Jonathan Mingo remains available after opening round of the NFL Draft but look for that to change
The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and Ole Miss is still waiting to see its name on the screen with its first player taken, including Jonathan Mingo.
Some late NFL draft buzz that saw Mingo rise up the big boards and mock drafts as high as late first round pick did not pan out as the star wide receiver remains available after Thursday’s opening round concluded.
There were 31 selections, due to the Miami Dolphins forfeiting their 21st overall pick due to a tampering violation, and wide receivers were waiting a long time to see their position get some love in the first round. After the first 19 picks did not include a receiver the following four straight picks went to the position.
Mingo was not among them as Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TCU’s Quentin Johnston, Boston College’s Zay Flowers and Southern California’s Jordan Addison were the four receivers selected in the first round.
Waiting is the hardest part but Mingo should not be waiting long on Friday as he is one of the top prospects still available. The Brandon, Mississippi native is currently the ninth best overall player still available according to ESPN and the top available player at the receiver position.
A late first-round selection was always a bullish outlook on Mingo’s draft prospects and an early second round pick was the more reasonable expectation, so he is still on schedule as far as any panic of a draft slide is concerned.
While Mingo is sitting right where he thought he might be heading into the second day of the draft another Southeastern Conference player is currently alone in the green room wondering what is going on. Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is still available after sitting around on Thursday watching other top prospects make get the call and take the walk out to the stage and hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
One of those is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young who went No.1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, putting former Ole Miss signal caller Matt Corral’s future in Charlotte in doubt.
The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft take place on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and NFL Network.
