Buckeyes only have one first-rounder in Mel Kiper mock draft
COLUMBUS — The Ohio State brand was all over the first round of the NFL Draft last April.
Chase Young went No. 2 to Washington. Detroit selected Jeff Okudah at No. 3. Las Vegas scooped up Damon Arnette with the 19th pick. And former Ohio State quarterback turned LSU star Joe Burrow was the first overall pick.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t think the Scarlet and Gray wave will be repeated this year.
Kiper released his latest mock draft on Tuesday morning with Justin Fields as the only Ohio State player drafted in the first round. In two previous mock drafts, Fields was the only Buckeyes product hearing his name called on Day One of the draft according to Kiper.
In Tuesday’s mock draft, Fields is projected to be picked at No. 3 by the Carolina Panthers via a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Kiper’s forecast calls for the Panthers moving up five spots and grabbing Fields. In return, the Dolphins move down to No. 8 and acquire a 2022 first- or second-round pick.
Mel Kiper Jr. has Justin Fields going to the Carolina Panthers. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
Carolina tried to get Matthew Stafford, but the plan fell short. And the Panthers have made clear Teddy Bridgewater isn’t their long-term quarterback.
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Kiper believes the Ohio State quarterback fits with the Panthers. Fields can be eased into Carolina’s starting role and system, all while having a go-to wide receiver in DJ Moore.
He’s rated No. 2 on Kiper’s quarterback board sitting behind expected No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence. Fields also holds the No. 7 overall ranking on Kiper’s top-25 player list.
In his second mock draft, Kiper projected Fields going No. 7 overall to the San Francisco 49ers via a trade with the Detroit Lions.
“He really wants to be great, and I think that’s important in the NFL,†Kiper said on a conference call earlier this month. “A lot of guys play because they can. He plays because he can and because he loves it. And he’s passionate about it. I think Justin Fields will hopefully make people forget about any issues that came from the quarterback position at that school.â€