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With the NFL Draft less than three weeks away, experts are starting to release their final mock drafts.
Monday, Dane Brugler of the Athletic released his fifth seven round mock draft. In this mock, six Kentucky Wildcats are selected, including two in the first two rounds. However, some fan favorites of the Big Blue Nation are left without a home. Here’s a look at the Cats projected to be selected according to Brugler.
- New York Jets First Round, 3rd Overall: EDGE Josh Allen
- Philadelphia Eagles Second Round, 57th Overall: CB Lonnie Johnson
- Green Bay Packers, Fourth Round, 118th Overall: S Mike Edwards
- New England Patriots, Seventh Round, 239th Overall: S Darius West
- Dallas Cowboys, Seventh Round, 241 Overall: CB Chris Westry
- Los Angeles Rams, Seventh Round, 251 Overall: CB Derrick Baity
The first three selections come as no surprise. Kentucky’s all-time sack leader Josh Allen has been projected as a top five pick for several months and seems to be a perfect fit for a New York Jets team in need of a pass-rusher.
Lonnie Johnson put on an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, and ever since has skyrocketed draft boards with NFL Network’s Busty Brooks even calling him the best corner in the draft. If taken by the Eagles, Johnson would have the chance to start right away across from Ronald Darby.
Mike Edwards was always around the ball while at Kentucky, recording ten carer interceptions and 317 total tackles. Projected as the Packers’ fourth round selection, Edwards, like Johnson, would get a chance to start right away as Green Bay currently needs to fill one of their starting spots at safety.
With three Cats going in the top four rounds, Brugler sees Derrick Baity, Darius West and Chris Westry as seventh round selections.
Some have speculated that West could go even earlier after running an impressive 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but according to Brugler, he’s still a seventh round pick and a potential fit for the defending champion Patriots.
One Wildcat to come off the board wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine. Westry put on a show at Kentucky’s pro day and seems to have worked himself onto NFL Draft boards as he’s projected as the seventh round selection of the Dallas Cowboys, who lack secondary depth.
The final was Derrick Baity. At 6-3, Baity is exceptionally long and proved to be one of the top corners in the SEC. Thus, it would be shocking if Baity does not find a home by the end of the NFL Draft, and in this case, he lands with the Rams.
While these six Cats are projected to find homes, several that many expect to be drafted were left off of Brugler’s board.
All-time rushing leader Benny Snell Jr. highlights the snubbed list; however, it may not be entirely shocking if he goes undrafted after a less than impressive NFL Combine performance.
And for what it’s worth, Brugler added these thoughts on Snell in the comments section:
He’s not an explosive player and his style won’t be for everyone. He absolutely has a chance to be drafted, but it just takes the right fit. If he is drafted in the 5th round or goes undrafted, neither scenario would surprise me.
C.J. Conrad also wasn’t selected in this mock draft, which may be due to a heart issue he is currently battling.
It’s no guarantee that any of these Cats go undrafted, but this mock may come as a bit of a disappointment as many predicted up to eight or nine Wildcats would be selected in the upcoming draft.