Joey Bosa No. 1, B1G players highlight Mel Kiper's first mock draft
Yes, it’s only Mel Kiper’s first mock draft of the season.
The ESPN NFL draft expert figures to have plenty more in the coming months leading up to the three-day event in Chicago.
In Kiper’s first mock draft, there wasn’t much of a surprise at the top. He tabbed Buckeye All-American Joey Bosa as the top overall pick.
There were, however, some surprises in his first round.
For starters, he had Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple going in the first round, but not the likes of linebacker Darron Lee or wide receiver Mike Thomas.
Kiper also had the Houston Texans drafting a quarterback in the first round that wasn’t Connor Cook or Christian Hackenberg. Instead, he had Bill O’Brien’s squad selecting North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, who could be the Joe Flacco of this year’s draft.
With pro days, combines and pre-draft interviews on the horizon, this could all shift soon. But for now, here’s what Kiper had to say about his B1G first-rounders:
1. Tennessee Titans — Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio St.
Getting the best defensive lineman in any draft really transcends need. Every team wants great D-linemen, and Bosa has the upside of a star. He’s a dominant pass-rusher who piled up 51.0 tackles for loss over three seasons despite running into a steady supply of double-teams, and he’s also outstanding against the run. You can move him around on the line at will. The son of a former first-round pick, he comes in ready to contribute.
14. Oakland Raiders — Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan St.
The Raiders have their quarterback of the future, but they could also lose a pair of tackles in free agency, and even then they’d be wise to get some immediate insurance out of the draft. Conklin has been a steady force on the MSU line for three years and is great at limiting pressure and also getting after it in the run game.
18. Indianapolis Colts — Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio St.
Suffice to say the Colts should come out of this draft with at least one offensive lineman capable of stepping in early. Decker has a ton of experience — he could have entered the draft last year and landed late in Round 1 — and could be your Week 1 starter at left tackle in Indy. Conklin is another option if Decker goes off the board first.
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26. Seattle Seahawks — Eli Apple, CB, Ohio St.
The next two guys to come off the board would also be worth considering, because age is now a concern on the interior of that defensive line, but a long, physical cornerback who is a fearless tackler is a great fit for Pete Carroll. Yes, the secondary is a strength in Seattle, but it’s impossible to have too many corners who can play, and one injury changes the depth equation in a heartbeat.
27. Green Bay Packers — Austin Johnson, DT, Penn St.
Other guys got more of the attention on the defensive line for the Nittany Lions, but Johnson is the top prospect. Green Bay heads into an offseason in which B.J. Raji will become an unrestricted free agent and turns 30 this summer. Some youthful talent on the interior of the line would be a good thing, and Johnson fits the bill.
29. Denver Broncos — Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio St.
There’s a good chance the Broncos will evolve into a team that truly wants to win with the run game in 2016, and while they do have some options on the roster, Elliott isn’t just a great fit, he’s also the best player on the board at this point. He has vision, runs behind his pads, can turn a small crease into a big gain, catches the ball with ease, and is one of the best blocking tailbacks I’ve ever seen.