes back, but he’s probably their left guard. Stick him next to Andrew Thomas, who got a lot better over the course of his rookie season.
No Justin Fields? No. With a quarterback in Jalen Hurts that the team likes ... with a cornerback group that is not all that appealing outside of veteran Darius Slay ... and with Horn still on the board ... Philly takes the best defensive player available.
Justin Herbert needs protecting. Darrisaw is the third-best tackle in the class but he’s still plenty good enough for the Chargers.
Kirk Cousins has two years left on his contract, but the idea of having the QB and No. 1 receiver (Justin Jefferson) for years to come is tough to pass up. Would they be able to talk the Patriots into giving up a haul just to move one pick?
Patriots trade 15th overall pick to Browns for picks 26 and 59.
The Patriots pick up an extra second-rounder (No. 59) to move down 11 spots. The Browns stop Parsons’ slide. -- Bean
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What a disaster.
Under the assumption Fields would fall to No. 15 -- even with the Vikings threatening to take Fields -- New England sits and waits and finds that Fields is headed to Minnesota. Yikes. Missed opportunity.
Trading up to No. 13 with friendly trade partners in the Chargers front office would have helped the Patriots avoid this calamity. Trading back makes sense in this scenario in that players like Kwity Paye, Zaven Collins and Elijah Moore all are viewed in a similar tier talent-wise. Adding capital and hoping to get one takes some of the sting out of missing Fields. But ... yeah. Still stings. -- Perry
There are some terrific options here for the Cards at wideout and corner but they go with Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye out of Rhode Island.
Ideally one of the top two corners is within striking distance, but they’re long gone by the time the Raiders are on the clock. They get themselves a linebacker/safety/not-totally-sure-what-he-is-but-boy-does-he-hit-hard.
Miami can afford to take a risk here after getting a cornerstone piece at No. 6. Farley is a risk after just having had a microdiscectomy. But if he's cleared by the Dolphins medical people, he could be a steal here.
Ryan Fitzpatrick gets a terrific new toy -- Heisman Trophy-winning wideout DeVonta Smith.
Honestly, the Bears might feel relief that they don’t have to make the call on Smith, the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft. Instead, they get a safer receiver with a far lower ceiling.
Indy needs a tackle after Anthony Castonzo's retirement and Radunz checks a lot of boxes for Chris Ballard. He's one of the most athletic tackles available, he has length, a frame that'll fill out over time, and he was voted the practice player of the week at the Senior Bowl.
With corners like Malcolm Butler out the door, Tennessee needs to make a move to shore up the back end and Northwestern’s Greg Newsome does exactly that for them here.
This pick is offensive line no matter what. Maybe they move up for Vera-Tucker, but otherwise it’s best lineman available.
Someone is going to take a running back in the first round. Even if they shouldn't. Pittsburgh could do worse than this rocked-up, do-it-all back from 'Bama.
The Jags follow up their selection of Lawrence with the talented Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore here.
The Patriots didn't get one of the top-three wideouts in the class, but they might've gotten No. 4. He's a dynamic slot at 5-9, 178 pounds, with the speed (4.35-second 40) and quicks (6.67 cone, 4.00 shuttle) to align anywhere and excel running just about any route. He only dropped two passes last season, was tied for fifth in the country with 11 contested catches, per Pro Football Focus, and he was second in the nation in receiving yardage. Of the two needs the Patriots appear to have going into the draft -- quarterback and receiver -- they've addressed one here. But that whiff on Fields .. Yeah. Still stings.
With Matt Judon now in New England, Baltimore could use some talent on the edge. Oweh is one of the most talented edge rushers in the class, and he was a consistently disruptive force for the Nittany Lions last season -- even if he didn't officially record a sack.
New Orleans is delighted to find the ultra-quick Florida wideout Karadius Toney still on the board here and they snag him tout de suite!
Toney would have been the pick if he weren’t taken a spot before. Instead, the Packers get a steal with Collins.
Based on his talent and technique alone, Phillips should be a top-half-of-the-first-round guy. But he's had a history of head injuries that could force him down boards. The Bills need to get younger on the edge and accomplish that goal here.
Baltimore could double up on the edge here with Georgia's Azeez Ojulari, but they opt to get Lamar Jackson a big-bodied weapon -- there ain't many in this class -- to help create a more efficient down-the-field passing attack.
Tampa’s luck hasn’t been good enough; let’s have the best safety in the draft (not counting Owusu- Koramoah) fall to them at the end of the first round, too.
