San Francisco 49ers News

2021 Way-Too-Early Mock Draft

Today we have some FUN and get a sneak peek at some 2021 prospective prospects who could hear their named called on day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft!

By Alex Eisen@AlexG_Eisen Apr 27, 2020, 5:00am PDT

Greetings Faithful! This has become a fun tradition for me at Niners Nation these last handful of years. That as soon as the NFL Draft ends, I officially begin my march towards next year’s draft with a WAY-TOO-EARLY Mock draft.

A couple of things. This mock draft is purely for fun TRUST ME…No speculation, no predictions, no serious thoughts. Instead, just a fun way to offer a sneak-peek into who might hear their name called on night one of the 2021 NFL Draft. Please don’t take it seriously and don’t jump to conclusions. DO bookmark this page and let me know a year from now how accurate or how far off I really was!

Lastly, before I begin this mock, I just want to thank you all for your comments, thoughts, and feedback throughout the college football season, draft lead-up, and of course, the draft. Your feedback has helped me grow as a writer, and I am looking forward (Should it be safe to play) to covering college football and prospective 2021 Draft prospects later this year.

For now, enjoy the first of TOO MANY MOCKS that you will read between now and the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland. Share your thoughts in the comments below…and remember…this is for FUN! Except the 49ers pick…That one is a lock a year from now! ENJOY!

For this mock draft order, I used 2021 Super Bowl Odds:

Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence, QB – Clemson

College Football Playoff National Championship - Clemson v LSU

No, I am not selecting Trevor Lawrence 1st overall because I am a Clemson supporter, but because he was the number one overall pick the moment he led Clemson past Alabama in the 2019 National Championship Game, if not before that. The only thing stopping Lawrence from going number one overall in 2021 is if Lawrence decides to play all four years…He won’t. Lawrence is a lock to go number one...the Jags will ride the Minshew Mania train all the way to their ultimate franchise quarterback.

2) Washington Redskins
Justin Fields, QB – Ohio State

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

If Josh Rosen could be a top 10 selection and get kicked around the league, so can Dwayne Haskins. Haskins need to make leaps this year, or the fanbase will be roaring for Justin Fields, who is just about the only person who will make the first overall pick dramatic leading up to the draft…It really won’t be…but the NFL will try.

3) Cincinnati Bengals
Penei Sewell, OT - Oregon

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 01 Rose Bowl - Oregon v Wisconsin

Protect Joe Burrow at all costs….I repeat…Protect Joe Burrow at all costs. The Bengals had a very easy decision to make in this draft, and should have an easy one to make next year…That decision is to protect Joe Burrow.

4) Miami Dolphins
Ja’Marr Chase, WR – LSU

The Dolphins had the least amount of NFL talent on their roster in 2019. Even with the number of selections they had, one draft will not complete the rebuild. A true number one receiver still lacks in south beach, and for now, Ja’Marr Chase is the way too early favorite to be the first receiver off the board.

5) Carolina Panthers
Gregory Rousseau, DE – Miami

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 24 Camping World Kickoff - Florida v Miami

The Panthers had seven draft picks in 2020, and used all seven on defense…Guess how they start the draft in 2021…on defense…taking the best pass rusher in our way-too-early mock draft. Rousseau is not Nick Bosa or Chase Young, but he will still be a lethal force on the Hurricanes line and will most likely be a blue-chip prospect come next year.

6) New York Jets
Shaun Wade, CB – Ohio State

DBU, aka Ohio State, will continue to pump out top 10 defensive backs year after year…and in 2021, it will be Shaun Wade. The Jets addressed the offensive line and wide receiver holes early in the 2020 Draft, but the secondary is where their attention might turn in 2021.

7) New York Giants
Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson

WRU, aka Clemson’s latest star wide receiver, put on an absolute show against Alabama as a true Freshman in 2019. Ross took a step back with Tee Higgins still on campus, but this year it will be the Justyn Ross show. The Giants get Jones his outside the numbers weapon that’s been sorely missed since OBJ was traded to Cleveland.

8) Detroit Lions
Alex Leatherwood, OT – Alabama

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: AUG 31 Chick-fil-A Kickoff - Duke v Alabama

The latest Crimson Tide tackle to be taken in the top 10 in the NFL Draft. The Lions address the line and protect whoever is under center…whether that is Matthew Stafford…cough cough…Trevor Lawrence…cough cough…Aaron Rodgers…okay, I’ll stop now.

9) Las Vegas Raiders
Patrick Surtain II, CB – Alabama

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 01 Citrus Bowl - Michigan v Alabama

The Raiders offense is going to be fast…really fast…the problem is, will their defense let them down one too many times? After reaching for a corner in the first round this year, Surtain will be anything but a reach in 2021. He could very well be the first corner off the board next year. So count on me be completely wrong with this one because like the Seahawks (More on them later), the Raiders love to reach for players come draft time.

10 ) Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)
Walker Little, OT – Stanford

Rinse and repeat from the Bengals pick…Protect Tua…Protect Tua…Protect Tua…because while everyone is one hit away…Tua is literally one hit away. Tua is a special talent, and the Dolphins found themselves a franchise quarterback. You got him a number one option early in this draft, now give him the time he needs to get his number one option the ball.

11) Arizona Cardinals
Samuel Cosmi, OT – Texas

Isaiah Simmons was a home run pick for the Cardinals…no doubt. However, when your undersized quarterback is throwing the ball 45-50 times a game…protect him at all costs. Don’t worry, Arizona, Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead, and Javon Kinlaw will offer two more friendly reminders later this year…just in case you forget.

12) Los Angles Chargers
Marvin Wilson, DT – Florida State

I always starting typing San Diego every time…At some point, I will break that habit…Oh, and the Chargers select the early best defensive tackle prospect in the 2021 draft class…That or the 49ers will trade up from pick 32 to trade for Wilson because we know how Kyle Shanahan feels about the defensive line.

13) Denver Broncos
Creed Humphrey, Center/Guard – Oklahoma

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 28 CFP Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Oklahoma v LSU

Drew Lock has a lot of new shiny toys to throw the ball to. This season we get to play the game called…”Does Drew Lock Have Enough Time To Throw The Ball To His Receivers?”. Tune in and find out this fall.

14) Atlanta Falcons
Micah Parson, LB – Penn State

Dan Quinn somehow someway will find a way to keep his tenure going in Atlanta. You just get that feeling…Quinn loves his defense and addresses the linebackers this time around.

15) Jacksonville Jaguars (From LA Rams)
Trey Smith – Guard – Tennessee

Fun Fact, Faithful! This will be the fifth year in a row the Rams do not pick in the first round…That is for half a decade! Oh, and Jacksonville, after you draft Trevor Lawrence…rinse and repeat with Cincinnati and Miami…Protect Trevor at all costs.

16) Cleveland Browns
LaBryan Ray, DT – Alabama

Maybe Baker falls off the face of the Earth, and Cleveland has their sights set on Trevor Lawrence…Or…Baker keeps it together, and they draft one of the best defensive tackle prospects in next year’s class. Remember this is Cleveland…so all bets are off when it comes to quarterbacks.

17) Chicago Bears
Jamie Newman, QB – Georgia

Bold Prediction: The Bears clean house…new GM…new coach…new QB…What in the world scouts and talking heads on TV saw in Mitch Trubisky I’ll never know…I watch a lot of ACC football…Trubisky didn’t do a thing at Carolina, …and after next year, the only thing he will be doing is holding a clipboard for another team.

18) Tennessee Titans
Dylan Moses, LB – Alabama

NCAA Football: SEC Championship-Alabama vs Georgia

Had Moses not had the knee injury, he would have been a first-round pick in 2020. Instead, the Titans or most likely another team makes him their first-round pick in 2021.

19 ) Minnesota Vikings
Richard LeCounte, Safety – Georgia

LeCounte will end the drought of safeties being selected in the first round. Also, these odds for the Vikings don’t seem right, and if this holds…is Cousins seriously the answer?

20) Dallas Cowboys
Quincy Roche, EDGE – Miami

The Cowboys have a lot of firepower on the edge. However, they also have a lot of red flags as well. Randy Gregory and Aldon Smith combined are literally like walking on hot coals barefoot. So, just in case the Cowboys get burned, Roche is one of the top edge prospects early on.

21) Pittsburgh Steelers
Jay Tufele, DT – USC

Did you know that this was the first time in the modern era that USC defender did not get drafted? Wild streak if you ask me. Tufele easily starts a new streak in 2021.

22) Green Bay Packers
Jaylen Waddle, WR – Alabama

Seriously, I think Aaron Rodgers will be the one making this selection on behalf of himself and literally nobody else.

23) Indianapolis Colts
Joe Tryon, EDGE/OLB – Washington

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 29 Washington State at Washington

Chris Ballard is one of the brightest minds and GM’s in the NFL. He addresses the trenches with first round picks almost as much as John Lynch…almost.

24) Seattle Seahawks
Israel Mukuamu, CB – South Carolina

The Seahawks really do like to reach and overdraft talent, don’t they? I’m not complaining one bit. This won’t be an overreach, but this is also a way-too-early mock draft, and the likelihood of this happening is as good as Mitch Trubisky winning MVP honors.

25) Buffalo Bills
Tyson Campbell, CB – Georgia

Can we be looking at the AFC EAST Champion Buffalo Bills? Is it possible that this is the year? According to the oddsmakers, it is not. However, I think it will be. That will not stop Brandon Beane from selecting a cornerback to add to an already stout defense.

26)Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Etienne, RB – Clemson

Jalen Hurts…sorry…Carson Wentz has a new weapon in the backfield who is going to most likely draw Alvin Kamara comparisons this time next year.

27) New England Patriots
Xavier Thomas, DE - Clemson

Can someone explain to me why New England is in this draft spot based on Super Bowl odds? I don’t know what is going to happen with New England, but only the Patriots would luck themselves into landing Trevor Lawrence...It’s not even funny, so this is the last time I will even allow such thoughts in my head.

28) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deonte Brown – Guard – Alabama

Tampa Bay, what are you doing amongst the NFL Elite at the end of the draft? We have a 6-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback under center. Isn’t he turning 44 years old before 2021 kicks off? As long as we keep protecting him, we are guaranteed a Super Bowl, right? Sure…hey, I want you to meet Nick Bosa…

29) New Orleans Saints
Brevin Jordan, TE – Miami

I wanted to go quarterback here…I mean, Drew Brees has a future as an NFL broadcaster, but something tells me he just isn’t hanging up the cleats quite yet…Jordan ends the drought of tight ends going in the first round.

30) Baltimore Ravens
Cade Mays, Guard – Tennessee

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 19 Kentucky at Georgia

I’m going to go out on a whim and say that NFL defenses will be able to stop Lamar Jackson just enough…not completely…but just enough…where protection and throwing from the pocket become more of a priority. Or…Jackson continues to run all over NFL defenses and I sound ridiculous thinking such a thing.

31) San Francisco 49ers
Patrick Johnson, DE – Tulane

Surprise Faithful! Defensive Line…and this time, the pick is Patrick Johnson, who becomes the first Tulane player in the program’s history to be drafted in the first round. If Dee Ford is on the outs in any way, Johnson is a name to watch…not kidding…no joke…Shanny loves the defensive line…and no one should be at all surprised if this is the very pick for our 49ers next year! Bookmark this page…maybe this is where you heard it first. I predicted the Javon Kinlaw pick 2 hours before the 2020 NFL Draft…Patrick Johnson 360 something days from now…why not!

32) Kansas City Chiefs
Jackson Carman, OT – Clemson

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 19 Clemson at Louisville

The Chiefs take a tackle after the 49ers get their revenge in Super Bowl 55…which means the 49ers would be picking in this spot, instead of the Chiefs.

Clearly, this mock was simply to introduce some names you should know for this upcoming college football season, and next year’s draft. Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson should have multiple prospects in round one. Hope you had fun reading it! With that said, let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below! Anyone you are excited about in the 2021 NFL Draft?

2021 Way-Too-Early Mock Draft

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