Later on Thursday evening, the 2015 NFL Draft will take place from Chicago, Ill, and 32 players will hear their names called from NFL commissioner Roger Goddell.
According to many mock drafts updated in the last week -- some just on Wednesday -- former Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon will be among those selected in the first round.
Here's the final set of mock drafts before Thursday's grand event:
Dan Kadar, SB Nation | Don Banks, SI.com | Mike Mayock, NFL.com | Charles Davis, NFL.com | Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com | Bucky Brooks, NFL.com | Charley Casserly, NFL.com | Lance Zierlein, NFL.com | Brian Baldinger, NFL.com | Matt Miller, Bleacher Report | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of Mock Draft | Apr. 27 | Apr. 16 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 23 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 24 | Apr. 29 |
Draft Order | 17th | 17th | 19th | 26th | 26th | 17th | 27th | 27th | 17th | 24th overall prospect |
Team | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Chargers | Cleveland Browns | Baltimore Ravens | Baltimore Ravens | San Diego Chargers | Dallas Cowboys | Dallas Cowboys | San Diego Chargers | N/A (Big Board) |
Nate Davis, USA Today | Eric Edholm, Yahoo.com | Frank Schawb, Yahoo.com | Rob Rang, CBS Sports | Dane Brugler, CBS Sports | Will Brinson, CBS Sports | Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports | Pete Prisco, CBS Sports | Walter Football | Drafttek | |
Date of Mock Draft | Apr. 29 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 22 | Apr. 15 | Apr. 27 | Apr. 29 | Apr. 29 |
Draft Order | 17th | 25th | 17th | 17th | 17th | 24th | 26th | 23rd | 23rd | 23rd |
Team | San Diego Chargers | Carolina Panthers | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Chargers | Arizona Cardinals | Baltimore Ravens | Detroit Lions | Detroit Lions | Detroit Lions |
It's worth noting many of these mock drafts, though placing him with a first-round grade, have him as the second back taken in the draft. Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley has shot up the draft boards recently, some even in the top 10, like CBS Sports' Dane Brugler's recent mock draft.
Regardless, Gordon is a first-round talent, and there seems to be a solid contingent of teams many think he could be selected by -- the earliest being the San Diego Chargers at No. 17 down to No. 27 with the Dallas Cowboys. NFL.com's Mike Mayock predicts the Cleveland Browns drafting Gordon at No. 19, noting the Heisman finalist has the "best patience and balance."
Though the past couple of weeks have been riddled with stories of "red flags" for certain draft prospects, Gordon's character has never come into question.
Not all negative with this draft: RB Melvin Gordon hosted a charity event Tuesday night to benefit Ronald McDonald house. Raised about $25K.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2015
Teams give him A+ character grade https://t.co/CjwNUt20DC
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) April 29, 2015
Stop back at B5Q Thursday evening as we await to hear the name of the most dynamic back in Wisconsin history to be called.