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ESPN staff
The order for the top 18 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2021 has been determined, with the Jacksonville Jaguars being No. 1 and the New York Jets No. 2. Can both teams think quarterback with their choice? NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s top eighth man – Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State) – drew in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff Series on Friday night, with Fields and the Buckeyes coming out on top.
Both the Jaguars and Jets – along with the Miami Dolphins – have two first rounds in this draft. The Dolphins finished with the overall number 3 – thanks to the Houston Texans’ trade for attacking tackle Laremy Tunsil last year – and the no. 18-choice. The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals exclude the top five picks.
The NFL Draft 2021 takes place in Cleveland, with the first round on April 29th. Rounds 2 and 3 take place on 30 April, while Rounds 4 to 7 take place on 1 May. The concept is broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN app. .
Check out the top 18 picks below, with no. 19-32 projected from the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI), which projects the order by simulating the rest of the season 10,000 times.
Jacksonville has been selected in the top-10 of the first round 19 times as he enters his 27th season, but he has never made the overall no. 1 choice. The last team to reach the playoffs in the year he was the No. 1 overall was the Chiefs of 2013. The Jaguars selected three fullbacks in the first round – Byron Leftwich (7th overall in 2003), Blaine Gabbert (no. 10 in 2011) and Blake Bortles (No. 3 in 2014).
The Jets just missed their second No. 1 overall. They use their only number 1 overall series to select Keyshawn Johnson in the wide receiver. The Jets took second place twice overall, with wide receivers Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) and Blair Thomas (1990). According to New York, he targeted Anthony Munoz with the second pick in 1980, but he apparently passed him off because he had a physical failure. The Bengals finished Munoz in third place and he made 11 Pro Bowls. Jones never made the Pro Bowl.
The Dolphins, who had three first rounds in 2020, have two first rounds this year. All of their first-round picks since 2011 were in the league in 2020, but only one from before 2019 was still at Miami (DeVante Parker, No. 14, 2015).
This is the Falcons’ first top-10 pick since 2015 and their first top-five pick since setting quarterback Matt Ryan at No. 3 overall in 2008. Atlanta has lined up two Hall of Famers with top-five picks : Claude Humphrey (No. 3), 1968) and Deion Sanders (No. 5, 1989).
The Bengals reach the top five for the 17th time in franchise history and the second consecutive year. They used their last four firsts to select attacking players, but only two of them started for Cincinnati in 2020 (fullback Joe Burrow and attacking tackle Jonah Williams).
This is the Eagles’ first top-10 pick since they selected Carson Wentz, No. 2, overall in 2016. Of course, it looks like they are now ready to move away from Wentz in favor of the second round pick in 2020, Jalen Hurts.
The Lions are ranked among the top 10 for the third year in a row and the 26th time in the Super Bowl era.
The Panthers only have a choice in the top-10 for the second time since 2012. They beat big with the others and in 2017 chose Christian McCaffrey overall at number 8.
The Broncos are only selecting in the top-10 for the second time since 2011. Pass-rusher Bradley Chubb was at No. 5 overall in 2018, he has 20.5 bags in his career and made the Pro Bowl this season.
Five of the Cowboys’ last eight selections in the first round represented Dallas in the Pro Bowl, but only three remain with the team – guard Zack Martin, returning Ezekiel Elliott and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. This is the Cowboys’ highest position since Elliott clinched the fourth pick in 2016.
Four of the Giants’ last six first-timers are players around whom they hope to build their offense, but Saquon Barkley, the No. 2 pick in 2018, will return in 2021 from a torn ACL. Quarterback Daniel Jones (2019) and tighthead Evan Engram (2017) had some injury problems that hampered them in 2020. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas has been a starter this season.
When the 49ers selected wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the second of the first two picks last year, it was the first time they had selected a player in the skill position in the first round since 2012. In the same team, they picked up four defensive points.
The Chargers have the luxury of not having to be a quarterback, as it turns out they won gold with Justin Herbert, last year’s No. 6 pick. The Oregon signalman set a record for TD passes by a rookie and had multiple TD passes in seven consecutive games, another rookie record.
The Vikings make their highest pick in the first round since hitting the corner line Trae Waynes on the overall no. 11 selected in 2015. Of their first round before 2018, only safety Harrison Smith (2012) and linebacker Anthony Barr (2014) still have the press.
The Patriots had their highest pick in the first round since 2008, when they selected fullback Jerod Mayo 10th overall. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year and played his entire eight-year career in New England, making two Pro Bowl teams.
Of the Cardinals’ last ten first picks that have stretched over the past ten years, four are not even in the league. Five are still in Arizona. The other is 49ers full-back Josh Rosen.
The Raiders, who have made five first-round picks in the past two draft picks, have only one first-time pick this year. Each of the previous five was in a different position, but none of the choices were addressed as linebacker or offense.
How the Dolphins use the second of their first two players depends largely on what they do with their first. They have needs at wide receiver, offensive line and running.
FPI’s Predictions for Dial Number 19-32
19. Washington Soccer Team (7-9)
20. Chicago Bears (8-8)
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15; from 10-6 LAR)
22. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
23. Cleveland Browns (11-5)
24. Tennessee Titans (11-5)
25. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
26. New York Jets (2-14; from 12-4 SEA)
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4
29. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
30. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
31. Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
32. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
(FPI projections are from Sunday night after Washington’s victory)