Tag: SBnation

Minnesota Vikings take UCLA star in latest SB Nation mock draft

With the potential departure of three edge rushers, SBNation is sending UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu to the Minnesota Vikings in their latest mock.

We’re still very early in the 2024 NFL Draft process, and there are a lot of dominos yet to fall into place. The NFL’s free agency period and the NFL Scouting Combine are going to go a long way towards completing our NFL Draft picture, and will likely shake up a lot of early projections. Still, it’s interesting to see the early trends — like the Minnesota Vikings opting to take defensive help instead of a quarterback.

That has been a common theme in mock drafts lately, and that theme continues with the latest mock draft from SBNation writer JP Acosta. Acosta has the Vikings taking UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, a popular choice for the Vikings among NFL Draft prognosticators. This is what Acosta had to say on the selection:

Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and DJ Wonnum are all free agents, and while Hunter should get a hefty payday, the other two are more unsure. Latu is a refined technician of a pass rusher with phenomenal hand usage. Put him in a Brian Flores defense and let him cook.

As Acosta points out, the Vikings could be looking at a real dearth of talent at the position after free agency. Danielle Hunter and his potential departure grab all the headlines, but it’s not a foregone conclusion that Marcus Davenport and DJ Wonnum are back in purple next year, either. Minnesota could be in a real bad position at pass rusher if they aren’t careful — which makes the Latu pick all the more likely.

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You’ll be very surprised to hear this name in one mock draft

There’s plenty of college basketball left to play and while it is uncertain who will go where the time is nigh for prognostications.

College basketball is currently in full swing with the season cascading towards the postseason — a time of year when legends are made and history is written. Just beyond the tournaments lies the National Basketball League’s amateur draft, the gateway to dream fulfillment for every person who has ever picked up a basketball.

Because there is plenty of games left to play, it is uncertain who will go where when all is said and done, but the time is nigh for prognostications as the season wears on. For the Florida Gators, there are many more questions than answers so far this season, especially after the loss of the Southeaster Conference Preseason Player of the Year Keyontae Johnson to a freak medical condition that derailed his course toward a first-round selection in the eyes of many.

UF’s season has had many up and downs despite the wealth of talent that resides on its bench. The Gators have notched major wins against top-15 ranked Tennessee Volunteers and West Virginia Mountaineers so far this season, but have had letdowns against inferior teams like the South Carolina Gamecocks. As such, it is hard to discern who will stay with the program and who will try their luck in the NBA draft this summer.

So far, Johnson and guard Tre Mann have gotten the most mentions during draft discussions — according to ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony, both could be picked this time around. However, another mock draft sees things very differently.

SBNation basketball editor Ricky O’Donnell published his NBA mock draft on Wednesday with a twist unseen so far. In his opinion, Florida guard Scottie Lewis will not only enter the draft but be selected in the first round. Here is what he had to say to justify his position.

25. Denver Nuggets – Scottie Lewis, G, Florida

Lewis was a McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit who couldn’t quite live up to his one-and-done projections as a freshman. He looks much more comfortable this season as a sophomore, flashing the physical tools and competitive mindset that always made him appealing while slowly learning to become a more efficient scorer. Lewis has been scoring in the 90th percentile in transition and in the 80th percentile in the halfcourt this year. He’s grown as a shooter and is hitting his threes at 42 percent on a low volume of attempts (19 all season). His best attribute will continue to be his defense thanks to his quick-twitch athleticism and leaping ability.

I’ll be frank, I’m just not feeling this projection especially given Lewis’ inconsistent play this season. It seems very unlikely he would go this high, plus he would benefit from another year of seasoning in the SEC gauntlet. That said, if he does get picked he would be the first Gator selected since Erik Murphy was taken in the second round way back in 2013 at No. 49 overall.

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