Mel Kiper Jr.’s Newest ESPN Mock Draft is Out, Shea McClellin a First Rounder
If you don’t have ESPN Insider, you cannot look at ESPN NFL Draft legend Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest first and second round projection, but thankfully the powers that be here at With the First Pick can satisfy your taste buds with the newest and juiciest from Kiper.
The most intriguing picks in Kiper’s first round are Shea McClellin and Derek Wolfe, oddly enough, both players going to the New England Patriots. The Pats love players who have versatility, so getting a guy like McClellin (who is hot on the rise) could be a great fit because the former Boise State star can play defensive end as well as outside linebacker.
Last year at this time, there was a guy by the name of Brooks Reed from Arizona who was making similar late strides to be a top pick, and he still wound up in the second round to the Houston Texans, but there was certainly a first round buzz from him. He seems to be the kind of guy who is going to be a relentless worker, and the type of kid who you can rely on to give 100 percent on every single play. That’s the type of player they want in New England.
Another guy in a similar mold is Cincinnati’s top defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, who has huge upside as a pass rusher at defensive end in a 3-4 system. He isn’t considered a first round pick by many outlets, and this is quite honestly the first time I have ever seen him this high in a mock draft either, but he is a very good player and considered a sleeper by myself and many others. If the Patriots took him in the first round over UConn’s Kendall Reyes, I would be a little surprised but at the same time, I shouldn’t be surprised by big surprises anymore on draft day.
A couple of other interesting picks included Dre’ Kirkpatrick falling to the 20th pick to the Tennessee Titans, as well as LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers falling to the Denver Broncos. Some notable players not included in the first round are Janoris Jenkins, Jerel Worthy, Devon Still, and Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams.
In the second round, Kiper has LaMichael James going to the Denver Broncos, which would also be a really interesting selection.