Putting out my first April mock a little earlier than I had planned because two things have happened that have me rethinking things.

First, the New York Jets pulled the trigger and traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers. It was a forgone conclusion that the Jets were taking a QB at number 2, with or without Darnold on the roster. This trade doesn’t change that at all.

What this trade does do is possibly take the Panthers out of the QB market and certainly out of the bidding war for the number 4 pick. Sure, Carolina could still select a QB if one falls to eight, but I’m inclined to think they’re rolling with Darnold for now.

The question that lingers is what happens with Teddy Bridgewater? Where does he wind up and does it take that team out of the QB derby? It’s too early to tell, right now.

The second thing that happened that has caused me to rethink things is that Adam Schefter reported that San Francisco is locked in on Mac Jones at #3. In my opinion this is a mistake, but Kyle Shanahan did attend Jones’s pro day instead of Justin Fields’s. I trust Schefter, if he’s reporting it there has to be some validity.

So, what that means is the draft really starts with the fourth pick, currently held by the Atlanta Falcons. The phones are probably already ringing off the hook in Atlanta and they should be answering. Unless they are absolutely in love with Fields or Trey Lance, they should recoup a hefty haul of draft picks to move down.

I now present my first mock draft of April, 3 weeks until draft day.

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

2. NEW YORK JETS: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU- Lock this one in now.

3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama- While I disagree with the pick, and the price paid to acquire him, Jones is probably the most NFL ready of the QBs. His upside is lower, but he could step in if Jimmy G goes down with injury again, and the Niners could still be a Super Bowl contender.

4. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (From Atlanta): Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State- After missing the playoffs in their first post-Brady season, New England spent big in free agency. They brought back Cam Newton, but Bill Belichick can’t feel overly comfortable that he can get back to the playoffs with him.

Lance is raw, but packs some serious upside. Fields might be the safer pick, but I think New England will trust Josh McDaniels to develop Lance.

THE TRADE: NE acquires #4 from ATL in exchange for #15 & #46 in this draft plus their 2022 first & 2023 first.

5. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon- I just feel that Cincy needs to protect Joe Burrow before giving him more weapons, besides the WR class is deep.

6. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida- Miami traded back up to sixth because there is someone they covet that won’t be there at #12. There are other solid tackles after Sewell, there’s not a lot of separation between the top three WRs, but there is only one Pitts. A WR in a TE’s body. Best TE prospect in a long time.

7. DETROIT LIONS: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU- Lions are a sleeper to take a QB, Fields offers much more upside than Jared Goff, but Detroit has many more pressing needs. None more so than receiver, as they lost their top two WRs in free agency.

8. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (From Carolina): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State- Ryan Fitzpatrick is the QB you get to groom your next franchise guy. WFT makes the move to get that guy.

THE TRADE: WFT acquires #8 from CAR in exchange for #19 & #51 in this draft plus their 2022 first.

9. DENVER BRONCOS: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State- Denver doesn’t pay the premium to ensure they land one of the top five QBs, and they could be a potential landing spot for Bridgewater or Jimmy Garrapolo should SF move him. Alex Smith is also a possibility.

Either way, Denver pivots to defense and gets Vic Fangio a quarterback for his D.

10. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (From Dallas): Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern- I’ve mocked Slater to the Chargers in every one of my mocks, but I think they’ll have to move up to make it happen. The Giants at #11 may be looking at him, and there are teams behind them that could leapfrog LA for him. Need to protect Justin Herbert.

THE TRADE: LAC acquires #10 from DAL in exchange for #13, #47 & #118 in this draft.

11. NEW YORK GIANTS: Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia- With Slater off the board, the Giants go Edge rusher. Ojulari offers the best combination of athleticism, potential and polish among the top players at his position.

12. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama- This could be a CB, and probably should be, but I feel like Philly has got to find a true number one receiver. Waddle isn’t as polished as his Crimson Tide teammate, DeVonta Smith, but he is bigger and more dynamic.

13. DALLAS COWBOYS (From LA CHARGERS): Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama- Smart play for the Cowboys, who need to address their D. Trade down 3 spots, get the top corner in the draft.

14. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Alijah Vera-Tucker, IOL, USC- Tucker excelled playing tackle at USC, but he’s better suited at guard, making him the top guard in the class and fitting Minnesota’s biggest need on offense.

15. ATLANTA FALCONS (From New England): Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina- Atlanta recouped a HAUL to move down 11 spots, then adds a potential lockdown corner to their porous defense.

16. CAROLINA PANTHERS (From Arizona): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama: Carolina uses picks acquired from WFT to move up and grab the Heisman Trophy winner.

THE TRADE: CAR acquires #16 from ARZ in exchange for #19 & #51 in this draft.

17. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech- Jon Gruden gets a replacement for Trent Brown.

18. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama- Nothing helps a young QB more than a solid running game. Harris reunites with college teammate Tua Tagovailoa.

19. ARIZONA CARDINALS (From Washington through Carolina): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame- Arizona adds an extra second rounder to move back three spots. Cardinals feel like a perfect landing spot for this hybrid LB/S.

20. CHICAGO BEARS: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State- Bears just don’t have the firepower to move up for a QB. WR & CB are possibilities but Chicago can’t pass up Jenkins. He’ll bring a mean streak to the OL that’s been missing since Kyle Long retired (since returned to KC).

21. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (From Indianapolis): Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan- Pittsburgh jumps a couple teams in the Edge rusher market to land the raw, but physically gifted Paye to replace Bud DuPree.

THE TRADE- PIT acquires #21 from IND in exchange for #24 & #87 in this draft.

22. TENNESSEE TITANS: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern- The Titans add a rising CB prospect to their shakiest unit.

23. NEW YORK JETS: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson- Etienne can be for the Jets and Zach Wilson what Le’Veon Bell was supposed to be for Sam Darnold. A complete, three down back.

24. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (From Pittsburgh): Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota- Colts add a third rounder to move down three spots and grab the top WR on the board.

25. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU- Been mocking Moehrig to Jacksonville almost as long as Lawrence. Like the fit and value for the top safety in the class.

26. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami-Fl- Injury history prevents Phillips from being the top Edge rusher in the class. If healthy, he’ll make a scary combo with Myles Garrett.

27. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State: Baltimore might look at OT or WR here, but they lost both starting Edge rushers to free agency and Oweh is an athletic freak , if raw.

28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech- Farley falls down the board because of injury concerns, New Orleans happily scoops him up.

29. GREEN BAY PACKERS: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas- I go back and forth with the Packers’ pick. Protect Rodgers or give him another weapon. I’m leaning OT right now because the receiver class is deep.

30. BUFFALO BILLS: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia- Buffalo addresses their biggest area of concern.

31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky- I’ve had KC going offensive line in every mock up until now. The OL value just isn’t there and KC could use an explosive run stuffing linebacker on their defense.

32. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Christian Barmore, IDL, Alabama- This is a case of best player available actually filling a ‘need’, not that the defending champs need much.