Move over, DeShone Kizer. There is a new top quarterback in the eyes of NFL Draft guru Mike Mayock.
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson dethroned the Notre Dame standout in Mayock’s most recent release of his NFL Draft prospect rankings.
Kizer, who had been listed as the top quarterback in Mayock’s first and second installments, fell all the way to fourth. North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes also moved ahead of Kizer, with Cal’s Davis Webb rounding out the top five.
While the ship seems to have sailed on the idea of the Bears picking a quarterback with the third overall pick, we should continue to monitor the movement in position rankings in an attempt to gauge potential value in a player whose falling stock could be of interest to the Bears. Kizer is a prime example of that kind of player because he has the prototypical size and arm strength teams prefer from prospects at the position. Even though he lacks polish, a team with confidence in its development system could nab Kizer and smooth out the rough edges in his game. If he fell to the top of the second round, for example? The Bears would at least have to consider the implications.
It’s been a rough few weeks for Kizer, whose coach didn’t exactly shower him with praise in an offseason radio interview – even though he backtracked on those initial comments to state his former pupil’s upside.
Of immediate interest to the Bears, Alabama’s Jonathan Allen remains at the top of the heap for interior defensive linemen, as does teammate Reuben Foster at the linebacker spot. In the secondary, Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore kept a stronghold as Mayock’s top cornerback, while LSU’s Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker moved ahead of Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers in the safety rankings. Peppers dropped to third, while Adams took the top spot with Hooker coming in second.
Hooker seems to be coming on strong, despite a pair of offseason surgeries. There is a case to be made for him being selected by the Bears with the third overall pick, despite the inherent risk of drafting a player with of a potential medical red flag. Adams has long been on the Bears radar, and the team still has needs at safety despite acquiring veteran Quintin Demps in free agency.
But if the draft falls in line with what ESPN’s Todd McShay has mocked up, the Bears would end up with Mayock’s top safety prospect (Adams), as well as his third-rated cornerback (Marlon Humphrey). That’s one way to go about rebuilding a secondary that needs as much help as it can get.
The biggest shakeup came along the offensive line, where Mayock has five offensive tackles falling in his rankings and four interior linemen doing likewise. Alabama’s Cam Robinson, who was previously listed as Mayock’s No. 2 interior offensive line prospect, is now ranked as the top offensive tackle. Utah’s Garett Bolles, who recently visited the Bears, ranks third among tackles.
You can check out Mayock’s previous prospect rankings from March and February as we continue to keep tabs on the draft’s top prospects.