NFL Mock Draft: Final 2021 first-round projection

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence: Quarterback, Clemson
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson: Quarterback, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers - Mac Jones: Quarterback, Alabama
4. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts: Tight End, Florida
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase: Wide Receiver, LSU

For virtually the entire draft process, we've projected the Bengals to use the No. 5 pick on Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell, who would hopefully help repair an offensive line that was partially to blame for Joe Burrow tearing his ACL in his rookie season. But while we try not to be too influenced by what happens in the last week or 10 days before the draft, there does seem to be a belief from those in the know - Peter King of NBC Sports and Todd McShay of ESPN among them - that the Bengals will reunite Burrow with his favorite target at LSU, Ja'Marr Chase. We'd lean towards taking a potential offensive line stalwart, but it's hard to sit here and suggest that taking Chase will be a regrettable decision for the Bengals.

6. Miami Dolphins - Jaylen Waddle: Wide Receiver, Alabama
7. Detroit Lions - Penei Sewell: Offensive Tackle, Oregon
8. New England Patriots (trade up with Carolina Panthers) - Trey Lance: Quarterback, North Dakota State
9. Philadelphia Eagles (trade up with Denver Broncos): Patrick Surtain II
10. Dallas Cowboys: Rashawn Slater - Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

This spot is a bit of a placeholder, which may seem strange give how large of an investment it will be for the Patriots to move up seven picks. Frankly, though, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bill Belichick and company move up for any of Trey Lance, Mac Jones or Justin Fields. At least one of them will be off the board by this selection, and considering we have the 49ers using the No. 3 overall pick on Jones, we're going to project that the Patriots move up for Lance. Lance has immense talent but is very limited in actual playing experience. Cam Newton will almost certainly start Week 1, and it's possible that the Patriots altogether redshirt Lance, with Jarret Stidham continuing to serve as his backup. What feels more likely is that the Patriots bring Lance along relatively slowly, but if the team struggles in the first six or so weeks of 2021, he eventually replaces Newton.

11. New York Giants: Micah Parsons - Linebacker, Penn State
12. Denver Broncos (trade down with Philadelphia Eagles): Jaycee Horn - Cornerback, Denver Broncos
13. Washington Football Team (trade up with Los Angeles Chargers): Justin Fields - Quarterback, Ohio State
14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye - Edge Rusher, Michigan
15. Carolina Panthers (trade down with New England Patriots): Christian Darrisaw - Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech

Justin Fields and Terry McLaurin just missed out on being teammates at Ohio State, but they sure would make a nice duo in the NFL. Washington has built an exciting young core, led by McLaurin and Chase Young, who was a teammate of Fields at Ohio State in 2019. Moving up six spots certainly wouldn't be cheap, but if Washington is able to develop Fields, they would have a chance to be the best team in the NFC East this decade. Ryan Fitzpatrick could open the season as the starter, with Fields, like Tua Tagovailoa in 2020, usurping him when he's ready.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Alijah Vera-Tucker - Offensive Guard, USC
17. Indianapolis Colts (trade up with Las Vegas Raiders): DeVonta Smith - Wide Receiver, Alabama
18. Miami Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips - Edge Rusher, Miami
19. Los Angeles Chargers (trade down with Washington Football Team): Gregory Rousseau - Edge Rusher, Miami
20. Chicago Bears: Caleb Farley - Cornerback, Virginia Tech

A year ago, some felt that CeeDee Lamb was the top wide receiver on the board, creating a level of shock when he fell to Dallas Cowboys at the 17th pick. It would have been hard to believe at the conclusion of Alabama's National Championship victory that Smith would fall this far, but the further we've gotten removed from that moment, the more it's become clear that Kyle Pitts and Ja'Marr Chase are the top two pass catchers in this class. Smith's former Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle is probably a better NFL prospect too. But for whatever concerns there may be about Smith potentially only being 166 pounds, some guys can just ball. In this case, the Raiders - after missing out on the top four offensive line - are willing to move down, opening the door for Chris Ballard and the Colts to pounce on Smith. The Colts have an elite offensive line, and a pretty tremendous trio of running backs in Jonathan Taylor, Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines. If you add Smith to a receiving corps that also includes T.Y. Hilton and Michael Pittman Jr., Carson Wentz would be set up extremely well to have a big first year for the Colts.

21. Las Vegas Raiders (trade down with Indianapolis Colts): Baron Browning - Linebacker, Ohio State
22. Baltimore Ravens (trade up with Tennessee Titans): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Linebacker, Notre Dame
23. New York Jets: Azeez Ojulari: Edge Rusher, Georgia
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris: Running Back, Alabama
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig: Safety, TCU

Most outlets rank Travis Etienne as the top running back in this year's class, but it only takes one team - like the Kansas City Chiefs last year - to make another halfback the top one taken in a given class. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said Wednesday that he's been told the Steelers will select either Alabama running back Najee Harris or Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Both are available here, but given that Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated also says he's heard that Mike Tomlin is high on Harris, we'll given the nod to the former Alabama running back.