Which Florida Gators were taken in Mel Kiper’s new mock draft?

Mock Draft season is in full swing, especially after the first big wave of NFL free agency. Teams have their rosters locked-in, and the next step is to determine who they will take in the 2021 NFL Draft. Many fans will turn to mock drafts to see who analysts have their team selecting in the draft. One of the biggest names in the mock draft game is ESPN’s, Mel Kiper.

Kiper is known for his NFL Draft coverage and has been doing this longer than some of these prospects have been alive. When Kiper releases a mock draft, it usually is pretty relevant news. Many people respect Kiper’s opinion on the draft, and deservedly so for all the time and effort he has put into it.

In his most recent mock draft, Kiper’s Mock Draft 3.0, Kiper has two former Florida Gators going in the first 32 picks.

To no surprise, Kiper has former Gators tight end Kyle Pitts as his highest-picked Gator. Pitts is my No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Kiper has him going No. 5 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. Here was Kiper’s explanation for the pick:

"“All along, I’ve thought it was going to be an offensive tackle here, but if Pitts and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are on the board, can the Bengals really pass them up? Joe Burrow has to get more playmakers around him. I think Pitts is just too good, and he would instantly upgrade this offense. He is one of the most talented tight ends I’ve ever graded, and there are people in the NFL who think he could be the second-best prospect in this class.”"

That is high praise from Kiper, who, like I said, has been doing this a very long time. I am happy to see someone like Kiper is on board with Pitts’ greatness too. The fit in Cincinnati would be incredible for Pitts. Pairing Pitts with Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow would be fun to watch. After Pitts broke the internet and ran a reported 4.46 40-yard dash, I think it is time to lock him in as a top 5 pick. And I believe Pitts is on pace to prove he will be a Hall of Fame player.

As for the second Gator selected in Kiper’s mock draft, it was nice to see former Gators receiver Kadarius Toney getting some love. Toney has become a forgotten man in a loaded receiver class, so he should be hyped that Kiper had him going No. 22 overall to the Tennesee Titans. Kiper said this about the selection:

"“With Corey Davis leaving in free agency, this is a really thin wide receiver depth chart behind A.J. Brown. Toney could have a few different suitors in this range, and Ryan Tannehill would love him. Toney could contribute as a dynamic receiver, runner and returner, and new offensive coordinator Todd Downing should get him the ball 10 times a game. Toney will do damage out of the slot: In his career, he averaged 15.6 yards per catch when lined up in the slot, adding 10 scores.”"

Toney would be a great fit in Tennessee, and I really like this pick by Kiper. Plugging him into an offense that is based on strength and power would be fun to watch. He would give the Titans the spark they need on offense and compliment Titans receiver A.J. Brown really well.

It was nice to see that the Gators will likely have two first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Florida has become known to produce NFL-caliber players, so adding two more first-rounders to their list is fantastic.

Former Gators quarterback Kyle Trask, who has seen his draft stock rise and fall, did not make Kiper’s first round. It will be interesting to see how far Trask will slide on draft night or if he will be a player that gets drafted earlier than expected.