Brendan Donahue's 2021 NFL Mock Draft

BY BRENDAN DONAHUE (@donnycasino)
Updated: Sunday, March 14th

Here are picks 17-32:

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

We have seen some of Mike Mayock's reactions to elite athletes at the combine and he may have another one if he attends the Penn State Pro Day on 3/25. Having opted out of the 2020 season, I think scouts will be quickly reminded of the type of athlete/player Parsons is at his pro day and may start to move up draft boards again. He is the type of versatile and dynamic linebacker that Gruden and Mayock have been looking for to shore up their defense.

18. Miami Dolphins - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Derived from the Bill Belichick philosophy of looking for football players that can play multiple positions and fit different schemes, Owusu-Koramoah is the ideal player Brian Flores may be looking for especially after the release of Kyle Van Noy this week. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he may be a bit undersized but has shown he can make up for it not only with his ability in coverage but also attacking the line of scrimmage averaging a TFL per game over the past two seasons at ND.

19. Washington Football Team - Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

While it's no secret that Washington is looking to upgrade their QB position, they aren't going to be able to accomplish that here with the top five QBs already off the board so instead they give whoever is playing QB for them another weapon. Although a bit undersized, Toney is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete that not only caught 70 passes for 984 yards and 10 TDs but also ran the ball 19 times for 8.5 yards per carry and can add another dimension to the Washington offense that it seemed to lack at times last year.

20. Chicago Bears - Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Another team looking to upgrade their QB position but ultimately settling on a WR at this point in the draft. Although looking at Bateman's college stats, coupled with his recent sub 4.4 40 at the Exos combine on 2/27 it's unfair to describe picking Bateman as "settling." Just a sophomore in 2019, he had 1,219 yards and 11 TDs while averaging over 20 yards per catch.

MORE: Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

21. Indianapolis Colts - Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)

Edge rushers at this point have not distinguished themselves yet and may push each other down the draft boards as a result. Rousseau sat out last season but had 15.5 sacks in 2019 while lining up all over the defensive line showing his ability to get pressure not just from the edge which should appeal to the Colts new defensive coordinator.

22. Tennessee Titans - Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Another "edge" lineman and another one that can play in multiple fronts. The Titans as a team only recorded 19.5 sacks last year so adding a pass rusher will be high on their to-do list this offseason. Paye is another player that may "wow" scouts at his pro day on 3/26 and could start to separate himself from the pack.

23. New York Jets - Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

The run on the defensive line continues as new head coach Robert Salah goes with what he knows best and that's getting pressure on the QB. Ajulari had 9.5 sacks in 10 games last year while also forcing four fumbles.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

If the Steelers are going to give it another go with Big Ben at the helm, they are going to have to protect him so look for them to go offensive line here especially given their starting left tackle is now a free agent. Mayfield is another guy who can play outside or move in depending on what the Steelers do in the offseason but he should be able to help either way.

MORE: Steelers have the most difficult 2021 NFL schedule

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami (FL)

After securing their franchise QB with Trevor Lawrence earlier, the Jags turn their attention to pressuring the other team's QB since they had the second-fewest sacks in the league last year with only 18. In 10 games last year, Phillips had 8.5 sacks and that's after sitting out the 2019 season due to transferring from UCLA.

26. Cleveland Browns - Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

The 2020 Jim Thorpe winner should be an immediate upgrade over Andrew Sendejo who earned an overall grade of just 44.4 by PFF last year. Moehrig was also TCU's special teams player of the year as a freshman and will be able to contribute in that facet as a rookie as well.

MORE: Our way-too-early Top-10 2023 NFL Mock Draft

27. Baltimore Ravens - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

With Orlando Brown requesting a trade, the Ravens now have an opening on the right side of the line that Jenkins can fill. Jenkins is considered one of the better run blockers in the class, which will fit Baltimore's style perfectly.

28. New Orleans Saints - Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern

Newsome may have solidified a spot in the first round with his 4.38 40 at his recent pro day. When on the field, Newsome earned first-team Big 10 honors but injuries have been a bit of a problem in his career as he has missed parts of each of the past three seasons, which puts him just below the top three CBs in this draft.

29. Green Bay Packers - Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama

At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Barmore has the size to stack up against the run but also the ability and explosiveness to get to the QB as evidenced by his team-leading eight sacks last season, including one in the national championship game to go also with two tackles for loss and five overall tackles earning him the defensive MVP of the game award.

30. Buffalo Bills - Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

The Bills have very few needs to address so they have the luxury of taking the best player available. In this case, the best player available also provides a homerun threat that their current running backs on their roster lack. Devin Singletary and Zach Moss, who were their two top RBs last year, combined for only seven runs of 20 yards or more -- compare that to Derrick Henry, who had 16 such runs on his own last season. Etienne confirmed his home run speed at his recent pro day, clocking a 4.41 40 while weighing in at 215 pounds and would add another dynamic to an already potent Bills offense.

MORE: Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

The Super Bowl shined a very bright light on the importance of a competent offensive line. At the time, we could chalk up the incompetence of the KC offensive line in the Super Bowl to injuries, but now it's a more permanent problem with the release of both of their starting tackles this past week. Eichenberg is a three-year starter at left tackle at Notre Dame and gives KC an experienced college player who can step in and contribute on Day 1.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Levi Onwuzurike, IDL, Washington

Hard to find many holes on the defending Super Bowl champions' roster, but depending on whether or not they bring back Ndamukong Suh may create one. The Buccaneers led the league last year in rushing yards allowed per game at only 80.6, which is even more impressive when you see the Colts who were the second-best team allowed 90.5 per game. His tape is a bit inconsistent, but being able to line up next to an anchor like Vita Vea should allow him to flash some of his high-end potential more often and utilize his versatility.

Go back to Brendan Donahue's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Picks 1-16

Also, check out Kevin Hanson's 2021 NFL Mock Draft

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