2021 NFL Mock Draft – What will 49ers, Dolphins & Eagles do with new picks?

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence: Quarterback, Clemson
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson: Quarterback, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers - Trey Lance: Quarterback, North Dakota State
4. Atlanta Falcons - Justin Fields: Quarterback, Ohio State
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell: Offensive Tackle, Oregon

North Dakota State's Trey Lance has some elite physical tools, but is thin on actual playing experience. That said, his 2019 season was special, as he threw 28 touchdowns to zero interceptions, while racking up 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. As we wrote Friday, the 49ers may open the 2021 season with Jimmy Garoppolo under center - though that will likely require some sort of restructuring of his contract - but the long-term plan will be for him to pass the torch to whoever they pick at No. 3. While Kyle Shanahan's good friend Chris Simms thinks the team may take former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, it's more likely to be Lance or Ohio State's Justin Fields.

6. Miami Dolphins - Kyle Pitts: Tight End, Florida
7. Carolina Panthers (trade up with Detroit Lions) - Mac Jones: Quarterback, Alabama
8. Detroit Lions (trade down with Carolina Panthers) - Ja'Marr Chase: Wide Receiver, LSU
9. Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons: Linebacker, Penn State
10. Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain II: Cornerback, Alabama

If the Dolphins are truly sold on last year's No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa as the long-term answer at quarterback, then moving down and obtaining even more draft capital will prove to be a stroke of genius by general manager Chris Grier. Not only will the Dolphins land a star pass catcher, they'll have their pick of the top four options because of an early run on quarterbacks. Adding Will Fuller V to DeVante Parker shouldn't preclude the Dolphins from taking a wide receiver if that's who they think is the best player on the board, but the narrative of Pitts staying in the state of Florida and starring for the Dolphins would write itself. He and Mike Gesicki could form a pretty dominant one-two punch at the position.

11. New York Giants - Jaylen Waddle: Wide Receiver, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles - DeVonta Smith: Wide Receiver, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Chargers - Rashawn Slater: Offensive Tackle, Northwestern
14. Minnesota Vikings - Gregory Rousseau: Edge Rusher, Miami
15. New England Patriots - Caleb Farley: Cornerback, Virginia Tech

Considering the Eagles lack core players under the age of 30, there was quite a bit of frustration in Philadelphia that the team gave up a pick that would have allowed them to potentially land a stalwart. That said, the team is probably a few years away from contending and now has a chance to have three first-round picks in 2022. On top of all of that, we anticipate as many as five quarterbacks being taken in the top 10 picks. Ja'Marr Chase and Kyle Pitts are likely to be selected before the Eagles go on the clock, but it's very possible that one of the two exciting Alabama wideouts - Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith - is still there for the taking at pick No. 12. In this mock, Waddle lands with the division-rival New York Giants, setting up the Eagles to take Smith, who is coming off of one of the most dominant collegiate seasons in recent memory.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn: Cornerback, South Carolina
17. Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Darrisaw: Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech
18. Miami Dolphins - Kwity Paye: Edge Rusher, Michigan
19. Washington Football Team - Alijah Vera-Tucker: Offensive Guard, USC
20. Chicago Bears - Kadarius Toney: Wide Receiver, Florida

With five quarterbacks likely to be taken in the top 10 picks, you get the sense that at least one more prospect will have to emerge as a potential first-round pick. But short of falling in love with someone like Texas A&M's Kellen Mond, neither the Washington Football Team or Chicago Bears will find their long-term solution at quarterback in the first round of this year's draft. For Washington, that's probably alright. Ron Rivera and company snuck into the postseason in 2020, and can ride things out with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke for a season as they continue to build a deep roster. Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy won't have the same luxury in 2021, as they may legitimately head into a make-or-break year with Andy Dalton as their unopposed starter.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Rashod Bateman: Wide Receiver, Minnesota
22. Tennessee Titans - Jalen Mayfield: Offensive Tackle, Michigan
23. Cleveland Browns (trade up with New York Jets) - Jaelan Phillips: Edge Rusher, Miami
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenberg: Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dyami Brown: Wide Receiver, North Carolina

With the Jacksonville Jaguars and conference-rival Pittsburgh Steelers both teams that could potentially take an edge rusher, the Browns move up in this mock, acquiring the No. 23 pick from the New York Jets. They missed out on adding J.J. Watt in free agency, but while citing some injury concerns, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah believes Miami's Jaelan Phillips "has as much talent as any pass rusher in this draft class." As the Browns look to build off a season that saw them reach the AFC Divisional Round, Phillips and former first-round pick Takk McKinley could probably have quite a bit of success coming off the edge across from All-Pro Myles Garrett.