Kaiir Elam has been considered a first-round pick all year, but PFF doesn’t have him going in the top 10 just yet. Trevor Sikkema has Florida’s best NFL prospect going to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 19 despite Elam being ranked seventh on PFF’s NFL draft big board.
Sikkema has two corners going ahead of Elam in his mock draft. He has LSU‘s Derek Stingley Jr. going second overall to the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner going sixth overall to the New York Jets. Elam would go to New York in many mocks for locking down SEC receivers week in and week out, but Gardner gets the nod for some very impressive stats albeit against a lot of AAC talent.
Here’s what Sikkema had to say on Elam:
Elam being this low on a mock draft might turn some heads, as he was getting some top-10 hype before the season. He might end up there, but for now, I still think the top-20 range is his comfort zone.
His 65.7 coverage grade so far this season is a bit disappointing after posting coverage grades in the 80s in each of the past two seasons. But at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Elam presents the kind of length and athleticism you want to invest in.
The coverage grade being down is an obvious disappointment, but what wasn’t mentioned was the three weeks Elam spent out with injury after facing Alabama. Up until the injury, PFF was posting regular updates on social media of how dominant Elam was at corner.
Florida CB Kaiir Elam is ELITE
🔹 Most press coverage snaps played among SEC CBs
🔸 0 completions allowed in press coverage pic.twitter.com/qO7nm1ERF6— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 23, 2021
After Georgia, the schedule gets very light for Florida, and Elam should be able to show off as he did at the beginning of the year. His numbers should improve by the season’s end, which should move him up even the harshest of mock drafts.
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