NFL Mock Draft: Final 1st-round projections

1. Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Clemson QB
2. Jets: Zach Wilson, BYU QB
3. 49ers: Mac Jones, Alabama QB
4. Falcons - Kyle Pitts, Florida TE
5. Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase, LSU WR

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 Ja'Marr Chase, his favorite target at LSU. We'd lean toward 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. Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle, Alabama WR
7. Lions: Penei Sewell, Oregon OT
8. Patriots (trade up with Panthers): Trey Lance, North Dakota State QB
9. Eagles (trade up with Broncos): Patrick Surtain II, Alabama CB
10. Cowboys: Rashawn Slater, Northwestern OT

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 Lance, 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, who has immense talent but has 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. Giants: Micah Parsons, Penn State LB
12. Broncos (trade down with Eagles): Jaycee Horn, South Carolina CB
13. Washington Football Team (trade up with Chargers): Justin Fields, Ohio State QB
14. Vikings: Kwity Paye, Michigan edge rusher
15. Panthers (trade down with Patriots): Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech OT

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 can develop Fields, it 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. Cardinals: Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC guard
17. Colts (trade up with Raiders): DeVonta Smith, Alabama WR
18. Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips, Miami edge rusher
19. Chargers (trade down with Washington Football Team): Gregory Rousseau, Miami edge rusher
20. Bears: Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech CB

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 No. 17. It would have been hard to believe at the conclusion of Alabama's victory in the national championship game that Smith would fall this far, but the further we've gotten removed from that moment, the more it's become clear that Pitts and Chase are the top two pass catchers in this class. Smith's former Alabama teammate 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 strong 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 well to have a big first year in Indianapolis.

21. Raiders (trade down with Colts): Baron Browning, Ohio State LB
22. Ravens (trade up with Titans): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame LB
23. Jets: Azeez Ojulari, Georgia edge rusher
24. Steelers: Najee Harris, Alabama RB
25. Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig, TCU safety

Most outlets rank Travis Etienne as the top running back in this 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 Harris or Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. Both are available here, but given that Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated also has heard Mike Tomlin is high on Harris, we'll given the nod to the former Alabama running back.