NFL Mock Draft with 32 Analysts, One for Every Pick

What happens when you ask 32 Fantasy Football analysts to do a first-round NFL Mock draft? They draft 12 offensive and defensive linemen, that’s what!…wait, that doesn’t sound right?

Okay, there were a few offensive players in the first-round too I guess, and there were plenty of surprises as well. I hope this is as much fun to read as it was to draft, and don’t worry, I included each analyst’s credentials and how best to reach them, so please feel free to reach out to them and tell them how wrong they were on their selections, I’m sure they’d love to hear it.

Enjoy…

2021 NFL Mock Draft

With the obvious pick here for Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence. After seeing the Jets win for the first time last season, they tanked their remaing games to enure they landed the 1.01. Jacksonville gets one of the highest rated QBs coming out of the draft in recent history. He played at a elite level at all levels so far, and Jacksonville hopes he can continue that in the pros. New coaching and some nice weapons will definitely help Lawrence that transition.

My only worry with Trevor transitioning into the NFL will be the protection he has to work with. The offensive line has some nice pieces such as Jawann Taylor and Brandon Linder. They surprisingly tagged Cam Robinson, which shocked me after how he has played. They will need to add another guard on the other side of Norwell, and probably look at tackle next year with Robinson already tagged. There is a high ceiling for Lawrence, but can he transition smoothly into the NFL? I believe he can. 

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The chalk pick here is a QB but I strongly believe that Robert Saleh and the Jets can and should build around Sam Darnold. Sewell would help the OL immediately, pairing up with last years 1st round pick, Mekhi Becton, giving the Jets one of the best young OT duos in the league. The New York market alone can attract players so if Darnold doesn’t pan out, look for a QB in 2022.

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I love Kyle Pitts. He can be huge addition to any football team. His explosiveness and ability to get open, Pitts can’t be covered by most linebackers or safeties. Teams will be forced to double him but good luck with that. He’s going to be a stud — especially in fantasy. 

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The Falcons are on the cusp of closing a chapter on a legend in Atlanta and starting a new one. Matt Ryan’s contract will house him in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium until 2023, just enough time to train another champion for the city. Enter the 6’3 228lbs QB from THE Ohio State University, Justin Sklyer Fields, in two years amassed a 179.1 QB rating, 396 comps for 5,373 yards, and 63 touchdowns; while also adding 218 rushes, for 867 yards, and 15 touchdowns.

The kid is electric on the field and has shown growth in his decision-making abilities. A highly regarded QB who was 3rd in the Heisman voting in 2020, Justin Feilds feels like he could bring the dual-threat QB back to Atlanta and I was excited to do so during this process. Big shoutout to Geoff for putting this together. 

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Most would overlook the real need for the Bengals and jump on Chase, Smith, or Waddle but if Burrow isn’t protected this season to throw then what’s the point of a 1st round WR? Sewell already off the board, makes Slater the best choice available. Slater is versatile with experience at left and right tackle as well as all over the offensive line.

In his 2019 season, he allowed zero sacks, one QB hit, and five QB hurries. That’s what the Bengals need, athleticism, grit, and a beast on the line. If Burrow has time in the pocket, then the ball can get out deep and accurately. There are plenty of tremendous wideouts in round two and three to grab, so passing up Slater here in the first was not an option.

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The Eagles are lacking talent all across the depth chart. They could easily go offense here but I believe they give Jalen Hurts and Jalen Reagor one more year to prove themselves. In the meantime, they add the best CB in the draft. The addition of a possible premiere corner to play opposite Darius Slay would really help the defense. 

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Wanna know what’s better than biting kneecaps? I’ll tell you what, snappin’ ankles is better, that’s what! So to have the sweet route running ability of the number one receiver in this draft, Ja’Marr Chase, fall here to Pick 7 – I’ll be honest – I couldn’t have had an easier decision to make considering that Detroit have receivers named ‘so what’ and ‘who cares’ on their roster.

Pair that with “Captain Anti-Yolo” in the NFL in Jared Goff and how he loves to feed “the guy that’s always open and closest to him” and I gotta say you couldn’t ask for a better situation and pairing for a rookie to walk into. Well to be fair, Green Bay is a better situation and pairing to walk into but he’s not falling that far is he…

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Carolina needs a QB. Thus, taking the best QB left on the board and one that could be taken as high as the 2nd pick. Carolina is getting a steal here. Wilson has the arm strength and athleticism to be a force this year, and he is stepping into a very good offensive situation for a rookie.

Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Robby Anderson provide some security and the playcalling will be super helpful as well. Carolina runs this up to the podium.

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Denver went out and spent in free agency to get 2 corners, Darby and Kyle Fuller. With Von Miller past his legal trouble and Justin Simmons coming in hot off his new contract, this defense could be LEGIT again, if not for the massive hole they have at LB. Listed at 6’3, 245 Parsons can play either ILB in this 3-4 scheme. With great instincts, ball skills and sure tackling, Parsons would be an immediate upgrade for Denver 

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I am a fantasy football analyst who adores elite playmakers. Paradoxically, I recognize that offensive lines win championships and unlock game-breakers. The Cowboys’ are loaded at the skill positions, and Dak Prescott will shine if given time to get the ball into the hands of his stud wide receivers. The Dallas’ offense fell apart after LT Tyron Smith went down after two games, and the unit suffered an inordinate amount of injuries.

While many experts forecast a defensive player plucked in the first round of the Draft for the Cowboys, I am taking a contrarian position and restocking the front five to protect Prescott and detonate the ground game with RB Ezekiel Elliot.

I targeted OT Rashawn Slater, but the Northwestern piledriver went to Cincinnati at pick No. 6. Luckily, OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech remained on the board. At 6’5” and 315-pounds, the two-time First Team All-ACC tackle started for three years and dominated opponents in the run game. Dallas can plug Darrisaw into the LG position next year and groom the rookie to slide over to tackle in the next three seasons.

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The New York Giants were one of the most aggressive suitors in free agency this year, filling almost all of their positional needs in the open market. The only remaining area that needs to be addressed is an edge rusher, and Kwity Paye looks to be a perfect fit. Paye grades out as one of the more explosive edge prospects in recent memory and boasts a short-area quickness that will make him a nightmare at the next level.

The Michigan senior’s elite hand technique and fluid hip movement give him leverage at the point of attack and his vision make him a plus run-stopper. Paye could use to add some weight to his frame to stay competitive at the NFL level but I expect, paired with the recently-extended Leonard Williams, Kwity Paye to play a major role in what looks to be one of the better defensive fronts in the league.

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Considered taking Trey Lance here but the 49ers are still in win now mode and the biggest weakness currently on this roster is cornerback. Patrick Surtain offers them an immediate starter to replace Richard Sherman who is still unsigned and Akhello Witherspoon who left for Seattle.

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The plan was to go OT if 1 of the top 3 were available. Considered Edge and corner here, both needs with losing Casey Heyward and possibly Melvin Ingram. Devonta Smith was just the BPA, gets another weapon to develop with Herbert opposite of Allen with Mike Williams on the last year of his contract. Smith was too good to pass up, a perfect fit with Williams and Allen.

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I would have gone OL if one of two guys were still on the board but defensive end id a major need for the Minnesota Vikings. Besides Danielle Hunter the Vikings are weak on the line and Gregory Rousseau is th perfect type of player they need. The 6’7″ 265 pound defensive end is the explosive type of player that head coach Mike Zimmer has been looking for. I thought there was a chance Rousseau wasnt going to be on the board when my pick was up.

One reason is that he did opt out of the 2020 season. Many people thought it was a bad decision since he was only a redshirt Sophomore. The Vikings have many issues on their roster but Rousseau will be a tremendous help in the pass rush. He will need to put on a little more weight but with an NFL weight program that shouldn’t be an issue. 

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The Patriots may have re-signed Cam Newton to a $14 million deal, but that number is skewed. His deal is heavily slated with incentives to reach the $14 million max, which leaves the door open for the Patriots to select the future to the throne. If Mac Jones falls to the Patriots at pick No. 15, they’ll pull the trigger. While Jones does come with mobility questions, he makes up with it with accuracy and ball-placement. He also brings intangible qualities like elite preparation, leadership traits, and on-field awareness. Jones played around NFL-caliber talent at Alabama.

If he was to be selected by most rebuilding teams without a lot of talent around him, it could prove disastrous. However, that is not the case if he lands with the Patriots. Not only are they well-coached, which is a given, but they also added a plethora of talent on either side of the football in free agency. Jones to the pats is a lock if he is there for the taking. 

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Is the 1st round too early for a runnign back? For a team that has addressed other needs in free agency, the Cardinals are one of the perfect candidates to use their first round slection on the RB sport. With the 16th overall pick, I have Arizona selecting Najee Harris. Contact balance is his most dominant trait, as he fights for extra yards with sucess.

At 6’3″ 230lbs, Harris would fill an exact role that the Cardinals need: goal-line back. Harris can be the type of difference-maker in the red zone, with his running technique and his physical stature. As further justification for a running back in round one, Harris caught a combined 70 receptions during his final two seasons in college. He can be a true 3-down workhorse for the Cardinals.

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The Raiders have a lot of holes on the Defense and I think they need to start with the secondary. I was debating about grabbing a LB here but I think being able to grab Horn here is a great pick and will help the Raiders a lot in hope to bring the team back to a playoff contender.

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The Dolphins have a good defense, but the loss of Kyle Van Noy at LB created a significant hole in the front seven. Luckily the Dick Butkus award winner (best LB in college football) is here for Miami’s second, first-round selection. Owusu-Koramoah is a dynamic athlete with a safety/linebacker body type which could allow him to become a RB/TE coverage specialist.

He offers versatility based on his size and athleticism, but most of all he offers speed. Speed kills in a league moving further away from the 250 lb thumpers of yesteryear. This selection would give Miami one of the fastest LB corps in the NFL and add another weapon to Brian Flores’s already impressive defense.

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It became apparent last season that the drop off between Terry McLaurin and everyone else in the WFT receiving corps is vast. Washington is in desperate need of a true second threat at wide out. With the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback, they are primed for the opportunity to exploit the addition of Jalen Waddle to the team. He seems to get lost in the mix due to his injury, but a talent like Waddle slipping in the draft is exactly what the Football Team needs right now. 

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The Bears need a lot of help but without a franchise QB none of the other positions really matter. Dalton will be a great mentor to a rookie QB in Trey Lance who joins a team in transition. Lance has the talent and as a first round pick by the Bears he’ll have the opportunity, just not immediately. Hopefully Robinson sticks around for longer than just this season and can help Lance become the true QB of the future for the team from the Windy City.

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The Colts had a strong defense in 2020. They averaged 2.3 sacks per game. Justin Houston is a current FA. Even if he does return, he is 32 years old. Nick Bolton didnt have a strong history in sacks but he made his damage with tackles for a loss. He has 16.5 tackles for loss during his final two seasons at Missouri. He is undersized but he makes up for that with toughness and speed at the position. 

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Another pass-catcher is definitely needed by the Titans, but the CB position is needed to be filled as well, so Asante Samuel Jr. would be a guy hard to pass up on here. Samuel is a definite upgrade to Tennessee’s secondary that can create turnover with his skills and athleticism. The guy has NFL DNA in his blood, with his father being a former Pro-Bowl player. For being a smaller player, Samuel Jr. combines quickness, scrappiness, and instincts to be a playmaker at the next level. 

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After the Jets tooke Penei Sewell with the 2nd overall pick, it looks like they are sticking with Sam Darnold. The Jets adding pass catchers in free agency with the additions of Keelan Cole and Corey Davis. Adding them to Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder leaves them with a plethora of WR2/3 players but lack a true WR1. Bateman can instantly be that WR1 for the team as one of the most nuanced and smooth route runners in this draft.

Add that to his strong sure hands, NFL ready frame and his ability to line up all across the formation makes him a welcomed addition. Going Travis Etienne or Javonte Williams here was intriguing with the fact that the Jets are likely to be starting La’Mical Perine at the moment. One of these guys likely falls to the Jets in the 2nd round though where the Jets hold the second pick in the second round. Bateman gives Darnold the best receiver he has had the opportunity to work with and could be great for Darnold’s development. 

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Steelers have a few needs but none are more pressing than addressing the offensive line. Especially being Big Ben’s final year, this pick makes a lot of sense. I think the Steelers can nab a solid Running Back in round 2 (Thought about Travis Etienne). Personally I would really like if the Steelers could land Christian Darrisaw (VT) or Rashawn Slater (NW), but Jenkens is a pretty nice consolation prize.

His reach is the biggest concern coming out of college and the lack of competition he has faced, but he has strong fundamentals, he can get to the next level of the defense (Linebackers) quick with significant control and impact, most importantly can play multiple positions at the offensive line including the inside where his reach is less of a concern. 

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With Jacksonville getting their quarterback of the future in Trevor Lawrence, they need to start fixing their defense. This pick came down to Alabama Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore or TCU Safety Trevon Moehrig. While Moehrig was tempting, the upside and potential of Barmore was too good to pass up.

Barmore is an explosive three-technique tackle who is the most athletic player at his position in this draft. At 6’5 310 pounds he is the ideal size for a DT in the NFL and he should be able to play in any defensive system. The Jaguars would be a great fit for his profile and he would provide them with an immediate upgrade at the position. He will be a force in pass rush and with some coaching could be a force against the run as well.

Barmore could be the game-changer on defense that Jacksonville has long needed from the position. If Barmore slips to the Jaguars at this spot he should be the pick. 

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The Browns need help across from Myles Garrett at the EDGE position to take some pressure off one of the best in the game. Azeez Ojulari is a versatile option that has top ten potential. The explosive rusher is able to bend and get around defenders quickly and to the quarterback.

With his first step and probably seeing little double teams in Cleveland due to Garrett, Ojulari should be a phenomenal addition to the defense. With his non-stop motor and athleticism Ojulari can play all three downs for the Browns giving the answer they have struggled to find in recent years via free agency. 

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Ravens double down on the running game and draft an offensive linemen to build one of the best lines in football. Tucker is a better run blocker than pass blocker which suites the Ravens style of offense. Tucker is big (6’4, 315lbs), and is versatile enough to play both guard and tackle in the NFL. Tucker was Pac-12 All conference two years in a row. Tucker should see immediate playing time.

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The Saints have lost multiple starters on defense this offseason and could use a young edge rusher to help fill the void that Trey Hendrickson left. That is where Jaelan Phillips steps in. Not only does Phillips remind me of Hendrickson, but he possesses a phenomenal blend of power, size, and athleticism that should translate well to the NFL.

Lining up Phillips across from former first-round pick Marcus Davenport gives the Saints a formidable young core of EDGE rushers that can play all three downs. 

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If the board falls this way on April 29th, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Green Bay trade out of the First Round. While most analysts have them taking a wideout, I’m not convinced the organization is as desperate to surround Aaron Rodgers with weapons as commentators are. Glaringly, the Packers front office has not addressed their need at the position sufficiently in free agency.

Maybe they will take a WR early in the 2021 NFL Draft after all? The best receiver left on the board is undoubtedly Kadarius Toney. As a smaller guy (5′ 11″), he might see most of his snaps from the slot position. He could be a reliable option on short routes, demanding defenses take some of their attention away from Devante Adams. 

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Before free agency, I would have likely gone with an offensive lineman, but retaining both Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams allows the Bills to draft a running back as they search for the missing piece of this already dynamic offense.

Clemson running back Travis Etienne gives Buffalo a back that can do it all. Etienne can catch passes, break tackles, and take to the house with breakaway speed. This offense needs a playmaker at running back to take this offense to the next level, and the Tigers tailback fits like a charm. 

The Chiefs got embarrassed in the trenches during the Super Bowl. You have seen them address this issue very early via free agency. While they have made significant strides to upgrade this need, they still need to fill the shoes of the two starting tackles they released. Cosmi is one of the most experienced tackles in the class and has the potential to be a contributor from day 1.

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Onwuzurike’s ability to stuff the run and use his athleticism to push offensive lineman back makes him a perfect fit in the Bucs’ 3-4 scheme. With Ndamukong Suh entering free agency, a team with very few holes fills in a spot along their defensive front. Do not be surprised if Alim McNeil, DT from NC State climbs up draft boards as his athletic profile bodes well for dominating the combine.

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