Utah’s Clark Phillips III, Gabe Reid, Mohamoud Diabate and Braeden Daniels watch the bench press event of the school’s NFL pro day at the University of Utah on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
All three days of this year’s NFL draft are expected to be busy for Utah ties, if mock drafts are to be believed.
There are close to a dozen prospects with Utah ties who could hear their name called when the draft takes place later this month in Kansas City (April 27-29).
A look at recent mock drafts helps give a better perspective of when players from Utah, BYU and a few Utah high schools may come off the board.
For this roundup, the Deseret News found mock drafts of varying lengths.
There are 10 first round only mock drafts released in the past week from various national writers: The Athletic’s Diante Lee, CBS Sports’ Will Brinson, NFL.com’s Charles Davis, CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, For The Win’s Christian D’Andrea, Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson, NFL Network’s Rhett Lewis, Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso and NBC Sports’ Eric Froton.
Eight other mock drafts of varying lengths were also used: there are two two-round mock drafts (ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Draft Network’s Jack McKessy), two three-round mock drafts (Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling and The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown), a four-round mock draft (NFL.com’s Chad Reuter), a five-round mock draft (Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell) and two seven-round mock drafts (Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer and Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings).
Here’s a look at the results:
Utah Utes Dalton Kincaid runs with the ball while playing the USC Trojans in the Pac-12 championship at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. The Utes won 47-24.
Ben B. Braun, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diante Lee, The Athletic | 1 | 26 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Will Brinson, CBS Sports | 1 | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Charles Davis, NFL.com | 1 | 15 | Green Bay Packers |
| Pete Prisco, CBS Sports | 1 | 18 | Detroit Lions |
| Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus | 1 | 15 | Green Bay Packers |
| Rhett Lewis, NFL Network | 1 | 18 | Detroit Lions |
| Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network | 1 | 18 | Detroit Lions |
| Eric Froton, NBC Sports | 1 | 26 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Mel Kiper, ESPN | 1 | 15 | Green Bay Packers |
| Jack McKessy, Draft Network | 1 | 21 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports | 1 | 17 | Green Bay Packers |
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 1 | 26 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 1 | 26 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 1 | 26 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 2 | 38 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 1 | 27 | Buffalo Bills |
Of note: There’s an emerging group of teams that many experts see being in the market for Kincaid, chief among them the Cowboys, Packers and Lions.
Of the 10 first round only mock drafts used for this article, two of them didn’t include Kincaid, but he is largely seen as a mid first-round to early second-round selection.
BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Erin Hooley, Associated Press
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mel Kiper, ESPN | 2 | 47 | Washington Commanders |
| Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports | 3 | 79 | Indianapolis Colts |
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 3 | 68 | Denver Broncos |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 3 | 99 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 3 | 69 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 2 | 36 | Kansas City Chiefs |
Of note: The five-round mock draft from Walter Football didn’t include Freeland. Otherwise, the others see the 6-foot-8, 305-pound lineman as a solid candidate to go on Day 2 of the draft.
Utah Utes cornerback Clark Phillips III (1) glides into the end zone for a touchdown after intercepting a pass as Utah and Oregon State play at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack McKessy, Draft Network | 2 | 46 | New England Patriots |
| Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports | 2 | 57 | New York Giants |
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 3 | 69 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 4 | 111 | Cleveland Browns |
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 2 | 60 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 2 | 36 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 3 | 64 | Chicago Bears |
Of note: Phillips is seen as a strong Day 2 draft candidate, and in one instance — with Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer — he is the first Ute to come off the board.
Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika (62) celebrates a sack during an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Provo, Utah.
George Frey, Associated Press
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack McKessy, Draft Network | 2 | 54 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports | 3 | 65 | Houston Texans |
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 2 | 54 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 4 | 121 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 3 | 80 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 2 | 32 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 3 | 100 | Las Vegas Raiders |
Of note: The former Baylor and LSU defensive tackle is a popular pick to be a Day 2 draftee.
Oregon football player Noah Sewell (1) participates in a position drill at the school’s NFL pro day, Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Eugene, Ore.
Amanda Loman, Associated Press
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports | 3 | 89 | New York Giants |
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 2 | 59 | Buffalo Bills |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 2 | 48 | Detroit Lions |
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 3 | 72 | Tennessee Titans |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 3 | 70 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 3 | 80 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Of note: The former Oregon standout, similarly, is seen as a likely Day 2 selection, with NFL.com’s Chad Reuter predicting he will be paired in Detroit with brother and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, a first-round selection in 2021.
Utah Utes offensive lineman Braeden Daniels talks to members of the media after the first day of fall camp outside of the Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune | 3 | 78 | Green Bay Packers |
| Chad Reuter, NFL.com | 4 | 109 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 6 | 194 | Detroit Lions |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 5 | 145 | Carolina Panthers |
Of note: Where Daniels will be selected is tough to pin down — some projections have him going off the board on Day 2, while others believe he is a mid-to-late-round selection.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall participates in BYU’s pro day at the school’s practice facility in Provo on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 4 | 123 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 4 | 123 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 6 | 193 | Washington Commanders |
Of note: Hall is largely seen as a Day 3 prospect — from these projections, both the Seahawks and Commanders are places where he could back up the team’s starter for awhile with the chance to take over down the line.
American tight end Cameron Latu of Alabama (80) warms up before the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.
Butch Dill, Associated Press
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Campbell, Walter Football | 5 | 146 | New Orleans Saints |
| Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News | 4 | 127 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 5 | 156 | Los Angeles Chargers |
Of note: The former Alabama tight end, who was recruited as a linebacker out of Olympus, is now projected to be a Day 3 pick at an offensive skill position after growing into the position with the Crimson Tide.
BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) scores on BYU’s first play from scrimmage in BYU’s season opener against USF, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Robert W. Grover, for the Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 4 | 129 | Dallas Cowboys |
Of note: A fourth-round selection seems high for Nacua, though the former Cougar is an intriguing prospect who could come off the board sometime on the draft’s final day.
Utah linebacker Mohamoud Diabate participates in the school’s NFL pro day at the University of Utah practice facility on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 5 | 162 | Indianapolis Colts |
Of note: The transfer from Florida could give Utah another late-round selection after impressing at Utah’s pro day.
BYU defensive backs Kaleb Hayes, left, and Matthew Criddle practice in the Indoor Practice Facility at BYU in Provo on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
| Writer, publication | Round | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network | 7 | 243 | New York Giants |
Of note: Hayes ran a 4.31-second 40 at BYU’s pro day, and that performance could be enough for a team to take a late-round flier on him.
One final note
One mock draft, from Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer, had former Utah running back Tavion Thomas being selected in the fourth round (No. 103 overall). Earlier this week, Thomas, the Utes’ leading rusher the past two seasons, was arrested for investigation of two incidents of domestic violence. He is scheduled for a hearing April 21.