Tag: Mel Kiper Jr

ESPN analyst ranks Kelvin Banks Jr. as top five draft prospect in 2025 class

In his latest mock draft, ESPN analyst Mel Kipper released his latest mock draft projects Longhorn offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. in the top five.

While the 2025 NFL Draft is still months away, teams have been busy making their draft rankings. On Thursday, ESPN analyst Mel Kipper released his latest mock draft, which included Longhorn offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. in the top five. The talented junior has put together a stellar 2024 campaign, and his stock has been on the rise.

During the Longhorns’ undefeated start, Banks has been a model of consistency, appearing in every game. In the Longhorns’ latest win over Mississippi State, Banks did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure. Due to his efforts in Week 5, the Texas native was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for the first time in his career.

In Kiper’s draft, the only players ranked ahead of Banks were Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, and Abdul Carter. For teams such as the New England Patriots, who need help on the offensive line, Banks will be a popular target.

Through the first few weeks of the season, Banks has been one of the Longhorns’ highest-graded players. He has also been a key piece of an offense that is averaging 45 points and 513.4 points per game. One of the reasons Texas is ranked No.1 is because of how good the offense has been.

If Banks can build on his impressive start, Kiper’s prediction could come true in just a few months. He has the frame to take care of big pass rushers and has only allowed two sacks this season. Banks will be a valuable addition to any NFL team, regardless of where he is picked.

Chiefs DL Charles Omenihu blasts Mel Kiper for bizarre rule suggestion

#Chiefs DL Charles Omenihu didn’t hold back in criticizing Mel Kiper after the draftnik suggested a bizarre change to the NFL’s rulebook.

The Kansas City Chiefs are off to a 2-0 start in their 2024 campaign, and while things are going according to plan for the defending Super Bowl champions, most of the team’s players are preparing for a Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Veteran defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, however, is still rehabbing an injury he sustained last season and has yet to rejoin the Chiefs active roster.

A constant presence on Twitter, Omenihu is never shy about making his voice heard on all things related to the NFL and had a strong reaction to a take from renowned draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. this week.

When Kiper went on Get Up and suggested that two high safety defenses should be outlawed to make deep passes easier for quarterbacks, Omenihu made things personal.

https://twitter.com/charless_94/status/1836807663964893220

Clearly, Kiper’s opinion didn’t sit well with the seasoned pass rusher, and the proposed rule change doesn’t seem likely to be taken seriously by the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings’ draft gets C+ from ESPN’s Mel Kiper

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. has dropped his 2024 draft grades and has given the Minnesota Vikings a C+ for their performance.

Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is over, the draft grades are flooding in. Everyone has a different opinion on how the Minnesota Vikings fared in the draft, ranging from unadulterated excitement to sheer doom-and-gloom. One of the titans of the industry, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., has weighed in with his thoughts, and he’s somewhere in the middle.

In his recap of the 2024 NFL Draft, Kiper has given the Vikings a C+ for their efforts. Minnesota did well to come away from the draft with J.J. McCarthy, not needing to move up as high as Kiper would have thought. Kiper points out that McCarthy landed in arguably the best situation for him, with “excellent pass catchers and a gifted game-planner”.

The Vikings also came out of the first round of the draft with the top-rated EDGE rusher on Kiper’s board, Alabama’s Dallas Turner. Kiper was surprised general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t target a corner at this spot, but they somewhat made up for it by taking former Oregon corner Khyree Jackson in the fourth round.

Kiper’s biggest criticism of the Vikings draft haul isn’t the players that were taken but rather the “mortgaging of the future of this Minnesota roster,” as he puts it. The Vikings traded away a second-round pick next year prior to the draft to acquire the Houston Texans’ first-round pick. In the move up for Tuner, the Vikings gave up third—and fourth-round picks next year.

Those moves leave the Vikings with just three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft: one in the first and two in the fifth. They’ll likely receive at least one compensatory pick for the free agents they lost in the offseason, but it’s understandable why Kiper hesitates to go any higher with his grade in light of what it means for the future.

‘He’s everything’: Mel Kiper summarizes Brock Bowers’ skill set ahead of 2024 NFL draft

‘He’s everything’: Mel Kiper describes Georgia tight end Brock Bowers as NFL draft prospect

Despite a three-time All-American and two-time Mackey Award winning career, Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers isn’t projected be taken earlier than 10th in the 2024 NFL draft.

Why is a talent like Bowers not in the running for a top five pick?

The answer to that question surrounds how loaded this year’s draft class is at prime positions. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, offensive tackles and edge defenders are expected to fill the bulk of those early selections and most of the first-round picks. That may be the only aspect preventing Bowers from going within the top 10.

It’s clear that where Bowers is projected to land isn’t due to his talent, skill set or character. ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said it best on his “First Draft” show in early April.

“Give me a break. He’s just a tight end? He’s everything. Watch him play. …You can use him in the backfield. You can put him anywhere on the football field. He is a nightmare trying to match up with. I don’t care where he goes, he’s going to be a whale of a pick.

He could be in line to be Rookie of the Year in the NFL if he goes to the right team and the right quarterback. I love Brock Bowers. I loved him when he came to Georgia. He was an immediate impact performer.”

In three years at UGA, Bowers racked up an outstanding 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 receiving touchdowns. He added 19 rushing attempts for 193 yards and five scores on the ground.

Kiper projects Bowers to land with the New York Jets with the 10th pick, pairing him with star wideout Garret Wilson and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One could imagine how dangerous that group could be if New York can solidify its offensive line.

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We’ll find out for sure where Bowers will take his talents during the first round of the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit on Thursday. You can watch full coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Dolphins get edge, offensive line help in Mel Kiper’s latest mock

Mel Kiper Jr. thinks it’d be a “no-brainer” for the Dolphins to add another dynamic pass rusher to the roster with the No. 21 pick.

The Miami Dolphins have a duo of exciting young pass rushers in Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, but it’s possible neither will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season. Chubb suffered an ACL tear on New Year’s Eve and Phillips tore his Achilles in November.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Dolphins should use the No. 21 overall pick to find a solution to that issue. In his latest mock draft, two weeks ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, Kiper predicted that Florida State’s Jared Verse will be Miami’s selection.

Yes, Miami has Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips as its top edge rushers, but both are coming off serious season-ending injuries. Phillips tore an Achilles in late November, while Chubb tore an ACL in early January. There’s no guarantee either is 100 percent healthy when training camp starts. That’s why the Dolphins could take Verse, who has impressive power in his 254-pound frame. His 50 QB pressures last season were the eighth most in the FBS. Miami has to replace a few starters after offseason subtractions, but Verse would be a no-brainer selection if he’s still on the board.

A round later, Kiper has the Dolphins addressing one of those offseason subtractions: the departure of Robert Hunt in free agency. To fill that void, Kiper thinks UConn’s Christian Haynes could be Miami’s pick:

Miami has faced some upheaval along the offensive line this offseason, creating a hole at guard. The Dolphins ranked 31st in pass block win rate (49.2%), so change could be good. Haynes started 49 games at right guard in college, and he allowed just one sack over his final three seasons. He’s my No. 3-ranked player at the position.

It’s easy to see the logic in both selections, as beefing up the trenches is probably the top priority for the Dolphins after signing more than a dozen free agents to fill roster holes. While Verse may eventually be relegated to rotational duties after Chubb and Phillips get healthy, it never hurts to have a stable of rushers who can generate pressure.

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Mel Kiper, Daniel Jeremiah predict same prospect to Jaguars

Two of the leading NFL draft experts think the Jaguars will add to their defense in the first round.

After a flurry of moves in free agency, wide receiver and cornerback look like the two areas that the Jacksonville Jaguars will likely address early in the 2024 NFL draft.

While replacing the production lost when Calvin Ridley joined the Tennessee Titans will be a challenge, both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah think the Jaguars will use the No. 17 overall pick on the other side of the ball. And both draft experts have the same player in mind for Jacksonville.

In Kiper’s latest mock draft, he says Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold would help the Jaguars at a position that “could still require reinforcements.”

The Jaguars have been busy in free agency, adding defensive tackle Arik Armstead, center Mitch Morse, safety Darnell Savage and wideout Gabe Davis, among others. The position they haven’t addressed enough? Cornerback, where they added veteran Ronald Darby but could still require reinforcements to play on the other side of Tyson Campbell. I like the fit of Arnold in Jacksonville, as he took a major step forward in 2023, developing into a shutdown corner. He picked off five passes and allowed only four receptions of 20-plus yards as the nearest defender in coverage.

In Kiper’s mock, Arnold is the second cornerback off the board after the Indianapolis Colts took Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell at No. 15 overall.

Jeremiah agrees with both of those predictions. After sending Mitchell to the Colts with the No. 15 pick, he also forecasted Arnold to the Jaguars.

Arnold plays much faster than he timed at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.50 40-yard dash). He can line up inside and outside for Jacksonville.

Both Kiper and Jeremiah had three wide receivers — Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze — off the board in the top 10.

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The Godfather sends the Vikings their franchise QB without trading up

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Minnesota Vikings taking Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy without having to trade up in the NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings are hot on the trail of a quarterback of the future. After acquiring 23 overall from the Houston Texans, that idea has picked up even more steam.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his third mock draft of the 2024 draft cycle with the Vikings getting their quarterback of the future in Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. Here’s the catch: they didn’t have to trade up for him.

The Vikings are now the most interesting team in this draft. They just acquired another first-round pick in a deal with the Texans (No. 23), giving them the capital to move up and take a quarterback if they got the opportunity. But how far could they move up? Remember, it takes two sides to make a trade. Would the Giants want to risk missing out on one of the top receivers? Would the Titans want to risk missing out on their preferred tackle? Would the Falcons or Bears want to risk not getting the edge rusher they like? There’s not an easy match, unless Minnesota is willing to give up a lot of future picks, which is certainly possible.

In this scenario, the Vikings could land their quarterback of the future anyway. With Kirk Cousins gone and Sam Darnold added on a one-year deal, it’s clear they have to add competition. All sides point to that competition coming from a rookie. McCarthy is the No. 21 prospect on my Big Board, but I can see why some teams would covet him much higher. He has intriguing physical traits and can make every throw. Either way, if Minnesota really wants to try to move up in Round 1 for a quarterback, I could see it waiting until draft day to see how the board shakes out.

There is a real chance that the Vikings could end up with McCarthy and not trade up but it’s not a risk that is worth taking.

Kiper follows it up at 23 by focusing on the secondary with Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.

We’re back around to the Vikings, who acquired this pick in a deal with the Texans last week. I gave them a Kirk Cousins replacement at No. 11, and if they’re keeping this selection, they have to address a secondary which ranked 28th in passing yards allowed to receivers (3,019) last season. I like the front-seven additions of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, but Minnesota hasn’t made moves at cornerback.

I’m a huge fan of DeJean, who’s still recovering from a broken leg suffered in November. He’s a ball hawk — he had seven interceptions over his final 23 college games — with excellent technique. He also isn’t afraid of sticking his head in and making a tackle.

Taking a cornerback makes a lot of sense but DeJean doesn’t seem to be a great fit. He isn’t primarily a man coverage cornerback and might end up being best as a safety.

BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest, create a pool and invite your friends!

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Georgia’s Brock Bowers cracks top 5 in Mel Kiper’s NFL mock draft

Georgia’s Brock Bowers cracks top 5 in Mel Kiper’s NFL mock draft

Georgia football is expected to be well represented once again in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bulldogs have had an NFL record 25 players selected over the last two drafts, and 10 or more Dawgs have a chance to be drafted in 2024.

As you might expect, star tight end Brock Bowers is at the top of the list for Georgia after three straight All-American seasons. He is the only player in history to win the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, twice.

Mock drafts from NFL draft analysts are beginning to make the rounds ahead of the event scheduled for April 25-27. In preparation, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has released his first mock draft, featuring Bowers as the No. 5 overall pick and one of two non-quarterback players within the top-five. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is ranked fourth.

The Los Angeles Chargers currently hold the No. 5 overall pick. Bowers would be the second-highest tight end drafted if the projection holds. Former Florida Gator Kyle Pitts went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 overall in 2021.

Bowers will have a chance to show pro personnel what he’s made of at the NFL combine, scheduled for Feb. 29- March 3 in Indianapolis.

Mel Kiper, Jr. releases top 10 tight end rankings for 2023 NFL draft

No. 1 is a no-doubter but No. 2 is quite a suprise!

Consider longtime ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. a fan of former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer.  Mayer headed the group of tight ends that Kiper calls the 10 best in the 2023 NFL draft.

Kiper said of Mayer:

“NFL teams want tight ends who can stretch the deep middle of the field — and block well enough to line up next to offensive tackles, that’s Mayer, who can be a force in the red zone. Linebackers simply can’t cover him (and safeties struggle with his size). He has a wide catch radius and could produce as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He’s a complete player.”
– Mel Kiper, Jr. (Subscription required)

Mayer declared for the draft following Notre Dame’s regular season finale at USC.  He exits Notre Dame leading all tight ends in program history in nearly every statistical category despite only playing three seasons.

Here is how Kiper ranked the entire top 10 tight ends for the 2023 NFL draft:

 

Mel Kiper, Jr. sends Michael Mayer to NFC East in latest mock draft

Where will Mayer end up?

We’re counting down the days until the NFL draft as we hope to hear Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer have his name called during the first round.  If he does, he’ll become the first Notre Dame tight end to go in the first round since Tyler Eifert was drafted by the Bengals in 2013.

Mel Kiper, Jr. has his latest mock draft out and was on ESPN’s “First Take” to discuss it on Tuesday.  Kiper has Mayer going 26th overall to the Cowboys after Dallas lost Dalton Schultz to the Texans in free agency.  Here is what Kiper had to say about Mayer and America’s Team:

“He’s a throwback to the 70s, 80s, 90s, he can block in-line,” Kiper said on First Take, “he lumbers a bit but you talk about the hands, he’s had focus drops, overall though, he’s been there since his freshman year, putting up big numbers. I think we over-analyze players that have been there since day one… He’s traditional, he’s throwback, he’s a blood and guts football player.

“For them (Dallas), blocking is important, running the football is important. You can’t bring in a Luke Musgrave, or a Dalton Kincaid, and get that blocking ability. Darnell Washington as well could be an in-line guy, but Mayer’s just a little bit better in that area right now. For the complete tight end, the best fit I think is Michael Mayer.”

Mayer set pretty much every possible record for tight ends at Notre Dame in just three seasons.  The 2023 NFL draft takes place in Kansas City this year, starting the evening of April 27 and lasting three days.

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