Since we last spoke, the Carolina Panthers, owners of the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, have acquired Sam Darnold from the New York Jets.
While some think the Darnold addition doesn't necessarily preclude owner David Tepper from drafting another quarterback later this month, the Panthers have gone from a team with designs on trading up to one that could potentially do the opposite if presented the right opportunity.
In this week's 2021 NFL Mock Draft, the Panthers trade down with the New England Patriots, one of three teams projected to move up in our latest forecast.
Do the Bengals Have To Take an Offensive Lineman?
Penei Sewell is likely to be a top 10 pick.
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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 - Penei Sewell: Offensive Tackle, Oregon
Late last month, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was "pushing" for Cincinnati to draft his former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase, Burrow's top receiving weapon during his 2019 Heisman campaign. At the same time, Burrow is recovering from a torn ACL suffered at least in part because he was playing behind a disastrous offensive line, one that Pro Football Focus ranked as the NFL's third-worst last season. Reuniting Burrow and Chase in Cincinnati would be a blast, but given how desperate the Bengals are (or should be) to protect their star quarterback, taking Oregon's Penei Sewell at No. 5 probably makes the most sense.
Patriots Trade Up, Land Justin Fields
Justin Fields is drafted by the Patriots in our latest mock.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
6. Miami Dolphins - Ja'Marr Chase: Wide Receiver, LSU
7. Detroit Lions - Jaylen Waddle: Wide Receiver, Alabama
8. New England Patriots (trade up with Carolina Panthers) - Justin Fields: Quarterback, Ohio State
9. Denver Broncos - Trey Lance: Quarterback, North Dakota State
10. Dallas Cowboys - Rashawn Slater: Offensive Tackle, Northwestern
Last week, NFL Media's Peter Schrager projected the Patriots to trade all the way up from No. 15 to No. 4, allowing them to draft their future franchise quarterback in Ohio State's Justin Fields. However, unless the Patriots believe the Lions are likely to take a quarterback at No. 7, they probably won't have to move up quite that high to draft Fields. In our mock, we have New England moving up seven spots for Fields, benefiting from Carolina's recent acquisition of Darnold. This scenario would have them leapfrogging the Denver Broncos, who may also be in the market for a quarterback after Drew Lock's underwhelming 2020.
There's a Run on Cornerbacks
Patrick Surtain II is the first cornerback taken in our latest mock.
(Kelley L Cox/USA Today)
11. New York Giants - Devonta Smith: Wide Receiver, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles - Patrick Surtain II: Cornerback, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Farley: Cornerback, Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota Vikings - Gregory Rousseau: Edge Rusher, Miami
15. Carolina Panthers (trade down with New England Patriots) - Jaycee Horn: Cornerback, South Carolina
While Philadelphia would obviously prefer to land one of the draft's top pass-catchers, long-time Eagles reporter Derrick Gunn suggested last week the team would also be open to using their first-round pick on a cornerback. With that in mind, the Eagles select Alabama's Patrick Surtain II with the No. 12 pick, starting a run of three cornerbacks taken in a span of four picks. Despite questions about how well his back may hold up in the long run, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley is too talented for the Chargers to pass on him at 13. Finally, we have the Panthers, who traded down with New England, selecting South Carolina's Jaycee Horn, whom NFL Media's Lance Zierlein describes as "immediate starting help with a high upside."
Washington Football Team Trades Up, Lands Offensive Line Stalwart
Christian Darrisaw (No. 77) lands with Virginia Tech in our latest mock.
(Lee Luther Jr./USA Today)
16. Washington Football Team (trade up with Arizona Cardinals) - Christian Darrisaw: Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech
17. Las Vegas Raiders - Micah Parsons: Linebacker, Penn State
18. Miami Dolphins - Kwity Pate: Edge Rusher, Michigan
19. Arizona Cardinals (trade down with Washington Football Team) - Alijah Vera-Tucker: Offensive Guard, USC
20. Chicago Bears - Kadarius Toney: Wide Receiver, Florida
It doesn't appear the Washington Football Team will find its long-term solution at quarterback this offseason, making their best course of action to follow the blueprint laid out by the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Bucs underwhelmed throughout Jameis Winston's five seasons in Tampa, general manager Jason Licht built a stacked roster through the draft, complementing Winston with pieces like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ali Marpet, Vita Vea and Ronald Jones II. When Tom Brady became a free agent, the Buccaneers presented an opportunity for him to win immediately, which is exactly what he did. It's not every year a generational quarterback becomes available, but if Washington continues to build a strong roster, they'll be in position to trade for an accomplished veteran (Russell Wilson?) or land one in free agency next offseason.
Jaguars Reunite Travis Etienne With Trevor Lawrence
In our latest NFL Mock Draft, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne are reunited at the NFL level.
(Harry How/Getty Images
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 - Teven Jenkins: Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma State
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Travis Etienne: Running Back, Clemson
Any of the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers could be the first team to select a running back in this year's draft. However, there's a scenario where none do, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who already drafted Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick, have a chance to reunite their new quarterback with Travis Etienne, one of his most accomplished teammates at Clemson. That may be too sweet of an opportunity to pass up, especially for a team in a state that's more enamored with college football than the NFL.
Chiefs Continue To Rebuild Offensive Line
Alabama's Landon Dickerson heads to the Chiefs in our latest mock.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
26. New York Jets (trade down with Cleveland Browns) - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: Linebacker, Notre Dame
27. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Tyron: Edge Rusher, Washington
28. New Orleans Saints - Zaven Collins: Linebacker, Tulsa
29. Green Bay Packers - Terrace Marshall: Wide Receiver, LSU
30. Buffalo Bills - Najee Harris: Running Back, Alabama
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Landon Dickerson: Center/Offensive Guard, Alabama
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Baron Browning: Linebacker, Ohio State
Patrick Mahomes never had much of a chance in Super Bowl LV, in large part because of a decimated offensive line. Brett Veach, Andy Reid and the Chiefs have already made great strides in rebuilding the offensive line that will protect the former NFL MVP, adding Joe Thuney and Kyle Long in free agency, with the expected return of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif looming as well. If another quarterback emerges as a potential first-round pick, the Chiefs could be a candidate to move out of the pick with a team that's hell-bent on securing the fifth-year option. If not, though, Alabama's Landon Dickerson would continue the offseason trend of rebuilding the offensive line in Kansas City. Dickerson would likely be interior offensive line depth in his rookie season, but Jordan Reid of The Draft Network says that he could start at either guard or center.
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