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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Two big draft analysts say this prospect should replace Trevor Penning

Two big draft analysts picked the same prospect to replace Trevor Penning. Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu may not get past New Orleans in April’s draft:

It’s always interesting when mock drafts are in agreement and a consensus starts to build — even unpredictable teams like the New Orleans Saints can tip their hand during the lengthy process leading up the annual NFL draft. And when major media outlets are linking the Saints to the same prospect ahead of the 2024 draft, it’s time to sit up and pay attention.

Both ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, two of the longest-tenured draft analysts around, have the Saints targeting a replacement for Trevor Penning. The third-year left tackle hasn’t shown much through his first two seasons, having lost his rookie year to injuries before being benched just six games into his sophomore campaign. He’s flirting with bust status.

And both Kiper and Jeremiah have the same player in mind to upgrade that left tackle spot: Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State. Here’s what Kiper had to say of the situation:

As I mentioned last month, the Saints have seen 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning struggle for two seasons; how much longer will they trot him out there at left tackle? In a deep and talented tackle class, they could upgrade in Round 1. Fashanu, who only turned 21 in December, has fantastic movement traits as both a pass- and run-blocker. At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, he looks like he could play tight end. He started 21 games on the left side in college.

New Orleans might also be in the market for a wideout to pair with Chris Olave, who has put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Xavier Worthy (Texas) are the next receivers up in my rankings.

Jeremiah was more succinct, writing that “2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning has not worked out for the Saints. Fashanu is the new solution at left tackle.”

The Saints have expressed optimism that Penning can still develop into a starting-quality left tackle under the team’s new offensive coaching staff. But if Fashanu is the highest-rated player available when they’re on the clock, they shouldn’t hesitate to draft him. Penning can move to the right side and back up Ryan Ramczyk (who might be out of football in the next year or two, depending on how well his bad knee holds up) or learn a new position at left guard and compete to start there. Fashanu is the real deal, and the Saints would be lucky to have him.

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Packers get UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu in new Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft

Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft for ESPN has the Green Bay Packers getting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 25 overall in the first round of the 2024 draft.

Mel Kiper Jr.’s new mock draft for ESPN has the Green Bay Packers getting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 25 overall in the first round of the 2024 draft.

Kiper considered giving the Packers an offensive tackle but instead settled on Latu, who he said has “elite pass-rushing skills” with double-digit sack potential at the next level. The one problem? Latu has a big medical red flag in his draft profile.

From Kiper:

Latu put up 111 quarterback pressures over the past two seasons, racking up 23.5 sacks. He has elite pass-rushing skills and is already advanced in his technique. The reason he’s not a surefire top-15 pick is because he has some medical questions; he medically retired from football due to a neck injury when he was at Washington in 2021. I love his fit with the Packers, though.

If the Packers can get comfortable with Latu’s medicals, the pick could be a slam dunk. Latu is 6-5 and 259 pounds with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.30. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the most productive pass-rusher in college football over the last two seasons, including a 61-pressure season in 2023. He had elite marks in pass-rush win rate and pass-rush grade.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Latu to T.J. Watt. The talent is undeniable, and top pass-rushers don’t usually get to the bottom half of the first round. The medical red flag would be the only reason he’s still available for the Packers at No. 25.

The Packers don’t have a big need at edge rusher, but the defense is transitioning to a 4-3 front, Preston Smith is likely entering his final season in Green Bay and Kingsley Enagbare could miss a big chunk of the season while recovering from a knee injury. At the very least, Latu could develop as a fourth rusher behind Smith, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness in 2024 before expanding his role in Year 2.

Great defenses have great rushers. And great rushers can transform a defense.

Think back to 2009. The Packers were moving to a 3-4 front under Dom Capers. Ted Thompson picked Clay Matthews late in the first round, and the defense went from good to great.

Could Latu be a similar type of addition for Jeff Hafley?

Jets land Brock Bowers in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft

The Jets get top tight end Brock Bowers in the latest mock draft from Mel Kiper.

The Jets attacked the offensive line in free agency by signing Tyron Smith and John Simpson while also trading for Morgan Moses. Do the Jets feel comfortable enough up front that they can go in a different direction with their first pick in next month’s draft?

That’s the scenario that unfolds in Mel Kiper’s third mock draft of the season. With the 10th pick, the Jets select Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.

With the offensive line seemingly set, the Jets can consider upgrading the weapons for Aaron Rodgers to throw to and that’s exactly what happens here. They get a wide receiver in a tight end’s body in Bowers.

The Jets have to maximize their window with 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. That’s what I keep coming back to. So after they were able to sign left tackle Tyron Smith to a one-year deal, who’s the player they could take here to make the most immediate impact? For me, it’s Bowers, a tremendous pass-catching tight end who could elevate the offense and provide a safety blanket for Rodgers.

Either way, this draft will be a delicate balance for general manager Joe Douglas, who has to think about the future while also trying to win now with Rodgers. That’s also why I wouldn’t rule out a tackle here; Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses, who the Jets acquired in a trade last week, will be free agents in 2025. It’s a tough challenge for Douglas.

Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert have been nice options at tight end, but Bowers can help take the offense to another level, especially in a season in which the Jets are all in and the pressure is extremely high. An explosive weapon outside of Garrett Wilson is just what this offense needs and Bowers can bring that and more.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has 5 QBs in Round 1, including Bo Nix

Is Bo Nix really a first round QB?

With the 2024 NFL Draft rounding into form as the free agency comes mostly to a close (check out our winners and losers from the first week!), the question now becomes: how many quarterbacks are we going to see go to teams on the first night?

Our latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea has four — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy all go within the first 11 picks. Those seem to be the consensus Round 1 names from experts when it comes to mocks.

But in the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., he’s got a fifth QB on the board: at No. 12, he projects the Denver Broncos taking Oregon’s Bo Nix.

Here’s his take:

The Broncos have been quiet in free agency. Are they really comfortable going into the season with Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback? They’re running out of options, unless they can find a way to move up in the draft … or if they liked someone from the second tier of passers. Nix, Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) are likely to be off the board by the time Denver picks again, which is No. 76 overall, as it doesn’t own a second-round pick. So could Sean Payton & Co. instead take one here or trade down a few picks in Round 1?

That’s the way I’m leaning right now. Nix isn’t going to be for every team, but Payton might see a little Drew Brees in him. He’s a super-fast processor who can make every throw and was one of the most productive passers in college football the past two seasons. He had 74 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions after transferring from Oregon. The Ducks’ offense relied on quick strikes, though, and he wasn’t often asked to push the ball downfield. He averaged just 6.3 air yards per attempt last season, which ranked 120th out of 125 FBS qualifiers. Taking Nix in Round 1 would be a way for the Broncos to try to snag a franchise quarterback, and if they moved down a few spots, they could regain some valuable capital. But again, they have to really believe in his potential to do it.

Interesting! Make sure to check out the latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea and the updated 2024 NFL draft order.

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Mel Kiper Jr. updates where Texas wide receivers rank at position

Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell are ranked highly in Mel Kiper’s latest draft rankings.

The NFL scouting combine is complete. With that, those that cover the NFL draft are updating their rankings.

In case you weren’t sure, Texas wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell greatly helped their draft cases at the combine. Both receivers excelled in several tests with Worthy setting the NFL combine record for the 40-yard dash running it in 4.21 seconds.

The two receivers’ display has them moving up ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s rankings. Kiper has Xavier Worthy ranked as the No. 5 receiver with Adonai Mitchell right after at No. 6. In a deep receiver class, both players could see their name drafted in the first round.

Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Rome Odunze (Washington) and LSU receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are all seen as top prospects for the upcoming draft. They make up the top four of Kiper’s receiver rankings.

Texas has a chance to have its best receiver draft in a long while. Worthy and Mitchell will hope to have their names called in the first round.

Mel Kiper mocks Washington OL prospect to Seahawks in first round

A new mock from Mel Kiper at ESPN has Seattle selecting Fautanu at No. 16 overall and playing him at left guard.

The Seahawks haven’t drafted a whole lot of players from Washington, at least not during the Pete Carroll era. That may change this year, as the team has hired former Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb as their new OC. Grubb’s offense was one of the best in college football in 2023 – and while his playcalling had something to do with it there was a ton of talent on that unit. Fans should expect to see at least one or two Washington players picked when Seattle is on the clock in the 2024 NFL draft.

The highest-ranked prospect for Washington is wide receiver Rome Odunze, who is projected to be a top-10 pick and therefore will be out of Seattle’s range. Next up there’s left tackle Troy Fautanu, who makes a lot of sense to draft given his familiarity with Grubb’s offense and the Seahawks’ desperate need to upgrade every part of their offensive line.

A new mock from Mel Kiper at ESPN has Seattle selecting Fautanu at No. 16 overall and playing him at left guard, replacing soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Damien Lewis.

“OK, so guard might not be the most exciting position for a mock draft, but I can assure you that Seahawks fans should be happy with Fautanu, who could stay near where he went to college. That’s because he’s a fun offensive line prospect to watch on tape. He has excellent feet and plays hard on every snap. Fautanu started 28 games at left tackle for the Huskies, but I see his future on the interior because of his 6-foot-4 frame. With Evan Brown, Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes all free agents, Seattle will have holes to fill along the interior of its line. And Seattle ranked 28th in rushing yards per game (92.9), surely new coordinator Ryan Grubb wants to see upgrades there. Fautanu would give this offense an instant boost.”

Fautanu (6-foot-4, 295 pounds) is the team’s most logical target if they intend to stay at that No. 16 overall spot. However, we’re not crazy about using him at guard. Fautanu may be slightly undersized for a pro tackle but we feel he could succeed on the blindside at the NFL level – better than Charles Cross has thus far, anyway.

While we like Fautanu, there’s also a good case to trade down from No. 16 and recoup the second-round pick the Seahawks lost to the Giants in the Leoanrd Williams trade. It’s unlikely Fautanu will still be available later in the first round, so the target then would most likely be his teammate, Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Here’s the highlight reel for Fautanu.

Other Huskies who will be worth watching throughout draft season include Edge Bralen Trice (who they have already met with), running back Dillon Johnson, wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk, tight ends Devin Culp and Jack Westover and right tackle Roger Rosengarten.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks trade down, target QB in this 2-round mock

Updated Seahawks depth chart going into free agency

Tracking Seahawks prospect visits at Scouting Combine

Mel Kiper calls LSU’s Maason Smith an ‘intriguing’ draft prospect

Maason Smith was never quite able to live up to his potential at LSU, but he could do so at the next level.

LSU has a lot of offensive talent at the top of this year’s draft class, but perhaps the biggest question mark in this year’s group heading pro is defensive tackle [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag].

Smith is a former five-star recruit who impressed as a true freshman in 2021. But a torn ACL cost him nearly the entire 2022 season, and while he returned in 2023, he struggled to find the production many expected of him.

In spite of that, he declared for the draft this offseason, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper evaluated what he called an “intriguing” draft profile on a recent episode of First Draft.

“Maason Smith is an intriguing guy,” Kiper said, per On3. “He was a elite recruit right? He showed in practice he could dominate, they were raving about him coming this season. A couple of years ago, the first game, the ACL injury. This year, the suspension early and then a little banged up in the last three games this past season. He was getting after the quarterback, the explosiveness, everything. We saw the quickness when he was healthy, he was coming to the forefront late in the year. The production, the consistency wasn’t there.

“Why? Because he was hurt, then banged up and when he was out there playing through it, and trying to get back to full strength and getting back to where he was pre-ACL, right? He didn’t look like the same player.”

Kiper said in a defensive tackle draft class that isn’t particularly strong, Smith could be a strong option as he continues to get stronger after the ACL tear.

“So when he’s now a couple years removed, coming off that ACL, watch out,” Kiper said. “Defensive tackle position we thought would be really strong this year, that has not materialized. We thought Maason Smith would be one of those guys. I’m ready to move him back up in the top 10 defensive tackles, but I got to look at what he is when he’s healthy and what he was when he was dominant in practice, what he can be. I’m gonna put him in that five or six spot of defensive tackles on my big board.’”

Only time will tell where Smith and other LSU prospects land in April’s draft.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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NFL draft analyst says Justin Fields is the big swing the Steelers have to make

Mel Kiper isn’t a fan of the Steelers selecting Bo Nix.

If you believe the Pittsburgh Steelers are basically a quarterback away from being a contender, then you are going to be all on board with what ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had to say about it.

Kiper was on ESPN where he along with NFL writer Field Yates went through Yates’ first 2024 NFL mock draft and Kiper had some concerns with Yates’ pick of former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix to the Steelers in the first round.

In Yates’ mock, he has Nix coming off the board to the Steelers at pick No. 20, the same spot they drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022, as the fifth quarterback of the first round. Pickett was the first and only quarterback taken in the first round in 2022.

Kiper correctly points out that for the Steelers it is all about keeping up with the elite quarterbacks in the AFC and more specifically the AFC North. Kiper says the Steelers need a big swing and for him that is trading for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

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Georgia WR Ladd McConkey jumps up NFL draft position rankings

ESPN’s Mel Kiper evaluates Ladd McConkey ahead of the 2024 NFL draft

Former Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s performance at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl isn’t going unnoticed by NFL draft analysts. McConkey put together a great week of practice at the event and walked away as the top wideout on the American Team.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had McConkey ranked as his ninth-best wide receiver before the Senior Bowl. In Kiper’s updated rankings, McConkey now sits at sixth.

McConkey worked his way up the depth chart at Georgia after having only a few Division I offers out of North Murray High School in Chatsworth, Ga. Over the last three seasons, McConkey has been a unique weapon for the Bulldogs. In 39 games, he accumulated 1,687 yards on 119 receptions with 14 touchdowns. He has also contributed on the ground with 216 yards on 13 carries and four scores.

McConkey’s sure hands and route-running ability stand out when evaluating other prospects. He routinely gains on defenders in coverage, giving the quarterback plenty of space to work with. While he isn’t a threat physically (5-foot-11, 187 pounds), McConkey’s speed an footwork will make him an instant contributor wherever he lands.

McConkey and 10 other former Bulldogs will have an opportunity to preform in front of league personnel at the NFL combine from Feb. 26-March 4. Georgia will also hold its pro day on March 13.

The 2024 NFL draft will take place April 25-27 in Detroit.