Tag: Mel Kiper Jr.

Bengals should keep close eye on Mel Kiper’s favorite 2024 NFL draft OT prospect

Mel Kiper’s favorite OT might be the perfect fit for the Bengals.

Most fans know the big names to watch for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2024 NFL draft.

But this late in the process, experts are more than happy to reveal some of their favorites who might currently fly under the proverbial radar.

Take ESPN’s Mel Kiper, who just listed his favorite prospects at every position in the draft — and his name at offensive tackle is a surprise.

It’s one the Bengals front office — and fans — should probably keep in mind, too: Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten.

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Kiper says Rosengarten has gone overshadowed because of teammate Troy Fautanu (who Kiper lists as his favorite guard), but that he could slip into the first round:

Rosengarten might have been a top-10 pick in next year’s draft if he had stayed in school for another season. That’s how highly I think of him. The 6-foot-5 308-pounder started at right tackle for the Huskies over the past two seasons, and he did not allow a single sack on 1,158 pass-blocking plays in that time frame. He locked down the blind side for left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

This all puts Rosengarten is a really sweet spot for the Bengals. Maybe they agree with Kiper and strike a trade down from No. 18 to secure him later in the opening round while also acquiring more high-value draft picks.

But the other side of that might be a trade up from No. 49 in the second round on Day 2. If Rosengarten slips to the second round, the Bengals have 10 picks and only so many roster spots, anyway. If they value him as long-term option behind Trent Brown, that’s worth a move up on Day 2.

If nothing else, Rosengarten is clearly someone who should be on the mind of Bengals fans as things progress this week.

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Mel Kiper Jr. pays tribute to Bill Tobin, who ranted about him in viral 1994 moment

Mel Kiper Jr. offered his condolences to Bill Tobin, who died at the age of 83.

Bill Tobin — a longtime NFL executive who served as the general manager of the Chicago Bears (1987-92) and Indianapolis Colts (1994-96), as well as the director of player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens (2001-02) — has died at the age of 83.

The news was announced by the Cincinnati Bengals, with whom he had been a consultant from 2003-22, on Friday.

A number of tributes to Tobin came pouring in around the NFL world, including a classy post from ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

“A sad day with the passing of Bill Tobin, an accomplished front office executive who made the NFL a better league during his decorated career,” Kiper wrote. “Kim and I send our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Kiper and Tobin were the subjects of a viral moment during the draft in 1994 when, while giving an interview to Chris Mortensen, Tobin criticized Kiper’s analysis.

“Who the hell is Mel Kiper?” he quipped at the time.

Tobin later called a press conference in which he continued his rant about Kiper, postulating that he had a bone to pick with the Colts due to the team leaving Kiper’s hometown of Baltimore.

While we’re approaching the 30-year anniversary of that moment, it remains an iconic part of NFL draft lore. It’s cool to see that Kiper doesn’t seem to have taken it personally based on his heartfelt condolences.

What experts said about Michigan QB Tom Brady before the 2000 NFL draft

On the anniversary of Tom Brady getting drafted by the Patriots, it’s fun to remember what evaluators thought of Brady’s NFL potential at the time.

If there’s one thing we do know about the NFL draft, it’s that nobody really knows anything. As much as NFL teams and independent evaluators crunch tape and watch games live and go to the scouting combine and all the post-season games and interview players and all that, when it comes right down to it, the player selection process is a total crapshoot.

There is perhaps no more obvious example of this in the history of professional football than the matter of one Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, the Michigan alum who had to wait until the 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft to hear his name called by the New England Patriots.

I think we all know what happened after that.

Still, while it’s easy to cape on evaluators for missing wildly on Brady… did they really? How much of Brady’s greatness was based on the things you can’t see or easily figure out? Brady was not an impressive physical specimen, and even at a time when quarterback mobility was not the desired trait it is now, Brady was relatively pocket-bound. Would he have succeeded elsewhere? It’s impossible to say.

So, on the anniversary of the greatest draft pick in Patriots history, let’s go back to see what people were saying about Brady at the time. To put it mildly, people were not overly eager to frame him as a lead-pipe lock prospect.

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We’ll start with a scouting report from those who would have known… this is from the Patriots’ own website!

Notes: Baseball catcher and football quarterback in high school who was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the June 1995 baseball draft. Opted for football and redshirted at Michigan in ’95. Saw limited action in ’96 and ’97 and started the past two years. Completed 3 of 5 passes for 26 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in ’96, 12-15-103-0-0 in ’97, 214-350-2,636-15-12 in ’98 and 180-295-2,216-16-6 in ’99, when he often shared time with super sophomore Drew Henson. Went all the way against Alabama in the Orange Bowl and completed 34-46-369-4. Unlike many Michigan quarterbacks, Brady is a pocket-type passer who plays best in a dropback-type system.

Positives: Good height to see the field. Very poised and composed. Smart and alert. Can read coverages. Good accuracy and touch. Produces in big spots and in big games. Has some Brian Griese in him and is a gamer. Generally plays within himself. Team leader.

Negatives: Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the ’99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you’d like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can’t drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN:

Overall: Fifth-round grade | Position rank: No. 10 quarterback

Smart, experienced big-game signal-caller, getting very high grades in the efficiency department this past season. Brady cut his interception total from ’98 in half, tossing 20 TD passes compared to just six interceptions. He threw for 2,586 yards, completing an impressive 62.8% of his aerials. For his efforts, Brady was named team MVP. After working as Brian Griese’s backup in ’97, Brady went on to start 25 straight games with the Wolverines.

He’s a straight dropback passer who stands tall in the pocket, doesn’t show nervous feet, and does a nice job working through his progressions. He’s not going to try to force the action, rarely trying to perform beyond his capability. He threw a TD pass in all 16 games he started against Big Ten opposition, while tossing 15 straight completions during the second half of action this past season against Michigan State. He’s accurate, throws a very catchable ball, and also knows when to take a little off the pass.

This past season, Brady completed over 60% of his passes in eight games. The only time he was really off the mark was against Penn State, when he completed just 17 of 36 passes, tossing two TD strikes compared to three interceptions. At the pro level, his lack of mobility could surface as a problem, and it will be interesting to see how he fares when forced to take more chances down the field.

Sure, he doesn’t have the total package of skills, but you have to be impressed with his level of performance this past season against Notre Dame (17-of-24), Wisconsin (17-of-27), Michigan State (30-of-41), Ohio State (17-of-27), and Alabama (34-of-46 for 369 yards and 4 TDs).

Combine note: Ran a 5.24 40-yard dash and had a 24½-inch vertical jump.

Five different evaluators to longtime NFL analyst Rick Gosselin. The first one is BRUTAL.

Scout: Awful. Not even on my board. Weak. He’ll make somebody a good husband or a good medical salesman.

Scout II: Has a quick, [former Michigan QB Brian] Griese-type release.

Quarterback coach: Backup. Could be a #2 in this league for a long time. Has the size but not enough arm.

Offensive coordinator: More instinctive than [Michigan State QB Bill] Burke. Makes better decisions, makes more plays.

General manager: Like him. Just wish he was a better athlete.

From Angelique S. Chengelis, Gannett News Service:

Joel Buchsbaum, Pro Football Weekly: “He is not what you’re looking for in terms of physical stature, arm strength, and mobility, but he has the intangibles and production and showed great [Brian] Griese-like improvement as a senior. He could make it in the right system, but will not be for everyone.” .

Norv Turner, Washington Redskins head coach: “He played awfully well last year. He’s very accurate. He’s very good in the pocket. He’s limited in his mobility in terms of taking off and running, but he’s got a good feel for the pocket, so he avoids people and gets the ball to [his receivers].”

Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe:

“A pocket passer who will compete for a practice squad spot with the Patriots… Drafted as a catcher by the Montreal Expos in 1995 out of Serra [San Mateo, Calif.) HS… Completed 52.8 percent of his passes with 20 TDs and six interceptions. Only Elvis Grbac had more TD passes in a season for the Wolverines… throws a great slant… at 6-4 214 pounds, has some mobility… Platooned with sophomore Drew Henson… Was projected to go in the third round, but dropped quickly.”

In fact, the only person I’m aware who was positive on Brady when he came out of Michigan was Bill Polian, then the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. As the Colts had selected Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 draft, they weren’t really in the market for a quarterback… but Polian told me back in 2015 that his team had a first-round grade on Brady.

Tom Brady would have been a guy, and we were very high on him. Our guys really loved him, but we weren’t in the quarterback market, obviously. Those would be the guys I remember us giving solid, first-round, can-lead-you-to-a-championship grades.

Brady was less of a slam-dunk, of course. Less of a known commodity than Peyton was. But he had such a great last half of his last season [at Michigan], and fought Drew Henson for the starter’s job, and he really came on. I don’t remember where we ultimately put him, but it was certainly a very high grade. We weren’t in the quarterback business, and it wasn’t going to be an issue for us, but it was a very high grade.

So, when you’re getting ready for the 2024 NFL draft, it’s important to remember that nobody really knows anything, and even those who do hit right with their pick are as lucky as they are good at what they do.

Rams trade up for a QB in Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft, but not in Round 1

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Rams trading up for a QB in his latest mock draft, but not in the 1st round

It’s very possible the Los Angeles Rams will draft a quarterback with one of their 11 picks this year, potentially even on Day 1 or 2. Matthew Stafford is getting older and his backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, is also a veteran on only a one-year deal. Stetson Bennett’s uncertain future throws a wrench into things, too, because the Rams don’t know if he can be the successor at quarterback.

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN just released his latest mock draft with the big event only two weeks out and he has the Rams trading up for a quarterback. That doesn’t happen from Pick 19, though. He projects them to move up for Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. in the second round, going from No. 52 to 37 in order to land the lefty quarterback.

Kiper’s projected deal involves the Rams sending Nos. 52, 83 and 96 to the Chargers for No. 37. Here’s what Kiper wrote about the Rams’ potential selection of Penix at No. 37 overall.

Yes, the Rams have Matthew Stafford. Yes, they brought in Jimmy Garoppolo. And yes, they drafted Stetson Bennett in Round 4 last year. But Stafford is 36 and has dealt with serious injuries in recent years, while Garoppolo is on a one-year deal and Bennett spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list. There’s a lot of uncertainty in L.A. past 2024.

Penix could be the future franchise signal-caller for coach Sean McVay and the Rams. He is accurate to every level of the field and is a great decision-maker. He had 67 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in his two seasons at Washington. I have a Round 2 grade on him, just behind Bo Nix in my rankings.

Penix could be one of six quarterbacks drafted in the first round, but in Kiper’s mock, only four of them go in Round 1. Nix and Penix both slip into the second round after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy all go in the top five.

The Rams do need a successor behind Stafford and Penix would be afforded the chance to sit and learn for at least a year or two, which would benefit him greatly. There are some injury concerns after he suffered two torn ACLs and two shoulder injuries during his time at Indiana from 2018-2021, but he looks to be past those ailments.

Earlier in Kiper’s mock, the Rams select Laiatu Latu at No. 19 overall in the first round, adding a dynamic pass rusher to a defense that lost Aaron Donald to retirement. Latu is a promising prospect with an excellent pass-rush repertoire, and pairing him with Byron Young would give the Rams a young tandem of outside linebackers to build around for the next few years.

Latu is the best pure edge rusher in this class, and he already has an array of pass-rush moves. He ranked first in the FBS in total pressures (55) and had 13 sacks in 2023. I haven’t heard any recent red flags around his medical reports, as there were some questions last fall because he medically retired from football because of a neck injury he suffered when he was at Washington in 2021.

Some fans may not be on board with the Rams taking a quarterback early in the draft, but with Bennett’s future unclear and Stafford getting older, they need to address the position sooner or later and spending a second-rounder on a talented passer isn’t the worst idea – even if it comes after trading up.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Giants, Rams trading up for QBs in Round 2

This would make for a fun Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

As the 2024 NFL Draft gets closer, the questions about how many quarterbacks are going in Round 1 continue to swirl.

It feels like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy are virtual locks to go in the first round, perhaps in the first five picks. That’s true in the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea. He also has QBs Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. going in Round 2.

All of that is true in the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. — he’s got those big four names in the first. In the second? He’s got the New York Giants trading up to get Bo Nix with the 33rd pick … and the Los Angeles Rams (who need an heir to Matthew Stafford) getting up to No. 37 for Penix:

Yes, the Rams have Matthew Stafford. Yes, they brought in Jimmy Garoppolo. And yes, they drafted Stetson Bennett in Round 4 last year. But Stafford is 36 and has dealt with serious injuries in recent years, while Garoppolo is on a one-year deal and Bennett spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list. There’s a lot of uncertainty in L.A. past 2024.

Penix could be the future franchise signal-caller for coach Sean McVay and the Rams. He is accurate to every level of the field and is a great decision-maker. He had 67 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in his two seasons at Washington. I have a Round 2 grade on him, just behind Bo Nix in my rankings.

Intriguing! Check out our latest two-round mock draft from Christian D’Andrea, along with the current NFL draft order for Round 1 and his NFL Draft Big Board with all his rankings.

The latest ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. 2024 NFL Draft big board has Jayden Daniels moving up

Seems like Jayden Daniels’s stock has gone way up.

Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy this past season, but initial NFL mock drafts had the LSU QB not going as high as, say, Caleb Williams.

Now? It feels like he’s almost a lock for top-three, even with that weird elbow photo.

In our latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea, he’s got Daniels going to the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall. And that fits exactly with the new NFL Draft big board from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., who has Daniels moved up from No. 3 prospect to No. 2, right behind Williams.

Here’s his take on why he’s moved him up:

I went deep on Daniels’ future ahead of him taking home the Heisman Trophy. In short, he was consistent enough over the final two months of the regular season that I now feel comfortable moving him into my Big Board. I have a first-round grade on him, and he could go as high as No. 2. Over two seasons at LSU — after he transferred from Arizona State — Daniels threw 57 touchdown passes with just seven interceptions and added 21 rushing scores. He ranked No. 1 in the country in Total QBR last season (95.6), completing 72.2% of his passes while averaging 11.7 yards per attempt. Those are spectacular numbers.

Daniels has rare ability as a dual-threat playmaker. He can evade, elude and blow by defenders, but he also impressed with the way he can run through contact. But it’s his improvement as a passer that has him looking like a Round 1 selection. Yes, having blue chip wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to throw to was a huge benefit, but they also were fortunate to have a passer like Daniels with a big-time skill set directing the offense.

Fascinating! Make sure to check out the latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea and also the official NFL draft order for the first round.

49ers flirt with disaster in Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft

The #49ers flirt with disaster in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.

The 49ers are in a tough spot in this year’s draft. They’ll enter the draft with offensive tackle atop their list of needs, and they’ll be picking at No. 31 overall where the best of the sizable crop of strong offensive tackle prospects will likely be gone. A trade up may be difficult to execute as well given how much demand there’ll be for the best of this year’s OT class.

One route they could take if a trade isn’t available is trying to find a gem with a couple of high-upside Day 2 and 3 selections. They could also reach for a player at No. 31 overall, which is what they do in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft. The result in this situation could be disastrous.

Kiper, as is typical, has the best OT prospects going ahead of the 49ers’ slot at the end of the first round. There are a couple of OTs projected to go late in the first or early in the second round who have been mocked to San Francisco. A couple defenders have been sent to them as well. Instead of doing that, Kiper sends them Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten.

There’s the potential that Rosengarten develops into a starting-caliber tackle. He’s coming off a couple good years as a starter where he shined more as a pass blocker than a run blocker. There’s definitely some necessary development though.

Rosengartner doesn’t have great size at 6-5, 308 pounds. He’s also not a particularly good athlete. The 49ers in Kyle Shanahan’s system need their offensive tackles to be effective run blockers who can get out and move. That doesn’t show up a ton for Rosengartner in college and his athletic profile doesn’t necessarily indicate there’s enough upside for him to develop into a starter in this particular offense.

Taking an OT who may not even start Year 1 would be a tough pill for the 49ers to swallow given the size of their need at that spot. A complete whiff where Rosengartner never becomes more than a reserve offensive lineman would be a disaster for a San Francisco club that wants to extend its Super Bowl window.

The 49ers need an upgrade at RT this year, and ideally would have that player credibly flip to the left side when Trent Williams eventually retires. Rosengartner, as a prospect, doesn’t appear to fit that mold. Taking him on Day 2 would be palatable, but given the 49ers’ struggles with finding talent in Round 1 and a potential exodus of top-end talent in the coming years, the team needs to nail its first-round pick this year.

Finding a good player at any position is a far bigger priority than reaching for an OT just to check that box.

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2024 NFL mock draft: ESPN’s Mel Kiper gives Bucs more speed at WR

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. makes a luxury pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his latest first-round projection for the 2024 NFL draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but would that stop them from spending their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft on another dynamic pass-catcher?

In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Bucs using the No. 26 overall selection on Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who just broke the NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash.

Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick:

The Bucs are running it back from 2023, with quarterback Baker Mayfield, wideout Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David among the players re-signing. General manager Jason Licht has done well with a tough salary-cap situation — Tampa Bay held a $35.1 million dead-cap charge for Tom Brady last year — and his team should challenge again to win the NFC South (though Atlanta is improved too).

So how can the Bucs improve with this pick? I see room for a third wideout to take the top off the defense. And what better way to do that than with the fastest prospect in NFL combine history? At 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, Worthy is small, but he is electric with the ball in his hands. He’ll help Mayfield’s yards-per-attempt average just by running past corners on crossers. He had 26 touchdowns over three college seasons.

There’s no denying that Worthy would bring game-breaking speed and big-play potential to Tampa Bay’s passing attack, but the Bucs already have a budding young talent in Trey Palmer who has a similar skill set. Palmer showed off his own elite speed multiple times during his rookie season, and even had the fastest burst of any receiver in the league last year, according to Next Gen Stats.

Taking Worthy is the first round would be a luxury for a Bucs team that desperately needs upgrades in the starting lineup at multiple spots on both sides of the ball (left guard, center, outside linebacker, inside linebacker).

To check out Kiper’s full first-round mock draft at ESPN.com (subscription required), click here.

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Mel Kiper Jr. has 5 QBs going in the first 12 picks in his latest mock draft

Kiper has the Commanders picking Jayden Daniels in his latest mock draft.

With the first week of NFL free agency in the books, it’s time for Mel Kiper’s third mock draft of the year.

It’s no surprise that Kiper has the Chicago Bears taking USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall. Even before the Bears shipped Justin Fields to Pittsburgh last weekend, Williams to Chicago has been a theme for every mock draft thus far.

The real intrigue begins with the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall. The Commanders are taking a quarterback. Don’t believe all the hype about them moving back. They will listen to offers, as new general manager Adam Peters is process-oriented and will examine every possible outcome before making a decision — a collaborative decision.

In Kiper’s previous mock draft, he had the Commanders taking LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels over North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Kiper sticks with Daniels in his latest mock draft.

Here’s where the intrigue begins. Daniels or Drake Maye … or is it possible J.J. McCarthy is in play? I don’t think anyone has a great handle on which quarterback the Commanders prefer. I have Daniels over Maye in my position rankings — both are in my top six overall — and McCarthy is a distant fourth. There’s no consensus around the league, though, which makes this pick the pivot point in the draft.

One quarterback we know who won’t be involved in Washington is 2023 starter Sam Howell, who was dealt to the Seahawks last week. The Commanders brought in Marcus Mariota to serve as the backup to whichever rookie they select. And like the Bears, they have good wideouts in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, though there are questions along the offensive line.

Kiper said it best: Absolutely no one outside Peters’ close circle has any clue which quarterback the Commanders like the best. As of now, Daniels, Maye and McCarthy are all firmly in play.

It should make for a fun month leading into the 2024 NFL draft.

Rams fill Aaron Donald void in Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft

With Aaron Donald retired, the Rams land a stud DT prospect in Mel Kiper’s new mock draft to help fill No. 99’s big shoes

There’s a less than 1% chance the Los Angeles Rams will be able to find a player who has the same impact as Aaron Donald in this year’s draft. Heck, it’s possible that no team will ever draft another defensive tackle like him again because he was “truly one-of-one,” as Sean McVay put it.

But that doesn’t mean the Rams shouldn’t try to find a player who can help replace Donald on the interior of the defensive line. In fact, they need to do exactly that because right now, Kobie Turner is the only sure thing at defensive tackle for Los Angeles.

Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft on Tuesday and he has the Rams addressing the void left by Donald in Round 1. He projects them to select Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II at No. 19 overall, landing the top interior defensive lineman in the draft.

Here’s what Kiper wrote about the selection for Los Angeles:

I didn’t have defensive tackle on my list of needs for the Rams ahead of free agency, but that all changed Friday. Aaron Donald announced his retirement, and the future Hall of Famer leaves a giant hole to fill. L.A. got great play from rookie front-seven defenders Byron Young and Kobie Turner last season, but it has to upgrade its talent level on that side of the ball. I see this pick as either a defensive lineman or a cornerback.

Murphy is the best interior pass-rusher in this class, and at 6-foot-1, 297 pounds, he has a similar build to Donald. I’m not saying he will became a perennially All-Pro, but he has intriguing tools at the position. He had five sacks and created 33 pressures last season. This match makes a lot of sense. The Rams haven’t picked in Round 1 since 2016, so we can never rule out a trade down, either.

When you have Donald on your team, defensive tackle is pretty low on the list of needs. However, with Donald gone, that position flies to the top of the list because of how impactful No. 99 was and how many one-on-one opportunities he created for the Rams’ other pass rushers.

As Kiper mentioned, Murphy is the best interior pass rusher in the class despite being a bit on the smaller side like Donald was. He’s 6-foot and 297 pounds, which is a half-inch shorter and 15 pounds heavier than Donald weighed at the combine in 2014. He also has 32-inch arms, the same as Donald. NFL.com’s comparison for Murphy is Ed Oliver, who was sometimes compared to Donald when he was coming out of Houston.

Last season at Texas, Murphy had five sacks, 8.5 tackles for a loss and 29 total tackles, all of which were career-highs. And while those may not be eye-popping numbers, his best football is probably ahead of him.