Latest NFL Draft buzz for Ikem Ekwonu, other NC State football stars
The famed ESPN duo of Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. held a mock draft alternating picks for the first round, and once again NC State All-American left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was headed to New York.
With McShay making the choice for the New York Giants at No. 5, he had them using the pick on Ekwonu, making him the first offensive lineman off the board.
“Andrew Thomas looked better in 2021, but the Giants still need a tackle opposite him — and the best one in the class is still here at No. 5,” McShay explained. “New GM Joe Schoen would be sprinting to turn in the pick card if the board fell this way.”
Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL.com also has Ekwonu headed to the Giants.
The Athletic has Ekwonu making history, becoming the first ever NC State football player taken by the Carolina Panthers, going with the No. 6 overall pick in the first round.
“Ekwonu is as athletic as they come and a tough, physical finisher who will set the tone for the line,” Nate Tice wrote. He still has plenty of technique to clean up, but he has the ability and potential to be a dynamic lineman with more than enough ability to stay at tackle. In a worst-case scenario, he bumps inside to guard.”
Tice had Alabama’s Evan Neal as the first offensive lineman chosen, selected by the Houston Texans with the third choice.
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Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, who previously covered the Carolina Panthers with the Charlotte Observer, agreed that Houston would take an offensive lineman, but he had the Texans choosing Ekwonu instead of Neal.
Meanwhile, in terms of NC State football other draft prospects, running back Zonovan Knight and receiver Emeka Emezie were both given seventh round grades by ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who had Ekwonu ranked as the second-best overall prospect in the NFL Draft.
The seven-round mock draft by CBSSports.com’s Chris Trapasso looks like an exteme, unlikely outlier by having Ekwonu going at pick No. 14 with the Baltimore Ravens, however Trapasso also has Knight going in the fourth round to the Washington Commanders and Emezie being picked in the seventh round by the Seattle Seahawks.
Regardless of where he gets picked, Ekwonu is sure to get a lot of face time on television next Thursday. He is one of 21 players who will attend the first round of the NFL Draft in Las Vegas.
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