Eliot Crist's final first-round mock for the 2021 NFL Draft

Draft day is finally here. It has been a long road, but it is in fact finally here. No new information should come out prior to the draft and what does is likely smoke. It’s time for my final mock draft of what I think is going to happen on the day of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

(Follow along with all things 2021 NFL Draft with the FTN 2021 NFL Draft Hub!)

2021 NFL Draft — Picks 1-16

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

(FTN's Trevor Lawrence scouting report)

Lawrence currently sits at -10000 to be the pick. If you want a 1% return on your entire bankroll, it is a lock.

2. New York Jets

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

(FTN's Zach Wilson scouting report)

Much like Lawrence, Wilson to the Jets is a lock, sitting at -5000. I would much rather get the 1% return on Lawrence than the 2% return on Wilson — Wilson is written in pen, but Lawrence is written in blood.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

(FTN's Trey Lance scouting report)

Anyone else just excited for them to make this pick? Lance is currently +300 to be the pick with Mac Jones being the heavy favorite. It could easily be Jones, but I will go with my gut and take Lance. All the betting value at this point is gone from this pick.

4. Atlanta Falcons

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida 

(FTN's Kyle Pitts scouting report)

Both Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN have reported the Falcons have made up their mind and are taking Kyle Pitts. He sits at -205 to go under 4.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook, amazed the line hasn't moved more after this report. 

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

(FTN's Ja'Marr Chase scouting report)

Chase is as high as -200 to be the fifth overall pick in the draft and has seen steam that past two weeks that suggests he is locked into the five spot with the Bengals. The best of the betting numbers are long gone.

6. Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

(FTN's Jaylen Waddle scouting report)

Waddle is said to have passed Smith as the favorite weapon of Miami and his player prop line has dropped from 11.5 to 9.5 the past two days. He down to just +175 to be a Dolphin, so the betting value is gone. If you want to get the best possible line, he is -110 on BetMGM to be a top-10 pick as they forgot to adjust that line despite moving him to O/U 9.5

7. Los Angeles Chargers (Trade up with Detroit)

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

The Chargers have said they feel they are an offensive tackle away from being a real contender, and Justin Herbert has been campaigning for Sewell all offseason. The Chargers have dropped from +1100 to +650 in the last week to be the team that lands Sewell. I feel like seven is the most likely pick to be traded in the top 10 as the Lions just invested the second-most resources in the NFL into their analytics department.

8. Carolina Panthers

Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Did you really think I wouldn't have Horn as the first defender? Once sitting at +1000, Horn is now just +190 to be the first defender drafted. I think this pick comes down to Horn or Rashawn Slater.

9. Denver Broncos

Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

On FOX Bet, it’s between the Panthers and Broncos as Slater’s most likely landing spot. If Slater goes at 8 instead of Horn, I think Horn goes here.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama

With Horn off the board, this might be the easiest pick of the mock. Unless both go ahead of the Cowboys, one of Horn or Surtain will play in Jerry world.

11. New York Giants

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

(FTN's DeVonta Smith scouting report)

Smith is the betting favorite to be the pick and matches Dave Gettleman’s style of wanting great football players and ignoring a lot of other factors. Smith would give the Giants a top five set of weapons in the NFL.

12. Chicago Bears (Trade up with Philadelphia)

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

(FTN's Mac Jones scouting report)

Bears fans get excited for Justin Fields and end up disappointed in Mac Jones. If Jones doesn't go at three, the Bears are said to be very high on him and could make the move.

13. Detroit Lions (Trade down with LA Chargers)

Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami

After trading back and adding more capital, the Lions take a swing on the massive upside of Phillips. His under 19.5 is one of the better values on the board. 

14. Minnesota Vikings

Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

The Vikings may look to move down, if they don’t the pick likely comes down to Vera-Tucker or Christian Darrisaw.

15. New England Patriots

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

(FTN's Justin Fields scouting report)

This is the steal of the draft, as the Patriots have the second-best quarterback fall into their lap. The betting line on DraftKings Sportsbook now has the Patriots as the most likely team to land Fields.

16. Arizona Cardinals

Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

The Cardinals may get aggressive and try to move up for a corner or they may look to take Micah Parsons, but Newsome would be a massive add to this team. I still really like his under 24.5 line.

2021 NFL Draft — Picks 17-32

17. Oakland Raiders

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

This is a dream scenario for the Raiders, who need to put resources into their offensive line. This is likely Darrisaw’s floor.

18. Miami Dolphins

Kwity Paye, Edge. Michigan

The Dolphins just miss on Darrisaw and Vera-Tucker and add a talented edge defender.

19. Washington Football Team

Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

This is the shocker of the draft, as Davis ends up as the first linebacker drafted, currently +1000 on DraftKings. He is going to go higher than people expect, and Parsons could easily slip with his off-field issues.

20. Philadelphia Eagles (Trade down with Chicago)

Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss

(FTN's Elijah Moore scouting report)

The league is said to be in love with him and I expect him to go in this range. Eagles add a much-needed playmaker.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

The Colts have built their team in the trenches and need to replace Anthony Costonzo. Jenkins would be a home-run pick here for them — per the odds, they are most likely to take an offensive lineman.

22. Tennessee Titans

Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia

The team that was 31st in pressure rate last season needs help getting after the passer and the top four receivers and top three corners are all gone. Still a solid bet they go defensive line at +500, though.

23. Green Bay Packers (Trade up with NY Jets)

Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

(FTN's Rashod Bateman scouting report)

Bateman would be a perfect complement to Davante Adams, and the Packers jump multiple teams that could be looking to add weapons. The Jets’ targets are gone here, so they take the value of the trade back.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

(FTN's Najee Harris scouting report)

Would I do this? No. But the Steelers are -125 to take a running back and Harris is now -225 to be the first back drafted, while his total has dropped from 30.5 to 24.5.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Parsons is supremely talented, and the Jaguars have enough picks to take a shot on his upside. His off-field concerns cause him to fall this far.

26. Cleveland Browns

Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

With size and 4.2 speed, Stokes has been flying off the board and give the Browns a crazy athletic pairing on the outside.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

(FTN's Kadarius Toney scouting report)

The Ravens have tried to utilize the slot with Willie Snead and Devin Duvenay, but they add real playmaking to the position here to give Lamar Jackson a much-needed weapon.

28. New Orleans Saints

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Farley has back problems that have caused him to slip in the draft. His player prop has dropped six spots, but the Saints are said to be willing to take the risk.

29. New York Jets

Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma

The Jets need interior offensive line help more than anything else, and Joe Douglas builds through the trenches. I love them still getting +400 for their second pick to be an offensive lineman.

30. Buffalo Bills

Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

(FTN's Travis Etienne scouting report)

The Bills are now most likely to take a running back per the odds, and Etienne’s number has dropped from 36.5 to 30.5, giving credence to the idea that if he is there the Bills won’t pass on him.

31. Baltimore Ravens

Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama

The Ravens miss Marshal Yanda, and a talent like Dickerson with his versatility would be an awesome addition.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

(FTN's Javonte Williams scouting report)

The Bucs have caught some steam dropping from +800 to +550 to draft a running back. This team returns all 22 starters without any major needs, and all of their backs have contracts that expire next year. Would shock a lot of people, but I think it could happen.