The Chargers passed on running backs, so I guess that means they won't give in to Austin Ekeler's trade demand. Henry To'oTo'o, ILB, Alabama NFL fans are the most passionate in all of sports and I cant wait for another great NFL Draft.. In his most recent mock prior to this one released on Wednesday, the draft . Robert Beal Jr., Georgia Tank Dell, Houston He was a slight reach on my board. David Perales, Fresno State He is going to be the starter in 2023, though the deal he signed gives the team an out after a year if he doesn't star again. Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech 14. Mohamoud Diabate, Utah Wilson will start, and Mayer is a ready-made replacement for Darren Waller, but I don't see value with the rest of this class. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin I picked tight end Will Mallory (162) as one of my combine risers in March. Jake Andrews, Troy Thayer Thomas, NC State, 1. 3. Tight end Zack Kuntz (220) lit up the combine workouts, and he is a worthy risk in Round 7. Dillon Doyle, Baylor Wilson was a consistent menace off the edge for the Red Raiders. 27. 146. Ultimately, Ran Carthon's first draft as Tennessee general manager will be remembered for what happens with this pick. The Packers sent back No. Colby Wooden, Auburn Edge rusher Derick Hall (37) had 16 sacks over the past two seasons, but he went over a couple of other better pass-rushers. 13. YaYa Diaby, Louisville Travis Dye, USC This is an awesome addition. 64. Johnson has everything NFL teams look for in a day one starter at left tackle. After an offseason coaching change and a huge trade up the board to acquire the No. Garrett Williams, Syracuse He's one of the best "processors" I've scouted over the past decade, meaning he goes through read progressions to find his target or knows exactly the right time to escape the pocket. Stetson Bennett, Georgia Harris LaChance, BYU Puka Nacua, BYU Mel Kiper grades Saints draft a B-minus, criticizes 'a few significant 42. Johnson, East Carolina Signing Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal, of course. Banks' tape is one of the most impressive I've seen in this class in terms of man coverage. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz breaks down the Golden State stars legendary performance to close out the Kings. 8. 2. Grading 2023 NFL mock drafts: How did Mel Kiper, Daniel Jeremiah, Todd 13. Dallas did well. 19. Tyrick James, Tulane The guy is without question the g.o.a.t. 18, with top running back Bijan Robinson still on the board. 23. 1. Mel Kiper Mel Kiper Jr. is known as an American football analyst on ESPN. Terell Smith, Minnesota Keion White, Georgia Tech Sean Tucker, Syracuse I don't mind spending a seventh-rounder on TCU quarterback Max Duggan (239), though I have questions about his ceiling. It then drafted top-ranked edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. (3), giving the team two of my top-five prospects overall. This draft includes so much intrigue . Abraham Beauplan, Marshall Why isn't ESPN's Mel Kiper at 2022 NFL draft? - Patriots Wire 20. Justin Shorter, Florida If Rice comes in as a rookie and climbs the depth chart, this class could be tremendous. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (39) is a big riser since the end of the season; he has a great mix of size and speed, and he is great after the catch. 8. ESPN requires its on-site employees get the COVID-19 vaccine and the NFL mandates that on-site reporters also get the jab . 124. These are my personal rankings. He ranked the 2019 draft class- the last one under head coach Jason Garrett- in the bottom third of the league. He has a chance to go in the top 15 picks because teams always reach for edge rushers. Xavier Smith, Florida A&M Byron Young, Alabama Christian Sims, Bowling Green, 1. The organization gave up a 2024 first-rounder and a 2025 second-rounder in the deal too, and it had just five picks in this draft. Same thing! 10. Lindsey Scott Jr., Incarnate Word 71. Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina Top needs entering the draft: OT, DE, RB, CB, DT. 47. 13. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. . That's a miss based on my list of pre-draft needs. 11. But when I went through and watched all of his starts at Kentucky, I was really impressed with his game. 81 in this draft). Jon Gaines II, UCLA Jack Podlesny, Georgia Robert Ferrel, Washington State 9. Instead, he will broadcast live. Habakkuk Baldonado, Pitt 67. After his freshman season in 2020, I thought Bresee was a future top-five pick, but he missed all of 2021 with an ACL injury. For instance, I ranked 55 wide receivers, 28 defensive tackles and 45 cornerbacks, along with the top nine long-snappers in this class, even though we'll be lucky to see one of them get drafted. 37. He's going to start as a rookie. Final 2023 NFL draft rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects by position Let's dig into my final Big Board and position rankings for the 2023 class. Witherspoon allowed 16 receptions on 54 targets as the primary defender last season. 2. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 27. Jones has great feet in pass protection and can plow over defenders in the run game. Can Young's frame hold up at the next level? He had nine sacks last season and was extremely impressive during the athletic testing at the combine. 11. I've said before that if he were four inches taller, he'd have a similar grade as some of the best I've ever scouted. Branch can cover like a cornerback, and he isn't afraid to tackle. DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB Nick Broeker (230) is a decent guard prospect who is definitely worth a Round 7 flier. Emari Demercado, TCU He had 33 sacks over the past four seasons. Kiper's 2023 NFL draft grades: Why two teams clearly had the best weekend, 'That was crazy, no cap': How one wild sequence helped the 76ers steal Game 1, 'Aggressive' Harden takes over as 76ers stun C's, Suns' Paul leaves G2 loss with left groin tightness, Devils blank Rangers for 1st series win since 2012, Jokic powers Nuggets to 2-0, shrugs off MVP talk, Serena announces she's pregnant with 2nd child, Snoop Dogg joins Sparks' bid to buy Senators, Jets bolster OT group by signing veteran Turner, Ohio halts betting on Alabama baseball games. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. reveals final 2023 NFL Draft grade for Patriots originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. Derek Parish, Houston Dallas Daniels, Jackson State Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Josh Allen now has Kincaid and Dawson Knox as his top two tight ends, and he has to be thrilled. Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin He actually did use his legs a few times in that one, and he was decisive and nearly flawless as a passer. Kayshon Boutte, LSU Nic Jones, Ball State 14. 5. I would have been harsher on a team taking quarterback Hendon Hooker (68) in Round 1, but Detroit was able to land him at the top of Round 3. Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State Dalton Godfrey, South Dakota Austin Stidham, Troy He can make up ground with late bursts to track the ball. 7. This is a case of liking the player but not loving the fit. Jayden Reed, Michigan State NFL draft: Biggest potential steals in this year's class. Top needs entering the draft: DE, CB, WR, DT, QB. He took too many sacks. As Bryce Young declares for the NFL draft, take a look at some of his highlight plays from his collegiate career at Alabama. Yasir Abdullah, Louisville I thought Nolan Smith (30) could have gone as high as No. Chuck Filiaga, Minnesota Kiper's grades | McShay's best picks Andrew Vorhees, USC I've been calling cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (16) this draft's "Splendid Splinter," because of his frame. Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan Trevor Harmanson, UTSA Safety Jammie Robinson (145) had a stellar week of practices at the Senior Bowl in February. Myles Brooks, Louisiana Tech Dante Stills, West Virginia Top needs entering the draft: CB, OT, WR, TE, OLB. Christian Izien, Rutgers JL Skinner, Boise State Jartavius Martin, Illinois We know Wilson had a horrid Year 1 in Denver, but is there reason for optimism now with Payton on board? Kilian Zierer, Auburn He has the position flexibility to play with his hand in the dirt or standing up on the edge of the D-line. If they had their own pick at No. Offensive tackle Blake Freeland (106) has excellent traits in a 6-foot-8 frame, while defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (110) is a top-50 prospect on my board. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). He joins two other anchors who wont be in attendance for ESPN, as Adam Schefter will miss the draft altogether to attend his sons college graduation in Michigan. That has gotten the Penn State transfer into trouble at times, but it's clear watching him that he believes he can fit the ball into any window. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse Jordan Wright, Kentucky, Mikel Jones, Syracuse 141. Demontrey Jacobs, USF Jack Campbell, ILB, Iowa Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan He doesn't get handsy with receivers, so his game will translate well to the NFL. The Seahawks went with two Michigan players I like on Day 3 -- defensive end Mike Morris (151) and center Olusegun Oluwatimi (154) -- and LSU's Anthony Bradford (108) is my fifth-ranked guard. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU 27. I had Smith in my top 25 during the season, before he tore his right pectoral muscle and missed the rest of the season. That's impressive stuff from general manager Joe Schoen. 10. The issues I have with edge rusher Tyree Wilson (7) is that cornerback Christian Gonzalez was still available, and Wilson's physical traits didn't always match his production. This is a small class, but Addison fills a massive need. Elsewhere, I liked the addition of Matthew Bergeron (38), who it seems will move to guard for the Falcons. Byron Young, DT, Alabama 18. Coldon, Oklahoma Aidan O'Connell, Purdue 21. 8. At 6-foot-2, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine. 12. Jordan McFadden, Clemson Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia Jonah Tavai, San Diego State 44. Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor His 71.2 QBR ranked 30th in the country. 137. 16. Caden McDonald, San Diego State And it's the receiving part that makes Gibbs such an intriguing prospect -- and could land him in Round 1. Kobie Turner, Wake Forest John Michael Schmitz (57) is my top-ranked center, and he fills a huge hole. 114. 136. Jordan Battle, Alabama 35. Mel Kiper, Jr., will appear on ESPN from his home studio in Maryland. Benton's traits didn't match his college production, but if he keeps developing some pass-rush moves, he could be a three-down player. Ethan Evans, Wingate JL Skinner, S, Boise State 2. Eli Huggins, Kansas State Nolan Smith, Georgia 4. The Titans moved up eight spots in a trade with the Cardinals, giving up Nos. Can street race king Perez challenge Verstappen for the title? I appreciate my colleagues, particularly the production staff and my fellow commentators, for their support and flexibility. Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU 17. Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin 18. Drake Thomas, NC State JJ Holloman, Tennessee State Fantasy women's basketball: Why to focus on guards early in your draft, Miami Heat celebrate Florida Panthers while trolling Boston Bruins and Milwaukee Bucks, LIVE Transfer Talk: Manchester United see Lautaro Martinez as a striker option, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges, Kiper's favorite 2023 draft prospects at every position: 14 picks, from QB to kicker, What McShay is hearing about the NFL draft: Buzz on the top 13 picks, interesting team storylines, Rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top prospects at every position from Kiper, McShay, Miller, Reid, discussed Addison early in the 2022 season. 121. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa 11. He struggled a little bit with an unspecified injury over the last two months in 2022, but he finished the season with 59 catches for 875 yards and eight scores. Tyler Scott, Cincinnati Jeremy Banks, Tennessee He never reached, and he used his selections on premium positions. Miami entered this draft with just four picks, the fewest in the league, and it had already filled its biggest roster hole via the March trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ronnie Hickman Jr., Ohio State I actually have Darius Rush (138) as my 11th-best corner in the class, one spot below Brents. This is another class that will hinge on what happens with the quarterback. 5 22 Related Topics ESPN Sports journalism Sports 22 comments Best Add a Comment 4t9rman 1 yr. ago With three picks in the top 50, the Steelers entered the draft with a real chance to come away with multiple new rookie starters. I have write-ups for the top 25 guys then lists for the rest. 10. Top needs entering the draft: QB, WR, DE, CB, OT. 4. Witherspoon didn't work out at the combine because of a minor injury; he ran a mid-4.4s 40-yard dash at his pro day in early April. 7. Javon Williams Jr., Southern Illinois 8. Owen Pappoe, Auburn Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida Jalen Carter, Georgia Anderson's sack numbers were down (10) from his historic 2021 season (17.5), and he ranked sixth in the country with 19.5 tackles for loss after being No. 19. Michael Mayer (35), the most complete tight end in this draft, was a nice selection at the top of Day 2, but a few other of Ziegler's picks were reaches on my board. Daewood Davis, Western Kentucky It added extremely valuable 2024 picks (a first and third) from Houston and got my top-ranked offensive tackle in Paris Johnson Jr. (6), though trading back up to get Johnson cost them another second-rounder. 29. Safety Gervarrius Owens is an intriguing flier in Round 7. The Chiefs added a fun wideout on Day 2, taking Rashee Rice (55), a 6-foot-1 deep threat. 5. Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa On Day 3, Houston added back a 2024 third-rounder in a deal with Philadelphia, which was a nice move. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and put up a 42-inch vertical leap at the combine. 11. Cam Smith, South Carolina He might win Rookie of the Year in Arthur's Smith's offense. Smith-Njigba had a lost 2022 season, finishing with five catches because of a nagging hamstring injury. Flowers' size won't wow teams, but if they just put on the tape, they'll see why he's a first-round talent. According to Kiper, it's due to him being unvaccinated from COVID-19, citing medical issues as to why he hasn't received the vaccine. Peter Afful Jr., Washburn He also showed up at his pro day 9 pounds heavier than he was at the NFL combine, and he couldn't finish the position drills. Keenan Isaac, Alabama State That's small. Durell Nchami, Maryland, John Waggoner, Iowa Overall, if Murphy develops into an every-down player, we could be looking at an A class in a few years. Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma One thing is for sure: The AFC South got much more interesting after this draft. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (187) is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. 21. 3. They're going to make an early impact. Kivon Bennett, Arkansas State Calvin Avery, Illinois With their top two picks going to Seattle as the last remnants of the Russell Wilson trade -- and another first-rounder, acquired for edge rusher Bradley Chubb, going to New Orleans for coach Sean Payton -- it was a step to get ahead of their biggest needs. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, he is undersized, but you can't teach his physical traits. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back wide receiver selections in the middle of Round 1. 37. Brandon Barnes-Brown, Fayetteville State, 1. Jack Campbell, Iowa 11. After a season at guard, Johnson kicked outside to left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2022. I also think linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (167) and wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (205) could be solid finds. ESPNs top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will also miss the draft due to medical reasons. Off-ball linebacker Dorian Williams (91) ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and he has some coverage ability. 14. Ravens receivers caught just seven touchdown passes all of last season, and general manager Eric DeCosta has now added Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. to the depth chart. 40. Kiper is not the only ESPN commentator to have made headlines for being unvaccinated. This years NFL Draft is from April 28 to April 30. DeWayne McBride, UAB Overall, there are some early contributors in their class, even though I would have gone in different directions at a couple of spots. How old is Mel Kiper Jr.? Career timeline for legendary ESPN NFL Draft According to Kiper, its due to him being unvaccinated from COVID-19, citing medical issues as to why he hasnt received the vaccine. Offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan (186) has starter tools if he can put everything together. 54. Plus, maybe I owe general manager John Schneider an A after not giving him one last year. I still have a few questions about this Detroit defense, but Holmes' Day 2 saved a C here. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M Broderick Jones, Georgia Coach Mike McCarthy will go back to calling the plays, like he did in Green Bay. The Colts must think he can start as a rookie. He had an elite 2022 season. Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina NFL draft grades 2023: How Mel Kiper Jr., other experts rate - Yahoo Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State As I wrote Thursday, putting Carter next to Jordan Davis again makes total sense. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Oregon, Kadeem Telfort, UAB 10. He tackles in the run game and will stick to receivers like glue in coverage. Tashawn Manning, Kentucky 6. Cory Trice, Purdue Zach Harrison, Ohio State We're going to find out a lot more about Love and his future in a few months. 23. On Day 2, they added cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (32), defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (49) and tight end Darnell Washington (93), all of whom could play significant roles this season. Charlie Jones, Purdue The upside is tremendous -- and the Colts have a solid offense around him to help -- but I'd be worried to throw him into the fire in Week 1, as the team seems eager to do. How ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and others sized up Dolphins draft - Yahoo Will they go after veteran free agents in May instead? Carter has some off-field questions -- his draft status was clouded after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a fatal crash in January -- but there's no denying his talent level. 143. 12. KeShaun Moore, Hampton 12. Andre Carter II, Army So how'd he do? Earl Bostick Jr., Kansas I mentioned inside linebacker Drew Sanders (67) and defensive back Riley Moss (83) in my Friday recap; they're both good players. Some of that is because he was asked to lock down the top receiver on every team and he didn't get much help. 18. Top needs entering the draft: TE, OLB, S, WR, DT. Tyrus Wheat, Mississippi State Mel Kiper Jr. issues surprising grade for Cowboys draft class with 'not Jimmy Phillips Jr., SMU De'Jahn Warren, Jackson State Sean Clifford, Penn State Patrick O'Connell, Montana Taylor Grimes, Incarnate Word 7. Andrei Iosivas, Princeton There's not much flash in this class, which is not usually how team owner Jerry Jones does things, but I can't knock many of these selections. 58 overall on my Big Board and is ranked third at the position. Cameron Brown, Ohio State Payne Durham, Purdue That prediction had Buffalo using their top pick at No. Gervarrius Owens, Houston Smith had just 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons, but an NFL team could fall in love with his traits. Mel Kiper Jr. gives Raiders grade of 'B-' for 2023 draft class General manager Chris Ballard stuck at No. Matt Landers, Arkansas He was downright reckless at times last season, trusting his strong arm to fit throws into tight spaces but instead getting picked off. 111. 2. He had an up-and-down season, throwing 17 touchdown passes and nine interceptions while running for nine scores. Isaiah Land, Florida A&M (with WWEs Corey Graves), Pick on the Total for Reds-Padres on May 2, Chris Paul OUT for rest of Game 2 vs. Nuggets Monday with groin injury, Wells Fargo Championship Picks: PGA TOUR Golf Best Bets, Predictions, Odds to Consider on DraftKings Sportsbook, Full schedule for Hurricanes vs. Devils in second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, List of teams that have advanced to second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Updated bracket heading into second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I also included a "best of the rest" section for several positions; those are prospects with undrafted grades who can be grouped together, and they're not in any order. 50. 28. At 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, there aren't many quarterbacks in the history of the league with Richardson's size, speed and arm strength. Running back DeWayne McBride (222) is my favorite selection for Minnesota; he is a top-100 prospect on my board. Trevor Brohard, New Mexico State 11. 129. Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina 24. Kiper ESPN+ recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 Jordan Riley, Oregon Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State Jones started 19 games for the back-to-back champs over the past two seasons, filling in for Jamaree Salyer in 2021 before taking over the left tackle job full-time last season. Kiper could not be reached for additional comment Tuesday. Seattle landed two of my top 14 prospects. 39. Cameron Mitchell, Northwestern (The Spun) Filed Under: NFL Related: ESPN's Brian Windhorst Explains He's Talking Quietly Because His Hotel Neighbor's Threat Paul Finebaum Not Liking What He's Hearing About Alabama Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech After going a league-worst 11-38-1 over the past three seasons, this draft was Houston's chance to accelerate its rebuild and get the ship righted. 9. Eligibility restrictions apply. Richardson is still very raw -- his mechanics and footwork need a lot of work. Tyreque Jones, Boise State Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan Jeffery Johnson, Oklahoma, 1. Darius Rush, South Carolina (And who knows, maybe they found the next Brock Purdy in here somewhere.). 17. 150. Mitchell Agude, Miami Why is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. Not at the 2022 NFL Draft? If Atlanta was a Super Bowl favorite? 116. I've adjusted my rankings based on on-field workouts and athletic testing at the combine, numbers we've gotten from pro day workouts and buzz I've heard from NFL scouts, coaches and execs. Travis Vokolek, Nebraska We'll start with the best grades and go to the worst, with teams that have identical grades listed in alphabetical order: Jump to a team: 24. Tyrique Stevenson, Miami 1. And with their first-round pick gone to Detroit, they're starting that rebuild at a disadvantage. Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama In October, longtime college football and basketball reporter Allison Williams announced she was leaving the network over its Covid-19 vaccination mandate. 18. Jay Ward, LSU Jack Colletto, Oregon State Johnston is going to come down with his fair share of 50-50 balls, but Flowers or Addison would have made Justin Herbert's life a little bit easier, because they can run crossers and help in the quick game, which just isn't Johnston's strength. Ryan Jones, East Carolina You can't teach the tools he has -- at 6-foot-6, he has fantastic first-step quickness -- but going in the top 10 means he has to put up double-digit sacks per season. draft viewers will not attend this years event. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State He was born on the 25th of July in 1960. This was a clear need area for the Jets. 41. Elijah Higgins, Stanford Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama 84. 29. 34. 39. 7. Tre Tucker, Cincinnati Josh Vann, South Carolina Richardson hasn't come close to his ceiling. Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Fresno State With JuJu Smith-Schuster signing in New England, the Chiefs can increase the snaps for Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney while rotating in Rice to try to replace Smith-Schuster. 22. T.J. Luther, Gardner-Webb 9. 32 Ronnie Bell, Michigan Absolutely. I liked what Arizona did on Day 1. 3. 37. I question the Bills not taking a corner until the seventh round, but the first three selections in this class are enough for a solid B. And he should stay on the left side and be a future All-Pro. The reality is this pick has some risk because we've never seen a pocket passer under 6 feet tall have consistent success at the NFL level; Young is 2 inches shorter than Drew Brees. SirVocea Dennis, Pitt I still think he's a Round 1 prospect -- he obviously will put on weight as he gets older -- but he's not a top-15 lock. Lachlan Pitts, William & Mary, Kemari Averett, Bethune-Cookman Jaylen Hall, Western Kentucky This is a team that needed a playmaker to take the load off Stefon Diggs, and Kincaid will help. Top needs entering the draft: WR, TE, CB, DT, RB. I have Young No. Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati They ranked near the bottom of the league in both offense and defense last season. 85. Some teams had a higher grade on wideout Cedric Tillman (74) than his Tennessee teammate Jalin Hyatt, who went a pick before him. Malachi Carter, Georgia Tech If the Patriots can untap his talent, he could be a major steal, but I have doubts. The Walt Disney Co., which co-owns ESPN, announced in late July that it would require all salaried and nonunion hourly employees to be vaccinated within 60 days. Tuli Tuipulotu, DL, USC The Packers had three picks on Day 2 to try to improve things around Love, and that's exactly what they did, which redeems the slight reach of Lukas Van Ness (13) on Thursday. They need help on both sides of the ball. 21. So how did they fare? Myles Murphy, Clemson 5. 18, the Lions did what great teams don't do, and that's reach for a need. 4 and still got Anthony Richardson. Mel Kiper Jr. and Kirk Herbstreit won't be in Las Vegas. - New York Times The NFL draft is finally here, and I have a new and improved set of Round 1 predictions before the fun begins Thursday night (8 p.m. ESPN's top draft analyst Mel Kiper won't attend the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas, instead logging into the broadcast from his home in Maryland. Randy Charlton, Mississippi State I'm a fan of Porter, a lanky and physical defender who can reroute receivers with the best of them. He just knows how to get open. 15 and 170. 3. Will Mallory, Miami Jakari Robinson, Bowling Green I was more down on two of its Day 2 picks, as I mentioned Friday, but I get building through the trenches. Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse This is a great spot for him, being able to be mentored by Patrick Peterson. He can break tackles or run by defensive backs. That's a decent haul. Cory Durden, NC State The quarterback question likely will linger into 2024, and I'm not sure Washington hit all of its needs outside of the secondary with this class. 38. A transfer from San Diego, where he had 20 touchdown catches in 2018 and 2019 combined, Kincaid had 16 scores for the Utes over the past two seasons. Everyrime hes in it looks like hes got parkinsons like shakes but he still dominates every single segment. Utah often used him out of the slot, and he torched safeties trying to cover him. 2. 7. Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford He can play on third downs and stick to tight ends in coverage. 14. Andrew Farmer, Lane He ran inside and outside, caught passes and scored a bunch of touchdowns. Yasir Abdullah, OLB, Louisville ET, ESPN, ABC and ESPN+). And then we saw him at his best as he threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in the narrow loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals. 48. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? Calijah Kancey, Pitt When I studied Derius Davis (125), a college teammate of Johnston, I saw a better return man than route runner, though Davis is super fast. It sounds like the Bucs see him as guard, but I think he could start at right tackle in time. 74. I'm a big fan. 126. Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN Noah Henderson, East Carolina, 1. NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. will participate in ESPN's television broadcast covering the tentpole event from his home studio in Maryland and not onsite in Las Vegas because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19, he said Monday. Chris Stoll, Penn State