Eagles make a surprising pick at 12 in Roob's mock draft
In his final mock draft of 2021, Reuben Frank has the Eagles making what would be an unpopular choice.
This will be the 18th time in the last 24 years a quarterback has been the top pick. Of the first 17, only two – Peyton and Eli Manning – have won a Super Bowl. There were only eight QBs taken first overall in the previous 26 years. The Jaguars, who’ve had one winning season since 2008, are hoping Lawrence gives the franchise instant credibility.
Just three years after taking Sam Darnold with the 3rd pick, the Jets try again after trading Darnold to the Panthers. The Jets haven’t drafted a quarterback that’s made a Pro Bowl for the Jets since Ken O’Brien 38 years ago and they’ll try again with Wilson, who had just one notable season at BYU.
This is where the draft starts to get interesting. If I were the 49ers, I’d take Trey Lance. The consensus all along has been Justin Fields. I still think they’re going to go with Jones, who’s an old-school QB with limited mobility and an average arm but with all the intangibles and intelligence teams want in a QB and a leader.
The Falcons are going to have plenty of opportunities to trade out of 4 or take a QB of the future, but the prospect of adding a generational talent like Pitts is going to be too much to turn down. They can get their quarterback another year. Matt Ryan is still very good. The Falcons get him the best weapon in this draft.
This comes down to Chase or Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Do the Bengals want to help Joe Burrow with protection or a playmaker? Ultimately, I think it’s going to come down to the Bengals believing they can address the o-line later in the draft, but they won’t be able to find a Ja’Marr Chase anywhere but here.
The Dolphins will be praying that the Bengals take Sewell so they can snag Chase. With Chase off the board, the Dolphins take the next-best WR available with the pick they acquired from the Eagles. If Waddle becomes a star, he’ll join D.K. Metcalf and Justin Jefferson as another one who got away.
Who would you rather have quarterbacking your team over the next five years: Jared Goff or Justin Fields? I’m sure the Lions will have trade offers here, but they’re hardly tied to Goff for the long term, and I don’t think it’s that far-fetched that Fields – who had 67 TDs and 9 INTs in his college career – will wind up as the best out of this entire bunch of quarterbacks.
The quarterback run ends here, with the Patriots moving up from 15 and taking the young, inexperienced but immensely gifted Lance. The Patriots haven’t taken a 1st-round QB since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. They never had to. Now they do. Bill Belichick knows he needs an elite quarterback if he’s ever going to have post-Brady success, and Lance gives him the best chance.
I think there’s a good chance the Broncos trade down out of No. 9, but the temptation to take a massive talent like Sewell – who will be perceived as “sliding” – might be too much to pass up. Plus, if Hall of Famer Mike Munchak – the Broncos’ offensive line coach – has any say in it, Sewell will be the pick.
The run on cornerback begins with the Cowboys, who had the NFL’s 27th-ranked pass defense a year ago, beefing up their secondary and taking the best cornerback in the draft – and denying the Eagles the chance to select him.
Micah Parsons is a physical, intelligent, explosive, versatile linebacker and a great fit in Patrick Graham’s scheme. Like the Eagles, the Giants haven’t taken a linebacker in the first round in a long time – Carl Banks in 1984 – and as long as they’re not scared off by his off-the-field issues he makes perfect sense here.
With Waddle, Chase and Surtain off the board, do the Eagles take a risk on Caleb Farley’s health, Jaycee Horn’s production or DeVonta Smith’s size? If this is the scenario, I could see Howie taking the closest to a sure thing left on the board in versatile monster offensive lineman Rashawn Slater. The Eagles’ offensive line is aging and injury-prone, and Slater gives them a stud who’d be ready to play at a high level on opening day.
The Chargers snag the franchise left tackle they need to protect their 22-year-old franchise quarterback Justin Herbert, who was sacked 32 times last year. Darrisaw is a polished, NFL-ready o-line prospect and an elite pass blocker. The Chargers have only drafted one offensive lineman in the 1st round in the last 34 years and haven’t drafted a Pro Bowl o-lineman since Jim Lachey in 1985.
A year after drafting Justin Jefferson, the Vikings continue adding weapons. Even with the explosive Jefferson, WR remains a big need for the Vikings. Adam Thielen is still very good but he’s 30, and Smith and Jefferson could give the Vikings an unparalleled WR tandem.
The Panthers traded down with the Patriots from 8 to 15 and they still get their choice of two of the top three cornerback prospects. Horn only had two interceptions in college, but he’s got all the tools to be a big-time NFL cornerback, and he gets the nod over Caleb Farley because of questions about Farley’s health coming off back surgery.
The Cards have a desperate need at corner now that Patrick Peterson is with the Vikings, and as long as they’re OK with Farley’s medicals he makes the most sense here. Back surgery is no joke. It’s a risky pick. But if he’s healthy, Farley could wind up as the best corner in this draft.
The Raiders’ offensive line is in transition and Vera-Tucker can come in and play either guard or tackle off the bat for Jon Gruden. This is a smart pick that addresses a need but also gives the Raiders great value.
After going offense at No. 6, the Dolphins turn to defense with their second 1st-round pick. Miami needs pass rush off the edge, and Paye is a unique prospect, an explosive rusher and stout run defender who’s also athletic enough to drop back into coverage. You also won’t find a higher-character player in the draft.
He just seems like a Ron Rivera type of player - a hybrid linebacker-safety who’s a little undersized to be a full-time linebacker but has the traits and athleticism that Rivera loves. Washington already has an imposing defense and Owusu-Koromoah would make it even better and more varied.
The Bears are in desperate need of an elite offensive tackle, and Jenkins is one of the best in this year’s draft, a powerful 6-6, 320-pounder who played left tackle in Stillwater but is probably best suited to right tackle in the NFL because he doesn’t have elite athleticism. Either way, Jenkins would be a solid pick for one of the NFL’s more lackluster offenses.
Only had one year as a full-time player at Florida but emerged as an exciting and versatile weapon with 70 catches and 10 TDs last year. Fast, tough, productive and can line up anywhere. Averaged close to 9 yards on 66 career carries. Intriguing weapon for Frank Reich and Carson Wentz.
There’s a school of thought that Newsome II might even move ahead of Farley as the third cornerback taken, but whatever happens I can’t see him dropping past Tennessee at 22. The Titans ranked 29th in the NFL in pass defense last year, and Newsome will have a chance to help immediately.
The only real concern with Harris is that his physical style of play and heavy collegiate workload will cost him a long career. That’s why players like Harris, who are remarkably productive, just don’t get drafted very high. Harris is a unique talent though and should give the Jets’ offense a new dimension as long as he’s able to stay healthy.
With James Connor now in Arizona, the Steelers have a glaring need for a running back who can take some pressure off a 39-year-old quarterback who was forced to drop back 621 times last year. Etienne is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
A few hours after taking Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars are up again and this time they address another huge need. The Jags ranked 31st in the NFL with just 18 sacks last year – one more than the Bengals – and in his one year in Coral Gables after transferring from UCLA Phillips was dominant, with 15 ½ tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks.
This late you’re thinking best-available player, and Barmore is right up there. But the Browns also have a huge need at defensive tackle after allowing 148 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry in 2020. Barmore instantly upgrades that Cleveland defensive line.
Bateman would probably have been a top-15 pick in last year’s draft after his monster 2019 season, but he contracted COVID during the summer and struggled bouncing back and his numbers plunged. He’s back healthy now and could be a steal for the Ravens at No. 27.
He’s a project, but at 28 the Saints are in the position where they can afford to take a guy with boundless potential who might not be quite ready to contribute from the jump. Oweh didn’t have a sack last year, which is weird for a 1st-round pick, but at 28 you draft traits and Oweh projects as a big-time pass rusher.
The Packers have a lot of questions along their offensive line, and in Cosmi, the Packers get a three-year starter who stands 6-7, 310 pounds and has the frame to play at 335.
I actually think this is a potential trade-up spot for the Eagles to take a weapon like Rondale Moore or Kadarius Toney, but if the Bills stay at No. 30 I think the Bills take an edge rusher, and the quick, athletic Ossai seems like a Sean McDermott type.
With the pick they acquired from the Chiefs in the Orlando Brown edeal last week, the Ravens get some desperately needed o-line help. Even if they do sign one-time Eagle Alejandro Villaneuva, he turns 33 in September and would be a short-term RT solution. Eichenberg is a run-blocking machine and we know how much John Harbaugh loves running the football.
Jason Pierre-Paul is still playing at a high level, but he’s 32 and is going to slow down at some point. Tryon had a big 2019 season, then opted out this past year. He’s an ideal scheme fit in Todd Bowles’ system, and in Tampa, he’d have the luxury of sitting for a year and learning before he has to play.
