This time of year is big for NFL Draft media as they produce mock drafts almost weekly and the Draft Wire is no different. In their week 15 mock draft they laid out their mock picks for the first three rounds. For the Texas Longhorns there were a couple of selections. Luke Easterling gave his picks that involved one player on offense and one on defense. Both of them were picked in the 3rd round.
74. Carolina Panthers
Brandon Jones, Safety
The Panthers are a team that is in need of depth on the defensive side of the ball which makes Jones an attractive selection. Brandon Jones is a punishing hitter that can cause a few problems for offensive players as he can create some turnover opportunities with his jarring hits.
In the today’s NFL you need safeties to not only assist in stopping the run but also play coverage. What causes Jones to side down to day two of the draft is his lack of ball skills, while he isn’t the second coming of Earl Thomas, Jones shows he is plenty capable of making plays on the field, which is why the Panthers would do well to take Jones in the draft.
92. Oakland Raiders (From Seattle)
Collin Johnson, Wide Receiver
The way of offenses in the NFL are based on the passing game so not shock that the Raiders would look for a big-bodied receiver and what better place to get one than the Big 12 conference. They are known for high octane offenses that show out every Saturday.
Standing 6’6″, Johnson will tower over pretty much any defender that lines up against him. The thing that Collin does so well is box out defenders with his frame, which makes him a good target for Derek Carr and the offense in Oakland. This year the Raiders are 13th in red zone efficiency, adding a red zone target who can go up and attack the ball would only improve that number next season.
