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The NFL draft is creeping closer and closer, which means the mock draft gurus are getting better projections made for what players are going where. Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons continues to be a lock to be going in the first round but an impressive showing at Penn State’s pro day figures to only help defensive end Jayson Oweh continue to move himself up the big boards.
But the latest mock draft from Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire has another Nittany Lion going before Oweh, and early in the second round. Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth is projected to be a second-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals according to Schofield’s latest two-round mock draft. After former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer supposedly opts to go with a safety with the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ second-round pick, Freiermuth’s landing spot could be a few picks later with the Bengals, where he would become a big weapon for former Heisman Trophy winner and LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow. Not a terrible spot to be in for Freiermuth, if it plays out this way.
“Wideout could be an option here, with players like Rondale Moore and Amon-Ra. St. Brown available, but with the tight end position a concern in Cincinnati — and this position thinning out as the draft goes on — the Bengals address it now and look to add at the receiver later in the draft,” Schofield said in explaining the logic of drafting Freiermuth for the Bengals.
Meanwhile, Schofield isn’t seeing Oweh rise high enough in the NFL Draft to sniff the first round. Instead, Schofield projects Oweh heading to the Dallas Cowboys with the 44th overall pick.
“Some teams might be scared off by the lack of production in 2020 — zero sacks will do that — but turning on his film you do see how he can be a productive pass rusher off the edge in the NFL,” Schofield explained. “Plus, his incredible pro day testing is going to see his stock rise.”
Schofield did mention that pro day stock could help elevate Oweh’s draft position and there is a chance he may not be available for the Cowboys with the 44th pick.
As for Parsons, the Penn State linebacker is still being projected to go to the Denver Broncos with the No. 9 pick. The Broncos have widely been expected to be the most likely landing spot for Parsons according to multiple mock drafts that continue to be updated.
Check out the entire two-round mock draft from Touchdown Wire to see who your favorite NFL team may be drafting in April.
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PHOTOS: Penn State’s first round NFL draft picks since joining the Big Ten