With the Dallas Cowboys on their bye week and nearly all of the rest of the NFL heading into Week 10, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to do a way to early first-round 2021 NFL mock draft. After all, the Cowboys currently hold the third overall pick. Why not go ahead and take a look to see what they could do with that?
There are number of different directions the Dallas Cowboys could go with their pick, but their insistence on sticking with Dak Prescott as their quarterback for the foreseeable future excludes that position for me right now. With that in mind, let's take a look to see what other direction they could go.
- Teams are slotted to pick based on the current NFL standings
1. New York Jets – QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
With no ties to Sam Darnold General Manager Joe Douglas decides to start his Jets rebuild with Trevor Lawrence.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Jake Luton was an actually bad in Week 9, but it likely wasn't enough to sway the Jaguars from drafting Justin Fields to be there QB for the foreseeable future.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (Trade) – OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
After investing the No. 1 pick in QB Joe Burrow last year the Bengals decide to trade up to take the best LT in the 2021 draft to protect their investment.
4. New York Giants – WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
Instead of moving on from the turnover prone QB, Daniel Jones, the Giants decide to give him another weapon.
5. Washington Football Team – QB Zach Wilson, BYU
Dwanye Haskins is already out the door and Alex Smith is 37. There's a lot to like about Zach Wilson and Ron Rivera belief so to making him a surprise Top 5 pick.
6. Los Angeles Chargers – EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
With Melvin Ingram set to hit free agency the Chargers decide to add a new counterpart for Joey Bosa in Gregory Rousseau.
7. Miami Dolphins – WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Reunited and it feels so good. Miami gives their new young QB Tua Tagovailoa a weapon he already knows how to utilize in Jaylen Waddle.
8. Dallas Cowboys (Trade) – CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
Trading down from 3 to 8 with the Bengals should not only net them an extra 2nd and 3rd-round draft picks, but it also lands them the top-ranked CB in the 2021 draft class. Reuniting Patrick Surtain with Trevon Diggs should give them two of the most athletic and lengthy cornerbacks in the entire NFL.
9. Carolina Panthers – LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
Micah Parsons is a true blue-chip prospect and arguably one of the best players in the draft. He is a do it all LB the Panthers can deploy in a number of ways.
10. Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
The Falcons recently gave up on former first-round pick Takk McKinley but don't wait long to find his replacement in Kwity Paye.
11. Detroit Lions – QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Trey Lance might benefit from sitting a season by Matt Stafford, but if the Lions choose to move on from there bettering QB this offseason Lance could start right away as well.
12. Minnesota Vikings – IOL Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
The Vikings choose to make Dalvin Cook's job even easier by upgrading their interior offensive line with Wyatt Davis.
13. New England Patriots – TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Although the Patriots QB position is probably unsettled heading into 2021, they decide to upgrade their passing game with the supertalented TE Kyle Pitts.
14. Denver Broncos – CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
Von Miller's future may be in doubt a bit in Denver, but I don't think the Broncos could pass up a chance to upgrade their secondary with a ball hawking type of CB like Caleb Farley.
15. San Francisco 49ers – CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State
The 49ers biggest weakness right now is arguably the QB position, but their secondary probably comes in second. Shaun Wade's inside/out ability can help with that.
16. Chicago Bears – OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
The Bears desperately need to upgrade their OL and Notre Dame as a rich first-round history of helping teams do just that. Liam Eichenberg should keep the tradition alive.
17. Cleveland Browns – EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
The Browns at another Texas made EDGE rusher in Joseph Ossai to pair with Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) to upgrade their pass rush.
18. Indianapolis Colts – WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
DeVonta Smith would be a perfect fit in Frank Reich's West Coast offense. His fearless caring his routes anywhere on the field.
19. Philadelphia Eagles – IOL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
The Eagles probably need more help on the defensive side of the ball, but protecting either Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts might just be more of a already.
20. Arizona Cardinals – RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds aren't really get the job done in the running game, so the Cardinals decided to continue adding talent around Kyler Murray in Travis Etienne.
21. Miami Dolphins – LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
Miami upgraded their offense earlier with one Alabama player (Jaylen Waddle) and decide to do so again on the defensive side of the ball with Dylan Moses.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
After taking Justin Fields earlier the Jaguars decide to upgrade their offensive line by drafting a new blindside protector in Samuel Cosmi.
23. Las Vegas Raiders – OL Trey Smith, Tennessee
The Raiders like a nasty, physical streak in their offensive lineman and Trey Smith carries just such a demeanor.
24. Tennessee Titans – IDL Jordan Davis, Georgia
Tennessee could use a pass rusher to replace the underwhelming Jadeveon Clowney, inside a 6'6″, 330 pound DT upgrades their defensive front just as well.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
With Ndamukong Suh set to hit free agency the Buccaneers draft his replacement in Christian Barmore to help their defensive line.
26. New York Jets – WR Rashad Bateman, Minnesota
Joe Douglas decides to surround his new QB Trevor Lawrence with as much talent as possible and get some another weapon in the passing game Rashad Bateman.
27. Baltimore Ravens – TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
Baltimore could no doubt look to add more WR help for Lamar Jackson, but they do love their TEs and Pat Freiermuth is a do it all weapon they can definitely utilize in a number of ways.
28. Buffalo Bills – LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
With questions surrounding Matt Milano the Bills decide to draft one of the most athletically gifted LBs and the entire draft, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
29. Green Bay Packers – WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
Aaron Rodgers' time in Green Bay might be running short, but the Packers finally get him some WR help in the 6'3″, 200 pound Terrace Marshall Jr.
30. Kansas City Chiefs – OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
Kansas City needs to do their best to protect their high-priced QB and Alex Leatherwood's guard/tackle versatility would do just that.
31. New Orleans Saints – QB Mac Jones, Alabama
The future of the QB position with the Saints is in question after the 2020 season, but Mac Jones could settle any uneasiness in New Orleans.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Asante Samuel Jr. is an instinctive, twitchy CB with NFL bloodlines who would thrive in the slot for the Steelers.
