2021 NFL Re-Draft: How High does Parsons Jump?

After one full season in the books for the 2021 NFL draftees, it's time to hit the reset button and see what things would look like if we took a re-draft today with everything we know now. This is fun to do after one season because we learn so much about the players but keep in mind that if we did this again next off-season it would probably look completely different as a ton of guys will have sophomore breakout seasons and a ton will slump. Let's see what the first round of the 2021 NFL draft looks like TODAY!

1. Jacksonville Jaguars select: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Original Pick: SAME

One year later and the top pick is still the same, to the surprise of few. While Trevor Lawrence is the best QB prospect I've maybe ever seen, he didn't play up to those standards for much of his rookie season. There were a lot of growing pains which is to be expected and he had the worst support system in the NFL around him. Still, by no means was he bad and he got better as the season progressed. Lawrence has it all. The arm strength, mobility, size, character, leadership, and football IQ. The Jags had a much better 2022 off-season and he should develop into their franchise QB in time!

2. New York Jets select: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
Original Pick: SAME

No changes within the top 2 so far. Similarly to Lawrence, Wilson was drafted due to his high potential and while he wasn't awesome as a rookie, he showed the necessary flashes to give us hope for his future. While a little undersized, Wilson has a rocket of an arm and is also very mobile. He can make off script throws with ease and some say they see a lot of Patrick Mahomes in him. He will be expected to make a decent jump this season but the Jets would definitely still take him today.

3. San Francisco 49ers select: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Original Pick: SAME

Call me boring, but these top 3 picks definitely stay the same one year later. It's simply too early for these teams to change up. A year ago when the draft was going on, everyone was hyped about the potential of these top 3. One year cannot be the indicator if they are busts or not. While Lawrence and Wilson were surely staying top 2, I considered switching it up for Lance. While he was considered the biggest project of the three, even after a year of sitting and learning, reports have been coming out in bunches that SF has been repeatedly disappointed with how Lance has been performing in OTAs and whatnot. Lance still has all the potential in the world. He's got the size and mobility along with crazy arm strength, but he has a lot of developing to do in terms of decision making and accuracy. If any system and coach can do that, it's the Niners O with Kyle Shannahan. It's simply too early for the Niners to give up on Lance.

4. Atlanta Falcons select: Micah Parsons, OLB, Penn State
(Originally Pick #12)
Original Pick: Kyle Pitts, TE

Our first change! This was not an easy choice. The top 3 picks were all kept the same due to it being too early to decide if their QB choices were busts. This spot is different. The Falcons definitely got it right the first time around by selecting unicorn TE prospect Kyle Pitts who was great as a rookie and looks like a future All-Pro, but they could do EVEN better in this re-draft. The new choice came down to Pitts, Parsons, Ja'Marr Chase, and Justin Fields. We went with Parsons who was probably the best rookie defensive player we've seen in the last decade. From the second he stepped onto the field in Dallas, he was a star. The Falcons just need blue chip talent wherever they can get it and I gave Parsons the slight nod over Chase just due to his versatility. As an OLB, Parsons is already one of the best edge rushers in the league as he produced 13 sacks but he was also a tackle machine in the second level and can even play adequately in coverage. Atlanta is overjoyed to bring in a guy who can anchor this defense for the next decade.

5. Cincinnati Bengals select: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Original Pick: SAME

The Bengals can't believe that even though Ja'Marr Chase had statistically the best rookie wideout season ever, he was still there for them at 5 in the re-draft. That's the luck they get with those three QBs going to open things up. This pick was a franchise altering one. They reunited Joe Burrow with his collegiate top target and they picked up right where they left off after winning a national title in Baton Rouge. Burrow hooked up with Chase 81 times for 1,455 yards and 13 TDs in the regular season alone. Chase instantly became a top 5-10 WR in the whole NFL and is just scratching the surface of how good he will be. The Bengals do not even sniff the Super Bowl if they opted for a guy like OT Penei Sewell like they considered doing a year ago. In the re-draft they cannot believe they still got one of the best draft picks in recent memory still at 5.

6. Miami Dolphins select: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Original Pick: SAME

Hats off right now to the top 6 teams. They aced their picks. Even Atlanta who was the one team I changed up could still have gone with Pitts in the re-draft and been ecstatic. The Dolphins become the 5th out of the top 6 to stay with their initial choice. Jaylen Waddle was awesome as a rookie in Miami. As the team's no. 1 target, the speedy Waddle amassed just over 1,000 yards on a whopping (record) 104 catches for a rookie. Waddle is one of those true X-factor players in the NFL that a defense has to change the way they play around the player completely. His speed is so game-breaking it affects everything for the safety look and other aspects of a defense. While some of the top OT prospects were intriguing here, we know they were able to go out and get OT Terron Armstead this off-season in FA so Waddle still remains the obvious option.

7. Detroit Lions select: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
(Originally Pick #13)
Original Pick: Penei Sewell, OT

Just like Atlanta, the Lions made a great selection that they are still very happy about to this day, but if they could upgrade it even a little, why wouldn't they? That is what Detroit does here as they go with Rashawn Slater over Penei Sewell who they originally took last year. While Sewell looks like a potential franchise tackle, Slater is one better. He's ALREADY one of the top 5 OTs in the NFL. After just one season. Slater made an instant huge impact on the Chargers' offensive line as Justin Herbert suddenly had all the time in the world to throw and Slater was the main addition to allow that. While Sewell was a great pick, Slater was simply even better, and the Lions opt for him in the re-draft.

8. Carolina Panthers select: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
(Originally Pick #11)
Original Pick: Jaycee Horn, CB

The Panthers considered a number of different options in the re-draft here, but ultimately decided to take a swing at a potential franchise QB after having the knowledge of today that Sam Darnold is a bum and the 2022 draft QB class was weak. OL is the other biggest need in Carolina, but we know they address it a bit with stud 2022 draftee Ikem Ekwonu, making this decision a bit easier. While Fields was very poor as a rookie, he did not have any help around him and was thrust into a terrible situation. Things would be better in Carolina. He would have a great offensive coach in Matt Rhule, an awesome WR duo in DJ Moore and Robby Anderson, and one of the best offensive players in the league when healthy in Christian McCaffrey. While Jaycee Horn was great when he played, but suffered a season ending injury and makes the risk too big to go with him again in a re-draft. Mac Jones may be better right now, but Carolina is playing for the future.

9. Denver Broncos select: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Original Pick: SAME

Another team, another great initial pick. The Broncos punted the QB decision to the next off-season originally with this pick which paid off BIG TIME as now they have Russell Wilson. Surtain seemed like a bit of a luxury pick and a BPA pick at the time, but now he's easily their no. 1 CB and they suddenly don't have much at the position outside of PS2. Surtain was awesome instantly as a rookie DB, even though they tend to struggle a lot early. He picked off an amazing 4 passes along with having a whopping 14 pass breakups. Just as a rookie! Surtain is going to be a perennial pro bowler in Denver at one of the most important positions in the league. They are thrilled to get him back in the re-draft.

10. Philadelphia Eagles select: Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Original Pick: SAME

While I could see the argument to be made for 1,000 yard rookie TE Kyle Pitts here, it's easier to give a team back the player they know and are building up, and Smith is definitely that in Philly. While the Eagles have been notorious in recent years for messing up WR draft picks, it is already evident to not be the case with Smith. "Smitty" had 915 yards and 5 TDs on just 64 catches as a rookie. He was awesome even in an offense that struggled to get going often. If he is putting up those numbers on just 64 catches, imagine what he can do when he turns into an annual 80+ reception player! Smith is such a fun wideout to watch and Philly got it right with him, they don't want to lose him in the re-draft.

11. Chicago Bears select: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
(Originally Pick #4)

Original Pick: Justin Fields, QB

The fall finally ends for Kyle Pitts in the re-draft! It feels funny to have one of the best rookie TEs EVER fall out of the top 10 in a re-draft, but there were a ton of great prospects in this class, and it causes Pitts (at a position of less premium) to slide. Still, Pitts is not just a TE. At 6'6, he has the frame of a massive wide receiver, and surely moves like one. Pitts will make every catch you can ask for and just is always open due to his physical gifts. Even in the dumpster fire of Atlanta, Pitts was able to reach over 1,000 receiving yards along with 1 TD on 68 catches as a rookie. Chicago isn't able to go Justin Fields as he's already gone in this re-draft, but they rush this card in to get the best player available and in turn get a do-over on the QB in a future draft or FA.

12. Dallas Cowboys select: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
(Originally Pick #7)
Original Pick: Micah Parsons, OLB

Sorry Dallas. You don't get your insane luck of getting a future DPOY in Micah Parsons all the way down at 12 again. However, even though they lose out on their best player, another blue chip talent has fallen into their laps during this re-draft. Penei Sewell definitely took some time to learn right out of the gate, but once he did, boy did he show a lot of promise. Sewell was one of the best OT prospects we've watched come out of college, and he started to show why as he came into his own down the stretch for Detroit in real life. The Cowboys have been a revolving door at tackle due to injuries but now just got one of their bookend tackles of the next 10 years in the re-draft!

13. Los Angeles Chargers select: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
(Originally Pick #23)
Original Pick: Rashawn Slater, OT

The Chargers certainly would be against holding any kind of re-draft for this 2021 class. They know they wound up with one of the best players in the entire class by stealing Rashawn Slater at 13 in real life. Sadly for them, he is long gone to the Lions at 7 and then the Cowboys broke their hearts again by snagging the other elite OT prospect in Sewell one pick before them. With all of this, the Chargers are forced to reach down the board a little and snag real-life Viking pick Christian Darrisaw. Darrisaw is certainly a pick for the future. He was nothing special in his rookie year like Slater or Sewell, but he certainly has the potential to be a tackle cornerstone for any franchise. The Chargers don't have many holes, but if they lost their All-Pro level young OT Rashawn Slater, they would need to pivot quickly to finding a replacement.

14. New York Jets select: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
Original Pick: SAME

Nothing really JUMPS off the board here for the Jets in the re-draft, so they settle for their original pick in AVT. Vera-Tucker was touted as a high potential OL prospect with multi-position flexibility. He showed us that and flashes of greatness while doing so as a rookie, but he's still very unproven. Still, the Jets are trying to set up Zach Wilson to succeed and taking away any potentially foundation O-lineman could be detrimental to him. This pick stays the same one year later.

15. New England Patriots select: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
Original Pick: SAME

Bill Belichick may have even smiled when this happened in our re-draft. Even with the great rookie season that Mac Jones had (the best of any of the QBs drafted), he still is there for them to take again at 15. While Jones was great out of the gate as he threw for 3,800 yards, 22 TDs, and just 13 picks, this is kind of what we expected from him. He's a known commodity. High floor, low ceiling type of player. The teams picking in the top 3 (plus the Panthers who went Fields) take their guys over Jones due to the high potential even if very low floor that their guy posseses. Jones still could be a future MVP, but he does feel like a potential Jimmy Garopollo type of guy in the future. Still, the Pats are ecstatic to retain their franchise QB in the re-draft.

16. Arizona Cardinals select: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
(Originally Pick #18)
Original Pick: Zaven Collins, LB

The Cardinals made the head-scratcher to take another LB on draft night a year ago with Zaven Collins who then did nothing as a rookie. They are giddy to get the chance at a d0-over in this re-draft, and they snag a stud player. Jaelan Phillips was the original 18th pick in the draft, not due to talent, but injury concern. Phillips stayed healthy for the Dolphins in real life, and was awesome. He looks like a future star rusher as he totaled 8.5 sacks as a rook. The Cardinals desperately need edge rushing. Chandler Jones left after the 2021 season to sign with the Raiders and JJ Watt is washed up and oft-injured. Phillips would give them their potential edge rusher of the future. One of my favorite fits so far of the re-draft!

17. Las Vegas Raiders select: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
(Originally Pick #63)
Original Pick: Alex Leatherwood, OT

On real life draft night, the Raiders shocked everyone by making a major reach with OT Alex Leatherwood who was a second/third round talent to most. It showed as he struggle mightily as a rookie in 2021, amassing a lot of allowed sacks and tons of costly holding calls. In the re-draft, while no tackle is really worth taking here, a Center definitely is. Creed Humphrey was INCREDIBLE for the Chiefs in 2021. He was originally their second round pick but was probably the best center in the entire NFL, not just rookies. The Raiders not only poach the anchor of their rival Chiefs' OL, but they now get arguably the top Center in the league to add to their own ailing line and make life easier for Derek Carr and this elite offense.

18. Miami Dolphins select: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
(Originally Pick #36)
Original Pick: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE

While the Dolphins are definitely sad that they can't get back Jaelan Phillips who was a steal of theirs in the re-draft, they are glad to ensure they don't lose two of their stud rookies altogether. The Dolphins originally snagged stud DB Jevon Holland in the early second round IRL, but now they have to go back and take him in the mid first round the second time around to ensure they land him. Holland was a stat sheet stuffer in year 1. 69 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs, and 10 pass breakups. While no one was going to dethrone Micah Parsons for the DROY award, I do think Holland deserved some second or third place votes. He was seriously that good. I'm excited to see the jump he takes in year 2 because I think he could be the next sort of Derwin James type player in the NFL.

19. Washington Commanders select: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
(Originally Pick #52)
Original Pick: Jamin Davis, LB

Washington definitely had the right idea looking LB at this spot in real life, but they did not get the player right. Jamin Davis was pretty bad as a rookie, and while he could still become a great player, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is already good. While he did miss a handful of games as a rookie, JOK was the best pure inside linebacker in the class (though he did come up and rush the passer at times). JOK had 76 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in just these 14 games. Many were shocked when he fell to the mid second round, and he's already shown that he deserved to go inside round 1 and the top 20 (in the re-draft). Washington just got its LB1 of the future.

20. New York Giants select: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
(Originally Pick #26)
Original Pick: Kadarius Toney, WR

I considered QB Davis Mills here among other options as Kadarius Toney was not great as a rookie, but I ultimately ended up going with real life Browns CB Greg Newsome. Newsome was injured for some of his rookie year, but when he was out there on the field, boy was he good. Newsome was playing at a lockdown CB1 level for much of his rookie season with 9 pass breakups and just an 85.6 opposing passer rating allowed. The Giants need help at CB. Adoree Jackson is an unreliable and overpaid option and they cut ties with their CB1 of the last few seasons in James Bradberry as well. Newsome is already a reliable CB1 option that would change the way they could play defense, especially with aggressive new DC Wink Martindale in town.

21. Indianapolis Colts select: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC
(Originally Pick #112)
Original Pick: Kwity Paye, EDGE

The Colts take the cake thus far for taking the lowest drafted real life player in the re-draft. St. Brown goes from a 4th rounder in real life, to the 4th receiver overall in the re-draft. While St. Brown started out slow, he took the league by storm down the stretch and was one of the best slot receivers in the game. He was electric and elusive as he seemingly always found a seam and was excelling even with Tim Boyle at QB for Detroit. He finished with over 900 yards and 5 TDs on 90 catches as a rookie. The Colts desperately need another WR option outside of Michael Pittman. They hope they found one with with 2022 draft pick Alec Pierce, but he's an unknown right now. In the re-draft they secure a surefire weapon at WR2 and a player who likely could have helped avoid their late season collapse to miss the post-season.

22. Tennessee Titans select: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
(Originally Pick #34)
Original Pick: Caleb Farley, CB

While I thought the Titans got a steal with CB Caleb Farley at 22 in real life (and maybe he will turn out to be), he hasn't been anything yet. Mostly due to injury. Still, the Titans need an impact player here as they now know they would give up AJ Brown. While adding young wideout Elijah Moore does not cancel out the loss of a guy like Brown, it certainly helps. Moore showed flashes of greatness during his rookie campaign, even with a lowly offense around him with the Jets. Moore has great hands and is electric with the ball tucked under his arm. If the Titans were able to roll out Moore and Treylon Burks in the 2022 season, they could be just alright. 

23. Minnesota Vikings select: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
(Originally Pick #8)

Original Pick: Christian Darrisaw, OT

While the Vikings aren't able to get their original pick who went 13th in the re-draft, they are able to snag a guy they couldn't initially get in Jaycee Horn. Horn was really good in his early season play before a season ending injury. Falling to 23 in the re-draft feels about right for a guy who has all the talent in the world but did miss most of his rookie year. Horn has elite size and man-up coverage ability already, and could be a potential pro bowl CB in the future. The Vikings did draft Andrew Booth in real life in 2022, but having Horn there in the fold and then adding Booth could be insanely good for the porous secondary they've had for the past few years now. While they wouldn't have had him in 2021, they are willing to wait to have him and contend in 2022.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers select: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Original Pick: SAME

After the re-draft opened with many 'SAME' selections, Harris now becomes the first player staying with his initial spot since pick 15. While I definitely considered giving Pittsburgh the Chiefs' stud OG Trey Smith to sure up the interior of their line, I couldn't talk myself into having them pass up on the versatile Najee Harris who was awesome as a rook. Najee was a workhorse right out of the gate. He scampered for 1200 rushing yards and 7 TDs and then added another 467 yards on a whopping 74 receptions and 3 more scores for the black and gold. While RBs don't have a long shelf life, Harris is a worthy pick at 24 with his crazy size and pass catching combination. He will be a core piece of this retool the Steelers have embarked upon after drafting QB Kenny Pickett in the 2022 NFL draft.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars select: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
(Originally Pick #55)
Original Pick: Travis Etienne, RB

The Jags originally went with one of Trevor Lawrence's favorite college teammates to add to the roster and help create a seamless transition to the NFL. Long story short, Etienne missed his entire rookie year with an injury and Lawrence struggled. The Jags have the same thought in mind here in the re-draft, but they go a much different direction. Pat Freiermuth who was originally a second rounder to the Steelers instead sneaks his way into the back end of the first round to give Lawrence a massive and reliable target in the middle of the offense to throw to. This pick gives them their TE1 of the future and prevents them from having to waste $9 million on bummy TE Evan Engram in the 2022 off-season.

26. Cleveland Browns select: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
(Originally Pick #29)
Original Pick: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB

Cleveland got it right the first time here with their steal of CB Greg Newsome. Sadly for them, he is long gone in this re-draft. It's not all bad though, as Eric Stokes is still ripe for the picking. Stokes is just yet another one of many stud rookie CBs this draft produced. He is a pass breakup machine as he recorded 14 of them in 2021 along with an INT and a big 55 total tackles. With Denzel Ward your surefire top tier CB1 on one side, Stokes becomes an elite CB2 option. While Newsome is a bit better right now, Stokes could develop into an even better player in a few years time.

27. Baltimore Ravens select: Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
(Originally Pick #31)
Original Pick: Rashod Bateman, WR

The Ravens get a player they did draft in real life, but they take him a few spots higher this time. I'm not fully sure how Odafe Oweh falls to 27 even in a re-draft, but the Ravens will certainly take it. Oweh didn't record a sack during his final season at Penn State but teams did not care due to his freaky athleticism and room to grow at the position. Oweh then came out hot right out of the gates in 2021 but cooled off towards the end of the season. He finished his rookie campaign with 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 33 total tackles. A great starting point for a player with the physical tools there and all the potential in the world. The Ravens are stoked to get Oweh back in the re-draft.

28. New Orleans Saints select: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
(Originally Pick #76)
Original Pick: Payton Turner, EDGE

In a somewhat weak draft class, you can tell we are getting to the end of our first round re-draft. The Saints could have gone a number of different ways here so I just had them ensure they would be able to keep their initial third round pick in Paulson Adebo, who was a bright spot on their defense. Adebo racked up 8 pass breakups, 3 INTs, and 55 total tackles while not missing any games with injury. He was a consistent and durable option for the Saints even with their revolving door of injuries. Adebo also has elite size for the CB position at 6'2 and could be a franchise DB option for this team.

29. Green Bay Packers select: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
(Originally Pick #49)
Original Pick: Eric Stokes, CB

I think the Packers would have jumped at re-drafting Eric Stokes, but he's gone, so they pivot. With the knowledge that Davante Adams would be on his way out, drafting Rondale Moore makes all the sense in the world. Moore would be the perfect player for Matt LaFleur's offense. He is a mini wrecking ball when he has the football in his hands and is a menace in the open field. He has deep speed and short field speed that the Packers would be able to utilize beautifully. Moore on bubble screens from Rodgers would have been a thing of beauty and could potentially have been the tipping point to this offense not going ice cold during their shocking divisional round loss to the 49ers.

30. Buffalo Bills select: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
(Originally pick #35)
Original Pick: Greg Rousseau, EDGE

I'm still mad the Bills didn't take Javonte Williams in real life. They do so here in the re-draft. What a perfect fit this guy would have been in the Buffalo offense. They are still searching for that franchise RB in real life, but just solved it once and for all in the re-draft. While we didn't get to see Williams' full potential on display last season due to him splitting carries dead even with Melvin Gordon, when he did get to start a game against the Chiefs with Gordon out, he was ELECTRIC (to the tune of 102 rushing yards, 76 rec. yards and 1 TD). Williams finished the season with 903 yards and 4 TDs rushing and another 316 yards and 3 more scores receiving. His size, speed, and pass catching ability would make him an insanely good fit in the Bills' offense. The rest of the league should be thankful that this is just a re-draft and not real life...

31. Baltimore Ravens select: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
(Originally Pick #20)
Original Pick: Odafe Oweh, EDGE

With the Ravens trading WR1 Marquise Brown to the Cardinals in the 2022 off-season and having thin WR corps even before that, Kadarius Toney going to them here feels like a necessity. While their original first round wideout pick Rashod Bateman is still on the board here, they pass on him the second time around and opt for the electricity that Toney brings. While he was often injured as a rookie, there was no denying his ability when he was on the field. The last time he was truly fully healthy for the Giants was when they faced Dallas in early October and Toney caught 10 balls for 189 yards and a TD. Toney has game breaking speed, top 5 (in the entire NFL) elusiveness, and is an underrated route runner. He would give opposing DCs a headache on the same offense as QB Lamar Jackson.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee
(Originally Pick #226)
Original Pick: Joe Tryon, EDGE

The Bucs end the re-draft by taking the lowest originally drafted player yet! A real life sixth rounder! Trey Smith never deserved to be a sixth rounder. He was one of the best offensive lineman in the country for a few seasons at Tennessee before some scary health issues came up that questioned if he'd ever play football again. The Chiefs took a flier on him in real life and it paid off big time as he was able to play and was one of the better guards in all of football (not just rookies) in 2022. The Bucs lost a few pieces of their SB winning OL in the 2022 off-season and while they did a good job of replacing them, best player available makes sense here and Smith will give Brady a relentless interior pass blocker whom he will love!