ESPN has Mel and Todd and we here at DolphinsTalk.com have Tom and Mike! This is our sixth annual dueling first-round NFL mock draft with each of our picks for the entire first round.  We do not do any trades and we just pick Round 1 as it sits today. Tom and I also did these independently of each other. Follow along and keep score to see who gets the most correct come night one on Thursday, April 28th!

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Tom- Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson:  This has been a foregone conclusion before the 2020 season concluded.  Lawrence can really change the landscape in Jacksonville.

Mike- Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson: Trevor Lawrence is the real deal and the Jaguars will be relevant very quickly in the NFL.

2. New York Jets 

Tom- Zach Wilson, QB BYU: The Jets moved on from Sam Darnold which means a new QB comes to the Big Apple.  Wilson has upside, but Jets need to give him a chance to develop.

Mike-  Zach Wilson, QB BYU: The Jets feel in love with Zach Wilson and there is no debate he will be the pick at #2 overall.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Tom- Justin Fields, QB Ohio State: 49ers made a big jump with Miami for the chance to get their QB of the future. Fields can thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s system.

Mike- Mac Jones, QB Alabama: Should the 49ers take Justin Fields; YES! Will they; NO! I think San Fran thinks Mac Jones fits their offense and what they do perfectly and they will select him here.

4. Atlanta Falcons

Tom- Kyle Pitts, TE Florida: This is where the draft begins.  I think Atlanta trades out to a QB needy team.  But since no trades, they take the best weapon in the draft.

Mike- Justin Fields, QB Ohio St: This is the most difficult pick to “mock” in my entire draft. I think if Fields goes to SF, then Atlanta will select Pitts. But if SF goes with Jones I think they will be very happy to select Justin Fields here.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Tom- Penei Sewell, OT Oregon: Reports are out the Bengals covet Ja’Marr Chase.  I think this is a smokescreen to force a team to move ahead of them.  They need to protect Burrow more than adding playmaker here.

Mike- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida: It comes down to this; Cincy needs a pass catcher and an offensive lineman, so it really is what order do they take them in. If you pass on Pitts you won’t get a pass catcher anywhere near his level in Rd 2. If you pass on Sewell or Slater, you will still get a good offensive tackle in Rd 2. It’s a smaller gap. So Pitts is the pick here.

6. Miami Dolphins

Tom- Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU: Dolphins would have to decide between Chase and Devonta Smith.  It’s a tough choice, but Chase would be more logical here than Smith.

Mike- Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU: The pick is simple. Dolphins take the #1 WR on their board and go with Chase. No need to overthink this.

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7. Detroit Lions

Tom- Devonta Smith, WR Alabama: Lions get the joy of getting a new playmaker on offense. After losing Golladay, Jones Jr in free agency, this is a logical choice.

Mike- Devonta Smith, WR Alabama: Lions could go a few ways here, there is a QB on the board, Parsons is here and is a fit, but they lost a lot at WR this offseason, and its time to replenish that group.

8. Carolina Panthers

Tom- Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina: Carolina is in a division that needs corners that can cover well against these WR’s in the NFC South.  Horn fills that need as he is physical and not afraid to fight every snap.

Mike- Penei Sewell, OT Oregon: The Panthers are going to give Sam Darnold every chance to turn his career around and they are very happy to find a left tackle to protect him.

9. Denver Broncos

Tom- Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State: Broncos stand pat and get a QB they can groom. Drew Lock hasn’t shown he can be their long-term answer.  Lance will need time, but this is logical.

Mike- Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State: Another interesting one here as Denver could go with Parsons and really build up a dominant defense as they give Lock another year. But I think they know Lance just fell in their lap so they don’t pass that up.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Tom- Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama: Dallas secondary wasn’t good in 2020. Getting the pedigree of Surtain will take pressure off the guys upfront to get better pressure.

Mike- Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama: The Cowboys defense is horrible and the secondary is really bad. Surtain doesn’t make mental mistakes and will help bring stability to that unit.

11. New York Giants

Tom- Micah Parsons, LB Penn State: Giants put emphasis on getting better offensively in free agency.  Getting Parsons gives Patrick Graham his QB on defense as they continue to get better.

Mike- Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern: The Giants added wide receivers in free agency, they built up their Front 7 on defense as well. What they didn’t fix is their offensive line and Slatter helps them Day 1.

12. Philadelphia Eagles

Tom- Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama: Eagles traded back and still gets a target to help Jalen Hurts. Waddle can play inside or out and can pile up YAC.  Eagles hopefully they get a drafted WR right for once.

Mike- Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina: Eagles went WR in Round 1 last year so they pass on Waddle and look to help out their secondary and they go with Jaycee Horn.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

Tom- Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern: After drafting Justin Herbert, it’s now time to protect the investment.  Slater had great tape in 2019 and could arguably go before Sewell.  Herbert is thankful they get him to help upfront.

Mike- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT, USC: The Chargers offensive line wasn’t good last year, almost as bad as Cincinnati’s. They broke the bank for a big-name center in free agency, they add Vera-Tucker here to help fix another spot on their line.

14. Minnesota Vikings

Tom- Kwity Paye DE, Michigan: Vikes nab a great pass rusher to go alongside Danielle Hunter. This pass rush could be one of the best in the league.

Mike-Azeez Ojulari, DE Georgia: The Vikings lost a few pass rushers and they need to replenish this part of their roster. Ojulari I think is the best edge rusher in this draft and will be the first to go in this draft.

15. New England Patriots

Tom- Mac Jones, QB Alabama: Mac Jones lands with Josh McDaniels.  He will get some time to develop behind Cam Newton and take over in 2022.

Mike- Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama: I think one of the WR’s fall, I have it being Waddle and the Patriots hit the jackpot getting him at pick #15.

16. Arizona Cardinals

Tom- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG/OT USC: Cards added James Conner recently to pair with Chase Edmonds.  Tucker will open up the ground game while providing interior pass protection to Kyler Murray.

Mike- Greg Newsome II, CB Northwestern: The Cardinals secondary is not good on paper and they have to replace Patrick Peterson, so they go with Newsome here to do just that.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

Tom- Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech: The Raider got rid of 85% of their offensive line in the offseason, seems only right they start over with Darrisaw.

Mike- Micah Parsons, LB Penn St: The Raiders are horrible on defense. Like really really horrible on defense. Any defensive player they take here will help them fix that and they get maybe the best defensive player in this draft in Parsons.

18. Miami Dolphins

Tom- Najee Harris, RB Alabama: Dolphins give Tua one of his closest friends and arguably the top back in the draft.

Mike-Kwity Paye, DE Michigan: This is the sweet spot of the draft to get an edge rusher if you need one. The Dolphins need one bad. Paye has a great motor, doesn’t quit, and a very high ceiling. A great pick for the Dolphins here.

19. Washington Football Team

Tom- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame: Ron Rivera gets a LB that can do it all. Washington will likely make him an outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback.

Mike- Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech: The Football Team needs help in their secondary, and Farley is an animal and a very good player.

20. Chicago Bears

Tom- Greg Newsome II, CB Northwestern: Kyle Fuller is gone, and the Bears defense lacks secondary help. Newsome has great instincts and sticks to defenders like glue.

Mike- Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State: The Bears would ideally like a CB here but the Top 4 are off the board so they move to their next biggest need which is offensive tackle. Jenkins is outstanding and will help the Bears protect whoever their quarterback is these days.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Tom- Jalean Phillips, DE Miami (FL): Phillips transferred from UCLA and really played well for the Hurricanes. His potential hasn’t been tapped yet.

Mike: Jalen Phillips, DE Miami (FL): Colts need help with their pass rush and Phillips is NFL ready and can step in and be a productive player immediately.

22. Tennessee Titans

Tom- Trevon Moehrig, S TCU: Titans could use a WR but I think they wait till later rounds. Moehrig is too good to pass up on and they need a new center fielder for the defense.

Mike- Terrence Marshall Jr, WR LSU: The Titans lost Corey Davis and need to replace him. This is an offensive league and in the AFC to be the top dog you must outscore KC. Marshall is a sleeper WR in my eyes and a perfect fit for the Titans.

23. New York Jets

Tom- Azeez Ojulari, DE Georgia: Jets loaded up with some WR’s in free agency, but they can use some pass rushers upfront.  Ojulari will get to learn from Saleh, which is huge for long-term development.

Mike- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame: The Jets need help literally at every position as the roster is horrible. Owusu-Koramoah is a great linebacker and he will bring some athleticism and speed to their defense.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Tom- Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State: It’s only right in Big Ben’s final season to give him the best protection possible.  Jenkins comes from a pass-happy offense, which Pittsburgh has become recently.

Mike-Najee Harris, RB Alabama: If there is a perfect fit of team and player this may be it. You can just picture Harris in a Steelers uniform and it just looks right. If the Steelers are going to make one last run with Big Ben, they need to get him help so he doesn’t have to do it all. Harris is that help.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

Tom- Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota: When you get your QB of the future, start giving him weapons.  Bateman will be a great slot receiver for Lawrence.

Mike- Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech: If Jacksonville paid any attention to Burrow, Herbert, and Tua last year it was taking a young QB is step 1. Step 2 is being able to protect them. Jacksonville gets a piece here to do that.

26. Cleveland Browns

Tom- Christian Barmore, DT Alabama: The Browns signed Jadaveon Clowney.  Now adding Barmore to an already impressive front 4.  Browns could have a top 5 defense.

Mike- Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa: Adding Clowney I think takes the Browns out of adding a defensive lineman, but they do get a speedy linebacker to help that defense take the next step.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Tom- Jayson Oweh, DE Penn State: Ravens need to get younger up front and Oweh can benefit from being a rotational guy in year one.

Mike- Kadarius Toney, WR Florida: The Ravens need help with their pass rush or at wide receiver. It is a toss of a coin which area they go, I think they add Toney to help make that offense more explosive, which it badly needs to be.

28. New Orleans Saints

Tom- Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss: Saints no longer have Drew Brees but that doesn’t mean they can’t improve with a new skill player.  They need help for Michael Thomas.

Mike- Gregory Rousseau, DE Miami (FL): A case of BPA (Best Player Available) for the Saints. On paper Rousseau is a monster. I think he will help a team more in Year 2 than in Year 1 but worth the investment here.

29. Green Bay Packers

Tom- Terrence Marshall Jr, WR LSU: Aaron Rodgers can finally celebrate.  They took a skill player in round 1!

Mike- Christian Barmore, DT Alabama: Tampa Bay needs to improve their defense to be able to stop Tom Brady and some of the other high-powered offenses in the NFC. Barmore does just that.

30. Buffalo Bills

Tom- Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech: Farley has transitioned nicely from QB in high school and WR to begin college.   He has very good ball skills and will make Bills’ secondary tough to beat.

Mike- Jayson Oweh, DE Penn St: The Bills are in a great spot where they can take BPA as well as they have no glaring holes on their roster. And if they want to beat KC they need to get after Mahomes. Oweh helps Buffalo do just that.

31. Baltimore Ravens

Tom- Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama: After trading Orlando Brown, the Ravens now need to get a fresh body in to take over at either RT or LT. Leatherwood should push for playing time immediately.

Mike-Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas: The Ravens just traded Orlando Brown and need to back-fill that offensive tackle position. Cosmi will do just that for them.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom- Kadarius Toney, WR Florida: Tom Brady comes back for number 8 and the Bucs add an elite slot WR to pair with an already impressive group.

Mike- Travis Etienne, RB Clemson: Fournette was re-signed but it’s only a 1-year deal, its a band-aid signing. Etienne does things Fournette can’t do and as a 1-2 punch/combo at running back makes Tampa’s offense more dangerous. And a year from now he will be “the man” in the Tampa backfield.