Tony Mario's 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Tony Mario Last Updated: April 27, 2021.

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Micah Parsons, MLB, Penn State
    
    
    The Las Vegas Raiders need linebacker help. Micah Parsons may drop to 17 because of character concerns. I doubt he slips past the Las Vegas Raiders though. Drafting Parsons allows Las Vegas to move Nick Kwiatkoski to a SAM role at 4-3 left outside linebacker giving the Raiders a quarterback on the defensive side of the ball to take pressure off of Derek Carr. You can honestly make an argument for Parsons being the best defensive player in this years draft if you look past his character concerns.
    
    
    
18. Miami Dolphins: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
    
    
    Miami completes the Alabama trifecta here. You got Tua Tagovailoa at 5 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Then you took DeVonta Smith at 6. Now you get Najee Harris at 18 giving the Miami Dolphins three star impact players that were teammates on the Alabama Crimson Tide so Miami can put together one of the leagues most explosive offenses.
    
    
    
    Here is a film cut of Alabama running back Najee Harris VS Florida. Najee Harris ran the ball like an All Pro during the 2020 SEC Championship Game.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Washington Football Team: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
    
    
    The bottom line is Mac Jones has just enough upside to be a solid NFL starter and the demand for franchise quarterbacks is always high in the NFL. That's why I can't see Mac Jones falling past 19. If San Francisco passes on Mac Jones at 3, then I believe Mac Jones falls out of the top half of the draft. New England scolded Mac Jones at Alabama's second Pro Day so I'm not sure New England would take him even if he was there at 15.
    
    
    
    Here is a film cut of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones VS Florida. Mac Jones managed the game well during the 2020 SEC Championship Game.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Here is an interview of Mac Jones from the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl. You can click the link below to listen to that recorded press conference of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.
    
    
    
20. Chicago Bears: Samuel Cosmi, RT, Texas
    
    
    Chicago gets a right tackle to replace Bobbie Massie. Now Andy Dalton has Charles Leno Jr. at left tackle and Samuel Cosmi at right tackle. Those bookends should buy Andy Dalton more time.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Indianapolis Colts: Teven Jenkins, LT, Oklahoma State
    
    
    Indianapolis gets a replacement to Anthony Castonzo at left tackle who announced his retirement after the wild card loss in Buffalo. With the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers all being rumored to draft Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins who can play both left tackle and right tackle. Indianapolis decides to grab Jenkins here at 21 just to screw their division rivals over. The Cincinnati Bengals did this same thing five years ago when they picked one spot ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers when William Jackson III was on the board.
    
    
    
    Jenkins has a great attitude, a nasty mean streak, he loves to trash talk, and has huge upside. At the same time, this feels like a boom or bust pick. Teven Jenkins will have to compete with Sam Tevi, the former Chargers left tackle that the Colts signed during Free Agency and win the left tackle job. Otherwise, Carson Wentz may have another rough year. Wentz succeeding in Indianpolis will come down to whether or not the Indianapolis Colts can get a week 1 starter at left tackle in this years draft.
    
    
    
22. Tennessee Titans: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
    
    
    Tennessee has Janoris Jenkins as their number one corner after doing well as a number two cornerback in New Orleans, Kristian Fulton as their number two cornerback, and Breon Borders in the nickel. Caleb Farley can be a number one cornerback in Tennessee as he allows you to move Jenkins back to that number two corner role where he thrived in New Orleans even though he's still skilled enough to be a serviceable number one corner. Drafting Farley also allows you to move Fulton to the nickel and keep Borders on the bench. Breon Borders kept getting destroyed in coverage by Baker Mayfield so it's surprising that Tennessee didn't cut him from the Titans' roster.
    
    
    
    
    
23. New York Jets: Alex Leatherwood, RT, Alabama
    
    
    Mekhi Becton and George Fant should remain the starting left tackle and right tackle in 2021, but one guy left on the board who could beat out Fant for the right tackle job is Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood who has experience at left tackle and right guard. Leatherwood could probably make the transition to right tackle with previous experience at right guard. Fant will probably get cut by the Jets after 2021.
    
    
    
    I think Alex Leatherwood could be picked here for one reason. Making sure Zach Wilson doesn't see ghosts like his predecessor Sam Darnold.
    
    
    
    The New York Jets were so awful in 2020 they lost a home game to Denver when Drew Lock was injured. Both Mekhi Becton and George Fant got injured in that game after the Jets scored a touchdown on the opening series. Drafting Alex Leatherwood would at least give you a viable swing tackle in 2021 at the very worst if both Mekhi Becton and George Fant remain the starting offensive tackles. You'd also have enough depth at offensive tackle for Zach Wilson to get through his rookie season.
    
    
    
    The fact is it will be better for the Jets to take Leatherwood and avoid a scenario where Zach Wilson has less time in the pocket because both offensive tackles are injured than it is for the Jets to ignore offensive tackle and risk ruining Zach Wilson's confidence at the quarterback position.
    
    
    
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
    
    
    Pittsburgh gets a running back here to replace James Conner who is heading ot Arizona. Travis Etienne has the highest ceiling in this draft outside of Najee Harris. Pittsburgh sent their GM Kevin Colbert and Head Coach Mike Tomlin to Clemson's Pro Day. Etienne may be Pittsburgh's plan B if they fail to land Najee Harris at 24.
    
    
    
    Here is a film cut of Clemson running back Travis Etienne VS Wake Forest. Travis Etienne did well in this game.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
    
    
    Jacksonville has all five starters back on the offensive line with Cam Robinson at left tackle, Andrew Norwell at left guard, Brandon Linder at center, A.J. Cann at right guard, and Jawaan Taylor at right tackle. This means Trevor Lawrence will have a good offensive line and that the Jacksonville Jaguars can use pick 25 on a defensive player.
    
    
    
    Christian Barmore can play 3-4 right end, 3-4 nose tackle, 3-4 left end, and 4-3 defensive tackle. Right now Taven Bryan is the only starting defensive tackle on the Jacksonville Jaguars 2021 depth chart. Davon Hamilton their 2020 third round pick is listed as a second team defensive tackle rather than a first team defensive tackle despite impressing at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl which is why I have to believe the Jacksonville Jaguars ignore defensive tackle when they can take Christian Barmore at 25 in the event that he's still available at 25.
    
    
    
26. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ROLB, Notre Dame
    
    
    Zaven Collins and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would both be fantastic options for Cleveland at 26. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is a safer prospect while there are some reports that Collins isn't well liked by his teammates which is why the Browns select Notre Dame's linebacker here giving Cleveland an upgrade at 4-3 right outside linebacker.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jaelan Phillips, 3-4 ROLB, Miami FL
    
    
    Jaelan Phillips played 3-4 outside linebacker at UCLA and 4-3 defensive end on the Miami Hurricanes. He's arguably the best edge rusher in this draft outside of Paye. You could honestly make a compelling case for Phillips to be the top pass rushing edge rusher in this draft if you are willing to look past his concussion history which almost caused him to retire from football. Phillips had the best Pro Day among the Miami FL edge rushers which is why he's now in first round consideration. Baltimore gets a day 1 starter with Jaelan Phillips at 3-4 right outside linebacker making him the second edge rusher with Pro Bowl upside to be drafted in the late first round.
    
    
    
28. New Orleans Saints: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
    
    
    New Orleans grabs a receiver to pair with Michael Thomas at 28. Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore is a speed machine who could line up in the slot next to Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith while absolutely stretching the field. He can stretch the field like Brandin Cooks did so pairing him up with Thomas could make things easier for Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Green Bay Packers: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
    
    
    One of the prospects Green Bay reportedly loves is Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Here Green Bay grabs him to pair with DaVante Adams hoping these two can do enough to get Aaron Rodgers to a second Super Bowl.
    
    
    
30. Buffalo Bills: Gregory Rosseau, RE, Miami FL
    
    
    Buffalo gets a raw, but extremely explosive sack artist in Gregory Rosseau making him the third edge rusher with Pro Bowl upside to be drafted in the late first round. Rosseau was my top pass rusher in this draft until his poor performance at Miammi FL's Pro Day. He's a sack artist on tape despite being raw which is why it is hard to see him escaping the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Baltimore Ravens: >: Jalen Mayfield, RT, Michigan
    
    
    Baltimore uses this pick to get a right tackle for the future with a really high ceiling. Jalen Mayfield can develop for a year behind Alejandro Villanueva assuming Balitmore signs him after the draft as a right tackle. Otherwise Jalen Mayfield starts day 1 as a bookend to Ronnie Stanley.
    
    
    
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joseph Ossai, 3-4 ROLB, Texas
    
    
    The reigning Super Bowl champions pick at 32 after dethroning the former Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Joseph Ossai would be a great player to develop for two years behind Shaquille Barrett. Ossai already has the tools of an elite pass rusher who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker. He just needs to improve his run stuffing. Two years as a rotational edge rusher for depth behind Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul will give Ossai enough time to fix this weakness before transforming into a viable starter.