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ESPN staff
The order for the top 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 No. 2. Both teams could be thinking quarterback with your selections? Top-ranked quarterbacks from NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State), qualified Friday in the semifinals of the College Football qualifiers with Fields and the Buckeyes.
Both the Jaguars and Jets, along with the Miami Dolphins, have two first-round picks in this draft. The Dolphins finished No. 3 overall pick, thanks to Houston Texans trade for offensive attacks Laremy Tunsil last year, and No. 18 pick.The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals complete the top five picks.
The 2021 NFL draft will take place in Cleveland, with the first round on April 29th. Rounds 2 and 3 will be on April 30, while rounds 4 to 7 will be on May 1. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN application.
Check out the top 18 picks below, with numbers 19-32 projected from the ESPN Soccer Energy Index (FPI), which projects the order simulating the rest of the season 10,000 times.
Jacksonville has had a selection in the top ten of the first round 19 times as it enters its 27th season, but has never had the No. 1 overall pick. The last team to reach the playoffs the year it had the No. 1 overall pick was the Chiefs of 2013. The Jaguars have scored three quarterbacks in the first round: Byron Leftwich (No. 7 overall in 2003), Blaine Gabbert (No. 10 in 2011) and Blake Bortles (No. 3 in the first round). 2014).
The Jets just lost their second No. 1 overall pick. They used their only No. 1 overall overall to select wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. The Jets picked second on two occasions, selecting wide receiver Johnny “Lam. “Jones (1980) and runner Blair Thomas (1990). It was reported that New York was heading to Anthony Munoz with the second selection in 1980, but it was aired because it failed in a physical. The Bengals got Munoz third in the overall and got 11 Pro Bowls. Jones never made the Pro Bowl.
The Dolphins, who had three first-round picks in 2020, have two first-round picks. All of his first-round picks since 2011 were in the league in 2020, but only one of those prior to 2019 was still in Miami (DeVante Parker, No. 14, 2015).
This is the Falcons’ first pick in the top 10 since 2015 and their first pick in the top five since quarterback Matt Ryan ranked No. 3 in 2008. Atlanta has drafted two Hall of Fame with the top five. : Claude Humphrey (No. 3), 1968) and Deion Sanders (No. 5, 1989).
The Bengals are choosing between the top five for the 17th time in franchise history and the second year in a row. They have used their last four first-team picks to pick offensive players, but only two of them were Cincinnati starters in 2020 (quarterback Joe Burrow and offensive lineman Jonah Williams).
This is the first selection of the top 10 Eagles since they selected quarterback Carson Wentz No. 2 overall in 2016. Of course, they now seem willing to move on from Wentz in favor of the second-round pick of the 2020 Jalen Hurts.
The Lions rank in the top ten for the third year in a row and the 26th time in the Super Bowl era. Could they be looking for the successor to the No. 1 pick of 2009, Matthew Stafford?
The Panthers have a chance to pick out the top 10 for the second time since 2012. They achieved great success with the other, selecting Christian McCaffrey’s No. 8 runner overall in 2017.
The Broncos are ranking in the top ten for the first time since 2011. Passenger Bradley Chubb was No. 5 in the overall standings in 2018. He has 20.5 sacks in his career and won the Pro Bowl this season .
Five of the last eight Cowboys first-round picks have represented Dallas in the Pro Bowl, but only three remain with the team: goalie Zack Martin, running back Ezekiel Elliott and defender Leighton Vander Esch. This is the Cowboys ’highest draft position since they caught Elliott with the fourth pick in 2016.
Four of the Giants’ top six finishers are players around whom they hope to build their offense, though 2018 No. 2 pick Saquon Barkley will return from a broken ACL in 2021. Quarterback Daniel Jones (2019) and tight end Evan Engram (2017) had some injury issues that made it difficult for them in 2020. Debutant offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was a plug-and-play starter this season.
When the 49ers selected wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the second of two selections in the first round last year, it was the first time they selected a player with a position of skill in the first round since 2012. In that same period they selected four defensive ends.
The Chargers have the luxury of not needing a quarterback, as they look like they got the gold with last year’s No. 6 pick, Justin Herbert. The Oregon signal caller set a record for a rookie’s TD passes and had several TD passes in seven consecutive games, another rookie record.
The Vikings get their top pick in the first round since they selected Trae Waynes ’No. 11 cornerback overall in 2015. Of their first-round picks before 2018, only Harrison Smith (2012) and defender Anthony Barr ( 2014) still wear purple.
The Patriots have the best first-round pick since 2008, when they selected defenseman Jerod Mayo 10th overall. He was the defensive debutant of the year and played his entire eight-year career in New England, forming two Pro Bowl teams.
Of the last 10 picks in the first round of the Cardinals covering the last ten years, four are not even in the league. Five are still with Arizona. The other is 49ers quarterback Josh Rosen.
The Raiders, who have made five first-round picks in the last two drafts, only have one first-round pick this year. Each of the previous five was in a different position, but none of these selections were aimed at the defender or the offensive line.
How dolphins use the second of their first two players will largely depend on what they do with the first. They have wide receiver needs, offensive line and backhand.
REIT projections for selection 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; 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)
(FPI screenings are from Sunday night after Washington’s victory)