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ESPN staff
The order for the first 18 picks in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft is set, with the Jacksonville Jaguars picking No. 1 and the New York Jets picking No. 2. Could both teams think of the quarterback with their picks? Top ranked NFL analysts Mel Kiper Jr. – Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio) – made it to the college football semifinals on Friday night, with Fields and Buckeyes leading the way.
Both the Jaguars and the Jets – along with the Miami Dolphins – have two first-round picks in this draft. The Dolphins finished 3rd – thanks to trade with the Houston Texans for offensive attack Laremy Tunsil last year – and 18th. The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals complete the top five.
The 2021 NFL project will take place in Cleveland, with the first round on April 29. Rounds 2 and 3 will be on April 30, while rounds 4 to 7 will be on May 1. The project will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN application.
Check out the first 18 picks below, with numbers 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 had a selection in the top 10 of the first round 19 times when entering the 27th season, but never had the general choice no. 1. The last team to make the playoffs in the year they finished No. 1 overall was the Chiefs since 2013. The Jaguars took three defenders in the first round – Byron Leftwich (No. 7 overall in 2003), Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 in 2011) and Blake Bortles (number 3 in 2014).
The Jets just missed the second general selection no. 1. They used their only no. 1 overall to select wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. The Jets picked the second overall standings twice, selecting wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) and runner Blair Thomas (1990). New York was reportedly targeting Anthony Munoz with the second selection in 1980, but apparently passed him because he failed a physique. The Bengals ranked Munoz third overall and made 11 Pro Bowls. Jones never made the Pro Bowl.
The Dolphins, who had three first-round picks in 2020, have two first-round picks this year. All of the first-round picks in 2011 were in the league in 2020, but only one in 2019 was still in Miami (DeVante Parker, No. 14, 2015).
This is the Falcons’ first top-10 pick of 2015 and their first first pick out of five since the completion of quarterback Matt Ryan no. 3 In 2008, Atlanta designed two Hall of Famers with the first five elections: Claude Humphrey (No. 3), 1968) and Deion Sanders (No. 5, 1989).
Bengals are in the top five for the 17th time in franchise history and for the second year in a row. They used their last four players in the first round to pick offensive players, but only two of them started for Cincinnati in 2020 (defender Joe Burrow and offensive striker Jonah Williams).
This is the first choice of the 10 Eagles since they selected quarterback Carson Wentz no.
The Lions are in the top 10 for the third year in a row and for the 26th time in the Super Bowl era. Could he be looking for the successor to the 2009 general name chosen by Matthew Stafford?
The Panthers have a choice in the top 10 only for the second time since 2012. They hit big with the other, selecting behind Christian McCaffrey number 8 overall in 2017.
Broncos is only in the top 10 for the second time since 2011. Passenger Bradley Chubb was ranked 5th overall in 2018. He has 20.5 bags in his career and made the Pro Bowl this season.
Five of the Cowboys’ last eight first-round picks represented Dallas in the Pro Bowl, but only three remain on the team – goalie Zack Martin, quarterback Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Leighton Vander Esch. This is the Cowboys’ highest draft position since taking Elliott in fourth place in 2016.
Four of the Giants’ last six first-round picks are players around whom they hope to be able to build their offense, although selection no. 2 of 2018, Saquon Barkley, will return from a broken ACL in 2021. Defender Daniel Jones (2019) and tight end Evan Engram (2017) had some injury issues that prevented them in 2020. The beginner’s offensive attack Andrew Thomas has been a plug-and-play starter this season.
When the 49-year-old selected wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the second option in the first round last year, it was the first time they selected a player to qualify for the first round in 2012. At the same time, they selected four defensive heads.
Chargers have the luxury of not needing a quarterback, because it seems that they got the gold with selection no. 6 last year, Justin Herbert. The Oregon signal caller set a record for TD passes by a rookie and had several TD passes in seven consecutive games, another rookie record.
The Vikings make their biggest choice in the first round since they selected Trae Waynes College no. 11 in general. From the first round elections before 2018, only Harrison Smith (2012) and defender Anthony Barr (2014) still wear Violet.
The Patriots had the biggest pick in the first round of 2008, when they selected second-placed Jerod Mayo in 10th place. He was the defensive debutant of the year and played his entire eight-year career in New England, forming two Pro teams. Bowl.
Of the last 10 cardinal elections in the first round in 10 years, four are not even in the league. Five are still with Arizona. The other is 49ers backup Josh Rosen.
The Raiders, who have made five selections in the first round in the last two drafts, have only one round this year. Each of the previous five was in a different position, but none of those choices went to the secondary line or the offensive line.
How the Dolphins use the second of the two first-rounders will largely depend on what they do with their first. They need a wide receiver, offensive line and running back.
REIT projections for elections no. 19-32
19. Washington Soccer Team (7-9)
20. Chicago Bears (8-8)
21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15; 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)
28. 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)
(REIT screenings are starting Sunday night after Washington’s victory)