2021 NFL Mock Draft: Eagles trade all the way out of top 10
In our latest NFL mock draft, the Eagles accept a trade that takes them out of the top 10. By Mike Mulhern
Lawrence going first in this draft seemed like a foregone conclusion the moment he took the reins as the starter at Clemson early in the 2018 season. New Jags head coach Urban Meyer gets a true franchise quarterback to build around.
The draft’s fastest riser from a year ago, Wilson had to win the starting job at BYU heading into last season. One he did, he dominated. The Jets have options at the quarterback position but picking Wilson allows Joe Douglas to slowly build things up in the Meadowlands.
Chase sat out the 2020 season, but he has long been considered a better NFL prospect than former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson. If that proves to be true, Miami might have an all-time great on their hands.
The Falcons are in no man’s land with Matt Ryan. Their window to win with him seems to have closed but they’re still financially tied to him for another season. Enter Fields, who offers a chance for new head coach Arthur Smith to groom a successor under center.
After watching Joe Burrow get beat up in his abbreviated rookie season, the Bengals bulk up along the offensive line with a true blindside protector for their franchise quarterback.
San Francisco trades No.12 and 2022 1st round pick to Philadelphia for No. 6
Cue the boos as the Eagles trade out of their pick with Heisman winner DeVonta Smith still on the board. Getting the 49ers 1st rounder in 2022 while only dropping down six spots (and with plenty of talent still on the board) should muffle the noise a bit. With QB-needy teams lurking behind the Eagles, the Niners are willing to pay the steep price to land Lance, a raw prospect who projects as a great fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The baseline for the trade would be when the Bills jumped up from No. 12 to No. 7 to select Josh Allen in 2018. Buffalo gave two second rounders (No. 53 and No. 56) to do so. Howie Roseman holds firm on getting a 1st back, potentially giving the Birds three of the top 32 selections in 2022.
About the only thing Smith didn’t do in 2020 was bite an opponent’s kneecap, but Dan Campbell would still love to land this playmaker at No. 7. He gives Jared Goff an elite weapon to work with in his first season in Detroit.
The Panthers have been very aggressive in their pursuit of a quarterback this offseason, reportedly offering up this pick as the centerpiece in a trade offer for Matthew Stafford. Jones is an excellent plan B (or C or D) and will have playmakers to work with (Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore) much like his days at ‘Bama.
The Broncos get shut out of the QB sweepstakes, so they opt for a shut-down corner in Surtain. Perhaps they stick with Drew Lock or offer up a Day 2 pick to the Jets for the Sam Darnold reclamation project to fill their need under center.
Dallas has big needs on defense, especially in the secondary. Farley gives the ‘Boys a No. 1 corner to pair with last year’s second rounder, Trevon Diggs, on the outside.
The Giants are desperate for playmakers on offense and Pitts might be the best weapon in the entire draft. Despite having Evan Engram at tight end (who miraculously made the Pro Bowl in 2020), Pitts, a Philly native, proves too talented to pass up.
If not for a brutal ankle injury that cost him most of last season, it might’ve been Waddle and not teammate Devonta Smith hoisting the Heisman trophy. In his four contests before getting hurt, Waddle averaged nearly 140 yards and a score per game. As an added bonus: He caught passes from fellow Houston native Jalen Hurts when the two were teammates with the Crimson Tide in 2018. Jeffrey Lurie wants to hit the reset button while building an elite and explosive offense. The trade down as well as this selection will help jump-start both processes. And sign me up for the chaos of keeping track of Jalen (Hurts) throwing to Jaylen (Waddle) and Jalen (Reagor).
Slater opted out of the 2020 season but put plenty on film – particularly against Ohio State’s stacked defensive line in 2019 – to merit a selection in the top half of the first round. With Justin Herbert in place for years to come, the Bolts sure up his protection.
Mike Zimmer’s defense fell off a cliff in 2020, so they opt for arguably the draft’s top pass rusher. Rousseau sat out last season and will bring the turnover chain from Miami to Minnesota.
Our run on opt-out players continues with Parsons falling to the 15th pick. He’s a freak athlete that Bill Belichick can use as the ultimate chess piece on defense.
A classic case of simply drafting for need. The Cardinals could be in dire straits at cornerback with both of last season’s starters (Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick) slated to become free agents.
The Raiders managed just 21 sacks a season ago, the fourth fewest in the league. This pick could pay(e) dividends in that department (bad pun intended).
The Dolphins’ defense was a surprisingly dominant unit in 2020. With the departure of Kyle Van Noy, they need another rusher to bring pressure off the edge.
Washington attempts to fill the void that’s been left by Trent Williams over the past two years, nabbing a local product in Darrisaw.
Whether or not Allen Robinson leaves in free agency the Bears need playmakers on offense. Toney is a speedster that Matt Nagy can use to stress opposing defenses - and potentially save his job.
Carson Wentz gets even more protection up front in Indy. With the surprising retirement of Anthony Costanzo, the Colts pick up the versatile Vera-Tucker who could potentially play outside as well.
The Titans brought in Jadeveon Clowney to bolster the pass rush last offseason, but he went sack-less on the season. Meanwhile, Ojulari is riding a monster performance (3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) in the Peach Bowl into the draft.
Joe Douglas favors college production when evaluating potential draft picks, so he takes Collins, who was awarded the Chuck Bednarik trophy as the nation’s top defensive player in 2020.
With nine-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey deciding to retire, the Steelers are left with a big hole in the middle of the offensive line. Dickerson steps right in as a day-one starter.
Along with Kyle Pitts, Barmore makes it two first-rounders from Philadelphia. The Neumann-Goretti product gives the Jags a potential game-wrecker on the defensive line. Just look at what he did in the national title game against Ohio State.
“Wu” was a two-sport star at Bethel High in Hampton, Virginia, just like 76ers legend Allen Iverson. He turned down D-I basketball offers to play for the Irish. I’d say he made the right call as he goes late in Round 1.
The Ravens need to improve the weaponry for Lamar Jackson if they want to take the next step. They’ll attempt to do so in free agency considering the loaded crop of top-flight pass-catchers hitting the market, but still pull the trigger on Marshall.
The Saints could lose Marcus Williams in free agency, opening up a hole at safety. They take the rangy Moehrig to play deep while Malcolm Jenkins remains the jack-of-all-trades at the other safety spot.
This pick is a projection based on the Packers losing Aaron Jones (and Jamaal Williams) in free agency. They restock with a lightning-quick back cut from the same cloth as Jones.
The Bills have used Day 2 picks in each of the past two years to address the running back position, but Harris proves too valuable to pass up. If Josh Allen has a real running game to support him, look out.
Injuries crippled the Chiefs’ offensive line in the Super Bowl, so Andy Reid and Brett Veach opt to bolster things up front. Returning starter Eric Fisher is in the last year of his contract and Big Red always likes to have a succession plan in place, especially at a premium position like left tackle.
The Super Bowl champs have some major free agency questions on defense but should still be loaded in the first two levels. Adding another piece to the secondary could prove devastating to opposing offenses.
