This is going to be a wild ride, folks. Twelve months ago at this time, Trevor Lawrence was the obvious No. 1 overall pick and that never changed, right up until the moment the Jaguars selected him ... with the No. 1 overall pick. This year will be very, very different. For us, Nevada's Carson Strong has been the best quarterback in college football but a knee injury dating back to high school could ultimately determine his fate. But if he gets the all clear from NFL teams, he's in the running for QB1.
There's also Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell, two names we heard often over the summer as two of the best quarterbacks in this class, but neither has played with the consistency of Strong -- or Matt Corral, for that matter -- to start the season. It's early, of course, but this is the NFL; it's always about the quarterbacks.
Keep reading to see how all 32 picks unfold.
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One other thing, and this is important: the draft order below was determined using SportsLine's Super Bowl odds but in reverse order. We know folks are going to be very angry about why we have their team picking so high but it's not our fault. These are your team's odds of winning a Lombardi Trophy.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Nevada
• 6'4"
/ 215 lbs
This is all going to come down to the medicals on Strong's knee. He's the most consistent QB in this draft class and if healthy, would give the Texans some much needed stability at the position.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell are obvious options here but we're not yet sold on them as bona fide top picks. And if the Lions want the safe choice, EDGE1 would be it; Thibodeaux didn't play in Oregon's win over Ohio State because of an ankle injury but he is just about unstoppable when he's on the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Evan Neal
OL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 340 lbs
Neal is a an athletic marvel who has excelled at several O-line positions for the Crimson Tide. The Jets have to make protecting Zach Wilson a priority, even if that means drafting two offensive linemen in Round 1 (this is called foreshadowing).
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 224 lbs
The Jags are coming off a one-win season in 2020 and a flat effort against the Texans on Sunday. This is another way of saying that, short of their quarterback, they have needs up and down the roster. Hamilton is a big, strong, fast safety who is the latest in a long line of freakishly athletic defensive backs.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 195 lbs
The Bengals could go O-line here, too, but instead choose the best CB in this class, and perhaps in any of the recent draft classes.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Oklahoma
• 6'0"
/ 211 lbs
Jalen Hurts flashed against the Falcons in Week 1, finishing 27 of 35 with 264 passing yards on three TDs and no interceptions, and if that continues then obviously the Eagles will be looking to address other needs. In related news, Rattler had a good weekend too; he was 20 of 26 for 243 yards with five TDs and no interceptions against Western Carolina.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 325 lbs
Green started as a true freshman and has only gotten better each year. He consistently moves defensive tackles off the line of scrimmage, a trait which translates to any level. He's moving to tackle for the Aggies in '21 after the O-line lost four starters.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 232 lbs
Harris could end up being the best of the recent crop of linebackers to come out of Alabama, and it would also continue the Tuscaloosa-to-Las Vegas pipeline for recent first-rounders.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Sam Howell
QB
North Carolina
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 220 lbs
Sam Darnold had strong start to his Panthers career but a lot can change between now and January. And if Howell can live up to the expectations -- and he's been up and down through two games this season -- Carolina would certainly consider the UNC product.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
South Carolina
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 258 lbs
The Falcons couldn't muster much of anything in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, and targeting a quarterback here might make some sense, but instead we have them bolstering a defense that has been problematic for several seasons now. Enagbare is a twitchy edge rusher who uses speed and power to get into the backfield.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Matt Corral
QB
Ole Miss
• Soph
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
Corral has the tools to be a Lamar Jackson/Trey Lance/Josh Allen-type quarterback but he's still incredibly raw. That said, Washington will likely be in the quarterback business this offseason and few players have more to gain from a solid '21 campaign than Corral.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 12
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 290 lbs
Originally a defensive end, Leal has the versatility and athleticism to play up and down the line, though at 6-foot-4, 290 he's primarily on the inside. He has the potential to be really, really good and this could be the year he puts it all together.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 314 lbs
Linderbaum is one of the best offensive linemen in the country and the Steelers need to continue to improve a unit that has four new starters this season. 2021 third-round pick Kendrick Green is the starting center but he also played guard at Illinois.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
Hutchinson can take over games and he gave University of Washington left tackle Jaxson Kirkland all he could handle over the weekend. In Minnesota, Danielle Hunter is one of the league's best pass-rushers but he could use some help on the other side.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Kaiir Elam
CB
Florida
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 191 lbs
Elam has the size (6-foot-2, 190) and athleticism to be one of the best draft-eligible corners in '21. The team drafted Patrick Surtain in '21 but you can never have enough dominant corners, especially with Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan in the final year of their contracts.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Injuries and the pandemic saw him play limited snaps in '20 but Karlaftis was nearly impossible to stop in '19 when he recorded 17 TFLs and had 7.5 sacks. Chandler Jones, who sacked Ryan Tannehill five times on Sunday, could be a free agent after the season.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Carson Wentz looked pretty good in his debut but the Colts could need to restock the wide receivers room -- T.Y. Hilton and Zach Pascal will see their contracts expire after the season -- and Olave is one of the most polished pass catchers in the country.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Burks is a Grown Man. And while you may not have heard much about him nationally, he has all the tools to be WR1.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth has all the athleticism and tools to be special, he just doesn't have much in the way of experience. The Pats restocked their roster in the offseason but Stephon Gilmore is in the final year of his contract.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 20
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Kendrick was in the conversation as a first-round pick in the 2021 draft before returning to Clemson and then entering the transfer portal. He's now at Georgia and a strong season will likely make him one of the first defensive backs selected next spring.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
Mike Williams is in the final year of his rookie deal and while London may not have the straight-line speed, he's one of the best route runners in this class. Put another way: Justin Herbert gets another weapon.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Ohio State
• Soph
• 6'5"
/ 274 lbs
Production in 2021 will determine Harrison's first-round fate; he flashed against Minnesota in Week 1 but Ohio State's entire defense looked out of sorts against Oregon on Saturday.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 273 lbs
The Titans were manhandled by the Cardinals in the season opener and the defense didn't look all that different from the one that stumbled through the 2020 season. Jackson has the athleticism to consistently get after the QB at the next level.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 24
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Ekwonu is a monster, and more importantly, would be another piece to the O-line puzzle that protects Zach Wilson -- and it makes for two offensive linemen with the Jets' two first-round selections.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Justyn Ross
WR
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 210 lbs
Ross missed the 2020 season because of a neck injury but he was on track to be a first-round pick. This is something of a luxury pick for the Browns but -- and we're not joking -- there aren't many holes to fill on this roster.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 26
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 248 lbs
MIami used a 2020 first-round pick on Jaelan Phillips and they add another young edge rusher in Sanders, who has explosive traits but will also need to get stronger at the point of attack.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 27
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 183 lbs
The Lions mounted an inspired comeback effort against the 49ers on Sunday that just fell short, and Jared Goff was impressive in his own right. But the team needs to upgrade the wide receiver position (T.J. Hockenson, D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Wilson -- a TE, and two RBs -- were the team's top three leading receivers). Wilson is an explosive, do-it-all wide receiver who is a Day 1 contributor.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
Dean is fluid, explosive, springy, twitchy athlete who moves well in all directions and would add some athleticism to the middle of the Packers defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Minnesota
• Jr
• 6'8"
/ 380 lbs
Faalele, who opted out last season, weighs in the 380-pound range but moves more like he is a hundred pounds lighter. Given the importance of the running game to the Ravens offense, adding an earth mover seems logical. Added bonus: Faalele is a solid pass protector, too.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 215 lbs
The Bills didn't get anything out of their running game last season, and only had success on the ground on Sunday against the Steelers when they were trailing by 10 points late in the game. Spiller is RB1 and is a dual threat who would upgrade an already high-octane offense in Buffalo.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
Even though McDuffie plays cornerback, we get Tyrann Matthieu vibes when we watch him play. We love him as a slot corner who serves as an enforcer in run support and locks down short and intermediate routes, something he does regularly for the Huskies.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 190 lbs
Gardner is a long, press corner who would give the Chiefs some depth at a position that could be quite thin after the season. He'll need to get stronger but he has the tools to be a solid NFL cornerback.
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