Mel Kiper's latest 2021 NFL mock draft projects 3 huge trades in the top-10 picks

It’s a day we’ve all been waiting for since we saw Todd McShay’s mock draft on ESPN that projected trades — OK, maybe it’s just me who was excited, I don’t know.

Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock is up on ESPN Thursday morning, giving us our first look at what the analyst would do now that he and McShay are including projected trades. And he delivered!

First: he had the Atlanta Falcons trading up to No. 2 with the New York Jets (the Falcons will “have to send the Jets the No. 4 pick, likely its second-round picks this year and more picks”) and taking BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

So who does he project the Jets to take at No. 4? Tight end Kyle Pitts. But Jets fans might be nervous about that even if Pitts is a huge talent …

The next trade? The San Francisco 49ers trade up with the Detroit Lions to snag Ohio State QB Justin Fields — bad news for Jimmy G., of course.

Then, Bill Belichick would trade up to get his QB of the future with a Denver Broncos deal to get the No. 9 pick and select North Dakota State’s Trey Lance:

“I could see a Jimmy Garoppolo return to New England, but I’m not sold that he’d be the long-term answer. Lance could be. He started only 17 career games in college — all against FCS competition — but he’s only 20, and he has all the tools to be a great dual-threat quarterback. Remember that the Patriots have a few players returning after opting out of last season, too, so they could contend in the AFC East again.”

Trade madness!!!!