Chandler Jones has been rising up draft boards throughout the buildup to the 2012 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday. But, this high? NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock released his final Top 100 prospect rankings Tuesday morning, and incredibly he has the former Syracuse defensive end at No. 9.
Mayock also has Jones as the top-rated defensive end in his final position rankings. Jones has generally been considered a late-first to second-round pick by most draft analysts.
“I think league value is more in the 20s, but the more I look at this kid on tape, he’s 6-51/2, 266 pounds, he’s got almost 36-inch arms and my belief is his bets football is ahead of him,” Mayock said. “Where can he realistically go? I think somewhere between 19 and 32. The Bears are at 19, the Titans at 20, the Bengals are at 21. To me, difficult for him to get through those three teams.”
Meanwhile, ESPN.com's draft expert Todd McShay said Tuesday morning that Jones could be the first defensive end taken overall.
. @McShay13 on @MikeAndMike - @ChanJones99 could be 1st DE taken in NFL Draft Thursday night. Moved up from original late 1st-rd grade.
— Matt Park (@MattPark1) April 24, 2012