ESPN NFL Mock Draft includes modern-record seven Kentucky Wildcats

The NFL Draft runs Thursday through Saturday and seven Kentucky Wildcats could hear their names called, which would be a modern record. The most Wildcats drafted in school history is eight in 1979, but since the draft expanded to seven rounds in 1994, the most is six in 2021 (Jamin Davis, Kelvin Joseph, Quinton Bohanna, Brandin Echols, Landon Young, Phil Hoskins). Kentucky will likely at least match that modern record this weekend and break it if Marquan McCall hears his name called.

ESPN’s Matt Miller released a new seven-round mock draft this morning that lays out that exact scenario. All seven of Kentucky’s prospects are included.

• Round 3
  • 74. Atlanta Falcons – DE Josh Paschal
  • 88. Dallas Cowboys – OG Darian Kinnard
  • 99. Cleveland Browns – WR Wan’Dale Robinson
  • 102. Miami Dolphins (via SF) – OC Luke Fortner
• Round 6
  • 206. Denver Broncos (via TB/NYJ/PHI) – OT Dare Rosenthal
  • 221. San Francisco 49ers – S Yusuf Corker
• Round 7
  • 255. Los Angeles Chargers – DT Marquan McCall

Miller includes comments on his projections for the first three rounds. He notes that Kinnard is training in Frisco, Texas, also home to the Dallas Cowboys training facility.

A tackle at Kentucky, Kinnard projects as a guard at the next level. The Cowboys could use Kinnard — who is training in Frisco, Texas, during the pre-draft process — to play either inside or outside with quickness, length and toughness.

As we shared with you last week, Kinnard is working with famed offensive line coach Duke Manyweather and is featured on this year’s edition of “Big Boys Club,” a Fox Sports show that profiles the top offensive line prospects in the draft. Here’s a preview of the series, which premiered Sunday night:

🚨 BIG BOYS CLUB SEASON TWO IS HERE AND IT’S GLORIOUS 👊👊

Evan Neal
Charles Cross
Trevor Penning
Darian Kinnard
Andrew Steuber

📺: Full feature Sunday, April 24 at 7:30 ET on YouTubepic.twitter.com/qZDVsjt8Rw

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) April 19, 2022

At least one Kentucky Wildcat will be at the NFL Draft. Wan’Dale Robinson shared a picture on his Instagram story yesterday from Las Vegas:

Kentucky NFL Draft Picks in the Mark Stoops Era

2013: 1

• Larry Warford (3rd Round – Detroit Lions)

2014: 1

• Avery Williamson (5th Round – Tennessee Titans)

2015: 2

• Bud Dupree (1st Round – Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Za’Darius Smith (4th Round – Baltimore Ravens)

2016: 1

• Josh Forrest (6th Round – Los Angeles Rams)

2019: 5

• Joshua Allen (1st Round – Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Lonnie Johnson Jr. (2nd Round – Houston Texans)
• Mike Edwards (3rd Round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Benny Snell Jr. (4th Round – Pittsburgh Steelers)
• George Asafo-Adjei (7th Round – New York Giants)

2020: 2

• Lynn Bowden Jr. (3rd Round – Las Vegas Raiders)
• Logan Stenberg (4th Round – Detroit Lions)

2021: 6

• Jamin Davis (1st Round – Washington Football Team)
• Kelvin Joseph (2nd Round – Dallas Cowboys)
• Quinton Bohanna (6th Round – Dallas Cowboys)
• Brandin Echols (6th Round – New York Jets)
• Landon Young (6th Round – New Orleans Saints)
• Phil Hoskins (7th Round – Carolina Panthers)

For more on the NFL Draft and Kentucky’s prospects, I’ll direct you to Adam Luckett’s comprehensive guide.