2021 NFL mock draft: Zach Wilson gets his first new weapon with the Jets' No. 23 pick

Expert analysis, Jason La Canfora:

Terrace Marshall Jr. has the potential to be an immediate impact player in the NFL from day one. He is super versatile. He is big at 6-foot-4. He can run and he was an explosive talent in college. He has the makeup physically and mentally that teams covet. He comes from great bloodlines. As long as he stays healthy, remains sure-handed, works hard to build up a rapport with Zach Wilson which will only come naturally to him, he's excelled in a pro style offense, he is, based on all the scouts I talk to, the fourth receiver to come off the board in this draft after the big three go all possibly in the top ten. I think the Jets would very much be looking for him here at 23 if he were still available. If he's not taken here, trust me, I don't see him getting past 27 at the latest. This is a very intriguing prospect.

I'd temper expectations in the short-term about the combination of Wilson and Marshall. The Jets aren't ready to win right now, no matter what they do in the rest of this draft. They need to build a better offensive line, they need to understand there's going to be a learning curve with this quarterback who's a little raw and with this wide receiver who was stuck behind some quality receivers himself there at LSU and has had to earn it gradually overtime. But Marshall is a legitimate size-speed guy. He has one of the best wingspans and catch radiuses at this position. He can high-point the ball, he can go up into traffic and make plays. Him, combined with Jamison Crowder in the slot, I think at least gives Wilson a chance to make some easy throws and pick up some chunk yards with some jump balls, but I still wonder about the tight end position. Is that something they address? Chris Herndon really was a non-factor last year. The more they can provide to Wilson, the better. But again, this is gonna take some time.

Expert analysis, Jeff Hatthorn:

Clemson RB Travis Etienne put up some crazy numbers in college. In some circles, it was thought that he dropped off where teams had the book on him. Etienne rushed for 914 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior but, "oh, he's washed up." Not only did he play in fewer games, but Etienne became more of a pass-catcher, grabbing 48 for 588 yards last season. Granted, smaller than most NFL backs at 5-foot-10, Etienne nonetheless rushed for 4,952 yards in his career, over 6,100 total with 78 touchdowns. If you want to sleep on him, teams slept on the Eagles' Miles Sanders, falling to the 53rd pick. Would you take 2,400 yards and 12 touchdowns over two years? How about every team that slept on Alvin Kamara, 67th overall? They have the same size, comparable footwork and burst. Etienne did nothing but star from his first practice at Clemson. He's the new NFL back — speed, quicks, can catch a pass. His best is being Sanders or Kamara.

Expert analysis, Brian Baldinger:

The Jacksonville Jaguars have invested heavily in edge rushers the past two years. Josh Allen in 2019, K'Lavon Chaisson last year in 2020. Those two guys had three-and-a-half sacks total last year. So to say that they've solved the issue of how to build a defense and get edge pressure, I wouldn't say is the case. Now, maybe they unleash some fury this year — they both showed talent — but I think, look, Jaelan Phillips, could he fit in in Jacksonville? Absolutely. I mean, they need more firepower off the edge than what they have shown even though they have spent two [first-round] draft picks at that position. I can see them continuing to draft to add depth, competition, best man to win the job, all those kind of things. Jaelan Phillips is gonna be a first-round talent. He's got a long ways to go, though. He's got a lot of developing to do before you can say he's gonna be a great pass rusher in the NFL.

Phillips, from the University of Miami, was a transfer from UCLA where he had injuries and concussion issues. He even thought about not playing football, sat out in 2019, came back this year, and had a big season for the Miami Hurricanes. He had his eight sacks and 16 TFLs, but he's got great size. He's over 6-foot-5, he's almost 270 pounds, he's long and he's lean. He looks the part, he's just very inexperienced. Would I be concerned about his past history? Not so much, he was young when those things happened, injuries didn't travel with him. But what I would be concerned about is just his inexperience, and how difficult the transition from defensive line/edge pass-rusher from college to the NFL is to begin with. And then when you really only had one year of experience, it's really difficult. The size of the tackles he's gonna go against, the schemes — I think he's got a lot to learn about rushing the passer.

Expert analysis, Daryl Ruiter:

A lot of draft analysts and experts gave Stokes an early-to-mid second-round draft grade, but he can just flat out play. Stokes is a former track star, and to play in the secondary in the NFL you've got to be athletic, you've got to play with instinct, you've got to be physical, and you've got to cover ground quickly, and he can do all that. His speed really showed up at Georgia's Pro Day; he ripped off a 4.29 40. Stokes is coming off his best season at Georgia, a second-team All-SEC selection. He shows strong anticipation, is able to jump in those passing lanes. Four interceptions last season— two of those, he was able to return for touchdowns. He broke up eight more passes — that led Georgia in 2020 — and over the last three seasons, something teams really like to see on film, gave up just three touchdowns. So when you're a team looking for immediate secondary help and [there's] a player who possesses all the necessary tools — ball awareness, size, speed — Stokes has it, and that's what makes him an attractive late first-round draft pick.

Stokes played inside and outside at Georgia, so that's good news. It gives defensive coordinator Joe Woods a lot of flexibility in how he can use him as a rookie. Cleveland's secondary was decimated by injuries last season as we know. I mean M.J. Stewart, Robert Jackson, Kevin Johnson, those guys were starters in the playoffs. All of a sudden now Cleveland is much deeper and more athletic on paper. Denzel Ward, when healthy, we know he's established himself as one of the league's top corners. Greedy Williams is expected to be fully recovered from that shoulder nerve injury that sidelined him during training camp, kept him out of the entirety of the 2020 season. Troy Hill signed this offseason as well, and he's probably going to handle the slot but he can also play some outside if asked. Stokes immediately becomes a rotational player. Barring significant injuries, he doesn't have to carry the load in the back end of the secondary so he has time to do a little on-the-job training, refinement, development as a rookie while also gaining some experience. Now, you look at the secondary with Stokes added to the mix. As I mentioned it's deeper, athletic, it now boasts guys who are capable of making those big, game-changing plays... that's something the Browns didn't have a lot of on the back end of the defense at the end of last season.

Expert analysis, Jason La Canfora:

I'll tell you this much — there'd be some people in that Ravens war room who would be doing back flips if Jeremiah was available in this spot. They would view him, I believe, very much like a Derwin James, someone they thought about taking when he was available, a jack-of-all-trades Swiss army knife who, for Baltimore in particular, could really excel in coverage against tight ends and big receivers. It's something they've struggled with. They took Patrick Queen a year ago late in the first round to anchor their linebacking corps. Running with receivers and running backs and tight ends wasn't his strong point. They need someone to make impact at the free safety spot, and also be able to slot defend; he would check all of those boxes. I don't think he's going to be there when it's all said and done, but Baltimore has a pedigree of taking Notre Dame players. It's a program they're very comfortable with. Boy, I just don't think this player will be there for them, but in this scenario they'd be doing high fives.

At this point, I don't know whether you get caught up in the designation of linebacker or safety. He's a defensive weapon who his coordinator will have to find a way to tap into — the ability to be a wild card in the blitz, the ability to disrupt at the line of scrimmage playing man coverage, the ability to make plays on the ball downfield whether he's defending a runing back or a tight end or a wide receiver. We've seen people like Tyrann Mathieu, when they're in the right hands, be an absolute difference maker. We obviously saw last year in Arizona with (Isaiah) Simmons, it was kind of hit-or-miss and they still seem to be trying to figure out exactly what he is. What this guy does is make plays. You need to put in the positions within your scheme to do that, tap in to his explosiveness, tap into his versatility. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you call him or what number he has on his back. It's how many times per game does he have a chance to influence the football.