Newman’s First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 11-20
11) Detroit Lions – Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State
The Detriot Lions’ run defense is bad. That starts upfront. The days of dominant defensive tackles in Detroit have passed. They no longer have Ndamukong Suh, Haloti Ngata, or Damon Harrison. They clearly miss having that dominant presence in the middle of their defensive line. That’s where Marvin Wilson comes in.
Wilson is an imposing force in the middle of a defense. He’s a run-stuffer extraordinaire with the athleticism and strength to hope for pass-rushing upside. Wilson is never going to be an elite pass rusher, and he may never be an average one, but there’s value in an elite run-stuffer.
12) Minnesota Vikings – Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
The Vikings fielded calls for Riley Reiff at the trade deadline, but ultimately didn’t move him. He’ll be 32 in December, and 33 next season, so it’s time to start looking for his replacement. Samuel Cosmi isn’t going to solidify the Vikings offensive line on day one, but he will provide hope for a bright future.
Cosmi is a mammoth of a man at 6-foot-7 309 pounds, but he’s arguably the most athletic tackle in this class. That combination of size and athleticism will only help his draft stock. It’ll likely help teams look past Cosmi’s raw technique and often inconsistent play on the field. In this first-round NFL mock draft, it’s the Vikings who fall in love with Cosmi’s ceiling.
13) New England Patriots – Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
The Patriots can’t afford to leave the 2021 NFL Draft without a quarterback. Cam Newton has struggled in 2020, and Jarrett Stidham isn’t a starting quarterback in the NFL. That’s going to prompt them to overdraft Kyle Trask.
Trask has had a phenomenal year at Florida. He’s dominated the SEC to the tune of 68.7% completion, 1815 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He’s accurate, distributes the ball all over the field, and has a cannon for an arm. There’s little to dislike about Trask in the pocket. That’s where the issue lies. Trask is a pure pocket passer. He lacks the mobility to make plays outside the pocket and isn’t the creative playmaker that most associate with a modern NFL quarterback. Still, if anyone can make a pure pocket passer work, it would be the Patriots.
14) Denver Broncos – Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
The Denver Broncos slot cornerback situation is ugly. Bryce Callahan has been excellent moving outside this season, and Michael Ojemudia has been a nice find. However, they haven’t been able to find solid play in the slot. Shaun Wade can fix that.
Wade is a versatile piece who can play outside, in the slot, or at safety. There’s no real weakness to his game, but he also doesn’t have any real strengths outside of his versatility. In the right scheme, Wade could be a star covering tight ends and elite slot receivers. In a division with tight ends like Travis Kelce, Hunter Henry, and Darren Waller, and slot receivers like Mecole Hardman and Keenan Allen, Wade’s versatility will be much appreciated.
15) San Francisco 49ers – Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee
The 49ers also have a problem with the interior of their offensive line. Daniel Brunskill is not a starting-caliber guard. Replacing him should be a top priority for the 49ers. Trey Smith allows them to replace Brunskill with the best guard in the 2021 class.
Smith is an elite guard prospect with the technique, athleticism, and strength to dominate in the NFL. His draft stock has fallen this far due to the blood clots in his lungs that cost him his entire 2018 season. Health conditions like that scare teams because they’re likely to reoccur and could be career-ending. If Smith gets the all-clear from doctors at the combine, he could fly up draft boards.
16) Chicago Bears – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Will Allen Robinson return for 2021? The star wide reciever and the Bears have been at odds over a contract extension all year, and they seem no closer to resolving those issues. To make matters worse, the Bears may not be able to franchise tag Robinson due to cap constraints — they only have $1.4 million in space for 2021 before cuts. It’s hard to see how the Bears hang onto Robinson.
If they can’t, DeVonta Smith offers a similar package. Like Robinson, Smith isn’t an athletic freak, but a player who excels in the details. Smith is an excellent route-runner, has phenomenal hands, and his football IQ is the best in his class. Smith won’t wow anybody with physical skills, but he consistently produces because of all the little things he does right. His high floor is too much for the Bears to pass on in this first-round NFL mock draft.
17) Cleveland Browns – Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
The Cleveland Browns need linebacker help. Mack Wilson is one of the worst linebackers in the NFL, and he’s starting every week, not to mention the Browns lack a coverage backer. Their second level needs a lot of work.
Dylan Moses would go a long way towards fixing that. Moses has elite speed for the position that makes him a strong coverage backer and second level tackler. The Browns would love to add his speed to their defense to deal with the likes of Lamar Jackson twice a season. He would also help shut down the star running backs, James Connor, Mark Ingram, and Joe Mixon both in the run and pass games.
18) Indianapolis Colts – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Anthony Castonzo is nearing the end of the line. The Colts franchise left tackle nearly retired after the 2019 season, and after a poor start to the 2020 season, it shouldn’t be ruled out again. Even if he doesn’t retire after this season, it seems he won’t sign another contract once this one ends after the 2021 season. The Colts need to be prepared for their future without Castonzo.
Alex Leatherwood could be that guy. He possesses NFL-level strength and athleticism, but his technique is all over the place. Going to a team that can afford to bench him for a season, behind one of the best left tackles of his generation no less, would be a perfect fit. Leatherwood just isn’t ready to play tackle right now, but a year behind Castonzo could change things.
19) Philadelphia Eagles – Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
The Eagles have a lot of needs, but if they have the chance to jump on the best safety in the 2020 class, they should. Jevon Holland is a do-it-all safety. He is versatile enough to play either safety spot and excels in both coverage and the run game. NFL teams will worry above his athleticism, but Holland has the technique and football IQ to make up for it. They just can’t expect him to play a single high role.
20) Arizona Cardinals – Creed Humphrey, OC, OklahomaÂ
If Creed Humphrey played guard instead of center, he wouldn’t have made it this far. The NFL criminally underrates the importance of the center position; in the last 10 drafts, no center has gone higher than 15th overall, with most landing in the 18-24 range. So that’s where the top center in this class land in this first-round NFL mock draft.
Creed Humphrey is a dominant center. He has elite play strength and technique. He’s a powerful run blocker and stout pass blocker. His one weakness is that he lacks elite athleticism, but that’s the least of any team’s concern at center. Humphrey will slide in as a day one starter wherever he ends up getting drafted.