2021 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterbacks will be on demand
By Brian Emory
The 2021 NFL Draft is exactly one week away, and though the Houston Texans are one of the teams that currently doesn’t have a first-round pick, what happens on day one of the draft will ultimately affect whom the Texans eventually select.
The first round of the 2021 NFL Draft will bring excitement, and here is what the Toro Times believes will happen with our first-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
One of the easiest first overall choices in the history of the NFL Draft. If you’re selecting first overall, your quarterback play isn’t good enough. The Jaguars add a blue-chip prospect that is a strong bet to become the face of the city over the next decade.
What this means for the Houston Texans: Well, it doesn’t mean anything good. With only one playoff appearance over the past decade, the Jaguars have quite literally been an AFC South punching-bag over recent seasons. That is probably about to change as the Jaguars potentially have a young Top 5 quarterback on their hands.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
The second overall pick is almost as much of a lock as the first. After trading Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers, the Jets taking a quarterback is a formality at this point. With some strong QB prospects still on the board, the Jets will be taking BYU’s Zach Wilson. Wilson features positive arm talent, and his sandlot-style of play is seen as a perfect fit for the direction of the modern NFL.
3. San Francisco 49ers: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
After trading for the third overall choice, the 49ers will also be taking a quarterback. However, the picture isn’t near as clear here. When this trade happened, everyone assumed this would be Justin Fields or Trey Lance. That narrative quickly shifted, as legitimate NFL Insiders began to report that this was likely for Alabama’s Mac Jones. I just don’t see it. There’s a chance Jones could have been had with the 12th selection anyways. This could come back to bite me, but I still think this ultimately winds up being Fields. Just a gut feeling.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
This is where the 2021 NFL Draft truly begins. While San Francisco’s choice is still up in the air, we know that it ultimately will be one of the signal-callers. All the reporting so far makes it sound like the Falcons are legitimately torn. They could take a lethal weapon such as Kyle Pitts and make one more run with Matt Ryan. The Falcons also can trade down for a king’s ransom of draft choices, or they can take their quarterback of the future. With a new head coach and new general manager, they probably end up going with whichever quarterback makes it to them. Trey Lance could be an absolutely perfect fit for what Arthur Smith wants to do on offense.