2021 Draft Predictions: Day 1
5 QBs drafted in top 10
In normal years, this would be a crazy prediction. However, the QB carousel has been nuts this year and teams seem interested in the top signal-callers of this class. We know QBs will be taken one, two, and three-- Trevor Lawrence to Jacksonville, Zach Wilson to the Jets, and one of the remaining players to San Francisco. Atlanta could also choose to take the heir apparent to Matt Ryan while Carolina and Denver both may be in the market despite recent trades. Teams like New Orleans, New England, Washington, and Chicago could also trade up in an effort to land their franchise signal-callers.
More than 5 pass catchers drafted
This class is deep at receiver and we could see three or four of them in the top 10. Outside of Kyle Pitts, Devonta Smith, Ja'Marr Chase, and Jaylen Waddle, you may also see Minnesota's Rashod Bateman, LSU's Terrace Marshall, Purdue's Rondale Moore, Mississippi's Elijah Moore, and even Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace find their ways into the first round.
Offense dominates the top 10
This one feels too easy. We already know that three--likely four-- of these picks will be quarterbacks with a couple pass catchers and offensive tackles sprinkled in. We may not even see a defensive player off the board in the top 10, depending on how trades finalize things.
Green Bay drafts a skill player
With rumors swirling that Aaron Rodgers wants out, it would behoove the Packers to finally get him some help. Their offense has reached elite levels with mediocre skill players, so imagine the nightmares a legitimate weapon would cause for defenses. It would behoove the Packers to smooth things over with one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and getting him some new weapons would be a great start.
New England finds a quarterback
The Patriots biggest need is arguably at quarterback. They have Cam Newton on a one-year deal, who wasn't great last year, and draft Jarrett Stidham as a developmental guy a couple years ago. Neither of those players appears to be the long-term answer. The team is in a prime position to trade up and grab whoever is falling with so many top 10 teams considering trades.
Steelers draft Najee Harris
First round running backs have become a rarity, but the position is a glaring hole in Pittsburgh. James Conner was serviceable before leaving for Arizona but was never the player that Le'Veon Bell had been for years. Harris is the most complete back in this class and makes a huge difference in the passing game, possibly giving them a newer version of Bell. Travis Etienne may also be an option.
Someone trades back into Round 1 for a falling player
It happens nearly every year. Best example I can remember is Washington's selection of Montez Sweat in 2019. Sweat killed the offseason after a great year on the field and should have been picked in the top 10. Instead, he fell all the way to 26th overall and Washington swooped in to snag him.
A QB-needy team that doesn't get a trade up reaches for a lesser QB
We believe Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance will all get drafted tonight. However, there are a few teams later in the draft (Washington, New England, New Orleans, Chicago) who could use better quarterbacks. If all five are off the board, it's conceivable one of them reaches. Florida's Kyle Trask, Wake Forest/Georgia's Jamie Newman, Stanford's Davis Mills, and Texas A&M 's Kellen Mond seem to have cemented themselves as the guys in the next tier.