ESPN sees Florida’s Ricky Pearsall landing here in mock NFL draft

Pearsall’s stock has moved up significantly since the end of the regular season.

The Florida football program does not have a ton of talent departing into the 2024 NFL draft, but there is one name that has stood out: wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.

The prolific pass-catcher came to Gainesville two offseasons ago from the Arizona State Sun Devils looking to bolster his stock. Despite a weaker quarterback room than usual in 2023, he still managed to accomplish that task with some highlight-reel plays along the way.

But Pearsall still is not done. The 6-foot-1-inch, 189-pound receiver has also been making waves at the NFL combine and pre-draft workouts.

As a result of his efforts, many draft prognosticators see him as a second-round selection at the end of this month. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has him going to the Tennessee Titans with pick No. 38; he provided the following explanation.

“The Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a big contract last month, but 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks has disappointed over two seasons and DeAndre Hopkins will be a free agent in 2025,” Kiper begins.

“There’s room for a young wideout on this roster. Pearsall had 98 catches and nine touchdowns in his two seasons at Florida, and his 4.41-second 40 at the combine solidified himself as a top-50 pick.”

The 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, Michigan, at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. It continues on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, concludes on Saturday starting at noon ET and will be broadcast on the NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

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