1. Is there value in taking Drew Lock +300 to be the No. 1 2019 NFL Draft pick?

Because that’s the odds BetDSI Sportsbook is giving him right now.

My first instinct was to say “STAY AWAY” from Lock here, but the more I think about it, the more I think he should be the favorite. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, even if Missouri stumbles this year — and even if Lock has a sub-par year — he checks all the physical boxes that the NFL wants in a quarterback (size, arm strength, attitude, etc.).

More so, I am a firm believer that Lock will absolutely slay at the NFL Combine, at his pro day and at his private workouts. Lock puts in the work off the field; he’s not going to disappoint in the interviews and in throwing against air.

I think quarterbacks have an easier path to No. 1 when there are elite names, but I also don’t see this being a banner year for first-round quarterbacks. I’ll hold my judgment on Shea Patterson until we see him on the field again (keep in mind, Jordan Ta’amu put up better numbers than Patterson at Ole Miss last year), but if this comes down to Lock-Will Grier-Justin Herbert, I truly believe Lock has the most upside of that group.

We’ll have to wait about nine months, though.

2. Daniel Parker to tight end, and more from camp

So this section of Mitchell Forde’s camp notebook (it’s free) for PowerMizzou.com certainly got my attention:

Odom said Parker spent Tuesday’s practice playing with the tight ends rather than the defensive line. The change isn’t necessarily permanent, but Odom said Parker likely has a better chance to see the field at tight end than defensive end this season, so the coaching staff wanted to “see how he looked” on the offensive side of the ball.

Two ways to look at it, in my opinion. One, Daniel Parker is extremely athletic and the staff wants to make sure it utilizes him. Two, beyond Albert Okwuegbunam and Kendall Blanton, the staff doesn’t feel good about its tight end depth and needs another body there. Either way, it’s certainly interesting. It may also show that the staff feels better about the defensive ends than I assumed.

But, Mitchell has a ton of other good info in there so make sure you read the whole notebook.

Overview

The starting lineups are starting to come into focus, writes Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri wraps up its final preseason scrimmage, writes Matt Nestor of the Columbia Daily Tribune

Running backs

A true hero’s journey starts in media res so of course this Dawson Downing story starts with his UConn hit, from Daniel Jones of the Columbia Daily Tribune

Receivers

Tennessee toughness turns Johnathon Johnson into a leader, writes Brendan Lavell of the Columbia Missourian

Linebackers

Even with three returning starters, a lot of newcomers will play at linebacker, writes Alex Schiffer of the Kansas City Star

3. Meet Mizzou hoops newcomer Xavier Pinson

He’s a point guard first.

Yesterday at Rock M

• Can Missouri pry Rockett Watts out of Michigan?
• Checking in on Missouri’s 2018 MLB draft class in the pros

More Links:

• The Louisvillle Courier-Journal has Missouri as the wildcard in the SEC East and I am here for that.
• MU cross country announces its schedule.