Mel Kiper – Syndication Server

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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Jets land Georgia TE Brock Bowers in Mel Kiper’s latest two-round mock

The list of mock drafts sending Georgia tight end Brock Bowers to the New York Jets is becoming countless. The latest on the list is the latest two-round mock from the great Mel Kiper of ESPN.

Kiper sees this as a logical match as the Jets continue to surround quarterback Aaron Rodgers with weapons in a push to make a postseason run this season and end their 13-season drought. With the upgrades along the offensive line, the Jets have the flexibility to secure the talents of Bowers and add firepower to the middle of the field with Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams on the outside.

Here is what Kiper had to say about the pick:

This is really the first logical match I see for Bowers, the two-time Mackey Award winner who is head and shoulders above the other tight ends in this class. If the Jets are all-in around quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season, taking Bowers would give them the best chance to make a playoff run. They brought in left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses last month, which lessens the need for an immediate starter at tackle. This just makes sense.

There are other good tight ends in this class, like Theo Johnson of Penn State and Ben Sinnott of Kansas State, just to name a few, but as Kiper said, Bowers is well above the rest of the class. The Jets have a good quarterback room but will strongly consider the excellent receiving ability of Bowers to further improve the group that also includes Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah and Zack Kuntz.

An interesting note here from ESPN’s Rich Cimini: Bowers would be only the fifth tight end the Jets have taken in the first round if they make the selection and the first since 2008 with Dustin Keller.

The others were Anthony Becht (2000), Kyle Brady (1995), Johnny Mitchell (1992) and Jerome Barkum (1972). Keller’s career was riddled with injuries. Becht and Brady were nice but the Brady pick will always be remembered for not being Warren Sapp. Mitchell, the 15th pick, played just 57 games in his career. Barkum had almost 4,800 yards and 40 touchdowns in his career, not bad for the 1970s. He spent his entire 12-season career with the Jets.

The Jets can use a game-changer this season. Bowers can be that game-changer.

Mel Kiper mock draft: Broncos select CB Quinyon Mitchell

In his latest NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at pick No. 12.

In his latest 2024 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Denver Broncos selecting Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with pick No. 12 in the first round.

Caleb Williams (No. 1), Jayden Daniels (No. 2), Drake Maye (No. 3) and J.J. McCarthy (No. 5) all go off the board early, so instead of reaching for a quarterback at No. 12, the Broncos land Kiper’s top cornerback prospect.

“Mitchell, my top-ranked cornerback, had 46 pass breakups in four seasons at Toledo, and he ripped off an elite 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine,” Kiper wrote on ESPN.com. “He’s ready to play early and often as a rookie.”

This is a change from Kiper’s last mock draft which had Denver selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. Before that, Kiper had the Broncos picking UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in a previous mock.

Kiper seems to be in agreement with our assessment that quarterback, cornerback and pass rusher are Denver’s three biggest draft needs.

After the top five picks, no other QBs go off the board in the first round of Kiper’s latest mock. He has Nix (No. 33) and Michael Penix (No. 37) going early in the second round (where the Broncos do not currently have a pick).

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27.

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Mel Kiper has Patriots getting QB and WR in two-round mock draft

Mel Kiper Jr. has the Patriots taking a quarterback and a receiver in back-to-back picks in his latest two-round mock draft

With the 2024 NFL draft nearly two weeks away, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. predicted the first two picks for the New England Patriots in his latest two-round mock draft.

Kiper has the organization selecting North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick, and in Round 2, he has the team drafting Keon Coleman, the playmaking wide receiver from Florida State. These two selections would complement each other well, and it would immediately give Maye talent at the wide receiver position to work with.

New England has needed a playmaking wide receiver for quite some time, and Coleman would certainly fit the bill there. He tallied 115 catches for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns in a collegiate career that saw him play for both Michigan State and the Seminoles.

Coleman is coming off a 2023 season that saw him record 50 catches for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns. His explosiveness was on display, as he averaged 13.2 yards per reception.

Kiper offered his evaluations on the Maye pick first:

I made the case for the Patriots trading down in my Mock Draft 3.0, but if this is the way the board shakes out, I think they’re more likely to take Maye and secure their franchise quarterback. Of course, they thought they were doing that in 2021, when they drafted Mac Jones in Round 1, and Jones is now the backup in Jacksonville. Evaluating quarterbacks is hard, but I have a top-10 grade on Maye, who is an elite deep-ball thrower.

Kiper then shifted his focus onto Coleman with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round:

New England’s depth chart at receiver needs to be beefed up if quarterback Drake Maye — whom I projected to the Patriots at No. 3 — is going to succeed. The Pats ranked 29th in receiving yards by receivers (1,909) last season. Coleman doesn’t have great speed, but he can win contested catches with his 6-foot-3 frame. He had 11 touchdown catches last season, five of which came on fade routes.

The quarterback-wide receiver combo is something that New England needs in order to succeed. Both positions have struggled for the Patriots over the last couple of seasons, and Maye and Coleman would be two players capable of bringing an immediate spark.

Tyler Guyton taken in the first round of Mel Kiper’s latest NFL Mock Draft

In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Mel Kiper projects Tyler Guyton to go in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma Sooners have a great chance to go back-to-back with first-round offensive tackles. Anton Harrison was taken late in the first by the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] could hear his name called on day one this year.

The Sooners’ offensive tackle has been projected at the end of the first round of NFL mock drafts quite regularly. As draft day approaches, Guyton continues to get first-round buzz, this time from ESPN’s NFL draft guru, Mel Kiper.

In his latest two-round mock draft for ESPN (ESPN+), Kiper sent Guyton to the Dallas Cowboys.

This has to be a tackle, right? Tyron Smith is gone, and Tyler Smith, a first-round pick in 2022, has played extremely well at left guard. Would Dallas move Tyler Smith outside and take the risk that he’s only an above-average left tackle? If I was the general manager, I’d take Guyton, one of the most physically impressive players in this class. At 6-foot-7, 322 pounds, he moves like a tight end. He played mostly right tackle in college, but he could make the move to Dak Prescott’s blind side for the Cowboys. – Kiper, ESPN

The Dallas Cowboys have multiple needs along the offensive line, including offensive tackle. They could also opt to draft a center early. But taking Guyton would make a lot of sense given his upward trajectory. He’s still very young for the position but has developed at a rapid pace due to his plus athleticism and footwork.

If the Cowboys were to draft him, he’d have a bit of a transition on his hands moving over to left tackle. But as we saw in his short time in Norman, he’s got the athleticism to make it a smooth transition.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

2024 NFL draft: Breaking down the Steelers picks in new ESPN mock draft

The Steelers go offensive line and wide receiver in this new ESPN mock draft.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has a new two-round mock draft out and we always perk up when there is a Kiper mock out. The 2024 NFL draft promises to send a ton of young talent into the league and this draft will be vital for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh has taken great care in rebuilding the roster and if they can land a pair of starters in this draft like they did in 2023, they could be right back in the mix for an AFC North crown.

Kiper’s mock kicks off with the Steelers selecting Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton in the first round. Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick.

Cornerback, wide receiver, center — I wouldn’t be surprised with any of these positions for Pittsburgh, which has made a few intriguing additions this offseason. The Steelers parted ways with starting pivot Mason Cole in February, and taking Barton, my top-ranked center, might even be an upgrade. Barton played center as a freshman but spent the past three seasons at left tackle for the Blue Devils, and I see his pro future along the interior. He allowed just three sacks over the past two seasons.

Might be an upgrade? Cole was awful last season. Barton is a huge step up and sets up the team for the future at center.

Moving to the second round, Kiper has the Steelers selecting former Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan. As Kiper points out, McMillan is a natural slot receiver in the NFL but I’m not sure that’s the target this early in the draft. After trading away Diontae Johnson, an outside receiver is a higher priority, especially with several veterans on the roster who can line up inside. McMillan’s former teammate, Ja’Lynn Polk who went two picks later might be a better fit.

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Panthers strike another trade with Giants in Mel Kiper’s new 2-round mock draft

Even after trading down, the Panthers manage to pick up a couple of studs in Mel Kiper’s newest two-round mock draft.

Did the game’s greatest draft expert just turn out the greatest 2024 draft projection for the Carolina Panthers to date?

Longtime ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock, one of the two-round variety, on Wednesday. To start the second round, he has the Panthers trading the 33rd overall selection to the New York Giants—who make the jump for Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

So, Carolina begins their picking at No. 39—landing Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. Kiper writes:

McConkey is a versatile and shifty receiver who caught 119 passes and had 18 touchdowns over three college seasons. He can play inside and outside, and he has the speed — he ran a 4.39-second 40 at the combine — to blow by cornerbacks. The Panthers improved their receiving corps with the trade for Diontae Johnson, but they had one of the league’s worst units a year ago and should add more talent.

McConkey, who could go at the end of the first round, is quite the steal for the Panthers here. But the heist only gets better.

Then, at No. 44, Carolina nabs Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson—who is considered the top prospect at his position:

I addressed Carolina’s wide receiver corps at No. 39, and let’s stay on offense with the pick from the projected trade with the Giants. Do the Panthers trust Austin Corbett to be an above-average starter after moving him from guard to center? I’m not so sure. Powers-Johnson might be an immediate upgrade on departed starter Bradley Bozeman. The Rimington Trophy winner allowed just two total pressures last season.

Filling two big needs with two potential first-round talents? Not bad at all.

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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.