Doing a mock draft with projected trades prior to free agency is an exercise in futility. You pretty much have to speculate on what free agents wind up where, especially with quarterbacks, but also including wide receivers, running backs and other key positions.

I decided if I was going to do a mock with trades prior to the start of free agency (March 17), I was going to be BOLD with my projections. In doing so, I’ve made predictions on how the QB carousel plays out along with a couple other high profile players.

Without further ado, I present my first mock draft of 2021 with projected trades.

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson: No need to get too crazy here. This pick is set in stone.

2. NEW YORK JETS- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU: Most view NY as the most likely landing spot for Deshaun Watson should he force Houston to trade him. It makes sense, the Jets have the most draft capital with which to pry him away from the Texans. However, if everyone thinks this could happen, then it’s not bold enough. Instead the Jets stand pat and use this pick to draft their franchise QB. This pick changed from my first mock, but I’m becoming convinced NY is enamored with Wilson.

3. HOUSTON TEXANS (Projected trade w/ Miami)- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU: Admittedly, this BOLD trade idea did not originate with me. The credit goes to Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, but as soon as I saw it the idea became cemented in my mind.

In my version, Houston would acquire this pick, the 81st pick in this draft & Miami’s 2022 first round pick PLUS Tua Tagoviola in exchange for Deshaun Watson. In my mind, it makes total sense. Houston might get a bigger draft haul from the Jets, but they would still need to draft a QB. Here they get a second year, possible franchise QB plus a decent draft haul, which they can use exclusively to improve Tua’s surrounding cast.

For Miami, I doubt they’d move on from Tua after only one year UNLESS it was for a superstar like Watson. Deshaun Watson would instantly make the Dolphins a Super Bowl contender AND they would still hold on to their other first round pick in this draft.

4. ATLANTA FALCONS- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State: I’ve rejected the idea of Atlanta using this pick to grab Matt Ryan’s replacement, but here I’m projecting a BOLD move that is entirely of my own making. What if the Falcons were to trade Ryan? I’ll address that a bit later.

5. DENVER BRONCOS (Projected trade w/Cincinnati)- Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State: Some team is going to make the move to this spot to grab the last of the big 4 quarterbacks. In this case, I’m thinking Denver. Drew Lock is not the answer and the Broncos need to get ahead of Carolina & Philadelphia to ensure themselves of getting Lance. They pay a premium to move up four spots, but they may finally have their next franchise QB.

Trade details: Denver acquires this pick in exchange for the #9 & #235 picks this year plus next years first and third round picks.

6. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama: Rumor has it Philly covets Fields but they won’t get him without trading up. They might be better served giving the reins fully to Jalen Hurts, acquiring a veteran back up (Nick Foles?) and improving the supporting cast. Addressing the offensive line wouldn’t be the worst idea, but adding the Heisman trophy winner to last year’s first round pick Jaelen Raegor would vastly improve their receiving corps.

7. DETROIT LIONS- Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan: Detroit’s entire receiving corps are set to hit free agency and I had the Lions addressing the position in my first mock, but Paye wasn’t available at #7 in that one. Defense has been the Lions’ Achilles heel, adding a dynamic pass rusher is the right move.

8. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State: I don’t see the Panthers paying the steep price it would require to move up for a QB, not with Teddy Bridgewater in the fold. Parsons filling their Luke Keuchly void would be a good step in returning Carolina’s defense to relevancy.

9. CINCINNATI BENGALS (Projected trade w/ Denver)- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon: Cincy trades down 4 spots for a nice draft haul AND still lands the player they would likely have taken at #5. Sewell is the best tackle in the draft and protecting franchise QB Joe Burrow trumps giving him more weapons, for now.

10. DALLAS COWBOYS- Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama: One way or another, Dak Prescott will remain in Dallas for at least 2021, meaning the Cowboys most pressing needs are on the defensive side of the ball. A shutdown corner is always a welcome addition.

11. NEW YORK GIANTS- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida: Yes, NY has Evan Engram at TE, but Pitts is so much more than just a TE. He’s a WR in a tight end’s body. Some think he may be the best pass catcher in the draft. The Giants need to give Daniel Jones more reliable targets.

12. ATLANTA FALCONS (Projected trade w/ San Francisco)- Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech: Here’s the BOLD move I alluded to earlier. Atlanta ships Matt Ryan to San Fran in exchange for this pick, pick #156 this year and a third rounder next year. Atlanta can sign a veteran bridge QB until Fields is ready to take over (Ryan Fitzpatrick or Andy Dalton would make sense) and use this pick to help their porous defense.

San Francisco is only a year removed from a Super Bowl appearance with an erratic and oft-injured Jimmy Garrapolo at QB. The 49ers boast a solid roster that was decimated by injuries last year. They don’t need to groom a young QB, they need a solid veteran QB to take the reins. Remember this, Matt Ryan was the NFL MVP the last time he was in a Kyle Shanahan offense.

13. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern: LA found their franchise QB in Justin Herbert, now they need to protect him.

14. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami-Fl: Offensive line is a possibility, but it feels like Mike Zimmer would love to improve his defense. This is the same position I had the Vikings addressing in my first mock, but a different player. I’ve become convinced that most scouts have Rousseau higher than Joseph Ossai.

15. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama: I had NE taking Mac Jones in my first mock and he’s still available here, but two things have changed. First, I think Belichick will bring back Jimmy G, either by trade or free agency should San Fran release him and Waddle is available at this spot. No matter who plays QB for the Patriots they need better receivers.

16. ARIZONA CARDINALS- Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina: The Cardinals could have their pick of the best RBs in the draft here, or improve Kyler Murray’s protection, but Horn feels like a natural fit for the Arizona defense.

17. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: First, the Raiders will not trade Derek Carr, so no need to reach for a QB here. Second, LV could go in several directions with this pick but a hybrid LB/S like Owusu-Koramoah seems like the kind of player Jon Gruden would love.

18. MIAMI DOLPHINS- Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota: Miami made the BOLD move to acquire Deshaun Watson and I’m going to boldly predict they land RB Aaron Jones in free agency. Their offensive line is decent and can be addressed later in the draft. Their defense is solid. What they could use is another pass catcher for Watson. Bateman is a solid WR with a high floor and high ceiling.

19. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM- Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech: My BOLD prediction for the Football Team is that they’ll sign Cam Newton in free agency, reuniting him with Ron Rivera. I think Washington really likes Taylor Heinecke, who showed promise late in the season and won’t look to make a big splash at QB. Instead they’ll conserve their resources for this year and improve other areas. Darrisaw is a plug and play tackle that could alleviate the possible loss of Brandon Scherff. This is the same position, but a different player, that I had Washington addressing in my first mock, reflecting a change in my thinking of player rankings.

20. CHICAGO BEARS- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC: I don’t think Chicago has the draft capital to move up for a QB nor trade for a veteran like Watson or Carr. I also think they’re unlikely to move Nick Foles’ contract, so they may be stuck with him. What I think the Bears will do at QB is acquire Sam Darnold from the Jets.

Carson Wentz was traded for a third round pick and a conditional second rounder. Darnold’s price should be lower. I’m thinking a conditional third rounder and one of Chicago’s three sixth rounders this year could get it done. The hope for the Bears is that Darnold wins the starting job and shows signs of being the QB Mitchell Trubisky never would be. If he fails, a new regime in Chicago would be better positioned to draft a franchise QB next year.

I also need to address Allen Robinson. Somehow, someway he’ll remain in Chicago through 2021, so no need to go WR here. This pick should therefore be used to improve the offensive line. With Darrisaw gone, the Bears nab the versatile Vera-Tucker instead.

21. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS- Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida: Indy addressed their biggest issue by acquiring Carson Wentz from Philly and they did so without relinquishing this pick. The Colts are a solid team with very few holes. TY Hilton may leave in free agency, so a complimentary receiver next to Michael Pittman could be in order.

22. TENNESSEE TITANS- Azeez Ojulari. EDGE, Georgia: Tennessee has to get better defensively. I had them taking Rousseau in my first mock, but he’s off the board here. Ojulari is next on the list of Edge rushers.

23. NEW YORK JETS- Najee Harris, RB, Alabama: The Jets landed their new franchise QB earlier, now they need to give him weapons. WR is possible, but the position is deep in this draft. Nothing helps a young QB like a solid running game, Jets have their pick of the litter at RB.

24. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas: Ben Roethlisberger will most likely come back for one more season and the Steelers took a flyer on Dwayne Haskins so I don’t see them drafting a QB this year. Pittsburgh’s running game was practically non-existent last season and they may lose Alejandro Villenueva in free agency, they need to improve their blocking.

25. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama: The Jags got their franchise QB, now they need to keep him upright. Same position but different player as my first mock as my player rankings evolve.

26. CLEVELAND BROWNS- Ifeatu Melifownu, CB, Syracuse: Cleveland actually has very few glaring needs. A solid corner opposite Denzel Ward would be a nice addition.

27. ATLANTA FALCONS (Projected trade w/ Baltimore)- Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama: The Falcons make another BOLD move trading Julio Jones and the 183rd pick in this draft to Baltimore for this pick and a third rounder next year. Atlanta uses the pick to nab the top interior defensive lineman in the draft.

Baltimore would likely have used this pick to draft a WR, instead they give Lamar Jackson a reliable, future Hall of Fame pass catcher.

28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Mac Jones, QB, Alabama: It feels like Drew Brees will retire. Sean Payton may say he’s fine with Taysom Hill as his starter, but he can’t pass up Jones here.

29. GREEN BAY PACKERS- Travis Etienne- RB, Clemson: I predicted that Aaron Jones would take his talents to South Beach, so RB becomes a need for the Packers. Getting Etienne, who is a decent pass catcher, would allow the Aaron Rodgers led offense to not miss a beat.

30. BUFFALO BILLS- Joesph Ossai, EDGE, Texas: Buffalo has a solid team with no glaring weaknesses. You can never have enough Edge rushers. Ossai wasn’t available here in my first mock, the Bills pounce on him now.

31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State: KC absolutely has to improve Patrick Mahomes’ protection. Jenkins was off the board in this spot in my first mock, the Chiefs don’t hesitate.

32. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State: The champs seem likely to lose Shaq Barrett in free agency. Replacing him with a freak athlete like Oweh isn’t a bad consolation prize.

I may attempt a three round mock before free agency, or I may not. I may just relax and see how things unfold on March 17.

As always, thanks for reading.