Five bold NFL draft predictions, including a Jimmy G trade
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After months of analysis, debate, film watching and Twitter scrolling, the 2021 NFL Draft finally has arrived.The 49ers are the focal point of the even after moving up the No. 3 overall, and all signs point to Kyle Shanahan hitching his wagon and NFL future to Mac Jones' right arm.Meanwhile, other teams are positioning themselves to move up the board should whichever two quarterbacks the 49ers don't select start to slip. The Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Washington Football Team, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers all could be in the market for a signal-caller, and you can never count out Jon Gruden being an agent of chaos.We've all see the film and tried to be rational about the 2021 draft, so let's go the other way and blow it up.Here are five bold predictions for the 2021 NFL Draft, including a number of trades and a veteran quarterback changing zip codes. These almost certainly won't happen, but if they do, I'll be playing Powerball come Monday.
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1/5
The Chargers had the worst run-blocking and third-worst pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL last season as rookie phenom Justin Herbert was pressured on 37 percent (!) of his dropbacks.
The Bolts can't let that become the norm. With a run on quarterbacks and offensive skill players expected early in the first round, the Chargers make a move up the draft board, swapping first-round picks with the Dallas Cowboys and throwing in a 2022 second-round pick to move up to No. 10 and reunite Herbert with star left tackle Penei Sewell.
Sewell protected Herbert's blindside at Oregon for two seasons and allowed only one sack in his career.
2/5
There has never been a draft in which no defensive players were selected in the top 10, and only the 1969 draft saw fewer than two go in the top 10.
That changes this year with five quarterbacks, four pass-catchers and one offensive lineman going in the top 10.
Bold predictions top 10:
1. Trevor Lawrence
2. Zach Wilson
3. Mac Jones
4. Kyle Pitts
5. Ja'Marr Chase
6. DeVonta Smith
7. Justin Fields
8. Trey Lance
9. Jaylen Waddle
10. Penei Sewell
Since this is all about being bold, I'll take a stab with five more trades in the top 10, which we will get to in the following predictions.
3/5
With the 49ers taking Mac Jones, Trey Lance and Justin Fields slide past four, five and six where two teams are more than happy to make a move up the board.
With the Broncos sitting at No. 9, Jon Gruden gets on the phone to the Lions' new front office and sends the No. 17 picks, along with a 2022 and 2023 first-round pick to the Lions to move up to draft Fields. Facing Patrick Mahomes twice a season, Gruden has seen the benefits of having a quarterback who can make off-script plays and had to take a chance on a big move to improve the trajectory of the franchise. This also makes Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota available via trade as the Raiders look to recoup some draft capital.
Meanwhile in Chicago, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy's jobs are on the line and they can't entrust their future to Andy Dalton. The Bears, in desperation mode, send three first-round picks to Carolina to go get Lance, leaving the Broncos empty-handed.
With the five quarterbacks off the board, the Broncos then trade back to No. 12, as the Eagles come back up to secure Jaylen Waddle and get Jalen Hurts a true top weapon.
4/5
Here are these bold predictions big mover and shaker. Yes, Bill Belichick is allergic to moving up and probably will trade down come draft night.
But ... what's the fun in that?
After the 49ers call Jones' name at No. 3, everyone is wondering who will vault up the board for Fields or Lance.
Belichick knows his only chance of getting the player he wants is to move up to No. 4. The Bengals won't move out of No. 5 and the Miami Dolphins aren't about to hand their rival the draft spot they want.
So, Belichick calls up the Falcons, apologizes for the whole 28-3 thing, and sends them the No. 15 pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2024, along with a second-round pick in 2022 to go up to No. 4 overall.
With everyone thinking Fields is packing his bags for Foxboro, Belichick stuns everyone and selects Kyle Pitts, giving the Patriots three versatile tight ends in Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith and Pitts.
Belichick and Josh McDaniels are always looking for an edge and they believe this will put defenses in an impossible situation when defending them.
But are they really prepared to go ahead with Cam Newton? Not so fast ...
5/5
The Mac Jones era in San Francisco is underway, and while Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have said they want Garoppolo to be the guy in 2021, the Patriots give them enough to part ways with the oft-injured starter.
Belichick sends the 49ers his second-round pick (No. 46 overall) and Cam Newton, giving the 49ers a veteran backup for Jones, in exchange for Garoppolo.
The 49ers take the No. 46 pick and select Rondale Moore, giving Jones the shifty slot receiver the rookie will need in order to maximize his success in Year 1.
The Patriots are back and it's a new era in the Bay.