Safid Deen’s first-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Who will Dolphins select at picks 6 and 18?
In this 2021 NFL mock draft, South Florida Sun Sentinel Dolphins writer Safid Deen predicts what each team will do based on their needs, the runs on certain positions, and where the strengths and weaknesses in the draft’s talent pool could lead each team when the first round begins on April 29.
1. Jaguars: Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence has been the 2021 presumptive No. 1 pick for two years, and Urban Meyer will be fortunate to get a potential franchise quarterback for his first NFL head coaching job.
2. Jets: BYU QB Zach Wilson
The Jets move on from Sam Darnold — who could still thrive in his second act with another team — for Wilson, who shows some promise as a young quarterback. Hopefully, Wilson doesn’t find himself in the same situation as Darnold in the future.
3. 49ers: Ohio State QB Justin Fields
San Francisco traded two first-round picks to Miami to get into this position and draft a dynamic quarterback who will shine in coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
4. Falcons: North Dakota State QB Trey Lance
Matt Ryan turns 36 in May, and new coach Arthur Smith needs a quarterback to groom. The temptation to take Gators tight end Kyle Pitts scares at least one team coming up, but Atlanta looks toward the future with Lance.
5. Bengals: LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could use some more protection, sure. But let’s not forget what Burrow and Chase did together at LSU in 2019 — the season they won a national championship. That connection surely could be prosperous again in Cincinnati.
6. Dolphins: Florida TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts has dynamic size and playmaking ability, and may be a rarer player to find at the tight end position versus a standout wide receiver. Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa would get a new passing target, and Pitts should pair well with fellow tight end Mike Gesicki, too.
7. Lions: Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle
With Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones gone, Detroit needs a playmaker for new quarterback Jared Goff.
8. Panthers: Oregon OT Penei Sewell
Carolina and coach Matt Rhule will be stunned that Lance did not fall past the Falcons, and take the best available offensive lineman to supplement the offense because it may be too early to draft Alabama quarterback Mac Jones with this pick.
9. Broncos: Penn State LB Micah Parsons
Denver sticks with quarterback Drew Lock for another year, and the Broncos address their defense with one of the most dynamic defensive players in the draft field.
10. Cowboys: Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II
Dallas finished in the bottom five in points allowed last season, and lost several games due to poor defensive efforts. Surtain should help on the outside as a new cornerstone for the Cowboys defense.
11. Giants: Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater
After adding Golladay in free agency this offseason, the Giants get some protection for quarterback Daniel Jones with one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. Slater played right tackle for two seasons and will be a nice bookend to left tackle Andrew Thomas, taken No. 4 last year.
12. Eagles: Alabama WR DeVonta Smith
Philadelphia reunites Smith with quarterback Jalen Hurts, and gets one of the top receivers available after trading back from No. 6 with the Dolphins.
13. Chargers: Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw
The Chargers add a new offensive lineman and get quarterback Justin Herbert some more protection for his second season in the NFL.
14. Vikings: USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Minnesota gets more protection for running back Dalvin Cook and quarterback Kirk Cousins with a player who can play both tackle and guard.
15. Patriots: Michigan DL Kwity Paye
It still may be too early to draft Jones here. Even for New England, where it seems like coach Bill Belichick often plays chess while others play checkers. Paye is a fast-twitchy, developing defender that addresses New England’s need for a pass rush.
16. Cardinals: South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn
Arizona needs a running back and interior lineman, but Horn fills a glaring need at the cornerback position.
17. Raiders: TCU S Trevon Moehrig
Las Vegas desperately needs defensive help on the edge and the secondary, where Moehrig’s ability to play center field would help.
18. Dolphins: Alabama RB Najee Harris
As much as Miami has a need at edge rusher, the need for a dynamic running back is too glaring to pass up on Harris, a bulldozing running back who can also catch the ball out of the backfield. If Miami passes on Harris here, at least three other teams would snatch him before the first round is over.
19. Washington: Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
WFT has a nice front four, and Owusu-Koramoah could be a nice addition for the second level of its defense.
20. Bears: Alabama QB Mac Jones
Chicago named Andy Dalton as its starting quarterback, but knows it needs to develop another one after missing on Mitch Trubisky. Jones could compete for the starting job this season.
21. Colts: Miami DE Jaelan Phillips
Phillips showed tenacity and hustle in his one year with the Hurricanes, and helps Indianapolis address its pass-rush situation.
22. Titans: Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley
Farley’s recent back procedure causes him to drop outside of the top 10, but Tennessee could use a shutdown corner and sees value in his potential.
23. Jets: Georgia LB Azeez Ojulari
After securing their quarterback with the second pick, the Jets address their pass rush where Ojulari’s speed and production entice new coach Robert Saleh.
24. Steelers: Clemson RB Travis Etienne
Pittsburgh will have to find quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement one of these days, but in the interim Etienne could replace James Conner in the Steelers’ backfield.
25. Jaguars: Oklahoma State OT Teven Jenkins
After getting Lawrence with the first pick, the Jaguars select a player who can help protect him in Jenkins.
26. Browns: Penn State DE Jayson Oweh
Oweh’s rise into the first round comes after his standout pro day where he reportedly ran 4.39 40-yard dash. He may be raw, but his skill set and development opposite Myles Garrett could solidify Cleveland’s pass rush.
27. Ravens: Miami DE Gregory Rousseau
Rousseau’s length, power and speed will help Baltimore overcome the losses of edge rushers Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency.
28. Saints: Florida WR Kadarius Toney
Drew Brees is retired and quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill could use a dynamic player like Toney as a safety valve on offense. Toney’s elusiveness, particularly in the slot, would be too much for coach Sean Payton to pass up.
29. Packers: Tulsa LB Zaven Collins
Green Bay could use another receiver or offensive linemen for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but solidifies a glaring need at linebacker with the talented Collins.
30. Bills: Alabama DL Christian Barmore
Buffalo would prefer either Harris or Etienne fall to them here, but the Bills address their interior defensive line with this Alabama standout to clog the middle.
31. Chiefs: Texas OT Samuel Cosmi
Kansas City needs new offensive linemen, and Cosmi is the best one available to ensure quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains upright and in the pocket unlike the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers.
32. Buccaneers: Washington DL Levi Onwuzurike
Ndamukong Suh is running it back like many others with Tampa Bay on a one-year deal, but the talented Onwuzurike could become a viable piece in the reigning champions’ pass rush next to Vita Vea in the future.
