Tag: Mel Kiper

Seahawks add potential building block in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Seahawks add potential building block in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The Seattle Seahawks own the No. 18 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper is a legend in the draft space. When he releases a mock draft, you pay attention. Luckily for Seahawks fans, Kiper unleashed his debut first-round projection of the 2025 cycle on Wednesday.

Kiper has the Seahawks selecting Armand Membou, a versatile offensive linemen prospect who’s capable of playing both guard and tackle.

“Membou can play tackle or guard, but Seattle will be fixating on the interior,” Kiper wrote. “Maybe Membou could replace free agent Laken Tomlinson at left guard, while providing insurance for oft-injured right tackle Abraham Lucas? He’s very good in pass protection and shows some pop at the point of attack. And he’s experienced, with more than 2,000 career snaps.”

Kiper is correct that the Seahawks will be fixated on addressing the interior of their offensive line this offseason. Left guard Laken Tomlinson in a free agent after underwhelming in 2024. Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes aren’t yet long-term starters at right guard. Center Olu Oluwatimi was unexpectedly thrust into the starting lineup after Connor Williams’ abrupt midseason retirement.

Membou has been receiving first-round interest in certain draft circles. The versatile Missouri lineman will compete in front of the Seahawks (and all 32 teams) at next week’s Senior Bowl. A good performance could have him earmarked on general manager John Schneider’s draft board.

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Eagles land a massive defensive tackle in Mel Kiper’s 2025 NFL draft mock

Eagles land massive Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in Mel Kiper’s 2025 NFL draft mock

The Eagles are heading to the NFC Championship game and will face the Washington Commanders for the third time this season. Even with the Birds locked in a playoff run, it’s never too early to look ahead at the 2025 NFL draft. Philadelphia has many free agents, and a significant decision has to be made regarding linebacker Zack Baun. With Wednesday practice set to begin, Mel Kiper released his first 2025 NFL mock draft for ESPN. Kiper has the Eagles reloading in the trenches.

GM Howie Roseman favors the trenches in Round 1, so don’t be surprised if he finds another impact defensive tackle with the Eagles’ first pick. Yes, it would be the third time in four years that he used a Day 1 selection at the position (Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis), and according to ESPN Research, we’ve seen a team do that only three times in the common draft era. But hey, if the Eagles are picking at No. 32, it means they won the Super Bowl and the strategy is working.

Plus, Milton Williams is a free agent. Grant’s instincts and ability to bat balls at the line of scrimmage would be welcomed in Philadelphia. Here’s a wild card to watch, though. The Eagles need edge rushers, too, and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku could rise draft boards this spring. He had 16.5 sacks this season.

Kiper lists the 6-3 339-pound Grant as the No. 19 overall prospect for the 2025 draft and the No. 4 draft-eligible defensive tackle prospect. A native of Gary, Indiana, Grant formed the nation’s best interior defensive line tandem with Mason Graham, who declared for the draft earlier this month and ranks No. 4 on Kiper’s Big Board.

Grant led Michigan with two fumble recoveries and ranked second on the team with five pass breakups, adding 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 quarterback hurries. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team AP All-America honors. Grant had four tackles and an assisted tackle for loss in Michigan’s 13-10 upset win over archrival Ohio State on Nov. 30.

Ravens land a tall, physical cornerback in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL mock draft

Baltimore Ravens land ECU cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL mock draft

After a heartbreaking loss to the Bills on Sunday, the Ravens’ 2025 NFL Draft spot is determined and set following their divisional playoff loss.

Baltimore will have the 27th overall pick in the first round, one spot ahead of the Detroit Lions and just behind the Los Angeles Rams.

With the college football playoffs now complete, Mel Kiper released his first mock draft for ESPN, and he has the Ravens added to the secondary.

Kiper mocked East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. to the Ravens at No. 27 overall.

“Teams will be watching Revel’s medicals as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season in September,” Kiper wrote. “He has tremendous size (6-foot-3) and leans on his strong instincts to make plays. Revel – who would be the first East Carolina first-rounder since Chris Johnson in 2008 – had two interceptions in three games this season, including a pick-six.

“Now picture Revel in the Baltimore secondary with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Kyle Hamilton. He could fill free agent Brandon Stephens’ void and help limit the big plays that burned the Ravens this season; they allowed 58 completions for 20 or more yards, third most in the league.”

The Ravens have picked at No. 27 twice in franchise history, selecting wide receiver Rashod Bateman in 2021 and cornerback Jimmy Smith in 2011.

Even after the Nate Wiggins selection last year, Cornerback is another clear need.

Revel was on his way to becoming a top-20 pick before tearing his ACL early in the season. He projects as an impactful outside NFL cornerback.

Baltimore’s offseason needs could include a replacement at left tackle for Ronnie Stanley.

Panthers land University of Georgia star in Mel Kiper’s initial 2025 mock draft

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper connects the Panthers to an increasingly-familiar name in his very first mock of 2025.

The Carolina Panthers addressed their (very) troubled defense in Mel Kiper’s initial 2025 NFL mock draft.

ESPN’s longtime draft guru, in his first set of first-round projections of the offseason, used the Panthers’ eighth overall pick on University of Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.

Kiper writes:

Carolina gave up 6.0 yards per play and 31.4 points per game this season, both last in the NFL. Regardless of what you think of quarterback Bryce Young’s long-term potential, it’s tough to win games with a defense that allows that many points.

Walker is versatile, and he can line up as a traditional off-ball linebacker or edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you put him, he can get into the backfield to blow up plays. He had 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season, and he’d be a fit in coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit.

Evero’s unit led the way in allowing a new NFL single-season record of 534 points in 2024. The group also relinquished an astonishing 179.8 rushing yards per game, 38.4 more yards than the next closest team, while recording the third-fewest amount of sacks (32).

Walker could provide some answers to both problems. The Salisbury, N.C. native may project as a Frankie Luvu-esque talent at the pro level—possibly giving Evero and the Panthers a multi-faceted weapon not only in the middle of their defense, but off the edge as well.

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Bengals get it wrong in Mel Kiper’s first 2025 NFL mock draft

The Bengals simply shouldn’t go this route.

The Cincinnati Bengals approach the 2025 NFL draft with a variety of major needs, which creates some interesting scenarios in mock drafts. 

What the Bengals do in the first mock draft effort of the year from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., though, probably isn’t the best use of the team’s premium first-round resource.

There, Kiper has the Bengals at No. 17 with Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell:

How contract situations play out for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase could pivot the calculus, but it’d be nearly impossible for Cincinnati to ignore the defense. Without a doubt, that unit kept the Bengals from the playoffs this season, allowing 25.5 points per game (25th). So I’m matching them with a prospect who does a little bit of everything on that side of the ball. Campbell had 112 tackles, 5 sacks, 12 run stops and an interception this season. He’s instinctive and explosive.

Make no mistake — Campbell is a fantastic prospect.

But linebacker probably shouldn’t be the play, especially with Logan Wilson still under contract and there being a faint hope that Germaine Pratt can turn things around if his old positional coach Al Golden really is on the way back to the team.

The Bengals have bigger needs, regardless. The next pick in Kiper’s mock is a guard prospect in Armand Membou. The one after that is a safety, Nick Emmanwori. A few picks later, top tight end Colston Loveland. Later in the round? Pass-rusher Nic Scourton.

Defense is a need, yes, but little will change if the trenches on both sides of the ball aren’t upgraded and other key spots aren’t refreshed.

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NFL mock draft from Mel Kiper Jr. has the Browns NOT taking a QB

Should the Browns do this?

The Cleveland Browns are in the most interesting spot in the 2025 NFL Draft.

At No. 2, they can take a QB to take over for Deshaun Watson, or they could take a talented player and look for a quarterback elsewhere, or they could trade down.

In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea — a top-five mini-mock — he had the Browns taking Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. But in Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock of the year for ESPN, he had Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter going to Cleveland and Sanders going to the New York Giants at No. 3.

Why Hunter over Sanders? Here’s his take:

Know how I just said the Titans had the league’s second-worst QBR and INT total? Well, the Browns were the worst in both categories. Deshaun Watson also re-tore his right Achilles and Jameis Winston is a free agent, so taking Sanders isn’t out of the question. But I think Cleveland is more likely to address another hole here and find QB reinforcements in free agency and/or later in the draft. (Trading back for more picks with another QB-needy team could be part of the equation, too.)

Plus, Hunter is just that good. I see elite quickness and ball skills on both sides of the ball, traits that helped him to 15 touchdown catches and four interceptions this season. The Browns would likely use him primarily at receiver and then sprinkle him in at cornerback in specific situations.

Intriguing! Make sure to check out the latest mock draft from D’Andrea!

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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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