I didn't intend on doing any write ups this year. I haven't even been following football as closely as I used to. It had become too much of an obsession for me so I decided to step back and try to make it just a game I watch for entertainment again. I've mostly succeeded in that. I've turned off games that I wasn't enjoying (for me that is unheard of) and I haven't done a deep dive into anything until now. But now that the season is over, I figure this sub could use some more wild speculation fuel to dig into and find hope in. So I'm going to break down every possible QB option for 2021. Thats not to say that I'm sure Jimmy G is done, but with a potentially drastically lower cap, a $30m 30 year old QB with only 2 seasons of experience with consistency issues and coming off his 2nd season ending injury in 3 years definitely ain't a sure thing.
In House Options

Jimmy Garoppolo

I'm not gonna spend a lot of effort on this part because you already know all you need to here. Jimmy has been hot and cold for his entire run here. The team can absolutely win a superbowl with him if everything goes right. There's no doubt about that. Where there is doubt is whether it would be a lot easier with someone else. Jimmy is in the tier of QBs that I really struggle with. He's just good enough that you aren't desperate to try to replace him, but you probably could improve on if you tried hard enough.
Cutting/Trading Jimmy next year would free up 24m in cap space. Money they need. if the cap does fall to it's minimum of 175m next year, we're barely under that as things stand. Meanwhile half the team are FAs. Now it would be possible to work around that, but it would in part mean doubling down on Jimmy and converting some of that salary to signing bonus, adding dead money and making it harder to move on later. This, I think, is potentially the the final nail in Jimmy's 49ers tenure. They have to choose between moving on and committing for several years more. I don't think he's done enough to make that a decision they can make easily.

Mullens/Beathard

While on the surface this option doesn't look like much of an option at all, it's still worth considering the other two QBs on the roster. Especially they both got pretty significant play time this season. We still have to have backups QBs after all.
Mullens has had flashes of being an efficient QB in this scheme, but he's also pretty limited. His arm strength is bottom tier for players in the NFL. He's also been inconsistent. For every Raiders or Jets game there's a Philly game to match. He is an RFA in 2021, meaning the 49ers can keep him fairly cheaply while also netting a draft pick if someone else wants him more. If they do move on from Jimmy I think it's a good chance they do tender Mullens.
Beathard has an NFL arm and NFL toughness, but not a lot else going for him. His pocket presence is non existent and his accuracy in the short game is weak at best. He's a solid backup option for his ability to take a hit and keep playing but otherwise I don't see enough upside there.
Neither of these guys will be the plan at QB, but either could be retained as a backup and maybe could potentially be asked to be the starter while a rookie gets ready in 2021.
Trades

Deshaun Watson

Who the hell would have ever thought the Niners would get a second shot at landing Watson? The Texans have gone full on crazy and completely ruined their relationship with a top 5 QB. There is no question about scheme fit or whether he'd be a good add. The only questions are cost and opportunity. Watson has a no trade clause in his contract, meaning they can only trade him somewhere he wants to go. So the Niners would only have to offer enough that none of the other teams on his list are willing to match. Unfortunately I think there are several teams he'd be fine with who have way more draft capital to pull such a trade off. Also with the Niners currently having 37 free agent, they need all the draft picks they can get if they want to keep the high quality of depth the roster currently has.
I would love to have Watson, but I don't think this one is realistic. It's gonna cost in the area of 3 1st round picks + and there are QB needy teams with multiple 1s this year. The Niners would have to bet the security of their roster on Watson.

Matt Stafford

Stafford is a clear upgrade from Jimmy, would cost less against the cap the next 2 years, and could be had for significantly less than Watson. There isn't a lot of downside to trading for him. Sure a top 15 pick and maybe more is a steep price for any trade, but I don't think there is anyone they could pick at 12 that would improve the team anywhere near as much as Stafford. The only potential issues are that he'll need to be extended next season, he's already 33, and he's had a litany of minor injuries over the years. Mostly he plays through them, but it's rare that he doesn't show up on the injury report for a decent span all the same.

Aaron Rodgers

Keep dreamin'

Sam Darnold

This is a weird option, but it's possible so we should talk about it. Darnold on the surface seems like a bad QB. However there are some reasons to question whether he can start in the NFL. first off, look at the jump in performance Ryan Tannehill had when he got away from Adam Gase. Secondly, look at Darnold's teammates. Aside from Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder, he's not really had even decent WRs to throw to. From watching him play it seems most of his problems aren't from lack of accuracy or talent, but stemming from his need to play like a gunslinger on every single play. He's simply not good enough to be Russel Wilson and just wait for the inevitable failure of every schemed play and still succeed anyways. If he were in an efficiency base offense I think theres a chance he could turn out to be a damn good QB. With Saleh and LaFleur taking over the Jets, I think they might give him another go if they don't trade for Watson.
Darnold would not be someone they trade for with the intention of him being the immediate starter. He's had too bad a track record for that, however if they stick with Jimmy for 2021 I could see them replacing the backups with Darnold and giving him a chance to win the start.
Free Agents

Dak Prescott

If the Cowboys let him walk they are insane. However I will never doubt their ability to be insane seeing as how it's insane they haven't paid him yet. Even if he did hit FA I don't think SF would be buyers. He's just too expensive for their current cap situation. If they could work it out he'd be a great fit, but it's just too steep a price tag
Rookies
There are are some really good QBs in this draft. The bad news is that it's unlikely the 49ers are going to be in a position to get most of them. Trevor Lawrence would be amazing but there no chance in hell that they'll be able to get him. However the rest of the field is potentially reachable. I'm not even gonna bother with writing up Lawrence. It's not gonna happen. I'm only gonna cover the guys who will potentially go round 1.
The trade up candidates:

Justin Fields, Ohio State
Zach Wilson, BYU

Both of these guys are going well before pick 12. So the Niners would have to decide if it's worth it to go all in and move up for one. Both would be good fits in the offense and both would bring a level of mobility that Shanahan hasn't had since RGIII. Fields is the better running threat and while he's a pretty damn good passer, I'm not nearly as sold on him throwing as I am Wilson. If the 49ers want a rookie who can step in and take them on a deep playoff run, Wilson is my guy. I think Fields is more likely to take some time to develop, similar to Josh Allen. Wilson, and not just because BYU, seriously reminds me of Steve Young. The athleticism and arm talent are on that tier. Whether he can process fast enough to play that well against NFL competition is the question, given he's played in a weaker conference. I see nothing on the tape to doubt that, but it's still a concern.
The pick 12 (or later) candidates:

Trey Lance, NDSU
Mac Jones, Bama
Kyle Trask, Florida

Trey Lance is an interesting option. He's very mobile, has good arm strength and a pretty deep ball. I do question his ability to play at the NFL level early on. He just looks like a college QB. It's a thing I can never quite put my finger on that just rubs me the wrong way about some QBs. I also think he's the kind of QB you have to base your offense around, not tweak your offense to fit, which is problematic for Shanahan. The other obvious issue is that he only started one season and then only played one game in 2020. Obviously that isn't his fault, but it's noteworthy. He's a high risk high reward pick. If he is what he seems he could be incredible, but it's hard to believe that he is going to be the same guy who didn't throw a pick all season in the NFL.
Mac Jones is very much a pocket passer. He's got a good arm and has shown an ability to make some more complex reads, but his WRs always being open by 5 yards and his OL being ridiculous may have overinflated his abilities. I think he'd be a solid choice in round 2 as a backup to develop into a starter should they want to go that route, but to take him at 12 and giving him the start? I dunno about that.
Trask I don't really get the hype for. Admittedly I've only watched 2 games, but neither were that impressive and his arm strength is not good enough. We already have Nick Mullens.
Now I want to look at the merits of the different strategies. They have a lot of options open to them and each has it's benefits and problems. None are perfect.
This team has an open superbowl window. So their QB strategy should reflect that. That means either keeping Jimmy, who got them to a superbowl once already, Trading for a vet who will be able to step in and immediately compete for a superbowl, or trading up for a rookie who they think is a day 1 competitor. Those are the only options that make sense to me. The only other strategy that I can even reason is try to use 2021 to re-tool and not really focus on making a playoff run again immediately. That seems too risky and too pessimistic for my taste.
Going all in on Jimmy is a non starter to me. He hasn't been reliable enough. So if they keep Jimmy it should be on his deal as is, and they'd need to draft a QB either in the 2nd or 3rd tier or add a QB like Darnold as competition. They should expect to move on from Jimmy after 2021, unless he does something to shut that expectation down. I'm not a big fan of this strategy. It leaves us with a tiny amount of cap space and would mean losing a ton of depth, while still having to spend picks to provide competition for Jimmy. Another option would be to roll with Jimmy and Mullens/Beathard again with the understanding that if he doesn't take them back to 11+ wins they're gonna move on and sign Cousins in FA in 2022. Not a huge fan of that either
Trading up for a rookie is probably the best long term strategy, but it risks missing out on deep playoff runs early on. It is way easier to build a team with a QB on the rookie pay scale, but rookies rarely are able to make championship runs and if you miss on a QB you traded up for, you screw your franchise pretty hard. I think this may be worth it for Wilson, but I'm not sure I'd spend an extra 1st to get it done and I fear that would be the cost.
Trading for a vet is the most sure fire way to upgrade, but the cost is significant. IMO trading for Watson is simply too expensive. Yes, he'd keep the team a competitor for a long time to come, but I'm not sure they need a top 5 QB to stay competitive. 3 1sts is an insane price, and very likely what it would cost. You have to question whether Watson is better for the team than Jimmy G and 3 first round players combined. I can't definitively say yes to that.
After all this my conclusion is that the 49ers best option is to trade for Matt Stafford. He's got enough left in the tank that they can reasonably expect him to be the QB for 5 or more years, he absolutely has the talent to take them to a superbowl, he's a clear upgrade over Jimmy, he's less against the cap than Jimmy, he's a perfect scheme fit and has an ability to improvise that cannot be denied, his price tag wouldn't be too much to consider. I'd gladly give up the 12th pick for him. Hell it might even be beneficial to do so considering the Niners have 2021 cap issues. Not having to pay a 1st round rookie actually helps. a 12th overall pick would make around 6m a season. Using that money instead to lock up some of the depth or put it towards a Warner extension seems more useful if they upgrade at QB in the process.

A guide to using Marco Van Basten effectively

A Draft Pick, Free Agent Signing and Trade Target for all 32 teams

Title says it all. Going to suggest a player to be drafted in either the first or second round (or third for HOU at the moment) for each team, along with a player to target in free agency, and a player to potentially trade for.
Trying to avoid overlap as best I can, but some may have similar targets. Resources used include PFF, The Draft Network, and OverTheCap. Enjoy!

Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

Trade Target: DT J.J. Watt, Houston Texans - The last deal between Arizona and Houston worked out well. Why not try again and add a serious piece to their pass rushing arsenal in Watt. An ideal interior fit for Arizona, Watt would help them push for the playoffs in his final seasons in the league.
Draft Pick: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma - Reuniting Kyler Murray with his old center for the Sooners would be an excellent move. The Cardinals currently have Mason Cole at center, but could easily slide him over to guard to make room for Humphrey if they wanted a significant upgrade at an underrated position.
Free Agent Signing: TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans - Arizona would be wise to look at adding Jonnu Smith into the equation on offense. One of the NFL's best after the catch at the TE position, he'd be another fun weapon to slot alongside Murray and Hopkins.

Atlanta Falcons (4-12)

Trade Target: S Tracy Walker, Detroit Lions - With a new regime coming in, Detroit is headed towards an extended rebuild, and acquiring assets for up-and-down players like Walker could be a consideration. Now, still young, Walker has plenty of potential for the Falcons, and if the price is right, could be a tremendous bargain.
Draft Pick: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State - While Matt Ryan will remain the QB of the Falcons next season, due to his contract, the Falcons should plan for the future and add a Georgia native in Fields, one of the better QB's out of college football in recent years. He'd be able to develop behind Ryan under the tutelage of new head coach Arthur Smith.
Free Agent Signing: CB Mackensie Alexander, Cincinnati Bengals - The Falcons do not have positive cap space at the moment (currently projected $30 million over the limit) so even after reworking deals and cutting some players, they'll be bargain shopping more than anything else. PFF projects Alexander to fetch a deal of about 2-years, $6 million, which could be feasible for the Falcons. He'd be a solid veteran presence across from CB A.J. Terrell.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

Trade Target: OLB Whitney Mercilus, Houston - I list him in "trade target" as he's technically under contract in Houston going into 2021. However, it's 99% more likely that the Texans cut him and Baltimore pursues him as a newly released free agent. Kind of cheating on my listings, but I like the idea of Mercilus in Baltimore after Houston cuts him. It'd be a coup for Houston if they could get a pick for him. Mercilus is a veteran pass rusher who could step into a role in Baltimore should OLB Matt Judon depart for greener pastures...green meaning money of course.
Draft Pick: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota - The idea of Bateman in Baltimore remains one of my favorite potential pairings for any player likely to be selected in the first round of the draft. Similar to Keenan Allen in my opinion, Bateman could become the go-to wide receiver the Ravens lacked last season.
Free Agent Signing: G Jon Feliciano, Buffalo Bills - The Ravens need to bolster the middle of their offensive line, and a tough veteran like Feliciano could be ideal target for the Ravens. With a big contract committed to LT Ronnie Staley, a cheaper veteran like Feliciano could match price tag with talent. Good value for the Ravens.

Buffalo Bills (13-3)

Trade Target: DT Malcom Brown, New Orleans Saints - The Saints are in cap space purgatory, and thus could be looking to offload some decent players like Brown simply to get back under the cap. He's a solid starting DT who could be available for cheap in the Saints push to real in their financial situation. A strong fit next to Ed Oliver on the inside.
Draft Pick: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina - Given their limited cap space, the Bills may have to decide between re-signing OT Daryl Williams and LB Matt Milano. If so, a replacement like Surratt could be a smart move for Sean McDermott and co. as Surratt is a quick backer who excels in space and has shown plenty of promise in coverage.
Free Agent Signing: DE Romeo Okwara, Detroit Lions - The Bills aren't loaded with cap space (barely above 0 if the cap stays down at $175 million), but I'd imagine they'll find some ways to free some cap up. If they do, they may want to consider Okwara, a rising pass-rusher, as a replacement for some of their own departing edge rushers. He tallied 10 sacks this season after hitting 7.5 sacks in 2018 in Detroit. While not elite, Okwara's likely a solid value pass-rusher for a contender like the Bills.

Carolina Panthers (5-11)

Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - The Panthers just drafted DT Derrick Brown, but pairing him and Hicks together could become a dominant duo in the middle of that defense. And with DT Kawann Short a likely cut candidate, Hicks could be an instant upgrade for Carolina.
Draft Pick: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State - Forget the QB position, if the Panthers have the opportunity to land Parsons at 8th overall, they should pull the trigger. He'd be an immediate boost of speed, instincts and athleticism into their linebacker corps, a strong replacement for Luke Kuechly.
Free Agent Signing: TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - More of a move tight end than a traditional in-line blocker, Everett could be an exceptional value signing for someone, as he's not likely to command as much money as Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith, but is a very good player himself.

Chicago Bears (8-8)

Trade Target: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers - Unless the Bears are set to bring back Mitch Trubisky, who played a bit better to end the season but still not strong enough, the Bears should look at the veteran QB market. While Garoppolo has had some injury issues, he's a notable upgrade over Trubisky and could give them a steady veteran presence for a couple of more years.
Draft Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech - There's growing buzz that Rashawn Slater could join Penei Sewell in the top-10, leaving him just out of the Bears' grasp. But Darrisaw is quite the consolation prize as he's a first-round caliber offensive tackle himself who could fill a big need for the offense in the Windy City.
Free Agent Signing: WR Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs - Watkins and Bears head coach Matt Nagy did not cross paths in Kansas City, but a recommendation from Andy Reid could push the two together. The Bears are another team facing some cap complications, and thus may need a cheaper replacement for Allen Robinson on the outside. If so, Watkins has been a strong complimentary receiver who could pair well with rising youngster Darnell Mooney.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)

Trade Target: G Joe Dahl, Detroit Lions - Finding protection and weapons for QB Joe Burrow is the primary goal for Cincinnati this offseason before they enter the coaching carousel in 2022. Dahl is a strong pass protector who has grown into a quality starter. However, with large contracts for C Frank Ragnow coming up, along with big deals in place for Decker and Vaitai, Detroit may need to send Dahl out for picks.
Draft Pick: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon - There is buzz that Northwestern's Rashawn Slater may be viewed as OT1, and I get the hype, however, I'm sticking with Sewell for now. The Bengals should draft Sewell and get him ready to go as their franchise left tackle in 2021.
Free Agent Signing: CB Troy Hill, Los Angeles Rams - The Bengals have a healthy chunk of cap space, and should use of that to bring back CB William Jackson III. However, they should not stop there, they should also make a push for a quality veteran cornerback like Hill to bolster their defense in the meantime.

Cleveland Browns (11-5)

Trade Target: LB Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys - After looking like an elite linebacker from 2017-2019, Smith had a rough year under now fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. A fresh start in Cleveland could be ideal for both teams, as Smith is still young enough, 26 years, to be a strong piece to their defense for years to come.
Draft Pick: DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa - The Browns are in a strong position at 26th overall to sit and see who the top defensive lineman on the board is. If they're lucky enough for it to be a high potential defensive tackle like Nixon, it'd be an ideal situation to bring him in the replace Ogunjobi. A defensive end like Jayson Oweh or Jaelan Phillips could also work here.
Free Agent Signing: S Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints - The Browns could use a big upgrade on the back end, and Williams, at only 24 years old, would be a premium add for a team who finally broke through the playoffs. PFF projects Williams to command a deal around 4-years $57 million, and the Browns would likely have the money to make that happen, sitting tenth in cap space this offseason.

Dallas Cowboys (6-10)

Trade Target: CB Mike Hughes, Minnesota Vikings - Hughes was a first-round pick for the Vikings in 2018, but has not lived up to the billing so far. Dallas is in need of several new faces on its defensive backfield, and perhaps a new situation could be best for Hughes to turn his NFL career around. For Dallas, a cheap flier on defense.
Draft Pick: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama - The Cowboys defense is a mess at many levels, and so picking a premium defensive player like Surtain would be a wise for Dallas to get things straightened out. He's consistently been pegged as the top corner of this draft cycle and makes a lot of sense in Dallas.
Free Agent Signing: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants - The Cowboys ranked 31st in total rushing yards surrendered in 2020, meaning they'll need to make it a priority to find a run-stuffer like Dalvin Tomlinson to get their defense back on track. While most teams are geared towards stopping the pass, you simply cannot be as bad in run stopping as Dallas was and expect to be competitive.

Denver Broncos (5-11)

Trade Target: QB Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders - An inter-divisional trade for a QB seems unlikely, but it's something for both sides to consider. The Broncos need to find a veteran QB to bring in to push QB Drew Lock, who has shown flashes in his first two years but has so far been too inconsistent to commit to long-term.
Draft Pick: EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington - More likely a second-round selection here, the Broncos should consider finding a player to develop into Von Miller's replacement, given all the complications with their star pass-rusher recently. Tryon has a high motor and excellent athleticism to develop across from Bradley Chubb.
Free Agent Signing: CB Quinton Dunbar, Seattle Seahawks - Dunbar was an excellent player for Washington previously, but did not meet expectations after getting moved to the Seahawks. Should he walk in free agency, perhaps putting him under a solid defensive coach like Vic Fangio could help him get back into the strong form that made him a coveted player in 2019.

Detroit Lions (5-11)

Trade Target: A Big Haul for Matt Stafford - We suggest one later on, but Detroit's in a full-on rebuild with Stafford wanting out. Peter King recently reported that at least five teams would be willing to offer their first-rounder for Stafford. Detroit should turn it into a bidding war and land as many draft picks as they can to bolster their rebuilding efforts.
Draft Pick: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State - The Lions are moving on from QB Matthew Stafford after he understandably requested out. With Detroit picking at 7th, there's a very good chance that Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson are all off the board. Thus, unless Detroit makes a bold move up the board, chances are that they go with Lance, who has the potential to be available with their pick. He has plenty of upside to develop into a starting QB behind a veteran QB, say Tyrod Taylor, reuniting with new Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn?
Free Agent Signing: LB Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills - If we were ranking worst position groups in the league, Detroit's LB corps is in strong contention. An outdated group of lethargic old-school thumpers, almost none of Detroit's LB's are capable of playing modern football at a high level. Detroit should invest some cash into someone who is, such as the Bills LB Matt Milano, an excellent backer with range and some ability in coverage.

Green Bay Packers

Trade Target: WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys - The Packers wide receivers performed quite well after all the criticism Green Bay received after not bringing in anyone for QB Aaron Rodgers. However, good is the enemy of great, and pairing Gallup with Davante Adams would give Green Bay an elite duo in terms of pass catchers.
Draft Pick: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri - If Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was here as well, I think he could be another strong option, but Bolton is an excellent linebacker who can fill gaps inside and fly from sideline-to-sideline.
Free Agent Signing: CB Gareon Conley, Houston Texans - Like the Falcons listed earlier, the Packers don't have positive cap space at the moment, and thus any free agent additions will likely be bargain bin deals. I like the example that PFF lists in their free agency preview, suggesting Conley could replicate Ronald Darby's return, taking a year deal with the aims of getting things turned around and landing a larger deal after that. An opportunity in Green Bay seems like a good start.

Houston Texans (4-12)

Trade Target: Every Pick they can get from the Jets - Even hiring a veteran coach like Culley to run the show and attempt to repair the relationship with Watson, it seems unlikely to me that Houston holds on, given the issues between Watson and owner Cal McNair. Thus, if forced to deal him, the Texans should aim to land at least three first rounders from a team like the Jets, who could see Watson as a better player than any of the QB's available behind Trevor Lawrence.
Draft Pick: QB Zach Wilson, BYU - This obviously assumes a trade with the Jets sends #2 overall to Houston. If so, Wilson looks like the next best bet behind Lawrence in my opinion. He, along with the boatload of additional assets that would come along in this trade, should be a solid foundation for Culley and co.'s rebuild.
Free Agent Signing: S Malik Hooker, Indianapolis Colts - The Texans will start their rebuild without any cap space, meaning that taking chances on younger guys like Hooker, 24 years old, to potentially find useful pieces is key. If they can land Hooker to play safety for them on a cheap 1-2 year deal, that'd be ideal for Houston.

Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - Easy one here. If the Colts had Stafford in 2020 they probably would have replaced the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Stafford is only 32 years, meaning he still has a strong 4-5 years left to help the Colts' well-rounded roster make a championship push. Surrendering a first round pick and potentially a 2022 3rd (if there competition from others) is a gamble I'd definitely make if I were Chris Ballard.
Draft Pick: DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh - Assuming the Colts use their first on the aforementioned Stafford deal, then finding a balanced edge rusher like Jones would be a great move for Indy. With players like Denico Autry and Justin Houston headed to free agency (and getting old), the Colts would get a terror on the edge with a tremendous motor and tools to develop.
Free Agent Signing: WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears - The Colts have a large amount of cap space, second in the league according to OTC's projections. Given that they will need to conserve some of that war chest for internal extensions, they would be wise to replace T.Y. Hilton with a more dominant receiver like Allen Robinson. An offseason adding Matt Stafford and Robinson together should make Frank Reich and Marcus Brady very excited for 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)

Trade Target: WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns - If the Browns are preparing to move on from Beckham Jr., then perhaps sending him down to Jacksonville to pair up with Urban Meyer could help get him playing elite football again. After posting 1,000 yard season in 3 of the previous 4 seasons, an injury once again cut his year short.
Draft Pick: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State - Not at #1 overall obviously. We all know that will go to QB Trevor Lawrence. However, with the Rams 1st round selection (acquired via the Jalen Ramsey trade), the Jaguars should look to use it on an upgrade to their offensive line in the form of Radunz.
Free Agent Signing: OLB Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Provided new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen brings a Ravens style 3-4 defense with him, then adding a premier OLB like Barrett while K'Lavon Chaisson develops would be a great move for Jacksonville. With the NFL's lead in cap space, Jacksonville could afford Barrett along with some other instant contributors.

Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)

Trade Target: WR Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears - The Chiefs could easily lose WR Sammy Watkins to free agency, leaving an opening for another wideout to join the rotation. Miller has been fairly productive in Chicago, and could be a solid option to join Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in Andy Reid's passing attack.
Draft Pick: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC - Vera-Tucker gets mocked to the Chiefs a lot, and it makes perfect sense why. A premier offensive line talent, he has some versatility after playing tackle for the Trojans. While I think his best fit is inside, he'd be an ideal player for Kansas City to add to bolster their protection after investing so much in QB Patrick Mahomes.
Free Agent Signing: C Ted Karras, Miami Dolphins - The Chiefs will also be bargain bin hunting, as they're currently over the cap by $18 million. Thus, a starting caliber center like Ted Karras could prove useful for the defending Super Bowl champs (at this point). Karras signed with the Dolphins for only $3 million last season, and a similar deal with KC could be an absolute bargain when all is said and done.

Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)

Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - I mentioned Hicks for the Panthers as well, but he'd be a great add for either team, perhaps even more so for the Raiders, who could easily see DT Johnathan Hankins depart in free agency. A disruptive player in the middle, he'd be a nice add in Las Vegas.
Draft Pick: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia - After shockingly selecting DE Clelin Ferrell at fourth overall in 2019, the Raiders have still been searching for a game changer at DE to go alongside the productive efforts of Maxx Crosby. Ojulari profiles as a high potential pass rusher to scratch that itch for Jon Gruden and co.
Free Agent Signing: S Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings - The Raiders may have to get creative to free up the cap space to land Harris, as they're currently over. But if they can do it, he'd be an ideal player to add to the Vegas' defense, now led by defensive coordinator Ken Whisen...uh...Gus Bradley. Harris is an elite free safety who would pair well with Jonathan Abram.

Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)

Trade Target: DT Danny Shelton, Detroit Lions - Shelton struggled in Detroit, but frankly, everyone on Patricia's defense did. Before that, Shelton posted strong results as a 3-4 interior gap-plugger, doing a quality job for both the Browns and Patriots before him. With Linval Joseph on the decline, adding a younger replacement for cheap could be in store.
Draft Pick: G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State - LA needs a couple of new starters on its offensive line, and if the tackles fly off the board before they can get one at 13th overall, then perhaps a top notch guard could also suffice. Davis has been a consistent player for the Buckeyes and projects as an instant impact lineman for someone at the next level.
Free Agent Signing: OT Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers - A sturdy, veteran left tackle should be a big priority for the Chargers, as the imperative to protect QB Justin Herbert is high. After a breakout season for Herbert, he gives the franchise a ton of optimism under new head coach Brandon Staley. Keeping him upright is something Villanueva would do well at.

Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

Trade Target: QB Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - The Rams are in a pickle with QB Jared Goff. He has not been a strong point for the team recently, but his contract is a bit too heavy to move right now. Thus, a cheaper way to acquire some genuine competition for Goff could be to trade for the affordable Minshew, a solid starter in his own right. Jacksonville will be bringing in Trevor Lawrence anyways to replace him, so perhaps acquiring a pick or so to send him out could be a wise move.
Draft Pick: EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami - Provided that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris isn't changing the scheme outright, Roche would be an excellent fit at 3-4 OLB in LAR. He's a dynamic pass rusher with excellent physical traits. If he falls to the Rams in the second-round they shouldn't think twice about selecting him.
Free Agent Signing: LB Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions - The Rams are another team already over the cap, so not a lot to spend on. However, they could use some help at inside linebacker, and Davis projects to be a relatively cheap piece to take a gamble on. Physically impressive, he's struggled with the mental side of the game. If Morris can get him sorted out, it could be excellent value.

Miami Dolphins (10-6)

Trade Target: WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons - The Dolphins will likely have the opportunity to draft a premier wide receiver in the first round, but could also use some of their stockpile to add an established star like Jones. Giving Tua as many options as you can is a wise move.
Draft Pick: RB Najee Harris, Alabama - Reuniting Harris and Tua in a backfield would fill a big need for the Dolphins. Whether taking him with their second selection in the first round or hoping he drops to the second, Miami should get serious about finding a talented running back,
Free Agent Signing: G Joe Thuney, New England Patriots - The Dolphins still have a decent amount of cap space (8th in the league) and could easily use some of that to target an upgrade to the interior of their offensive line by adding Thuney. Thuney crossed paths with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in New England, and a reunion down south could be profitable for both parties.

Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

Trade Target: DT Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts - Lewis may not be on the trade block, but the Colts have both defensive tackles locked up ahead of him (Buckner, Grover Stewart). Perhaps they'd consider moving a young, promising 3-technique if Minnesota put together a quality offer for him. He'd instantly fill a need for the Vikings.
Draft Pick: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami - With the failed Yannick Ngakoue tenure, the Vikings still need to find a premium pass rusher. Rousseau sat out 2020, but was dominant the year before and projects as a highly athletic piece for Zimmer to develop.
Free Agent Signing: OT Matt Feiler, Pittsburgh Steelers - Feiler offers a lot of versatility, which works great for Minnesota, as they could insert Feiler as a starting tackle, or slide G Ezra Cleveland into the LT position and put Feiler in at guard. Either way, a relatively affordable upgrade on the OL.

New England Patriots (7-9)

Trade Target: TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles are another team finding themselves in a less-than-ideal cap situation, and thus, will likely explore moving a top player like Ertz. While the Patriots have drafted a handful of decent role players at TE, they've lacked a player of Ertz's caliber. He'd be a nice upgrade to help whomever the Patriots land at QB.
Draft Pick: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama - It seems unlikely that Devonta Smith or Ja'Marr Chase slip to New England, but I'd imagine they'd be perfectly content with a potential stud like Waddle to bolster their mediocre group of pass catchers. He's a very smooth player with a lot of potential.
Free Agent Signing: QB Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys - Dalton got off to a rough start with Dallas in relief of QB Dak Prescott, scoring a total of 13 points in 2 games while throwing 1 touchdown to 3 interceptions. However, he was admirable after that, throwing 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions while posting a 4-3 record over that stretch. Dalton could be an upgrade over Cam Newton for New England while they hunt for a new franchise QB to replace Tom Brady.

New Orleans Saints (12-4)

Trade Target: Draft Picks for Kwon Alexander, Nick Easton, or Latavius Murray - The Saints game isn't necessarily who they should bring in, but if they can get picks for some players with bloated contracts that they may need to cut. If they can score some late-round picks to move these guys (or others) elsewhere, they need to pull the trigger.
Draft Pick: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida - While it seems like the hype train on Toney has left the station, it'd be incredible if he slipped to the Saints at 28th overall in this draft. An explosive player, he'd be an ideal partner for WR Michael Thomas, giving Taysom Hill or maybe Jameis(?) some excellent weapons.
Free Agent Signing: TE Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks - The Saints, as mentioned, are in cap purgatory. Their signings will be quite minimum once they make the trades, cuts, and restructures required to get them back under the cap. However, one cheaper option could be a solid TE like Hollister, as TE Jared Cook is set to depart. Putting up 25 catches including 3 touchdowns at a price tag a shade over $3 million could be in New Orleans price range.

New York Giants (6-10)

Trade Target: G Gabe Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders - Jackson has been rumored to be available for a little while now. Not yet 30 years old, he's a steady veteran option on the interior of any offensive line and would fit quite well with the Giants.
Draft Pick: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama - If the Dolphins don't take Smith, the Giants certainly should. Ensuring that QB Daniel Jones has the weapons he needs to grow into the franchise QB role is pertinent. Smith is a stud pass catcher and would be an excellent pick if he were on the board at 10th overall.
Free Agent Signing: EDGE Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have let a handful of pass rushers walk, and if they do so with Judon this year, the Giants should go get him. While Yannick could also be a Ravens OLB on the market, Judon fits Joe Judge's style a little bit more than Yannick does, and could be available for cheaper, which is important for another cap squeezed team like the Giants.

New York Jets (2-14)

Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - As I do think Justin Fields or Zach Wilson can be good franchise QB's, Watson already is an exceptional one. The Jets should put together a package of picks to go land the beleaguered QB and unite him with Robert Saleh, whom he listed as one of the guys he originally wanted Houston to interview.
Draft Pick: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC - Assuming the Jets send both first-round selections to the Texans in the hypothetical Watson trade, the Jets would still have a premium pick to start off the second-round, one they should use to add a top tier WR like St. Brown who could be a star quickly.
Free Agent Signing: CB William Jackson III, Cincinnati Bengals - If the Bengals can't lock Jackson up to an extension before free agency, the Jets should throw some cash at him to be a foundational piece of Saleh's defense in the Big Apple.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)

Trade Target: Draft Picks for Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson, and Alshon Jeffery - Like the Saints, the Eagles probably should focus on offloading bloated contracts rather than bringing anyone in. The cheap rookie contracts that draft picks provide will be needed to steer themselves out of cap purgatory.
Draft Pick: WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU - The Eagles and Chase are an ideal fit, and new head coach Nick Sirianni sure could use the big play ability that Chase provides. Whichever QB ends up getting the start, they'll be happy to have a guy like Chase to throw to.
Free Agent Signing: CB Bashaud Breeland, Kansas City Chiefs - The Eagles have a horrific cap situation themselves, and thus, a lower-end veteran like Breeland can give them a solid starter at an affordable price as the Eagles try and sort out their defense.

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Steelers may have brought in Dwayne Haskins, but frankly I have little faith there. Instead, they should call up the Jets to figure out what Darnold will cost them. One season behind Roethlisberger in his final go could be a great change of pace for Darnold before taking over.
Draft Pick: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson - Everyone is too cool for elite running backs in the wannabe scouting world. But Etienne is a stud, and the Steelers need a big upgrade at running back. If they don't like their options for QB late into the first, they should give serious weight to taking Etienne and landing an elite player rather than reach for a lesser player elsewhere.
Free Agent Signing: G Elijah Wilkinson, Denver Broncos - Wilkinson had a very rough 2019 season, but has been a good deal better in 2020. He's still on the younger end, not even 26 years old, and could be an affordable gamble for Pittsburgh, who also needs to find their way back under the cap ($35 million over).

San Francisco 49ers (6-10)

Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - If the Colts don't land Stafford, the 49ers absolutely should. Pairing Stafford and Kyle Shanahan would be fun to watch, and he'd be a much most consistent player for the 49ers than the oft-injured Jimmy G. It's a big move, but one Shanahan may want to consider to make another championship run.
Draft Pick: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech - If the 49ers don't move for Stafford and keep their first-round selection, they should target a top tier corner like Farley as they have a handful of corners (Sherman, Witherspoon, Williams) set to hit the open market.
Free Agent Signing: DT Shelby Harris, Denver Broncos - The 49ers top priority should be retaining OT Trent Williams, but after that, adding a veteran pass rusher on the interior could be a good move. Harris has been a consistent player for Denver, but has yet to be rewarded with a big opportunity, something he could get here alongside Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead.

Seattle Seahawks (12-4)

Trade Target: DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team - I'm not sure the Football Team would move him, but he is on the final year of his deal, and Washington's going to have weigh future deals for DE's Montez Sweat and Chase Young into the equation. If they aren't willing to pony up for three studs on the defensive line, they may look to add some picks in exchange for Allen.
Draft Pick: CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern - A late riser up the board after a stellar junior year in Evanston. Newsome has ideal size (6'1, 190 lbs) for Seattle and could help fill a gap if they have to choose between Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar.
Free Agent Signing: DE Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals - A really good fit here, as the Seahawks very much need some pass-rushing help. Lawson has been an excellent player for the Bengals and could find the chance to compete in the playoffs if he heads west for Seattle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)

Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Bucs are another team that should explore the asking price for Darnold. While Brady is still winning his battle against time, it seems unrealistic to expect it to continue for too much longer. The Bucs could potentially land his heir apparent in Darnold.
Draft Pick: Christian Barmore, Alabama - Between Barmore and Daviyon Nixon, I think both have a case to make as DT1 in this class, but Barmore projects as a bit better fit to Todd Bowles' 3-4 defense than Nixon does. The Bucs add an impact defensive lineman to pair on the inside with Vita Vea, giving them flexibility in replacing Ndamukong Suh.
Free Agent Signing: OLB Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens - The Bucs have a good chunk of cap space available, but will need to prioritize some re-signings like LB Lavonte David, OLB Shaq Barrett, and TE Rob Gronkowski. Thus, they may not have a lot of cash to throw out there after bringing back some of their own. Bowser is a good value to add as a rotational pass rusher, scoring some decent grades from PFF as a backup for Matt Judon and Yannick in Baltimore. An expanded role in Tampa could pay off for both sides.

Tennessee Titans (11-5)

Trade Target: OLB Jacob Martin, Houston Texans - As sad as it is, Martin's 3 sacks in 2020 would have led the team for Tennessee. In a passing era, you need to get after the QB better than the Texans are doing. While team's are hesitant to trade within the division, the Texans should be more focused on acquiring picks to rebuild, which they could get by moving a decent rotational pass-rusher.
Draft Pick: OLB Joseph Ossai, Texas - Really the Titans should be focused on landing a high potential pass-rusher, and Ossai figures to be a hot name in that range. He's a springy pass rusher who can inject some life into one of the league's worst team's at getting to the QB.
Free Agent Signing: WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - After a strong season in 2020, WR Corey Davis seems a bit unlikely to return, as he'll likely fetch more on the market than the Titans can afford to pay him. Thus, they should consider adding a veteran replacement to pair with budding star A.J. Brown at wide receiver.

Washington Football Team (7-9)

Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - Another team I think should really make a push for Watson. It'll cost them at least a 2021 and 2022 first-round pick, along with probably another second and DT Jonathan Allen or some other player. It could definitely cost more than that! But Watson would solidify Washington as the top team in the NFC East for the next few years. With QB and DE locked in with Watson, Sweat, and Young, this could be a potential dynasty in the division.
Draft Pick: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State - A potential second-round target, Washington should look to find a developmental tackle to eventually slot into their lineup. Morgan Moses and Cornelius Lucas were a solid pairing last year, but both are about to turn 30 years old, and Jenkins has a lot of potential. A year to develop before taking a spot in the starting lineup would ideal for everyone involved.
Free Agent Signing: WR Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions - Washington managed to build a passing attack out of Terry McLaurin and a handful of role players at RB and TE. While it worked in 2020, it does not seem very sustainable, as Washington should use its cap space to bring in a premier WR to pair with Terry McLaurin. Pairing up McLaurin's speed with Golladay's ability to go win contested balls is an ideal complementary pairing.

Martin Samuel On Trippier Ban

2021 Mock Draft V6 - Deshaun Watson trade edition

1 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - At this point, the only way Lawrence wont go first is if the Jags somehow write the wrong name on the card.
2 - New York Jets - Justin Fields, QB, OSU - Zach Wilson vs Justin Field has become a hotter debate in recent times, with mocks seems to split 50/50 on which of the 2 will go before the other. This one will likely end up coming down to preference, but personally I prefer Field’s upside and athleticism. Still, it’ll probably end up being a close call overall.
3 - Carolina Panthers (via MIA via HOU - sends 1.08, 3.73, 2022 CAR 1st, 2022 CAR 2nd, for 1.03) - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU - This seems like a lot at first glance, but I’d bet on the Panthers being much improved next year with the return of a healthy McCaffery and Joe Brady/Matt Rhule having another year to establish their system. What that means is that if the Panthers can improve at QB, they could be a legitimate playoff contender. Teddy Bridgewater is not the answer, and IMO when you have someone as good as CMC, you need to give him a good QB. The Panthers don't want to end up like the Vikings, sticking a bunch of mediocre at best QBs next to their stud RB.
4 - Atlanta Falcons - Trey Lance, QB, NDSU - I know there’s a large portion of Falcons fans who really want to go anywhere but QB here, but how much longer can Matt Ryan play at a high level? With the 2022 QB class still full of question marks, grabbing your guy of the future right now would be a prudent move. Its instant gratification vs long term strategy. And with the success of raw QBs at the next level under proper development, Trey Lance looks like a solid bet. He’s got a great arm, and plays smart enough to only have a single interception in his college career. There’s a serious ceiling here, and he could absolutely benefit from learning from Matt Ryan for a year. Arthur Smith completely revitalized Tannehill as well, so maybe he could turn Lance into a stud.
5 - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - Seems like it ends up working out for the Bengals, who really need to protect Joe Burrow. There’s been whispers that teams have Rashawn Slater over Sewell currently, but I partially chalk that up to prospect fatigue. IMO Sewell’s the best OT in the class, and although he’s got areas he can improve, his body of work is utterly dominant currently. If he can polish up his technique and stay healthy, he’ll be a godsend to the Bengals OL.
6 - Eagles - Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU - DeVonta Smith has been crazy this year, but it seems like people have forgotten Ja’Marr Chase was just as dominant last year too. Honestly, the Eagles really can't go wrong here with either WR, but IMO Chase is more of a sure thing to be dominant in the NFL, as minute of a difference as that is.
7 - Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama - After that insane performance against Ohio State, I don't think the Lions can pass up on Smith here, even as bad as their defense is. With their entire WR corps being possible FAs, they need to find replacements ASAP, especially if they cannot find a way to agree to a deal with Kenny Golladay. As for Smith well, he’s a beast. Plain and simple. Y’all saw what he did to Ohio State in just one half.
8 - Houston Texans (Via MIA via DET - Sends Deshaun Watson, 2022 HOU 3rd for 1.08, 2.50, 2022 MIA first, 2023 MIA first, Tua Tagovailoa, salary fillers) - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan - The Dolphins send away Tua + a ton of picks for a shiny new franchise QB, and the Texans begin their rebuild. First up is addressing the defensive line. JJ Watt is very likely gone, Whitney Mercilus is done, and Jonathan Greenard has disappointed. They need someone who can make a serious impact, now. Kwity Paye has been one of the most dominant players in college football, with an insane pressure rate, and is a supposed athletic freak who runs a sub 6.8 3 cone at 6’4’’, 272, with some claiming it being as low as 6.37. No matter what the time ends up being, it's utterly insane for someone of his size, and he could likely play the same role that Watt does for the Texans.
9 - Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - The Broncos do really need CB, but there’s a pretty big hole in the middle of the defense next to Alexander Johnson. Josey Jewell isnt a 3 down LB, and it's really hard to pass up on Parsons here, an elite LB who can be the tonesetter of the Broncos defense from day one. Pairing up Parsons and Johnson should give Denver two monsters in the middle of the defense.
10 - Dallas Cowboys - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech - Now that Dan Quinn’s the new DC, meaning that they’ll be running a ton of Cover 3. And with how much Quinn loves his physical/athletic CBs who can play both man and zone, Caleb Farley is the natural pick here IMO. He’s sticky as glue, with fluid hips and a size profile that NFL teams dream of, perfect for pattern-match that should be used a lot in Dallas next season. His zone coverage does need a little work, but the Cowboys will likely be doing mostly spot-drop zone, which is pretty simple to pick up, and outside of injury concerns, Farley should be a huge help for the Dallas defense.
11 - New York Giants - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina - The Giants love their press man coverage, but were forced to run zone a lot last year due to how bad their cornerbacks were outside of James Bradberry. Jaycee Horn fits their preferred scheme, and also shores up that huge hole at CB2 that they have. No CB in the class is as good as disrupting WRs at the LOS as Horn is, and he’ll be a great addition to what was a surprisingly good defense last year.
12 - San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama - The 49ers have 0 CBs under contract next year. They need building blocks now, especially with Robert Saleh now gone. Patrick Surtain fits into their zone heavy system perfectly. He’s got elite ball skills, is consistently disruptive, and can stick to WRs like glue. He’d be the perfect guy to replace Richard Sherman if the 49ers cant bring him back, and should be able to slot in at CB1 or CB2 immediately.
13 - LA Chargers - Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern - Slater’s a guy who's been getting a ton of hype in recent times, with some even putting him above Sewell. How much of that is real and how much of it is smoke? Hard to say at this point, but I do know that he’ll be an upgrade no matter where he slots in for the Chargers. Protecting Herbert should be there #1 priority right now, especially for the terrible LA OL. Slater should be a fantastic player for the Chargers from day 1.
14 - Miami Dolphins (Via Minnesota Vikings - sends 1.18, 3.82 for 1.14) - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama - Miami goes ALL in here. With Watson now on the roster, their window is now, and they treat it with urgency, giving up some more draft capital to grab the last of the 3 main stud WRs in the class. Jaylen Waddle fits what Miami needs right now, a speed demon joystick who would be what Will Fuller was for Watson in Houston, a connection that was lethal even with Fuller being injured constantly. Watson to Waddle should be one of the deadliest partnerships in the league, turning the Miami offense into a high powered scoring machine.
15 - New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama - Mac Jones is a guy who’s worked his way from fringe QB prospect all the way up to R1 guy. I'm not sure if the NFL likes him as much as most people in the draft community do, but he’s a smart QB who was instrumental in leading the Crimson Tide to a National Championship. I’d say he grades out pretty well at all the important areas of being a QB, like his arm, going through progressions, that kind of thing. This only big flaw IMO is his ability to extend plays, but the Patriots have the OL to shore up that weakness. The main question here is how will Mac Jones play without any solid WRs? The Patriots receiving corps is barren, so that will be something that must be addressed soon.
16 - Arizona Cardinals - Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State - The Cardinals offensive line seems to consistently lose at the LOS, something that was a huge part in them not making the playoffs. With that in mind and all of the top 3 CBs long gone, they grab the mauling OG out of Ohio State, an absolute mauler who can hit hard to create space in the run game. He’s a great fit for the Cardinals run game, and should give them some of the nasty they’ve been lacking.
17 - Las Vegas Raiders - Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, LB, Notre Dame - It's hard to say what the Raiders will go with, as Mayock has not been on the job that long, but this is a pick that I agree with Daniel Jeremiah on. The Raiders lack that dynamic linebacker who can move around and cover everything, and JOK should be able to line up all over. He’s perfect for an NFL that seems to value positionless players more, and especially for a Raiders defense that’s going to be stuck against Travis Kelce for the near future.
18 - Minnesota Vikings - Gregory Rousseau, DE/DT, Miami - When your sack leader is a guy you traded away half way through the season, there's a problem. That Vikings defense was inexcusably bad this year, even with the loss of Danielle Hunter, and basically cost their offense a shot at the playoffs. They need to add some juice to the pass rush ASAP. Gregory Rousseau would be perfect, a raw and crazy athletic player who can line up all over the defensive line to wreak havoc. Considering Minnesota turned one athletic freak into a stud, they should have confidence that they can make Rousseau great too, and he’d be a wonderful addition, especially considering the fact that the Vikings have moved around their edge rushers to exploit mismatches, most notably against the Saints.
19 - Washington Football Team - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - There doesn't seem to be a solid answer at QB available here for Washington, so they look to bolster up their trenches in order to replace the departed Trent Williams. Darrisaw has the size and length to be a fantastic NFL tackle, along with an extremely strong anchor and some great agility for his size. His technique needs to be cleaned up a little, but he could easily lock down the LT spot for Washington in the future.
20 - Chicago Bears - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota - Allen Robinson is gone, leaving a huge hole at WR1 for Chicago. Seeing as there’s not really a great way to fix Chicago’s QB situation, they instead look to try and make the most of their closing window. Rashod Bateman should come in and be the WR1 for Chicago, a great route runner with sure hands who can snag a ball and some more yards after the catch. Hopefully Trubisky builds a much better connection with him than he did with Arob.
21 - Detroit Lions (Via IND - sends Matthew Stafford for 1.22, salary filler) - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa - The Lions defense really needs help at LB. Jarrad Davis is probably starting again, but Tavai really shouldnt be. Zaven Collins can step in and be the best LB in the Lions from day 1, an absolute freak athlete who can cover, can stop the run, and even has a pass rushing upside. He’s the perfect chess piece for the new Lions defense to build around, and should be an immediate impact player from day 1.
22 - Tennessee Titans - Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa - The Titans need pass rush in every capacity, and that includes from the defensive line. Jeffery Simmons is a monster, but he doesn't get much help. He’d pair up great with Daviyon Nixon, a freak athlete out of the B1G who excels most when he gets to pin his ears back and just attack the QB. His ability to cause issues down the middle should help alleviate the Titans pass rush issues somewhat.
23 - New York Jets (Via SEA) - Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida - The Jets just need to add weapons to their team at this point. Their WR corps has little promise outside of maybe Mims, and their TE corps is equally barren. Pitts addresses both of those issues at once. Able to play all over the lineup, Pitts can work as both a huge WR and a TE, able to consistently beat coverages and get catches against defenses. He’ll be a great weapon for Fields to utilize, a truly dynamic threat who could be one of the best receivers on the Jets from day 1.
24 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Liam Eichenburg, OT, Notre Dame - A lot of the Steeler’s tackle depth, most notably starting LT Alejandro Villenueva, will be lost to FA, and Pittsburgh needs to address that ASAP. Liam Eichenburg isnt the most athletic OT with a crazy high ceiling, but he’s a solid technician who should be able to start from day 1, perfect for a contending team like the steelers.
25 - Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR) - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - The Jaguars need to protect their investment, especially with Cam Robinson a question mark to be back due to his poor play. Protecting a young QB should be the #1 priority after landing one, and Cosmi is a tantalizing prospect to add. He’s got plenty of athleticism and a frame that’s waiting to be filled out, a solid pass blocker who can deal with speed rushers really well. He’s a high ceiling prospect who could become a great LT and lock down Tlaw’s blind side for the future.
26 - Cleveland Browns - Jaelen Phillips, EDGE, Miami - Sometimes it just feels like the Browns defensive line is just Myles Garrett. That can't stand. The Browns need to give Garrett some help in the pass rush, and that's why they pick Jaelen Phillips. There’s a lot of injury concerns here, but if Phillips can stay healthy, he’s an absolute MONSTER in the pass rush, having notched 8 sacks in just 5 games this year. If he can stay on the field, he and Garrett should give opposing offensive lines some serious headaches.
27 - Baltimore Ravens - Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC - The Ravens need to bolster their offensive line more. After the loss of Marshall Yanda, the Ravens offensive line has taken a notable step back, and Ronnie Stanley’s injury certainly didn't help there. AVT’s easily BPA at this point, an interior beast who is a stone wall with excellent hand usage. He should be able to make the Ravens offensive line even better, and boost their already lethal run game to higher levels.
28 - New Orleans Saints - Kyle Trask, QB, Florida - Im sorry, I don't think Taysom Hill is an NFL level QB. Especially not for a title contender. Drew Brees is retired, and I doubt Winston will be back. That means QB is the most glaring hole in NO. Kyle Trask might never be Patrick Mahomes, but he’s a good solid player who can make accurate passes, adjusts to pressure well, and is willing to extend plays. With the Saints filled with weapons and talent, Trask should be a good enough game manager to help the Saints be contenders for the rest of their window.
29 - Green Bay Packers - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington - Kenny Clark and Keke Kingsley are building blocks along the defensive line, but the Packers could afford to add some depth. Onwuzurike has been mocked in the first by DJ, and he tends to have his ear to most NFL team’s pulse. Onwuzuriki’s calling card is his length and athleticism, which combined with his explosiveness and motor results in him just running over people at times. He does need to improve his power and add more consistently, but the addition of Onwuzurike could make the Packers defensive line a force as good as the Steelers DL.
30 - Buffalo Bills - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson - The Bills just need playmakers especially in the run game, and Etienne is one of the best pure playmakers in the class. He’s an explosive threat who must be addressed at all times, or else he could break free and gash the defensive for serious yardage. His acceleration and contact balance make him a problem to tackle, and with supposed 4.3 speed, defenders won't be able to catch him once he gets into open space. He’s no slouch in the pass game either, putting up solid production at Clemson and flashing the ability to run a few option routes. The Bills already have their Jim Kelly and Andre Reed in Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Time to add the Thurman Thomas of the trio, and turn Buffalo into an offense that can toe to toe with the Chiefs.
31 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan - Donovan Smith is very likely gone this year, meaning that Tampa would have a hole at one of the tackle spots opposite of Wirfs. No matter if they move Wirfs to LT or keep him at RT, Mayfield would be a great get opposite of him. Mayfield’s a dependable run blocker who has good feet, and although he's not finished just yet, if Tampa can utilize his athletic gifts to the fullest, he’d be a great compliment to their current franchise OT.
32 - Kansas City Chiefs - Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington - Joe Tryon’s another player who is apparently well regarded according to DJ. He’s shown flashes of being a great pass rusher, but he’s really still a WIP in most areas, especially as a run defender. However, he does fit the mold of what the Chiefs want in their pass rushers, standing at 6’5 262. Kansas City does need the help on the EDGE, and they can afford to take a gamble here, considering the Mahomes led offense should be able to easily cover up any defensive deficiencies for the next few years.

Juicy's First Official 2021 NFL Mock Draft (3 Rounds). Trades At The Top. Pick By Pick Analysis Continued In Comments.

Trades:
Broncos trade 2021 RD1#12, 2021 RD4 #105 and 2022 RD1 for Cowboys 2021 RD1#4
Panthers trade 2021 RD1#7 and 2021 RD4 #102 and 2022 RD4 for Chargers 2021 RD1#5
Jaguars Trade 2021 Rd1#25 and 2021 RD3#66 for Raiders 2021 RD1#25
The 49ers trade 2021 RD2 #47, 2022 4th and Jimmy Garapolo for Patriots 2021 RD2 #46 and 2022 RD6
Steelers Trade 2021 RD2#64, 2021 RD4#128 and 2021 RD7#239 for Seahawks 2021 RD2#58
Football Team trades 2021 RD3 #75 and 2021 RD4 #106 for Seahawks 2021 RD2 #64
Seahawks Trade 2021 RD4 #122 and 2022 RD4 Via Jets for Packers 2021 RD3 #93
Steelers trade 2021 Rd3 #96 and Conditional 2022 Pick (2nd or 3rd) For Jets QB Sam Darnold
1. *Jets*- Trevor Lawrence-QB-Clemson
Sometimes you just don’t need to overthink it. Darnold’s failure in the Garden State wasn’t his own fault but you don’t pass on free, generational QBs like Lawrence. While you can try to get cute and make cases for Fields, Lance or Wilson, you really shouldn’t, especially with the 2021 scheme still TBD. Lawrence has the arm talent, IQ, athleticism, size and character to fit well in any scheme and any coaching staff. His only weakness I see is a reckless streak to force balls to his first option through tight windows. IMO this is simply a result of being more talented than the competition, throwing to receivers more talented than the opposition and having better scheming than the opposition. It should go away with NFL reps. Slam dunk pick. It’s time to bring sunshine to the garden state.
2. *Jaguars*- Justin Fields-QB-Ohio St
For as poor as their record is, the Jags actually have some pretty good pieces to build around. This has to be one of the youngest teams in football and with Coughlin gone, maybe they can actually start bringing in free agents and keeping stars in house. James Robinson, Laviska Shenualt, DJ Chark and a surprisingly good interior O-line lead by a potential all-pro in Brandon Linder give the offense a good baseline to build around. Give Justin Fields some good protection, an emerging young RB who can catch passes, an OC who can scheme first reads into space and a playmaking receiving group and we have a good chance to do something. For my money, Fields is the most accurate QB in the class and arguably the best at grasping route-tree concepts. Like Lawrence, he struggles to come off of his first read at times and for very similar reasons, though in his case it leads to less yolo balls and more tucking and running while second reads run free. He will need reps to come off of this, but in a quick-hitting system with playmakers, he could really hit the ground running.
3. *Bengals*- Penei Sewell-OT-Oregon
This pick is the easiest in the entire draft. Best LT I’ve personally scouted coming out to a team that needs it more than any other team, with an injured 1-1 QB who looked every bit the part in his rookie year. If it were any more obvious, Avril Lavigne would write a song about it.
4. *Broncos Via Cowboys*- Zach Wilson-QB-BYU
Either John Elway’s good will in Denver will be good enough to get him one last shot at drafting his QB, or a new regime will come in and want to draft their own QB. Either way, a new QB is coming, which is exciting given that they actually have some really good pieces on offense. Going with the idea that Elway remains, I can see Elway falling in love with either guy, likely seeing more of himself in Wilson, but Lance likely blowing him away in interviews and more importantly being slightly taller. In the end, while I have Lance rated higher, I think Elway will want to go the perceived safer route in Wilson, who is still a high ceiling player in his own right and has experience playing at high altitudes for BYU. Either way, I think Denver trading into the top 5 for a QB is one of the biggest locks of the draft. Dallas has a plethora of needs, but a healthy Dak Prescott has looked like a top 5 QB in recent years and is simply too good to walk away from. Since I have CB as their top need and Sewell off of the board, it makes sense for them to grab draft capital and still likely land a top 2-3 CB.
5. *Panthers Via Chargers*- Trey Lance-QB-NDSU
With Wilson off of the board, the Panthers pay a slight price to flip with the Chargers and ensure they get their QB. While I have Lance rated higher than Wilson for most teams, I actually slightly prefer Wilson in Carolina if they got their choice, but Lance is far too good to pass on. While Brady may not be able to run his full concept year one with Lance, Teddy’s still tentative nature has held back the offense at times and still lead to too many turnover worthy plays. They will need to slow down the game a bit for Lance if he starts from day one, but they have the pieces to do so. Lance will add a game-breaking dynamic to open up the entire field with his arm, while taking pressure off of CMC and demanding QB spies. This should really open things up for Brady to slowly unleash Lance. They have the pieces to have one of the best offenses in football (and the coaching) if this hits. With so many targets schemed into space and a heavy dose of CMC to make defenses respect the run, Lance’s potential accuracy issues will be muted and he has the ability to drive the ball in ways that help receivers functionally be more open than with a touch passer. They are also perfectly situated to start a cheap Teddy until Lance is ready with a long term minded coaching staff and ownership. Really like this fit and team.
6. *Eagles*- Caleb Farley-CB-Virginia Tech
I could see a case for the Eagles going after Chase here, but with how poor the Eagles secondary has been this year outside of an aging Darius Slay, I can’t see them passing on a talent like Farley. Jim Schwartz likes to put a ton of pressure on his secondary and Maddox/NRC simply don’t have the size or physicality to deal with what’s asked of them. IMO Farley has the highest ceiling of any CB i’ve scouted since Ramsey and similarly has the rare combo of size, speed and football IQ to match up with any receiver or QB in the game. The former QB still knows how to think like a CB and has the ball skills that made him highly recruited as a WR before he transitioned to CB. Farley checks every physical box, every mental box, every playmaking box and is said to have a home run character. If i’m searching for an issue, he can take an occasional miss-step in zone, but Schwartz is famously averse to soft zone. Farley has a bit of an injury history and is still fairly new to the position, but he has all-pro potential, a high floor and is a much needed good fit for this Eagles secondary. They can’t afford to pass on him.
7. *Chargers Via Panthers*- Samuel Cosmi-OT-Texas
The Chargers traded back, acquiring two fourths to make stomaching reaching for a tackle a bit easier. Still they have to do it. They look to have a franchise QB and play-action can only mask so much. The line is simply terrible. Per PFF, the Chargers line ranks as follows: tackles Sam Tevi and Brian Bulaga (71st and 56th out of 78 with Pipkins ranked 77th getting snaps), Trai Turner and Forrest Lamp (81st and 74th of 83) at guard and Dan Feeney (35th of 36) at center. Oof. The only borderline passable starter is a Bulaga at RT who will be 32 next year. With a QB who has wheels and big money tied to a fleet footed Ekeler, I think adding lateral mobility and athleticism to the line is a must. Cosmi isn’t a finished product technically or physically but he has the frame to add good weight while maintaining plus athleticism at the blind side and is used to playing with a mobile QB who will make life tougher on him. He rarely fully loses reps and should provide an immediate upgrade from Tevi, while having an extremely high ceiling. It’s time to change the identity of that line and lean into the play action game that is keeping the offense functional, even if I have Darrishaw rated slightly higher, I prefer this fit.
8. *Football Team*- Ja’Marr Chase-WR-LSU
People seem to be forgetting how good Ja’Marr Chase is after a year off. Justin Jefferson has been one of the best receivers in the entire NFL his rookie year, Terrace Marshall is a borderline round one guy, CEH was a first round pick and yet the most impressive skill player on that 2019 LSU team was Chase. While the Football Team clearly doesn’t have a long term solution at QB, the top 4 guys are gone and I’m not sure they have the skill players or line for a new QB to ever be successful anyways. When your receivers 2-5 are Steven Sims, Cam Sims, Dontrell Inman and Isaiah Wright, you don’t pass on a Ja’Marr Chase. Easily the worst 2-5 in the NFL. Logan Thomas isn’t a top 30 TE either. There are some pieces in DC. McLaurin is a stud and Gibson is everything I hoped he would be. The line has some good pieces, but have two weak links in Martin and Christian that need to be replaced before it can become functional. With a year left on Smith’s deal and 50 mil in cap space, the FT can afford to bring back Scherff, upgrade from Martin and take a swing on a mid round QB. Worst case scenario they go all in on a 2021 QB but actually have the pieces in place for him to hit the ground running.
9. *Lions*- DeVonta Smith-WR-Alabama
The Lions currently have Quintez Cephus and Geronimo Allison as receivers under contract in 2021...that’s it. They have approximately 1.23M in available cap space as it currently stands. I still expect them to figure out a way to bring back Kenny G, but even then, they are going to need a day one starter at WR. My mind is telling me Jaylen Waddle’s speed will get him to top 10, but I don’t love how his game meshes with Stafford nor am I fully confident he’s ready to go day one in 2021. Smith may be built like a teen who just hit a growth spurt but he’s a day one starter in the NFL and his game meshes really well with both Stafford and compliments Golladay’s. I’m really interested to see who takes in Detroit next year, but whoever it is, a potential unit of Kenny G, DeVonta Smith, an emergent TJ Hockenson and D’Andre Swift isn’t the worst place to start.
10. *Falcons*- Kwity Paye-Edge-Michigan
The Falcons need a pass rusher off of the edge, we all know that, it just comes down to which one; so having Rousseau, Paye and Parsons all still on the board is a dream scenario. While I personally have them rated Parsons, Rousseau and then Paye, it’s close enough between all three to go by fit. I honestly think the Falcons have a very strong linebacker corps and won’t get the greatest usage out of Parsons and while I love the idea of Rousseau sliding inside next to Grady Jarrett on 3rd and long, I think they need to go for day one impact and mainly the best all around true edge. For me, that makes Paye the best fit. Always a true freak athlete (which, check out Bruce Feldman’s freak list (https://theathletic.com/1938659/2020/07/21/bruce-feldmans-freaks-list-2019-college-football-top-athletic-performances-2/) but in 2020 he has made a herculean jump in production and polish. This a day one starter, with incredibly rare athletic traits, a feel good backstory and immediate impact at a gigantic need.
11. *Dolphins Via Texans*- Micah Parsons-LB-Penn St
I don’t need to go into too much detail here. The Dolphins have one of the NFL’s few good defenses thanks to a strong secondary and simply elite play calling and positioning from Flores/Boyer. That’s despite Elandon Roberts and Jerome Baker’s poor play and general talent. So what if we gave them a uniquely talented player who can play inside, outside and even play as a pure edge while fitting what the scheme wants to do perfectly? I can’t wait to find out. I think Parsons is still somewhat raw as a player and will have a few rough moments early on, simply because he’s been so so so much more naturally gifted than his competition for his entire life and hasn’t been punished for small mistakes. That said, I can’t think of a better landing spot at getting the most out of him early on and putting him in positions to succeed, nor can I think of a better player at mentoring him than Kyle Van Noy. Parsons will be an immediate upgrade and the potential for what he could grow into in Miami is tantalizing. Thanks Houston.
12. *Cowboys Via Broncos*- Patrick Surtain II-CB-Alabama
The Cowboy’s trade back pays off. I would have been between Surtain and Farley at 4th overall and while I would have leaned Farley, the gap certainly isn’t a 2022 (likely somewhat early) 1st rounder and a 4th. Pairing Surtain up with his college counterpart in Diggs should allow Diggs to go back to his natural 2 spot and provide an immediate upgrade from the triumvirate of Awuzie, Brown and Lewis. Surtain may not be the fastest straight line runner, but his hips are as smooth as they come and he makes up for any long speed deficiencies with elite mirroring and physicality. Surtain has improved as a tackler in 2020 and is probably the best day one starter at CB in this class. The Cowboys will need some safety help over the top against speed receivers, but this is an easy pick.
13. *Bears*- Christian Darrisaw-OT-Virginia Tech
The Bears would love a top 4 QB to fall into their laps at 13, but I just don’t know if they have the assets to afford a move into the top 5 right now. With Nick Foles more expensive to cut than to keep and only 2 mil in expected cap room in 2021, they will need to clear up some space. They happen to have two expensive tackles that are playing solidly but are the only non Akiem Hicks way to open up a big chunk of cap. With Ifedi a free agent expecting to see a bigger contract in 2021, the Bears have a day one need at tackle. Luckily for them, my #2 rated tackle is still on the board and is an absolute monster when he’s set and moves extremely well for his size. There are some issues getting set, but he has an extremely high ceiling and could help open up some much needed cap space for Chicago, while providing a long term solution to a two tackles who are due a lot of money, are cheap to cut and getting onto the wrong side of 30 (and coming off of a severe knee injury in Massie’s case). A receiver is an option here if they cant bring back A-Rob, as could be CB if they cut Fuller. Safety appears as a need as well, but nobody is close to a value this early. Darrishaw is the best value to need for me.
14. *Vikings*- Gregory Rousseau-Edge-Miami (FL)
I looooove this pick. A lot of people are low on Rousseau since he isn’t a finished product, but I think that’s pretty unfair. Rousseau, in his first year as a starter managed 15.5 sacks and 19.5 TFL. While his pressure rate made the sack total seem unsustainable, this is a player who will always have a high sack to pressure ratio due to his insane length, absurd speed to power and insane closing burst. Rousseau is unlikely to be a finished product in 2021, he needs to improve his move repertoire and would do well to use his length to shut down passing lanes. But he has a much higher floor than people give him credit for because he does such a good job of using his length to keep defenders outside of his body and can always detach from blocks. He physically resembles Jevon Kearse, which is something I’ve never said before and his athletic testing is going to be nutty. From a traits perspective this is a once every 5-10 years prospect. Minnesota has done a great job developing high ceiling players and have needs across the D-line. Rousseau setting an edge on run downs and sliding inside for passing downs (where he will be a nightmare from day one) will be a huge asset for the Viks. I can’t see them passing on Rousseau should he be on the board at 14 barring a sliding Trey Lance.
15. *Patriots*- Jaylen Waddle-WR-Alabama
It baffles me that a great defensive mind like BB has allowed himself to have such a slow receiver group, but I can’t imagine him just allowing it to remain as is. The Pats have holes along the D-line and would love a franchise QB, but have played themselves out of contention for the clear round one talents. While I have to imagine Kyle Pitts would be extremely enticing here, he doesn’t offer the ability to play in-line/move nor would he be functional slid in at FB. Without the ability to disguise playcalls, I see Waddle as the pick here to add some much needed electricity and field stretching ability despite having Pitts rated slightly higher. Jakobi Meyers has emerged as a solid receiver for the Pats and the ghost of Julian Edelman remains. With Waddle demanding defensive attention, perhaps he can open up some free space for N’Keal Harry to finally realize some of the yac ability that got him drafted so highly. Edge has to be tempting, but with Rousseau and Paye both off of the board the gap between what Waddle brings to the table vs a second round receiver and a Basham type vs who will be there at 46 leans heavily in Waddle’s favor. Assuming he’s fully healthy at the combine, I think this is Waddle’s floor.
16. *49ers*- Jaycee Horn-CB-South Carolina
The 49ers would love to see a top 4 QB fall to 16 and have to be somewhat interested in Trask and Jones as scheme fits, but they also currently have literally zero cornerbacks under contract for 2021, nor are they particularly flush with cap space nor do they have a third round pick. Jaycee Horn is not only my clear cut CB3 (maaaybe can see a case for Stokes) but he’s also a great fit for what Saleh wants to do should he remain in town. This is one of the easier picks in the first for me. Good fit, arguably best player available and absolutely massive,gaping, day one need. Wyatt Davis is a strong 1B for me though.
17. *Jaguars Via Raiders*- Kyle Pitts-TE-Florida
The Jags have a ton of picks early this year, a coordinator who excels at using athletic receiving TE, a rookie QB who they will be heavily invested in succeeding, a clear need at TE and a likely willing trade partner in Las Vegas. Trading up to grab Pitts is a no-brainer for me. He’s a top 10 talent in the class who could legitimately compete for WR1 in the class should he be listed that way. Is he a great blocker? No. But he’s literally breaking records at catching contested balls, runs the crispest routes i’ve ever seen from a TE and is going to be a prime Jimmy Graham level end-zone threat who can win at every point on the field. Who matches up with this guy? Not a CB, not an LB, maaaaaybe Isaiah Simmons on his best day or a Derwin James? Factor in Jay Gruden knowing exactly how to use this kind of talent and how ridiculously accurate Justin Fields is and you have to make this trade. A Justin Fields offense with this receiving group and Gruden calling plays gets me excited. Just need a tackle and a defense and we may just have something here. Jason Mendoza would be ecstatic.
18. *Ravens*-Wyatt Davis-IOL-Ohio St
The Ravens are reeeeally missing Marshall Yanda and Davis is easily the top IOL in this class for me. I think the Ravens are trying to move away from their 2019 offensive strategy since the don’t have the pieces, but the answer is actually to rebuild around what actually worked. That has to start in the trenches. Wyatt Davis embodies Ravens football. He is a genuine people mover, but he doesn’t sacrifice speed or mobility to achieve that power. He’s pure controlled aggression, and if that’s not a Harbaugh player, I don’t know Harbaugh. If Davis played any other position, he wouldn’t be on the board at 18. Plug and play week one starter who can help get the Ravens back to the 2019 glory. If Pitts is off of the board, this has to be the pick.
19. *Giants*- Joseph Ossai-Edge-Texas
The Giants situation isn’t as bad as I thought at first glance. They haven’t had the best offensive line pay, but with Nate Solder set to return in ‘21, Andrew Thomas starting to look closer to a top 10 pick and Matt Peart as an interesting developmental piece, it felt early to reach on a tackle and I don’t love any interior lineman enough to pull the trigger here. Receiver is a glaring need, but I think there will still be impact starters to get in round two and money to spend in FA as needed. I don’t hate Daniel Jones from my looks and think if the line and skill positions improve around him, he still has a chance to develop into a second contract sort of guy. He deserves his 40 start sample size. With Saquon set to return, that leaves edge as the most glaring need. Leonard Williams and Dalvin Tomlinson are both free agents (though should imo be brought back) and Kyle Fackrell doesn’t deserve another season as a starter. In Patrick Graham’s multiple 3-4 front, there happen to be two exciting players who fit the rush LB mold extremely well and fit value wise. Azeez Ojulari and Jospeh Ossai. I have Ossai rated slightly higher on my board and love his fit in this defense as a better early down linebacker with a higher athletic ceiling in coverage and better length to entice Gettleman while avoiding combo blocks. The dude is no slouch as a pass rusher either. I love the player and love the fit in a defense that might just emerge in ‘21 if things go right.
20. *Cardinals*- Eric Stokes-CB-Georgia
The Cardinals 2021 will have Patrick Peterson, Johnathan Joseph and Dre Kirkpatrick all hitting free agency next year, leaving just slot corner Byron Murphy and a soon to be 33 year old Robert Alford coming off a broken leg to end 2019, torn pec that cost him all of 2020 who can be cut to clear 7.5M of cap space. Corner jumps out as a need both long term and potentially from day one. Few players in this class have impressed me as much as Stokes has. Stokes has always been a technically sound player who shines bright outside in press, with loose hips and long arms to obscure passing lanes. But in 2020, he’s taken that next step into a playmaker. Despite teams tending to avoid throwing at him, he’s flashed greatly improved ball skills and even housed two of the picks he has. I think this is a true all around outside corner who can fit in any scheme and do whatever is asked of him. I don’t exactly see a pro bowl ceiling here, but I think Stokes might be the safest CB in this entire class and it wouldn’t shock me if he had the best rookie year of this solid corner class. People tend to underrate a good, polished CB2 chasing upside that doesn’t always fully develop. Draft good football players.
21. *Buccaneers*- Azeez Ojulari-Edge-Georgia
In a down IDL class, I’m tempted to reach for Barmore here and with Donovan Smith able to be cut to clear 14.25M in 2021, a polished tackle like Eichenberg is somewhat enticing. But with both Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett set to be expensive free agents next year, I think a rush LB/edge hybrid is the biggest need and it just so happens Ojulari is still on the board. When I watch Ojulari I pretty much see Shaq Barrett. A smaller, still long bursty/bendy player who can rush the passer at an elite rate, but will struggle setting an edge. Barrett is a good player, but he’s going to demand a contract that will pay him more than he’s worth and take him into the wrong side of 30. Ojulari can replace something very close to Barrett on rushing downs while a cheap Anthony Nelson is already an elite edge setter on run downs. Lavonte David is a much harder player to replace IMO and they should give him the big contract. Between Nelson and Ojulari, I think they can replace Barrett for 20M less a year and honestly, the pairing has a higher ceiling if everything comes together. It will also help the Bucc’s line get younger, which is much needed for future outlook. I can’t think of a better coach than Todd Bowles to max out a guy like Ojulari. Love this fit.
22. *Dolphins*- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah-LB-Notre Dame
After addressing linebacker with pick number 11, the Dolphins double down and draft another at pick 22. If you’re going to start two monster rush LB like Kyle Van Noy and Micah Parsons, it sure as hell won’t hurt to have an absolute speed freak to fly around and neutralize both TE and speed backs. The closest thing I’ve seen to Owusu-Koramoah is basically the 2020 Seahawks version of Jamal Adams (minus the injury) undersized for an LB but incredibly fast, incredibly good at deciphering plays and a surprisingly good blitzer. The dude finishes tackles against future sunday morning players too. As mentioned earlier, Elandon Roberts and Jerome Baker ain’t it, especially in a mainly odd front defense. JOK offers a truly unique skill set that not only compliments the pieces already there well, but will be maximized by a coach like Flores. The Dolphins have needs on the O-line, receiver and RB, but you won’t find another JOK in the second round, where they have two picks. Perhaps they can target Owusu-Koramaoh’s son, Travis Etienne with one of those picks.
23. *Colts*- Jaelan Phillips-Edge-Miami (FL)
The Colts have needs at WR,CB and will likely do their due diligence on the remaining QBs. However, the Colts top 3 snap getters on the edge (Houston, Muhammad and Autry) are all free agents, only Houston has been performing well and he’s already 32. Even if he returns, edge will be a need. While Phillips won’t be the top edge available on every team's board here due to a very small sample size and a long injury history, I have to imagine Ballard will be head over heals for this player. Ballard has shown in the past he wants to target athletes with length and Phillips has both in spades. The former #1 overall recruit has insane length, insane burst, elite bend,elite speed to power and knows how to use all four to be first to contact and shed tackles like snake skin. Phillips measurables and 2020 tape are clear cut first round grades and had he had three healthy years, he might be the top edge in the class. The dude even wins in coverage at 6’5 265. The question is, do you trust him to stay healthy. He’s the type of player that will be top 15 on 8 teams boards, mid day two on 10 teams boards and completely off of 14 teams boards. I think Ballard is going to fall in the first group of GMs and he will rush to the podium to get Phillips in the building.
24. *Browns*- Zaven Collins-LB-Tulsa
The Browns have clear needs at edge and linebacker. If Owusu-Koramoah were on the board, he’d be the pick and Dylan Moses has to make them think. But I think they instead get them somebody who can do both. Andrew Berry has shown a strong correlation of draft picks to PFF grades and guess who PFF’s top graded LB in all of college football is? Zaven Collins. More than just questionably important player grades at Tulsa, Zaven Collins has the unteachable traits you can’t coach and scouting teams will love. 6’4 260 pound men shouldn’t be able to move like this. Collins is nimble and agile and is going to blow up the combine. I’d bet money on that. He uses this blend of size and agility to simple avoid blocks at Tulsa but has the size and length to easily disengage at any level. He is borderline elite in coverage and has bullied American conference passers into 2 pass deflections and 4 picks (which he’s returned for 152 yards and 2 TDs) in just 6 2020 games. Collins can rush the passer as well and has legit edge size. Collins currently plays more fast (which he is) than powerful (which he also is). I’d like to see him learn to use his size to initiate contact and bully people at the point of contact because he absolutely can, but I guess why do it when you can just avoid them completely. The game speeds up from the American conference to the AFC North, but I think Collins is a day one LB, special teams force and has potential to develop into a very special player. Watching him play, he reminds me of a cross between KJ Wright and Jamie Collins, but bigger. Fun Player and easy fit.
25. *Raiders Via Jaguars*- Christian Barmore-IDL-Alabama
After trading back and acquiring an extra top 70 pick, the Raiders select the player they wanted all along. The Raiders need a more consistent pass rush. Clelin Ferell has taken a huge step forward in 2020, but he will always be a stop the run player more than a sack artist (as is Nassib), while I’m not ready to give up on Maxx Crosby, he hasn’t been the same player he was in 2019 (or close to it). Maurice Hurst has been their only good pass rusher for my money, but he will need help inside. Johnathan Hankins is a free agent, soon to be on the wrong side of 30. Vickers and Collins certainly aren’t the answer. In a down IDL class, Barmore is the only player I can see ging round one and is easily my top IDL in the class. Is he a polished player and tactician? Nope. NFL double teams will likely eat him if he can’t add more moves or play with better leverage. That said, if you try to double him, Hurst is gonna murder your quarterback. Barmore has rare length, bend and power for an interior player. He already wins against SEC lineman and can play all across the line despite being 310 pounds. When he wins, he wins quickly and is an immediate disruptive force up the middle. Put him outside in short yardage situations and back inside on clear passing downs and he will immediately be an upgrade for the black and silver. He won’t be a 3-down guy year one, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make an impact. Long term, the sky is the limit. This is the only IDL in this class I can envision making a pro bowl. He also just so happens to come from the winning culture that Gruden?Mayock love. It just makes too much sense not to happen.
26. *Jets Via Seattle*- Carlos Basham-Edge-Wake Forest
It’s still TBD who will be the Jets DC in 2021, but I think they have personnel best suited for a true multiple front but could certainly use a genuinely polished power edge suited to play both 3-4 and 4-3 edge. Basham is that guy and while Joe Douglas has a love for quick twitch athletes off of the edge, I think Boogie Basham would make too much sense to pass up on here. Basham (who’s cousin Tarrell is a current Jet likely to be brought back for 2021) is a relentless load to handle on the perimeter who has the kind of day one polish this team needs. Basham has a fantastic grasp on how to clog gaps on run downs, is a sure tackler with his massive wingspan, sheds blocks with a very impressive and polished array of moves, never seems to be out of position, doesn’t over pursue and get out of position and man knows how to use his long-limbed frame to create chaos. Across his last 19 games, he has forced 7 fumbles and tipped 4 passes despite being double and triple teamed week in, week out. Basham isn’t a poor athlete by any means, but I would say he’s more of a day two bend/burst combo than typical day one. That said, he has day one starter polish at 285, makes the players around him better and creates turnovers. This isn’t your 10 sack a year guy, but it’s your 6-8 sack a year, consistent 3 down/scheme versatile edge who makes the players around him better and brings much needed leadership skills.
27. *Titans*- Dylan Moses-LB-Alabama
I expect this to be one of my most controversial picks in this mock. With Clowney a free agent again, edge is a glaring need, but unless you want to reach big time for an edge there isn’t anybody left. With only 10M of cap space currently in 2021, Corey davis has likely priced himself out of town with a boom season. WR is a need but one that can be addressed later. Daquan Jones will need to be replaced at DT. But with Jayon Brown likely gone in 2021, I have to think the former LB and the former Patriot in Mike Vrabel is going to fall in love with Dylan Moses the player; as well as Dylan Moses the person. Moses is a freak athlete with a freak work ethic who clearly just loves the game of football. The movement skills, power and tackling ability are all special. That said, he’s had a somewhat down year. He has good instincts, but you can visually see him second guess himself and overthink plays. RPO’s, sudden moves and good routes have eaten him up in 2020. Who better to teach a special ball of clay how to turn his brain off than Vrabel? Moses will be a day one starter, immediate locker room leader and running back neutralizer in day one for the Titans. There will be some rough moments early on, but this is the kind of player Vrabel loves and the ceiling is really high for this pairing. A reach for Jason Oweh or Jay Tufele feel possible here as well, as could a Bateman or Marshall pick.
28. *Bills*- Shaun Wade-CB-Ohio St
Bills could use an edge if they can’t bring back Murphy, would have to take a long look at Moses if he were on the board and could really use a Pat Freiermuth...but if the draft falls like this I expect them to run to the podium. Josh Norman, Levi Wallace and Daryl Worley are all free agents in 2021 and Taron Johnson isn’t particularly good. With just 4.8M in 2021, this likely means the Bills will need a minimum of one cheap starting CB and likely both a slot and outside guy. Wade can fill both roles and is simply too talented to remain on the board here. Easy pick to make.
29. *Packers*- Rashod Bateman-WR-Minnesota
Do the Packers seemingly ever draft WR round one? No. Should they? Yep. Do they currently have the cap space to bring back Allan Lazard? Lol no. They have -18M in cap space next year. It’s worth noting that this means they are extremely unlikely to be able to resign Aaron Jones, which explains the weird AJ Dillon reach and opens up RB as a possibility. That makes me tempted to grab Kadarius Toney as a Kamara role hybrid, but that doesn’t seem like a Packers move. Terrace Marshall feels like a Packers pick, but he doesn’t block as well as Bateman and won’t be quite as good day one. I think Gutekunst will fall in love with Bateman’s boundary receiving skills, Rodgers will lobby hard for a receiver that wins with a skillset similar to Davante Adams and LaFleur will fall in love with Bateman’s alpha run-blocking game. Toss in the fact that Bateman in Green Bay will rip the heart out of Vikings fans and it’s an all around win. Linebacker is an absolutely glaring need, but all the good ones are gone and the Packers seem to hate drafting them even more than hate drafting receivers. Love this fit and pick.
30. *Chiefs*- Rashawn Slater-OT-Northwestern
The Chiefs have had one hell of a run, but 2021 will be the beginning of having to pay the piper. Even without resigning Sammy Watkins, Charvarius Ward, Breeland, Nieman, Wilson, osemele, Rieters, Remmers, Wylie, Robinson, Lev Bell, Sorenson,kpassagnon and Pennell among players who saw heavy snaps in 2020; they will be -15M in 2021 cap space. And that’s BEFORE the roster gets expensive in 2022. This means, at minimum two of the Honey Badger, Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher will be cap casualties. Basically the entire o-line and secondary will be needs, as well as 1-2 WR. Rashawn Slater of “the only player not to be sucked into the void by Chase Young in 2019” fame can play 4 of the line slots, moves incredibly well for a man his size, can play in cold weather and is apparently loved by “NFL types”. This feels like a pick the Chiefs have to make.
31. *Saints*- Tyson Campbell-CB-Georgia
If you thought the Chiefs cap situation was bad….the Saints currently have -95M of cap space in 2021. -95M. Jared Cook, Alex Anzalone, Sheldon Rankins, Marcus Williams and Trey Hendrickson are impact free agents who won’t be able to be resigned. Making LB, FS, Edge and IDL big needs. Ryan Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore, Malcolm Brown and Kwon Alexander almost 100% have to be cut. It’s a bad spot to be in. Tackle, QB, LB, DT and CB all stand out as the biggest needs. With two QB’s fully guaranteed over 33M in dead cap in 2021, reaching for a QB round one doesn’t seem likely. Jaylen Mayfield or a Liam Eichenberg seem possible, as could a Jay Tufele but there will be more potential day one starters there round two than CB. Tyson Campbell has injury concerns and has had a pretty poor 2020, but he looks built in a lab to be a CB1. I think this is the replacement for a Lattimore that the Saints simply can’t afford next year. It’s a very wide range of possible outcome player, but it’s a risk they have to take.
32. *Steelers*- Jalen Mayfield-OT-Michigan
The Steelers are yet another team in 2021 cap hell. Sitting pretty at -20M in 2021, the Steelers will have Bud Dupree, Juju, James Conner, Matt Feiler, Cam Sutton, Mike Hilton, Robert Spillane and Tyson Alualu as free agent starters. Edge, OT, CB and RB all jump out as big needs even before cap casualties and the QB of the future still isn’t in the building. In particular, tackle, edge and RB jump out as needs. Jalen Mayfield is a lab built tackle with great length, power and agility wrapped up in a prototypical frame. He is not yet a finished product, who struggles against speed to power and gets over his toes at times. But he has the traits you can’t teach and should thrive in a power concept. Year one will be up and down and in a perfect world, he’d have a year or two to season. Maybe Eichenberg will be a better fit. But he just screams Steelers power football when he gets his lower half right. I can’t see Mike Tomlin go for a RB with the ball security issues Etienne has and while Harris will be tempting, the needs up front are just too much to pass up on a potential starter.

[NFL] The rebuild, the desperation, and the tale of the worst sports organization on the North American continent - A Detroit Lions story

Background

The NFL is the professional organization for gridiron football in the United States, and one of the largest sporting organizations on the planet. Boasting a yearly revenue of over $16 billion, putting it on par not just with major corporations, but with major industries. And of course it's managed by petty, tiny babies. 31 of the 32 teams are owned by rich individuals who did not make their money through football.

Team History

The year is 1957. The place, Detroit. A booming city, Detroit is a place to be. American factories pump out American cars, the best in the world. Some of them even get seven miles to the gallon. Here, at the center of American automotive manufacturing, sits the best team in football - the Detroit Lions. Having gone 8-4 in the regular season, they defeated the San Francisco 49ers to advance to the ~~Superbowl~~ NFL Championship (Superbowls didn't start until the NFL-AFL merger in '66), then the Cleveland Browns in the Championship, they became the ultimate winners of the National Football League. Although not the American Football League - the NFL-AFL merger would happen in 1966, still many years in the future.
For a Detroit fan, the future looked bright. Until a minor scandal - okay, no, a major scandal happened. The players were betting on games. Amidst the controversy and fines came an angel of salvation - William Clay Ford. Heir to the Ford Family fortunes, he purchased full ownership of the Detroit Lions in 1963 for the sum of $5.4 million.
A rich owner who could afford to pay coaches and staff, no need to scrap for dollars on ticket sales, and the NFL-AFL merger sending the popularity of football soaring. Yes, going in to the 60s, the Detroit Lions were an easy bet. Ford would lead them.

The Playoffs, an interlude

Playoffs in professional sports is interesting. They are constantly expanding - now more baseball teams will make the playoffs than miss them, and have fluctuated in size. But usually it's somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 of the teams in a sport will make the playoffs. There they will play elimination brackets until there's a championship between two teams for the glory.
There have been long championship droughts. The longest in baseballs is the Seattle Mariners, who after being founded in 1977 have never made the world series, only occasionally venturing deep into the playoffs. They are awful. In the NBA, it is the LA Clippers. Founded 50 years ago, they have never made it past the playoff semi-final round. In Hockey, the all time has to go to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Hockey's constant whipping boy, who have gone 52 seasons since they last lifted the Stanley cup. They have lost five conference finals in that time, coming within a single series of that highest stage, and yet never reaching.
So lets just keep that in mind as we come up through 1989. The Lions at this point have never won a playoff game since that 1957 season, spending the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s without winning a post season game. Not a team on the above list of awfulness can match that.

The Rebuilds

In 1989, William Clay Ford stepped down from his role as chairman at the Ford Motor Company, and turned to his true passion - the Detroit Lions. And this is where we see the Detroit Lions fortunes do a swift 360.
Ford made some major changes, immediately ditching their old head coach Darryl Rogers for a new Head Coach, Wayne Fontes. Today known as the winningest coach in Lions history, Fontes is a legendary head coach.
Perhaps more importantly than Fontes, they drafted a name to be feared - Barry Sanders. With their third overall pick in 1989, Sanders was one of the most unstoppable backs ever to live. One of seven backs in the 2000+ yard running club, from the beginning of his career to the end he looked unstoppable. Legendary running backs like Emmitt Smith credit him as one of the best ever to live.
And indeed, the turnaround happened. Coming of a string of 4 and 5 win seasons, in 1989 they scraped together a 7-9, and in 1991 they managed a strong 12-4. They stormed to the Cowboys, crushing them 38-6, only to fall to the [DC Football Gurus] in a 41-10 blowout. That team was unstoppable though, easily winning a superbowl, and Detroit could finally breath easy. A 35 year drought had ended. The Lions had won a playoff game. And with a new coach and the best running back ever, this was only the start of their dominance.
'92 was a setback. They went 5-11, the only bright spot being Barry Sanders breaking the all-time franchise running record in just four seasons. Yeah, Barry was good at football. But in 93, they were back in form, going 10-6 and making it to the playoffs, only to be eliminated by the Packers in a close and heartbreaking game.
In 94 they made it to the playoffs and lost to the packers again, 16-12 this time, and in 95 they made it back only to immediately lose to the Eagles. Then in 96 Wayne Fontes picked up his second 5-11 season. And there his career would end, 67-71 with the Lions overall. 89-96, quite the run.
That's okay though, Ford had fixed things. He had found Bobby Ross. Bobby Ross was going to lead the Lions to victory. With a strong college coaching career, they weren't going to have another 5-11 season. And indeed they went 9-7, losing in the playoffs, before falling to... 5-11.

Goodbye to the GOAT

And here Barry Sanders career ended. Frustrated with ten years of failure, he demanded to be released or traded. The Lions did neither, and sued him instead. Faced with this, Barry Sanders hung up his cleats. In his 10 years he averaged 1500 yards/season, the highest pace ever, and had he played five more years he would have broken records. Had he regularly made it to the postseason he would have broken records. Yet there he went went. Goodbye Barry.

If at first you don't rebuild, build and build again

Marred by the departure of Sanders, Bobby Ross managed an 8-8 season and a playoff loss before getting fired. For... oh hell, lets just blow through some of this fast. In format years coach:wins, we have:

'01-02 Marty Morhinweg: 5-27
'03-05 Steve Mariucci, 15-28
'06-07 Rod Marinelli 10-22

Okay full stop. This needs a header.

2008

This year is special. In 2007 the Detroit Lions drafted a wide receiver named Calvin Johnson. Calvin Johnson a big man. Standing 6'4" and 240 lbs, he was... oh, lightning fast. The combination of speed and size has never been seen before or since in the NFL. He was taller, his arms were longer, and he was faster than anyone on the field. It looked like this.
In 2007 he had done well, but 2008 would be his breakout year. 1331 yards receiving in the regular season, a phenomenal number (anything over 1000 is great). Marinelli had gone 3-13 in 06, but in 07 he improved to 7-9, and with Johnson being better than anyone could have imagined, the Lions were expected to have a good season. Perhaps even make it to the playoffs. They were going to be an 8-10 win team.
Did they get 8? No. 5? No. 2? No. The Detroit Lions were the first team in NFL history to pick up a perfect 0-16 season. Winning not a single game, Rod Marinelli would end his tenure at 10-38.
Primed for a good year, fans were horrified. The Lions had failed like no team had ever failed before. The only option? Complete Rebuild. They scrapped the team. Most would never play in the NFL again. This was it. This was rock bottom.

The final rebuild

Faced with their level of abject failure, they scrapped everything not named Calvin Johnson. Hiring Jim Schwartz to take over the rebuild, everyone knew this would be a process. All new coaches, all new players. Jim Schwartz had lead the Titans to 13-3, and he was given enormous leeway to have bad seasons. Indeed, no one blinked an eye when 2009 was 2-14 - Jim was rebuilding from Calvin Johnson up. Although somehow two players did drown off the coast of Miami.
During this Jim traded away the rest of the players who were still worth something, preparing for a complete rebuild. They selected Matt Stafford for QB with their first round pick, and based around a franchise QB and star WR, they would build a fantastic new team.
Results picked up immediately, with a 6-10 season, and then a 10-6 playoff run. They lost in the first round, but with this new team there was no way they could... go 4-12 then 7-9. And Jim Schwartz leaves, having gone 29-51.

Here we go again

Picking a theme, they stuck with the name Jim. Jim Caldwell decided to make major changes to the team. Deciding Schwartz was a quality improver, Caldwell chose to take the star talent on the team and use new tactics and strategy to take them further. And it worked! They went 11-5 immediately. They lost in the wild card game to the Cowboys, but they were on the road.
2015, goodbye GOAT. 2015 they went 9-7, missing the playoffs, and Calvin Johnson had had enough. His 9 season yardage record was behind only 4 players - Julio Jones, Terry Holt, and Jerry Rice. He set multiple receiving records, and his single-season record of 1,964 yards still stands today.
And the Lions sued him to try and get some money back. He's still bitter about it to this day.
Jim Caldwell would get back to the playoffs with a 9-7 record, losing to the Seahawks, but would then have another 9-7 season in 2017, and leave. His record stands at 35-29, a winning record. You escaped the Lions with a winning record Caldwell. Well done.

A sad milestone

In 2015 William Clay Ford, the man who bought the lions back in 63, passed. Ownership passed to Martha Firestone Ford, his wife, who was committed to reforming the team her husband loved into a winning franchise. She took a few years to understand it, then moved on from Caldwell, and go to

Matt Patricia, and the final rebuild

The year is 2018. A saga that began in 1957 has brought us here. Countless head coaches. One playoff win. Two all-time greats having their careers squandered. This is the Detroit Lions redemption story.
It begins with Matt Patricia. Serving under Bill Belichick, the winningest coach in history (244-92 game win:loss record), Matt Patricia understood the Patriot way. He was going to reorganize the Lions. He understood physical conditioning and mental fortitude like no other, for he served under the best coach ever. Lions fans were stoked. Here was a team that had posted winning records, now with a coach who could bring them that last set. Playoff glory was in their eyes.
Oh I'll spare you the dramatics. The old lady running the football team was not secretly a genius, and Matt Patricia is a pumpkin. From actually posting a winning record under the last coach, Patricia racked up 13-29 record before being unceremoniously fired.

2021, the true final rebuild and conclusion

But good news for the Lions! Sheila Ford Hamp has taken over the family business. She was the one to fire Patricia, and she's going to run the Detroit Lions like her family always dreamed of. She's going to make her mother and father proud, and turn them into a real team. After screaming all season for Patricia's blood, Detroit fans are cautiously optimistic for the future because no one who is still a fan of the team understands basic pattern recognition.
So there you have it. 1957-1989, we had 32 years of abject failure, then from 1989 to 2020 we have had eight rebuilds, two historically skilled players, the worst record in football history, two historically good players sued by the team, and literally countless people fired, hired, fired again, hired again, as the Detroit Lions try to discover what the key to actually playing football is.
This is not a bad team content with their badness. This is a team that has fought and struggled every stage to become good, and at every stage failed harder than any team has failed before. People have fought, lawsuits have been slung, harsh, harsh words have been spoken. This is the drama of the Detroit Lions, the worst professional sports organization on the North American continent.

Mock Draft 1.0, 4 QBs go in the top 5 (Write-Ups under Picks, has trades.)

Hey everyone! This is my Mock Draft I did because I am a ridiculously bored bastard in the middle of a lull in my classes schedule. Let me know your thoughts! Trades are included in this, and the list of them can be found at the bottom.

Jaguars- Trevor Lawrence, QB

I really don’t have to explain this pick. He is far and away the most valuable pick in this draft and the Jaguars would be insane not to lock this pick in months in advance.

Jets- Justin Fields, QB

The first real decision of the draft comes from the Jets, where they decide to move on from Sam Darnold and draft an accomplished player in Justin Fields. On top of his clear physical talents and admiral skills at the QB position, the Jets choose him over Zach Wilson for culture reasons. Fields has faced high pressure situations his entire career and rebounded admirably from losing out in a QB competition, and for a team with a long history of losing he is a great piece to help turn the culture around.
3.Dolphins (Via HOU)- Penei Sewell, OT
The Dolphins can choose between getting a franchise left tackle and one of Tua’s old wide receivers, and ultimately they choose to protect their investment in a young QB. Sewell is a monster of an O-lineman and I would be shocked to see a team go with anything else, especially when the QB is one with the injury history of Tua.
4.49ers (Via ATL)- Zach Wilson, QB
The 49ers get aggressive and move up 8 slots in the draft, allowing them to select a QB who has been much more impressive than Jimmy G. He has outright said he thinks he would be a good fit in the 49ers scheme, and I expect Shannahan is thinking the same thing. The Falcons also gained extra picks to further rebuild their defense with, which is a priority for them in this mock.

Panthers (Via CIN)- Trey Lance, QB

Matt Rhule continues his rebuild of the Panthers by adding a dynamic dual threat quarterback who can eventually take the job over from Teddy Bridgewater. Trey Lance still needs to be developed as a passer, but I am confident with the weapons he would have in Carolina if he can do it anywhere it is there and Matt Rhule knows that as well.

Eagles- Devonta Smith, WR

The Eagles (and more specifically Howie Roseman) are under heavy fire from the media and fans, and are also in desperate need of help at the WR position. This leads them to picking a talented player that everyone already loves, and I suspect they will be rewarded for this decision. They get a technician to support Jalen Hurts / Carson Wentz, and if either of those guys are the answer they have to be able to get it done with a weapon as electric as Smith.

Lions- Micah Parsons, LB

Sorry Lions fans, the appropriate way to describe your needs is that you need help at every position. The Lions use this pick to go defensive BPA, which leads to them selecting Micah Parsons to be the centerpiece of their defense. Combined with Jeff Okudah, the Lions continue building a good young defensive core to support aging (and potentially traded) QB Matthew Stafford.

Bengals (Via CAR)- Christian Darrisaw, OT

Joe Burrow is going to reward the Bengals for their tank if they build around him, and starting Bobby Hart at RT is not building around him. The team selects the best OT left on the board at this point in order to try and keep their young QB upright and protect their investment in him. I also personally don’t buy the argument that the Bengals need another #1 receiver, as I believe in both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, thus passing on a better player in Ja’Marr Chase to fill a position of need.

Broncos- Patrick Surtain II, CB

The Broncos need a CB, and they go and get a proven SEC defender with a pedigree of performing against the best wideouts he faced. Surtain can be an anchor in the secondary to allow the edge rushing talents of this team to have the time needed to get home. This defense with some help could be a nightmare for opposing teams, and this furthers that goal.

Cowboys- Caleb Farley, CB

The Boys need help in the secondary, and especially considering the player they are about to pass to a division rival it makes the selection of the second best CB in the class in Caleb Farley a no brainer. This bit of aid may not fix a struggling Cowboys defense, but it will certainly help stem the bleeding.

Giants- Ja’Marr Chase, WR

The steal of the mock goes to Dave Gettleman at the 11th pick. After promising to get Daniel Jones weapons, he gets him an absolute monster of a receiver to supplement a receiving core that struggled mightily in 2020. With a monstrous deep threat in tow, Daniel Jones will have no excuse but to prove it in 2021.

Falcons- Kwity Paye, EDGE

The Falcons need help at all three levels of their defense, and they begin this retool with the draft of physical freak Kwity Paye. Paye is a bit of a developmental prospect, but the Falcons need help alongside Grady Jarrett and they find a promising young Edge Rusher in Kwity Paye to solve that.

Chargers- Rashawn Slater, OT

After Justin Herbert’s monster rookie season, one thing became quickly apparent: the Chargers needed to fix their offensive line to prevent Herbert from joining a dishonorable list of names including Joe Burrow and RGIII. They get this by getting a great OT prospect in Slater who can help solidify the line and keep a great QB upright.

Vikings- Wyatt Davis, IOL

Kirk Cousins is not a bad quarterback, but he also isn’t going to win on his own. He has a great set of weapons to showcase in Thielen, Jefferson, and Cook. Now the failure comes in that he can’t stay upright long enough to use these weapons properly. Adding a piece for Cousins to pass behind and Cook to run behind makes this offense more dynamic as a whole, and the top interior lineman comes off the board to help this issue.

Patriots- Jaylen Waddle, WR

The Patriots WR core was… bad. An already struggling WR core lost their best player in Edelman, Tom Brady, and their WR Coach in Joe Judge and the floor fell out from under an already mediocre group. They get a dynamic separator to serve as their #1, and will aim to address this issue again later on in the draft.

Cardinals- Kyle Pitts, TE

Kyler Murray is a great QB and the Cardinals have continuously invested in his success. That being said, he only has one elite target and when Hopkins can’t beat his double teams, the offense struggles. This situation is solved by obtaining a massive upgrade at TE in Kyle Pitts. This weapon can help continue to push Murray above and beyond in a powerhouse of a division.

Raiders- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB

Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, and the WR corp of the Broncos all pose a brutal challenge for a defense that already is struggling mightily. They begin to rectify this by getting a versatile athlete at LB to try and right the ship. Owusu-Koramoah is not the entire answer, but he is a good bet to be an effective NFL LB, and god only knows how badly the Raiders need one of those.

Dolphins- Rashod Bateman, WR

The Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa as their QB of the future, and now they need to tailor his weapons to what he is good at. He clearly does not trust his WRs, and for that reason the Dolphins bring in a fresh new face to try and work with the young QB. Tua has it in him, and Bateman can help him unlock the parts of his game he hasn’t yet showcased in the NFL.

Football Team- Mac Jones, QB

I’m going to level with all of you: I don’t really like Mac Jones all that much. In my opinion he has too low of a ceiling for me to like selecting him this early. That being said, the WFT has shown an ability to make game managers succeed: and I think they’ll be desperate enough for a QB that they’ll take their chances that Jones is more Alex Smith than AJ McCarron.

Bears- Samuel Cosmi, OT

The Bears are likely to lose Allen Robinson, and with that I think they need to focus on their best offensive weapon left in David Montgomery. Getting an absolute monster of a man to man at a tackle position can help possibly make the Bears an elite rushing team if they continue to build along this path.

Colts- Alex Leatherwood, OT

The retirement of Constanzo makes this pick a bit of a no-brainer. The Colts need a LT, and they get one in Leatherwood. Ballard and Reich get to keep rolling with their offense behind a prospect that I like quite a bit for them. I could also see the argument to select an Edge here, but given this franchise's history with not protecting their QB I would much rather have another O-Lineman.

Titans- Gregory Rousseau, Edge

Vrabel and the titans like physical freaks, and a freak they get in Greg Rousseau. His elite athleticism is that of a top five edge rusher, but he slips down as teams fear his floor is insanely low. The Titans roll the dice to try and save a pass rush that was out sacked by the Giants interior lineman in 2020, and gamble that this will pay off.

Jets- Jaycee Horn, CB

Lamar Jackson is an elite QB and any team would be happy to have him, Lamar Jackson on the other hand has no business starting at CB on an NFL team. The Jets rectify this issue by selecting an intriguing CB prospect in Horn. I personally don’t really know what I think of Horn quite yet, but I know he deserves to go in the first and that the Jets would be happy to have him.

Steelers- Najee Harris, RB

Najee Harris is a patient running back who is great at finding the holes in the defense who supplements that style with a great ability to contribute in the passing game. Now when have the Steelers ever utilized a back like that effectively? Joke aside, Harris is a great talent and as I think Ben gives it one more year this is the weapon they bring in to fix their struggling rushing attack.

Jaguars- Jaelan Phillips, EDGE

The Jaguars will look at how the WFT has rebuilt and try to emulate that by getting an elite edge rushing pair of their own. Enter Jaelan Phillips, one of my favorite gems of this class. He is far from a guaranteed prospect, but I love his ability as a pass rusher and when placed opposite Josh Allen I see a foundation of a playoff-caliber defense if Phillips translates to the next level.

Browns- Joseph Ossai, EDGE

The Browns will likely lose Olivier Vernon this offseason, and replacing him would be a wise move to not have that defense totally fall into disarray. Ossai has the potential to be an effective edge rusher in the NFL, and the Browns should take a chance on him in order to make sure that they can replicate the pass rush that even kind of makes that defense respectable.

Buccaneers- Christian Barmore, DL

Christian Barmore is a talented player, and he is being drafted to help fill big shoes. The Bucs pass rush is losing its top man in Shaw Barrett this offseason, and Christian Barmore can help solidify the front 7. As the first DL off the board, he can potentially help support a bucs pass rush and add another weapon to the Bucs arsenal they have effectively used to control the rushing attack of other teams.

Ravens- Rondale Moore, WR

The Ravens are… lacking at the WR position, and for that reason they select the best WR left on the board. Rondale Moore brings a good weapon for Lamar Jackson to throw to, and support the talented young QBs development as a passer.

Saints- Zaven Collins, LB

The Saints are likely to lose Drew Brees this offseason, but unfortunately I think they won’t be able to get a QB that can fully fill his shoes. So instead of trying to recapture the magic of that short passing attack they support the new QB, whoever it is, by adding a versatile defensive weapon that can make a dangerous Saints defense even more of a nightmare. His prowess as a blitzer is appealing to Payton, and I think that while Collins could bust out his athletic traits plus his versatility will draw Payton in.

Bills- Azeez Ojulari, EDGE

The Bills have a hell of an offense nowadays, but the once elite defense is in need of a little bit of support in order to reclaim what they were in 2019. This comes by trying to increase the pass rush of the team, as it allows the safeties and White to work their magic and lock down the passing game. Ojulari is not my personal favorite prospect, but he has talent and I think McDermott would be wise to take a shot on him.

Packers- Chris Olave, WR

Aaron Rodgers is coming off an MVP campaign, and that is without having a real WR2. The Packers decide to add strength to an already terrifying passing game by adding one of the best route runners in the class. He may not transform into an elite #1 option, but Olave is a great target for the Pack to try and further an already terrifyingly powerful offense.

Chiefs- Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL

Alijah Vera-Tucker is a steady player that has the potential to be a contributor at the guard slot, and the projected superbowl champions struggled up the middle badly. Patrick Mahomes is everything to this franchise, and using yet another 1st round pick to protect him would be a wise decision.

Jaguars- Jalen Mayfield, OT

The Jaguars learn from the Bengals mistakes and immediately make moves to shore up a mediocre O-Line that could get their new franchise QB seriously injured. They do this by bringing in a solid OT prospect to try and offer Lawrence protection from good edge rushers. While not a perfect OT prospect, Mayfield is a slam-dunk pick for a team looking to protect their new QB.

Jets- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

I LOVE Amon-Ra. He will be a steal in this draft, and only to meet rule #1 will I qualify that he does still have some bust potential. By drafting St. Brown, the new QB on the block in Fields for the Jets gets a weapon to grow with. This strategy has worked in recent years (Burrow-Higgins, Jones-Slayton), and the Jets bring in a great weapon to try and replicate this strategy.

Falcons- Dylan Moses, LB

As I said earlier, the Falcons need help at every level of their defense. That being said, with Deion Jones already in the linebacking corp they can afford to make a risky decision and draft a dominant athlete who has unfortunately underperformed in his last season in college. This pick is a high risk / high reward decision, but the Falcons need to roll the dice if they want to be relevant again any time soon.

Dolphins- Travis Etienne, RB

The Dolphins continue to commit to rebuilding their team to fit the skillset of Tua Tagovailoa, and part of that plan includes obtaining a much better running game than the one they currently have. Etienne isn’t a perfect prospect, but what he brings is a pedigree of success to the Dolphins that would certainly be appealing to Flores. Etienne, Sewell, and Bateman could bring a spark to an offense that desperately needs one.

Eagles- Nick Bolton, LB

The Eagles are bad, but the Linebacking corp needs extra attention. For this reason they take the best Linebacker left on the board in Nick Bolton. He won’t solve all of this defenses problems as they are likely to lose their best player in Brandon Graham, but maybe he can stem the bleeding of a mediocre defense that is only getting worse.

Bengals- Terrace Marshall Jr., WR

While earlier I said I didn’t believe the Bengals needed an elite #1 wideout, they can definitely afford to go and get another decent one. This is where Marshall Jr. comes in, the big man is a college teammate of Joe Burrow’s, and could be a contributor in the red zone. While I personally don’t expect him to be the best WR in this class, his size makes him someone you can’t take your eyes off of, which helps the already great other members of the Bengals skill positions.

Bengals (Via ATL)- Creed Humphrey, IOL

The Bengals continue to rebuild the O-Line to protect their investment in Joe Burrow by adding a good interior lineman to shore up a weak point on the team. Humphrey is also a big man and can contribute heavily to the rushing attack leveled by Gio Bernard and Joe Mixon. This may not be the sexiest draft for the Bengals, but they do what they have to do to maximize their investment in Joe Burrow.

Broncos- Daviyon Nixon, DL

The Broncos continue to invest in their defense by adding an interior DL that can work alongside Chubb, Miller, and Casey to create an absolute monster of a pass rush. Nixon is not a slam dunk pick, especially because the Broncos are drafting to add to an existing strength of theirs, but if they want to survive vs. the Elite deep passers in the AFCW, they need to be able to get to the QB quickly. For that basic reason, they invest heavily in their defense in the early round of this draft.

Lions- Kyle Trask, QB

If not this offseason, then sometime soon Matthew Stafford’s time in Detroit is coming to an end. The Lions get another QB through the door to backup the aging Stafford for the short term while he develops into hopefully the franchise guy in Detroit. Lord only knows they need one after the only thing keeping that team from drowning in Stafford is gone.

Patriots (Via NYG)- Pat Friermuth, TE

Bill Bellichek loves his tight ends, and this time he pulls off a trade with the Giants to leapfrog them and Jaguars to select the player aptly dubbed “Baby Gronk”. Friermuth is not a perfect prospect, some injury concerns are present, but his talents are impressive in every phase of the game and the Patriots should kill to have a weapon like this. The Giants do this to supplement a move they make later on in this mock.

Falcons (Via SF)- Trevon Moehrig-Woodard, S

For one last time, the Falcons need help at every level of the defense and this time they get a safety to work the secondary of this defense. Moehrig is an impressive player to me, and I think he has a chance to outperform his draft stock and be an anchor for a struggling Falcons secondary.

Cowboys- Jay Tufele, DL

The Cowboys are egregious up the middle of their defense. It is an absolute embarrassment to watch, and for that reason they make a pick that is far from sexy in selecting Tufele. Tufele is a talented player who I believe could help remove the sad reality that RBs were able to rush all over the Cowboys defensive line for much of the year. This pick is not the sexy kind that Jerry Jones loves to make, but he needs to bite the bullet and select someone to help their struggling run defense.

Jaguars- Eric Stokes, CB

The Jaguars miss Jalen Ramsey patrolling their secondary, but now they need to replace him with a new set of DBs that can support the rebuilt edge rush of this defense. This is where Eric Stokes comes in, an SEC proven defender which may appeal to a team that needs help in the secondary.

Giants (Via NE)- Jayson Oweh, EDGE

The G-Men thank their lucky stars and select the second player of their draft that has slipped down the draft board in Jayson Oweh. The pass rusher benefited in the past from working alongside Micah Parsons, but his talents stood out in their own right this year on an otherwise disappointing Penn State defense without Micah Parsons. While I personally favor Basham as a pass rusher, Oweh is a great fit for the giants 3-4 disguise scheme and New York is lucky to have him more often than not.

Chargers- Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE

An underrated part of what made the Browns good this year was their ability to jar the ball loose and force turnovers, allowing the offense to run the score up with an otherwise mediocre defense. With Melvin Ingram likely gone, the Chargers aim to replicate the Browns in that way and select Basham Jr. The Edge Rusher out of Wake Forest is an intriguing process, but to me his ability to force fumbles is a significant boon that should draw in the Chargers and their high power offense that scores more often than not when they have the ball. Turnovers win games, and the Chargers draft Basham for his ability to force them coming off the edge opposite Bosa.

Raiders- Shaun Wade, CB

The Raiders take a chance on Shaun Wade who has regressed in a major way when he was pushed to the outside on the Buckeye defense this year. He still has the desirable physical traits, including the size and speed to bully slot receivers around the league and be effective in zone coverage against large receivers and TEs. He is a developmental prospect, but at his best he is a high-end talent, and the Raiders defense desperately needs one of those.

Cardinals- Patrick Jones II, EDGE

The Cardinals defense has a great pass rusher in Chandler Jones, but he went down this year and the team suffered for it. While Haason Reddick stepped up for them, he is headed for free agency. The Cardinals bring in a good edge rusher in Patrick Jones out of Pitt to try and make sure that the pass rushing burden doesn’t fully fall on one person like it has the past two years under Kingsbury. If Jones pans out, the Cards may be able to dominate the difficult NFCW and that is why they’ll try to beef up their pass rush.

Dolphins- Trey Smith, IOL

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I like the idea of rebuilding the Dolphins offense to match the already good defense they have built. They bring in Trey Smith to compete for an IOL job which he will likely win to form a young core of Smith and Sewell on that O-Line. The idea of this draft being to give Tua a new weapon and a good run game to lean on, and if he can’t make the most of it then the next QB will have a great situation to walk into.

Football Team- Kadarius Toney, WR

One of my favorite prospects goes to one of my least favorite teams. As a Giants fan living in DC, I would be absolutely crushed if this happens but ultimately I think it makes too much sense. Toney is a great weapon in terms of breaking tackles, joining an already slippery Washington offense built around Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin for Mac Jones to pilot. While he is far from a complete player, Toney is a fun weapon that I believe Meshes well with Mac Jones and what Rivera is trying to build in Washington, and for that reason he is a great pick at 51st overall in the draft.

Bears- Walker Little, OT

The Bears draft another monster OT to work opposite of Cosmi. Walker Little can support the plan I have proposed for the Bears draft to try and become a good rushing attack, and he can become an NFL caliber pass blocker in my opinion. The Bears need a new direction, and being a team that punches people in the mouth in the trenches is one that they can certainly achieve with these two picks.

Titans- Marvin Wilson, DL

The Titans need a lot of help rushing the passer, and they take another pass rusher who has shown flashes of being a great NFL caliber talent. Wilson at the interior position for the Seminoles shows pass rushing talent, but his floors have been unfortunately low. The hope for the Titans is that he and Rousseau can develop into a great interior / exterior edge rushing tandem that may save a struggling pass rush on an otherwise playoff caliber team.

Colts- Joe Tryon, EDGE

The Colts are, in my opinion, one of the best coached teams in the NFL, and they know that as well. For this reason they take an intriguing project edge rusher in Joe Tryon. He has nearly every physical trait you look for in an elite NFL pass rusher, while also having very few of the desired techniques of one. The Colts take a risk and pick him, trusting that over the next few years they can unlock his potential.

Steelers- Liam Eichenberg, OT

The starting OT of the Steelers in Zach Banner ultimately went down with a season ending injury early in the 2020 season while the rest of the O-Line only gets older, and for this reason they inject a rookie into the group. Eichenberg is a promising prospect, and I believe that the Steelers are a good place to utilize his talents.

Seahawks- Josh Myers, IOL

Not my favorite pick of the draft, but the Steelers need help up the middle of the trenches and if they intend to commit to running the ball more they need it double. Myers is reached for a bit in order to supplement this need, and his help both in the run game and passing attack will surely be appreciated by Seahawks HC Pete Caroll.

Giants (Via LAR)- Brevin Jordan, TE

Using their third round pick and some of the assets acquired from the patriots trade the Giants move back up into the first round to select a TE of their own. The Rams need to recoup picks from their litany of trades over the past few years, and they gain more mid round picks to supply depth to their otherwise top-heavy team. The Giants take a complete TE in Brevin Jordan, drawn in by the fact that he won’t be a liability in every way the same way Evan Engram was. At the very least, he likely won’t cause three separate interceptions by volleyball setting the ball into the air for the defense to catch.

Buccaneers- Jevon Holland, S

The Bucs were exposed this year when Tyreek Hill dropped 200 yards on them in a half, and as more speedster wideouts enter the league they may want to fortify the help they afford their CBs over the top. In comes Jevon Holland, a player who is just solid, I don’t view him as particularly elite but he is almost certainly going to be a good role player for the Bucs. The Bucs have their defensive playmakers in the front 7, now they just need the help up over top to let the guys up front do their work.

Ravens- Quincy Roche, EDGE

The Ravens are likely to lose Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue this offseason, and they try to solve this issue by reaching for the Miami product to support their weak edge group. It is just a solid, respectable pick to make.

Browns- Chazz Surrat, LB

The Browns need some help in the back 7, but a lot of it for the secondary will come off IR. This means another linebacker could help improve this defense, and for that reason they select the best LB left on the board in Chazz Surrat.

Saints- Levi Onwuzerike, DL

The Saints defensive leader in Cameron Jordan is only getting older, and now is the time to start finding him help and eventually, his replacement on that DL. This is where the talented Onwuzerike is drafted, as he is a flawed prospect that can learn from Jordan and eventually grow into the role of the alpha on this defensive front.

Bills- Tyson Campbell, CB

The Josh Norman experiment was… passable for the Buffalo Bills. That being said he is 33 and that secondary is already very expensive. With a pricy Josh Allen extension on the horizon, getting a good cheap CB is a smart idea for the Bills. This is why they use their second round pick to select Tyson Campbell.

Packers- Jalen Twyman, DL

It is no secret at this point that the Packers weakness is their run defense. By adding another player onto the interior defensive line they can begin to get their feet under them. This is the reason they select the Pitt product to develop and bulk up next to Kenny Clark.

Chiefs- Asante Samuel Jr., CB

The Chiefs offense is… expensive to maintain. For this reason the secondary is a bit of a revolving door for this team. With most of their starting CBs leaving this offseason, they could use a young controllable piece to develop in Spags defense. Enter Asante Samuel Jr., who gets picked to fill just that role.
Trades:

Pick 4 for Pick 12, 43, and future assets (Falcons and 49ers)
Pick 5 for Pick 8, 39, and future assets (Bengals and Panthers)
Pick 57 for 3rd Round Pick + future assets (Rams and Giants)
Pick 43 for pick 46 and future assets (Giants and Patriots)

Thanks for reading! Please leave your thoughts/criticisms below. I would love to talk about them!

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Frog's breakdown of the 49ers QB options