Mel Kiper is very high on Josh Allen

After the Citrus Bowl, Josh Allen famously said, “If I don’t go number one, I don’t know who is.”

Well, it seems that Nick Bosa is universally believed to be the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper thinks Allen will be the very next person to have his name called.

In his new big board, Kiper has Allen ranked No. 3 overall in the 2019 draft class.

I pegged Allen before the season as a potential Day 2 pick, as he broke out in 2017 with 7 sacks, 66 tackles and 1 interception. He has been underrated in this class, and now he has a chance to be a top-10 pick. Allen is disruptive, and he has the length that NFL teams love as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He had 17 sacks this season, including three-sack games against South Carolina and Penn State, and he forced five fumbles.

In his most recent mock draft, Kiper stated that he believes the San Francisco 49ers are in need of an edge rusher, and Allen is the man for the job.

The 49ers took defensive linemen in the first round in three straight years (2015 to ‘17), but DeForest Buckner is the only true star of the group. And none of those picks has the edge-rushing potential of Allen, who racked up 17 sacks for the Wildcats this season. If you’re talking about pure pass-rushing ability, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Allen is right up there with Bosa. San Francisco needs to add offensive weapons this offseason, but none is worth taking this high.

Allen has been projected anywhere between No. 2 and No. 10 in mock drafts in recent months, but now that the top of the draft order is set it can be a bit easier to prognosticate. it’s looking like the 49ers, Jets, Raiders and Buccaneers would all love to have a guy like Allen, so it’s hard to see him falling out of that top-five range.

However, there is always some unpredictability right up until the names are called on draft night. And there is certainly a chance that performances at the combine could make an impact, although that is less likely at the very top of the draft.

Big Blue Nation knows that any team that drafts Josh Allen will be lucky to have him, both because of his on-field dominance and the character he has shown during his time in Lexington.

One thing is for certain: Josh Allen will have his named called early in the NFL Draft on April 25th, and all fans of the Kentucky Wildcats will be ready to celebrate with him.

Where do you think Allen will end up in the draft?

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