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The 2021 NFL Draft is almost here!

From April 29th to May 1st, the top prospects of college football hope to begin new chapters in their football careers. A lot is riding on what the future will hold for those who get the call. Knowing the NFL draft, we could already see a lot of big names being called up early. Here is a look at my predictions for the first five picks of the 2021 NFL Draft:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – QB Trevor Lawrence

There is no doubt about it: Jacksonville is in desperate need of help after going 1-15 last year. New head coach Urban Meyer was the first step towards rebuilding the team. Step two begins with the drafting of a top prospect, and at the top of the list is Trevor Lawrence. The stats of the Clemson quarterback and last year’s Heisman finalist speak a thousand words to teams looking to find a quarterback on an elite level. He went 34-1 in his college career and is one of the highest-rated players in the draft. Lawrence went over 3,000 yards and had at least a 65 percent completion rating for three consecutive seasons.

2. New York Jets – QB Justin Fields

The New York Jets’ rebuilding process started with trading now former Jets’ QB Sam Darnold. Now they can proceed with step two by drafting a new starting quarterback. There will be plenty of high-level quarterbacks remaining once Lawrence is drafted to Jacksonville. Drafting Ohio State QB Justin Fields will be a great start to the Jets’ team rebuilding process. Fields’ stats can tell you stories, but most analysts and scouts believe that it’s his decision-making skills and arm strength that set him apart from others.

3. San Francisco 49ers – QB Zach Wilson

There was a lot of news going around about San Francisco drafting a quarterback since they accepted a major trade from the Miami Dolphins and got three first-round picks. ESPN said they had a list of the top five quarterbacks to pick in the first round, which included Fields and Lawrence. If those two are taken, that’s when you bring in the next best thing: BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. His athleticism and deep-ball accuracy served him well in college. He shined the brightest this past season, recording nearly 3,700 passing yards with a completion rate of 73.5 percent. He processes the athleticism and accuracy, but he will have to be well-trained to take on the bigger competition. If drafted, Jimmy Garoppolo can still be starting QB against the tougher teams while Wilson can work on further improving his talent to get him ready to pit him against the elite teams when his time comes.

4. Atlanta Falcons – TE Kyle Pitts

Atlanta will need plenty of upgrades for their offense this season. A big name like Gators TE Kyle Pitts will make a great addition to the team. Drafting him would give their opponents a difficult time to take him down when he has the ball. Pitts recorded an overall 12 touchdowns and 770 yards in 43 receptions this past season. He has the size, athleticism, and ball skills to be almost unstoppable. His only weakness as a tight end is his blocking abilities, but that shouldn’t hinder the Falcons too much.

5. Cincinnati Bengals – WR Ja’Marr Chase

There are plenty of teams who would give to have someone like Ja’Marr Chase on their side. The LSU wide receiver rang in over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns in his 2019 season. His big hands help him keep a grip on the ball. However, one of his weaknesses is his experience. He opted out last season due to the pandemic, so if he gets drafted, there will be a lot of questions on how he will play when he enters the big leagues.