by Aaron Jaffe ’21

Following Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady’s dominating 7th Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs and an highly eventful free agency period, the final stage of the offseason is upon us. The NFL draft is the most influential event for every franchise. You can make a pick that elevates your franchise into Super Bowl contenders for the foreseeable future, like Patrick Mahomes to KC in 2017, or you can buckle your odds at postseason contention for years, like Mitch Trubisky to the Bears in the same draft class as Mahomes. Without further ado, let’s mock who will help their February football dreams and who puts their success in jeopardy.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Jacksonville lands arguably the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012. With a new culture coming to Duval with Urban Meyer coming out of retirement to coach the Jags, this pick alone makes Jacksonville watchable for the next few years. There are a lot of holes left to fill on the roster, but don’t be surprised to see Jacksonville in division title contention in a weak AFC South.

2. New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU

Like Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow of previous drafts, Wilson wasn’t near the top of any draft board before this college season. The hype surrounding Wilson along with the excitement of new head coach Robert Salah has fans thinking the franchise is finally turning around. However, this pick feels incredibly risky and is more likely to land the Jets right back in the top 5 of next year’s draft rather than in competition for the playoffs.

3. San Francisco 49ers (via trade): QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

Mac Jones or Justin Fields? It’s been up for debate for weeks and all reports indicate the Niners are leaning towards Jones. It’s important to note that this time of year produces the most smokescreen reports and Fields is clearly the better prospect. The 49ers have a Super Bowl ready roster and allowing Fields to sit and learn behind Jimmy Garappolo not only allows San Francisco to be competitive as early as this season, but for the next 5 years when eventually the Niners transition on from Garoppolo. 

4. Atlanta Falcons: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

The best non-QB prospect in the draft crosses over the state line from where he played college ball. Pitts is more than just a prototypical tight end. He has the frame built for the position with the speed and receiving skills of a wide receiver. Atlanta could go QB and start the rebuild, but with the best offensive weapon being added alongside Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, the Falcons would have a top tier offense that instantly puts them back into playoff contention for as long as Matt Ryan sticks around.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon

How can you best surround your franchise quarterback? Keep him standing long enough to make plays. Joe Burrow has already suffered one major injury and is one away from being injury prone. Sewell is a surefire 10 year pro and would help solidify a weak o-line. The Bengals don’t become playoff contenders overnight but the future is much brighter with Sewell holding down the blindside.

6. Miami Dolphins (via trade): WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

Miami just keeps winning. After trading out of the 3rd pick and back into the 6th pick, the Dolphins can add the best wide receiver in the draft. Adding Chase gives Tua Tagovailoa every opportunity to take this Super Bowl ready roster into the postseason. If Tua doesn’t work out, the receiving duo of DeVante Parker and Ja’Marr Chase will still wreak havoc for years to come.

7. Detroit Lions: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

Detroit needs a lot of help, and a receiver could fill a bigger hole here, but the smart move is to take the best defender in the draft at 7. Parsons instantly becomes the leader of the defense and starts the rebuild right. The Lions won’t be in the playoffs this upcoming season and maybe not even the year after that, but Parsons raises the ceiling of the team more than a receiver could.

8. Carolina Panthers: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

After spending each and every pick on the defense last draft and making a move to add QB Sam Darnold, the Panthers are in prime position to address the biggest flaw on the team, the o-line. Carolina’s offensive weapons are miles better than Darnold ever had with the Jets and adding arguably the best offensive lineman to the roster should keep Carolina in the playoff hunt for a few years.

9. Denver Broncos: QB Mac Jones, Alabama

Denver has been searching for their long term QB for what feels like forever. While QB Trey Lance has more potential, Jones is more NFL ready today. The Broncos don’t want to sit a year and wait to develop a guy like Lance. Drew Lock is on the hot seat and Jones could come in as soon as halfway through the year. Stability at the QB position and the return of LBs Von Miller and Bradley Chubb makes Denver an extremely competitive team for the near future.

10. Dallas Cowboys: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama

While Jerry Jones loves offense, this defense and more specifically the secondary is in desperate need of a lockdown corner. Everyone knows about the offense in Dallas, but scoring 40 means nothing if you give up 41 a game. Adding a corner like Surtain makes the defense not horrific and in the NFC East, you don’t need to be elite on both sides of the ball to take home the division.

11. New York Giants: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles (via trade): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Chargers: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
14. Minnesota Vikings: DE Kwity Paye, Michigan
15. New England Patriots: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
16. Arizona Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
17. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
18. Miami Dolphins: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
19. Washington Football Team: LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky
20. Chicago Bears: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
21. Indianapolis Colts: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
22. Tennessee Titans: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
23. New York Jets (via trade): OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade): LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
26. Cleveland Browns: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
27. Baltimore Ravens: WR Terrance Marshall, LSU
28. New Orleans Saints: DE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
29. Green Bay Packers: WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville
30. Buffalo Bills: RB Javonte Williams, UNC
31. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NT Christian Barmore, Alabama