We’ve arrived at the final 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft. The point of no return is nigh. There are always some absolute head-scratchers in the NFL Draft, and this year will be particularly unique. Players opted out. Teams didn’t play entire seasons. The NFL Combine was canceled. There were no in-person prospect meetings.
Luckily for you, though, I predicted every single pick correctly in this mock draft. Obviously, that’s me being facetious. We don’t know what’s going to happen this weekend. We may as well have some fun along the way.
2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft | Picks 1-16
The first two picks are shoo-ins, but what happens after?
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
This one is boring. We’ve relatively known this was Trevor Lawrence‘s fate since his national championship run as a freshman.
2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, Brigham Young
“Wow” is about the only thing that materializes in my mind when I watch Zach Wilson. The highs are spectacular, and he’ll be involved in a system that works similarly to his offense at BYU. Heavy play-action using his legs to create on the move and outside of the pocket. If he becomes more consistent with his down-to-down play from within the pocket, he’ll be difficult to stop.
3. San Francisco 49ers (from MIA via HOU): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
I originally had Mac Jones as the pick here. But the sanctity of my left arm depends on Kyle Shanahan doing the right thing and drafting for a quarterback with the physical tools to become elite. So in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft, I did just that by taking Trey Lance. Help me, Kyle Shanahan, you’re my only hope.
4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
I wouldn’t do it. I love Kyle Pitts. His ceiling is, as Michael Jordan would say, “the roof.” But the Falcons are in a rebuild, and Arthur Smith’s offense doesn’t utilize the tight end position as Pitts should be used. It’d be like Captain Marvel in Avengers: Endgame. A freakish talent you only see in short spurts. The pick should be Justin Fields, but something tells me it isn’t.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Louisiana State
6. Miami Dolphins (via PHI): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle is the most physically gifted of the four Alabama receivers that entered the past two drafts. He’s a hybrid between former teammates Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, combining the electric footwork of Jeudy with the unbelievable speed of Ruggs.
The potential he possesses is the scariest matchup in football along with Tyreek Hill. He’s already a better route runner than he’s given credit for, and he has the natural footwork to be elite. If he becomes more nuanced, it’s over for opposing defenses (it may already be).
7. Los Angeles Chargers (via DET): Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Traded picks: 13, 47, 2022 2nd. Received picks: 7.
The most important thing you can do for your young quarterback is to protect him. There’s nothing to make him more comfortable than drafting his former left tackle in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft. Penei Sewell has the natural ability to be a perennial Pro-Bowler with legitimate All-Pro upside given his natural ability and young age.
8. New England Patriots (via CAR): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
Traded picks: 15, 46, 2022 2nd. Received picks: 8.
I hate everything. We saw the light at the end of the Patriots’ dynasty tunnel, and we went and allowed the best coach of all time to draft the quarterback he wanted all along. Although Cam Newton isn’t what he once was, I think he’s the perfect teammate and possible mentor for Justin Fields moving forward. In this situation specifically, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up the best of the entire quarterback class.
9. Denver Broncos: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
He could play tackle, guard, or center for your football team. There have been Zack Martin comps made for him. Rashawn Slater is technically refined as a blocker and offers great overall athleticism for the position.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
It just makes too much sense, Cowboys fans. Patrick Surtain II is the perfect complement to his former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs. I really battled between him and Jaycee Horn in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft, but the “safe” pick just makes sense given Diggs’s aggressive style.
11. New York Giants: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
He’s big, strong, and runs faster than 99% of wide receivers in a straight line. Outside of Penn State teammate Jayson Oweh, Parsons might be the freakiest athlete in the class. As long as he’s mature enough for the Big Apple and can develop more cognitively as a linebacker, he has the best in-the-game type traits.
12. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Horn might take the Cowboys not drafting him personally, which only helps the Eagles defensively. Jaycee Horn is like The Scarlet Witch. He’ll get in your head and take you completely out of the game mentally in the first few reps if you let him. It was tough to pass on DeVonta Smith here, but someone has to cover those ridiculous Dallas weapons.
13. Detroit Lions (via LAC): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Lions front office is maniacally laughing. They moved back, acquired another top-50 pick, and still drafted their target at the seventh pick in this 2021 4-Round NFL Mock Draft. DeVonta Smith is the exact type of receiver to best facilitate production from Jared Goff.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, Southern California
Brian O’Neill and Ezra Cleveland could be the starting tackles in Minnesota. Or, hear me out, they could play the better play, Alijah Vera-Tucker, at left tackle. Arm length be darned!
Realistically, Cleveland and Vera-Tucker will battle it out and have the best man win, with the other relegated to guard duty. However, it turns out, the Vikings still get to put the best five on the field and don’t reach for defensive line help unnecessarily.
15. Carolina Panthers (via NE): Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Christian Darrisaw is the quintessential left tackle prospect. He’s big, athletic, and an absolute force against the run as well. He’s my personal OT2 and a top-10 talent for me. Add in the offensive tackle tax associated with drafting one, and the Panthers got a steal.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
The Arizona Cardinals drafting a linebacker in Round 1 two years running is not a strategy I subscribe to personally, but it’s better than taking a running back at 16. Zaven Collins‘ frame is more reminiscent of a pass rusher than an off-ball linebacker, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Cardinals can finally get this “drafting a hybrid defender” thing right.
[su_button url=”https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2021-4-round-nfl-mock-draft-top-10-trades-in-store/2/” style=”flat” background=”#540008″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Next Page: Picks 17-32[/su_button]