Fantasy Gazette

The NFL Draft is always full of surprises and this year is likely to be more of the same. There are many options at quarterback for the top teams and coaches will do anything to get what they believe is the future face of the franchise. Here’s how we see the first ten picks playing out:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

The Jaguars pivot at the last second after learning Wilson had over double the teammates attend his birthday party than Trevor Lawrence had. This makes Wilson the obvious pick for Urban Meyer as he looks to create a strong locker room environment, because the only thing more important than winning . . . is having fun.

2. New York Jets – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Shocked that Wilson is off the board and left scrambling without a Plan B, the Jets are dazed and confused. In the chaos, they remember just one small piece of information before the draft clock expires – that the best quarterback in the draft has the initials “T.L.” and the Jets write down Trey Lance when he’s the first result on Google.

3. San Francisco 49ers – Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

There’s no better replacement for Jimmy Garoppolo than a less handsome version of the man himself. Mac Jones provides everything a good football player needs at the next level: a famous picture of him smoking a cigar and a swept-under-the-rug DUI.

4. Philadelphia Eagles **Pick Acquired in Trade with the Atlanta Falcons** – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

The Eagles made a movie previously this spring to move down from No. 6 to No. 12, and now leapfrog even higher to No. 4. Wow. When there is a chance to make a splash with a quarterback, nobody knows better than Howie Roseman. After getting rid of former starter Carson Wentz, the Eagles’ Quarterback Factory must continue and the team drafts Trevor Lawrence to sit and learn behind veteran starter Jalen Hurts.

5. Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Joe Burrow on one leg with Ja’Marr is better than Burrow on two legs without – or at least that is what someone tells Head Coach Zac Taylor right before this pick. The two college teammates get back together so they can play catch and lose football games. 

6. Miami Dolphins – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Getting tackles on defense helps a team win. Offensive tackles stop the other team from doing that. Sewell helps the Dolphins win. It’s science.

7. Detroit Lions – Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

When you trade for your quarterback of the future in Jared Goff, the number one thing you have to do going forward is protect him in the pocket. Slater can step in right away and be Goff’s bodyguard on the field, at the grocery store, and in the nail salon.

8. Carolina Panthers – Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

In last year’s draft, coach Matt Rhule went all-in on defense, selecting seven defensive players with all seven of his picks; he’s starting 2021 out the same way. Davis checks all the boxes with being a one-year starter and having a 99th percentile Burst Score.

9. Denver Broncos – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Whether it’s Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, or Brett Rypien throwing the ball, adding DeVonta Smith to the offense helps out Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and KJ Hamler. At worst, John Elway will come out of retirement and get the ball to that group of pass-catchers.

10. Dallas Cowboys – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Whoever said “Defense wins championships” never got to utter that phrase to Jerry Jones. The Cowboys are paying Dad Prescott a lot of money and he needs to throw for over 7,000 yards this season so that Jerry World can sell little commemorative bobbleheads to start making that money back.

Photo Credit: Tim Warner/GettyImages

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 29th at 8:00 PM CST. You can fully expect and bet on these ten prospects going in this exact order with no errors.