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We are right smack dab in the middle of NFL mock draft season with the 2021 NFL Draft in late-April fast-approaching. We’ve reached that point of the NFL offseason where the NFL Draft gurus are releasing updated mock drafts, and the mock draft goat himself, Mel Kiper Jr., recently released his updated board.
Kiper Jr. took a page out of Todd McShay’s playbook and implemented trades in his mock draft for the very first time, and with so much talent at the quarterback position this year, you can’t really blame him.
There’s no surprise with the No. 1 pick as Trevor Lawrence is projected to go to the Jaguars, but after that, things take off in a hurry.
Kiper Jr. has the Falcons trading with the Jets at No. 2 in order to select Zach Wilson out of BYU. He believes that Justin Fields out of Ohio State could be taken at this spot as well, but sees Atlanta going with Wilson in this scenario.
The next move involves the 49ers trading their No. 12 pick to the Lions for the No. 7 pick where they’ll draft Fields. Kiper Jr. sees San Francisco cutting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after June 1 to clear $25 million in cap space.
As for the other two big-name quarterbacks in this draft class, Kiper Jr. has the Panthers selecting Mac Jones out of Alabama before the Patriots deal their No. 15 pick to the Broncos in order to take Trey Lance out of North Dakota State.
A look at Kiper Jr’s full Top 10:
- Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Trevor Lawrence
- Atlanta Falcons – QB Zach Wilson
- Miami Dolphins – WR DeVonta Smith
- New York Jets – TE Kyle Pitts
- Cincinnati Bengals – OT Penei Sewell
- Philadelphia Eagles – WR Ja’Marr Chase
- San Francisco 49ers – QB Justin Fields
- Carolina Panthers – QB Mac Jones
- New England Patriots – QB Trey Lance
- Dallas Cowboys – CB Patrick Surtain II
This year’s draft truly should be one of the most action-packed we’ve seen in quite some time.