Three-round NFL Mock Draft: Four Wolverines come off the board

The 2021 NFL Draft is two weeks away, meaning mock draft season is in full frenzy. The Michigan Wolverines should have a handful of players selected on the first two nights of the draft with a player that seemingly is close to a first-round lock in defensive end Kwity Paye.

Michigan fans make up a number of NFL fanbases given the program’s national reach, so we extended this edition to three rounds so everyone is covered. There are not any trades this time around. Simply the best pick your team could make in the slot it current slot it holds.

Round 1

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

This pick was set in stone as soon as the Jets won a football game.

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

We are 2-for-2 on picks with no drama to start the draft. This card has seemingly been filled out for months.

3. San Francisco 49ers (from Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

We know this pick will be a quarterback, but the name is still to be revealed. There has been a lot of Mac Jones smoke here, but the 49ers should bet on upside and star power.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

I would love the idea of trading back if I were a Falcons fan, but it remains to be seen how realistic that is. The debate right now is whether to draft Matt Ryan’s successor or give him another weapon. Let’s split the difference and give him a potential All-Pro offensive tackle.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

This is another spot where an offensive weapon is certainly in play, but the Bengals have to protect their investment in Joe Burrow. There is no such thing as a reach as it pertains to protecting your quarterback, even if this might be a few spots earlier for Slater.

6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles): Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

The Dolphins traded back Into the top six to make sure they had their pick of the litter of pass catchers in this draft. Pitts is a freak and may be the best non-quarterback in the class. Miami fans will like what we did for Tua in this mock.

7. Detroit Lions: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

If the Lions find themselves in a situation where Sewell, Pitts or Chase are on the board when they pick, I think they’d be thrilled with that. Slater would also be in consideration here. Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman, Khalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus is far from a group of wideouts that can support Jared Goff if he’s getting a real shot to be their QB moving forward.

8. Carolina Panthers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

This would have been a spot for a quarterback, but they are going to give the Sam Darnold experiment a try.

9. Denver Broncos: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

I’m not all that sold that Drew Lock is the answer in Denver. Neither are the Broncos, as they reportedly were in the Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson (pre-legal issues) sweepstakes. Lance gives them a chance to showcase Lock for a potential trade next offseason or stumble entirely and make their decision easy.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Luke Ghiardi’s Cowboys add some much-needed help in the secondary with the selection of Horn. His dad, Joe Horn, was a former receiver with the New Orleans Saints and had one of the best touchdown celebrations of all-time.

11. New York Giants: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

The Giants signed Kenny Golladay to a big free agent contract, but still could add another pass rusher to support Daniel Jones. Waddle is a YAC machine and also could factor into the return game.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins via San Francisco 49ers): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

This might be a little lower for Smith than some would think, but it is just the way the draft board fell this year. The Eagles could use major help in the passing game with productive playmakers.

13. Los Angeles Chargers: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)

Phillips might be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in this entire class, but the traits are undeniable. Still, he retired from football once already and has an injury history. This pick hitting would give them an incredibly talented pass rush duo of Phillips and Joey Bosa.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Things have been kind of awkward as of late with Danielle Hunter, but they could use an upgrade on the other end anyways. Paye compares favorably to former Viking Everson Griffen and his raw potential would be unlocked in Minnesota.

15. New England Patriots: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

It feels like the Patriots are going to come out of this draft with a quarterback whether they trade up or not. They are a prime trade-up candidate if someone like Justin Fields or Trey Lance falls out of the top four picks. Jones would be a decent consolation and would have time to sit behind Cam Newton.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC

A cornerback could be in play here, but Kliff Kingsbury’s offense could use some protection up front in the interior.

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The Raiders decided to blow up their offensive line for some reason, making it critical to address it early in the 2021 NFL Draft. He would slide in and start at right tackle immediately for them.

18. Miami Dolphins: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Two picks, two pass catchers for the Dolphins. Bateman has drawn comparison’s to Michael Thomas and the draft falling like this would be massive for Tua’s development and challenging the Bills for the AFC East title.

19. Washington Football Team: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

This is another team in play for a move up the draft to grab a quarterback. Offensive tackle is also in play, but here they instead grab the best player on the board.

20. Chicago Bears: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Andy Dalton is now QB1 in Chicago, which is equally as terrifying as it is hilarious. Jenkins is still a work in progress, but fills a need in the form of an offensive tackle upgrade.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

Xavier Rhodes is not a bonafide No. 1 cornerback anymore, so the Colts could use a young player to groom there and make an instant impact in the process. Newsome has tested extremely well this offseason.

22. Tennessee Titans: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

The Titans need some help in the secondary and cornerback is in play, but they instead grab the draft’s best safety prospect.

23. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks): Azeez Olujari, EDGE, Georgia

Robert Saleh was the architect of one of the best pass rushes in the league during his time in San Francisco. The Jets need upgrades everywhere, but decide to upgrade their attempts to get to the quarterback.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Farley is one of the 10 best players in this class, but a back injury has his stock sliding a bit. The Steelers always seem to have players like this fall into their lap.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams): Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss

The Jaguars have D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault, but it is hard to see Urban Meyer passing on the opportunity to add a slot receiver and potential gadget guy to the mix for Trevor Lawrence.

26. Cleveland Browns: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

The Browns have taken steps to solidify their defensive front and now grab a versatile playmaker at the linebacker position.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State

Oweh is raw and the statistics will not wow you, but the athletic traits make him a player worth taking for a team like the Ravens.

28. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

JOK is a much better player than his draft slot would indicate, but it was hard to find a spot for him. He is a Swiss Army knife that fits the hybrid mold that modern defenses are starting to shift to running.

29. Green Bay Packers: Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

Aaron Rodgers will likely continue to beg for help at wide receiver, but that is typically not how the Packers operate this early in the draft. However, they do decide to give him (and Jordan Love) some protection for the future.

30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

There was a degree of playmaking and pass-catching ability that was missing from the Bills’ offense last season. This would be a home run addition and give them an Alvin Kamara-like player in the backfield.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama

Did you watch the Super Bowl? Any linemen we mock here would make sense.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

The Super Bowl champs brought back every single starter from last year’s team, making it tough to get a read for where their needs are. Barmore could be the heir apparent to Ndamukong Suh, who re-upped with the team on a one-year deal.

Round 2

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

34. New York Jets: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

35. Atlanta Falcons: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

36. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans): Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

37. Philadelphia Eagles: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

38. Cincinnati Bengals: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

39. Carolina Panthers: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

40. Denver Broncos: Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

41. Detroit Lions: Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State

42. New York Giants: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)

43. San Francisco 49ers: Wyatt Davis, IOL, Ohio State

44. Dallas Cowboys: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

45. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Minnesota Vikings): Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky

46. New England Patriots: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

47. Los Angeles Chargers: Creed Humphrey, IOL, Oklahoma

48. Las Vegas Raiders: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU

49. Arizona Cardinals: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State

50. Miami Dolphins: Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma

51. Washington Football Team: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

52. Chicago Bears: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

53. Tennessee Titans: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

54. Indianapolis Colts: Levi Onwuzirike, IDL, Washington

55. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington

56. Seattle Seahawks: Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest

57. Los Angeles Rams: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

58. Baltimore Ravens: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon

59. Cleveland Browns: Daviyon Nixon, IDL, Iowa

60. New Orleans Saints: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

61. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF

62. Green Bay Packers: Milton Williams, IDL, Louisiana Tech

63. Kansas City Chiefs: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa

64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

Round 3

65. Jacksonville Jaguars: Richie Grant, S, UCF

66. New York Jets: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

67. Houston Texans: Tommy Togiai, IDL, Ohio State

68. Atlanta Falcons: Janarius Robinson, EDGE, Florida State

69. Cincinnati Bengals: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami (FL)

70. Philadelphia Eagles: Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana

71. Denver Broncos: Josh Myers, IOL, Ohio State

72. Detroit Lions: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson

73. Carolina Panthers: Quinn Meinerz, IOL, Wisconsin-Whitewater

74. Washington Football Team (from San Francisco 49ers): Davis Mills, QB, Stanford

75. Dallas Cowboys: Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame

76. New York Giants: Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State

77. Los Angeles Chargers: Stone Forsythe, OT, Florida

78. Minnesota Vikings: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse

79. Las Vegas Raiders (from Arizona Cardinals): Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston

80. Las Vegas Raiders: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

81. Miami Dolphins: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina

82. Washington Football Team: Elijah Molden, CB, Washington

83. Chicago Bears: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

84. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis Colts): Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State

85. Tennessee Titans: Nico Collins, WR, Michigan

86. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks): Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina

87. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis

88. Los Angeles Rams: Trey Smith, IOL, Tennessee

89. Cleveland Browns: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami (FL)

90. Minnesota Vikings (from Baltimore Ravens): Hamsah Nasirildeen, S. Florida State

91. Cleveland Browns (from New Orleans Saints): D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan

92. Green Bay Packers: Olijah Griffin, CB, USC

93. Buffalo Bills: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC

94. Kansas City Chiefs: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

95. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ben Cleveland, IOL, Georgia

96. New England Patriots*: Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas

97. Los Angeles Chargers*: Keith Taylor Jr., CB, Washington

98. New Orleans Saints*: Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

99. Dallas Cowboys*: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC

100. Tennessee Titans*: Alim McNeill, IDL, North Carolina State

101. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)*: Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB

102. San Francisco 49ers*: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati

103. Los Angeles Rams*: Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan

104. Baltimore Ravens*: Trill Williams, CB, Syracuse

105. New Orleans Saints*: Victor Dimukeje, EDGE, Duke