clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

First 2021 NFL Mock Draft from Todd McShay has the Arizona Cardinals adding to their offense

Alabama v Mississippi State Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Whether we like it or not, there is a real chance we see little to no college football in 2020.

The SEC and Big12 may be going forward with their seasons, but the MAC, Pac12 and Big10 have all canceled their seasons, despite pleas from student, staff and physicians to the opposite.

That means that college football at this juncture will look a lot different in 2020.

Which also means that college football content and coverage will look much different.

That is one reason you may see a flurry of early mock drafts coming out, as writers get their thoughts out on what they would expect heading into a normal season before a different type of season occurs and potentially skews their perception.

Todd McShay dropped his first mock draft for 2021 and used the ESPN FPI for the draft order.

The Arizona Cardinals picked 10th and McShay has the team getting more talent on offense:

10. Arizona Cardinals

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Before he decided to return to Tuscaloosa for his senior year, Smith was generating first-round buzz last fall. It isn’t easy to make 68 catches for 1,256 yards and 14 scores when A) your star QB misses a chunk of the season, and B) your wide receiver room also includes Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and Jaylen Waddle. But Smith did it, thanks in part to his explosive burst off the line, crisp route running, sneaky speed and excellent hands. In this scenario, he’d share Kyler Murray’s targets with DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and others, but with coach Kliff Kingsbury looking to use more four-WR sets and Smith’s experience carving out a niche, he’d be a good fit and future No. 2 opposite Hopkins in the desert.

Smith would add a perfect compliment to an already strong core of receivers. The question becomes what does Christian Kirk do in year three and do any of the three receivers from 2019 take a step. Heading into the season this is a pick that makes sense.

The question becomes will it make sense in October and beyond. Let’s hope not.