Check out the latest NFL draft projections for Miami Hurricanes players Rueben Bain Jr., and Francis Mauigoa
The NFL Draft is only a few days away.
Despite this, there are several mock drafts still making adjustments before the big day. ESPN recently released its latest projections. Analyst Jordan Reid gave his latest picks, which included a pair of former Miami Hurricanes.
Reid had Francis Mauigoa going to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.
"Protecting the quarterback has been a constant issue for the Cardinals, who allowed 59 sacks last season (fifth most in the NFL)," Reid wrote. "The Cardinals' offensive tackles also finished with the lowest run block win rate at the position last season, and Mauigoa provides an immediate plug-and-play starter on the right side. Arizona signed Elijah Wilkinson this offseason, but that shouldn't prevent it from searching for a long-term fixture at right tackle."
Roundtable Sports contributor Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat, who hosts the Come On Now podcast, said Mauigoa is worth the pick despite some late injury reports surfacing.
"I've been seeing stuff where it talked about him having a back injury and herniated disk and the potential need for surgery," Rodriguez-Chomat said. "I wonder if this is now just another attempt to lower the value of a Miami Hurricanes football player. It seems that's something we have to go through a lot when it comes to the Hurricanes and dealing with people who try to low-ball our players."
Reid has Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., going to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9.
Here's what Reid wrote: "It has been nine years since the Chiefs have picked in the top 10. That draft netted them Patrick Mahomes, so Kansas City would love a similar home run with this pick. Bain is a rugged, high-effort edge rusher who brings an immediate identity to that position group. He checks every characteristic defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes on the edge as a densely built, heavy-handed playmaker with alignment versatility. Bain's short arms are a historical outlier, and teams are aware of the off-field issues that have surfaced, but I still believe he will go in the top half of Round 1.
Rodriguez-Chomat feels Bain is the prize of the draft.
"Rueben Bain, to me, is the best player in the country," Rodriguez-Chomat said. "I think Rueben should be the No. 1 pick in the draft but that's not how it goes. I think he's by far the best player in the country."
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of MiamiRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com