2021 NFL Mock Draft – Falcons, Lions & WFT make key selections

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence: Quarterback, Clemson
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson: Quarterback, BYU
3. Carolina Panthers (trade up with Miami Dolphins) - Justin Fields: Quarterback, Ohio State
4. Atlanta Falcons - Penei Sewell: Offensive Tackle, Oregon
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase: Wide Receiver, LSU

At pick No. 4, the Atlanta Falcons could go in a variety of directions, which will determine how the rest of the top 10 picks play out.

Matt Ryan is still one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but he'll turn 36 before next season, so it's far from a guarantee that he'll still be at that level by the time the Falcons are ready to return to contention. In this mock, the division-rival Carolina Panthers leapfrog the Falcons to take Justin Fields, the third quarterback in as many picks. Still, the Falcons could very well consider a quarterback at No. 4, or even move up a pick or two if they are especially intrigued by Fields or Zach Wilson.

With Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst, pass catchers aren't an especially pressing need in Atlanta. Still, the Falcons are probably in a position where they should take the best player available. If that's Kyle Pitts, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith, so be it.

But offensive tackle is a need in Atlanta, and you can argue that Oregon's Penei Sewell is the best player still on the board at pick No. 4. Sewell, who opted out of his junior season, can protect Ryan in the short-term, and most likely his successor for many year after that.

6. Philadelphia Eagles - Kyle Pitts: Tight End, Florida
7. Detroit Lions - Caleb Farley: Cornerback, Virginia Tech
8. Miami Dolphins (trade down with Carolina Panthers) - Jaylen Waddle: Wide Receiver, Alabama
9. Denver Broncos - Patrick Surtain II: Cornerback, Alabama
10. Dallas Cowboys - Rashawn Slater: Offensive Tackle, Northwestern

After trading Pro-Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions selected former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It's too early to write Okudah off, but during his nine game-rookie season, Pro Football Focus graded him at just a 42.5 out of 100.

The Lions are in a complete rebuild, but if they've lost any faith in Okudah, cornerback is perhaps the most pressing need on their roster. Even if they still believe Okudah will develop into a star, they don't have an answer across from him. So while a bit unconventional, there's a strong case to be made for new general manager Brad Holmes using another top-10 pick on a cornerback.

For much of the year, Alabama's Patrick Surtain II was viewed as the top cornerback prospect in the nation, though a different consensus appears to be building among draft experts. PFF, The Draft Network and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media all have Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley ranked as the top cornerback in this year's class. Jeremiah believes Farley is the No. 5 overall prospect in this year's class, saying that he "has all of the ingredients to be a No. 1 cornerback at the next level." That type of player is a good place to start for Holmes and Dan Campbell.

11. New York Giants - Gregory Rousseau: Edge Rusher, Miami
12. San Francisco 49ers - Alijah Vera-Tucker: Offensive Guard, USC
13. Los Angeles Chargers - DeVonta Smith: Wide Receiver, Alabama
14. Minnesota Vikings - Christian Darrisaw: Offensive Tackle, Virginia Tech
15. New England Patriots - Micah Parsons: Linebacker, Penn State

With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the fold, wide receiver isn't the biggest issue that the Chargers need to solve. That said, in a division with Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant and Darren Waller, you're going to need a bounty of pass catchers to have a chance. So if a potential star wideout falls into Tom Telesco's lap, he'd be wise to pounce on the opportunity.

The further we've gotten removed from DeVonta Smith's dominant season at Alabama, the less you've heard about him potentially being the top receiver in this year's class. LSU's Ja'Marr Chase, who opted out of the 2020 season, will likely be the top player taken at the position. And increasingly, it appears that Smith's former college teammate Jaylen Waddle could leapfrog him and being the second wide receiver taken.

Smith's build - 6-foot-1, 170 pounds - may be a cause for concern to some teams, but he had 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of Alabama's National Championship victory over Ohio State. Some guys just have it. While you may not be able to top Patrick Mahomes and the bevy of weapons in Kansas City, Justin Herbert having Smith, Allen and Williams at his disposal would be terrifying for opposing defensive coordinators.

16. Chicago Bears (trade up with Arizona Cardinals) - Mac Jones: Quarterback, Alabama
17. Las Vegas Raiders - Kwity Paye: Edge Rusher, Michigan
18. Miami Dolphins - Travis Etienne: Running Back, Clemson
19. Washington Football Team - Trey Lance: Quarterback, North Dakota State
20. Arizona Cardinals (trade down with Chicago Bears) - Jaycee Horn: Cornerback, South Carolina

There are some who believe that North Dakota State's Trey Lance has star potential in the NFL. The problem is that the 20-year-old doesn't have an extensive body of work for team's to be sure of that when they make the franchise-altering decision to draft a quarterback in the first round.

Lance had a cinderella 2019 season, throwing 28 touchdowns to zero interceptions, while rushing for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. North Dakota State, a Division 1-AA powerhouse, won their third consecutive FCS National Championship, with Lance being named the game's MVP.

The problem for Lance is that North Dakota State had their season moved to the spring because of COVID-19, a campaign he's not participating in. They did play one showcase game in the fall, a contest that saw him throw two touchdowns to one interception, while rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns in a 39-28 victory over Central Arkansas. But if Lance doesn't find success at the NFL level, it will be difficult to justify his selection given how little experience he has at the collegiate level.

A scout told Mike Giardi of NFL Network that "his arm isn't Josh Allen's, but it's in the conversation." It took Allen until his third year to harness his arm and play at an elite level, but he looked like a Hall of Fame-caliber player in 2020. Giardi says there is a belief that Lance would benefit from being a backup for at least a portion of the 2021 season, something that would be feasible in Washington with both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke under contract. With an elite defense and some exciting young skill-position players, Washington could be the NFC East's best team this decade if Lance eventually reaches his ceiling.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Kadarius Toney: Wide Receiver, Florida
22. Tennessee Titans - Jalen Mayfield: Offensive Tackle, Michigan
23. New York Jets - Jaelan Phillips: Edge Rusher, Miami
24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenberg: Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Rashod Bateman: Wide Receiver, Minnesota

Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster are back, but make no mistake, the Steelers have some retooling to do.

Bud Dupree departed in free agency, and between the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey and the potential departure of Alejandro Villanueva in free agency, the Steelers need to address the offensive line that will protect their 39-year-old quarterback.

Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network calls Notre Dame's Liam Eichenberg "an NFL-ready starting left tackle," which could make him a good fit if the team's salary cap situation prevents them from retaining the aforementioned Villanueva.