* Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (11/15)
2026 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 7/24): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2026 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (10/26)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)
The Raiders need help all over their defense and a right tackle. I think Las Vegas could select Miami defensive end Jaelan Phillips or Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis. USC left tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker would also be a candidate if he gets here. In the end, I think Phillips’ background could push him down, and Las Vegas has already made additions at defensive end. Offensive tackle is a more premium position than linebacker, so protecting Derek Carr and giving him a right tackle to replace Trent Brown could be the priority. Alex Leatherwood could be a steal and form an excellent tandem with Kolton Miller.
Leatherwood has more strength and flashed some physicality as a senior, while Christian Darrisaw is not physical and doesn’t block with urgency. Leatherwood (6-6, 322) played well for Alabama in 2019, showing that he has a first-round skill set of size, quickness and athleticism. Leatherwood did a nice job in 2020 as well, displaying good athleticism, feel, vision, and reaction skills. He produced a good tape against Georgia. In his first season, Leatherwood rotated into the game and replaced an injured Jonah Williams at left tackle to help Alabama win another National Championship. As a sophomore, Leatherwood started at right guard for the Crimson Tide.
Click links to see the Raiders' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Raiders' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 15 | Rd: 3 Pk: 16 | Rd: 4 Pk: 16 | Rd: 5 Pk: 18 | Rd: 5 Pk: 23 | Rd: 6 Pk: 16
The Dolphins could use more edge-rush talent, and Paye could form a dynamic tandem with Emmanuel Ogbah.
In 2020, Paye totaled 16 tackles and two sacks. The 6-foot-4, 277-pounder put together an impressive 2019 season as a well-balanced defender at the point of attack. The junior notched 50 tackles with 6.5 sacks on the year. With his developed strength, Paye can set the edge and hold his ground as a run defender. He also shows real upside in pass-rush ability and should only get better as he gains experience. Paye was only a first-season starter in 2019, so he has tons of room for improvement.
Click links to see the Dolphins' picks across all rounds:
Rd: 1 Pk: 6 | Click here to jump to the Dolphins' first second-round pick. | Rd: 2 Pk: 18 | Rd: 3 Pk: 17 | Rd: 5 Pk: 12 | Rd: 6 Pk: 24 | Rd: 7 Pk: 3 | Rd: 7 Pk: 16
Washington could use some young talent for the middle of its defense. Ron Rivera could turn Owusu-Koramoah into a playmaking weapon behind their elite defensive line.
Owusu-Koramoah (6-1, 215) has a shot at going in the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he is not the same caliber of prospect as Devin White, Roquan Smith or Patrick Willis. In 2020, Owusu-Koramoah had 61 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes broken up and an interception. He recorded 79 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended in 2019.
Owusu-Koramoah is a fast linebacker with cover skills, and some team sources have compared him to former Jaguar Telvin Smith. Like Smith, Owusu-Koramoah could weigh in the 215-220-pound range, which is closer to the size of a safety than a linebacker. Some teams won’t be as high on a linebacker who is underweight for the NFL.
Click links to see the Redskins' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Redskins' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 10 | Rd: 3 Pk: 18 | Rd: 4 Pk: 19 | Rd: 5 Pk: 19 | Rd: 7 Pk: 18 | Rd: 7 Pk: 30
The Bears grab Jones in hopes he is the future franchise quarterback Mitch Trubisky was supposed to be. Jones can provide immediate competition for Andy Dalton, and if Jones shows some positive signs as a rookie, that might be good enough to buy the front office and coaching staff another year.
Jones was a decisive passer in 2020, showing a quality arm, some accuracy and good decision-making. As is so often the case with players from Alabama, Jones benefited from a great supporting cast and extra media attention. He completed 77 percent of his passes on the year for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions.
During the fall, WalterFootball.com sought opinions on Jones from five different teams regarding. Three had a fourth-round grade on Jones, one had him on the bubble between Rounds 2 and 3, and one team gave him a second-round grade. Quarterbacks can rise through the draft process, and Jones’ work ethic, intelligence, and intangibles could cause coaches, like Kyle Shanahan, to fall in love.
“[Jones is] a stronger-armed Jake Fromm,” said one area scout. “He distributes the ball well to all those great weapons. Jones has some ability. His arm is good enough, a little stronger than Jake’s. Mac can anticipate, and sees the field well. I think he could have a career in the NFL similar to Matt Barkley.” Another team source that had graded Jones (6-2, 214) in the fourth round said they felt Jones was a shorter A.J. McCarron. Jones obviously is going to go a lot higher than Barkley or McCarron, but scouts feel his skill set is similar to those quarterbacks. Jones may end up being more of a Kirk Cousins- or Matt Schaub-caliber starter in the NFL.
Click links to see the Bears' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Bears' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 19 | Rd: 5 Pk: 20 | Rd: 6 Pk: 20 | Rd: 6 Pk: 37 | Rd: 6 Pk: 44
The Colts grab an edge rusher to go next to DeForest Buckner.
The Hurricanes were dealt a serious blow when star defensive end Gregory Rousseau decided to skip the 2020 season. Miami gave Rousseau’s number to UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips, who did a nice job of continuing the disruptive presence coming from No. 15. Team sources said Phillips really impressed them and they see a lot of upside with the junior. On the year, Phillips totaled 45 tackles, eight sacks, an interception and three passes defended.
Phillips has a good skill set with strength to shed blocks and hold his ground in run defense. The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder really improved as a pass rusher over the course of the 2020 season, and he has good speed to go with length, strength, and explosion. Phillips has a ton of upside and should only improve as he gains experience.
Click links to see the Colts' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Colts' second-round pick. | Rd: 4 Pk: 22 | Rd: 5 Pk: 21 | Rd: 6 Pk: 22 | Rd: 7 Pk: 20
The Titans could use a receiver to replace Corey Davis, and Toney would upgrade their speed and play-making ability at the position.
Toney was excellent for the Gators in 2020, producing some huge plays. He totaled 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air, 19 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and a punt return for a touchdown on the season. Toney missed a lot of 2019 with injuries while recording 10 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown. In 2018, he totaled 25 receptions for 260 yards and a score along with 21 carries for 240 yards on the ground.
Toney shows tremendous playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He is a big-play threat who has game-breaking speed. The Gators struggled to get him the ball in the past, but that changed in 2020, as the connection of Kyle Trask to Toney was lethal. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Toney is an elusive, versatile athlete to go with his game-breaking speed.
Click links to see the Titans' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Titans' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 21 | Rd: 3 Pk: 36 | Rd: 4 Pk: 21 | Rd: 5 Pk: 22 | Rd: 6 Pk: 21 | Rd: 6 Pk: 31 | Rd: 7 Pk: 4
The Jets could use more cornerback talent, and Farley has a ton of upside to develop into a really good pro.
The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Farley has an excellent skill set with size, speed and athleticism. After starting out at wide receiver for the Hokies, Farley missed the 2017 season with a torn ACL. He had a bad year 2018, but was excellent in 2019, recording four interceptions with 12 passes broken up and 20 tackles. It was impressive that Farley played that well considering he had a serious back injury for a lot of the season.
Farley decided to sit out the 2020 season because of the pandemic, so he will enter the 2021 NFL Draft having been a 1-year wonder and flagged with durability issues that were given further validation with back surgery in the spring of 2021. His physical tools, however, could be enough to lead to him being selected during the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft despite the injury issues.
Click links to see the Jets' picks across all rounds:
Rd: 1 Pk: 2 | Click here to jump to the Jets' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 2 | Rd: 3 Pk: 22 | Rd: 4 Pk: 2 | Rd: 5 Pk: 2 | Rd: 5 Pk: 10 | Rd: 6 Pk: 2 | Rd: 6 Pk: 42
The Steelers need a true replacement for Le’Veon Bell. Here’s a back who could really help immediately with Pittsburgh in win-now mode.
Harris averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 2020 for 1,387 yards with 24 touchdowns. He made 36 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns while being impressive as a blocker as well. In 2019, Harris averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,224 yards with 13 touchdowns. He had 27 receptions for 304 yards and seen scores as a receiver. Harris flashed at times, but some scouts didn’t feel Harris was the same caliber as other recent Alabama running backs like Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris or Derrick Henry.
Harris (6-2, 230) is a big back who has some quickness and athleticism for the NFL. Over his first few seasons, he didn’t generally run to his size and looked to bounce too many carries to the outside rather than use his power to run behind his pads in a physical manner. In the latter half of 2019, especially against LSU and Mississippi State, Harris aggressively ran downhill with decisiveness. His tape from the back half of the 2019 season will help his draft grade and definitely makes him look like a better pro prospect compared to how he performed at the beginning of that season.
Click links to see the Steelers' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Steelers' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 23 | Rd: 4 Pk: 23 | Rd: 4 Pk: 35 | Rd: 6 Pk: 32 | Rd: 7 Pk: 17 | Rd: 7 Pk: 26
I would not be surprised if the Jaguars made building around Trevor Lawrence a priority in this draft class. The majority of their offensive line could be gone after this season, so it would not be surprising if Urban Meyer adds a few lineman with strength, physicality, athleticism, and leadership traits. Here’s a potential long-term right tackle or guard.
Jenkins (6-6, 320) has the a skill set to start quickly in the NFL. He is a big edge protector who will enter the NFL with a lot of experience. He broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and was a steady contributor to the success that Chuba Hubbard found on the ground. Jenkins is quick and athletic on the edge to protect his quarterback with good size and power to get a push in the ground game. A lot of teams have second-day grades on Jenkins, but there are enough teams that view him as a first-rounder that he will probably go on the opening night of the 2021 NFL Draft. Teams see Jenkins staying at right tackle and also think he could kick inside to guard.
Click links to see the Jaguars' picks across all rounds:
Rd: 1 Pk: 1 | Click here to jump to the Jaguars' first second-round pick. | Rd: 2 Pk: 13 | Rd: 3 Pk: 1 | Rd: 4 Pk: 1 | Rd: 4 Pk: 25 | Rd: 5 Pk: 1 | Rd: 5 Pk: 26 | Rd: 7 Pk: 21
The Browns grab a difference-maker at linebacker.
Davis had an excellent 2020 season for the Wildcats, totaling 89 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two passes defended and two interceptions. He played better than the numbers illustrate as well. Davis is fast, physical and strong, plus possesses the ability to make an impact on all three downs. The 6-foot-4, 234-pounder has excellent size and quickly covers a lot of ground. He has a ton of upside and could be a steal. Some team sources think he is the best linebacker prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft and worth a top-20 selection.
Click links to see the Browns' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Browns' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 25 | Rd: 3 Pk: 27 | Rd: 4 Pk: 5 | Rd: 4 Pk: 27 | Rd: 5 Pk: 25 | Rd: 6 Pk: 27 | Rd: 7 Pk: 29
The Ravens lost Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. Oweh could learn a lot from Calais Campbell and develop well playing next to him.
Oweh flashed some edge-rush potential for Penn State. In 2019, he totaled five sacks and 21 tackles. Oweh made 38 tackles in 2020, but he didn’t notch a sack and had only four sacks in his last 18 games of college football. The 6-foot-5, 252-pounder is a workout warrior who will could rise into the first round with his great athleticism. Oweh is a weight room star as well, and that strength translates into him being solid in the ground game for a defender who weighs less than 260 pounds.
Team sources say Oweh could go late in Round 1 or early in Round 2 in the 2021 NFL Draft. They believe his track record and tape are that of a second-day pick, but because he is a workout warrior, they think a team could fall in love and end up taking him rather early.
Click links to see the Ravens' picks across all rounds:
Rd: 1 Pk: 31 | Rd: 3 Pk: 30 | Rd: 3 Pk: 40 | Rd: 4 Pk: 26 | Rd: 4 Pk: 31 | Rd: 5 Pk: 27 | Rd: 5 Pk: 40 | Rd: 6 Pk: 26
The Saints needs a replacement for Janoris Jenkins, and with the aerial offenses of the NFC South, they need a good outside corner to go with Marshon Lattimore. Here’s a high-upside player who could play quickly.
Campbell has good size, speed, and some natural coverage ability. He needs to get stronger and improve his ability to play the ball, but he has a lot of natural talent to develop. In 2020, Campbell recorded 29 tackles, an interception and four passes broken up. He did a superb job of blanketing Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams in Week 2, and Williams was incapable of generating separation from Campbell. Campbell played well in every game of 2020, other than against Florida as he had some struggles with star tight end Kyle Pitts.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder first flashed his ability for Georgia during 2018. He then had 15 tackles and four passes broken up in 2019. Over those two seasons, Campbell was a streaky player with some ups and downs, but showed that he showed plenty of upside to develop. He then was more consistent in 2020.
Click links to see the Saints' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Saints' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 34 | Rd: 3 Pk: 41 | Rd: 4 Pk: 28 | Rd: 6 Pk: 34 | Rd: 7 Pk: 1 | Rd: 7 Pk: 27
The Packers need some cornerback help to go with from Jaire Alexander. Kevin King was brought back on a 1-year contract, so Newsome could start out as the nickelback and become the outside starter with Alexander in 2022.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Newsome has a really good skill set plus is tough. Team sources say Newsome has excellent technique and always stays in phase while shutting down everyone. He could slide to the second or third round of the 2021 NFL Draft because he dealt with a lot of injuries in college, but his tape was that of a first-rounder. Newsome will need to work on not grabbing as much in the NFL, but he has a lot of upside if he can avoid injury. In 2020, Newsome had 12 tackles, an interception and nine passes defended. He totaled 36 tackles, 11 breakups and zero interceptions in 2019.
Click links to see the Packers' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Packers' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 28 | Rd: 4 Pk: 30 | Rd: 4 Pk: 37 | Rd: 5 Pk: 29 | Rd: 5 Pk: 34 | Rd: 6 Pk: 30 | Rd: 6 Pk: 36 | Rd: 7 Pk: 28
Josh Norman was as short-term solution, but Buffalo could use a more consistent partner to go with Tre’Davious White. After the big contract given to White, it would make sense to have the other corner be a first-round talent who is on a cheap 5-year contract. Stokes is a great scheme fit for Buffalo based on what the Bills run and what Stokes did at Georgia.
Stokes played well for Georgia in 2020, including good performances against Auburn and Tennessee. Some team sources say they have a third-round grade on Stokes, but the possibility exists that he goes late in the second round. In 2020, Stokes had 20 tackles with four interceptions and four passes broken up. He recorded 38 tackles and nine passes broken up in 2019. Stokes (6-1, 185) has upside to grow and become a solid starting corner in the NFL.
Click links to see the Bills' picks across all rounds:
Click here to jump to the Bills' second-round pick. | Rd: 3 Pk: 29 | Rd: 5 Pk: 17 | Rd: 5 Pk: 30 | Rd: 6 Pk: 29 | Rd: 7 Pk: 8The Ravens grab their replacement for Orlando Brown.
Eichenberg won the left tackle job for 2018 as the replacement for Mike McGlinchey. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Eichenberg was solid, but not overly dominant, for Notre Dame over the next three seasons. Eichenberg was a steady blind-side protector who was dependable in the ground game. He is not overly strong, quick, or athletic, but he is smart, tough and reliable. Eichenberg could be a starting tackle or guard in the NFL.
Click links to see the Ravens' picks across all rounds:
Rd: 1 Pk: 27 | Rd: 3 Pk: 30 | Rd: 3 Pk: 40 | Rd: 4 Pk: 26 | Rd: 4 Pk: 31 | Rd: 5 Pk: 27 | Rd: 5 Pk: 40 | Rd: 6 Pk: 26
The Bucs could use some youth on the edge and on the inside of their defensive line. They may consider taking an edge defender to rotate with Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul is aging, and lightening his load could keep him fresh for closing out games in the fourth quarter and staying healthy for the postseason.
Rousseau (6-6, 260) was one of the best edge defenders in college football during his redshirt freshman season. In his breakout 2019 campaign, he notched 15.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and 54 tackles. Rousseau has a decent skill set with upside to improve, but his development could be slowed down by his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. There is no substitute for experience and a year of refining pass-rushing moves, getting off blocks, and improving technique. Thus, Rousseau will enter the NFL as a 1-year wonder who could require more developmental time. Some team sources think Rousseau is extremely overrated, seeing him as lacking both explosion as a pass rusher and physicality. Rousseau’s length is the best thing he has going for him, and he is going to need to become a power player to succeed in the NFL.
