Tag: Mel Kiper Jr

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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ESPN’s Mel Kiper projects Anthony Richardson to go in top 10

As the draft draws closer and closer, former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson remains a fixture in the early first round of most projections.

NFL draft experts have projected former Florida quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] to come off the board as early as the first overall pick, but the latest one to come is from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and has the Seattle Seahawks trading up to the No. 9 overall spot to get him.

That pick is reliant on a few things. First, Carolina has to trade up to No. 5 to get Kentucky’s Will Levis. Richardson has been linked with the Panthers and Carolina wouldn’t give up a shot at one of the top quarterbacks in the class without securing one with an earlier pick beforehand.

Then, Las Vegas has to pass on Richardson, which is something Kiper sees happening given the timeline on both sides. Seattle makes sense. It’s looking for a new franchise quarterback, but there’s no real need to move on to someone who isn’t ready quite yet. In fact, Seattle might be one of the best destinations for a quarterback that needs time to develop to land.

“Here’s a team that could afford to take a developmental quarterback with elite upside,” Kiper said. “Seattle has said it wants to bring back veteran Geno Smith, but what if the organization uses the franchise tag on Smith, plays him for a season and adds Richardson to take over in 2024? That’d be the ideal scenario for Richardson.”

Kiper likes the match here but could also see the Seahawks going with an edge rusher at the No. 9 spot. Risking a top-10 pick on a guy with 13 career starts might not go over so well with the fanbase, so that’s a safer route.

Richardson seems like a guaranteed first-rounder at this point, but everyone has seen a quarterback fall after receiving a ton of pre-draft hype. The talk should only increase over the next month as the combine takes place. Only time will tell if Richardson is a top-10 pick, though.

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Which Gators were included in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft?

How high does Mel Kiper Jr. have Anthony Richardson going in this year’s NFL draft?

As the NFL playoffs near a conclusion, it’s time to start looking seriously at the 2023 draft, and Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock indicates that former Florida quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] is a serious first-round candidate.

Kiper has Richardson going ninth overall to the Carolina Panthers, which is where some pegged him to land before his lone season as a starter at Florida began. It would be a developmental pick without question, but Kiper sees Richardson doing great things if he gets with the right staff in the NFL.

The only problem is that Carolina needs an answer under center for next year. Drafting a quarterback that needs at least a year to develop won’t help the current situation and could deter the franchise from taking the risk. Kiper suggests a scenario where the Panthers bring back Sam Darnold for a season so that Richardson can learn on the sidelines for a year.

“Let’s get this out of the way now: I wouldn’t play Richardson in Year 1,” Kiper wrote. “He needs time to develop. He’s not an NFL-ready thrower. But he is an awesome talent, a raw quarterback in a 6-foot-4 frame who would be one of the league’s most electrifying runners as soon as he steps on the field.

His size and physical tools cannot be taught, and NFL coaches will want to work with him and try to take him to the next level. Richardson completed just 53.8% of his passes in 2022 — he has a long ways to go with his mechanics. Again, though, he has a high ceiling if a coaching staff can help him get there.”

Unfortunately, Richardson is the only Gator on Kiper’s first-round mock this time around. Many are expecting guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] to get some looks in the first round, but Kiper doesn’t have him going that high. He does get a mention at No. 27 for Buffalo, but as a secondary option to Auburn EDGE Derick Hall.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper predicts Jaguars take CB in 1st mock draft

The godfather of mock drafts offered his first prediction of what the Jaguars will do in April.

It’s officially mock draft season for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the godfather of NFL Draft predictions took his first stab at it.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the offseason and thinks the Jaguars could use a little help in the secondary. With the 24th overall pick, Kiper thinks Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks is a logical choice:

How about those Jaguars? After an AFC South title in 2022, shouldn’t they be the early favorites to win it again? General manager Trent Baalke did a nice job filling holes last offseason, but the pass rush still was mediocre, the off-ball linebackers struggled badly in coverage and there’s an open corner spot opposite Tyson Campbell. With a strong cornerback class in this draft, Baalke & Co. could target Banks, a man-coverage defender with exceptional physical tools. He could rise as we get closer to the draft once NFL teams see him test at the combine. And yes, this makes five cornerbacks off the board in Round 1.

Another position to keep an eye on for Jacksonville is tight end, where Evan Engram is a free agent. Luke Musgrave (Oregon State) and Dalton Kincaid (Utah) could be options.

The Jaguars began the season with Tyson Campbell and Shaquill Griffin at cornerback, but the latter suffered a season-ending back injury. After struggling to find consistent play opposite Campbell, the Jaguars eventually moved Darious Williams from the slot and found success with the former Rams cornerback playing on the outside.

Williams could be the starter again in 2023, but the Jaguars need help at cornerback, regardless. Tre Herndon is set to become a free agent and Griffin is likely to get released due to his $17.1 million salary cap hit.

Banks was the fifth cornerback off the board in Kiper’s mock behind Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr., Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, and Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes.

Two Notre Dame stars make Kiper’s early 2023 Big Board for ESPN

Which two stars made the list?

The 2022 NFL draftees have yet to play even a pre-season game for their respective teams but that never stops analysts from looking ahead to the next draft. Recently, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his ‘Big Board’ (subscription required) which consists of the top 25 players in this upcoming draft. Find out which two Notre Dame stars made the list and where they landed inside the top 25.

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