In his most recent NFL Mock Draft, NFL.com draft analyst Bucky Brooks has two former Nittany Lions going in the first round.
Brooks has wide receiver Jahan Dotson going to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 20th overall selection. Brooks also has Arnold Ebiketie going to the Detroit Lions with the 32nd overall pick in next month’s draft.
Brooks sees Dotson as a spectacular run after catch specialist and a polished route runner with sure hands. Dotson is a fit for the Steelers because they lost a ton of depth in free agency. Ju-Ju Smith- Schuster (Chiefs), James Washington, and Ray-Ray McCloud (49ers) have all moved on in free agency and need depth behind Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool.
Dotson’s ability to separate and get open will be paramount with either Mitch Trubisky, or Mason Rudolph under center for the Steelers.
Brooks projects Ebiketie as the second defensive lineman to get drafted by the Lions in the first round. Brooks has Detroit drafting Georgia’s Travon Walker with the second overall pick in April’s draft.
Detroit needs lots of help on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions were ranked 31st in the NFL in total defense, 31st in scoring defense, 24th against the pass, and 28th against the run last season, with recording the 3rd fewest sacks in the NFL with 30.
Ebiketie will provide the Lions with an explosive pass rusher to go alongside Charles Harris, who led the team with 7.5 sacks last season. If he winds up with the Lions, he will be teammates with one of the best young corners in the NFL, former Penn State cornerback Amani Oruwariye.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon
