2021 NFL Mock Draft: 49ers, Washington Football Team, teams to watch
2021 NFL mock draft: Picks 13-16
13. Los Angeles Chargers: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC. The Chargers are likely going to select an offensive lineman here. It’s just a matter of which one. Vera-Tucker is arguably the best on the board at this point. He could be a Pro Bowl-caliber guard but has a chance to stick around as a starter at the tackle spot as well.
LA needs a left tackle and a left guard. Vera-Tucker could compete on the outside and kickc inside if things don’t work out there. He’s experienced, athletic, and has good movement skills. It seems like a strong possibility that he will be the pick if he’s on the board at 13.
14. Minnesota Vikings: OL Rashawn Slater, Northwestern. The run on tackles continues as the Vikings upgrade their blocking unit. They cut Riley Reiff during the offseason and haven’t properly replaced him.
Washington Commanders
Slater would be a nice get at this point, as many believe he could be the second-best tackle in this class. He can play all five positions up front and is considered by some to be the best offensive line prospect in this draft.
The Vikings could try Slater at left tackle and if that doesn’t work, he could be kicked inside to guard to create a dynamic, athletic three-man unit with Garrett Bradbury and Ezra Cleveland.
Maybe the Vikings could go with Christian Darrisaw, but Slater may be too good to pass on at this point.
15. New England Patriots: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech. It’s anyone’s guess as to what the Patriots will do. They are rumored to be considering trading up and trading down. They may target a quarterback, but Fields is the only one that really checks the boxes for what the Pats look for in quarterbacks.
If New England stays put and misses out on the top cornerbacks, they could go with an edge rusher or linebacker here. That said, they could also go with a tackle, as they may need a new starter next year if Trent Brown leaves in 2022 free agency.
Darrisaw is a smooth, athletic tackle that has a lot of potential for the next level. He needs to improve his finishing ability, but considering that he was dealing with groin and core-muscle injuries that required surgery, it’s understandable why he’d come up short in that area on tape. The Patriots may see an undervalued player that could find his groove as he gets healthier.
Kwity Paye, Zaven Collins, and Micah Parsons are all options that could make sense here as well. Mac Jones is on the board as well, but I’m not sold that the Patriots would take him at this spot.
16. Arizona Cardinals: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa. This may seem like a weird pick, but Collins would fill a couple of needs for the Cardinals. He’s athletic enough to play as a stand-up linebacker next to Isaiah Simmons and can also play on the edge across from Chandler Jones. Between Jones, Collins, and Markus Golden, the Cardinals’ pass rush would be in much better shape if they make this pick.
The Cardinals could be a sleeper to add an offensive lineman here as well, but for now, the expectation is that they’ll target some defensive help.