The Draft Board: Volume 3 – Issue 1 | 2021 Mock Draft

Welcome to the next volume of The Draft Board. We’re starting volume 3 with something big. I’m talking about an issue full of hot takes, cold takes, and takes nobody cares about. I’m talking about an issue full of objective fantasy knowledge, educated guesses, and baseless speculation. I’m talking about an issue that immediately tackles the…

2021 Rookie Mock Draft

Pick	GM	Player	Pos.	Comments
1.01	PlayboyHeff (via TheCarlos)	Najee Harris	RB	This isn’t a question of who will be picked, but who will be doing the picking. PlayboyHeff has more suitors right now than Bill Gates, but I think he keeps this pick. The team is in a dream scenario: fresh off a 12-1 season, there’s a chance to add an incredible young running back that could be the missing piece of the championship puzzle. How can you not take that?
1.02	TigersMom (Mock Trade via Plumbobsquarepants)	Ja’Marr Chase	WR	Mock Trade: TigersMom receives: 1.02 PlumbobSquarepants receives: 1.04 and 2.04 TigersMom currently holds the 1.04 pick, which would likely get her Kyle Pitts, Travis Etienne, or Devonta Smith. However, she’s managing a team that already has a strong RB corps, so Etienne isn’t exactly optimal. Pitts is likely to be a dominant TE, but the team already has Mark Andrews and there’s a chance Eliel2020 takes him at 1.03. So why not make a trade with Plumbob to secure the top receiver in the draft to shore up this team’s weakest position?
1.03	Eliel2020	Travis Etienne	RB	There’s a lot of great choices for Eliel2020 at the 1.03. Currently, the team is positioned as the worst in its division, and it’ll be hard to change that this year. I don’t think this is a GM that’s splitting hairs about filling need, so I predict they take the player with the most trade potential.
1.04	PlumbobSquarepants (Mock Trade via Tigersmom)	Trevor Lawrence	QB	Plumbob manages a team with back-to-back losing seasons that needs dire help everywhere. Sure, a star WR could help win a couple more games this season. But with only Matt Stafford at QB, why not draft a generational talent that will solve the team’s quarterback problem for years to come? Trading back two places gets this team an additional pick while still allowing them to select an incredible talent and fill a need
1.05	Eliel2020 (via RAllen)	Kyle Pitts	TE	Tight end is a luxury position that I would normally balk at a need-filled, 2-11 team taking so highly; but Kyle Pitts is the other generational talent in this draft who some have called the best tight end prospect ever. If he’s still here at 1.05, it will be hard justifying a second tier receiver or a quarterback reach over a sure-fire hit at tight end.
1.06	HaffCaff	Devonta Smith	WR	This is team that needs help everywhere, but they’re coming off a 5-8 season that they could spin into a division win. Javonte Williams could be in play if HaffCaff wants to lean into championship plans, but I think the team plays it safe and secures a tier two receiver who should get immediate opportunities.
1.07	Eliel2020 (via LB Town)	Jaylen Waddle	WR	At this point, Eliel2020 has taken a running back and a tight end, so it only makes sense they’d round it out with a flashy receiver that has big play potential to try and compete in the league’s hardest division.
1.08	Preston20	Rashod Bateman	WR	Preston20 is equally needy at receiver and running back, but I don’t think the RB options here provide the answer to bring this new GM’s struggling team to the next step. Rashod Bateman is a NFL ready receiver in a questionable landing spot – but this is dynasty. Draft the talent, not just the landing spot.
1.09	LBTown (via RestingHollow)	Rondale Moore	WR	LBTown is dangerously close to not having a quarterback, but that can be addressed in the second round or through trades. Their running back situation is precarious, but just safe enough to roll with for another year. I predict that the team takes a receiver that could be a problem for defenses for years to come in a high powered offense.
1.10	FishHouseChicken	Javonte Williams	RB	After an incredible 2019 season that saw a Goblin Bowl appearance, FishHouseChicken struggled last year going 4-9. The team can regain that ground quickly though, and Javonte Williams potentially covers their struggle in the search for a RB2.
1.11	HadSomethingForThis	Trey Sermon	RB	What do you get for the team that has everything? How about an enigmatic rookie in the one of the league’s hottest rushing offenses. Sermon gives HSFT another potential championship piece for their second Goblin Bowl.
1.12	RKMay	Michael Carter	RB	Last year, RKMay took CeeDee Lamb in the first round and now her team boasts one of the league’s best receiving corps. Given that the team has had two years of running back woes at this point, I have to think that they’ll try and start fixing that through the draft. Michael Carter may not be the best player available, but he is the best fit.
1.13	TSteggs (via BeauAustin)	Elijah Moore	WR
1.14	PlayboyHeff	Terrace Marshall Jr.	WR	The QB situation for Heff is precarious, but that can be said for most teams in the league. After selecting a running back with their first pick, I think he’ll shore up his group of receivers with a receiver that could have huge potential in a couple years. This is the kind of pick best suited for a team that can be patient – perfect for PlayboyHeff.
1.15	Eliel2020 (via DReid)	Trey Lance	QB	Quarterbacks are a scarce commodity in Nilbog, and Eliel2020 is currently relying on SuperBowl IX champion and AARP pensioner Ben Roethlisberger to win games. Trey Lance may not make an immediate impact, but it gets the team a high ceiling quarterback before the position runs dry by the next time this team drafts at 3.03.
1.16	TigersMom (via TSteggs)	Kadarius Toney	WR	Two receivers are better than one. I predict TigersMom uses her second and final pick to select a wideout that could be a future flex option to try and lock down depth at the position.
2.01	HaffCaff (via TheCarlos)	Justin Fields	QB	Mock Trade: HaffCaff receives: 2.01 Preston2020 receives: 2.06, 3.06 HaffCaff only has Jared Goff under contract as quarterback, so trading away his other two picks in this draft lands him the future starter in Chicago. Meanwhile, Preston2020 ends up just a few spots back and adds some potential late round depth.
2.02	PlumbobSquarepants	Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	Last year’s WR pick of Bryan Edwards has yet to do much in the NFL, so receiver remains a major place of need for Plumbob. After selecting a QB in the first round, this is the perfect chance to grab a receiver before too many
2.03	RestingHollow (via Eliel2020)	Zach Wilson	QB	RestingHollow is coming off a 7-6 season in which they narrowly missed a wildcard berth. They’re dangerously thin at RB, but that will likely need to be fixed through trade considering how late their first draft pick comes. In a league with just two quarterbacks per team, Zach Wilson gives the team a valuable trade asset.
2.04	PlumbobSquarepants (Mock Trade via TigersMom)	Amari Rodgers	WR	Picking receivers in the second round is a crapshoot. A couple will turn into regular starters, but most will be cut from their team’s taxi squad after their sophomore year. Another WR gives Plumbob better odds of getting a hit.
2.05	RAllen	Mac Jones	QB	RAllen is 6-19 over the past two years, and they’ll need a lot more than a good pick at 2.05 to turn that around. Mac Jones is a chance at a future Bill Belichick starting quarterback, and could be an excellent long term building block.
2.06	Preston2020 (Mock Trade via HaffCaff)	Kenneth Gainwell	RB	Gainwell may be buried at fifth on the Philly depth chart, but he could take on a bigger role next year when Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and Kerryon Johnson are no longer under contract – especially with Doug Pederson’s history of running back by committee.
2.07	LBTown	Nico Collins	WR	Last year LBTown spent both their draft picks on receivers, both of which haven’t made much of a contribution yet. It’s not yet certain who will be throwing to Nico Collins in 2021, but if it’s DeShaun Watson, and if Collins develops as an outside pass catcher, he could end up being a steal at 23rd overall.
2.08	TSteggs (via Preston20)	Chuba Hubbard	RB	It isn’t yet clear what Hubbard’s role will be on the Panthers, but Mike Davis proved last year just how valuable Christian McCaffrey’s handcuff can be. In the event of another CMC injury, Hubbard should keep this team safe.
2.09	LBTown (via RestingHollow)	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	New England running backs can be unreliable, but Bill Belichick has a history of turning lower depth chart RBs into fantasy monsters. LBTown has just enough running back flexibility to take a high risk/reward gamble at the position.
2.10	FishHouseChicken	Tutu Atwell	WR	Last year, FishHouseChicken selected Van Jefferson in the second round. Tutu Atwell goes one step further in securing a piece of the Los Angeles passing game for his team.
2.11	HadSomethingForThis	D’Wayne Eskridge	WR	This is the perfect opportunity for HSFT to take a gamble on a Seattle wide receiver with high draft capital. If it pans out, it could result in a deadly stack with QB Russell Wilson. If not, the team’s WR corps can take the hit.
2.12	RKMay	Pat Freiermuth	TE	Tight end isn’t exactly the most essential position, but in a league where you can play up to three TEs and as few as one RB – tight end strength can make up for RKMay’s longstanding weakness at RB. Not to mention, her team lacks much direction at tight end anyway.
2.13	BeauAustin	Josh Palmer	WR	BeauAustin is making their first pick late in the draft, and coming off a playoff appearance, they’ll probably want a piece that gives them the extra edge they need to make it to the Goblin Bowl this time. Think that can’t be found at 2.13? Consider that last year’s 2.13 was Justin Herbert. So why not bring it full circle and take a potential target for one of fantasy’s hottest young quarterbacks?
2.14	RAllen (via PlayboyHeff)	Dyami Brown	WR	This kicks off a series of 4 selections in 7 picks for RAllen. I know the team basically doesn’t have a running back, but you’re a lot more likely to find a future starter at receiver than running back here.
2.15	RAllen (via DReid)	Javian Hawkins	RB	Javian Hawkins may have gone undrafted, but he had an excellent landing spot in Atlanta. This is perhaps the best late flyer at RB.
2.16	PlayboyHeff (via TSteggs)	Elijah Mitchell	RB	The 49ers have several running backs on the depth chart ahead of Elijah Mitchell – including fellow rookie Trey Sermon. But Kyle Shanahan has a habit of making fantasy football stars out of late round picks and UDFAs.
3.01	RAllen (via The Carlos)	Hunter Long	TE	Hunter Long will be the presumed starting tight end for the Dolphins in 2022, and RAllen can afford to make long term investments since the team won’t be a contender this year.
3.02	PlumbobSquarepants	Jermar Jefferson	RB	Jermar Jefferson could establish a role as an important flex option once Jamaal Williams’ contract ends in a year or two.
3.03	Eliel2020	Kyle Trask	QB	Eliel2020 needs assistance at QB, and Kyle Trask’s draft capital suggests he’ll be getting starts in Tampa Bay. Eventually.
3.04	RAllen (via TigersMom)	Tylan Wallace	WR	This is a case of drafting the talent, not the landing spot. Because the landing spot is god awful.
3.05	TSteggs (via RAllen)	Kellen Mond	QB	Kellen Mond could become a valuable trade asset in the event of a Kirk Cousins injury.
3.06	Preston2020 (Mock Trade via HaffCaff)	Jaelon Darden	WR	Jaelon Darden could be an important taxi slot stash for when Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown’s contracts expire after this year.
3.07	LBTown	Brevin Jordan	TE	LBTown has a tight end group made up of mediocre aging options. Brevin Jordan has the opportunity to be the starting tight end for Houston in 2022, making him an important investment for any team struggling at TE.
3.08	Preston20	Dez Fitzpatrick	WR	Dez Fitzpatrick may make an immediate impact as the third receiver for the Titans. He’s unlikely to be fantasy relevant, but if he is it could be all that Preston20 needs to win their division.
3.09	RestingHollow	Kylin Hill	RB	Kylin Hill is essentially a lottery ticket for a fantasy relevant running back. If he ends up beating A.J. Dillon for the RB2 role in Green Bay, he’ll be a valuable backup to Aaron Jones.
3.10	FishHouseChicken	Tommy Tremble	TE	Tommy Tremble is a taxi squad stash that could turn into a starter one day. FishHouseChicken is relying heavily on Eric Ebron right now at TE, and that’s not good considering the Steelers just drafted Pat Freiermuth.
3.11	HadSomethingForThis	Anthony Schwartz	WR	Anthony Schwartz is buried in the Cleveland depth chart, but he could turn into a fantasy relevant receiver in a couple years considering his high draft capital.
3.12	RKMay	Khalil Herbert	RB	If I’m RKMay, I’m taking this chance for a lottery ticket to try and turn around my RB corps. Khalil Herbert may not be any more than a change of pace back in 2021, but he could be starting by 2023.
3.13	BeauAustin	Seth Williams	WR	Seth Williams may be starting for Denver in 2022 if Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton aren’t re-signed, making him worth a taxi spot.
3.14	PlayboyHeff	Davis Mills	QB	Davis Mills could have a chance to start for the Texans as early as 2021, and as mentioned before, PlayboyHeff could use another hand at QB. Of course there’s also the chance that Mills never starts an NFL game, but that’s a risk Heff can take.
3.15	LBTown (via DReid)	Chris Evans	RB	Chris Evans could eventually work his way to being Joe Mixon’s backup, and as Gio Bernard has shown for the past couple years, that’s an incredibly important handcuff.
3.16	LBTown (via TSteggs)	Larry Rountree III	RB	Roundtree could end up leap frogging Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley in the Chargers depth chart, which would make him an enviable asset.