Mock draft 3.0. I prioritized the oline with this draft., while still addressing some of the other holes. I would've liked to have gotten another receiver or corner, but the players that were available weren't better than the guys I picked. Brennan Jackson's weaknesses appear to be related more to coaching and football IQ rather than his abilities as a defender. With proper coaching, he'll produce.
Pick 30 - Graham Barton OT/OG Duke
Embodies explosive power from the snap, leveraging bursts into formidable blocking force. Excels in space blocking, showcasing range, tenacity, and a relentless drive to finish. Brings a robust and proportional frame, efficiently distributing mass to optimize blocking leverage. Flexibility and adaptability allow him to sustain leverage and adjust mid-rep, crucial for maintaining control. Deploys a wide base and controlled hand placement to envelop and anchor against rushers effectively. His football IQ and versatility shine, processing in-game dynamics seamlessly across multiple line positions. His background at center and athleticism make him a fit for zone schemes, offering rare mobility for his size. Exhibits the 'scrapper' mentality, tenaciously fighting for real estate and maintaining block control. Arm length near the average could prompt a shift from tackle to an interior position at the professional level. At times, exposes his frame to power moves due to hand placement and stance nuances. Vulnerable to sophisticated rush techniques, occasionally misjudging strike timing and positioning. While his tenacity is a strength, it can lead to technique oversights, particularly in pass protection scenarios. Needs to fine-tune his blocking consistency, ensuring optimal use of his physical attributes against NFL-caliber opponents.
Pick 62 - Cooper Beebe OG Kansas State
Covered in previous mock draft.
Pick 93 - Kalen King CB Penn State
Leads the Big Ten with his ball-hawking skills, boasting top-tier passes defensed thanks to his ability to track and anticipate the ball's trajectory, impacting the game's momentum significantly. Exhibits tenacity and willingness to engage physically beyond his size, showing aggressiveness against perimeter plays and a propensity to disrupt quick outside passes. Demonstrates a blend of agility and speed, with exceptional ability to close on passes quickly, making him a formidable challenger in the short-field area. King's combative style in coverage denies receivers easy catches, and his presence is consistently felt throughout the game due to his competitive nature. His footwork and agility allow for smooth transitions when shadowing receivers, leveraging his quick-twitch abilities to match up well in man coverage. As a zone defender, King showcases strong route recognition, adept at carrying and passing off assignments with a keen eye on quarterback activity. In man coverage, he displays patience and effective hand usage to maintain close proximity to receivers, often outmaneuvering them with superior football intellect. King's run defense is highlighted by his effective pursuit angles and courage in physical confrontations, though he occasionally struggles to disengage from larger receivers. Exhibits hesitation in initial movements, leading to recovery steps when addressing quick offensive plays, which can hinder his response time. Tends to get visually trapped by backfield action, making him vulnerable to opponents with swift directional shifts and deceptive routes. Lacks ideal length and frame density, which can diminish his effective range and impact when contesting passes against taller receivers. Displays a slight delay in reacting to snap releases, occasionally causing him to trail at the line and lose early engagement. Reliance on two-hand jams in press coverage sometimes results in penalties, with a need to refine technique to avoid holding calls. Encountered a notable setback against Ohio State, where Marvin Harrison 's advanced route running exposed some of King's limitations in coverage.
Pick 131 - Brenden Rice WR USC (Jerry Rice's son)
The younger Rice, who had 39 catches for 611 yards (15.7-yard average) and four touchdowns in 2022, is 6-3, 215 pounds and hit 23 MPH on the GPS and had an impressive 1.43 10-yard split. This offseason, Rice also vertical-jumped 38 inches, did 17 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 525 for three reps." Utilizes his outstanding length and "alpha dog" mentality on 50/50 balls, and displays an expansive catch radius. Despite his tall frame, showcases rare suddenness and burst off the LOS, presenting challenges for DBs during route transitions. Flaunts high-caliber boundary awareness and body control; often seen toe-tapping or making leaping grabs near the sidelines. A natural hands catcher, he consistently high-points the ball, diminishing a defender's chance to break up the play in tight windows. While not just a vertical threat due to his impressive top-end speed, he's a YAC monster, showing elusiveness post-catch in open fields. Brings versatility to special teams; his kick and punt return prowess at Colorado underscores his multidimensional skill set. A proven clutch player with big-game DNA; consistently elevates his play in high-stakes situations like Tulane and Oregon outings. While blessed with a sizeable frame, he struggles to consistently play through contact, particularly on contested routes. Despite being listed at 215 pounds, his somewhat slender build may be a concern when matching up with more physical corners. Has a tendency to overcomplicate releases, often "dancing" at the line rather than immediately establishing his route. Production metrics are volatile; needs to showcase consistent weekly output rather than sporadic big-game bursts.
Pick 134 - Jaylen Wright RB Tennessee
Wright runs with violence; he’s capable of thrashing through tacklers, and Wright has the natural balance to withstand contact. He keeps his pads low and consistently falls forward. Unlike most backs his size, he has the lateral movement and stop-start ability to make defenders whiff. He has breakaway speed in the open field. Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked #24. He wrote " The 5-11 Wright is up to 200 pounds but displayed some serious juice this offseason, clocking 23.6 mph in practice. Beyond that, Wright vertical-jumped 44 inches and did a 10-8 broad jump." He gets low and rarely absorbs significant contact, and he shows a nice blend of quickness and patience, maximizing his blocking. He is a natural playmaker, at his best with the ball in his hands. He shows good vision and good explosion up-field once he plants his foot. Wright has lateral movement skills and enough speed to threaten big plays. He’s excellent in the passing game, capable of flexing out as a receiver and creating mismatches against linebackers, and he’s a solid back in the screen game. Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Elite, darting stop-and-go acceleration. Dangerous in the open field. Wright has a slight build, especially for a running back, and Wright isn’t going to grind out yardage between the tackles, as he lacks power and runs with a fairly high pad level. Has a lean frame and lacks ideal bulk or muscle for the position.
Pick 164 - Kenny Logan Jr. S Kansas
Shows good instincts when facing the action in zone coverage, and Logan has solid ball skills. Aware in the red zone, stays on the back line to take away fade throws. Capable of making quarterbacks pay for late throws. He’s tall-framed with long arms to match. With his powerful hands, straight-line speed, and fluidity in his hips, turning and chasing downfield shouldn’t be a problem. Has the violent hands to discard receivers and smaller tight ends, and he is a sure tackler. In coverage, he shows good instincts when sitting back in zone, with click-and-close ability and good ball tracking. Good speed in pursuit with the chase skills to track down the ballcarrier. Flashes some physicality as a hitter. Lowers his shoulder for the big hit rather than wrapping up securely. Despite his size, he’s not an overly physical tackler. Logan might have to add some weight at the next level in order to become more physical. Isn’t great in route recognition when he’s facing the action, is hesitant and susceptible to double moves, and too often gets unnecessarily handsy when playing trail position
Pick 226 - Cedric Johnson DE/OLB Ole Miss
Flashes nimble feet to chase running backs and mobile quarterbacks to the sideline when lined up at end. Spins off blocks to get back into the play. Fast in a straight line. Excellent wide and .bull rushes when he's first off the snap. Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked #41. He wrote "At 6-3, 270, he has just 11.3 percent body fat, and he vertical-jumped 36.5 inches, broad-jumped 10 feet and bench pressed 390 pounds. This offseason, he topped over 20 mph on the GPS and did six pull-ups with a 70-pound belt attachment." Johnson can also win going speed-to-power, with the leg drive to push blockers back. He has a lethal spin move and the pure speed to close quickly. He shows good quickness off the line of scrimmage and flashes the violent hands to win around the edge. Johnson has an explosive first step and converts that short-area speed into power, a capable bull rusher. He’s very much a work in progress with his hand in the dirt. Johnson doesn’t play with ideal physicality, often failing to set the edge as a run defender. While Johnson has violent hands, he uses them too inconsistently. He tends to let blockers get into his chest, and he’ll waste time hand fighting due to a limited array of pass rush moves. Johnson has to develop a counter move or two in the pass rush, and he needs to make better use of his hands.
Pick 248 - Brennan Jackson DE/OLB Washington State (Michael McCrary energy)
Jackson wins with all-out hustle, second and third effort and will contribute in the NFL. He has an excellent motor and shows the stamina to last deep into the fourth quarter. Flashes strength at the point of attack with active, violent hand use. Forceful with his upper body to defeat blocks. Strong hustle player. Offers some versatility, rushing from a two-and three-point stance with the playing speed to stand up in space. Flashes strength as a bull rusher and his energy doesn't plateau. He possesses an intriguing blend of size and movement skills. Jackson has good length, wide shoulders, and long arms, and Jackson has room to add weight. Plays with leverage at the point of attack whether inside or outside. Keeps eyes in the backfield when inside; moves linemen to either side with strong hands. He’s not a guy who can be put on the edge every down and be expected to consistently create pressure. Stands up well against the run but is very pursuit-conscious and will take unneeded wide angles. Jackson is so eager to get up-field that Jackson often abandons responsibilities against the run.