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Just one Longhorn appears on Mel Kiper's first-round mock

by:EvanVieth•about 10 hours
Mel Kiper
Mel Kiper - © Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Mel Kiper, one of the leading analysts in the NFL draft community, has officially released his first mock draft of the opening 32 picks of the 2025 NFL draft, somewhat unofficially marking the start of draft season.

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Kiper’s ESPN mock drafts often stir up controversy in the scene, especially as someone who takes his time to drop his takes, and this will be no different for Texas fans in Kiper’s newest article.

With players like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter topping the first picks, Longhorns would not have to wait long to see a familiar face in the first. Kiper projects Kelvin Banks Jr., a near lock to be a top-15 pick this year, to go 11th overall to the San Francisco 49ers, the second tackle taken in the class. Kiper said this about the selection:

Banks has a ton of experience, having started 42 games over his college career — and he allowed only three sacks over that time. I’m curious to see his combine measurements — height might be a question mark if he’s 6-3 or shorter — but he has the movement traits and strength to seal off the edge in pass protection.

The 49ers still have Trent Williams locking down the left side for two more seasons, but he will be 37 at the start of next season. It’s time to start planning for the future. Plus, Banks could help on the right side for now, where the Niners have missed Mike McGlinchey (signed with Denver two years ago).

Banks would be able to learn from one of the best in the business in Williams, and for a team as successful as the 49ers have been recently, it would be a slam dunk landing spot for the three-year starter.

But that’s not why Texas fans would be upset at Kiper’s projections.

Banks was the only Longhorn Kiper projects to be selected in the first round, not including any of Jahdae Barron, Cam Williams, Matthew Golden or Isaiah Bond, while schools like Georgia, Texas A&M and Alabama all have multiple players mocked in that first round range.

Kiper has, however, updated his big board for the start of the draft cycle, featuring 11 total Longhorns. Banks notably ranks as a top 10 player, but four other Horns stand as top five players in their position on ESPN’s newest big board:

QB

7. Quinn Ewers

WR

7. Isaiah Bond
9. Matthew Golden

TE

5. Gunnar Helm

OT

1. Kelvin Banks
7. Cameron Williams

OC

5. Jake Majors

DE

10. Barryn Sorrell

DT

7. Alfred Collins

CB

5. Jahdae Barron

S

5. Andrew Mukuba 

Ewers is notably the seventh quarterback on the board, a drop from preseason expectations of him being a first-round quarterback. Kiper is also notably lower on Texas’ wide receivers than the average scout, as Golden’s No. 9 ranking seems quite steep given his recent success. Still, Texas has three highly rated players on their defense, and that’s not even counting someone like Vernon Broughton who may also be drafted.

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Rankings will continue to change as the season progresses and as players from Notre Dame and Ohio State have time to make declaration decisions. Texas plays will likely benefit from combine results, where players like Ewers and Bond can show off athleticism and traits that made them popular first round picks at the start of the year.

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