Tag: ESPN mock draft

5 Alabama stars named in the top-50 NFL draft prospects for 2024

The 2024 NFL draft is still a few months away, but five Alabama football standouts rank among the top 50 prospect.

Alabama football is known for high-quality recruiting, elite play on the field, winning championships, and sending players to the NFL. Though the 2024 draft is still a few months away, experts are projecting numerous Crimson Tide players to be top prospects.

According to Jordan Reid of ESPN, a total of five Alabama players rank among the top 50 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft (subscription required).

Next season, the Tide is expected to retain much of its offense, but will see the main defensive contributors depart for the the league.

Here’s where Reid ranked the Tide standouts among the other draft-eligible superstars and his reasoning.

Chargers take dynamic offensive player in ESPN’s latest mock draft

The Chargers select the two-time John Mackey Award winner.

ESPN’s Matt Miller revealed his latest mock draft on Wednesday, and with the Chargers selection at No. 10 overall, he has them picking Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

Here is what Miller said about sending Bowers to Los Angeles:

Bowers is my No. 6 overall player, but I couldn’t find a value/need fit for him earlier than No. 10. Los Angeles wouldn’t complain. The Chargers could luck out and get an awesome middle-of-the-field target who has similarities to George Kittle as a route runner, pass-catcher and after-the-catch playmaker. Bowers has 26 receiving touchdowns in the past three seasons and would immediately give quarterback Justin Herbert a chain-mover.

With Gerald Everett set to be a free agent at the end of the season, the Bolts will be in the market for a starting tight end. Bowers would be a homerun pick as he’s not just the best tight end in this year’s class, but you could make the argument that he’s the best in previous classes, too.

Bowers, who is the only player to win the John Mackey Award twice, leads the Bulldogs with 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Along with his ability to be a mismatch for any defender in the passing game, Bowers is really good as a run blocker, which is something that the Chargers have struggled to get from their tight ends in recent seasons.

So not only could Bowers come in and quickly develop a rapport with Justin Herbert, but he could boost the run game and help in pass protection.

9 Georgia Bulldogs selected in ESPN’s 7-round NFL mock draft

Here’s where each Bulldog landed in ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft…

Georgia set a modern NFL draft record with 15 selections in last year’s draft.

Although the Bulldogs don’t have as big of a draft class this year, Georgia should be well represented in Kansas City.

ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft is full of Bulldogs: nine selections through seven rounds, including three in the first-round — all in the top 10.

Here’s a look at where each Bulldog landed, along with notes on top selections from ESPN’s Jordan Reid and position rankings from Draft Wire.

 

Texas RB Bijan Robinson projected to Buffalo in latest NFL Mock Draft

A potential trio of Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and Bijan Robinson would be exciting to watch at the next level. 

Bijan Robinson is one of the most compelling prospects in the 2023 NFL draft. Continue reading “Texas RB Bijan Robinson projected to Buffalo in latest NFL Mock Draft”

ESPN NFL mock draft tabs Bijan Robinson as a top five pick

ESPN’s Todd McShay believes Bijan could hear his name called early in the first round. 

Bijan Robinson’s Texas career is likely over following a fantastic junior season. The Longhorn star proved himself as the best running back in the nation, taking home the Doak Walker Award, All-American honors and more.

Robinson is expected to shift his attention toward the upcoming NFL Draft. ESPN’s Todd McShay believes Bijan could hear his name called early in the first round.

McShay’s latest mock draft has Robinson going to the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft.

I know the “it’s too early for a running back” arguments are coming, and I agree 99% of the time. But why spend heavily on re-signing Sanders or bringing in another back in free agency when Robinson — who is an upgrade — is available here on a rookie deal? Robinson cruised to 1,580 yards and 18 TDs on the ground this season while breaking 91 tackles.

Robinson looks to be the first running back selected in the top five since the New York Giants picked Saquon Barkley in 2018.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

See where Johnny Davis goes in the latest ESPN mock draft

See where Johnny Davis lands in ESPN’s latest mock draft with the NBA draft less than a week away:

With the NBA draft less than a week away, ESPN writer Jonathan Givony released one of his final 2022 NBA mock drafts, which projects Jonathan Davis to go in the top 10 picks.

Related: Wisconsin basketball offers 2024 Center Raleigh Burgess

Similar to his earlier mock draft at the beginning of June, Givony projects the AP First-Team All-American to land at No. 10 with the Washington Wizards. Some may remember, that the Wizards were the first team to workout Davis earlier this month.

If Davis ends up landing with the Wizards, he wouldn’t be the first Badger to play there in recent years as former Wisconsin star Sam Dekker played for Washington in the 2018-19 season.

Commanders go offense in Mel Kiper’s final mock draft

Mel Kiper goes offense for the Commanders in his final mock draft.

Will the Washington Commanders go offense or defense in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft? Washington’s preference would likely be to move down in the first round, adding more selections in a draft that is considered strong in the middle rounds.

Who does ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. see the Commanders taking the first round of his final mock draft? He has Washington going offense with Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave.

If Washington wants to put Carson Wentz in a position to succeed, it could take Olave and pair him with another Ohio State receiver in Terry McLaurin. The Commanders’ defense has a lot of young talent, but the offense is lacking. Olave is great after the catch.

In Kiper’s final mock draft, Olave is the third wide receiver off the board, with Garrett Wilson going to No. 8 to the Falcons and Drake London landing with the New York Jets at No. 10.

If Kiper’s scenario played out, the Commanders would presumably decide between Olave and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

Two Rutgers players taken in the latest ESPN mock NFL draft

ESPN’s latest mock NFL Draft projects two Rutgers players get taken.

Coming off tremendous individual showings at the NFL Combine, two Rutgers football players made the most recent mock NFL draft from ESPN.

ESPN projects wide receiver Bo Melton and running back Isiah Pacheco both going on Day 3 of the draft.

ESPN has wide receiver Bo Melton going No. 187 to the San Francisco 49ers early in the sixth round. Then in the early parts of the seventh round, Pacheco lands with the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 226.

Melton had a tremendous NFL Combine, opening eyes with a 4.34 time in the 40 and a very good 6.96 on the 3-cone. The numbers certainly back up a very solid final season at Rutgers where Melton had 55 catches for 618 yards with three touchdowns. His offseason stock rose considerably with a very good week at the Senior Bowl.

[lawrence-related id=15321]

As for Pacheco, he too saw his draft stock climb at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.37 time in the 40. Melton’s hard-running style was on display at Rutgers, despite playing behind an offensive line that struggled to create lanes the past three seasons.

Pacheco’s ability to run between the tackles should get him a Day 3 spot, but the fact that he has home run speed makes him one of the most intriguing plays on Day 3 of the draft.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3gzhz7qrm49z6q player_id=none image=https://rutgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Where does LSU’s Tari Eason land in ESPN’s latest mock draft?

ESPN has Tari Eason just outside the lottery picks in its latest 2022 NBA mock draft.

The lottery for the 2022 NBA draft is three months away, so it will be a while before finding out who will have the draft’s top picks. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, and Auburn’s Jabari Smith are expected to be the first three players off the board.

But what of LSU’s star forward? In the latest mock draft from ESPN, Tari Eason was slated to go at pick No. 16 to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The sophomore played his first season at Cincinnati last year before transferring to the Tigers. While with the Bearcats, Eason played in 23 games, starting in eight. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Eason also shot 46% from the field. His 1.3 blocks per game ranked fourth in the AAC.

Eason is long and athletic and plays well on both sides of the floor. So far this season, Eason is averaging 16.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. He is shooting 53.4% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. Eason leads the Tigers in scoring despite coming off the bench.

With Eason’s size and athletic ability, he could make the NBA a solid wing player. His ability to play both sides of the floor will be a critical factor in Eason getting drafted. If he can continue to improve his three-point shot, his draft stock will rise.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=none image=https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[listicle id=47850]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

One Texas player selected in ESPN’s mock 22-person superteam draft

ESPN’s draft experts went through an exercise each getting a roster full of upcoming rookies. Samuel Cosmi was the only UT player selected.

The University of Texas and producing NFL talent have not been best friends since Mack Brown left in 2013. Only one player, Malcolm Brown, has been selected in the first round and no players were selected in the first two rounds during the Tom Herman era.

In the 2021 draft cycle, Texas has the chance to have a guy taken within the first round. Offensive lineman Samuel Cosmi and edge rusher Joseph Ossai are going to be high on team’s draft boards. Safety Caden Sterns is considered an NFL guy as well but will be selected closer to Day Three.

ESPN’s two draft experts, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., went through an exercise (subscription-based content), each getting to fill out a roster entirely off the 2021 draft class. Only one Texas player was taken in the form of the offensive lineman, Samuel Cosmi.

Kiper took the former left tackle with the No. 36 pick, placing him at right guard, citing his versatility across the line. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey was selected right before Cosmi, being placed at center for McShay’s team.

How about Red River rivals back to back here? I’ll put Cosmi at right guard. He played left tackle in college, but I think he could move inside in the NFL. He has some power to his game.

Fellow Big 12 members Ronnie Perkins (Oklahoma) and Trevon Moehrig (TCU) join Cosmi on Team Kiper. Quarterback Justin Fields (Ohio State) would be relying on the former Longhorn to protect him, going up against a defensive line of Gregory Rousseau (Miami), Levi Onwuzurike (UCLA), Christian Barnmore (Alabama), and Carlos Basham Jr. (Wake Forest).

Ossai was not selected, with Rousseau and Kwity Paye (Michigan) being selected at the defensive end/outside linebacker positions. Playing jack last season for Texas, Ossai is still relatively new to passing the rusher full time.