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Ohio State Offensive Line Struggles Without Josh Simmons, Creating Major Concern for Penn State Showdown

Published

1 year ago

October 26, 2024

Ohio State Offensive Line Struggles Without Josh Simmons, Creating Major Concern for Penn State Showdown

Instead of finding Zen on the offensive line, Ohio State is battling even more chaos.

Residual fear about offensive line play off a poor showing in 2023 bubbled to the surface for Buckeye fans following a season-ending injury to Josh Simmons at Oregon, and those worries boiled over as the front five was dismal without its starting left tackle against Nebraska.

Zen Michalski started his first career game in Simmons’ place and – no offense to the man beneath the shoulder pads – imitated a parking cone for three quarters and change before exiting with an injury. His struggles sent shockwaves down the entire offensive line as Ohio State turned in easily its worst rushing performance of the season and allowed quarterback Will Howard to come under frequent pressure.

“We didn’t run the football,” Ryan Day said when asked about the offensive line. “Not even close to what we’re averaging. Under three yards per carry with Quinshon (Judkins) and TreVeyon (Henderson). That’s not getting it done. We’ve got to do better than that.”

With an elite defensive front staring Ohio State down in its pivotal matchup against No. 3 Penn State next week, the Buckeyes are left scrambling for solutions on their offensive line after it was a major reason for the razor-thin margin of OSU’s 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday.

“Yeah, I got to go back and watch the film and figure that all out myself,” Day said. “It seemed like a little bit of both (poor execution and Nebraska playing well), quite honestly. It’s not good enough when we’ve gotta be able to run the football. We didn’t do that today. That’s why we put the defense in bad spots. That’s why we were 1-for-10 on third down.”

Ohio State averaged a meager 2.1 yards per carry against the Huskers, less than half its previous low on the season of 4.3 yards per rush at Oregon two weeks ago. Nebraska collected two sacks and forced Howard off his spots consistently as the Buckeyes’ offense failed to pick up a first down on its first four possessions of the second half.

With just 285 yards of offense total, it’s the first time Ohio State’s been held under 400 this year, let alone 300.

Neither of the Buckeyes’ touted tandem at running back found much footing. Henderson picked up 15 yards on his second run of the day and had nine carries for 10 yards otherwise. Judkins finished with 29 yards on 10 attempts. Both proven ball carriers were breaking tackles and trying to find holes, but the hog mollies did them few favors.

“I would say for our offensive line, it definitely wasn’t our best day up front,” Judkins said. “But I think those guys will get it corrected. Coach (Justin) Frye does great for our offensive line as far as coaching, I think he’ll fix it for next week. But I think everyone could improve.”

The thing about offensive line injuriesis they’re often a cascade. It’s such a codependent position group, more than any other in football, that one major downgrade is enough to make the whole group suffer as everyone loses cohesion and has to provide help to different places. The offensive line’s success is something the entire offense depends on, and so it snowballs.

That’s not to say that Josh Fryar, Tegra Tshabola, Seth McLaughlin and Donovan Jackson don’t share responsibility for the failures of the front five against the Huskers, but it underscores the importance Simmons held on the Buckeyes’ roster.

As mightily as Michalski struggled, there was a thought that Ohio State could consider other options at left tackle as the game progressed, one of which included sliding Donovan Jackson out from left guard as the Buckeyes did after Michalski went down. But Day seemed assured in sticking with the first-time starter through thick and thin.

“Felt like, for his first start, we wanted him to play through it,” Day said. “We didn’t want to just panic and pull him out because it’s your first start. So there’s some things you’re going through. Whether it’s first-time jitters or whatever it might be, you’re pressing. You’re trying to get your feet underneath you. So we wanted him to play through that and see how that went. We’ll see how he is now after the game.”

Michalski exited with a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter. Escorted off the field by trainers, he was later seen on Ohio State’s sideline standing with the aid of crutches. His status is being evaluated, but assuming he can’t play against Penn State, the Buckeyes will have to review whether they want Jackson to start at left tackle next week. Sophomore Luke Montgomery took his spot at left guard after Michalski’s injury, though redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld started the first two games of the year at that position when Jackson was sidelined by injury.

Right guard Tegra Tshabola is another candidate to kick outside while George Fitzpatrick is the next true tackle on Ohio State’s depth chart.

“We’re gonna have to talk about it and figure that out,” Day said. “We knew that if that happened in (the Nebraska) game, (Jackson) was our answer and solution to get out of the game. Now we’re going to have to go back and figure out what’s next.”

For his part, Howard said he felt unaffected by the shuffles on the offensive line, even as it was clear he came under more duress than he’s accustomed to this season. He finished 13-of-16 passing for 221 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, adding a sack-adjusted 24 rushing yards.

“It didn’t affect my decision-making at all,” Howard said. “That’s not something I think about when I’m in the game. I’ve got all the trust in the world in Zen and whoever is out there at left tackle for me. It’s not affecting anything that I’m doing at all. It’s next man up mentality and you’ve got to have full faith in that guy. … Definitely when you lose a tackle with first-round potential, it’s tough. That’s a dude that we’re going to miss, but I think Zen stepped up and he’s got to continue to work and hopefully he’s all right.”

Judkins thought the inexperience of the new pieces played a factor in the offensive line’s issues as well.

“When you have new guys in the rotation, they have to get used to the tempo and how things go up front,” Judkins said. “Especially in-game tempo compared to a walkthrough and everything like that. So having those guys mentally dialed in and getting those reps that they need, I think that’s the biggest part.”

The Buckeyes still won the game thanks to a strong performance from their defense. Trailing 17-14 in the fourth quarter, the offense cobbled together enough blocks to go on an eight-play, 75-yard go-ahead touchdown drive that proved game-winning.

“I kept saying that, ‘Go win.’ Like, ‘How are we going to win the game?’ And we talked about that in the off week,” Day said. “We did that. So that, we can build on. But certainly, if we’re going to go 1-for-10 on third down, if we’re going to run the football the way we did in this game, we’re going to be in a tough spot in terms of putting the defense in the situations they were in.”

The urgency in Ohio State’s offensive line woes is the opponent on its marquee for next Saturday. The Buckeyes face No. 3 Penn State on the road in a game with massive Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications, and the Nittany Lions possess an elite defensive front. Spearheaded by Abdul Carter, one of the most dynamic edge rushers in the country, Penn State is No. 9 nationally in scoring defense (14.5 points allowed per game), No. 6 in total defense (262.5 yards allowed), No. 11 in run defense (95 yards allowed) and No. 15 in pass defense (167.5 yards allowed).

Thus, the Buckeyes must find the answer to their offensive line dilemma in the next week if they want to win in Happy Valley and keep all of their goals on the table.

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Funeral to be held for Ohio teen killed in scooter crash

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

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Funeral to be held for Ohio teen killed in scooter crash

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WSYX) — Family and friends will gather to remember a 17-year-old Olentangy Orange High School student who was killed while riding a scooter in Orange Township.

Anastasia Jehorek died Feb. 27 along state Route 750, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers said she was riding in the side safety lane when she was hit by a car.

Jehorek’s family is remembering her as someone who always had a smile.

“I think she brought a lot of light to people’s lives, and that’s just a light that’s no longer with us,” said Anthony Bowling, Jehorek’s uncle.

The driver, Aviv Bukobza, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

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Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

Published

16 hours ago

March 5, 2026

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Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ohio State continues to show late-season growth

The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.

Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.

Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.

Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day

Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.

He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.

Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.

He needs 12 points to set the new record.

John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury

Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.

His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.

Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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2026 NFL mock draft 6.0: Chiefs stick with offense after big trade with Rams; Ohio State defenders rise after stellar combines

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

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2026 NFL mock draft 6.0: Chiefs stick with offense after big trade with Rams; Ohio State defenders rise after stellar combines

With the 2026 NFL scouting combine in the books, this year’s NFL Draft class is becoming clearer.

While the quarterbacks and wide receivers got the most attention at the combine, it was a group of defensive prospects that stood out this past week in Indianapolis. Specifically, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles put together a fantastic series of workouts to move into the top three of our latest mock draft. But there were plenty of other defenders who stood out. This mock draft is littered with them in a deep overall class of defensive linemen and defensive backs.

In this mock draft, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice makes the odd-numbered picks, and Charles McDonald makes the even.

More 2026 NFL mock drafts: 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Don’t overthink it. Barring some unforeseen path the Raiders take this offseason, Mendoza looks like the signal-caller of the future in Las Vegas. Mendoza checks a lot of boxes at QB, especially his overall size as Mendoza not only stands 6-foot-5 but weighed in at a strong 236 pounds in Indianapolis. And his sense of timing, ability to throw on the move, and willingness to push the ball are a great match for Klint Kubiak’s offense that constantly asks quarterbacks to work inside and outside of the pocket and into tight spots over the middle of the field. The Raiders’ skill position talent already has strong, young playmakers (maybe one more outside receiver would be nice!) who can help ease Mendoza’s transition to the next level.

2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

Some players who split time between two positions are “tweeners” who don’t really excel at either spot. A very small number of players who play two spots put up elite performances at both. Reese fits into the latter. He’s a true front-seven weapon who should excel wherever his future team puts him. He can cover, play the run and rush the passer, making him a rare and versatile linebacker prospect at the top of the draft. The Jets’ defense was so bad that someone who can plug multiple spots depending on the situation is exactly what they need.

3. Arizona Cardinals — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles’ strong season had him already moving up draft boards, and an even stronger showing in Indianapolis only added rocket fuel to his rise. Styles’ range and smarts as an off-ball linebacker allow him to impact the run and pass, but he also has the length and strength to hold up as an edge rusher for snaps as well. The redbirds could look at offensive line here, too, but Styles’ ability to be a steadying force and impact player, with versatility thrown in, makes sense for any type of defense and franchise. But the Cardinals need stuff to build around. Plus there’s a nice bonus of it being an interesting fit for coordinator Nick Rallis’ knuckleball defense.

(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)

4. Tennessee Titans — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Tennessee started rebuilding its defense in Robert Saleh’s image by swapping T’Vondre Sweat for the Jets’ Jermaine Johnson. Now Saleh can continue to build what his best Jets defenses had: premier defensive line depth. Adding Bain, who would be a perfect fit in Saleh’s defense, would give the Titans a heavy-handed player on the edge who has high-end athleticism to negate any arm-length issues his frame should bring up. Jeffery Simmons and Bain would be … a pain.

5. New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

While there are other offensive tackles who are (spoilers for the next pick!) shooting up draft boards, the Giants go for Mauigoa. He could be the short-term and long-term answer for the Giants at right tackle or right guard. Mauigoa is a clean prospect with good hand usage and a strong build who can help the Giants’ offensive line from dipping after an underrated strong performance in 2025 (especially when Andrew Thomas was on the field). Perhaps he doesn’t have overwhelming athleticism. Still, he’s a player who allows the Giants to always have their best five offensive linemen on the field.

6. Cleveland Browns — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

This is a big-time jump for Freeling, but he has all the traits NFL teams drool over for offensive tackle prospects in terms of size and athleticism. The Browns, who are facing the potential losses of the vast majority of their offensive line to free agency, will need to completely rebuild that unit — which is a bit overdue, but not to this severity. Freeling gives Cleveland a dart throw to have strong left tackle play if he continues his trend of rapid improvement over the past year.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: David Bailey #DL31 of Texas Tech participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) — Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey helped his draft stock with a strong performance at the combine. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
(Lauren Leigh Bacho via Getty Images)

7. Washington Commanders — David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

As tempting as it will be to add an offensive player of some kind here, with tasty options at offensive line, wide receiver, tight end and running back, the Commanders instead add firepower to a defense that has to get faster, younger and just straight up better. Bailey is an explosive pass rusher who is constantly attacking offensive tackles. He will never be a strong run defender, but he has long arms (measured at 33 ¾ inches at the combine) and has improved in that area. Bailey is the exact type of talent injection this defense needs.

8. New Orleans Saints — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Tyler Shough will be getting a chance to show he can be the long-term quarterback this year, so shoring up the wide receiver room should be a priority. New Orleans is a bit thin in terms of premier skill talent after a few years of erosion, but Shough’s emergence gives them the ability to burn this pick on Tate, who should immediately step in as a legitimate starting option alongside former Buckeye Chris Olave.

9. Kansas City Chiefs — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

WHHHEEEEE! The Chiefs have a few needs they could address here, but I think an offensive skill player of some sort is the way to go. And why not go with Love, one of the best overall players in this draft and a walking, talking explosive play who could boost a run game that has been hyper-efficient the past few seasons, but has had the same explosiveness as a wet firecracker. Love behind a Chiefs offensive line that could end up being one of the league’s better units and in an Andy Reid screen game has me salivating.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Cincinnati needs defense. Downs is arguably the best player in the draft. Whoever is the top defensive player available here, the Bengals should take him without thinking much about it. Downs’ position is the only reason he’s available here as safeties tend to slide down the board relative to their consensus rankings.

11. Miami Dolphins — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Zone cornerback, meet zone coverage-calling head coach. Delane gets how to play the cornerback position. He’s smart and has a great feel for playing high-low concepts, with the quickness and burst to make plays on the football. He doesn’t have ideal length or top-end athleticism, but he gives the Dolphins and new head coach Jeff Hafley a young CB with pedigree to build around.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Dallas needs to keep plugging away at the holes in its secondary and can get a high-upside prospect in McCoy here to get a corner who can take advantage of Dallas’ defensive line talent. McCoy has excellent ball skills and can be a more steady player than the boom-bust talents that occupied this secondary in the past.

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13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

After dipping their toes in the Oregon tight end waters last draft with Terrance Ferguson in the second round and supercharging their multi-tight end looks, the Rams take the plunge with Sadiq. Yes, the Rams could add to their defensive backfield here, among other positions, but Sadiq would further weaponize a Rams offense that asks its skill players to do a bit of everything around the formation. Sadiq would give Sean McVay another field stretcher and yards-after-catch option while still deploying heavy bodies, with some grit as a blocker as a nice bonus. Sadiq would not only help the Rams for 2026, but he also shores up the position long-term for the Rams as they have several pending tight end free agents in 2027.

14. Baltimore Ravens — Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

Baltimore needs to add more high-end offensive line talent and Ioane may wind up being the only first-round caliber player on the interior this year. He perfectly fits the power running that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have thrived with and is athletic enough to have versatility for new coordinator Declan Doyle as he begins to install his offense in Baltimore.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Keldric Faulk, DL/Edge, Auburn

Faulk has an ideal build for a classic defensive end and fits the type of defensive ends that Todd Bowles has deployed in the past (Logan Hall, William Gholston). Faulk is young and still developing as a pass rusher, but he can be a needle-moving run defender right out of the gate as he polishes the rest of his game. Faulk’s versatility to move across the defensive line helps him fit in any type of scheme, but is a clean fit in Bowles’ defense. A strong option to help out for 2026, but a swing at something more for the Bucs while picking in the middle of the first.

16. New York Jets (via Colts) — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Another player for the broken Jets’ defense. Like his older brother A.J., a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Falcons, Avieon didn’t have the most explosive day at the combine (his 34-inch vertical ranked among the bottom third of CBs and his 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump was also in the lower tier in this group) but he still has the profile of a starting outside cornerback in the NFL, which is still an incredibly valuable thing to find. That works here for the Jets.

17. Detroit Lions — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

While Giovanni Manu is still interesting to me, Lomu gives the Lions their Taylor Decker succession plan (and insurance for the 2026 season). Lomu has to continue to get stronger, but he has light feet, clean hand usage and the overall athleticism to stay on the left side and be a plus-blindside protector. Lomu has just turned 21, so a redshirt year under offensive line coach/run game coordinator Hank Fraley while continuing to add to his frame could make this a perfect player-team fit for a franchise that seems like it’s about to start transitioning to phase 2 of the Dan Campbell tenure.

18. Cleveland Browns (via Vikings) — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Browns jump up here in the draft to grab the falling Fano, giving them two offensive tackles in the first round of this draft. Freeling and Fano could grow into a formidable OT duo for the Browns and when a team has so few offensive linemen under contract with a restrictive salary cap situation, the draft is the best way to go.

19. Carolina Panthers — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Panthers could look to help out their trenches on both sides of the ball here, but they sorely need impact defensive players. Allen can be that solidifying force in the front seven who could help this defense finally step out of the doldrums. Allen’s intelligence, quickness, and overall two-way ability would help the Panthers shore up against the run and pass, while also having some blitzing juice to fit into coordinator Ejiro Evero’s defensive funkiness.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers) — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Another dip on defense, this time the Cowboys add to their defensive end rotation with the speedy Howell. He’s similar to some of the players they already have on the roster, but this is a decent enough range and he would benefit from a strong room of defensive tackles.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Makai Lemon, WR, USC

I go back and forth with what kind of second wide receiver I would want to see in Pittsburgh in Mike McCarthy’s offense and across from DK Metcalf. While I’m personally higher on Denzel Boston than Lemon, I think Lemon’s quickness and route-running ability from the slot is actually a good fit for what I think McCarthy is going to want in his offense that has typically featured a steady heaping of quick-hitting passing plays. Lemon would also give Pittsburgh more yards-after-catch ability and a different flavor than Metcalf and the Steelers’ jumbo-size tight end room.

22. Los Angeles Chargers — Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

The Chargers go pure value here and take Woods, who was slotted as a top pick prior to the season. Woods has all the upside in the world to be an impact player on the interior and still flashed strong skills in a down year for the entire Clemson program. Woods would be a great young talent for the Chargers to add with the emerging Tuli Tuipulotu on the edge.

23. Philadelphia Eagles — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

When picking for the Eagles under general manager Howie Roseman, defaulting to a pick in the trenches isn’t the worst bet. And something I agree with! Especially with long-time right-side stalwart Lane Johnson contemplating retirement seemingly on a weekly basis and other question marks potentially emerging along the rest of the Eagles’ line. I’m high on Iheanachor, who is a great athlete in a large frame, and I think he has more polish to his game than the “project” label he gets despite being a latecomer to football. And this might end up as his floor when April comes.

24. Minnesota Vikings (via Browns) — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

After flipping down with the Browns, the Vikings take a big swing at defensive tackle with Banks. He isn’t a finished product, but he’s a lot more polished than most designated projects and was incredibly disruptive in the three games he played this season. His movement skills and footwork are incredibly rare at 6-foot-6, 330, but he struggles to finish plays off the penetration he creates. Brian Flores would be a great coach to land with in regards to fixing that and the Vikings would have the chance for the elite interior talent this defense has been missing.

25. Chicago Bears — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Left tackle is very live here for Chicago, but the Bears must look to add beef to their defensive interior. And what better person to add beef than someone with the last name McDonald. McDonald has good bulk and is a strong run defender who actually racks up tackles rather than just plodding in the middle with his quick feet and ability to consistently shed his block. He is just an average pass rusher, but can help shore up a run defense that was prone to leaks in 2025.

26. Buffalo Bills — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Bills clearly have a big need at wide receiver and can take another swing on a wide receiver early in the draft. Boston had 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons and profiles as someone who has a chance to be a big-bodied wide receiver who has a bit more skills than players the Bills currently have.

27. San Francisco 49ers — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The 49ers’ run game lost some venom last season despite a Herculean effort from Christian McCaffrey. Perhaps this is the season that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch add some pedigree to their offensive line. The 49ers paid Colton McKivitz and he’s under contract for a couple of more seasons, but Miller projects to be a tier or two better than McKivitz at right tackle. Miller’s agility makes him a good fit for a Shanahan offense. He played only the right side in college, but he has the athleticism and length to give the left side a shot in case the 49ers need a Trent Williams insurance/succession plan, too.

28. Houston Texans — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Offensive line help arrives for the Texans, who take one of the biggest players in the draft who has a wide range of potential outcomes. Proctor is talented, but his play was a bit inconsistent this season and he’s a bit of an outlier in weight, at 370 pounds in-season for the Crimson Tide. Still, he’s an immense talent and is worth the swing at this point.

The Chiefs continue to boost up the offensive speed for when Patrick Mahomes comes back from injury and for the future. The bold trade of Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie ultimately lands KC this gifted wideout. Tyson was incredible to start Arizona State’s season. He was a walking, talking big play waiting to happen. He is a twitchy athlete whose hand-eye coordination and explosiveness really shine when he’s adjusting for throws above his head and away from his body.

30. Denver Broncos — Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Another pass rusher for the Broncos because that’s what we do with teams at the bottom of a mock draft. Mesidor showed he can put heat on the quarterback on the edge and the interior of Miami’s defensive line, registering 12.5 sacks in the Hurricanes’ run to the national championship game. Pro Football Focus gave him a 92.5 pass rush grade, which is third among edge rushers. His PFF run defense score was 88.3, which ranked in the 91st percentile.

31. New England Patriots — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Patriots could go offensive line, but they need to add explosiveness to their pass-catcher corps. Hello, KC Concepcion! While DeMario Douglas has been able to contribute big plays from the slot, Concepcion could provide the type of yards after catch and downfield ability that would give Drake Maye an explosive option to work with (along with the improved Kayshon Boutte and explosive, but raw, Kyle Williams).

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32. Seattle Seahawks — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Seattle may have a bit of a shakeup in its cornerback room this offseason, so adding another cost-controlled, long-term deal in the room might make sense. Hood had a great workout in Indianapolis — Next Gen Stats ranked his athletic score fourth among cornerbacks at the combine — and was a productive player on the ball for the Vols’ pass defense.

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