Tag: Mel Kiper

Mel Kiper mock draft 3.0: Ravens solidifying their defense with next star LB

The Baltimore Ravens are finally finding their answer to the departure of C.J. Mosley in Mel Kiper’s third mock of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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With the first week of free agency down and most teams having addressed their top needs with the top free agents, all attention now shifts to the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s there that NFL teams will be able to further fill their immediate needs as well as build for the future.

Though the Baltimore Ravens have been aggressive at the start of free agency, they still have a load of needs they need to fill before Week 1 of the regular season. While they’ll undoubtedly use the second wave of free agency following the draft to find low-cost additions to bolster their roster, it’s the first few rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft where Baltimore can find real stars.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has put together his third mock draft of the season, using the first week of free agency to readdress every first-round pick to see what changed. However, like his last two mock drafts, Kiper has the Ravens selecting LSU linebacker Patrick Queen at No. 28.

“The Ravens didn’t really address the inside linebacker position in free agency, which means I don’t see a reason to change from my first two mock drafts. Queen fills a direct void as a replacement for C.J. Mosley, who Baltimore lost in free agency a year ago.”

As I noted in my list of team needs, there’s a solid case to be made that inside linebacker might actually be Baltimore’s most pressing issue right now. Though things could certainly change before draft day, the Ravens need at least one other legitimate starter if they plan on having L.J. Fort man the weak-side spot. Even with another player added to the mix, Baltimore could use even more depth at inside linebacker on top of that.

In Queen, the Ravens find their unquestioned starter. He’s a fast, agile and hard-hitting linebacker that’s capable of doing anything defensive coordinator Don Martindale would ask of him. With the team revamping their defensive line, Queen can come down and scrape to make tackles in the run game. He can drop back into coverage. Queen can be sent on blitzes to generate quarterback pressure. In all, Queen looks to be the type of true three-down linebacker Baltimore absolutely needs.

Kiper also noted that he had interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz as an option for the Ravens in the first round too.

“I also considered center/guard Cesar Ruiz, who could take over for the retired Marshal Yanda at guard.”

That wouldn’t be a bad investment either, though Baltimore likely feels good about letting Ben Powers have the first crack at the starting job right now. However, if the Ravens love what they’ve seen from Ruiz and believe he could be Yanda’s immediate heir, solidifying their offensive line would be a wise, albeit less exciting, selection.

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Mel Kiper Mock Draft 3.0: Lamb gives Cowboys best WR trio?

The Cowboys ignore the CB hole and fortify their offense as one of the league’s best.

The Dallas Cowboys started free agency with 30 former players who were not under contract. They’ve worked tirelessly to bring many back, and have made some inroads in replacing a few of the positions wgere attrition set in. Still, there will be areas the club can improve on in the coming NFL draft, and one of those is at wide receiver.

In his latest mock draft for ESPN + (pay wall) draf prognosticator Mel Kiper, Jr. reveals that while the Cowboys should consider other options, if this player slides down the draft boards some they shouldn’t hesitate to turn in his card. Or send the DM; whatever way they are going to conduct this year’s draft. Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, welcome to Dallas.

Testing Results

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Film Study

vs Alabama (2018)

vs Houston (2019)

vs Texas (2019)

College Stats

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What The Experts Say

The Draft Network’s Joe Marino

CeeDee Lamb profiles as No. 1 wide receiver at the next level that can be the focal point of the passing attack. He’s a threat at all levels of the field with bluechip body control, ball skills, hands and instincts. Lamb has a notable transition ahead of him in terms of applying his traits against NFL corners compared to the ones he toyed with in the Big 12 but his natural gifts should accelerate his acclimation period to the NFL. Lamb has the upside to develop into one of the premiere offensive playmakers in the NFL by Year Three.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein

Explosive, three-level playmaker and vital cog in one of the most potent offensive machines in college football over the last three seasons. Lamb uses speed and separation quickness to dominate competition in a scheme that frequently created open throws in space. His routes will need to become more efficient and crisp to beat man-to-man coverage against NFL size and speed, but his ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hand should allow teams to scheme him into explosive opportunities right away. Lamb has the potential to play any of the three receiver positions as a pro and should benefit greatly from the NFL’s continued movement toward college-style passing attacks.

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Seahawks select defensive tackle in Mel Kiper’s mock draft 2.0

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper projects the Seattle Seahawks select Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike in the year’s NFL draft.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off next week and mock draft season is in full swing.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has now released his second mock of the new year and has the Seattle Seahawks selecting defensive tackle Justin Madubuike out of Texas A&M at No. 27 overall.

“Get to know Madubuike’s name, because I expect him to rise at the combine,” Kiper writes. “The 6-3, 305-pound defensive tackle put up stellar numbers as an interior penetrator for the Aggies the past two seasons, racking up 11 sacks and 22 total tackles for loss. He wreaked havoc on SEC offensive linemen.”

“Seattle could see huge turnover along its defensive line with Jadeveon Clowney, Ezekiel Ansah, Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson and Al Woods all free agents, so Madubuike would help it reload after a down season in which the Seahawks had just 28 sacks,” Kiper continued. “They have an extra second-round pick to help them restock.”

The defensive linemen are scheduled to work out Saturday, Feb. 29 from 1-8:00 p.m. PT.

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Jets pick Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft

With three offensive linemen already off the board, the Jets opt for Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft.

In Mel Kiper’s latest mock, the ESPN draft analyst has the Jets taking a potential No. 1 wide receiver for Sam Darnold.

By picking Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Kiper has the Jets spurning the need of an offensive tackle and opting to get their young quarterback an outside weapon with the 11th pick. This comes after Alabama’s Jedrick Willis Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton are already off the board. So, in this scenario, Joe Douglas takes Lamb over Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

Instead of taking a plug-and-play tackle, Kiper opts for the wideout. Here’s his explanation for the pick:

Can Sam Darnold get some help, please? With Robby Anderson potentially departing in free agency and Quincy Enunwa’s future up in the air, Darnold’s top receivers are Jamison Crowder and … Le’Veon Bell? That’s not an ideal situation for a third-year quarterback who stagnated in Year 2. Lamb can be the Jets’ top wideout — he is stellar after the catch and can run every route in the tree. Jets quarterbacks averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt last season (27th in the NFL), but that would rise with Lamb on the field. This team is likely to see massive turnover along the offensive line this offseason, so it could target a tackle here, too, depending on what happens in free agency.

Yes, the Jets have needed a No. 1 wide receiver since Brandon Marshall’s 2015 season, but the team still needs help in the trenches. This selection becomes more plausible if Douglas can find his tackle in free agency.

Lamb projects as a top-shelf prospect that can make an immediate impact from Day 1. His ball skills and explosiveness with the ball in his hands should allow Adam Gase to have a true No. 1, especially if Robby Anderson leaves New York. Not that Anderson ever was one to begin with.

Lamb played in a fast-pace offense at Oklahoma that allowed him to light the college football world on fire. In 2019, Lamb was named a first-team Associated Press All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. In 13 starts, he led the Sooners with 62 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Vikings select Antoine Winfield Jr. in Mel Kiper’s mock draft

The younger Winfield was named an All-American and an All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2019.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper put together a mock draft on Tuesday, and the first-round pick for the Vikings was a familiar face.

With the 25th pick, Kiper has the Vikings selecting University of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr., the son of former Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield.

The younger Winfield was named an All-American and an All-Big Ten First Team selection in 2019. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.

Here’s a bit of what Kiper wrote about the pick:

Let’s hope he’s past the hamstring and foot injuries that prematurely ended his 2017 and 2018 seasons for the Golden Gophers. Safety might not appear to be a priority position for the Vikings, but they have salary-cap issues and could lose Anthony Harris to a big offer in free agency.

This seems like the perfect fit for the Vikings. Most imporantly, they’ll bring in a talented defensive back (something the team needs desperately). On top of that, they’ll bring in the son of a player who had so much respect not just in Minnesota, but around the entire NFL.

Mel Kiper NFL mock draft 2.0: Broncos select OT Josh Jones

In his latest 2020 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Broncos selecting Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones in the first round.

In his 2020 NFL mock draft 2.0, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Denver Broncos selecting Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones with the 15th overall pick in the first round (subscription required for link).

This marks a change from Kiper’s first mock draft, which had Denver selecting Alabama Henry Ruggs. Kiper now has Ruggs falling all the way down to the Bills at No. 22. He has fellow Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy going to the Raiders at No. 12 and Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb going to the Jets at No. 11.

Kiper believes that it’s time for Denver to bench left tackle Garett Bolles and replace him with a player like Jones. Kiper says Jones has the potential to become an All-Pro left tackle but it’s hard to imagine the Broncos moving on from Bolles in 2020.

Bolles has struggled with penalties but Denver’s staff has praised his ability to stay healthy and dress for every game. Bolles might not be the team’s long-term answer at left tackle but he’ll probably be a starter next season. That’s just my opinion though — a player like Jones would certainly be an upgrade.

Todd McShay, Kiper’s ESPN colleague, has the Broncos selecting Lamb in his most recent mock draft. Many mock drafts have the team selecting a wide receiver in the first round but there’s no denying that the offensive line also needs to be addressed this offseason.

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Safe House: ESPN’s Kiper shores up Cowboys defensive backyard in Mock Draft 2.0

The Dallas Cowboys are once again linked to a safety in a national mock.

There is an obvious theme at this point of the offseason which has emerged. The Dallas Cowboys are going to take a safety with their first-round pick. Now, everyone knows things are very much in the air when it comes to the litany of offseason moves ahead of Dallas. Yet, with no idea whether or not the corner, wide receiver or defensive end will return, the safe picks have Dallas choosing a safety with No. 17.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s long-time draft analyst, doesn’t dive into the danger end of the pool in his latest mock draft, either. Available on ESPN Insider (pay wall), Kiper selects Alabama safety Xavier McKinney for Dallas.

Still on the board at those other positions of interest?

  • CB CJ Henderson, Florida (No. 20 Jacksonville)
  • WR Tee Higgins, Clemson (No. 21 Philadelphia)
  • WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama (No. 22 Buffalo)
  • CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn (No. 24 New Orleans)
  • S Antoine Winfield, Jr., Minnesota (No. 25 Minnesota)
  • DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M (No. 27 Seattle)
  • DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State (No. 29 Tennessee)
  • WR Justin Jefferson, LSU (No. 30 Green Bay)
  • S Grant Delpit, LSU (No. 31 San Francisco 49ers)

ESPN’s Mel Kiper thinks Redskins can contend for NFC East title in 2020

ESPN’s Mel Kiper thinks that the Redskins aren’t far away from contending for the NFC East title and a spot in the playoffs.

When major news publications tweet out their official mock drafts ahead of April, there’s hardly a reason for fans of the Washington Redskins to bat an eye anymore. If it doesn’t peg the Redskins to select Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, then there’s a good chance it’s unreliable, and done just to spark a debate.

Like every other respectable mock draft out there, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Redskins selecting Young at No. 2 in his 2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 — who would have thought? What’s interesting, however, is the prediction he made soon-there-after.

Kiper says he wouldn’t be surprised to see the Redskins contend for an NFC East title this year.

Am I crazy to think the Redskins aren’t that far away from being a contender in the NFC East? They have some nice defensive pieces such as Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat and Landon Collins. If they can sort out their offensive line issues — bring back Trent Williams and re-sign Brandon Scherff — and get a Year 2 jump from Dwayne Haskins, Ron Rivera’s team should be much improved in 2020.

There are some big ‘ifs’ baked into that take, such as a reunion of Trent Williams and a re-signing of Brandon Scherff, not to mention a Year 2 jump from Dwayne Haskins. Still though, as a whole, it isn’t a crazy notion to think that the Redskins could win eight or nine games this season. When you look across the rest of the NFC East as well, there is arguably no powerhouse that Washington will have to take down either. Both the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are operating under a new coaching staff and the Philadelphia Eagles — who hold the belt as division leaders — don’t feel like they’re unbeatable.

It may not happen this year, but it’s not hard to picture a scenario where the Redskins are fighting for a playoff spot come December. Even Kiper thinks so.

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Latest Kiper mock draft sends WR Justin Jefferson to Packers

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay agree! The long-time ESPN draft analyst sent LSU WR Justin Jefferson to the Packers his latest mock draft.

The latest mock draft from Mel Kiper Jr. has the ESPN draft analyst following in the footsteps of a colleague.

Just as Todd McShay projected earlier this month, Kiper’s second mock draft of the season has the Green Bay Packers taking LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson at No. 30 overall of the 2020 draft.

Kiper’s first mock draft, which was posted in January, sent Penn State receiver KJ Hamler to the Packers at the end of the first round. Now, it’s the prolific slot receiver from the national champions ending up in Green Bay.

From Kiper: “Aaron Rodgers isn’t getting any younger; it’s time for the Packers to use a first-round pick on a receiver. Davante Adams was the only Green Bay pass-catcher to have more than 53 targets last season, and he had 127. This team needs a competent No. 2 wideout. Jefferson broke out in a big way last season, catching 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. You might remember him from his four-touchdown performance against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal. He led the FBS in total catches and first-down receptions (66). If Green Bay cuts Jimmy Graham, it would become a candidate to take the first tight end off the board in this class.”

Receiver and inside linebacker continue to be the favorite positions for the Packers to address in national mock drafts, a sensible thought for a team that needs so much help at both positions. The 2020 draft class is deep at receiver, so it’s only reasonable to expect the Packers to grab one – or even two – pass-catching prospects.

Jefferson, the favorite target of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, could give Aaron Rodgers a reliable weapon in the slot and a potentially dangerous threat in the middle of the field and in the red zone. At the very least, Jefferson would serve as a massive upgrade on Geronimo Allison, who struggled mightily over almost 700 snaps in Matt LaFleur’s offense in 2019.

Lance Zierlein’s draft profile of Jefferson labeled him as a “quarterback’s best friend” who is “slippery in space” and “naturally instinctive” as a pass-catcher.

Jefferson was the fifth receiver off the board in Kiper’s mock. CeeDee Lamb (No. 11), Jerry Jeudy (No. 12), Tee Higgins (No. 21) and Henry Ruggs (No. 22) went before him. Linebacker Kenneth Murray, another popular Packers pick, came off the board at No. 19. Linebacker Patrick Queen was slotted in at No. 28.

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Saints make a surprising pick in Mel Kiper’s 2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

The New Orleans Saints selected Auburn Tigers prospect Noah Igbinoghene in the 2020 NFL Mock Draft from ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper.

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What’s the biggest roster need for the New Orleans Saints? Right now, probably quarterback — the team doesn’t have a single passer under contract for the 2020 season, with Drew Brees considering retirement, Teddy Bridgewater facing a busy buyer’s market in free agency, and Taysom Hill working to build himself up as a legitimate quarterback.

Other positions that need to be addressed include wide receiver and the offensive line; Michael Thomas is a repeat first-team All-Pro, but he shouldn’t be asked to do everything by himself again this year. Life at left guard after Andrus Peat (an often-injured, two-time Pro Bowler) is uncertain, and the Saints need a better backup plan when all-world left tackle Terron Armstead misses time. They’ve invested high picks in the offensive line in recent years with center Erik McCoy and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, but wide receiver remains the most-popular Saints pick in mock drafts.

However, cornerback shouldn’t be overlooked. Two of the three Saints corners under contract (Janoris Jenkins and Patrick Robinson) could be salary cap cuts, which is bad news at a position the Saints usually dress five or six players for on game days. With that in mind, ESPN’s Mel Kiper connected the Saints to Auburn Tigers cornerback Noah Igbinoghene in his 2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0:

24. New Orleans Saints

Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

This is a really tough pick to project. Like the Patriots, the Saints’ quarterback situation is murky, with Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater unrestricted free agents and Taysom Hill a restricted free agent. Luckily this position will be sorted before the draft, so we’ll know by then whether New Orleans will be a team to watch for the quarterbacks in Round 1. For now, I’ll stay away from QBs in this mock draft and focus on another need with Eli Apple and P.J. Williams free agents. Veteran Janoris Jenkins is the other starter at cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore, but the Saints can get a young player to compete with Jenkins. Igbinoghene is a track athlete who is still developing his technique, but he has the traits to be a star.

Igbinoghene would be an interesting addition; as Kiper pointed out, he’s still learning the ropes at cornerback after starting out as a receiver for Auburn back in 2017. While he’s intercepted just one pass in two years on defense, Igbinoghene has been credited with 18 passes defensed in 25 games, which is a terrific rate. If his athletic testing lives up to the billing at the NFL Scouting Combine, he could be a real option at the end of the first round.

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