Josh Allen comes in at No. 2 on Mel Kiper's first 2019 NFL Mock Draft

by:Jack Pilgrim01/17/19

Former Kentucky star edge-rusher Josh Allen had a historic senior season, shattering countless school records and earning consensus National Defensive Player of the Year honors in the process.

With this success came significant praise from countless national analysts, and now, his 2019 NFL Draft stock is higher than ever.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper, arguably the best in the business when it comes to draft coverage, released his very first 2019 NFL Mock Draft with the former Kentucky star going No. 2 overall to the San Francisco 49ers. 

The reasoning? the Niners need star talent in the front-seven, and aside from Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, no one else in the draft has the pass-rushing potential Allen has.

“If you’re talking about pure pass-rushing ability, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Allen is right up there with Bosa,” he said.

Though I agree with Allen’s status as a top-two prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kiper is underselling the former Wildcat’s size, which is actually around 6-foot-6, 265-pounds, not 6-foot-5, 230-pounds. When the NFL Draft Combine rolls around in March and we get official measurements/agility numbers for the dominant pass rusher, I’m convinced Allen will have a serious shot at the No. 1 overall pick.

As far as his status as a pure prospect goes, Kiper has Allen No. 3 overall behind Bosa and Alabama’s Quinnen Williams.

Again, impressive, but his stock is going to go up even more here in the coming months.

In other NFL mock drafts, Allen’s status has been solidified as an elite prospect.

CBS Sports has Kentucky’s all-time sack leader going No. 3 overall to the New York Jets, with Ohio State’s Nick Bosa and Dwayne Haskins being taken with the first two picks.

Walter Football also has Allen going No. 3 to the Jets.

SportingNews has the former Kentucky star going No. 4 overall to the Oakland Raiders, replacing the void Khalil Mack left as the team’s dominant edge-rusher.

Sports Illustrated has Allen as the No. 7 overall prospect in the draft.

The worst of them all? ESPN’s Todd McShay, who has Allen listed as the No. 10 defensive prospect in the draft.

Yikes.

Keep proving them wrong and moving on up, Josh. Kentucky needs their second No. 1 draft pick in 20 years.

[mobile_ad]

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2024-03-28