7 Days, 7 Rounds Mock Draft: Round 3

Our 7 Days - 7 Rounds mock draft continues with the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Miss Round 2 or Round 1? Check them out on the links embedded here.

*Denotes compensatory selection

65. Jacksonville Jaguars
Previous Picks: QB Trevor Lawrence, S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, TE Pat Freiermuth
The Pick: WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina

The rebuild on offense continues with a dynamic wide receiver who is a monster with the ball in his hands. Brown could ultimately be selected quite a bit higher as teams are in love with this type of receiver. He’s a lot like Deebo Samuel with a little less juice and strength to his game.

66. New York Jets
Previous Picks: QB Zach Wilson, CB Caleb Farley, RB Javonte Williams
The Pick: OL Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Leatherwood has played left tackle at Alabama but the NFL likes his potential on the right side and at guard. The New York Jets hit big on Mekhi Becton in Round 1 last year and could pair the two together as the bookends of the future. Worst-case scenario, Leatherwood is a really good offensive guard.

67. Houston Texans
Previous Picks: None
The Pick: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina

The Texans have made a ton of roster moves this off-season, which makes it harder to keep track of what they actually need. With its first pick in this draft, Houston selects a rangy linebacker to replace Benardrick McKinney and give the defense a boost in coverage ability from the off-ball position.

68. Atlanta Falcons
Previous Picks: QB Justin Fields, S Jevon Holland
The Pick: LB Pete Warner, Ohio State

The new Falcons’ regime is all about the big programs in their first draft. Pete Warner can play multiple linebacker positions and in Dean Pees’ defensive scheme he’ll see plenty of time in the middle of the defense.

69. Cincinnati Bengals
Previous Picks: WR Ja’Marr Chase, OT Jalen Mayfield
The Pick: CB Elijah Molden, Washington

Molden is an electric slot cornerback prospect with awesome instincts and timing. He’s a pest in coverage, especially on breaking routes, and has the tools to work his way right into a Bengals’ secondary that needs a replacement for William Jackson III.

70. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous Picks: OT Rashawn Slater, CB Tyson Campbell
The Pick: S Jamar Johnson, Indiana

One of my favorite players in the entire 2021 draft class, Indiana’s Jamar Johnson is a major hitter with the instincts to thrive in downhill situations. Turn on the Ohio State tape and you’ll see him making life hell for Justin Fields.

71. Denver Broncos
Previous Picks: LB Micah Parsons, EDGE Ronnie Perkins
The Pick: RB Michael Carter, North Carolina

After spending two picks bolstering the defense, the Broncos get their downhill runner with power and an ability to help in the passing game. Carter was a big-time producer at North Carolina despite sharing the load with Javonte Williams. He has a ton of tread left on his tires and is a dream fit in a zone blocking scheme.

72. Detroit Lions
Previous Picks: WR DeVonta Smith, CB Aaron Robinson
The Pick: IOL Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater

A nasty mauler on the interior of the offensive line, Quinn Meinerz fits the definitely of a knee-cap biter that new head coach Dan Campbell wants. He’s also positionally versatile enough to play guard or center—with the former being more likely with Frank Ragnow locked into the starting center job.

73. Carolina Panthers
Previous Picks: QB Trey Lance, OT Samuel Cosmi
The Pick: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

What do you do when you lose Curtis Samuel in free agency? You draft his replacement in a similarly dynamic weapon on the offensive side who can excel with manufactured touches. Rondale Moore is undersized at 5’7” but he’s a giant with the ball in his hands. Joe Brady will have a field day finding new ways to get Moore into space.

74. Washington Football Team (from San Francisco 49ers)
Previous Picks: OT Christian Darrisaw, CB Asante Samuel Jr.
The Pick: WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville

The trio at wide receiver in Washington is about to be electric. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Tutu Atwell would give whomever is throwing the football a plethora of speed. With tackle and cornerback addressed earlier, Atwell’s a value and a need.

75. Dallas Cowboys
Previous Picks: CB Patrick Surtain II, DL Christian Barmore
The Pick: OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa

We discussed how the Cowboys might go offensive tackle at No. 10 overall but instead they wait until Round 3 and get an excellent value in the athletic Spencer Brown. A long (6’7”) tackle with huge developmental upside, Brown can be the Cowboys’ heir apparent to Tyron Smith on the left side.

76. New York Giants
Previous Picks: WR Jaylen Waddle, EDGE Joe Tryon
The Pick: IOL Deonte Brown, Alabama

The Giants love maulers on the offensive line and get another one in Alabama’s Deonte Brown. At 350 pounds, Brown is a massive man lining up at left guard. He has the power, poise and balance to be a major asset from Day 1 at either starting guard position.

77. Los Angeles Chargers
Previous Picks: OT Penei Sewell, CB Kelvin Joseph
The Pick: EDGE Jordan Smith, UAB

The Chargers lost Melvin Ingram this off-season but get a fun replacement for him in a long, versatile edge-rusher in Jordan Smith. Tailor-made for a 3-4 scheme, Smith can wreak havoc off the edge as a situational rusher early in his career with the tools to develop into an every-down player.

78. Minnesota Vikings
Previous Picks: EDGE Jaelan Phillips
The Pick: OL D'Ante Smith, East Carolina

The Vikings love to draft offensive linemen with athletic upside who can play multiple positions. That fits the scouting report of D’Ante Smith. He’s a little short and short-armed for left tackle, but showed the agility at the Senior Bowl to be an inside player early in his career. That could allow Ezra Cleveland to move to left tackle and the entire offensive line to level up.

79. Las Vegas Raiders (from Arizona Cardinals)
Previous Picks: S Trevon Moehrig, LB Nick Bolton
The Pick: OL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

The Raiders go back to the offensive side of the ball to replace the loss of Rodney Hudson. Similar to Hudson, Creed Humphrey is great on the move and excels at the second-level. And while he doesn’t have Hudson’s strength as of now, he is a high-upside prospect with a ton of starting experience under his belt.

80. Las Vegas Raiders
Previous Picks: S Trevon Moehrig, LB Nick Bolton, OL Creed Humphrey
The Pick: EDGE Rashad Weaver, Pitt

Back-to-back picks for Las Vegas and with this one they attempt to find the pass-rusher opposite Maxx Crosby that Gruden needs. Rashad Weaver has the size to shift between the inside and outside of the formation—something we saw him do at the Senior Bowl—but ideally fills the power end role as a run-defender and pass-rusher.

81. Miami Dolphins
Previous Picks: TE Kyle Pitts, EDGE Azeez Ojulari, LB Zaven Collins, IOL Landon Dickerson
The Pick: WR D'Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan

The Dolphins’ front office has rocked this mock draft so far and continue to do so with an electric yards-after-catch receiver in D’Wayne Eskridge. Short but powerfully built, he’s the perfect complement to the existing Miami wide receiver group. Tua Tagovailoa has to be ecstatic with his new weapons.

82. Washington Football Team
Previous Picks: OT Christian Darrisaw, CB Asante Samuel Jr., WR Tutu Atwell
The Pick: S Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech

If you love hard-hitting safeties who also sell out on special teams and are instant tempo-setters, the Divine Deablo is your man. He’s a blast to watch and could fill a role as a hybrid safety-linebacker while also becoming a monster on special teams.

83. Chicago Bears
Previous Picks: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, QB Kyle Trask
The Pick: WR Cade Johnson, South Dakota State

Don’t sleep on Cade Johnson. The South Dakota State receiver is a tough son of a gun in his route tree and has excellent hands. His ability to make the big play is eye-opening and he showed at the Senior Bowl that he belongs among the best players in the nation. A likely role as a slot receiver is in his future, but he’s a Sunday player.

84. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis Colts)
Previous Picks: OT Rashawn Slater, CB Tyson Campbell, S Jamar Johnson
The Pick: WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

A great route-runner with a track record of excellent production in the Big 12, Wallace might not have elite size and his speed can be average, he has great timing and plays with great toughness. If he can improve his ability against press coverage, Wallace should see big time reps.

85. Tennessee Titans
Previous Picks: WR Kadarius Toney, EDGE Gregory Rousseau
The Pick: OT Stone Forsythe, Florida

One of the biggest sleepers in the 2021 draft class, Stone Forsythe is a big reason quarterback Kyle Trask had so many clean pockets to operate from. While he’s under the radar right now, Forsythe looks like a future NFL starter at right tackle. If the Titans find him available in late Round 3, he has to be the pick.

86. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)
Previous Picks: QB Zach Wilson, CB Caleb Farley, RB Javonte Williams, OL Alex Leatherwood
The Pick: EDGE Chris Rumph II, Duke

The New York Jets picked up Carl Lawson in free agency but still need more pass-rushers. Chris Rumph II fits the size and production profile of new head coach Robert Saleh’s scheme. He might not have elite power, but his first-step quickness and ability to win with his hands should get him into this lineup very early in his career.

87. Pittsburgh Steelers
Previous Picks: RB Najee Harris, OT James Hudson
The Pick: EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami

The run on edge-rushers continues with a highly productive former Temple player who stood out at Miami in 2020. Roche is an ideal fit for the 3-4 pass-rushing scheme the Steelers employ and with T.J. Watt keeping offensive linemen very busy on one side, don’t be surprised to see early production from this one.

88. Los Angeles Rams
Previous Picks: LB Jabril Cox
The Pick: S Caden Sterns, Texas

Building the middle of the defense continues with the LA Rams where Caden Sterns is the best free safety left on the board. Sterns was a standout freshman at Texas but struggled to stay healthy in Austin. But the former top recruit has all the athleticism to become a better pro player if he can get past the injury bug.

89. Cleveland Browns
Previous Picks: EDGE Jayson Oweh, DL Levi Onwuzurike
The Pick: CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse

There really aren’t many needs for the Cleveland Browns but an area where depth is needed is at cornerback. Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu is a big player with awesome length and ability to redirect receivers at the line of scrimmage. With players like Greedy Williams yet to hit their potential, Melifonwu could be in for a lot of early snaps.

90. Minnesota Vikings (from Baltimore Ravens)
Previous Picks: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, OT D’Ante Smith
The Pick: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

Tough route-runners are loved in the Vikings’ offense and there might not be a tougher one than Amon-Ra St. Brown. While he’s not the biggest player, St. Brown is fearless at the catch point and runs with an aggressive demeanor with the ball in his hands.

91. Cleveland Browns (from New Orleans Saints)
Previous Picks: EDGE Jayson Oweh, DL Levi Onwuzurike, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
The Pick: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson

As mentioned at pick No. 89 overall, the Browns enter this draft without many needs. That’s why picking up depth and future need positions in Round 3 is so valuable for them. Amari Rodgers is a dangerous underneath receiver with clutch hands, surprising power in his route stem and excellent speed post-catch.

92. Green Bay Packers
Previous Picks: WR Elijah Moore, OT Liam Eichenberg
The Pick: CB Brandon Stephens, SMU

The Packers love finding deep sleepers and SMU’s athletic Brandon Stephens qualifies. At 6’0” and 213 pounds he has the size to play cornerback in a press scheme and easily has the quickness and speed to excel in coverage. He is raw as a cornerback, but the instincts can develop with reps. Stephens has true steal potential in late Round 3.

93. Buffalo Bills
Previous Picks: RB Travis Etienne, CB Eric Stokes
The Pick: WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn

The off-season plan to add playmakers on both sides of the ball continues with the Bills adding arguably the fastest wide receiver in the draft class. While not the twitchy, short-area demon that Jaylen Waddle or Rondale Moore are, Schwartz has the speed to serious stretch a defense and become Josh Allen’s favorite deep weapon.

94. Kansas City Chiefs
Previous Picks: OT Teven Jenkins, WR Nico Collins
The Pick: LB Baron Browning, Ohio State

The Chiefs checked off the biggest needs at offensive tackle and wide receiver; now it’s time to address a defense that quietly has a few needs. Linebacker is one of them where Anthony Hitchens is no longer a fit in the scheme. Willie Gay, Jr. might be part of the future, but they need an impact player. Baron Browning excels at weakside linebacker and in space. He’s ideal for this scheme.

95. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Previous Picks: EDGE Joseph Ossai, QB Davis Mills
The Pick: WR Josh Palmer, Tennessee

You have to love giving the Buccaneers a physical presence at wide receiver here. This allows the team to continue running four-wide sets with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Scottie Miller in the slot and Palmer working on the opposite hash. He’s a big-time athlete with the skills to be better in the pros than college.

96. New England Patriots*
Previous Picks: CB Jaycee Horn, WR Rashod Bateman
The Pick: DL Marlon Tuipulotu, USC

Keep building, New England. We’ve seen them address the edges but now it’s time to get a stout interior defender. Marlon Tuipulotu is a run defender with the athleticism to penetrate on passing downs. He’s raw, but his upside is through the roof.

97. Los Angeles Chargers*
Previous Picks: OT Penei Sewell, CB Kelvin Joseph, EDGE Jordan Smith
The Pick: DL Tommy Togiai, Ohio State

If I’m a Chargers fan, I love this draft class so far. Tommy Togiai is a monster nose tackle prospect with a great run defense ability but we’ve also seen him collapse pockets and make splash plays in the passing game. He’s the type of anchor this team would love.

98. New Orleans Saints*
Previous Picks: CB Greg Newsome II, QB Kellen Mond
The Pick: TE Hunter Long, Boston College

The New Orleans Saints haven’t really prioritized the tight end since Jimmy Graham left, but one way to help a new quarterback is to give him a ton of easy targets. Hunter Long will be that up the seam and on underneath routes.

99. Dallas Cowboys*
Previous Picks: CB Patrick Surtain II, DL Christian Barmore, OT Spencer Brown
The Pick: S Talanoa Hufanga, USC

The Cowboys continue to check off the biggest needs on the roster and in the late third round add a versatile safety who can come down and play linebacker in sub-packages. This team once wanted Jamal Adams, now they get a poor man’s version of him.

100. Tennessee Titans*
Previous Picks: WR Kadarius Toney, EDGE Gregory Rousseau, OT Stone Forsythe
The Pick: CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford

We gave the Titans a potential draft steal in Stone Forsythe and now they land another in Paulson Adebo. After his freshman season at Stanford it looked like Adebo would be a future first-rounder but injuries and stagnant play hurt his progression. If an NFL team can tap into his ability and coach him up, he’ll be an NFL starter for a long time.

101. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)*
Previous Picks: WR DeVonta Smith, CB Aaron Robinson, IOL Quinn Meinerz
The Pick: EDGE Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame

The toughness factor in Detroit is going way up with this selection of a true 6-technique defensive end who can rush with his hand in the dirt and impact the game as a run-defender. Hayes doesn’t have elite athleticism, but his technique is NFL-ready.

102. San Francisco 49ers*
Previous Picks: QB Mac Jones, TE Tommy Tremble
The Pick: CB Shakur Brown, Michigan State

Cornerback is rarely drafted early in this Seattle-spinoff scheme but Round 3 is an excellent area for value. And in San Francisco they need someone to step in and start early. Shakur Brown is physical and tough in coverage—pre-requisites for the Cover 3 scheme—and has the smarts to hang in a complex scheme.

103. Los Angeles Rams*
Previous Picks: LB Jabril Cox, S Caden Sterns
The Pick: IOL Aaron Banks, Notre Dame

If you’re looking for a Round 3 guard who can start 10 years in the NFL, it’s Aaron Banks. He has a ton of upside to his game and appears to have just scratched the surface of his ability at Notre Dame. The Rams have the staff to get the best out of him early on.

104. Baltimore Ravens*
Previous Picks: WR Terrace Marshall Jr., EDGE Patrick Jones II
The Pick: DL Milton Williams, Lousiana Tech

One of my top sleepers in this class, some NFL team will get a steal in Milton Williams. An athletic pass-rusher with the ability to play multiple alignments along the defensive line, Williams is a match-up nightmare for NFL teams. Don’t be surprised if he’s drafted much earlier when the draft rolls around.

105. New Orleans Saints*
Previous Picks: CB Greg Newsome II, QB Kellen Mond, TE Hunter Long
The Pick: WR Cornell Powell, Clemson

The Saints keep killing this draft with the last pick of Round 3. Cornell Powell first impressed on special teams but worked into the rotation as a pass-catcher at Clemson in 2020 and shined as a weapon for Trevor Lawrence. He’s physical, athletic, and tough.