Here are the latest draft rumblings from around the league with the big event less than a week away:
- We’ve heard endlessly about the top passers in this draft, but there’s an interesting group of second-tier guys as well. One of those second-tier guys is Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, who apparently has a real shot to go earlier than most think. Several people have told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter video link) that if any of the second-tier quarterbacks are going to be “the shocking first-round pick,” it could be Mond. The four-year SEC starter is currently expected to go off the board sometime on Day 2, but Pelissero notes there are a lot of things scouts love about him. This will be something to keep an eye on this week.
- An interesting general draft note here. Obviously there’s going to be an early run on quarterbacks, but the drafting of offensive players isn’t going to stop there. There are a number of pass-catchers and O-linemen who could go off the board very early. In fact, there’s a scenario that could “definitely happen,” where each of the first ten guys drafted on Thursday are offensive players, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Rapsheet says “plenty of teams” picking in the teens and 20s “have been buzzing about how many offensive guys will go early.” It would be the first time in draft history that no defensive player was taken in the top ten, Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network tweets.
- The Bengals have made upgrading Joe Burrow‘s protection a priority this offseason, understandably so after he tore his ACL during his rookie campaign. They signed tackle Riley Reiff in free agency, and are expected to add help in the draft. Although they had been linked to Oregon tackle Penei Sewell early on, it looks like that help might not come in the first-round after all. There’s a “growing belief that the team is moving toward selecting LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes (subscription required). Dragon notes Bengals exec Duke Tobin said the team would add offensive line help “at some point” in the draft. He writes that the team’s front office thinks this “draft possesses a rich crop of offensive linemen,” and that the organization thinks there will be “starting-caliber offensive linemen available in the second and even third round.”
Ooof. I really would not draft Mond with a quality pick. He’s waaayyyy too inconsistent and really can struggle reading the field and progressing through his options. I know there was some hype about him and A&M played well as a whole last year, but I really do not like his long term viability as a passer. I know others will disagree, and everyone is always trying to find the next overlooked quarterback, but I personally am not high on Mond at all.
Inconsistent, trouble reading defenses. Sounds perfect for the Bears.
Hmm. Watched every game over the last four years. He got better every year. Capped it off with 2282 yards passing, 19 tds, 3 int, 63.3% completion ratio, 146 passer rating, 294 yards rushing and 4 rush tds while playing in the SEC. He’s good.
So was Manzel.
Not a fair comparison. Haven’t heard any reports of Mond sniffing llello and partying in the clubs 7 nights a week.
Those stats really aren’t so special, but I am more worried about what Mond provides long term as a pick. I don’t think play style translates well to the NFL. He doesn’t turn it over, but he also does not complete enough of his passes and just doesn’t go through his progressions enough.
I know it’s a college offense, and he’s improved, but when I watch him I see a lot of the same features that Kaepernick had as a player, minus the exceptional arm strength and size. Mond seems coachable and a good character, but I just wouldn’t take him as an NFL QB. I could be wrong, of course, and I guess we’ll find out soon.
teams are getting desperate to draft QBs jeez.
tyler slough, sam howell, maybe kevon slovis next year. spencer rattler year after. teams could be a little more patient, and more vets becoming available again next off season.
JT Daniels also
Lol I know, like darn. I look back at old nfl drafts and only 2 or 3 QBs went in the 1st round. Now n days wow.
Think the Bengals will regret not getting Sewell. It’s not like they are taking Julio Jones. I don’t see a ton of difference as far as value among the Top-3 WRs. Theres a clear drop off from Sewell.
Sewell makes the most sense, but they probably look at the LSU connection and believe they can keep the random around for years because they’ve been reconnected. If they don’t go Sewell, they better load up in the 2nd and 3rd on the line.
The Bears should take Mond. #FireRyanPace
In fact, the Bears should consider Mond for GM, because he’s already better than Pace