One of the best days of the year will be later than ever.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Last year, the NFL released the regular-season schedule on May 7. This year, it’ll happen even later than that.

Via Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the NFL says that it currently is targeting the second week of May for the 2021 schedule release. As Fischer notes, that would make it the latest schedule release in league history.

The delay traces to the creation of a 17-game season — and uncertainties regarding attendance in the second year post-pandemic.

The NFL and its teams are optimistic that stadiums will be full this year. Political realities in some states could complicate that objective. Regardless, as the vaccines are distributed and (hopefully) as responsible and considerate mask wearing continues, the infections and illnesses will continue to subside.

The league’s schedule release typically dominates all sports news, even though the basic “who” and “where” of the schedule is known. The addition of the “when” becomes fascinating for football fans everywhere. We now roughly know when the “when” will come.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

The Washington Football Team is in the news.  First, they have released QB ALEX SMITH, one of the few stories around the WFT that the media would embrace.  But now, he’s embittered and gone.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Word last week was that the Washington Football Team would release Alex Smith in the near future and the time has come.

According to multiple reports, Washington has officially released Smith. The move comes after Smith made a remarkable comeback from his 2018 leg injury to start six games during the team’s run to the NFC East title.

Smith didn’t play in the playoff loss to the Buccaneers because of a calf injury to the same leg and he has not formally announced a plan to continue playing in 2021. He did say that he feels he has a lot of growth left on the football field, however.

Where he would get a chance to continue that growth remains to be seen. It’s set to be a busy offseason of movement on the quarterback front and it’s unclear if Smith will have a clear shot at a starting job with another team. If he is open to being a backup, there would likely be a number of teams interested in having a player with his experience in that role.

Washington opens $14.7 million in cap space with the move. They have Taylor Heinicke and Steven Montez on the roster at quarterback, so some of that cap room will likely be devoted to adding to their options at the position.

The DB wonders if Kansas City would want him back and if he would be willing to be the backup of PATRICK MAHOMES.

– – –

The report on Daniel Snyder and the culture of his football team is due.  So far, there is plenty of smoke around Snyder, but if the media liked him, nothing that really ties him in directly to scandal.

But now, leaks are saying the NFL’s report, from Deep State lawyer Beth Wilkinson, will conclude he must sell the team.  These tweets from JP Finlay of The Fan started the hubbub:

@JPFinlayNBCS

@JunksRadio  have obtained information from the 130+ page of the NFL investigation into the Washington Football Team – the top recommendation is “force the owner to divest his ownership of the team” per  @EBJunkies.

Wow. This is major.

@JPFinlayNBCS

Second recommendation in the report if the NFL doesnt want to force the sale – “Suspend the owner for a signifiant period to allow time to repair its infrastructure and culture.” All per @JunksRadio. Big time stuff.

@JPFinlayNBCS

My guess is a suspension instead of forcing the sale. Never know though. Also concerns of a cover up during the investigation, and that could have lingering effects.

The NFL with a fast denial per Mike Florio:

The NFL’s investigation of the Washington Football Team has created much speculation as to its conclusions and implications. On Friday morning, it has sparked a skirmish regarding a reported recommendation and the league’s denial of it.

According to 106.7 The Fan in D.C., the NFL’s 130-page report recommends that owner Daniel Snyder be forced to sell the team.

The league denies that. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, an NFL spokesman calls the report “absolutely false” and says that the league has received “no such report.”

Regardless of whether there’s a splitting of hairs or whether the report is indeed “absolutely false,” the investigation continues to loom over the franchise and the league. However it turns out, it’s critical for the NFL to make the report and all recommendations fully transparent. The issues are too important, and the lessons learned from the obvious misconduct in the organization (regardless of the consequences) will, or at least should, resonate throughout American workplaces.

It is possible for there to be such a report in circulation even as the NFL has not “received” it.

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

The Saints have cut P THOMAS MORSTEAD, once one of the elite.  Cody Benjamin ofCBSSports.com:

The New Orleans Saints are expected to lose their longest-tenured player in quarterback Drew Brees this offseason. On Thursday, they parted ways with their second-longest-tenured player in 12-year veteran punter Thomas Morstead. Faced with a precarious 2021 salary cap situation with the official start of free agency fast approaching, the Saints announced they have released the 34-year-old Morstead, who’s spent his entire NFL career in New Orleans, saving at least $2.5 million.

“Thomas Morstead has been the epitome of the consummate pro since the day we selected him in the 2009 NFL Draft,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a team statement. “He has been a remarkable punter and an outstanding leader in the locker room and eight-time team captain. His work in the community has been nothing short of remarkable. We know that as we approach the beginning of the NFL calendar year that very difficult decisions have to be made and this certainly falls into this category. We appreciate the dedication and professionalism that Thomas has brought to our organization from the moment he joined our team and sincerely wish both he and his family the best.”

A fifth-round draft pick out of Southern Methodist University, Morstead became synonymous with the Saints over the course of his 12 seasons, appearing in 190 games and logging a 41.6 career net-yards-per-punt average — the second-best all-time mark since the league began tracking the statistic in 1976. Also the Saints’ primary kickoff specialist for six years, he was a 2012 Pro Bowl selection and successfully converted an onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV, New Orleans’ only Super Bowl victory.

At 34 and coming off a 2020 season that saw him post the lowest yards-per-punt average of his career, however, Morstead was widely considered a potential cap casualty. He was due $4.5 million in 2021, as well as $4.75 million in 2022 on the final two years of a four-year, $15.6 million extension signed in 2018.

Morstead was as beloved as a punter can be in New Orleans, and he poured the love back upon his release.  John Sigler of USA TODAY:

Change isn’t easy. Thomas Morstead is going to do his best to embrace it after being released by the New Orleans Saints, hoping to continue playing once his body is right and some of the dust has settled in free agency. While he won’t be wearing black and gold anymore, he still sees New Orleans as his home.

“Overwhelmed with gratitude and thanks,” Morstead said when asked what he was feeling during a Zoom conference call on Thursday. “Obviously sad to be moving on from the team, but it’s not as if I haven’t prepared for this moment in a lot of ways.”

Morstead added that he’s not leaving the city — he and his family are building a new house in town, and the relationships he’s cultivated in New Orleans are important to him. He continued, choked up, adding that he doesn’t plan to retire, and that New Orleans is home and will remain his home, no matter where he finishes his NFL career. The love he’s shared with fans and felt from them is special.

Some fans have speculated that a reunion could be in the cards at the veteran’s minimum, but Morstead said the Saints didn’t approach him about a pay cut or restructure. That doesn’t seem to be an option, though he said he feels no resentment or negativity towards the Saints for how they handled business. He did offer an endorsement of his likely replacement, second-year punter Blake Gillikin, who he mentored throughout his rookie 2020 season.

TAMPA BAY

The market for QB TOM BRADY’s cards is huge.

Tom Brady continues to set records even in the offseason.

The quarterback’s rookie card sold for a record $1.32 million on Thursday through an online auction house, Tom VanHaaren of ESPN reports.

The 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket card was autographed and graded an eight with a 10 grading on the signature by PWCC Marketplace, an online auction house and repository for cards.

“The highest sale for a football card. Ever,” PWCC Marketplace said on its Instagram account. “Only one of 100 cards in the world, even less if you consider grade.”

James Park, a known card collector and Brady fan, purchased the card.

“I lived in Boston for 10 years and so am a huge fan of Brady,” Parks said in a statement. “I’ve also had a love of collecting cards since I was a kid. Given Brady’s uncontested status as GOAT in football, this card is an important piece of sports history and of any collection.”

An autographed Patrick Mahomes card recently sold for $861,000, which set the previous record for a football card, according to VanHaaren. A different Brady card sold for $555,988 in January.

Another Brady card currently is being sold at Lelands auction house and has a current bid of $707,565.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

Dianna Russini of ESPN.com continues to hear that QB RUSSELL WILSON is estranged from the Seahawks.  Mike Allessandri of The Score with this report:

Russell Wilson hasn’t demanded a trade, but he’s “not happy” with the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN’s Dianna Russini said Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

Russini added that Seattle isn’t shopping the star quarterback but is fielding calls from inquiring teams.

There’s reportedly a growing belief among NFL executives that the eight-time Pro Bowler will be traded due to ongoing friction between the two sides.

Wilson’s lack of input regarding organizational matters – including its work to address the team’s offensive line – reportedly factors into his growing dissatisfaction with the Seahawks.

Though Wilson said he wants to remain in Seattle, he’d waive his no-trade clause to be acquired only by the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, or Chicago Bears.

However, the veteran passer reportedly doesn’t expect to be traded.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

CINCINNATI

CLEVELAND

QB BAKER MAYFIELD and his wife spotted an unidentified flying object near Austin’s City Limits. And he tweeted:

@bakermayfield

Almost 100%, Em and I just saw a UFO drop straight out of the sky on our way home from dinner… we stopped and looked at each other and asked if either of us saw it… Very bright ball of light going straight down out of the sky towards Lake Travis. Anybody else witness this?

Colin Cowherd took after his nemesis Mayfield, but QB TOM BRADY rode to the rescue.

Jim Reineking of USA TODAY:

Predictably, Fox sports talk radio host Colin Cowherd jumped on the opportunity to once again criticize Mayfield.

“I would prefer of all the qualities of a franchise quarterback … I want to know your arm. Are you good pre-snap? Are you mobile? The ability to see UFOs in the offseason is nowhere near my top 10 qualifications,” Cowherd said on “The Herd.”

“Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady have never seen aliens. I would prefer my guys don’t talk about it.”

Well, a few hours later, Brady dunked on Cowherd’s assumption.

“How do you know I’ve never seen aliens Colin?” the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback tweeted Thursday night.

Saying you have seen an unidentifiable flying object does not mean you believe in aliens amongst us.  The DB has seen things in the sky that aren’t easily explainable twice, once at West Point and once in Costa Rica.  But that’s all we, and Mayfield know, we saw something in the sky that wasn’t a conventional airplane in flight.

PITTSBURGH

QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER takes a $5 million straight pay cut and moves around some other money to facilitate a return to the Steelers.  Here’s the release from the Steelers:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Ben Roethlisberger to a new contract for 2021, it was announced Thursday.

“We are excited we were able to come to an agreement with Ben Roethlisberger on a new contract for him to return to the Steelers in 2021,” said General Manager and Vice President Kevin Colbert. “We know that Ben can still play at a high level and do special things for this team. Our goal remains the same – to put together a roster that will compete for another championship. We are happy that Ben will be one of our leaders to help us accomplish that goal.”

Roethlisberger, who has played in a Steelers record 233 games and started a record 231, came back strong in 2020 after missing the majority of the 2019 season with an elbow injury.

“It is my greatest honor to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and give my all for this organization,” said Roethlisberger, who will be entering his 18th season with the team. “I am grateful to be at this stage of my career and more than happy to adjust my contract in a way that best helps the team to address other players who are so vital to our success. I love this game and love to compete, and I believe in this team and my ability to deliver when called upon. It all starts with great preparation and I am ready to go.”

Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com has some numbers:

Details have emerged about the new deal that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger signed for the 2021 season.

According to multiple reports, Roethlisberger’s compensation for the season has gone from $19 million to $14 million and the Steelers have picked up $15 million in cap room for the coming year. Roethlisberger was set to count $41.25 million against the cap before altering his deal.

NFL Media reports that Roethlisberger will make a league minimum salary of $1.075 million with the rest of his compensation coming as a signing bonus. They also added voidable years onto the contract in order to spread the cap hit out into future seasons.

Whether Roethlisberger will be around as anything other than dead money on the salary cap for those years remains to be seen, but Thursday’s developments ensure that he’ll spend his 18th season in Pittsburgh.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

Coach Bill Belichick likes everything about QB CAM NEWTON, except the current state of his arm.  Chris Mason of MassLive.com:

Apparently Bill Belichick is still quite fond of Cam Newton.

The Patriots don’t have a starting quarterback and Newton is set to hit free agency later this month, but according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, Belichick continues to speak highly of the veteran quarterback behind closed doors.

“Multiple sources who have spoken with Belichick this offseason said he does nothing but rave about Newton and the effort the quarterback put forth in 2020,” Volin writes. “The only problem Belichick is concerned with is Newton’s arm strength, with Newton having suffered multiple shoulder injuries in the last five years.”

Newton went 7-8 in his first season in New England but the passing game was extremely limited. Whether that was because of Newton’s arm or the Patriots’ personnel became a chicken-or-egg argument for much of the season.

Win or lose though, Belichick often spoke highly of Newton’s leadership.

“Cam does a great job of connecting with everybody,” Belichick said in October. “Whether it’s his teammates, his receivers, guys on defense, other people in the organization. Again, I think the captain voting — not that that’s the ultimate final determination of leadership — but I think the fact that he’s been here a pretty short amount of time and earned that type of respect and support from his teammates is pretty impressive. I think it’s across the board. It’s the offensive line. It’s the receivers. It’s all the offensive players and coaches, and it extends into other areas as well, like special teams and defense and other people in the organization. I think that we’ve all seen that. And it’s impressive. It’s impressive.”

One of the keys to that? Newton was constantly at Gillette Stadium.

The quarterback posted 6:00 A.M. workout videos on Instagram, and wasn’t in any rush to leave after practice. Belichick believed he was logging more hours at the facility than anyone.

“He’s here a lot. He’s in the building and he’s visible,” Belichick said. “He’s in sight and he’s connecting with people as much as any player. He’s in the building more than any player on the team. He spends a lot of time talking and connecting and building relationships with those people. He has tremendous leadership. So, it’s very impressive.”

Appearing on the I Am Athlete podcast last month, Newton was asked whether he’d take a one-year deal to return to the Patriots. His response was emphatic.

“Yes. Hell yes,” Newton replied. “I’m getting tired of changing. I’m at the point in my career where I know way more than I knew last year.

“They know me,” Newton said. “Doughboy (N’Keal Harry) knows me. Jakobi (Meyers) knows me. Bud (Damiere Byrd) knows me. The young tight ends know me. The younger guys that are going to come in, ‘This is how Cam reacts.’ We’re still trying to flush out the 20 years of how it used to be.”

THIS AND THAT

PLACING FREE AGENTS

Sean Galina of ProFootballFocus.com, writing at ESPN.com, gives the top free agents their best fits:

With the 2021 NFL free-agency period fast approaching, it’s time to get our ducks in a row and give hope to every fan base. Whether you are a fan of a team that is looking to move from the depths of the standings, or a team that is looking to add just one more key player for a Super Bowl run, free agency is one of the most exciting times of the year.

With the news of J.J. Watt signing a two-year, $31 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals, we at Pro Football Focus thought it was time to take a look at the best fits for every team in free agency using each free agent just once. Each NFL team has a specific weakness — whether that’s edge rushing, slot coverage or just general quarterback play — so we decided to fit a player who would fill that specific need for the team.

The draft might be the shining light at the end of the tunnel, but with the number of big-name players hitting the market in free agency this season, there will be a frenzy for the league’s top unsigned talent.

Arizona Cardinals: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

2020 team: Steelers | Age entering 2021 season: 24

The Cardinals need someone who can work the middle of the field to take some heat off No. 1 wideout DeAndre Hopkins. And that’s what JuJu’s game is: the underneath middle of the field.

His game fell off a bit in 2020, and it remains to be seen whether he can be a true No. 1 receiver, but the beauty is that he won’t have to be the top guy in Arizona. Smith-Schuster posted an 81.8 PFF grade as Antonio Brown’s understudy in Pittsburgh in 2018, but that number fell to 63.1 in 2019 and 70.0 in 2020. Becoming a secondary option again might do wonders for both JuJu and the Cardinals in the make-or-break year for the Kliff Kingsbury era.

Atlanta Falcons: Edge Shaquil Barrett

2020 team: Buccaneers | Age entering 2021 season: 28

The Falcons desperately need production off the edge and might be willing to overpay for Barrett. The former Denver Broncos edge rusher broke out in a full-time role in Tampa Bay, posting back-to-back PFF grades above 74.0 to rank among the top 25 players at his position in each of the past two years.

The price tag might be hefty, as Barrett’s sack production will somewhat artificially inflate his value, but he is still an excellent player and is probably worth his weight in gold for a team that cannot get after the passer. Barrett’s 15.6% pressure rate ranks seventh among the 131 edge defenders who have rushed the passer at least 200 times since 2019.

Baltimore Ravens: WR Corey Davis

2020 team: Titans | Age entering 2021 season: 26

It wouldn’t be the most glamorous signing, but the Ravens desperately need a true X receiver who can beat different kinds of coverage. Davis lined up as the outside receiver on over 75% of his snaps over his four seasons in Tennessee. And while he was slow out of the gate as a pro, his 2020 season was his best. His 85.3 grade ranked 10th among receivers, a big leap from the 51st-ranked 69.9 grade he earned in 2019.

The Ravens have had no success on the outside since Lamar Jackson took over as starting quarterback, with Marquise Brown’s 71.2 grade when lined up outside barely moving the needle.

Buffalo Bills: TE Jonnu Smith

2020 team: Titans | Age entering 2021 season: 26

The Bills did not get a lot of production from their tight ends in the passing game last season, so bringing in Smith would complete what would be a marvelous receiving corps. The rising fifth-year tight end is a capable blocker, but his usefulness truly comes when the ball is in his hands. Among tight ends with at least 25 targets over the past three seasons, Smith is fourth in yards after the catch per reception at 7.1.

As a second or third threat, this is the type of player you want; someone who can play a limited role yet still create extra yards when his number is called.

Carolina Panthers: TE Hunter Henry

2020 team: Chargers | Age entering 2021 season: 26

No team suffered worse play from the tight end position last season than the Panthers. Matt Rhule & Co. could desperately use a real receiving target in that space heading into the 2021 campaign, as they gained a measly 204 yards from the tight end position in total last year.

Injuries have prevented Henry from becoming the all-world tight end he looked destined to become early in his career, but this is such an obvious upgrade for the Panthers. And because of those injuries, he will come with a very reasonable price tag.

Henry posted 80.0-plus grades in his first two years in the league before the injury bug hit, and the fact that he’s managed to grade above 69.0 in each of the past two years means that he’s still capable of carving a role in a passing attack. For his career, Henry has generated a 121.7 passer rating for his quarterback, which will be a welcome sight for whomever takes the reins of the Panthers’ offense for 2021.

Chicago Bears: LB Lavonte David

2020 team: Buccaneers | Age entering 2021 season: 31

One of Chicago’s biggest issues this past season was how often teams targeted their linebackers in the middle of the field. And while Roquan Smith held his own, posting a very good 84.0 coverage grade, Danny Trevathan graded out at just 42.3.

David is one of the best in the business at shutting down those quick, easy throws. He has earned a PFF coverage grade above 83.0 four times in his nine-year career, and he has never graded lower than 64.6 in that area. A uniquely gifted player, David can go sideline to sideline in the running game and cover anyone in the passing game. He’s now on the wrong side of 30, but still represents a significant upgrade for the Bears in this department.

Cincinnati Bengals: WR Will Fuller V

2020 team: Texans | Age entering 2021 season: 27

Free agency will tell us a lot about what the Bengals plan to do in the draft, as both receiver and tackle are big-time needs. If they have their mind set at tackle in the draft — Oregon product Penei Sewell is looking like a heavy favorite — they could add a serviceable weapon for Joe Burrow in free agency. In Fuller, the Bengals would get a speed demon who can complement the other players in the receiving corps.

Given Burrow’s accuracy in the intermediate range (1-19 yards downfield) and Tyler Boyd’s big catch radius already entrenched in Cincinnati, the Bengals don’t strictly need a tried-and-true player who can get separation. Instead, they could target Fuller’s downfield speed, which would go a long way toward improving a passing attack that ranked 31st in deep passing yards in 2020 (470). Fuller also quietly had the ninth-highest grade at receiver in the league last season, at 86.2.

Cleveland Browns: CB Desmond King II

2020 team: Titans | Age entering 2021 season: 26

When it came to defending the slot, few teams were worse than the Browns in 2020. In total, they surrendered a 118.2 passer rating to quarterbacks targeting the slot, the fourth-highest mark in the NFL.

King hasn’t quite hit the heights he promised earlier in his career, but he would still provide an upgrade in Cleveland. King was the second-highest-graded cornerback in the league in 2018, at 88.6. His play has fallen a bit, and the move to Tennessee didn’t quite work out, so this could be a perfect buy-low option for the Browns.

Dallas Cowboys: C Corey Linsley

2020 team: Packers | Age entering 2021 season: 30

Both Joe Looney and Tyler Biadasz struggled at center for the Cowboys last season. And while Biadasz was just a rookie, the Cowboys could still look to upgrade the position. Linsley is a no-brainer here; he’s been one of the best centers in football over the past few seasons and then became the best center in football in 2020. He posted 80.0-plus grades as both a run-blocker and pass-blocker in 2020, the only center to do so.

Denver Broncos: G Joe Thuney

2020 team: Patriots | Age entering 2021 season: 28

The Broncos had major guard problems last season. And considering that Drew Lock needs everything in front of him to be perfect to look like a competent NFL quarterback, upgrading at that position would be significant.

Thuney has yet to miss a game since being drafted. He has graded above 74.0 in each of the past four seasons and has ranked among the 10 highest-graded players at his position in each of the previous three. He would represent a considerable upgrade over both Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner.

Detroit Lions: S Anthony Harris

2020 team: Vikings | Age entering 2021 season: 29

The Lions had massive trouble defending the deep parts of the field, and they especially struggled over the deep middle. Anthony Harris can come in and change that quickly.

There is some scheme carryover between Mike Zimmer in Minnesota and what Aaron Glenn could bring to Detroit. Harris had the third-highest grade among safeties in 2018 before taking the top spot in 2019 and falling to 38th this past season. Still, there’s a lot of upside here; the safety has forced an incompletion on 25.9% of his targets since 2018, first among the 76 safeties who have seen at least 50 targets over that span.

Green Bay Packers: RB Chris Carson

2020 team: Seahawks | Age entering 2021 season: 26

In a world where the Packers lose Aaron Jones to free agency, Carson would step in and be a more than worthwhile replacement for him.

Hidden away in Seattle, Carson has been one of the best runners in the league over the past few seasons, grading among the top 10 running backs in each of the previous three seasons and ranking third among running backs in yards after contact per attempt (3.4) over those years. He’s a perfect replacement as a two-down running back who will need to cede his place for Jamaal Williams on third down.

Houston Texans: S Justin Simmons

2020 team: Broncos | Age entering 2021 season: 27

The Texans would love to have a do-it-all safety to bolster their secondary, and that’s exactly what Simmons is. His versatility is definitely a big part of his game; he can play in the post, or can sit down low and attack in the running game.

Simmons earned a 90.7 PFF grade in 2019, the second-highest mark at the position, and although he fell to a 77.4 grade this past season, that was still good enough for eighth in the league. He’s shown consistency and excellent playmaking ability, which is something the Texans haven’t had in their secondary since Tyrann Mathieu left. Get this man in Houston ASAP.

Indianapolis Colts: Edge Jadeveon Clowney

2020 team: Titans | Age entering 2021 season: 28

Clowney fits perfectly in the Colts’ two-high structure on defense because he can be a one-man wrecking crew against the run, and allow the Colts to continue to live with a down safety in the box. Clowney’s grade has continued to drop in recent years, but he’s still not even 30 years old yet. He’s only two seasons removed from earning a career-high PFF grade of 87.2, so a bounce-back year is not entirely out of the question.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Chris Godwin

2020 team: Buccaneers | Age entering 2021 season: 25

The first order of business for a team with a dazzling new quarterback is to get him an elite separator at receiver. And not only can Godwin separate, but he can also do anything he wants to on the field.

Primarily a slot receiver, Godwin is big and strong and posted the highest grade among receivers in 2019 at 90.7. With the share-the-wealth philosophy and some injuries last year in Tampa, his grade fell to 75.5. Still, don’t take this man lightly. He immediately bolsters an already decent Jacksonville receiving group and gives Trevor Lawrence an elite receiver right off the bat.

Kansas City Chiefs: LB Matt Milano

2020 team: Bills | Age entering 2021 season: 27

Milano is a very good coverage linebacker, and with the Chiefs holding leads in almost every game they play with Patrick Mahomes, these types of players are essential.

While Milano does miss tackles in the run game, that’s not as important an aspect of the position right now. He had the NFL’s 12th-highest grade at linebacker in 2018, at 76.1, but his play has dropped over the last two years, when he’s graded at 65.6 and 54.5, respectively.

Las Vegas Raiders: CB William Jackson III

2020 team: Bengals | Age entering 2021 season: 28

The Raiders need all the cornerback help they can get, and while Jackson might never turn out to be the dominant man-to-man cover corner we all thought he could be early in his career, he would still be an upgrade over whatever the Raiders trotted out there last season. Las Vegas earned the second-lowest cumulative coverage grade against players lined up out wide last season. Jackson’s 71.4 PFF grade ranked 26th among the 136 qualifying players at the position.

Los Angeles Chargers: OT Trent Williams

2020 team: 49ers | Age entering 2021 season: 33

The Chargers continue to forget that offensive linemen play football, and it’s a mistake that has had a severe effect on their quarterback play over the last decade-plus. It’s finally time to end that with the signing of Trent Williams, who just so happened to be the highest-graded tackle in the league last season.

Williams sat out of the 2019 season because of ongoing disputes with the Washington Football Team, and many wondered if that would cause his play to slip a bit. It didn’t. His 91.9 grade in 2020 proves that he would instantly make the Chargers’ makeshift offensive line a real-life professional unit.

Los Angeles Rams: LB Jayon Brown

2020 team: Titans | Age entering 2021 season: 26

The Rams fielded the league’s best defense a season ago, and it looks like all the important parts will return, especially if they can re-sign John Johnson III. The only upgrade they’ll need is at the linebacker spot, so Jayon Brown fits nicely here.

Brown does his best work in zone coverage and is agile enough to move around and align in unique positions, as we saw the Rams’ linebackers do in 2020. He had the No. 8 grade among linebackers in 2018 (81.2) before slipping to 20th over the last two seasons, but he’s still a value add for the Rams.

Miami Dolphins: WR T.Y. Hilton

2020 team: Colts | Age entering 2021 season: 31

The Dolphins are picking early in the 2021 NFL draft, so what they do in free agency could provide insight into how their draft will go. Most mock drafts have the Dolphins taking one of the top receivers in the draft, but if they were to splash on a T.Y Hilton in free agency, this could open the door for them to bolster another area early and then still fall into one of the top receivers in the draft at No. 18.

Hilton might not be the same player who tore through the league with Andrew Luck by his side, but he’s a serviceable complementary player from the Miami area. Even without Luck, Hilton has still posted a receiving grade above 75.0 in each of the last two years.

Minnesota Vikings: G Brandon Scherff

2020 team: Washington | Age entering 2021 season: 29

The Vikings need at least some semblance of inside protection, and signing Scherff to reunite with Kirk Cousins would go a long way toward fixing some of Minnesota’s woes on offense. Scherff has been one of the most underrated players in the NFL since entering the league, and he’s coming off career-high marks as both a pass-blocker and a run-blocker. Overall, his 86.3 PFF grade ranked fourth among all guards in the NFL.

Last season, Vikings guards produced a cumulative overall grade of 50.6 to go with an abysmally low 37.9 pass-blocking grade. They need an upgrade here more than any other team in the league by far.

New England Patriots: QB Jameis Winston

2020 team: Saints | Age entering 2021 season: 27

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If Cam Newton has already played his last snap in New England, the Patriots will need to either pay a quarterback in free agency or draft one. If someone they liked were to fall to No. 15, the Patriots would have no problem sprinting the card in, but there are no guarantees that it happens. Paying someone in free agency is the only guarantee.

Dak Prescott is the best choice, but the chance of him becoming available is pretty slim. So this move really comes down to Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jameis Winston. If it’s Fitzpatrick, then it’s a stopgap until they find their next true quarterback. With Winston, Bill Belichick might believe he can be the one who molds him into a real NFL quarterback.

The tools are already there. Winston finished fourth in big-time throws in 2019 with 31, but he also led the league in turnover-worthy plays with 40. Someone is going to pay big money to try to fix this man.

New Orleans Saints: QB Cam Newton

2020 team: Patriots | Age entering 2021 season: 32

If Winston does leave — and Drew Brees retires — the Saints will say all the right things about loving Taysom Hill as their starting quarterback, but they will need a veteran backup. Between Newton and Andy Dalton, there are two interesting, and very different, ideas.

Dalton looked like the perfect backup when he signed with Dallas last season, and he had some moments when he looked competent after he was thrust into duty. With Cam, who did not look great in New England, at least there is some carryover on offense between what he can do and what will be in the playbook for Taysom Hill.

New York Giants: OT Taylor Moton

2020 team: Panthers | Age entering 2021 season: 27

The Giants went out and got Cameron Fleming to play right tackle for them last season, a move that proved to be unsuccessful, so getting a player like Moton to play the right side and pair with Andrew Thomas would be huge. Moton is a consistent pass-protector and improved as a run mauler this season. He’ll protect Daniel Jones and is still only coming into his prime.

New York Jets: WR Allen Robinson II

2020 team: Bears | Age entering 2021 season: 28

Last year, there were XFL rosters with better receiving corps than the Jets had, and the team cannot let that happen again, regardless of who is playing quarterback. If they decide to hold on to Sam Darnold or draft a quarterback early in the first round, they need to get themselves a real receiver. Robinson qualifies as just that.

Despite playing with inaccurate quarterbacks, as he has for almost his entire career, Robinson still posted an 89.1 receiving grade over the last three seasons. He also comes with some positional versatility; he’s an outside receiver but did play a third of his snaps in the slot over those three years. The move gives the Jets two receivers in one.

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Kenny Golladay

2020 team: Lions | Age entering 2021 season: 27

It would behoove the Eagles to find an X receiver who can play right away to pair with Jalen Hurts — or whoever ends up playing quarterback next season. The Eagles earned the lowest cumulative outside receiver grade in the league last season, and that’s where Golladay can get work done. Injuries hampered his 2020 season, but he still finished with an 81.6 receiving grade. Golladay’s big catch radius and ability to work the sideline areas can help Hurts and his sometimes-erratic deliveries.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

2020 team: Dolphins | Age entering 2021 season: 38

The Steelers desperately need a backup who can change the offense if Ben Roethlisberger decides to play quarterback the way he did in 2020. Maybe a full year removed from the elbow injury will get Ben back to his old ways, but this move gives them a contingency plan and a quarterback who might actually want to throw it past 10 yards. He’ll also be comfortable holding on to the ball and finding space in the pocket to make a big throw downfield instead of getting rid of it as quickly as possible, as Big Ben did last season.

San Francisco 49ers: QB Dak Prescott

2020 team: Cowboys | Age entering 2021 season: 28

This may be blurring the lines a little, but Prescott is technically a free agent and the 49ers are definitely looking for a quarterback. He would be a massive upgrade at the position from Jimmy Garoppolo. An intelligent, heady player with incredible touch and decision-making skills, Prescott’s 85.2 grade before injury was still good enough for eighth among all quarterbacks this past season, one year after finishing 11th in 2019.

Seattle Seahawks: Edge Yannick Ngakoue

2020 team: Ravens | Age entering 2021 season: 26

The Seahawks were a middle-of-the-pack unit rushing from the edge last season, so getting a player like Ngakoue, who is still developing, could prove to be a good move.

Seattle’s edge rushers especially struggled on third down last season. And that’s where Ngakoue could come in right away and make a difference. The former Raven ranks among the top 30 edge rushers in PFF pass-rush grade (72.8, 23rd) and pressure rate (14.1%, 27th) on third downs over the last three seasons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Leonard Williams

2020 team: Giants | Age entering 2021 season: 27

Given his positional versatility and the Bucs’ potential loss of Shaq Barrett, Williams would be a good pickup for the Super Bowl champs; he can play inside next to Vita Vea and kick out to the edge if needed. Tampa Bay is also known to play both a four-down and “Bear” front, adding to Williams’ usefulness. He’s been a solid player for his whole career, with four season grades above 75.0 and one above 80.0.

Tennessee Titans: Edge Carl Lawson

2020 team: Bengals | Age entering 2021 season: 26

Lawson is one of the quicker edge rushers and still has a lot of good play left in him. After the Jadeveon Clowney debacle, it will be interesting to see if the Titans go back to the well and sign another free-agent edge as opposed to building the position through the draft.

However, they shouldn’t be nervous after the Clowney experiment failed; these are two completely different players. Lawson has been underrated for a long time and finished the season with a 76.3 grade that ranked 14th among edge defenders. Lawson is in his mid-20s and could stick around for a while in Tennessee.

Washington Football Team: S Marcus Williams

2020 team: Saints | Age entering 2021 season: 24

Washington would do well to sign Williams to pair with rookie upstart Kamren Curl and form what could be an elite safety duo. Williams has been the model of consistency, and his elite play has allowed the Saints’ defense to use elaborate schemes knowing they have the perfect last line of defense.

Mostly played as a free safety, he also has some scheme versatility and doesn’t miss many tackles in any part of the field. He has graded above 70.0 in every season of his career so far, with two of his seasons surpassing 88.0.

2021 DRAFT

A new Mock Draft from ESPN.com’s Todd McShay for you to study this weekend:

So what will happen on April 29? Here are my current predictions for how the first round of the 2021 NFL draft will play out, beginning with the Jaguars’ franchise-altering addition at No. 1. Just as I did in my last mock, I project two trades that could mix up the top 10. And for all 32 selections, I invited our NFL Nation reporters to offer their analysis on how each player can fit into the roster for 2021 and beyond. For more, check out our Mock Draft 3.0 SportsCenter Special, airing on Friday night at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2). OK, let’s get into the picks.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

I might start beginning my mock drafts with the second pick, because Lawrence heading down to Jacksonville to become new coach Urban Meyer’s franchise QB is about as close to a lock as you can have in early March. The Jaguars’ quarterback room has ranked among the league’s worst in Total QBR over the past three seasons, finishing no higher than 26th over that time. But Lawrence has elite traits in just about every area of his game.

Michael DiRocco on his fit with the Jaguars: Lawrence would start out of the gate even if the Jaguars do sign Alex Smith, which seems to be the trendy rumor considering his time with Meyer at Utah. Play the kid and start the rebuild.

2. New York Jets

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The logic here stands from my last mock draft: I expect Wilson to be the No. 2 overall pick, whether or not it is the Jets making it. Projecting this pick isn’t necessarily suggesting they should or will move on from Sam Darnold, but if they do, Wilson is the obvious next move. If they don’t, watch for a QB-needy team to trade up to take him here. Wilson is creative and can extend plays, he can hit the deep ball and his toughness in the pocket stands out.

Rich Cimini on his fit with the Jets: If it is the Jets taking Wilson, that would mean the end for Darnold, who would be traded — and perhaps before the Jets are even on the clock. I think New York would look to acquire a “bridge” quarterback to ease the transition for Wilson, but it also needs to find some playmakers to put around him.

Trade: Carolina jumps the QB line

All of a sudden, we are all about the mock draft trades. But to be fair, this class is nearly impossible to predict without some movement. I’m sticking with this Miami-Carolina swap again, which gives the Panthers a chance to land a difference-making QB. The Dolphins originally acquired this pick in a 2019 deal with Houston, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving: The Dolphins would likely haul in a big package that could include the No. 8 pick, Carolina’s second-rounder (No. 39) and a future 2022 first-rounder.

3. Carolina Panthers (via mock trade with MIA through HOU)

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

Carolina is closer to competing than its 5-11 record suggested, and a real game-breaker under center would go a long way toward getting the Panthers there. Teddy Bridgewater was more of a game manager last season, especially down the stretch, throwing only four more touchdowns than interceptions. Fields can make off-schedule throws or tuck it and run, but he has shown poise when he hangs in the pocket too. Accuracy pops on his deep balls.

David Newton on his fit with the Panthers: Even if Bridgewater isn’t traded and remains on the roster, Carolina likely would throw Fields into the starting lineup and grow with him as it did with Cam Newton in 2011. You trade up like this only if you believe that player will be your franchise quarterback and can make an immediate impact. Bridgewater’s deal runs through 2022, but there is a potential out after this season.

4. Atlanta Falcons

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

The QB run is on, and Lance to Atlanta makes it four signal-callers in the first four picks — that has never happened. I like Lance’s field vision, pocket presence, arm strength and mobility. He needs time to learn and develop — he started only 17 games at North Dakota State — but Atlanta offers him the chance to do so with Matt Ryan under contract through 2023. There’s no guarantee that the Falcons will be drafting this high again any time soon, and they shouldn’t be planning on it. Take the opportunity to find Ryan’s heir now.

Michael DiRocco on his fit with the Falcons: Lance would sit and learn behind Ryan in 2021 and maybe even for at least part of the 2022 season. Ryan is still playing at a high level, and his contract makes it hard for the Falcons to move on, at least this year.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Protecting quarterback Joe Burrow should be Cincinnati’s primary concern this offseason, after the Bengals’ line allowed 48 sacks in 2020. Burrow was pressured or hit on nearly 30% of his dropbacks before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11. Sewell is the top offensive lineman in the class despite opting out last season, and he’d help keep the Bengals’ franchise QB upright for years to come.

Ben Baby on his fit with the Bengals: Sewell represents long-term stability at left tackle that should help solidify an offensive line that still needs to address the interior. If Sewell comes aboard, that likely means Jonah Williams will slide to right tackle.

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Despite the Eagles’ glaring weakness at wide receiver, I’m mixing it up with Pitts at No. 6. It’d be the 10th time a tight end has been drafted before the first wide receiver off the board, and only four other tight ends have ever been taken in the top six. But here’s the thing: Pitts is more than just a tight end. He’s a matchup nightmare who can line up all over the place, and his great speed, hands and 6-foot-6 size make him extremely difficult to contain. Philadelphia should add receiver help in free agency, but a Pitts-Dallas Goedert pairing is a dream for any offensive coordinator.

Tim McManus on his fit with the Eagles: With Zach Ertz expected to be traded or released, Pitts would immediately assume a co-starter role alongside Goedert. The Eagles used two-tight end sets a league-high 35% of the time last season — a number that would skyrocket toward their 2019 totals (52%) with Pitts in the fold.

7. Detroit Lions

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

It’s tough to favor either Chase or Alabama’s DeVonta Smith over the other, but the former might have an edge thanks to better physical traits. Perhaps his opt-out season has some forgetting that Chase posted 20 touchdowns and close to 1,800 receiving yards in 2019. The Lions’ wide receiver corps is expected to see major turnover over the next few weeks, and new Detroit GM Brad Holmes needs to find some playmakers for the recently acquired Jared Goff.

Michael Rothstein on his fit with the Lions: Wide receivers Marvin Jones Jr., Danny Amendola and Jamal Agnew are set to be free agents, and questions loom about whether Detroit will tag Kenny Golladay or let him walk. Detroit signed veteran Tyrell Williams this week, but the Lions are obviously seeking playmaking cornerstones for their rebuild. Chase fits in that mold perfectly.

8. Miami Dolphins (via mock trade with CAR)

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Miami GM Chris Grier has to be happy with this outcome. First, the Dolphins trade back a few spots for extra picks. Then one of the top two wide receivers is still there when it is their turn to pick. Giving quarterback Tua Tagovailoa one of his favorite targets from his Alabama days would surely improve his QBR when throwing to wide receivers, which ranked No. 31 of 33 qualified QBs last season (60.8). Smith, fresh off a Heisman-winning, record-breaking season in Tuscaloosa, is super explosive and shows savviness in his route running.

Cameron Wolfe on his fit with the Dolphins: Smith would immediately become the team’s most explosive offensive playmaker. He would be a starter opposite DeVante Parker, likely playing both outside and slot receiver, and would slide the talented but oft-injured Preston Williams to the No. 3 receiver role.

Trade: The Niners skip ahead for a QB

In my last mock, I had San Francisco moving down. Now the Niners slide the other direction, jumping into the top 10. Denver is looking to address a bunch of areas of its roster, including the defense. Considering zero defensive players have come off the board to this point, a move down for more assets is a safe gamble; someone will be there at No. 12. And in the process, the Broncos could add something along the lines of an extra second-rounder (No. 43) and perhaps a 2022 first- or second-rounder, in addition to that No. 12 pick this year. It’s tough to tell at this point just how eager the Niners will be for a quarterback.

9. San Francisco 49ers (via mock trade with DEN)

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Five quarterbacks in the opening nine picks would beat the previous record of five in the first 12 selections (1999). Jones doesn’t have the rushing ability of the other four QBs, but he processes quickly, has excellent ball placement on short-to-intermediate throws and shows the ability to anticipate. He’d mesh nicely with the Niners’ quick game and could bring more balance to an offense that has run on the sixth-highest percentage of plays in the NFL since coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017.

Nick Wagoner on his fit with the 49ers: Jones would likely arrive as the understudy to incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo. I expect a setup similar to what the Chiefs did when they had Alex Smith and drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The goal would be to allow Jones to learn and develop for at least a season while Garoppolo continues to start and bolsters his value back to a point where the 49ers would have a difficult decision to make after the 2021 season.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

All this jockeying for QB talent has left Dallas in a pretty great spot. The latest that a draft class’ first defensive player has ever come off the board was No. 7 in 1999, when Champ Bailey went to Washington. But the Cowboys are even luckier here; they need defense, and they have every option on that side of the ball available to them at No. 10. Surtain is an instinctive shutdown cornerback who can help shore up a secondary that allowed 10.4 yards before first contact per reception last season, along with 34 passing touchdowns (both among the NFL’s worst). Pass rush is another area to watch, but value and need line up with Surtain.

Todd Archer on his fit with the Cowboys: Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis are set to hit free agency and might see better offers elsewhere. Surtain would walk in as a day one starter, just like former Alabama teammate Trevon Diggs did when he was the Cowboys’ second-round pick last year.

11. New York Giants

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

The Giants have to give this offense more to work with. They were one of four teams to average fewer than five yards per play last season, and their 5.9 yards per pass attempt ranked No. 29. However, Waddle’s 18.9 yards per catch over the past two seasons ranked eighth in the country. There isn’t a more dangerous player with the ball in his hands in the draft class, thanks to excellent top-end speed, vision and elusiveness. And I hope Nick Saban has been glued to his TV because that’s four straight Alabama players off the board, including two first-round receivers for the second time in two years.

Jordan Raanan on his fit with the Giants: Waddle can immediately slot into the Giants’ three-receiver sets alongside Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. He would essentially step into the role that the recently released Golden Tate played last season but provide a big-play ability that the offense was missing. Plus, Waddle would contribute immediately on special teams as a returner.

12. Denver Broncos (via mock trade with SF)

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

In this scenario, the Broncos opt to stick with Drew Lock, pass on Mac Jones and move back for more draft capital. We still don’t know what new GM George Paton will do at quarterback, but we do know his defense needs some playmakers. What will become of Von Miller, and could Denver target an edge rusher here? Is Justin Simmons returning or might TCU safety Trevon Moehrig be in the cards? The Broncos have a lot of questions to answer, but Farley — another 2020 opt-out — can make plays for a group that managed only 10 interceptions last season (tied for third fewest).

Jeff Legwold on his fit with the Broncos: Cornerback is certainly one of the biggest need positions. The Broncos already released A.J. Bouye, and Bryce Callahan just finished a second straight season on injured reserve. An early run on quarterbacks would push quality defensive players down the board, and Farley has walk-in starter potential.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

Justin Herbert took 32 sacks last year, which wasn’t a lot relative to most of the NFL’s starting quarterbacks. But he did see pressure on a high percentage of his dropbacks (33.5%), and that’s not a good thing when you’ve invested in a franchise QB. Free agency is approaching either this year or in the near future for most of the Chargers’ offensive linemen, so adding someone like Slater makes a lot of sense. He has versatility, shows good body control in pass protection and displays a feel for angles as a run-blocker.

Shelley Smith on his fit with the Chargers: The Chargers are desperate on the line, and Slater — who sat out 2020 — can play all five positions. He would start immediately wherever the team needs him most, potentially at tackle opposite right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

14. Minnesota Vikings

Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

It has been nearly a decade since the last time that the first 13 teams all passed on pass-rushers (Seattle took Bruce Irvin at No. 15 in 2012). But the Vikings are seeking more impact players on the edge, and while Paye hasn’t necessarily piled on production stats at Michigan (8.5 sacks over his past 16 games), he can slip blocks and has some power. Minnesota’s 23 sacks were the NFL’s fifth fewest last season.

Courtney Cronin on his fit with the Vikings: Paye could slide in immediately opposite Danielle Hunter at defensive end. If Minnesota doesn’t want to rely solely on the Michigan rookie, it could use a combination of D.J. Wonnum — who proved to be one of the Vikings’ best Day 3 picks from 2020 — and Paye at right defensive end, which would allow for Ifeadi Odenigbo to return to the rotational role where he thrived two seasons ago.

15. New England Patriots

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

I’m watching for the Patriots to add a quarterback via free agency or trade this offseason — maybe Jimmy Garoppolo — and potentially take a close look at the Day 2 options at the position. But with the top five off the board, another need matches up with some great value in the form of Parsons. The Penn State do-it-all linebacker opted out in 2020, but he can make plays in coverage, shoot gaps as a run-stopper, chase down ball carriers and even get home on the QB as a pass-rusher. I love his game.

Mike Reiss on his fit with the Patriots: Parsons would have the luxury of learning alongside Dont’a Hightower — who returns from his own opt-out — at the heart of the defense, giving him a cushion in which he wouldn’t be relied upon too heavily initially before hopefully taking over in 2022. It’s a similar situation to what New England did with Jerod Mayo in 2008, when Tedy Bruschi was passing him the torch.

16. Arizona Cardinals

Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

J.J. Watt and Chandler Jones spell problems for opposing QBs, but who will be in coverage? Both starting corners are primed to hit free agency this month, and the Cardinals’ pass defense was middle-of-the-pack last year. Horn will get his hands on passes, bringing length and instinctive play to the outside. In just seven games in 2020, he broke up six passes and picked off two.

Josh Weinfuss on his fit with the Cardinals: Horn would come in and compete for a starting job in a secondary that’s thin on cornerbacks. Arizona is set to lose two of its top corners in free agency in Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick, and Robert Alford hasn’t played a down in two seasons. Horn would see action right away.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

The Raiders’ defense allowed 389.1 yards per game last season, the eighth most in the NFL. They managed all of 21 sacks and were gutted for 4.6 yards allowed per carry. They need pass-rushers, linemen, defensive backs and linebackers, and while Owusu-Koramoah will play only one position, he can impact multiple facets of the game. Look for him in the overhang role, dropping in coverage or rushing the QB. He has speed, instincts, suddenness and plenty of strength.

Paul Gutierrez on his fit with the Raiders: Owusu-Koramoah is the dynamic second-level defender that Las Vegas has been lacking. New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will find a way to use his versatility in his 4-3 base scheme alongside Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton, even if Littleton and Owusu-Koramoah are both Will linebackers. It’s a good problem for Bradley to have.

18. Miami Dolphins

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC

We got Tua Tagovailoa a receiver in DeVonta Smith earlier, so let’s now get him some extra protection on the line. Vera-Tucker anchors well in pass pro and has allowed just four pressures over his past two seasons at USC. The Dolphins were among the most blitzed teams in the NFL last season (33.1% of dropbacks), and much like we’ve discussed with the Bengals and Chargers, you need to protect a young quarterback — especially if he has an injury history like Tagovailoa does.

Cameron Wolfe on his fit with the Dolphins: The Dolphins’ offensive line improved in 2020 but still finished in the bottom third of the league in pass and run blocking. An early projection would have Vera-Tucker as an immediate starter at right guard, 2020 second-round pick Robert Hunt staying at right tackle and versatile veteran Jesse Davis moving to the bench.

19. Washington Football Team

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Toney still needs some refining, but his versatility, explosiveness and nose for the end zone would immediately help an offense that registered the second-fewest yards per play and eighth-fewest points scored in 2020. His skill set will be effective in the quick game, as Washington finds ways to get the ball in his hands.

John Keim on his fit with Washington: Toney would fit well with offensive coordinator Scott Turner, who likes versatility. He can be moved around and even align in the backfield on occasion. Washington might add a free-agent receiver too. After all, Terry McLaurin was targeted 83 more times than the next highest receiver in 2020.

20. Chicago Bears

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The Bears still lack an answer at quarterback, and what happens with wide receiver Allen Robinson II over the next few weeks could also impact the direction of this pick. But the line needs shoring up, and Darrisaw is a powerful left tackle who doesn’t give up many sacks and can get to the second level as a run-blocker. Let’s buy whoever starts at QB some more time and open up lanes for running back David Montgomery.

Jeff Dickerson on his fit with the Bears: Offensive tackle ranks near the top of the Bears’ offseason to-do list because the futures of veteran tackles Bobby Massie and Charles Leno Jr. are murky at best. Darrisaw would be counted on to start in Week 1.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami

Christian Darrisaw might be an option if still available, filling in Anthony Castonzo’s spot at left tackle, or the Colts might take a long look at Trevon Moehrig (TCU) at safety. But it’s hard to ignore the need for pass-rush depth, especially as Indy deals with free-agency concerns on the edge. Rousseau hasn’t played since 2019, but he had 15.5 sacks in that season and can overwhelm blockers with his power. He’d help keep an elite defense at the top of its game.

Mike Wells on his fit with the Colts: Pass-rusher is the Colts’ most important area to address this offseason, especially with veteran Justin Houston being a free agent and the team looking to get younger there. Sliding in alongside DeForest Buckner, Rousseau would have an opportunity to be a day one starter if Indy doesn’t re-sign Houston, especially if Kemoko Turay’s struggles continue.

22. Tennessee Titans

Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

Tennessee absolutely has to address the pass-rush problem. Teams with Super Bowl hopes can’t finish No. 30 in the league in sacks with 19, especially considering four of those came in Week 17 against a bad Houston offensive line. They can’t have zero players reach six sacks and just one record more than three. Phillips had eight last season at Miami, and his suddenness would give opponents something to worry about off the edge.

Turron Davenport on his fit with the Titans: Phillips will be an immediate contributor for the Titans even though they’ll likely add a free-agent pass-rusher before the draft. His effectiveness both against the run and as an impact pass-rusher will get him early-game reps as a strongside linebacker when the Titans use an odd front. But also look for his hand in the dirt when Tennessee uses a four-man front.

23. New York Jets (via SEA)

Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

The Jets landed a quarterback at No. 2, so let’s pivot to defense here. They need someone who can get home on the QB besides Quinnen Williams, who led the team with seven sacks in 2020. Ojulari is a pass-rush specialist of sorts, showing good speed, bend and first-step quickness. As for the lack of playmakers on offense to support Wilson, keep an eye on free agency this month and then Day 2 at the draft, where numerous high-end receivers and running backs will be available.

Rich Cimini on his fit with the Jets: The Jets haven’t had an explosive edge rusher in 15 years. The question with Ojulari is scheme fit, and at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he could be a tweener for the Jets’ new 4-3 front.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Ben Roethlisberger is now under contract for 2021, and he has plenty of weapons. But with James Conner heading toward free agency, the run game could use a punch. Harris is that and more, showcasing speed, size, decisiveness and ball security as a rusher, as well as upside as a receiver and pass-protector. Pittsburgh’s offense fell off a good deal in the second half last season, and the top back still on the roster is Benny Snell Jr., who managed just 3.3 yards per carry last year. Harris averaged 6.0 over four seasons at Alabama, and his 26 rushing touchdowns in 2020 led college football.

Brooke Pryor on his fit with the Steelers: For a team that started 11-0, the Steelers have a laundry list of needs in the 2021 draft, and running back is in the top tier of that wish list. Harris would be an instant starter on a team likely to part with Conner in free agency. The Steelers badly need to rejuvenate the run game and actually stick with it this season. Adding Harris is the first step.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via LAR)

Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

At No. 1 overall, the Jaguars landed the top quarterback in the class. Now they get the top safety with their second first-rounder. Moehrig had six interceptions over his last two collegiate seasons and is a strong tackler. If not safety, defensive tackle — maybe Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike or Alabama’s Christian Barmore — would be a position to watch.

Michael DiRocco on his fit with the Jaguars: Jarrod Wilson has started 28 games at free safety over the past two seasons and has been a steady player, but the Jaguars need playmakers in the secondary. Plus, Josh Jones is a pending free agent. Moehrig might not be a starter immediately, but it would be a surprise if he didn’t finish the season as one.

26. Cleveland Browns

Zaven Collins, OLB, Tulsa

I’ve now placed Collins with Cleveland in three straight mock drafts, and it just makes sense. If the Browns truly want to contend for a Super Bowl, they need another pass-rusher opposite Myles Garrett, and Collins has a stellar closing burst. And he can cover, as evidenced by his four interceptions last season. I could also see Cleveland looking at safety if Trevon Moehrig is still available.

Jake Trotter on his fit with the Browns: The Browns have utilized first-round picks in recent years to build their young core at quarterback (Baker Mayfield), defensive end (Garrett), cornerback (Denzel Ward) and left tackle (Jedrick Wills Jr.). Grabbing Collins would give Cleveland an anchor at linebacker who could be a starter and playmaking difference-maker from day one.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

Baltimore finished dead last in WR receiving yards last season with 1,729. In fact, that was more than 300 fewer than the total of the next worst team. Marquise Brown had 58 catches for 769 yards, but no one else in the wide receiver group broke 450. Adding a guy like Marshall, who can make catches in traffic and create after the catch, might help quarterback Lamar Jackson return to MVP form and balance an offense that was the only one in the NFL to run more than it passed in 2020.

Jamison Hensley on his fit with the Ravens: Willie Snead IV and Dez Bryant aren’t expected to return, and Marshall’s 6-foot-3 size pairs nicely with the speed of Brown, providing Jackson with a bigger target on the outside.

28. New Orleans Saints

Joe Tryon, DE, Washington

I considered Missouri’s Nick Bolton here to fill the inside linebacker role, but the edge rush could also use some support. The Saints did have 45 sacks last year, but age concerns and free-agency exposure might flip this unit sooner rather than later. Tryon opted out in 2020, but he’s versatile and quick on the edge. He had 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2019.

Mike Triplett on his fit with the Saints: The Saints are expected to lose starting defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency, but edge rusher is an issue even if they find a way to keep him. Cameron Jordan turns 32 in July, and Marcus Davenport hasn’t quite broken out yet.

29. Green Bay Packers

Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington

Sure, Green Bay could look at receivers Elijah Moore (Ole Miss) or Rashod Bateman (Minnesota), or even Clemson running back Travis Etienne if it were to lose Aaron Jones to the open market. But the Packers have continued to look elsewhere in Round 1 during the Aaron Rodgers era, which suggests they might do so again. And lining up Onwuzurike (another opt-out) next to Kenny Clark on that defensive line forms a problem for opponents.

Rob Demovsky on his fit with the Packers: It’s not enough to just change defensive coordinators. The Packers now have to give Joe Barry some players. They have done that recently when they’ve changed DCs. Dom Capers got B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews when he arrived in 2009, while Mike Pettine got Jaire Alexander in the first round when he came here in 2018.

30. Buffalo Bills

Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

The missing piece of this offense is an elite running back. Buffalo didn’t have a single player break 700 rushing yards last season, and its running backs found pay dirt just eight times on the ground. But Etienne scored 70 times over his college career and is a home run hitter in space. This offense could be dangerous.

Marcel Louis-Jacques on his fit with the Bills: If the Bills’ loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game taught them anything, it’s the importance of elite speed. Etienne provides that not just as a runner but also as an accomplished receiver out of the backfield. He would join Devin Singletary and Zack Moss to form a solid group of rushers.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Nick Bolton, ILB, Missouri

Offensive line might be the move (perhaps Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield or Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins), and the defensive back group is also accepting reinforcements. But this pick offers great value and brings a fast, versatile matchup component to the second level of the defense to pair with Anthony Hitchens. Bolton is a tackling machine with great instincts and solid coverage ability.

Adam Teicher on his fit with the Chiefs: Bolton would fit the pattern, as the Chiefs have tried to become more athletic at linebacker. He might not be a regular immediately — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is demanding of rookies — but he should eventually be an upgrade in an area where the Chiefs have struggled.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jamin Davis, ILB, Kentucky

Tampa Bay can replenish a front seven that could look a lot different in Week 1 than it did on Super Bowl Sunday. Davis could potentially be considered a reach here, but he’s very underrated, and I love his tape. If the Buccaneers can’t hang on to Lavonte David, Davis — who made 102 tackles and picked off three passes last season — could slide into his role alongside Devin White. Someone like Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore also makes some sense here.

Jenna Laine on his fit with the Buccaneers: The inside linebackers are the stars of Todd Bowles’ defense. David is a free agent and just turned 31, and even if Tampa Bay brings him back, Davis could make sense for the future. He can line up in different spots, which Bowles asks his inside guys to do, and he gives the Bucs length that they lack there.