NFL 2021 Mock Draft 1.0

#21 NFL 2021 Draft: Baltimore Ravens (via IND) – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Rashod Bateman

The Ravens have some extra resources to deal with, thanks to the Orlando Brown deal.

In that scenario, I see them giving up their compensatory third-round pick (104 overall) and the fourth-rounder they acquired from the Chiefs (136 overall) to secure their top wide receiver on the board.

I know they signed Sammy Watkins, and their brass was adamant about having a good group of guys already. But they need that alpha on the outside.

Rashod Bateman is a silky-smooth route-runner. At the catch point, he can make things happen after catching the ball in the middle. He could be a perfect fit for Baltimore’s RPO-happy attack, where they could also put him in the slot.

#22 NFL 2021 Draft: Tennessee Titans – Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

With Bateman off the board as a replacement for the Corey Davis role, I see the Titans addressing the defensive side of the ball, where they could have some help.

Edge rusher could absolutely be a target here because they ranked 30th last season with only 19 sacks. But this is a sneaky-deep class, and they did spend big on Bud Dupree to pair him up with Harold Landry.

So I think they could go that route on Day two. They could go with the top corner available on most people’s boards after losing Adoree Jackson and Malcolm Butler this off-season.

Greg Newsome has experience with a lot of off-zone coverages. But he has a lot of upside to be put in press more as well, especially when they want to exert creative pressure.

#23 NFL 2021 Prospect: New Orleans Saints (via NYJ) – Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Mickey Loomis is known to be an aggressive general manager, partly because of how the Saints roll over cap and magically make that all disappear after spending a boatload of money but also specifically trading up for defensive playmakers in the first round of the draft.

Here they move up five spots in exchange for their original third-round pick (98 overall) because they still have the final day-two selection, thanks to compensatory rules.

They could grab a dynamic linebacker in Jamin Davis, who has reportedly been shooting up draft boards and has three potential suitors.

I love the way he can work his way around blocks and move around in space. With last year’s third-rounder Zack Baun being more of a hybrid SAM, the only dependable stand-up backer the Saints have is Demario Davis, who will be 33 years old once the season starts and has a potential out in his contract next year as well.

#24 Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaylen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

This is the pick I probably struggled the most with. Alabama running back Najee Harris has been routinely predicted to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the last time they selected a running back in round one was Rashad Mendenhall in 2008.

They have now let Le’Veon Bell and James Conner walk in the last couple of years. An athletic project edge rusher like Penn State’s Jayson Oweh, who is in the mold of Bud Dupree, who they just lost in free agency, would make some sense.

But they liked what they saw from Alex Highsmith in limited action. So without somebody that stands out at cornerback (at least one with a clean medical), I see them selecting Jalen Mayfield here. That's because they also lost their two starting tackles this off-season, so Mayfield could give them a rugged blocker with position flexibility; he is only 20 years old.