NFL Mock Draft: Where will Kyler Murray land?

26. Indianapolis Colts – Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

The Colts may have drafted better than anyone last year with Quenton Nelson earning All-Pro honors and Darius Leonard winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The cornerback position can be upgraded and Byron Murphy had a great career at Washington in a pass-happy conference. He won’t light up the Combine, but he’ll be a quality starter as a rookie.

27. Raiders (via Dallas Cowboys) – Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

After taking a quarterback and cornerback earlier, the Raiders will be looking to take the best player available. Christian Wilkins is that player. A proven commodity after four years at Clemson, Wilkins has the high football character Mayock will love and can be a disruptor in the middle of the line.

28. Los Angeles Chargers – Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia

The Chargers can’t rely on Jason Verrett staying healthy so they need reinforcements at cornerback. Deandre Baker is a nice value at the end of the first after a standout career in the SEC at Georgia. Facing Patrick Mahomes twice a year will test the secondary so adding as much help in the back end as possible is smart drafting.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

The Chiefs could draft any defensive player and it would be sound logic, but after Eric Berry missed the better part of the last two years, safety is a position of need. Deionte Thompson is the latest safety prospect to come from the school of Nick Saban and should develop into Berry’s eventual successor or replacement.

30. Packers (via New Orleans Saints) – Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State

The Packers got edge help with their first pick in the draft and come back to add the most versatile offensive lineman in the draft at the end of the first. Dalton Risner can play any position along the line but might be best suited for the interior.

31. Los Angeles Rams – Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia

Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth will be 38, guard Roger Saffold is headed to free agency, and protecting Jared Goff and opening up holes for Todd Gurley is vital to their success. Adding Yodny Cajuste this year serves as an insurance policy in case Whitworth or right tackle Rob Havenstein miss time, but also to develop in time to take over in 2020, provided Whitworth returns this year.

32. New England Patriots – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

With Rob Gronkowski nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, tight end is in focus for the Super Bowl champions. Noah Fant is more athletic than his Iowa teammate, Hockenson, who went earlier in the draft, but is more of a receiving threat than an all-around tight end. Nevertheless, the Patriots will extract all the potential he brings and Josh McDaniels will scheme ways to get him the ball.