Early ESPN mock draft projects 3 Longhorns in NFL Draft 1st round

It’s early for an NFL Mock Draft, but ESPN couldn’t wait.

With the college football season kicking off Saturday and the NFL season just a few weeks away, ESPN’s Field Yates is taking an early look at the first round of the NFL Draft. The good news for Texas is he projects three Longhorns getting picked in round one.

Yates projects Texas OT Kelvin Banks to be the No. 3 pick in the draft, QB Quinn Ewers No. 8 and WR Isaiah Bond at No. 28. All three players are entering their junior seasons. ESPN’S NFL Power Index was used to determine the drafting order.

3. Denver Broncos: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Banks put together excellent tape down the stretch in 2023 as a key part of Texas’ run to the College Football Playoff, as he has an incredible combination of size (6-4, 320 pounds) and power. He pushes players around in the run game and has the foot quickness to mirror in pass protection, something the Broncos will need if 32-year-old Garett Bolles is not re-signed past his contract season. While quarterback Bo Nix has a ton of upside, the precision and timing-based offense that Sean Payton aspires to run also requires excellent protection. Banks — who has allowed two sacks over 1,789 career snaps — has lockdown-left-tackle talent. – Field Yates

8. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Quinn Ewers, Texas

It’s no surprise that the Raiders are linked to a quarterback in Round 1 since the team has gone through a full offseason battle between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, who are each better suited to be a No. 2 option. (Minshew was named the starter over the weekend.) Las Vegas ranked 26th in QBR last season (40.1) and needs a long-term answer.

Ewers is a fun study with his smooth delivery and capacity to change arm angles to make creative throws. He has to be more consistent throwing downfield, but he can really carve up a defense with his intermediate accuracy. Ewers’ functional mobility is also very good and allows him to work around the pocket effectively. – Field Yates

28. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas

I know the Eagles already have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith running routes, but adding Bond would make this unit even scarier. Bond will head to Texas this year after two seasons at Alabama, and he’ll likely provide some of what Xavier Worthy offered the Longhorns: game-changing speed. He might not be quite as fast as Worthy, but he looks like he is shot out of a cannon when he accelerates and totally changes the way you have to defend. On top of his speed, Bond has excellent body control and reliable hands. – Field Yates

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