2021 NFL Draft Round 1

After too damn many months of mock drafts and ever-changing hot takes the 2021 NFL Draft finally arrived. 

2021 NFL Draft Round 1

1.   Jacksonville Jaguars-Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

2.   New York Jets-Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

3.   San Francisco 49ers-Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

4.   Atlanta Falcons-Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

5.   Cincinnati Bengals-Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

6.   Miami Dolphins-Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

7.   Detroit Lions-Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

8.   Carolina Panthers-Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina 

9.   Denver Broncos-Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

10. Philadelphia Eagles-DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

11. Chicago Bears-Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

12. Dallas Cowboys-Michael Parsons, LB, Penn State

13. Los Angeles Chargers-Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

14. New York Jets-Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

15. New England Patriots-Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

16. Arizona Cardinals-Zaven Collins, LB,Tulsa

17. Las Vegas Raiders-Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

18. Miami Dolphins-Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami

19. Washington Football Team-Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

20. New York Giants-Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

21. Indianapolis Colts-Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

22. Tennessee Titans-Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

23. Minnesota Vikings-Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

24. Pittsburgh Steelers-Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

25. Jacksonville Jaguars-Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

26. Cleveland Browns-Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

27. Baltimore Ravens-Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota 

28. New Orleans Saints-Payton Turner, Edge, Houston

29. Green Bay Packers-Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

30. Buffalo Bills-Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami

31. Baltimore Ravens-Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Joe Tyron, Edge, Washington

Draft Day Trades:

1. Dallas surprisingly sent the 10th to division foe Philadelphia. The Eagles selected Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith. The Cowboys selected Penn State linebacker from their new draft location.

2. The New York Giants sent the 11th pick to Chicago. The Bears got their quarterback. Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Strong move by the Bears. The Giants landed a playmaker in Florida receiver Kadarius Toney at #20. 

The Bears leap of nine picks to land their quarterback was probably the best and boldest move of the first round. 

3. Minnesota traded the 14th pick to the Jets. USC offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker was selected by the Jets. The Vikings selected their left tackle at #23. Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw. 

Only three trades during the first round? There were as many first round trades in the month leading up to the draft. 

A few first round notes:

-6 Alabama players in the first round. No surprise there. 

-7 offensive players were selected before the first defensive player (Cornerback Jaycee Horn at #8)

-An edge rusher wasn’t announced until the Miami Dolphins selected Miami’s Jaelan Phillips at #18. The first round then closed with four of the final five picks being edge rushers. 

-Speaking of defense, only four of the first 16 players selected were defensive players. Things balanced out a bit over the back half of the first round. 10 of the final 16 players selected were defensive players

Some Vikings notes:

In the trade with the Jets, the Vikings dropped nine spots and still added a player in Christian Darrisaw that they probably considered at #14. In dropping back those nine spots they added two third-round picks. That’s a win. 

Here’s the trade:

Vikings get:

#23 pick

3rd (#66)

3rd (#86)

Jets get:

#14 pick

4th (#143)

It was disappointing that the trade didn’t bring a second-round pick in return. Two thirds, and the earlier third being the round’s second pick, should give Rick Spielman enough draft cash to get into the second round. 

The Vikings have 10 picks remaining:

3(66)

3(78)

3(86)

3(90)

4(119)

4(125)

4(134)

5(157)

5(168)

6(199)

The Vikings must find a way to get into the second round. 

In his post-draft presser, Mike Zimmer wasn’t handing the left tackle job to his new left tackle. Christian Darrisaw will have to compete for the job that he was selected in the first round to fill. 

When the 20s hit and Darrisaw and Kwity Paye were still on the board I was feeling pretty good about the Vikings landing a player that I liked a lot. The unfortunate thing was that the Indianapolis Colts at #21 entered the draft with a couple of the same need as the Vikings. Left tackle and edge. I was sad when the Colts selected Paye but happy that Darrisaw was still available. For some reason I wasn’t too worried about the Tennessee Titans thrashing my happiness. 

The 2021 NFL Draft continues tonight with the second and third rounds.