Kiper releases mock draft

[Captain Morgan]

he knows no more than any other pundit but its the offseason so here it is.

 

has NE taking Carter.

Jacksonville then taking Graham at 5.  Jets taking Mykel.

and we select Jalon Walker, who has been growing on me.  He's a playmaker at a position of need.

8. Carolina Panthers

Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

Carolina gave up 6.0 yards per play and 31.4 points per game this season, both last in the NFL. Regardless of what you think of quarterback Bryce Young's long-term potential, it's tough to win games with a defense that allows that many points.

Walker is versatile, and he can line up as a traditional off-ball linebacker or as an edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you put him, he can get into the backfield to blow up plays. He had 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season, and he'd be a fit in coordinator Ejiro Evero's unit.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/43472017/2025-nfl-mock-draft-mel-kiper-first-round-predictions-32-picks#car

 

[Captain Morgan]

Saints get Johnson, the cb, probably the safest pick in the draft.  He's an island.  Really hope they don't take him.

 

Falcons get 290 lb edge Shemar Stewart.

Bucs get Nick Emmanwori, a playmaker at safety.  I really wanted him but not in the first.

[Davidson Deac II]

Dam, I really wanted Jalon Walker.

But if Kiper says he is coming here, he isn't coming here.  

Just kidding, I have no idea how good or bad Jalon Walker is.  

[TheSpecialJuan]

Walker reminds me of Anthony Barr, more of an off-ball hybrid type. 

[Captain Morgan]

oddly enough, another mock from SI released today also has us taking Jalon

8. Carolina Panthers (5–12)

Biggest needs: Edge, DL, CB

The pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

The Panthers need to accumulate game-wreckers on defense. They finished last in the league in both run defense and points allowed this season, and they were tied for third worst with 32 sacks. Walker, an explosive chess piece who has the speed to run sideline-to-sideline and the quickness to routinely win pass-rushing reps, can elevate Carolina’s defense on multiple levels. He tallied 60 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2024.

 

https://www.si.com/nfl-draft/2025-nfl-mock-draft-first-round-predictions-cam-ward

[LinvilleGorge]

NE better get Maye some damn help.

[NAS]

Never understood how this guy made billions having terrible draft opinions 

[PootieNunu]

3 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

NE better get Maye some damn help.

fug NE hope they never win again. 

Edited January 22 by PootieNunu

[LinvilleGorge]

19 minutes ago, NAS said:

Never understood how this guy made billions having terrible draft opinions 

Seriously probably the worst one out there and also the one that started the idiocy of talking in absolutes and coined most of the worn out draft tropes.

Never forget that he said that if Jimmy Clausen wasn't a successful starting NFL QB he'd quit. 

[Tbe]

33 minutes ago, NAS said:

Never understood how this guy made billions having terrible draft opinions 

His terrible takes were entertaining….that gets attention…attention makes money.

[tukafan21]

Kiper has been coasting on his name for at least a decade now.

He was big back in the day, but he's really not that good anymore, he has tons of big misses on his evaluations these days, and it goes both ways, players he is high on often suck and players he's low on end up being stars.

I think Frank Caliendo extended Kiper's usefulness for years, if not for him keeping Kiper relevant with his bit a number of years back, I think ESPN might have moved on from him by now.

[rebelrouser]

CBS Sports just mocked Milroe to NY w/ the 3rd pick.  A lot will change between now and draft day.

 

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 hour ago, NAS said:

Never understood how this guy made billions having terrible draft opinions 

Same reason the ghost of Chris Berman is still doing the fastest five minutes at halftime.  He’s been there forever and his salary is probably relatively low.

[Shocker]

People are connecting the dotes with him because he is from Salisbury.  He is good but not sure he would be the pick.  I think they might go OT.  I am seeing mocks with Jeanty in the top 8 which would be awesome 

Edited January 23 by Shocker