Almost all reputable NFL Mock Drafts out there have a recurring theme of two Ohio State players being consensus first-round picks. Those two are defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah.
As of late though, the USA TODAY mock draft moved Okudah down significantly. Not anymore though. The lastest mock was released this week and the All-American is now all the way back up to the No. 3 pick behind Joe Burrow at No. 1, and Young at No. 2.
The Detroit Lions currently have the rights to the No. 3 pick, and we’ve already heard current Lion and Pro-Bowler Darius Slay sing the praises of what he’s seen from Okudah.
The one player not listed in the first round that we’ve seen in other mock drafts is running back J.K. Dobbins. It’s not much of a running backs game any longer, but there’s a chance that he sneaks into the late first round.
Here’s what Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz says about the two Ohio State projected first-rounders.
Chase Young, DE, Ohio State: February and March are the times to mull far-fetched scenarios, such as whether Washington might actually grab Tua Tagovailoa and cut bait on Dwayne Haskins after only one year. By April, it likely will be harder to envision new coach Ron Rivera passing up on Young, who’s widely seen as the draft’s top defensive player. For now, it seems reasonable to take Rivera at his word that the team is taking stock of its options — but don’t get carried away with the notion of a full reset.
Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State: The idea of working alongside three-time Pro Bowl selection Darius Slay appealed greatly to Okudah, who said at the combine the pairing could be “magical.” It’s still unclear, however, whether the Lions share that same vision after acknowledging trade discussions regarding their veteran cornerback. Regardless of whether they move Slay, Okudah is the obvious choice, barring a colossal offer from a team desperate to move up to the slot for a quarterback.
We’ll keep an eye on these mock drafts as they continue to be released.
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