The Jaguars will pick No. 1 in the 2021 NFL Draft after the New York Jets won for the second-straight game in Week 16.
No matter what happens in Week 17, the Jags will have the chance to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (assuming he indeed declares as a draft-eligible junior). Jacksonville (1-14) lost Sunday to the Bears, while New York (2-13) dominated the receiver-decimated Browns. Due to an insurmountable difference in the strength of schedule tiebreaker, there aren't any Week 17 outcomes that could bring the Jets back into the first overall slot after they held it for much of the season.
The Bengals' win in Week 16 over the Texans does lock the Jets in to the No. 2 overall pick, but it also moves Cincinnati outside the top-three picks and leaves the No. 3 overall selection up for grabs in Week 17.
ESPN reported Sunday morning about how desirable the Jaguars' head coach and general manager positions would be with Lawrence as the face of the franchise. Now, that's only a Lawrence draft declaration and a Jacksonville selection from becoming reality.
Below is the NFL Draft order for 2021 updated after Sunday's early afternoon games in Week 16.
NFL MOCK DRAFT
Jets settle for second-best QB after Jaguars take Trevor Lawrence
NFL Draft order 2021
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14)
- New York Jets (2-13)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-11)
- Miami Dolphins (via 4-11 Houston Texans)
- Carolina Panthers (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1)
- Detroit Lions (5-10)
- New York Giants (5-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (5-9)
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)
- Denver Broncos (5-9)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
- New England Patriots (6-8)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)
- Arizona Cardinals (8-7)
- Indianapolis Colts (10-5)
(Picks 19-32 are held by teams currently in the NFL playoff picture.)
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is considered a generational talent in the vein of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. After it looked for much of the season like he'd join the Jets, it'll now be the Jaguars with the chance to take him. There aren't any mock drafts expecting anyone other than Lawrence to go first overall.
The Jets will be forced to make a determination of their own at the quarterback position. Maybe they'll stick with Sam Darnold for another year now that they can't get Lawrence. If New York goes after a QB still, it'll likely be Ohio State's Justin Fields or BYU's Zach Wilson.
The upcoming College Football Playoff could determine when first-round quarterbacks are taken, with Lawrence, Fields and Alabama's Mac Jones all in action. Florida's Kyle Trask and North Dakota State's Trey Lance could also play a part in the first round, although the top-10 teams seeking something other than quarterback won't be let down. Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell, Penn State lineback Micah Parsons, Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain and Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith are all supreme talents.