Mel Kiper is no stranger to stirring up conversations with his draft predictions.
In the most recent 2021 NFL mock draft by ESPN’s Mel Kiper, the expected choice of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the No. 1 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars was made, but the real surprise came next.
Instead of the commonly anticipated selection of Justin Fields at No. 2, Kiper opted for Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Kiper’s reasoning:
“This is where the draft excitement kicks in. Will the Jets stick with quarterback Sam Darnold for another season, or will they go for Zach Wilson or Justin Fields? (Or maybe consider trading for Deshaun Watson?) The Jets brain trust of general manager Joe Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh have a few months to make this pivotal decision. It’s a crucial choice, and they need to be completely convinced that Wilson or Fields would be an improvement over Darnold.
My current inclination is to believe that although Darnold’s statistics are underwhelming, at only 23 years old and with a lack of offensive support for the past three years, the Jets may not be ready to move on from him and witness his success elsewhere. This could lead them to give Darnold a one-year trial run under Saleh, draft the Heisman Trophy winner at No. 2, and offer Darnold one more opportunity to showcase his full potential. Smith is the top-tier target Darnold has been missing.”
Interestingly, Fields falls to the No. 7 pick, landing with the Detroit Lions.
