Ben Standig
Apr 23, 20202 min
Updated: Apr 29, 2021
The final mock. Pencils down. Whew.
Seriously, this was some chaotic mock draft ride this year. I'm always rather angsty over my first round analysis, but almost everyone I spoke with over the last two weeks from team executives, scouts, coaches and other analysts shared similar feelings.
Consider these names: Trevon Diggs. Jordyn Brooks. Isaiah Wilson. Jeff Gladney. Josh Jones. Kristian Fulton. Denzel Mims. A.J. Epenesa. Jeremy Chinn. Jalen Hurts. What do they have in common? All were deemed first-round picks in recent days by sources, passionately in some cases, and none made my final mock.
There's also the plight of Tua Tagovailoa, whose injury history scares the (expletive) out of some teams and talent has some evaluators swoon. Justin Herbert, Mekhi Becton, Javon Kinlaw and Jordan Love could good go top 10 or wait for a long minute. There is almost no consensus with the order of the tackles, wide receiver and cornerbacks (after Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson). Speaking of tackles, the potential deal for Trent Williams (Browns are in the mix) complicates the top 32 selections. Other than the top two selections, shake up this draft like a snow globe. Heck, I even made a fake trade (realistically two), and I never do that. Get your popcorn out Thursday night.
If interested, here's links to my final Redskins-only mock draft and league-wide rumor mill on The Athletic. You can also follow me on Twitter (@benstandig) throughout the three-day draft.
1. Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2. Washington Redskins - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions - Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
4. New York Giants - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
5. Miami Dolphins - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
6. Los Angeles Chargers -Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
7. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
8. Arizona Cardinals - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Browns) - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
11. New York Jets - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
12. Oakland Raiders - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
13. San Francisco 49ers - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
14. Cleveland Browns (from Buccaneers) - Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
15. Denver Broncos - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
16. Atlanta Falcons* - C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
17. Dallas Cowboys - K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU
18. Miami Dolphins - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
19. Oakland Raiders - A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
20. Jacksonville Jaguars - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
22. Minnesota Vikings - Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
23. New England Patriots - Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU
24. New Orleans Saints - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
25. Minnesota Vikings - Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
26. Miami Dolphins - D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
27. Seattle Seahawks - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
28. Baltimore Ravens - Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan
29. Tennessee Titans - Austin Jackson, OT, USC
30. Green Bay Packers - Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
31. San Francisco 49ers - Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
*Thinking Atlanta trades into the top 10 for Henderson