2021 3-round NFL mock draft: Washington Football Team adds a QB

41. Detroit Lions: Tulsa LB Zaven Collins

At the NFL Combine, Zaven Collins weighed in at 270 pounds, almost ten pounds higher than his listed playing weight. That might cloud his projection and cause him to slip, but the Lions can’t pass up this value. Collins still moves well for his size, and if the Lions are split on whether to use him at edge or linebacker, just use him at both. His best trait is his projected versatility. That’s something the Washington Football Team might value as well.

42. New York Giants: Penn State EDGE Jayson Oweh

For those who look at production first on the edge, Jayson Oweh won’t be on the top of their list. But his physical potential is undeniable. At 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, Oweh is a long, rangy rusher, and he has top-end athletic traits, among them a 4.37 40-yard dash, a 39.5-inch vertical, and a 134-inch broad jump.

With Oweh, the Giants have the most athletic EDGE in the NFC East — and yes, that includes the Washington Football Team’s Chase Young and Montez Sweat.

43. Los Angeles Chargers (via SF): Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth

With the Cowboys and Jaguars picking ahead of them, the Chargers decide to make a slight trade up here and select the best tight end on the board: Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth was once a fringe first-round prospect, and though positional value won’t get him there, he’s a well-rounded player who can be a very good asset for Justin Herbert.

44. Dallas Cowboys: Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike

Dak Prescott was essentially the only reason the Cowboys were contending for games early last season. The defense was historically bad, and that’s not an exaggeration. Jaycee Horn will help, and so too can Levi Onwuzurike. Onwuzurike has an excellent combination of leverage and length, and he’s also explosive enough to be a pass rushing threat early on.

45. Jacksonville Jaguars: Wake Forest DL Carlos Basham Jr.

Carlos Basham Jr. was another player considered to be a potential first-round pick heading into the 2020 season. I wasn’t a huge fan of him on tape, but he turned a lot of heads with his testing numbers. At 6-foot-3, 274 pounds, he has the athletic profile to be a tweener of sorts for Jacksonville. He can rush off the edge, but also be a mismatch inside with his burst and length.

46. New England Patriots: Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond

The Patriots filled a lot of needs — at least tentatively — in free agency, which leads me to believe that they want the flexibility to potentially pursue remaining needs early in the 2021 NFL Draft. Given the dearth of quarterback talent after Day 1, Kellen Mond could be a potential option for New England on Day 2. He has the upside, and he can learn from a dual-threat QB in Cam Newton.

47. San Francisco 49ers (via LAC): Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu

Ifeatu Melifonwu should be a first-round pick. But for some reason, there seems to be apprehension surrounding his profile. Obi Melifonwu gave the name a bad taste for NFL evaluators, but Ifeatu is a different prospect. He’s an elite athlete with the instincts, reaction quickness, and physicality to be a force, and the 49ers get a steal by trading back for him.

48. Las Vegas Raiders: Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr.

I don’t like to rag on Damon Arnette so much. I liked some parts of his game last year. But he was an early Day 3 guy on my board, and the Raiders picked him in the middle of the first round. They’ll need to answer for that sacrifice in value at some point, and Asante Samuel Jr. helps alleviate some pressure. He has the ball skills you’d expect, and his fluidity makes him very good in man.