Todd McShay has B1G players climb into first round of mock draft 2.0
There was a belief many had after Senior Bowl week.
Braxton Miller and Jason Spriggs made themselves some money.
If NFL draft analyst Todd McShay is the forecaster of the future, that appears to be the case. After the Ohio State receiver and Indiana offensive tackle earned Senior Bowl accolades, McShay moved the rising prospects into his first round in his second mock draft of the year.
McShay also added Buckeyes Eli Apple, Ezekiel Elliott and Vonn Bell while removing receiver Mike Thomas.
In total, he had nine B1G players making the first round, including seven from Ohio State. McShay also had former Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence in his first round after his impressive Senior Bowl showing.
Here’s what McShay had to say about each of the B1G prospects he slotted in the first round:
1. Tennessee Titans — Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
If the Titans are looking to trade this pick, they might be able to find a team hoping to jump the Browns to select a quarterback. If no deal materializes, Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil would fill the team’s biggest need. But the move is to pull the trigger on Bosa, the best player in the class. You can never have too many pass-rushers. And remember: One of Bosa’s best traits is that he’s scheme versatile, so he’d be a fit even if the Titans decide to stick with a 3-4 alignment.
13. Philadelphia Eagles — Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Conklin shows good mobility for his size, along with very consistent awareness, technique and effort. He plays with power and is a finisher in the run game. He’s balanced enough to protect a quarterback’s blind side. Even after signing Lane Johnson to an extension, the Eagles need to plan for the future at tackle with Jason Peters now 34.
RELATED: Joey Bosa No. 1, B1G players highlight Mel Kiper’s first mock draft
18. Indianapolis Colts — Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Andrew Luck would love this pick after getting beat up in 2015 before suffering season-ending injuries. The 6-foot-7 Decker has enough range, strength and toughness to hold up in pass protection on the perimeter in the NFL. He’s not overpowering as a run-blocker, but he’s highly efficient and consistent.
20. New York Jets — Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Elliott makes a lot of sense for the Jets, whose top three running backs are all free agents. Over the past two seasons, Elliott has shown plenty of examples of his game-breaking ability as a rusher (3,699 yards and 41 TDs). He’s also an outstanding pass-blocker — the best RB I’ve ever studied in that area — and a reliable weapon as a pass-catcher. Depending on what the Jets decide to do with free-agent DTs Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon Harrison, Reed also could be in play at this spot.
23. Minnesota Vikings — Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
A former high school quarterback, Lee is a terrific athlete and a natural playmaker, racking up 27.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 INTs and 3 forced fumbles over his past two seasons. He’s still developing as a run-stopping LB, but he has come a long way in that regard. Even if Minnesota signs free-agent LB Chad Greenway, it’s time to add another young piece to the linebacker corps.
24. Cincinnati Bengals — Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
This might be a bit of a reach, but the Bengals could certainly use a versatile offensive weapon like Miller. He was the best pure athlete on the field during Senior Bowl practices, dazzling in agility drills and one-on-ones. His precise route-running ability is not indicative of a player who has been playing the position full time for less than a year. With three WRs set to be free agents, Cincinnati has lots of question marks after A.J. Green at that position.
RELATED: Impressive Senior Bowl week aside, great challenges lie ahead for Braxton Miller
25. Pittsburgh Steelers — Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
With good length (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) and top-end speed, Apple showed he could turn and run with Notre Dame speedster Will Fuller during the Fiesta Bowl. He’s also a strong tackler and run supporter, which are qualities the Steelers value highly in their defensive backs.
28. Kansas City Chiefs — Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
With nine career interceptions, Bell displays great instincts and range in coverage. He’s an aggressive and tough run defender who had remarkable durability, playing in all 42 Ohio State games since 2013. This is an NFL-ready safety who could start for the Chiefs in Week 1.
30. Denver Broncos — Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Spriggs is getting a lot of first-round love after a strong Senior Bowl. I need to study more of his tape, but from what I’ve seen so far, this would be a reach. With that said, we see teams reaching for offensive tackles in the first round nearly every year. A team like Denver, which needs to upgrade its O-line, could get enamored with a LT prospect like Spriggs, who showed off ideal measurables and good athleticism at the Senior Bowl.