The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and everyone is getting their final mock drafts in on where they think each player will land.
The Locked On podcast network teamed up with Audacy for an ultimate mock draft series in which the local podcast hosts provide the pick they think their team will make come draft night.
Each pick has been analyzed by an Audacy NFL expert such as Jason La Canfora or Ross Tucker.
In our first series, we take a look at how the first five picks of the draft pan out.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
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Expert analysis, Armando Salguero:
"Whether or not the Jacksonville Jaguars can maximize Trevor Lawrence has to be first addressed with: can Trevor Lawrence maximize himself? Make no mistake, he is a perennial All-Pro prospect. He has all the intangibles of leadership. He has great arm talent, he has size, he has pedigree, he's done it for the Clemson Tigers, all that is great. But is he a finished product? Absolutely not.
You have to understand he threw five interceptions in his last six games. He needs to incorporate the slide into his game as a runner – he hasn't done that. He needs to incorporate the slide in the pocket a little better because he's going to be under pressure a lot and he has to be able to maintain his throws and his vision down the field. He sailed a few more balls than what you would like – if you watch him on tape – those were a little bit of a hiccup he suffered.
Those things are obviously nitpicks, they are correctable, but before the Jaguars are maximized with their quarterback, their quarterback has to address some things."
2. New York Jets - QB Zach Wilson, BYU
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Expert analysis, Jason La Canfora:
"There's a lot to love about Zach Wilson and the Jets are indeed locked in with him on the second overall pick. But — while the athleticism, while the big arm can make you salivate — there are caveats with Wilson, as always with young quarterbacks.
He tended to play a little too much hero ball for some scouts' liking. Forcing things down field, looking for the big play instead of just taking what the defense would give him. He often did this against lesser competition where you could go bombs away and look for chunk yards, but obviously things are going to be much more difficult at the NFL level.
Will he have necessary anticipation? Will he be able to get away with, at the NFL level, some of the things he did with in college? Those will be big questions he faces. And, as many former Jets quarterbacks will tell you, will that team be able to incubate him properly to get him in position to succeed? We'll find out in 2021."
3. San Francisco 49ers - QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
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Expert analysis, Bonta Hill:
"Was Justin Fields the right choice over Mac Jones? I mean, come on folks. Justin Fields could be argued, far and away, as the best quarterback in the entire draft. I mean, think about what Justin Fields did for the Ohio State Buckeyes in his two seasons there: He led them to a national championship [appearance], he led them to a playoff appearance.
And in that run to the national championship, his game over the Clemson Tigers was one of the most special college football games we've ever see: The accuracy, the downfield throwing, the toughness he displayed in that football game. Justin Fields, not only with his arm, beat Clemson but he did it with his legs. When you think about the NFL today and what the prototypical quarterback is, it's not just a stand in the pocket and deliver the ball down the football field. It's a guy who can make the off-scripted play. A guy who can roll outside the pocket and make the throw 50 yards down the field with his eyes closed.
…What makes the perfect quarterback for Kyle Shanahan's complex scheme? Now think about it: RGIII, Kirk Cousins, Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan, Jimmy Garoppolo — they all had a bit of success In a Kyle Shanahan system. But if you think about a mobile quarterback who can move around the pocket, this is why I think a Justin Fields or a Trey Lance would be the perfect quarterback for Kyle Shanahan's scheme. You think about all the bootleg options, the run-pass option, who better to run that than Justin Fields or Trey Lance? This is a match-made in heaven.
For all the people who want Jimmy Garoppolo to be the franchise quarterback moving forward, there is no doubt in my mind that Justin Fields or Trey Lance is the perfect quarterback for Kyle Shanahan's scheme. All the imagination, all the big plays, all the explosion from the quarterback position with one of tehse two young, fine men --- bring in Justin Fields, bring in Trey Lance because they would perfect the Kyle Shanahan scheme."
4. Atlanta Falcons - TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
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Expert analysis, Carl Dukes:
""His rare blend of size and athleticism at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds and running a 4.4 40-yard dash, Kyle Pitts is special. His ability as a pass-catching tight end could force defense to alter the way they construct their roster. He's a tough matchup for most linebackers and too big for most corners. He offers offensive coordinators the ability to line him all over the field. And Pitts will be highly targeted, highly productive pass-catcher from the tight end positions.
He is a good blocker when he has to be, but that is not what makes Kyle Pitts special. He has a chance to become the biggest game-changer in the 2021 NFL Draft. He's a challenging matchup who might require specialty defenders — a rare combination of size, speed, athleticism and elite ball skills. He's got great hands, and on top of all of that, he puts in the work on all three levels as a pass catcher. Kyle Pitts is a unique talent.
… [Falcons head coach Arthur] Smith wants to be more productive in the red zone. Pitts would specifically help the Falcons do that. He would consistently win back corner fades, jump balls and red zone looks. Whether the Falcons were in 11 personnel with one running back and one tight end or 12 personnel with one back and two tight ends, Smith using motion to create mismatches with Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst along with Kyle Pitts becomes a major problem for any defense in the NFL."
5. Cincinnati Bengals - WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
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Expert analysis, Ross Tucker:
"Listen, I know Alabama has two stud wide receivers in this draft in DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, but Ja'Marr Chase is the guy. I mean, he is the best wide receiver in this draft class, I think by a considerable margin. You consider what he did back in 2019 – of course he opted out in 2020 – to do what he did at age 19, I mean he was the guy for Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers. Absolutely dominant. [He] wasn't even eligible to go to the NFL after that year. He was more productive than Justin Jefferson and all Justin Jefferson did was go out there and become the second wide receiver taken in the first round since 2015 to make the Pro Bowl and he did it as a rookie.
So, it's hard to not think it's Chase, when you see what Justin Jefferson did for th Vikings and you consider Chae is even better? How do you not feel that Ja'Marr Chase is the best wide receiver in the NFL Draft?
Obviously, as a former offensive lineman, I love the big guys…. As good as [Penie] Sewell is, there is a little bit of concern that he can be raw. There are people, myself included, who think Rashawn Slater from Northwestern is a better player right now than Penei Sewell. So, the Bengals saying you know what? Let's make sure we have a No. 1 receiver. ... who we already know is absolutely in sync with quarterback Joe Burrow. It's a passing league, you gotta score, they'll be able to get some good lineman in the later rounds. I think the Bengals did the right thing in taking Ja'Marr Chase."
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