2017 NFL Draft: Christian McCaffrey rushes into first round
Stock Down: Pat Elflein, OL, Ohio State
Defined by many college football and NFL Draft analysts as the best center in college football, Pat Elflein was challenged by Michigan State’s interior pass rushers. Even without star tackle Malik McDowell, Elflein struggled against freshman Mike Panasiuk and the other inexperienced starters.
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Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was sacked three times and hurried seven. The result was a game nearly lost by the Buckeyes to the Spartans, who have just one Big Ten victory this season.
Not only did Barrett find himself with Spartans draped all over him thanks to Elflein, the redshirt senior center committed three costly penalties. Two of those penalties were for holds, one of which came in the fourth quarter on a drive in-which Ohio State was forced to punt.
Despite a tough game this past week, Elflein will still project to land somewhere late in the first round. Arizona needs to better protect an aging Carson Palmer, and the 30-year-old A.Q. Shipley will be in the final year of his contract. This presents a perfect opportunity to solidify the interior of an Arizona offensive line that has allowed Palmer to be sacked 30 times, the second most this season.
The New York Jets could also address an aging Nick Mangold, who has one year remaining on his contract and could clear nearly $10 million if released outright this offseason.