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2021 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections pre-Super Bowl week

By Richard Kimball

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass in the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Clemson Tigers looks to pass in the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Super Bowl has its matchup set but that leaves 30 other teams with their focus on the draft. See who your team will take in our 2021 NFL mock draft.

Whether you’re a fan of both college football and the NFL, or just a fan of one of them, the draft is that one time during the year when both fanbases collide.

College football fans feel a sense of bittersweet pride as key players depart from their favorite school’s campus to an NFL locker room, while NFL fans feel a sense of excitement mixed with nervousness as their beloved team could be hitting boom or bust with their draft picks.

In the NFL, games are usually decided by one possession or less which could translate to a team just needing that one X-factor or a few role players to flip the script and go from pretender to contender in just one offseason. Does a team go after that generational arm talent and turn him into their franchise quarterback? Or do they look to surround their current QB1 with weapons on offense or back up on defense?

The NFL draft is always tricky in truly deciding who goes where and what needs are addressed, especially in the early portion of the draft. Gambles are made that turn out well, like the Chiefs trading up to draft Patrick Mahomes but sometimes teams overthink and you see players, like Justin Jefferson and D.K. Metcalf, fall later in the draft than they should have.

The truth is, the draft is an emotional and stressful time for players, organizations, and of course, the fans. Players are ready to make an impact, organizations are ready to prove they made the right decision, and fans are either feeling content or nervous, depending on who their team picked, or who they could have and maybe even should have picked.

So what is in store for the 2021 NFL Draft? Well, for now, you can expect a handful of quarterbacks going in the first round. The quarterback carousel that includes the names of Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz, could be a determining factor on who will go in the first round and where they will land up at.

You can also expect to see an abundance of protection for QB1s being taken in the first round as well. The talent on the offensive line this year is one of the best we have had in recent years and whether it a starting role or to build depth, we could possibly see up to six offensive linemen taken in the first round.

On the defensive side of the draft, the talent and need for edge rushers and hybrid linebackers are parallel. With names like Micah Parsons, Gregory Rousseau and Azeez Ojulari leading the way, do not be surprised if your favorite team adds an instant impact on their defense.

So why it is pretty obvious who the number one pick will be, what else does the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft have in store for us?

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