Mel Kiper Jr. recently revealed his favorite Day 2 prospects for the upcoming NFL Draft. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of every player who caught the veteran analyst’s attention:
Quarterback
Tyler Shough (Louisville) – 6’5″, 224-pound signal-caller with clean footwork and arm elasticity. The 25-year-old threw for 3,195 yards with 23 TDs and 6 INTs in 2024. Despite injury concerns (collarbone, fibula), Kiper sees him as a potential Day 2 (Round 3-4) selection with upside.
Running Backs
Dylan Sampson (Tennessee) – Explosive 5’11”, 201-pound back who accumulated 1,491 yards and 22 TDs last season. Led the SEC with 70 forced missed tackles and clocked a 4.63 40-yard dash. Kiper views him as a potential Round 2-3 pick despite fumbling issues (4 in 2024).
Brashard Smith (SMU) – Versatile 5’9″, 195-pound playmaker who compiled 1,332 rushing yards, 14 TDs on the ground, plus 327 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs. Brings 4.3 speed and elite yards-after-catch ability. Projected as a Round 3-4 selection by Kiper.
Kalel Mullings (Michigan) – Power runner at 6’2″, 233 pounds who rushed for 948 yards and 12 TDs in 2024. Impresses with 3.55 yards after contact per attempt but lacks breakaway speed. Kiper identifies him as an “Orange Crusher” (hidden gem) with Day 3 potential.
Wide Receivers
Isaiah Bond (Texas) – Speedster who recorded 540 yards and 5 TDs while clocking a 4.39 40-yard dash and 22.17 mph top speed at the combine. The 5’11”, 180-pound deep threat projects as a Round 2-3 pick according to Kiper despite struggles against press coverage.
Elic Ayomanor (Stanford) – Physical 6’2″, 210-pound target who tallied 831 yards and 6 TDs. Excels in contested-catch situations (50.8% success rate). Kiper believes his size and ball skills could make him a Day 2 selection despite occasional concentration drops.
Kyle Williams (Washington State) – Productive 5’10”, 182-pound receiver who amassed 1,198 yards and 14 TDs, averaging 17.1 yards per reception. Ran a 4.40 40-yard dash and impressed at the Senior Bowl. Kiper sees him as a Round 3-4 prospect.
Tight End
Elijah Arroyo (Miami) – Athletic 6’4″, 245-pound target who recorded 590 yards, 7 TDs, and 16.9 yards per reception. Red-zone threat with impressive movement skills despite previous ACL injury (2022). Kiper ranks him as his third-best TE with Round 3-4 value.
Defensive Backs
Quincy Riley (Louisville, CB) – Ballhawk with 15 career interceptions and track speed. Kiper believes his instincts and playmaking ability could push him into Round 2.
Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame, CB) – Former All-American with size and coverage skills who’s seen his stock fluctuate throughout the pre-draft process.
Trique Bridges (Florida, DB) – Versatile safety/corner with length and physicality. Kiper highlighted him as one of his under-the-radar “Orange Crusher” candidates.
Kiper’s Final Assessment
Kiper emphasized the importance of identifying specific skill sets in Day 2 prospects, noting quarterback hit rates drop dramatically after Round 1 (34% in Round 2, 11% in Round 3). He specifically highlighted Sampson, Smith, and Arroyo as prospects offering exceptional value due to their combination of production and athletic traits.
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