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There are three months until the 2021 NFL draft and anything can happen at that time. The needs of the team will change, the ranking of prospects will fluctuate and the direction of many franchises will pivot. Even once we got to draft night, we could have some surprises.
We asked NFL Nation reporters for the top 10 teams to look at some off-the-wall scenarios that could it can happen and could throw the draft plans for a loop. These are the situations in which teams with big choices will have to consider and be prepared. So, after reading what Mel Kiper Jr. predicted for each choice, now see what could happen if things get off the rails on the night of the draw. Here are 10 scenarios and how the top 10 teams might approach them, starting with a strong commercial offer for the Jaguars.
Jump to:
JAX | NYJ | MIA ATL CIN
PHI | DET | AUTO | DEN | VALLEY
See: Kiper’s simulated sketch
What would the Jaguars do here if … the Jets offered the two options in the first round (Nos. 2 and 23) and their first tournament of 2022 for No. 1 overall?
They said, “Thank you, but I don’t thank you.” The Jaguars can’t afford to pass Clemson’s quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. He is considered one of Peyton Manning’s best QB clients and there is a big gap between him and the other signalers available in the project. New coach Urban Meyer said choosing the No. 1 pick this year was one of the things that made the Jacksonville job so appealing. Lawrence is changing a lot for this team.
Moreover, the owner Shad Khan said this: “What escaped the history of Jags, was really a franchise defender. And I think what is unique, for sure, is that we now have the ability to make a choice and it will define the franchise going forward. ”Jacksonville takes Lawrence and never looks back. – Michael DiRocco
What would the Jets do here if … they hired Sam Darnold as a starting defender for 2021?
They would request offers for choice no. 2, hoping to move down for additional capital. The Jets have nine selections in the first three rounds, and GM Joe Douglas would like to add at least two more. It has many holes to fill, including the offense. If Darnold stays in New York, he needs a better distribution, and more projects would help the team get there.
But if the Jets can’t find a way to trade, I’d look for them to take an offensive player to help Darnold, whether it’s Oregon offensive striker Pena Sewell or a top wide receiver like DeVonta Smith of Alabama or LSU Ja’Marr Chase. – Rich Cimini
What would the Dolphins do here if … the Jets took DeVonta Smith to 2nd place?
The Dolphins would likely firmly consider buying offers from teams that need QBs in the top 10. A swap, perhaps with the Panthers in 8th place, could return a pick in the first round of 2022 or more picks in the second round , giving them more resources to improve a list that is booming.
If nothing attracts them, then they would probably choose Pena Sewell’s attack or Ja’Marr Chase’s receiver with selection no. 3. These moves would further strengthen the offensive line around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or bring him a weapon to change the game outside. Of course, Smith would be a perfect match for Dolphins and Tagovailoa, but there are other options here. – Cameron Wolfe
What would Falconi do here if … defenders Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Zach Wilson went 1-2-3?
Well, they have a few options. First, he could roll the piece of paper with Penei Sewell’s name to get to his feet as fast as he could, securing a block for the next decade. You can’t go wrong with this decision. Second, he could grab a player to help defender Matt Ryan. His contract makes it difficult to break up with him, so the Falcons could help him as much as they can in this scenario. Those players could include WR DeVonta Smith, WR Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) or even TE Kyle Pitts (Florida). One of them along with Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones would give the offensive a big boost.
An additional possibility if this were to be reached: What would the Bengals Atlanta offer to move to a place and prevent Atlanta from taking Sewell? Could the Falcons get some extra capital while receiving another of those offensive weapons? – Michael DiRocco
What would the Bengals do here if … offensive striker Taylor Moton or guard Joe Thuney signed for free agency in March (and OT Pena Sewell is off the board)?
In this scenario, the Bengals will have a lot of options on the 5th place, considering that they have already helped to achieve the top task of protecting the defender Joe Burrow. If the needs on the offensive line are met, Cincinnati can look to get Burrow a big weapon in the passing game, like Ja’Marr Chase. Remember, Chase played at LSU with Burrow. He is the logical move if the free agency and the project commission fall like this.
But the fun choice? How about Kyle Pitts of Florida? He could take the offensive of Burrow and the Bengals to another level and has the potential to be an end to the game change for years to come. – Baby
What would the Eagles do here if … wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Ja’Marr Chase are both out of the picture?
Eagles definitely need a lot of help from the receiver, but there are other problems. Cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) or Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech) would be interesting options. The Eagles have struggled to get a consistent CB2 production behind Darius Slay this season. Slay and Surtain could be a bad punch. Otherwise, Philly is always on the offensive and defensive officers market, although Feather Sewell is unlikely to fall this far.
And if the Eagles still want to be a receiver, Jaylen Waddle – another former teammate of defender Jalen Hurts in Alabama – is the exact type of explosive player the Eagles tend to gravitate to. – Tim McManus
What would the Lions do here if … they changed quarterback Matthew Stafford soon?
The situation opens up some very real possibilities. If the Lions fall in love with defenders Justin Fields or Zach Wilson, they may have to move from their current location to land any of the players. If Detroit remains in 7th place, North Dakota State QB Trey Lance could be a player to watch, especially if the Lions sign a bridge defender for him to sit back and learn from a year. Lance has an incredible amount of talent, but he is very young – he will be 20 years old in the draft – so he is interesting for a reconstruction team.
The quarterback feels like the way forward for Detroit, but if one is not needed with this choice, a player like Penn State inside defender Micah Parsons would help start a left defense. – Michael Rothstein
What would the Panthers do here if … a team had already changed Kyle Pitts?
Start by looking at the best defender on the board. Did Justin Fields or Zach Wilson fall? Carolina will have to assess whether Fields, Wilson or Trey Lance – anyone still available – could be an upgrade to Teddy Bridgewater’s current Panthers quarterback, PJ Walker and Will Grier.
Beyond the QB, it is doubtful that Pena Sewell would fall so far, and the other offensive approaches are not worthy of a choice in the top 10. But a defender like Micah Parsons could be a good match. – David Newton
What would the Broncos do here if … Justin Fields or Zach Wilson hadn’t been elected yet?
Let’s start by saying that we don’t really know what new CEO George Paton thinks about each player – or about the current QB Drew Lock. And in the new power structure, Paton’s position preferences mean everything the team does in the next few months. He says he hasn’t evaluated Lock’s work last season yet, but has seen enough to believe Lock can continue to grow. But he also said that the QB game is one of the biggest components of long-term success and that he will consider everything in this position.
So it’s hard to say for sure right now, because Denver still has something to do with Lock. But at the end of the day, the Broncos, of course, want to show Fields and Wilson a long look. – Jeff Legwold
What would the Cowboys do here if … they weren’t elected defenders yet and could get one on the board?
It’s a simple answer, but it would take the best defender available. Who is so far away is not yet clear. Cornerback is a big need, so Patrick Surtain II and Caleb Farley would be great options, especially with Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis becoming free agents. Cowboys feel like they hit another corner of Alabama in last year’s draft, Trevon Diggs, and Surtain has the makeup and sense for the game they want. And Farley has the size, speed and ability to play.
The bad news for the Cowboys is that there doesn’t seem to be a dominant sideline striker or a defensive attack that deserves to be ranked 10th and it might be too early for a team like Dallas to go with an off-ball defender like Micah Parsons, even with questions about Jaylon Smith’s future. – Todd Archer