The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine has come to a close as the lights go out inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Oregon sent seven players to the event, and the early return coming out of the weekend has been largely positive.
On Monday, Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus released his post-combine mock draft and have three former Oregon players came off the board in the first round. You can read the full mock draft here.
Jackson Powers-Johnson: Pick 16 Seattle Seahawks
McGuinesss: "Evan Brown is an unrestricted free agent and ranked 27th among starting centers in PFF grade in 2023, while 2023 fifth-round draft pick Olusegun Oluwatimi didn’t show enough to make passing on Powers-Johnson an option.
Impressive as both a run- and pass-blocker, he allowed just four total pressures on 758 pass-blocking snaps in college."
Analysis: It'd be fun to see JPJ stay in the Northwest, but for the time being the Seahawks are a big question mark as they usher in new head coach Mike Macdonald to kick off the post Pete Carroll era in Seattle. Fortunately for Powers-Johnson, should he be selected by the Seahawks he'll play in an offense with a long-time NFL veteran at quarterback in Geno Smith, a strong group of backs led by Kenneth Walker and a star wideout in DK Metcalf.
Quarterback Bo Nix: Pick 19 Los Angeles Rams
McGuiness: "I ultimately think Nix — or whoever the fourth quarterback in this class winds up being — comes off the board earlier than this, but the fit here makes so much sense to me.
Nix earned the second-highest PFF grade among quarterbacks in this class. Drafting him (and the highs he brings) and letting him learn behind Matthew Stafford for a year would give him the best chance of success at the next level."
Analysis: We've seen Powers-Johnson land at this spot in previous mock drafts, but this is a good spot for Nix for a lot of the same reasons. The bottom line is that it's a great offense with one of the strongest offensive minds in Sean McVay. Nix wouldn't be expected to play a big role in year one and he'd probably be viewed as a long-term replacement once Stafford hangs up his cleats.
It's a big plus to learn behind a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and oddly enough this move wouldn't be too dissimilar from what the Ducks are doing with Dante Moore in Eugene, as he's slated to learn behind Dillon Gabriel before competing to be the starter in 2025.
Wide receiver Troy Franklin: Pick 21 Miami Dolphins
McGuinness: "The Dolphins are top-heavy at the wide receiver position, with little to get excited about beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Adding a third option like Franklin could help keep this offense ticking. The Oregon standout averaged 3.32 yards per route run last season, trailing only Nabers and Harrison in this class."
Analysis: This isn't a spot I had really expected for Franklin, especially because a lot of mocks prior to the combine had him sneaking into the first round to the Chiefs at 32. Maybe that suggests that his performance over the weekend was enough to move him up the rankings in a stacked wide receiver class.
But I like Miami for Franklin because he'd get to play in one of the most exciting offenses in the NFL with some great talent already in place.
Defenses will be forced to focus on Tryeek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, which could create an early role for the former Duck wideout. A number of backs have had a lot of success in Mike McDaniel's offense, so the run game shouldn't be a concern.
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