The Duke's Mock Draft (2 rounds)

[THE DUKE]

Tried to hit needs, but have some value picks in here as well.  I'm not doing any trades, so don't even bother if that is your criticism. Tear away.

ROUND ONE

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson - Urban Meyer makes the obvious choice to build his franchise around.  Questions still surround if Lawrence is already peaked, but even if he has, he might be a top 10 NFL QB right now.

2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU - Wilson has the arm talent, the question now is if the tools he displayed at BYU will hold up vs much better competition than he faced.  He's a quick processor so I think he'll have some early success as long as the offensive line isn't a sieve.

3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State - Talent wise may be the most physically gifted football player in this class.  Armed with an excellent deep ball and the speed to make plays on his own, Fields will be able to sit for a year behind Jimmy G and then take over in 2022 with one of the better rosters in the NFL and one of the smartest front offices to build around him.

4. Atlanta Falcons - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - Can fill an immediate need at guard while he adjusts to the NFL after a year off due to covid, and long term projects as a potential all pro tackle once he gets his feet back under him and NFL coaching cleans up his technique a bit to go with his elite athleticism and size.

5. Cincinnati Bengals - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU - As a Bengals fan I come down happy on either side of the Chase vs Sewell debate, I think both options have their pros and cons, but in this scenario the Falcons made their choice for them. Joe Burrow reunites with his favorite target from LSU where Chase averaged over 20 yards a catch in the 2019 national championship season.

6. Miami Dolphins - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama - Reunite Tua with one of his weapons from Bama, and as a pro I like Waddle's upside more than Smith.

7. Detroit Lions - Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama - Back to back top 10 WR picks from Bama, as while I do like Waddle over Smith, that is more in support of Waddle than a knock on Smith, who is absolutely an elite talent, but I do have size concerns and found it curious he didn't want to even be measured, let alone try any tests.

8. Carolina Panthers - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State - I think picking up Darnold's fifth year option was absolutely the right call, even with this pick for the future.  That will give Lance up to two years to develop with NFL coaching and show there is no rush to put him in right away.  Elite physical gifts, but very little proven in games even against vastly inferior competition to all his contemporaries in this draft.

9. Denver Broncos - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State - While not sold on Drew Lock whatsoever, Mac Jones isn't a glaring upgrade that I pass on a potential elite defender like Parsons to take him.  Parsons athleticism and versatility can make him a weapon in any defensive front, and could be a star in Denver.

10. Dallas Cowboys - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida - Pitts is more a WR than a TE and I expect he'll be deployed as such in the NFL split out and in the slot much more than as an in line TE, which is why I think he goes a little lower than some expect.  An elite athlete with size, but still not a guy I take over the top 3 WR.

11. New York Giants - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame - JOK has a lot of helium right now and I wouldn't be completely shocked if he went before Parsons. An ideal LB for todays defenses who can cover and run with TE, RB, and some slot WR.

12. Philadelphia Eagles - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama - Not Philly's biggest need, but still a need that meets with BPA.  Surtain has the size and traits to be a shutdown CB.

13. Los Angeles Chargers - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern - Slater measured well at his pro day and showed the elite athleticism we expected and will help protect franchise QB Herbert.

14. Minnesota Vikings - Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia - Vikings get their pick of the edge players in this class at 14, which is rare, and while edge as a whole isn't strong, Ojulari showed great progress this year and could be a perennial 10+ sack contributor as the best of the bunch.

15. New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama - I'm not all that high on Jones, and the only reason he goes this high is that I think he is a perfect fit for the NE offense and will play well in the system.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina - Horn has prototypical size and speed and could develop into a CB1 if he can continue to clean his game up.

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - Phenomenal value getting Darrisaw outside of the top 15 and immediately upgrades the oline, can play either tackle spot.

18. Miami Dolphins - Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - Experienced starter who tested better than expected, can play either tackle spot and could develop into a franchise LT

19. Washington Football Team - Jarmin Davis, LB, Kentucky - One of my favorite players in the draft, will bring toughness and leadership to the defense,

20. Chicago Bears - Rashad Bateman, WR, Minnesota - Came into the year as a potential top 10 pick and displayed the athleticism you want from a WR1.  Many think he'll flourish with better talent around him than he had in Minnesota, myself being one of them.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan - One of the lone bright spots for Michigan this past year, has the tools to develop into a consistent double digit sack contributor off the edge.  May have to start in a situational role until he adds more strength.

22. Tennessee Titans - Greg Newsome, CB , Northwestern - If he were as athletic as the top CB in this class, he'd likely be CB1 in this draft.  Even so has excellent technique and skill and may have the best rookie season of any of these CB.  A plug and play CB2.

23. New York Jets - Tevin Jenkins, Oklahoma State - After adding Mechi Becton last year, they add Jenkins this year to give them bookends for the next decade and a step towards giving Zach Wilson one of the better offensive lines in the league in the next couple of years.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Najee Harris, RB, Alabama - Not their biggest need, but a need imo, and Harris could thrive with Pittsburgh as a 3 down back with size.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama - BPA at this point for me, and fills a need on the defensive line in Jacksonville.  If Barmore can consistently be what he was during the CFP, then they got a top 5 talent in the back end of rd 1.

26. Cleveland Browns - Joseph Assai, Edge, Texas - Even if the Browns sign Clowney I still think they attack edge early in the draft. Clowney likely isn't more than a 1 year deal, and may be better utilized kicking him inside on obvious pass downs and let Assai come in off the edge as a pass rush specialist before taking over an every down role in year 2.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC - I think AVT goes a little lower than some thing as I think he is a guard, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Ravens tried him at tackle.  Either way, they are adding a good lineman up front.  Worst case scenario you have a very good guard prospect, with upside to maybe stick at tackle.

28. New Orleans Saints - Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech - Would be in discussion for CB1 if not for the back injury.  The Saints have shown a willingness to take on injury risk for talent in the past and if he can stay healthy, Farley is a steal here.

29. Green Bay Packers - Terrence Marshall, WR, LSU - A year after pissing off Aaron Rodgers with a 1st rd pick, they get him a weapon to use this year.  Marshall has WR1 upside and produced in 2020 even with drastically worse QB play than he got in 2019.

30. Buffalo Bills - Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State - The Bills have a helluva roster, so they are able to take a TE in rd 1 in one of the few spots where they may get an immediate starter.  Freiermuth has the best all around in line TE game in this draft, and it's not particularly close.

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama - After losing both OT's, Leatherwood can come in and start right away.  Could possibly stick at LT, but I feel comfortable he is at worst a solid RT.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma - I think Humphrey starts this year at guard to fill a need before moving in to C long term after he's adjusted to the NFL.

Round 2

33. Jacksonville Jaguars - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
34. New York Jets - Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
35. Atlanta Falcons - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
36. Miami Dolphins - Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
37. Philadelphia Eagles - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
38. Cincinnati Bengals - Liam Eichenberg, OL, Notre Dame
39. Carolina Panthers - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
40. Denver Broncos - Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State
41. Detroit Lions - Asante Samuel Jr, CB, Florida State
42. New York Giants - Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami
43. San Francisco 49ers - Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami
44. Dallas Cowboys - Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
45. Jacksonville Jaguars - Javon Holland, S, Oregon
46. New England Patriots - Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
47. Los Angeles Chargers - Kelvin Jospeh, CB, Kentucky
48. Las Vegas Raiders - Elijah Moore, WR, Mississippi
49. Arizona Cardinals - Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State
50. Miami Dolphins - Ronnie Perkins, Edge, Oklahoma
51. Washington Football Team - Richie Grant, S, UCF
52. Chicago Bears - Wyatt Davis, G, Ohio State
53. Tennessee Titans - Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
54. Indianapolis Colts - Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
55. Pittsburgh Steelers - Carlos Basham, Edge, Wake Forest
56. Seattle Seahawks - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
57. Los Angeles Rams - Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State
58. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Tryon, Edge, Washington
59. Cleveland Browns - Alim McNeill, DT, North Carolina State
60. New Orleans Saints - Baron Browning, LB/Edge, Ohio State
61. Buffalo Bills - Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
62. Green Bay Packers - Jalen Mayfield, OL, Michigan
63. Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Myers, C, Ohio State
64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jay Tufele, DT, USC

Edited April 13, 2021 by THE DUKE
not used to Vegas Raiders

[scar988]

Quote

4. Atlanta Falcons - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - Can fill an immediate need at guard while he adjusts to the NFL after a year off due to covid, and long term projects as a potential all pro tackle once he gets his feet back under him and NFL coaching cleans up his technique a bit to go with his elite athleticism and size.

Sewell makes sense. But the Falcons really like Pitts. I'd be shocked if they passed him for Sewell.

Quote

35. Atlanta Falcons - Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
 

So the Falcons don't need an off-ball linebacker. IF they go LB, it'll be an EDGE. Someone who can rush the passer. And it won't be someone as slow as Collins is. The Falcons don't need an off ball linebacker with Foye Oluokun playing at a high level and Deion Jones being the primary off-ball guy. Even Mykal Walker had a solid rookie year last year. REal needs are at OG, RB, EDGE, CB and S.

[Cypher]

I would be utterly shocked if Carolina walked out of the top 2 rounds without a LT. We currently have Cam Erving penciled in at LT.

[onejayhawk]

2 hours ago, THE DUKE said:

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
63. Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Myers, C, Ohio State

• The team lost a starting DE, Tanoh Kpassagnon, so Edge is a top priority. Either Rousseau or Oweh work here. Why Leatherwood over Radunz or Mayfield? 
• If you are going this way, just give them Creed Humphrey at #31. The team signed a veteran C and has options behind him, notably Allegretti. Walker Little makes sense at this point. 
• Rousseau and Little would be a successful two rounds.

[FalconFan13]

With no trades involved i think Sewell is a solid pick and for sure hits the OG need for a few years.  I personally think we end up with Pitts without a trade seeing as he is a generational talent and worthy of a top 5 pick.  

As for round 2 i like Collins as a player but he really isn't a need considering he overlaps the best players we already have on defense in Debo and Foye.  So it's not a need but more so putting him as our 3rd best off ball linebacker.  We need more a Edge rushing 3-4 olb as we went to a 3-4 defense under Dean Peas this year.   But we also have a MASSSSSIVEEEE NEEEED  at Safety and we actually need 2 of them lol.  We let all 3 of our top safetys go this year in Rico, neal, and kazee.     

To me the 3 best choices the falcons could make right there would be

1.  Moehrig - Safety - A top 15 to 20 player at our biggest position of need.  So he covers BPA + major need

2. Jaelen Phillips - Edge/LB - Without his concussion problems he would probably be Edge #1 in this draft and is still worthy of a top 32 pick probably.    He is the type of LB we need not Collins.  Someone that can come in and play opposite of Fowler and get us tons of pressure.

3.  Javontae Williams - RB  -  Fits exactly what we need at RB to pair with Davis and Ito and can be arthur Smiths falcons version of Henry.  He is my #3 RB in the draft and i put him right on par with Ettiene and Harris.  Any of those 3 guys fall to us in round 2 and if we take them im jumping for joy. 

I will say i love the players that fell to us in round 2 in your draft and if it fell like this on draft day i really do hope we had traded down so we can take advantage of it and grab 2 of those guys you have available.   If we did trade down in the real draft this would be my 3 picks if we traded to say 9 and grabbed a extra 2nd + whatever.

#9 Micah Parsons - Edge/LB  - Perfect for our defense and what we need to pair with Debo and Foye. 

2A - Trevon Moehrig, - S - Again top need in draft and BPA at this pick.

2B. Javonte Williams, RB - As said above perfect pick for our offense and team

Understand you don't do trades but i hope we land one in the real draft and it goes exactly like this   this would be a dream 1st 2 days for the Falcons.

[The Gnat]

Not bad for the Vikings. I would strongly consider Darrisaw as well at 14.

[THE DUKE]

Just now, The Gnat said:

Not bad for the Vikings. I would strongly consider Darrisaw as well at 14.

Yeah, Edge vs OT was the argument there.  I like both players, and either would be a good fit.

 

15 minutes ago, FalconFan13 said:

Understand you don't do trades but i hope we land one in the real draft and it goes exactly like this   this would be a dream 1st 2 days for the Falcons.

Falcons are in a real nice spot in rd 2.  Odds are they'll have a pick of a few guys I think are top 20 talents. I get what you guys are saying about Collins not being a fit.  He's a guy I kept trying to get into rd 1 but just didn't see the spot, because I think he'll be a stud. Good points though.

 

40 minutes ago, Cypher said:

I would be utterly shocked if Carolina walked out of the top 2 rounds without a LT. We currently have Cam Erving penciled in at LT.

Felt early for Radunz, Brown, or Mayfield, but I don't think Mayfield is a LT though.  Maybe a trade down in rd 2, or a trade down from 8 to take Slater or Darrisaw?  If they go QB in 1, then it could get tough in rd 2

 

36 minutes ago, onejayhawk said:

• The team lost a starting DE, Tanoh Kpassagnon, so Edge is a top priority. Either Rousseau or Oweh work here. Why Leatherwood over Radunz or Mayfield? 
• If you are going this way, just give them Creed Humphrey at #31. The team signed a veteran C and has options behind him, notably Allegretti. Walker Little makes sense at this point. 
• Rousseau and Little would be a successful two rounds.

Myers can also start at G, I think he is going to be good anywhere on the interior OL.  What's the plan for OT though if not Leatherwood? Thuney will hold down one G spot.  Rousseau does make sense as well though.

[Trentwannabe]

Not a very good Bills draft.

Freiermuth doesn't move the needle for Buffalo in any way IMO. Is he an upgrade over Knox year 1? I doubt it.

Creed Humphrey, Etienne, Landon Dickerson, Jaelen Phillips, Samuel Jr and Zaven Collins all make way more sense. 

Bills have both their LT and RT locked up long term so Spencer Brown in round 2 seems like a waste. 

[THE DUKE]

6 minutes ago, Trentwannabe said:

Not a very good Bills draft.

Freiermuth doesn't move the needle for Buffalo in any way IMO. Is he an upgrade over Knox year 1? I doubt it.

Creed Humphrey, Etienne, Landon Dickerson, Jaelen Phillips, Samuel Jr and Zaven Collins all make way more sense. 

Bills have both their LT and RT locked up long term so Spencer Brown in round 2 seems like a waste. 

Apparently the site I was reading Bills needs on stinks, haha.  Most offenses do use 2 TE a good bit nowadays though.

[Trentwannabe]

22 minutes ago, THE DUKE said:

Apparently the site I was reading Bills needs on stinks, haha.  Most offenses do use 2 TE a good bit nowadays though.

Bills used more 3 and 4 WR sets than anyone last year. I think they're content with Kox in year 3 and Hollister added to the mix. I could see them adding a traditional blocking TE  at some point.

[LinebackerGod]

Joseph Ossai is poop compared to Rousseau and Phillips. One of them to Cleveland...or Farley, if you ask me. 

[LinderFournette]

4 hours ago, scar988 said:

So the Falcons don't need an off-ball linebacker. IF they go LB, it'll be an EDGE. Someone who can rush the passer. And it won't be someone as slow as Collins is. The Falcons don't need an off ball linebacker with Foye Oluokun playing at a high level and Deion Jones being the primary off-ball guy. Even Mykal Walker had a solid rookie year last year. REal needs are at OG, RB, EDGE, CB and S.

I guess u don't realize is that Collins projects well as a sam lber.  To me Collins slides in as 3-4 olb who isn't the primary edge rusher.  He's can cover, rush, and defend the run well. 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

Everyone loves to give GB a WR with their first round pick and every time it isn't what happens. It is not likely to happen this year either. If that is how things panned out I would assume Gute is working a trade back. Mayfield in the second is a good selection though. 

[LinderFournette]

If pitts is sliding towards 10 I'm sure the jags will be calling as we need a move te which he projects well at.  I think down the line pitts can eventually be an inline guy. 

 

[scar988]

16 minutes ago, LinderFournette said:

I guess u don't realize is that Collins projects well as a sam lber.  To me Collins slides in as 3-4 olb who isn't the primary edge rusher.  He's can cover, rush, and defend the run well. 

I guess you don't realize that the Falcons have one that is better than Collins and is faster, and better in coverage than Collins is. Or that off-ball LB like Collins isn't what they need for an EDGE. They need a true pass rushing edge. They don't have a primary pass rushing edge right now. That's the biggest weakness on defense. Collins being selected does nothing to actually help the Falcons because he's not a pass rusher, and I disagree that he's a 3-4 OLB. he's an ILB. He's like Tedy Bruschi but with worse coverage. Collins doesn't fit the need for what Atlanta has. That's the bigger point. he doesn't fit Atlanta as an OLB. that's the bigger point.