Mel Kiper updates NFL Draft Big Board after junior declarations

By Chris Marler

January 15th was the last day for underclassmen to declare for the upcoming NFL Draft this April. Kiper has updated his big board weekly for the last month or so. This is the first big board he’s updated that includes all the underclassmen who officially declared for the draft, so needless to say there was plenty of movement. In fact, there are ten players whose ranking changed from his last installment. 

All in all, there were 11 SEC players included in the top 25. However, what was most interesting was that there were only two listed in the top ten and they were at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. The SEC has had at least three or more top ten picks and at least one top five pick in each of the last six drafts. 

Here’s a look at the Top 25 Players Kiper has on his big board 

1. Travis Hunter, DB/WR, Colorado 
2. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State 
3. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
4. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
5. Cam Ward, QB, Miami
6. Will Johnson, DB, Michigan 
7. Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona 
9. Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia 
10. Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas 
11. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
12. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
13. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State 
14. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia 
15. Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia
16. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan 
17. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina 
18. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss 
19. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon 
20. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama 
21. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
22. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
23. Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
24. James Pearce Jr., OLB, Tennessee 
25. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan 

Remember, this isn’t a mock draft with projected landing spots for these players. This is just the top players in the draft regardless of position and team needs, according to longtime NFL Draft scout and analyst Mel Kiper. The Draft will be held on April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.