Fowler, Humphries continue to draw praise by NFL draft analysts
Friday, March 6, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Dante Fowler Jr. going to Jacksonville. (Photo: Tim Casey)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – You know you have made it big when other media folks who cover the NFL Draft for a living often write stories about each of your new mock drafts.
Such is life for longtime draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., who released his NFL Mock Draft 3.0 on Thursday (ESPN Insider access required).
While the draft isn't until April 30-May 2 in Chicago, the mock-draft season is in full bloom and Kiper's latest one has two Gators in the first round: defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. and offensive lineman D.J. Humphries.
Kiper has Fowler going third overall to Jacksonville.
“He doesn't have to be a sack machine to be a really good player, and I do think the pass rush will continue to get better, which is what Jacksonville desperately needs,” Kiper wrote to close his analysis of Fowler.
Meanwhile, a strong performance at the NFL Combine last month has raised Humphries' stock significantly. He opted to leave school a year early and Kiper can see why.
“He lacks polish, but he plays mean, keeps a wide base that makes him tough to get around, and the physical traits are there for him to potentially stick at left tackle,'' Kiper wrote.
He has Humphries going No. 25 overall to the Panthers.
