NFL draft tracker 2021: Instant analysis on every pick in the first round

while some others continue to deepen in Green Bay).

Outwardly, this draft will project a return to normalcy, the NFL set up with its massive stage contiguous to Cleveland’s Rock Roll Hall of Fame and the Browns’ FirstEnergy Stadium on the shores of Lake Erie. However the pre-draft process was hardly standard, what with COVID-19 forcing the league to cancel this year’s scouting combine on the heels of a season when scouts and team executives had far more limited access to college programs and the prospects whom they evaluate. Should make for an interesting calculus as teams weigh their information over the next three days and decide which players potentially fit their program.

Now, to the picks:

2021 NFL draft tracker: First-round picks

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

He becomes the fourth quarterback taken in Round 1 in franchise history – joining Byron Leftwich (2003), Blaine Gabbert (2011) and Blake Bortles (2014) – but Lawrence is the first tabbed No. 1 overall. Widely regarded as a generational prospect on par with John Elway, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, it’s been widely assumed for years that Lawrence would be the first player picked in this draft – the only question was which team would get him. Turns out, that’s the Jags, a franchise that needs a spark on the field after a 1-15 campaign and in the seats. Lawrence’s presumed arrival also likely spurred college coaching legend Urban Meyer to come aboard. (Meyer has hired veteran offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who facilitated Russell Wilson’s transition to the NFL in Seattle, to do the same job in Jacksonville.) 

Zach Wilson, BYU

This franchise thought enough of Wilson to dump 2018 first-rounder (and No. 3 overall pick) Sam Darnold – making the Jets the first team in the common draft era (since 1967) to pick a passer within the top three picks twice in the span of four drafts. Though slightly built at 6-2 and 214 pounds and with a worrisome injury history that includes surgery on his throwing shoulder two years ago, Wilson does have tantalizing gifts that have drawn comparisons to Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes … which probably isn’t fair to them or Wilson. Still, he’s got the juice in his arm to make amazing throws with his feet set or on the move, and that may be a necessity given the general state of New York’s offense, which finished last in points and yards in 2020. Wilson was the only player at the FBS level in 2020 with at least 30 TD passes and 10 scores on the ground, and his 33-to-3 TD-to-INT ratio also paced the country. Now Gang Green and their impatient fans find out if a player who feasted on non-Power Five competition can take a franchise 52 years removed from its only Super Bowl back to the promised land. GM Joe Douglas and a new coaching regime led by Robert Saleh must surely do a better job supporting Wilson than they did Darnold.

Trey Lance, North Dakota State

A pick that’s changed hands three times, the Niners made their bold acquisition of it last month … and it was quickly followed by rampant speculation that they would take Alabama QB Mac Jones. But going with Lance, who has far more upside than Jones given his physical skills, seems like the better option given the franchise surrendered three first-rounders to get him. Lance has only played one game since the 2019 season, but what a year he had during the Bison’s national championship run. He had 28 passing TDs that year, 14 TDs on the ground (among 1,000 yards) … and no interceptions. He didn’t lose any of his 17 college starts, either. Lance, who also gets high marks for leadership and intelligence, should bring a dimension to coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense that Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan and incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo have not. Lance, who only attempted 318 passes in college, will likely sit behind Garoppolo for a period of time, but it does stand to reason he’ll need to play soon given how little time he’s had on a football field in the last year. Could be Cam Newton-lite.

Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce told me this about Smith’s prospects when asked if there was any concern about his 166-pound frame. “Once his development (occurs), he’s gonna be a guy who’s gonna have to be double-teamed,” said Bruce. “He’s just that good. … You just see his maturation from college, making huge plays his freshman season all the way up to being the guy last year, and he just showed up every single week. He’ll definitely be a No. 1 receiver, not very long from now.” Smith will team with last year’s first-round pick, Jalen Reagor, for a new-look Eagles offense.

Justin Fields, Ohio State

Four years after their disastrous draft trade for QB Mitchell Trubisky, whom GM Ryan Pace selected instead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, they take another big swing for Fields by giving the Giants a future first-rounder to move up. This could also be a self-preservation move for Pace and coach Matt Nagy, who seem to be in a fight to keep their jobs beyond this year despite two playoff trips in the past three seasons. Fields is mobile, highly accurate (68.4% completion rate in a college career split between Georgia and Ohio State) and has all the tools to be a superstar. Better still, he doesn’t have to play right away with veteran Andy Dalton on board as Chicago’s anointed QB1 for 2021 … though this plans could change in the not-too-distant future.

12. Cowboys (from 49ers via Dolphins and Eagles) – LB Micah Parsons, Penn State

Dallas drops two spots after missing out on Horn and Surtain II to add Parsons to what was probably the worst defense in franchise history in 2020. With Sean Lee retiring and former first-round LB Leighton Vander Esch possibly entering his final season with the team, Jerry Jones and Co. reload at linebacker – and Parsons might arguably be the most impactful defender in this draft. Though he opted out in 2020, Parsons is a blue-chip prospect, able to defend the run and pass while also hunting quarterbacks. He’s had to answer questions about off-field issues in Happy Valley and will remain under a microscope as a member of the league’s most high-profile team. But in terms of talent, this could be a home run for Jerry Jones and new coordinator Dan Quinn.

13. Los Angeles Chargers – 

14. Minnesota Vikings – 

15. New England Patriots – 

16. Arizona Cardinals – 

17. Las Vegas Raiders – 

18. Dolphins – 

19. Washington Football Team – 

20. Giants (from Bears) – 

21. Indianapolis Colts – 

22. Tennessee Titans – 

23. Jets (from Seattle Seahawks) – 

24. Pittsburgh Steelers – 

25. Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams) – 

26. Cleveland Browns – 

27. Baltimore Ravens – 

28. New Orleans Saints – 

29. Green Bay Packers – 

30. Buffalo Bills – 

31. Ravens (from Kansas City Chiefs) – 

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.

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