Where do FSU football players land in expert mock drafts? Our picks for 2024 NFL Draft
It is officially NFL Draft week, and football fans' eyes have turned to Detroit and the future players of the 32 league franchises.
The NFL's annual draft starts on Thursday at 7 p.m. with the first-round selections. Rounds two and three will take place Friday, with the remainder of the seven rounds finishing on Saturday.
The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 overall pick.
For Florida State football fans, the NFL fate of stars like Jordan Travis, Trey Benson, Braden Fiske, Jared Verse and others will be the subject of interest.
NFL Draft updates: Where did FSU football stars get picked?
After limited numbers of players hearing their names called in recent seasons, the Seminoles could be set for a record-setting NFL draft.
With 12 players from the 2023 FSU team invited to the NFL Draft Combine, the Seminoles could tie, or break the school record for most players drafted. That currently stands at 11 in 2013 and 2015.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid, NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter and Pro Football Focus (PFF) staff have released seven-round mock drafts ahead of this week's draft. Each draft provides a different look at where some of FSU's players could land.
Both the ESPN and PFF mocks have nine Seminoles off the board, while the NFL.com mock has FSU tying a school record with 11 selections.
Here is the mock draft breakdown and our picks for where we want Seminoles draft hopefuls to land within the 257 picks.
Jared Verse consensus first-round pick
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick no. 19 Los Angeles Rams
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick no. 16 Philadelphia Eagles
PFF mock draft projection: Pick no. 23 Minnesota Vikings
Our selection: Pick No. 19 Los Angeles Rams
The mocks are in agreement, Jared Verse is a first-round pick. The question then becomes where does he land, and we went with the Los Angeles Rams at pick no. 19. The Rams need someone to come in and provide support on the defensive line with the retirement of Aaron Donald, and Verse could be that guy for the Rams.
Mixed reviews on where Keon Coleman lands
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 34 New England Patriots
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 84 Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 51 New England Patriots via trade with Pittsburgh Steelers
Our selection: Pick No. 51 Pittsburgh Steelers
The mock drafts look to favor Keon Coleman landing with either New England or Pittsburgh as both teams look to bolster the wide receiver position, and we picked Coleman to go to Pittsburgh with the 51st pick. In his one season with FSU, Coleman proved to be a big-play threat, making him a good fit with the Steelers and new quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
Jordan Travis projects as a Day 3 draft pick
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 257 New York Jets
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 185 New York Jets
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 185 Arizona Cardinals via New York Jets
Our selection: Pick No. 185 New York Jets
All signs seem to point to Jordan Travis landing in New York with the Jets. While there are some slight disagreements in when he is picked in the mock drafts, we have him going to New York with the 185th selection as he gets the ability to learn behind Aaron Rodgers during his rookie season and continue his recovery after his devastating leg injury suffered last season. He could potentially take over for Rodgers down the line.
Trey Benson likely gets picked in the 3rd round
![Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) rushes with the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/K080MzVeap5Nwzt8tnY9eg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/tallahassee-democrat/0dc91c0ee500b7fd81d9865888f12e66)
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 69 Los Angeles Chargers
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 71 Arizona Cardinals
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 99 Los Angeles Rams
Our selection: Pick No. 70 New York Giants
Trey Benson looks like he will be taken in the third round, and with the New York Giants losing Saquon Barkley this offseason, Benson could be the guy to fill that hole. While Barkley and Benson are two different players, Benson could provide the Giants with a good threat out of the backfield, and that's why we have him landing in New York at pick 70.
Braden Fiske could be the 3rd Seminole off the board
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 55 Miami Dolphins
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 48 Jacksonville Jaguares
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 54 Atlanta Falcons via Clevland Browns
Our selection: Pick No. 55 Miami Dolphins
In his only season at FSU Braden Fiske went from a possible draft unknown to a solidified early-round pick. While a few mock drafts have him in different spots, we have Fiske going down south to Miami, getting picked by the Dolphins at No. 55 in the second round, providing the team strong support on the defensive line.
Jarrian Jones likely a 3rd or 4th round pick
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 157 Minnesota Vikings via Cleveland Browns
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 75 Indianapolis Colts via Chicago Bears
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 97 Cincinnati Bengals
Our selection: Pick No. 82 Indianapolis Colts
Jarrian Jones was one of the leaders in the FSU secondary last year, and he jumped up in draft boards because of it. While there is no clear consensus on where Jones lands, we have him getting picked by the Indianapolis Colts, who need secondary help, in the third round with the 82nd overall selection.
Johnny Wilson a top mid-round receiver
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 136 Denver Broncos via Carolina Panthers
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 82 Indianapolis Colts
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 93 Baltimore Ravens
Our selection: Pick No. 84 Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnny Wilson looks to be a third- or fourth-round pick, with the receiver landing in several spots in mock drafts, but for ours, we pair him with Coleman in Pittsburgh. We have the Steelers taking Wilson 84th overall, keeping the duo together and providing two big-play threats for Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.
Las Vegas Raiders could take Renardo Green in round 3
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 77 Las Vegas Raiders
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 119 Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 77 Las Vegas Raiders
Our selection: Pick No. 77 Las Vegas Raiders
In two out of the three mock drafts we used, Renardo Green lands in Las Vegas, and we agree. Our pick has the Raiders taking Green 77th overall as the team enters the Antonio Pierce era with a strengthened secondary. Las Vegas could go Jones here, but we like the fit of Green with the Raiders as he could provide good coverage in a difficult division.
Jaheim Bell provides late-round value
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 168 New Orleans Saints
PFF mock draft projection: Pick No. 130 Clevland Browns via Baltimore Ravens
Our selection: Pick No. 210 Philidelphia Eagles
Jaheim Bell was another impact transfer, coming from South Carolina, and the Seminoles tight end might not be going in the first four rounds, but he will provide great value for a team later in the draft, like the Philidelphia Eagles at pick 210. A versatile tight end that fits modern football well, Bell could be a steal for an Eagles offense looking for new threats.
Akeem Dent gets picked in round 6
![Florida Gators quarterback Max Brown (17) is tackled by Florida State Seminoles defensive back Akeem Dent (1) at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023 during the first half. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vYwaT2GBRMas6Edibvq_bw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTg5Nw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/tallahassee-democrat/0ab5698edf8fff363229251a4a53d421)
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 220 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Our selection: Pick No. 217 Los Angeles Rams
While the NFL.com mock draft has Akeem Dent staying in Florida, our pick for the Seminoles defensive back is a reunion with Verse in Los Angeles at pick 217, going to the Rams. A strong tackler and good in coverage, Dent could be a solid late-round pickup to bolster Los Angeles's secondary.
Fabian Lovett projects as a valuable late-round pick
ESPN mock draft projection: Pick No. 178 Pittsburgh Steelers via Arizona Cardinals
NFL.com mock draft projection: Pick No. 228 Baltimore Ravens
Our selection: Pick No. 228 Baltimore Ravens
Fabian Lovett is projected to be selected on Saturday, but the defensive tackle could be a steal for a team like Baltimore at pick 228. Lovett could, and likely might go higher than 228, but if he falls that far to the Ravens, he will be a player that could make an impact on the defensive front almost instantly for Baltimore due to his ability to stop the run.
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football prospects at NFL Draft 2024: Mock draft projections
