Without NFL Scouting Combine this year for several reasons, the NFL Draft season is a little unorthodox. We’ve seen some moves happen – most notably, the Jared Goff and Carson Wentz and JJ Watt negotiations signing with the Arizona Cardinals. The teams are preparing for the strangest off-season in years, with an imminent limit reduction to start. However, the recruitment season advances. For this one, I am launching a full pre-free agency 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
This time, the simulation is with a twist – negotiations are included this time! Many option swaps and some player choice negotiations are included. I based some of the negotiations on historical precedents, but I also dealt with some original moves.
If you want to do your own simulation sketch of 7 rounds from 2021 after reading this, you can with PFNs Free Mock Draft Simulator!
2021 7 rounds NFL Mock Draft | First round
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
I cannot write much about this choice. The Jaguars are preparing Trevor Lawrence. End of discussion. All your movements from this point on are intended to be built around it.
With players like DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. to play, Lawrence will have some weapons early on in Jacksonville. I know it’s boring, but this choice is the only one in this 7-round 2021 NFL Simulated Draft that I feel comfortable writing on a Sharpie.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
It is becoming increasingly likely that Zach Wilson is the second quarterback off the board, based on recent comments from the infamous “anonymous scouts and GMs”. Although Zach Wilson has his shortcomings, he is the type of defender who fits the NFL trend, and he has the best arm in this class.
Mike LaFleur, Rob Calabrese and Greg Knapp, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, QB coach and passing game specialist, respectively, have a history of maximizing their defenders. Wilson is in a great position with his coaching staff.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) *: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Replacement! The Philadelphia Eagles changed numbers 6 and 37 in 2021, a 2nd round choice in 2022 and the Indianapolis conditional choice in 2022 for the Miami Dolphins in exchange for choice 3.
Swinging big for the first deal in this 7-round 2021 NFL Simulated Draft, the Eagles step forward to catch their guy as a quarterback. I based this shift on the Jets’ maneuvers for choice # 3 in the 2018 NFL Draft, where they inevitably chose Sam Darnold.
With the threat of Falcons calling him to fourth place or a Lions exchange to get Fields, Philly pulls the trigger to get the best remaining defender. Three quarterbacks going 1-2-3 have only happened twice in NFL history, and these guys deserve it.
I love Nick Sirianni’s wedding and Justin Fields. Fields is one of the most accurate defenders I’ve ever seen and one of the best potential defenders in recent memory. Processing issues are highly exaggerated.
Jalen Hurts ‘four games were not enough to suggest the passing of a quarterback of Fields’ caliber. Fields would be a clear update on what Hurts pitched in Philadelphia. Many of the “holes” perceived in the Eagles’ squad would look different with good training and a quarterback game.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota
I said above that three quarterbacks going 1-2-3 have only happened twice in NFL history. Not once in the history of the modern NFL era have quarterbacks been 1-2-3-4. Let’s make it spicy.
Trey Lance in an Arthur Smith attack, with heavy gameplay concepts, will make you comfortable right from the start. Allowing him to develop and grow behind Matt Ryan for a season to help Lance adjust to the NFL is a prudent move for the Falcons and brings flexibility with cap space.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
I saw taunts taking Ja’Marr Chase here and bringing him and Joe Burrow together. Still, I can’t imagine that the Bengals watched the film last year, hired a new offensive lineman on Frank Pollack’s return, and came to the conclusion of writing a recipient here.
Penei Sewell starts at the left tackle immediately in Frank Pollack’s scheme and allows the Bengals to move Jonah Williams to the right tackle. I’m generally against playing players, but Williams played well as a freshman in Alabama and has experience there, unlike Sewell. Sewell and Williams give the Bengals an excellent young tackle pair to protect Joe Burrow.
6. Miami Dolphins (via PHI) *: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Earlier this year, during the Senior Bowl, PFN Insider Benjamin Allbright outlined that the Heisman winner was using the Senior Bowl as a ticket to get in front of the front desk and the Dolphins’ technical staff.
With Your Tagovailoa as QB for 2021, bringing it together and DeVonta Smith together in Miami would be an ideal upgrade from what Miami launched on the receiver in 2020. Concerns about Smith’s size don’t seem to be pushing him down. Negotiating down and still catching Smith is a victory for Miami.
7. Detroit Lions: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
There are no quarterbacks here for Detroit to move on after Jared Goff, so they turn to the next need.
Lions have virtually all wide receivers reaching the free agency. Even if they franchise Kenny Golladay, the team needs an elite stretcher. Jaylen Waddle it is the closest perspective we have had to Tyreek Hill in years and it would be a smart investment for Detroit to replace its departed receivers.
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Panthers are in a tough spot here. No quarterback is here for them to take (that would not be a reach and a half) among the top 10. However, a situation opens up for them here. The team is about to have Taylor Moton and Russel Okung as free agents, potentially losing both initial tackles. It is much more likely that they will keep Moton on Okung, so the left tackle position is open.
In a recent article, I stated Christian Darrisaw with mine OT2 potential, mainly because “Darrisaw can technically invent the terrain in Rashawn Slater. However, Slater is unable to recover the terrain at Darrisaw physically. As a result, Darrisaw’s ceiling is much higher. ”OL coach Pat Meyer seems to prefer length and athleticism in the tackle. Thus, Darrisaw is the choice in this 2021 NFL Draft Mock with 7 rounds.
9. Denver Broncos: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
Yes, it is boring and it is the same choice that I often make. As I stated earlier, Caleb Farley it’s the perfect corner for Vic Fangio. I would be surprised if Farley was not the choice for Denver here at No. 9 with the need around the corner.
Since my previous simulation draft, the team has released AJ Bouye. The team played many youngsters in the corner last year, but none of them can match the WR1s in the NFL. Farley does this with swords.
10. Minnesota Vikings (via DAL) *: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Replacement! The Minnesota Vikings exchange choices 14, 78 and 143 for the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for choices 10 and 179.
A team has never negotiated to be in the top ten in the history of the modern draft. Not once. It’s a risky move, obviously, but hey, we’re here to celebrate. I based this exchange on the 2018 NFL Draft agreement between the Raiders and the Cardinals.
I have this choice written a few days ago, but recently, Vikings launched the old TE Kyle Rudolph, further stating this choice in my simulation. Kirk Cousins craves his tight ends, and he hasn’t had a gun like Pitts since the first Jordan Reed.
While the Vikings go all-in on Kirk Cousins, an offense that boasts Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Irv Smith and Kyle Pitts is a skill position group charged to threaten defenses at all levels.
11. New York Giants: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase it is a pin gun at the perimeter. With the Giants leaving the Golden Tate, they will need another weapon to help Daniel Jones. Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard are not real WR1s.
Chase’s ability as a receiver will help mitigate Daniel Jones’ accuracy problems and divert attention from Slayton and Shepard.
12. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Richard Sherman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Dontae Johnson, Jamar Taylor, Emmanuel Moseley, Ken Webster.
That is the list of all San Francisco cornerbacks that will become a free agent this season. Each corner that gave the 49ers a defensive stroke was defined as a free agent. Even if the 49ers bring some of them back, that’s a lot of churn to try. The 49ers have a stroke of luck with Patrick Surtain II falling for them, because it will be a mainstay on the corner for them for a long time.
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
The Chargers’ offensive line will undergo some turnaround this off-season. They are looking for answers along the offensive line to protect Justin Herbert.
Rashawn Slater falls well in your lap here in 13th overall. Slater has experience in all five offensive line positions and brings some much-needed versatility to the Chargers. He is an elite coach that I described as technically well ahead of the curve as a pass protector.
14. Dallas Cowboys (via MIN) *: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
While the Dallas Cowboys twists their finger to pay their elite quarterback, they cannot afford to neglect their secondary. Negotiating down and still capturing an elite potential customer in Jaycee Horn it’s an excellent move for Dallas.
Horn is more than a little catchy, but he is a culture changer. He is long, physical and vigorous – something the Cowboys lacked in their corner room.
15. New England Patriots: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Micah Parsons is the epitome of a Patriots linebacker. It fits into the hybrid EDGE / off-ball linebacker mold that they have been using for years.
Parsons would be an immediate explosive game maker for the front seven who seemed to be lacking in the Patriots’ defense last year. It was made by hand for Bill Belichick.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia
I had that choice even before the Cardinals surprisingly signed with JJ Watt. Watt will have a different role than Azeez Ojulari, which is scheduled to replace one or both Haason Reddick and Markus Golden.
Ojulari is a little rough technically, but he has the opportunity to learn from two of the game’s best pass brokers in the past decade. With much of the focus on Jones and Watt, Ojulari will face many one-on-one. With its curvature and explosiveness, Ojulari could be a threat in Arizona.