Tag: Mel Kiper

Mel Kiper updates LSU players on 2025 NFL draft big board

The Tigers previously had three projected first-round picks, but now, that number is down to one.

Mel Kiper released the latest 2025 NFL draft big board. In the Preseason, Kiper had three Tigers projected to be drafted in the first round. Now, LSU is down to only one player with a first-round projection.

[autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] is the only remaining Tiger with a first-round draft grade. According to Kiper, Campbell is listed as the No. 22 overall prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft. Campbell has been a starter since he stepped foot on the bayou as a freshman and his stock has only risen from there. He is now a captain and an anchor on the offensive line.

The other two Tigers who were previously projected as first-round players were [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag]

Jones has still played at a high level but he has now slid into the second round according to Kiper. Unfortunately, Perkins suffered a season-ending injury so that will now weigh on the minds of teams who think about drafting him.

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

2 ex-Broncos had perfect responses to Mel Kiper’s silly safety rant

Worried about two deep safeties? “Learn how to run the ball.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. went on a ridiculous rant this week the “Get Up” program about two-high safety schemes in the NFL.

“Don’t tell me you can’t have those safeties closer to the line of scrimmage than they are,” Kiper ranted. “I was at games thinkin, ‘Hey, two high? They’re out in outer space!’ I couldn’t even find ’em. They’re playing with nine guys! The other two, they’re so far back you don’t even know they’re part of the damn play! I’m telling you, we gotta change this thing.”

Kiper suggesting that the NFL should change its rules to not allow two deep safeties is an outrageous idea, and two former Denver Broncos players had perfect responses that were nearly identical.

“Hey [if] you don’t want two-high looks, run the ball,” former Broncos cornerback Chris Harris tweeted on Thursday. Ex-Denver guard Mark Schlereth tweeted the same sentiment:

Harris played for the Broncos from 2011-2019, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Schlereth played in Denver from 1995-2000, winning back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1990s.

The Super Bowl champions are spot-on.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper blasts Panthers for their handling of Bryce Young in intense rant

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper believes the Panthers are to blame for Bryce Young’s struggles in the NFL.

There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on since the Carolina Panthers decided to bench quarterback Bryce Young on Monday. And when it comes to the godfather of NFL draft coverage, he’s pointing his finger straight at upper management.

ESPN analyst and longtime draft guru Mel Kiper joined Tuesday’s episode of Get Up to discuss the demotion of last year’s No. 1 overall pick. Head coach Dave Canales announced yesterday that the team will sit the second-year passer and move ahead with 14th-year veteran Andy Dalton beginning in Week 3.

Kiper believes Young’s struggles have come as a result of the organization mishandling him, and made that rather clear in a very passionate rant this morning . . .

Young was ranked as Kiper’s No. 2 overall player and top quarterback prospect heading into the 2023 draft. He would, of course, be selected right off the top of the board by Carolina that spring.

Since then, Young has played under three different head coaches (one interim), three different offensive play-callers and two different general managers. The Panthers are 2-16 in games started by Young—who has thrown for 173.4 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

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Mel Kiper gave the Saints’ 2024 draft class a passing grade

Mel Kiper gave the New Orleans Saints some credit for a stronger 2024 draft class than what he saw a year ago. Here’s why:

There aren’t many people covering the NFL draft who have been doing it as long as Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN’s keystone draft analyst gave the New Orleans Saints some credit for a stronger 2024 draft class than what he saw a year ago, having addressed their most important need with one of hte best players available in Round 1 (right tackle Taliese Fuaga) before making a small trade for a great value pick in Round 2 (cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry).

And he sees plenty to like in their late-round picks, too. Kiper says he just wishes the Saints hadn’t made so many trades in the past to hollow out their draft in the third and fourth rounds. But he still graded New Orleans with a B this year, which is very solid. Just nine teams were evaluated better with a B-plus or A-grade.

Here’s why Kiper’s higher on this Saints draft class than some that came before it:

The Saints entered this draft with problems at both tackle spots. Trevor Penning, a first-rounder in 2022, has struggled badly at left tackle, while veteran Ryan Ramczyk is dealing with a knee injury that has his NFL future in jeopardy. Their line as a whole ranked 28th in pass block win rate in 2023 (51.3%). I wanted to see them come away with a pro-ready lineman who could compete for one of those spots. That’s exactly what they got in Taliese Fuaga (14), a nasty blocker in the run game with great feet as a pass-protector. He was my top-ranked tackle on the board when New Orleans got on the clock.

Fuaga spent his college career at right tackle, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he got a chance on the left side to see if he could make the conversion. The fact is New Orleans got better on Day 1. On Day 2, it traded up a few spots to snag Kool-Aid McKinstry (41), a really talented cornerback who doesn’t have elite speed. He’s physical in press coverage. He’s going to be a good pro.

The Saints didn’t have third- or fourth-round selections, but their fifth-rounder was one of the most interesting picks on Day 3. There’s a scenario in which Spencer Rattler (150) is their starting quarterback in a few years. He has the arm talent and accuracy to develop behind Derek Carr. Fun fact, via ESPN Stats & Info: There were 137 picks made between quarterbacks being drafted (Bo Nix at No. 12 and Rattler at No. 150), the longest span between QBs being selected in the common draft era (since 1967). I listed Bub Means (170) as my favorite wide receiver before the draft; he was a Round 5 steal. I also like defensive tackle Khristian Boyd (199).

I gave New Orleans a low grade a year ago, but I don’t see much wrong with its haul this time. GM Mickey Loomis did a fine job this weekend.

That’s a fair evaluation. If Fuaga can earn a starting job right away while McKisntry finds ways to get on the field (and those late-round picks like Boyd, Ford, and Means contribute in some form or fashion) this has the makings of a great draft class. The Saints will certainly be leaning on these youngsters while quietly remodeling their roster. But potential is just one thing. Now it’s on them to fulfill it.

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New York Jets’ draft gets B from ESPN’s Mel Kiper

New York Jets’ draft gets B from ESPN’s Mel Kiper

Draft grades are in full force now that the three-day extravaganza is in the books. That includes the legendary Mel Kiper of ESPN. Kiper was overall in favor of the Jets’ draft haul, handing out a B grade to the team for their seven-player class. Here’s what Kiper had to say about the Jets’ draft.

Round 1 was always going to be a delicate balance for Jets GM Joe Douglas, who had to balance his team’s short-term championship window alongside 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the long-term vision of building a sustainable contender. He needed to add a player who could be a star both now and later, someone who could make a significant contribution as a rookie. That’s why I thought offensive tackle might be a tough sell to Rodgers — and to fans — at No. 10. New York added Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses in March to man those spots in 2024, and a rookie might have to be the swing tackle or move inside to guard for a year.

Instead, Douglas stuck to his board and got his guy with Olu Fashanu (11), a prototypical left tackle who can be Smith’s replacement in 2025. It wasn’t the flashiest pick, but if Fashanu can hit his ceiling, he could be a stellar player at a premium position for a decade.

Malachi Corley (65) had 29 receiving touchdowns over the past three seasons and makes cornerbacks look silly after the catch. The Jets took two running backs in Braelon Allen (134) and Isaiah Davis (173), who will duke it out to be Breece Hall’s backup. Allen is my fifth-ranked back in the class, while Davis lands at No. 10.

Qwan’tez Stiggers (176) is one of the most fascinating picks in the entire draft. He became the third player in the common draft era (since 1967) to be selected without attending college and the first CFL player with no college experience to be drafted. And he can play, too. Quarterback Jordan Travis (171) was tremendously productive at Florida State. Could he be stashed as the Jets’ third QB behind Tyrod Taylor this season?

Douglas also executed several trades throughout the weekend, maneuvering up and down the board, including a deal for the Lions’ 2025 third-rounder. Corley might be the most important pick of this class in the short term, as I could see him having a role in 2024. Douglas did a nice job getting value throughout.

Mel Kiper: Michael Penix Jr. won’t fall past Raiders at No. 13 overall

Mel Kiper at ESPN has shared a bunch of predictions going into the draft, including one that says Penix won’t last past No. 13 overall.

Here at Seahawks Wire we have been on Michael Penix Jr. watch even before the team hired Ryan Grubb as their offensive coordinator. For a long time the conventional wisdom was that Penix would still be available at the start of Round 2. However, thanks to his performance at the combine and Washington’s Pro Day, he’s now expected to be taken before Seattle is on the clock at No. 16 overall. Here’s more evidence pointing in that direction as the draft arrives.

The original draft guru, Mel Kiper at ESPN has shared a bunch of predictions going into the draft, including one that says Penix won’t last past No. 13 overall, where the Raiders are slated to pick:

“The Washington quarterback is liked by several teams with picks in the teens, but I don’t think he’ll last past the Raiders at No. 13. That’s a little rich for my tastes — he finished No. 24 on my Big Board — but there are several teams looking for their quarterback of the future in this class, and his accuracy, experience and moxie make him appealing.”

Already missing a second-round pick thanks to the Leonard Williams trade, the Seahawks simply don’t have the capital to move up from 16 for Penix or anybody else. Unless he falls, the Penix-Seattle connection will stop tonight.

However, the good news is that the 2024 draft class is deep at quarterback and they might still be able to land a quality prospect as late as Day 3. The other big name we will be keeping an eye on is Spencer Rattler from South Carolina, who’s projected to get drafted in Round 2 or Round 3.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Everything we know about Seattle going into 2024 NFL draft

Expectations for all 14 NFL teams picking ahead of Seahawks

Best fits for the Seahawks at every position in the 2024 class

Mel Kiper ranks Georgia’s Javon Bullard as top safety ahead of 2024 NFL draft

Mel Kiper tabs Georgia football defensive back Javon Bullard as favorite safety ahead of NFL draft…

The 2024 NFL draft will take place this week in Detroit and the Georgia Bulldogs are expected have another big year. No other college football program has been as successful as UGA has at the event over the last three years.

Georgia has sent 34 players through the NFL draft over that time span, including 15 selections in 2022, which is a league record.

While players like Brock Bowers and Amarius Mims represent the Bulldogs at the top of this year’s draft, several players are considered unknowns further down the board. One of those prospects is safety Javon Bullard.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has high praise for the two-time national champion defensive back. Kiper recently chose Bullard as his favorite safety (subscription required) ahead of Thursday’s first round.

“As I wrote in my two-round mock draft, Bullard’s value comes in his versatility, as he played as a slot corner, center fielder and up near the line of scrimmage for the Bulldogs. He had four picks over the past two campaigns, and he was stellar in coverage last season. He allowed just 54 passing yards as the nearest defender in coverage in 2023, and that came on 20 attempts.

Bullard is a little undersized at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, but I love his all-around game and instincts in coverage.”

Bullard may be undersized by NFL standards, but he plays much bigger. The former three-star prospect routinely delivered gut-wrenching hits to opposing players. Perhaps the most talked about example came in Georgia’s Peach Bowl matchup versus Ohio State. Bullard delivered a powerful, legal hit on star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. that ultimately knocked him out of the game.

Bullard earned Defensive MVP in Georgia’s win over the Buckeyes and went on to earn the same honor in the national championship win over TCU.

After starting at nickelback, or “STAR” in UGA’s nomenclature, in the 2022 season, Bullard moved to safety after NFL departures opened a starting spot in 2023. He didn’t miss a beat, earning second-team All-SEC honors for his efforts.

In 32 games as a Bulldog, Bullard racked up 114 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions and eight pass breakups.

Kiper projects Bullard to hear his name called on Day 2.

“Projection: In a safety class with no consensus No. 1 guy, Bullard is at the top of my board. He should be drafted in Round 2.”

You can watch first-round coverage of the draft on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN), followed by Rounds 2-3 on Friday (7 p.m.) and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon).

The final ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. 2024 NFL Draft big board has questions about Michael Penix Jr.’s health

Is Kiper right about this ranking?

We’re at the finish line of the 2024 NFL Draft season, with final mocks and a look at big boards from the experts.

That includes the final big board from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who ranked a whole bunch of prospects, including the notable quarterbacks. He’s got QBs Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels at Nos. 1 and 2 and Drake Maye sixth overall. As for a sleeper like Michael Penix Jr., who our Christian D’Andrea pegged as a second-rounder in his latest 2024 mock draft?

Kiper has him 24th overall, with concerns about his health that go along with what he sees as A LOT of talent:

If you didn’t watch every game from Penix and the Huskies the past two seasons, you missed out. They had one of college football’s best offenses of the past decade, and Penix was the catalyst. He completed 65.4% of his passes in 2023, with 36 touchdown passes and 11 picks. He absolutely benefited from having an elite wide receiver corps — Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk all could go in the first three rounds this weekend — but when you study the tape, you see he has the arm talent, accuracy to all levels, decision-making and toughness to become a successful starting QB in the NFL.

The big question with the Indiana transfer going into the season: Could he stay healthy in back-to-back seasons? The left-handed thrower struggled with shoulder and knee injuries over his four years for the Hoosiers, though he was impressive when he was on the field. His offensive line certainly helped him stay clean over the past two seasons, as he was sacked just 16 times. Penix, who will be 24 years old when he takes his first NFL snap, leveled up as a deep-ball passer in 2023 — he had 46 completions on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, which ranked first in in the FBS.

There you have it! Make sure to check out our latest 2024 NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea, along with his big board with the best fits for prospects.

Mock draft watch: Interesting 3-round projections for the Lions from ESPN

The first-rounder is a popular projection, while the second and third round selections defy conventional wisdom

The latest mock draft from longtime ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is an interesting one for the Detroit Lions. The three-round projections feature Kiper and fellow analyst Field Yates alternating picks across the rounds, with Kiper handling the odd-numbered picks and Yates handling the even ones.

With the Lions holding picks No. 29, 61 and 73, that means Kiper made all three projections for Detroit.

First round: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri. This is becoming a popular projection for the Lions’ top pick, and his positional versatility to play either DE or DT aligns with how the Lions have built the defense. Kiper notes that in his explanation,

He is a bit of a tweener, and he might be better as a 3-technique tackle. He could play some snaps at end in Detroit.

Among the typical Lions candidates passed on here to select Robinson:

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Jackson Powers-Johnson

Johnny Newton

Ennis Rakestraw

In the second round, Kiper hits the Detroit secondary with Georgia safety Javon Bullard. Kiper notes that Bullard is his top-ranked safety and is quite bullish on the idea of pairing him with Brian Branch in the secondary. Good pick, one that Lions fans should probably like more than what the initial reaction of drafting a safety instead of a cornerback would likely garner.

The third-rounder is a bit of a headscratcher. Pittsburgh WR Bub Means is a decent enough prospect, but this is several rounds higher than Means typically projects. He’s No. 237 on the NFL Mock Draft Database, which averages the draft slot across a multitude of contemporary mocks. Kiper also notes how good Means was on contested catches, but that ignores the fact Lions QB Jared Goff tends to not attempt those sorts of throws.

 

 

Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft and has three Tigers in the 1st round

Mel Kiper recently released his latest two-round mock draft.

[autotag]Mel Kiper[/autotag] recently released his latest two-round mock draft and he has three LSU Tigers being drafted in the first round.

Kiper has [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] going to the Washington Commanders with the second pick of the [autotag]NFL Draft[/autotag]. The Commanders just shipped off their former starting quarterback, Sam Howell, so they need a quarterback.

Kiper has [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] going to the New York Giants with the sixth pick of the NFL draft. The Giants just lost their best playmaker, Saquon Barkley, and Daniel Jones needs help in a major way. Nabers can’t fully solve their issues, but he can help.

Kiper has [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] going to the Buffalo Bills with the 28th pick of the NFL Draft. Blockbuster news came out of Buffalo recently as Stephon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans for a second-round draft pick in the 2025 Draft. Josh Allen can not do all the work by himself. Thomas would be a great downfield option for Allen.

The 2024 NFL Draft starts on April 25.

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