A lot can change between now and the 2021 NFL Draft. But if you’re to believe the latest first round mock draft from ESPN, there won’t be many B1G names called on that opening night.

In his latest mock draft, Kiper has only four B1G players listed as Round 1 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, though three of those picks are predicted to go in the first 10 spots. First, let’s take a look at the names the ESPN expert did include, which includes one player from Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan:

  • No. 7: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State (Detroit Lions)
  • No. 9: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (Denver Broncos)
  • No. 10: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern (Dallas Cowboys)
  • No. 21: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan (Indianapolis Colts)

Fields is listed in the No. 7 spot despite being considered a Top 3 pick for most of the season. Some subpar performances against Indiana, Northwestern and Alabama likely led to the Ohio State quarterback slipping in latest mock draft.

Fields is currently the No. 3 QB in the mock, behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and BYU’s Zach Wilson.

Parsons and Slater have both been around the Top 10 through most of the college football season, despite not participating in the 2020 campaign. Both players opted out to focus their attention on pursuing a career in the NFL, and it doesn’t appear to be hurting their stock in any way.

Closing out Kiper’s list of B1G players is Paye, who will be a pick in the middle of the 1st round. He’s been an undervalued defensive lineman throughout his career, by the ESPN analyst likes Paye’s skillset.

Some interesting B1G names that Kiper omitted include:

  • Jalen Mayfield, OL, Michigan
  • Rashod Bateman, WR, MInneosta
  • Wyatt Davis, OL, Ohio State
  • Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
  • Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
  • Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State

You can take a look at Kiper’s complete 1st Round NFL Mock Draft here (subscription required).

Sporting News also released its mock draft for the 1st round of the 2021 NFL Draft this week. That list included seven B1G players as selections in the opening round.