Happy NFL Draft Day!

The NFL Draft begins tonight with coverage all weekend long on ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network. It’ll be a fun weekend for Mizzou fans to keep an eye on, as there will be some Mizzou players expected to be selected in this year’s draft. None are bigger than linebacker Nick Bolton, who will surely be the first Tiger to hear his name called — probably early in the second round, or perhaps an outside shot of becoming Missouri’s first 1st round NFL Draft pick since Charles Harris in 2017.

This is an appropriate time to look at some final mock drafts to get a sense of where Mizzou players stand:

• In a full seven-round projection, Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer has Nick Bolton in the second round (36th overall pick) to the Miami Dolphins, Tyree Gillespie in the fourth round (131st overall pick) to the Baltimore Ravens, and Joshuah Bledsoe in the fifth round (157th overall pick) to the Minnesota Vikings.
• Pro Football Focus’ staff has Nick Bolton in the second round (37th overall pick) to the Philadelphia Eagles, Tyree Gillespie in the fourth round (119th overall pick) to the Minnesota Vikings, and Larry Borom in the sixth round (189th overall pick) to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here’s Sam Monson on Bolton:

“The Eagles had one of the worst linebacker situations in football in 2019, so Bolton would be a huge addition to the defense. Bolton doesn’t have the absurd workout numbers of some of the other players at his position, but his athleticism is more than good enough and he demonstrates exceptional instincts and a nose for the football. Bolton was able to track down and tackle players like Kadarius Toney in the open field, and that’s good enough endorsement of his tools.”

• Chad Reuter of NFL.com has Nick Bolton in the second round (54th overall pick) to the Indianapolis Colts, Tyree Gillespie in the fifth round (151st overall pick) to the Carolina Panthers, Larry Rountree III in the sixth round (222nd overall pick) to the Carolina Panthers, and Larry Borom in the seventh round (243rd overall pick) to the Arizona Cardinals.

And in more Mizzou-NFL news, Drew Lock is going to have quarterback competition in Denver, as the Broncos have acquired Teddy Bridgewater.

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, but Lock’s days in Denver could very well be numbered, according to this Tweet from Dave Matter.

And the 2021 SEC Media Days schedule was announced on Wednesday afternoon, according to the conference. Mizzou and Eli Drinkwitz will make their appearance on Thursday, July 22nd in Hoover, Alabama, the final day of the event, to go along with Sam Pittman of Arkansas and Bryan Harsin of Auburn. Times will be announced at a later date, but this will be Drinkwitz’s first official SEC Media Days after last year was canceled due to COVID.

M-I-Z! Onto the links!

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Yesterday at Rock M

• SBN Reacts: Watching the Spring Football, from Sam Snelling
• After another bumpy season, Robin Pingeton is looking for another rebound season, writes Sam Snelling

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More Links:

(STLToday)

• Drew Lock’s future uncertain with Denver’s trade for Teddy Bridgewater, writes Dave Matter
• From Dave Matter: Nick Bolton headlines Mizzou’s NFL Draft hopefuls

(Columbia Missourian)

• Comeback complete: Yuen selected for NCAA Regional berth, writes Calum McAndrew
• Former Missouri guard Dickson transfers to Rutgers, writes Owen Krucoff

(Columbia Daily Tribune)

• Eric Blum writes where Mizzou Football’s 2021 NFL Draft hopefuls could be selected

(Miscellaneous/Tweets)

• In case you missed it on Tuesday night, Mizzou Football Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz joined Brendan Wiese on The Big 550 KTRS’ The Big Sports Show
• From Bill Connelly, Mizzou ranks 74th in the country with 74% of returning production, good enough to be tied for fourth in the SEC.

• Have to believe Drinkwitz and Mizzou reaches out here, and they may even have a good shot at landing him.

• Here are some NFL Draft-themed highlights on Larry Three Sticks and Tyree Gillespie

• Mizzou has offered Chandler Jackson, a three-star 2022 point guard from Memphis, Tennessee

• Former Missouri Tiger Amber Smith is a huge contributor in the Women’s Basketball British League, and you can watch her compete in their playoffs soon.

• Former Mizzou Women’s Basketball Guard Shug Dickson has transferred to Rutgers.

• Mizzou Women’s Golfer Jess Yuen has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the Louisville Regional. Read more here on MUTigers.com.

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