2021 NFL Mock Draft: Falcons trade up for Zach Wilson, 49ers find Jimmy Garoppolo replacement

There is little debate over Jacksonville’s pick and that is because Trevor Lawrence is entrenched there. The real intrigue begins a pick later.

Atlanta moves up a few spots to secure a quarterback. Matt Ryan will be 36-years-old when the Falcons take the field next. He may have some time left but it is doubtful that Arthur Smith took the job knowing that he would be in an unenviable position in two years. Teams are not afforded the chance to pick early enough to take an elite quarterback option early and Atlanta can ill afford to throw it away. Long-term success is at stake.

Detroit has made the decision to move on from Matthew Stafford and the heir apparent is not on the roster. They are within striking distance of landing a top quarterback in the draft but they have to be aggressive. The Lions surrender the No. 7 overall pick, a second round pick and a 2022 fourth round pick to move up for the right to select Justin Fields.

Joe Douglas comes from an executive tree that values offensive line play. If the team is going to move forward with Sam Darnold, they need a strong supporting cast around him. Rashawn Slater could slide in at right tackle and stabilize that unit.

Cincinnati watches as the action unfolds in front of them before selecting their top target — Oregon’s Penei Sewell. The addition allows them to move Jonah Williams inside, which is an immediate upgrade at two spots.

Philadelphia has some big changes to make and that includes clearing up the wide receiver room. Ja’Marr Chase can be a big part of that offense moving forward with or without Carson Wentz.

The conversation of Miami moving on from Tua Tagovailoa has already started after one season. The Dolphins have two choices: 1.) pull the plug and succumb to the idea or 2.) surround Tagovailoa with talent and give him a fair chance to succeed.

In this scenario, I am envisioning Carolina trades for Matthew Stafford. Detroit picks up a second round pick after parting with theirs in the trade up for Justin Fields. Kyle Pitts comes in to give that offense another mismatch.

Denver capitalizes on the quarterback rush and takes one of the best talents available regardless of position. Micah Parsons went from a bit overrated to underrated nationally. It will be interesting to see how far he can rise back up the board.

Dallas adds a top cornerback prospect to a secondary that desperately needs help. Patrick Surtain II is the best player available at a critical position of need.

New York adds a qualified pass rusher to supplement the strong interior defensive line. If the Giants can consistently apply pressure up front, it will make life easier on the back end for James Bradberry and a pair of safeties taken in the early rounds.

San Francisco has reached an impasse with Jimmy Garropolo. They have not gotten the production that they expected and will likely consider alternative options. With Trey Lance on the board, Kyle Shanahan is presented with a unique challenge.

The Chargers add a left tackle with the hope of protecting Justin Herbert for a decade plus. Brandon Staley might be enticed to draft defense but he will understand the importance of supporting his young quarterback.

Minnesota lost Everson Griffen and tried to compensate by acquiring Yannick Ngakoue; an experiment that did not work. The Vikings need to prioritize the health of their salary cap this offseason. They have done a poor job in recent years.

New England obviously needs to determine who will play quarterback for them next season. The thinking is that they will get Jimmy Garoppolo back from San Francisco after the 49ers select Trey Lance. By adding Jaylen Waddle, the Patriots have a deep threat for Garoppolo.

Caleb Farley is one of the highest-rated players in this class and he falls right in to the laps of the Cardinals. Arizona could move on from Patrick Peterson this offseason and the addition of Farley would offset some of that loss.

Las Vegas adds a nose tackle to augment the defensive line and take some pressure off of Maxx Crosby.

Miami doubles down on its commitment to Tua Tagovailoa and the Alabama program. After selecting Devonta Smith early, the Dolphins swoop back around take another member of the Crimson Tide — Najee Harris.

Washington is still looking to replace Trent Williams. Alijah Vera-Tucker is not a perfect replacement but he is a big upgrade. Worst-case scenario, Vera-Tucker plays left tackle until the team finds someone more suitable and they move him inside.

Chicago has a lot of money tied up in Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack. The team starts to plan for future flexibility by adding another on a rookie contract.

Jaelan Phillips is an ascending talent and Indianapolis takes a flier on his development. He is the eventual replacement for Justin Houston.

Tennessee has been desperate for pass rush help and Azeez Ojulari is the latest attempt to appease that need.

Between Rashawn Slater and Kadarius Toney, the Jets are finally beginning to surround Sam Darnold with talent that will either lead to his success or his demise. Toney has blistering speed in addition to refined route-running.

The end of Joe Haden’s time is coming in Pittsburgh and they need a replacement. Jaycee Horn is a physical player that can fit into the Steelers’ model.

Jacksonville has more needs than one offseason will allow them to address. The team has a few promising edge rushers but they need to add a few more pieces to that defense.

One of Cleveland’s highest offseason priorities involves finding an edge rusher to start opposite Myles Garrett. Jayson Oweh has a lot of qualities for the Browns to develop into a high end player.

Baltimore adds a little size in the form of Terrace Marshall Jr. to go with the speed that Marquise Brown provides. The Ravens have to graduate the passing game to reach the peak.

D’Wayne Eskridge is a speed merchant. His production has been somewhat limited by quarterback play with the Broncos but he averages over 20 yards per catch.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah gives Green Bay a modern day linebacker capable of covering sideline to sideline. He is more accustomed to dropping into coverage than filling gaps at the line of scrimmage.

Buffalo adds a versatile skill set to the second level of its defense. Zaven Collins is a well-rounded player that serves as a massive upgrade.

Tampa Bay could save a lot of money by moving on from Donovan Smith and embracing the youth movement. Alex Leatherwood has been viewed as a potential guard but he has shown enough to be given a fair shake on the edge.

Kansas City has not invested in their interior offensive line so they buck the trend with Deonte Brown at the end of the first round.