Schulte’s 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
17) Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR): Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Jaguars spent a first-round pick on a cornerback last year in Florida’s CJ Henderson, but that shouldn’t stop them from investing in Shaun Wade should he be here. D.J. Hayden and Tre Herndon are both set to hit free agency, both of whom played over 500 snaps on defense for Jacksonville last year. Wade is a bit of a projection with no Big Ten season at the moment, but projects well into the nickel role at the next level.
18) Green Bay Packers: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Linking Green Bay to a wide receiver seems like a tired pick, but it’s obvious that the team really needs them. Davante Adams is a superstar, and Allen Lazard enjoyed a breakout-ish season, but the rest of the group is unproven. Moore is an electric playmaker who can stretch the field and open up the playbook for Matt LaFleur.
19) Tennessee Titans: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
Barmore is a projection at this stage, but his ceiling as an interior pass rusher is at the top of this class. His quickness off the line of scrimmage and power as a pass rusher give him a nifty toolbox to work with to start his career next to Jeffery Simmons. With Casey gone, that spot is wide open.
20) Buffalo Bills: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
Oweh is a long, explosive pass rusher with all the tools built for NFL success. Oweh reportedly owns a 36.5″ vertical and a 10’7″ broad jump, which are insane numbers for a 6’5, 260-ish pound edge rusher. He’s noticeably raw as a pass rusher, but with Mario Addison, Jerry Hughes, and AJ Epenesa there in Buffalo, Oweh can develop and take advantage of his natural tools.
21) New York Jets (via SEA): Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan
The Jets traded away their best pass-rusher to get this pick, so it’s only fitting they add another one with it. Paye isn’t the most high-upside pass rusher, but he offers good power and has a reliable pass-rush plan. He isn’t a Myles Garrett, but Paye offers great potential as a base-end and run defender.
22) Indianapolis Colts: Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State
The Colts recently declined Malik Hooker’s 5th-year option, potentially opening up a safety spot. The Colts only have Julian Blackmon, Khari Willis, Tavon Wilson, and George Odum as the other safeties on the roster, and none of them have the ceiling Nasirildeen possesses.
23) Minnesota Vikings: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Minnesota could potentially lose Anthony Harris to free agency this upcoming offseason. Holland is a versatile playmaker in the secondary and does a lot of things well. His versatility in the secondary, combined with Harrison Smith and the other young corners on the Vikings’ roster, could prove to be a dangerous weapon in the future for the Vikes.
24) Philadelphia Eagles: Ar’Darious Washington, S, TCU
Philly needs as many playmakers in the secondary as they can get at this stage. With three safeties hitting the market this offseason and McLeod up next season, this is a position of need for the Philly defense.
25) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
There were other positions I could have selected here, but I honestly love the idea of Pitts and Ebron in 12 personnel for the Steelers. The team is going all-in on Ben Roethlisberger once more, so they’ll be looking to add as much premier skill-position talent to their offense as they can.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Am I a huge fan of this addition? No. I’m not sure that adding any RB in the first round is a fantastic addition. Is it entirely plausible? Yes. Etienne’s explosiveness adds another dynamic threat to the lethal Tampa Bay offense under Tom Brady and Bruce Arians. Fournette and Ronald Jones aren’t enough to deter Etienne’s selection.
27) New England Patriots: Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee
After trade rumors arose around Joe Thuney mid-season, it seemed like he played his last game in a New England uniform. This offseason, he signed his franchise tag and will return to Foxborough for one more year. With a potential departure on the horizon, adding a plug-and-play replacement with the phenom known as Trey Smith keeps the New England offensive line among the top o-lines in the NFL.
28) Dallas Cowboys: Jay Tufele, DT, USC
I love Neville Gallimore’s potential for the Cowboys. The other defensive tackles on the Cowboys’ roster….I’m not so enamored with. Tyrone Crawford and Antwaun Woods are set to hit the market, and Dontari Poe isn’t far behind them. Tufele is a plug-and-play interior rusher for Dallas, with the power and explosiveness to become a force for Dallas with Demarcus Lawrence demanding so much attention.
29) New Orleans Saints: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
New Orleans is still running P.J. Williams at their nickel corner spot. Nickel was a need for the team last year that they virtually ignored in the offseason, and they can’t afford to keep it that way. Molden offers plenty of ability to be a top-notch corner in both man and zone coverage and is plug-and-play at the nickel spot for any team.
30) Baltimore Ravens: Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke
Baltimore’s pass-rush needs a huge boost, ranking near league-average in pressures and sacks generated despite leading the league in blitz percentage. Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser, and Pernell McPhee are all free agents after this year, and the team needs another star on the edge. Rumph is the most technically-refined pass-rusher in this draft. With additional weight, Rumph will be a stud pass-rusher in the NFL.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Weston Richburg has dealt with several injuries over his career, and might not start the 2020 season on time, likely beginning the season on the PUP list. His replacement, Ben Garland, is serviceable but should not be the full-time effective starter. The 49ers can safely move on from Richburg’s contract this offseason, opening up some cap room.
Linderbaum is an excellent athlete, with easy movement skills and a wrestling background that will work to devastating effect in Kyle Shanahan’s run scheme. While Linderbaum is a little raw, Iowa is an offensive line factory and you can be sure that pedigree will reflect in Linderbaum’s future potential.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Listen…I hate it. But I also love it. It’s the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ve played so far by being virtually unstoppable. How do you stay unstoppable? This is a good start. Not only was Smith the best player on the board at this stage for me, but he also fills a “need” for Kansas City’s offense, with Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle set to hit free agency. It’s absolutely filthy but this would be such a Chiefs move.