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ESPN Team
The order for the 18 best choices in the first round of the 2021 draft of the NFL is set, with the Jacksonville Jaguars choosing No. 1 and the New York Jets choosing No. 2. Are both teams thinking about the quarterback with their choices? NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s top-ranked quarterbacks – Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio) – clashed in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday night, with Fields and the Buckeyes winning.
Both the Jaguars and the Jets – along with the Miami Dolphins – have two first-round options in this draft. The Dolphins ended up with the third overall choice – thanks to the Houston Texans’ trade for offensive attack Laremy Tunsil last year – and the eighteenth choice. The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals complete the first five selections.
The 2021 NFL draft will take place in Cleveland, with the first round on April 29. Rounds 2 and 3 will be on April 30, while rounds 4 to 7 will be on May 1. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN app.
Check out the 18 main choices below, with the numbers 19-32 projected from the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI), which projects the order simulating the rest of the season 10,000 times.
Jacksonville had a choice in the top 10 in the first round 19 times when entering its 27th season, but never had the number one overall choice. The last team to reach the playoffs in the year in which they had the overall number 1 choice was the 2013 Chiefs. The Jaguars took three defenders in the first round – Byron Leftwich (No. 7 overall in 2003), Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 in 2011) and Blake Bortles (No. 3 in 2014).
The Jets lost their second overall choice # 1. They used their only general number 1 to select the wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. The Jets chose second overall place twice, selecting wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) and the running back Blair Thomas (1990). New York was reported to be targeting Anthony Munoz with second choice in 1980, but rejected him because he failed a physical exam. Bengals took Munoz in third place overall and he made 11 Pro Bowls. Jones never made it to the Pro Bowl.
The Dolphins, who had three choices in the first round in 2020, have two choices in the first round this year. All first round picks since 2011 went to the league in 2020, but only one before 2019 was still with Miami (DeVante Parker, No. 14, 2015).
This is Falcons’ first choice among the top 10 since 2015 and the first of the top five since hiring quarterback Matt Ryan No. 3 overall in 2008. Atlanta has produced two Hall of Fame with the top five choices: Claude Humphrey (No. 3, 1968) and Deion Sanders (No. 5, 1989).
Bengals are in the top five for the 17th time in the franchise’s history and for the second year in a row. They used their last four first rounds to choose offensive players, but only two of them were Cincinnati starters in 2020 (quarterback Joe Burrow and striker Jonah Williams).
This is the first choice among the top 10 Eagles since they selected quarterback Carson Wentz as the runner-up in 2016. Of course, they now seem ready to leave Wentz in favor of choosing the second round of 2020, Jalen Hurts.
Lions are in the top 10 for the third year running and for the 26th time in the Super Bowl era. Were they looking for the successor to 2009’s No. 1 choice, Matthew Stafford?
The Panthers have a choice in the top 10 for the second time since 2012. They had great success with each other, selecting the running back Christian McCaffrey No. 8 overall in 2017.
The Broncos are in the top 10 for the second time since 2011. Passer Bradley Chubb was chosen fifth overall in 2018. He has 20.5 sacks in his career and made it to the Pro Bowl this season.
Five of the Cowboys’ last eight picks in the first round represented Dallas in the Pro Bowl, but only three remain with the team – point guard Zack Martin, running back Ezekiel Elliott and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. This is the Cowboys’ highest draft position since they took Elliott with fourth choice in 2016.
Four of the last six Giants players in the first round are players around whom they hope to build their attack, although 2018 number 2 Saquon Barkley returns from a torn ACL in 2021. Quarterback Daniel Jones (2019) and the tight end Evan Engram (2017) had some injury problems that hurt him in 2020. New striker Andrew Thomas was a plug-and-play holder this season.
When the 49ers selected wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the second of two choices from the first round last year, it was the first time that they chose a player with a skill position in the first round since 2012. In the same period, they selected four defensive sides .
Chargers can afford not to need a quarterback, as they seem to have found gold with last year’s No. 6 pick, Justin Herbert. The Oregon signal caller set a TD pass record for a newbie and had multiple TD passes in seven consecutive games, another newbie record.
Vikings are making their best choice in the first round since the selection of Trae Waynes No. 11 overall cornerback in 2015. Of their choices in the first round before 2018, only safety Harrison Smith (2012) and linebacker Anthony Barr (2014) still wear purple.
The Patriots have their best choice in the first round since 2008, when they selected linebacker Jerod Mayo in 10th overall. He was the defensive Debutant of the year and played his entire eight-year career in New England, forming two teams in the Pro Bowl.
Of the Cardinals’ last 10 choices in the first round, in the past 10 years, four are not even in the league. Five are still with Arizona. The other is 49ers reserve quarterback Josh Rosen.
The Raiders, who made five choices in the first round in the last two drafts, have only one in the first round this year. Each of the previous five was in a different position, but none of these choices addressed a linebacker or offensive line.
How the Dolphins will use the second of their two players from the first round will depend a lot on what they do with the first. They have needs in wide receiver, offensive line and running back.
FPI projections for choice 19-32
19. Washington Football Team (7-9)
20. Chicago Bears (8-8)
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15; from 10-6 LAR)
22. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
23. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
24. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
25. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
26. New York Jets (2-14; from 12-4 SEA)
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
29. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
30. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
31. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
32. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
(The FPI projections are on Sunday night after Washington’s victory)