Where the mock drafts have some Missouri Tigers players going in this week’s NFL Draft
A handful of Missouri Tigers will see their dreams realized during this week’s NFL Draft.
The Tigers have had at least one player chosen in every NFL Draft since 2004, with plenty going in the earlier rounds — even the first. Mizzou had five first-round picks in the 2010s; Charles Harris is the most recent, selected No. 22 overall in 2017 by Miami.
Last year, quarterback Drew Lock fell out of the first round and was drafted No. 42 overall by the Denver Broncos. While the fall was a disappointment initially, the Lee’s Summit High grad found near-immediate success once he became the Broncos’ starter. He led Denver to a 4-1 record in the final month of the season.
Mizzou headliners this week? They could be defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who both gave up their final year of college eligibility to enter the mix. Neither are projected to go in the first round Thursday, but could flirt with the second or third round come Friday.
Elliott is graded as one of the best defensive tackles in the draft, which is why most mock drafts have him as the first Tiger off the board. At 6-foot-4 and 302 pounds, he’s projected as a starter within his first two seasons in the league, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Okwuegbunam is a different story. He’s plenty athletic and the former All-SEC star has shown that on the field. His 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds at the NFL Combine was impressive for his 6-5, 258-pound frame. But some have questioned his hands and blocking ability.
A number of other draft-eligible players from Mizzou project toward the later rounds. Look for teams to consider drafting quarterback Kelly Bryant; offensive linemen Yasir Durant, Trystan Colon-Castillo and Tre’Vour Wallace-Sims; linebacker Cale Garrett; cornerback DeMarkus Acy; punter/kicker Tucker McCann; and wide receivers Richaud Floyd, Jonathan Nance and Johnathon Johnson.
Of those players, only six were invited to the 2020 combine, which took place Feb. 23-March 3 in Indianapolis: Okwuegbunam, Garrett, Bryant, Durant and Colon-Castillo. They went through workouts and interviews before the coronavirus pandemic put an end to all players’ and schools’ pro days.
That leaves the remaining Tigers prospects at a bit of a disadvantage. Mizzou was originally set to host its pro day March 17.
Players have still been able to speak to teams through virtual interviews as NFL executives have built out their draft boards. The NFL Draft is set to virtually start at 7 p.m. Central Time Thursday via a joint ESPN/NFL Network telecast.
The Star will also host a live NFL Draft stream on its Facebook page through the entire first round Thursday night.
What the mock drafts say
Most boards and mock drafts have Elliott as the first Tiger taken. He’s mostly viewed as a Day 2 pick, going in either the second or third round. Okwuegbunam is slotted as a potential third-round pick, though there’s no consensus on where he may wind up.
Durant, Colon-Castillo and Acy appear in the final few rounds, mostly the seventh. Bryant, Garrett, Wallace-Sims and others are likely to be undrafted free agents who will have to find their way during a team’s training camp.
CBS Sports’ R.J. White seven-round draft:
Elliott (third round, No. 77 overall); Okwuegbunam (fourth, No. 126); Durant (sixth, No. 191); Colon-Castillo (seventh, 222); Wallace-Sims (seventh, 250)
Okwuegbunam (third round, No. 94); Elliott (third, 99)
The Athletic’s seven-round draft:
Elliott (second round, No. 47 overall); Okwuegbunam (third, No. 94); Garrett (seventh, No. 235); Acy (seventh, No. 249)
Sporting News’ seven-round draft:
Elliott (second round, No. 46 overall); Okwuegbunam (fourth, No. 123); Durant (fifth, No. 179); Colon-Castillo (seventh, No. 255)
Sports Illustrated’s seven-round draft:
Elliott (third round, No. 81 overall); Okwuegbunam (fourth, No. 123); Acy (seventh, No. 218); Garrett (seventh, No. 247)