On the morning of the 2021 NFL Draft, the mock madness is all over. With the first round officially underway tonight at 8 p.m. ET, there’s no more studying, no more mocks, no more projections or predictions — just the good ol’ NFL Draft.
But, to get a head start, take a look at what some NFL experts predict for tonight’s first round. There are a lot to pick from.
MORE NFL DRAFT: SN’s latest 2021 mock draft | Top 100 big board
Everyone has an NFL mock draft now. Just ask your next Uber driver or Target cashier if they’ve got a mock draft. They absolutely do, and don’t be surprised when they tell you as much when they’re bagging up your toilet paper and oat milk.
This year, there are a number of intriguing storylines heading into the first round: How many QBs will go in the top 10? Will DeVonta Smith slide? Will the Patriots trade up?
Here’s what some of the experts are saying about the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft:
Vinnie Iyer’s mock draft (Sporting News)
Iyer’s latest mock draft was released on Draft Day, April 29:
Noteworthy:
— Justin Fields ends up in a dream scenario but the NFL’s worst nightmare: He slides all the way down to No. 15, where Bill Belichick awaits with open arms.
— The Giants add to their hog mollies, selecting Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern with the No. 11 pick. The Giants took Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas with the No. 4 overall selection in 2020.
— Rather than opting for offensive line help to mitigate the loss of Orlando Brown, the Ravens decide to shore up the back end with safety Trevon Moehrig, and the front end with shifty wideout Kadarius Toney.
You can read SN’s full seven-round mock draft here .
Mel Kiper’s mock draft (ESPN)
Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft was released on April 29 and features trades:
Noteworthy:
— Of course, all eyes are on the QBs, and Kiper has the Patriots trading up to secure Trey Lance at No. 7. Lance’s high ceiling and Belichick’s likely desire to keep Lance on the bench for a season while Cam Newton starts is a seemingly perfect fit for both parties.
— The Jets trade up to No. 16 to select USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, giving No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson some protection. At No. 23, the Cardinals take running back Najee Harris.
— The Packers finally get Aaron Rodgers the receiver he so desperately wants, grabbing Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman at No. 29.
Todd McShay’s mock draft (ESPN)
McShay’s latest mock draft was released on draft day, April 29:
Noteworthy:
— John Elway and Denver finally have a long-term solution at the QB position, as McShay has Justin Fields going to the Broncos at No. 9. Elway has been searching for the next great QB after Peyton Manning for years.
— Najee Harris — who recently told McShay “kiss my ass” — ends up with the Steelers at No. 24, helping boost the run game of Pittsburgh, which was one of the league’s worst in 2020.
— The Packers could use a receiver, but they don’t take one, instead grabbing Jamin Davis out of Kentucky with the No. 29 pick.
Todd McShay and Mel Kiper combined mock draft
McShay and Kiper combined for a mock draft on April 20 (days before the blockbuster Chiefs-Ravens trade), with the analysts alternating picks. Kiper kicks it off with the first pick:
Noteworthy:
— Elijah Moore is quite the riser, ending up at 22 to the Titans. Moore is one of the fastest- and highest-rising wideouts in this draft cycle.
— Trevon Moehrig gets some love here, with Kiper selecting the safety to go to the Raiders at No. 17. He’s the only first-round safety in this draft.
— The Patriots get their man: This mock features the Pats trading up to No. 7 overall to select Alabama QB Mac Jones.
Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft (NFL Network)
DJ’s latest mock draft was released on April 28, draft eve.
Noteworthy:
— Where’s Caleb? Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley has had a rough go of it between back surgery and a COVID-positive test prior to the NFL Draft, and now he falls out of the first round completely.
— Travis Etienne goes in the first round — to the New York Jets. The Jets opt to give Wilson help, but not on the offensive line, one of the team’s weakest units.
— Dave Gettleman finally gets his trade back, swapping picks with the Patriots, who move up to No. 11 and select quarterback Trey Lance.
Peter King’s mock draft (NBC Sports)
Peter King, who actually had the most accurate mock of the 2020 NFL Draft, released his first and final mock draft on April 26:
Noteworthy:
— While many think there are four first-round cornerback prospects, King believes there are five, with the Saints selecting Georgia’s Tyson Campbell with the No. 28 overall pick. Campbell joins Patrick Surtain II, Greg Newsome II, Caleb Farley and Jaycee Horn as first-round DBs.
— A pair of first-round trades here: The Browns trade up to No. 21 to select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, leaving the Colts to select Sam Cosmi at No. 26. Also, the Ravens use one of their two first-rounders to move up to No. 22 to select Kwity Paye out of Michigan, and the Titans select wideout Elijah Moore at 27.
— Another year of no help for Aaron Rodgers: King has the Packers selecting linebacker Jamin Davis at No. 29, opting not to go wideout.
