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It’s officially NFL Draft season! With the Senior Bowl underway in Mobile, Alabama and Pro Days around the corner, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is busting out his first mock draft for 2021.
While Kiper went with the consensus and has the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Clemson star Trevor Lawrence with the No. 2 pick, he mixed things up with the New York Jets at No. 2.
Rather than penciling in another quarterback, Kiper slotted Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith to the Jets.
Here’s his reasoning:
This is where the intrigue in the draft begins. Will the Jets stick with quarterback Sam Darnold for another year, or will they take Zach Wilson or Justin Fields? (Or maybe even trade for Deshaun Watson?) The good news for general manager Joe Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh is that they have three months to figure it out. This is a huge decision, and Douglas and Saleh have to be 100% sure that Wilson or Fields is an upgrade over Darnold. My feeling right now is that yes, Darnold’s stats are ugly, but he’s only 23 and he has had no offensive talent around him for three years. Do the Jets really want to move on from him and watch him thrive elsewhere? That’s why they could give him a one-year audition under Saleh, pick the Heisman Trophy winner at No. 2, and give Darnold one more shot to put all of his talent together.
Who does Kiper have your favorite team drafting in his first 2021 mock draft?
A look at his top 10 projections can be seen below, while the full first-round mock draft can be seen by heading over to ESPN.com.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
- New York Jets – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
- Miami Dolphins (from HOU) – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
- Atlanta Falcons – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
- Cincinnati Bengals – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
- Philadelphia Eagles – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
- Detroit Lions – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
- Carolina Panthers – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
- Denver Broncos – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
- Dallas Cowboys – Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern
Who do you want your favorite team to select in the upcoming draft? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts and predictions.
