Trevor Lawrence to the New York Jets was seen as fait accompli for so much of the 2020 NFL season that when you pictured the most highly-touted quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, you started to imagine him in gang green.
As it turns out, that imagination may ultimately be as far as the Lawrence-Jets relationship goes.
By upsetting the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, the Jets pulled even with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record in the sport at 1-13. Since an upset over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, the Jaguars have lost 13 straight games, and when you consider that they were blown out 40-14 by the Baltimore Ravens, it's unlikely they win another game this season. If the Jaguars and Jets both finish at 1-15, it will likely the the Jaguars, based on schedule strength, that win the tiebreaker and the land the No. 1 pick.
So where do the New York Jets go if they don't end up with the top pick? That and more are examined in our latest RADIO.COM Sports NFL Mock Draft:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence - Quarterback, Clemson
Trevor Lawrence is one of the most highly-touted quarterback prospects ever.(Bob Donnan/USA Today)We've all-but known that Lawrence would be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft since he helped Clemson throttle Alabama in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. In his collegiate career, Lawrence has tossed 88 touchdowns, while being picked off just 16 times. He's never lost a regular season game that he's started for Dabo Swinney. If it is Jacksonville that ends up with Lawrence, we may quickly start to feel differently about a franchise that's been an afterthought for much of its relatively brief existence. Lawrence could help the Jaguars push towards a winning record as soon as 2021.
2. New York Jets: Justin Fields - Quarterback, Ohio State
Justin Fields has had an excellent career at Ohio State.(Aaron Doster/USA Today)There's not an executive in the sport that would take Fields over Lawrence if given the opportunity, but there's still quite a few that would love to have the consolation prize in this year's draft. Fields could use a strong performance in the College Football Playoff after underwhelming in the Big Ten Championship Game, but ultimately, he's thrown 60 touchdowns to just eight interceptions in his collegiate career, while rushing for over 1,000 yards. Sam Darnold perhaps hasn't been given a fair chance to succeed by the Jets, though he hasn't flashed enough - both in terms of on-field ability and durability - to avoid being traded this offseason in favor of Fields. A trade of Darnold will add to the treasure chest of picks that general manager Joe Douglas has, giving him a chance to build a deep team around Fields.
3. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell - Offensive Tackle, Oregon
Penei Sewell could help fill a major need for the Bengals.(Troy Wayrynen/USA Today)It's ironic, if Joe Burrow hadn't torn his ACL, the Bengals almost certainly would have played their way out of being able to draft a lineman like Sewell. No one's going to suggest that it was actually good for Burrow to suffer a major knee injury, but his absence has allowed the Bengals to bottom out and get in position to land a solution to their biggest need - a stalwart on the offensive line to protect Burrow. Whenever Burrow returns, he has a chance to do so behind an offensive line that would be significantly improved with the addition of Sewell, who opted out of the 2020 collegiate season.
4. Carolina Panthers: Zach Wilson - Quarterback, BYU
Zach Wilson has become the favorite to be the third quarterback off the board.(Tim Warner/Getty Images)After two pedestrian statistical seasons to open his career at BYU, Wilson has exploded in his junior season, tossing 30 touchdowns to just three interceptions in 2020. Teddy Bridgewater is certainly one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL, though he's definitely closer to 32 than one. Matt Rhule's team has been scrappy in his first year, but ultimately, his success in the NFL will be determined by his ability to build a team capable of competing for a Super Bowl. The Panthers can get out of Bridgewater's three-year/$63 million deal with minimal dead money after 2021, so theoretically, Bridgewater could serve as a bridge quarterback (definitely no pun intended), opening next season as the starter until Wilson is ready to play.
5. Atlanta Falcons: Micah Parsons - Linebacker, Penn State
Micah Parsons was an excellent collegiate player at Penn State.(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Parsons was among the top prospects in the 2021 class that opted out of the 2020 NCAA season, and given what he did in his sophomore season, there wasn't a ton left to prove. In his second season at Penn State, Parsons had 109 total tackles, 14 of which came for a loss, along with five sacks. Regardless of who the Falcons ultimately hire at general manager, linebacker is a major need in Atlanta, one that Parsons would fill. Things will get interesting if the Falcons get in position to potentially select Wilson - or if they fall in love with another quarterback prospect, like Trey Lance - but Matt Ryan will almost certainly be on the team in 2021. For a season, at least, Ryan could get a chance to be teammates with Parsons.
6. Miami Dolphins: Ja'Marr Chase - Wide Receiver, LSU
Ja'Marr Chase is a coveted NFL prospect.(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY)Justin Jefferson is having a dominant rookie season for the Minnesota Vikings, which follows up him being part of an all-time great college team at LSU last season. Amazingly, though, Jefferson, who had 1,540 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, was the second-leading receiver on his own team. Joe Burrow's top target was Chase, who had 1,780 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his sophomore season. Had Chase been eligible to enter the NFL Draft last year, he may very well have been the top player selected at his position, even in a class that included Jefferson, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. After opting out of the 2020 season, Chase will get his chance to be the top wideout taken in the 2021 class. Adding him to a core of weapons that already includes DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki would set Tua Tagovailoa up to take a major step forward in his second NFL season.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: DeVonta Smith - Wide Receiver, Alabama
De'Vonta Smith will become the latest Alabama wide receiver to go in the first round.(Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)Given that general manager Howie Roseman has seemingly swung and missed in consecutive offseasons on the selections of JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Jalen Reagor (to different degrees), you wonder if he should be allowed to lead another draft that will likely culminate with the team using a high selection on a wide receiver. That aside, Smith has had a monster senior season at Alabama, hauling in 98 passes for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sure, the Eagles would love to get in position to select Chase, but reuniting Smith with Jalen Hurts might not be a bad idea either.
8. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II - Cornerback, Alabama
Patrick Surtain II has an NFL history in his blood.(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)The son of a former All-Pro cornerback, Surtain II has tremendous genes, which may help him to be the top cornerback off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. At 6'2, 202 pounds, Surtain II has very good size and has turned in excellent production during his three seasons at Alabama. While we're going to guess that Mike Nolan won't still be leading the Cowboys' defense in 2021, the team has major needs on that side of the ball. Surtain II, in effect, could serve as the replacement for another first-round pick with tremendous athleticism, Byron Jones, whom the Cowboys lost in free agency last offseason.
9. Los Angeles Chargers: Gregory Rousseau - Edge Rusher, Miami
Gregory Rousseau is perhaps the top pass rusher that will be available in the 2021 NFL Draft.(Mark Brown/Getty Images)As Chris Simms of NBC Sports noted this past weekend, Justin Herbert has looked like a superstar in his rookie season, so there's a case to be made for building a loaded offense, especially when you're in the same division as the Kansas City Chiefs. The problem with that idea is the Las Vegas Raiders executed it last offseason, and while their offense has largely been very effective, their defense is what's going to keep them from playing in January. So for as tempting as it may be to consider taking a wide receiver here, finding the heir apparent to Melvin Ingram may be the best way to build a complete team. Rousseau opted out of the 2020 season, but had 15 1/2 sacks with 19 1/2 tackles for a loss in his sophomore season.
10. New York Giants: Jaylen Waddle - Wide Receiver, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle could become the second Alabama wide receiver selected in the top 10 of the 2021 NFL Draft.(Mickey Welsh/USA Today)Certainly, the Giants need edge help, and if Rousseau is still on the board here, he may be the pick. Dave Gettleman and company could probably move down a few slots and still land another pass rusher, like Michigan's Kwity Paye. Still, 2021 projects to be a make-it-or-break-it year for Daniel Jones, and his success could determine whether Gettleman continues to be employed in his current capacity. With that in mind, it would seemingly behoove the Giants to give Jones as many option as possible in such a crucial year. Saquon Barkley will be back, but the team could stand to add to their receiving corps. Darius Slayton is a tremendous deep threat, but probably isn't a No. 1 receiver. Sterling Shepard is another nice option, but has struggled to stay healthy throughout the course of his career. The guess here is the team will move on from 32-year-old Golden Tate, who has an out in his contract after the season. With the need for another legitimate threat, Waddle, who has averaged 19.1 yards per reception in his collegiate career, would make quite a bit of sense. His numbers at Alabama may not jump off the page, but remember, he's been on teams that include Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith.
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