Two players with Wisconsin connections appearing on 'way too early' 2024 NFL mock drafts
If we're going to look ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, we feel obligated to list all the caveats.
Yes, so much in a prospect's status can change in a year. No, we have no idea where the teams will actually pick, nor what their needs will be in the ever-shifting NFL landscape. To match players to teams a year from now is a wild game of speculation.
Let's do it anyway.
Looking at the handful of "way too early" 2024 mock drafts out there, two Wisconsin-connected names pop up as first-round options, including University of Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen and offensive lineman JC Latham of Alabama.
Could Braelon Allen become a first-rounder?
The Fond du Lac native famously came to Wisconsin at age 17 after re-classifying for the class of 2021, possibly as a safety, then initially started on special teams as a true freshman. But the team's options at running back became swiftly depleted.
Loyal Crawford was dismissed from the team in August after getting into a fight with Antwan Roberts, who was suspended and transferred. In October, Isaac Guerendo was lost for the year after suffering a Lisfranc ligament tear before a game against Illinois, Jalen Berger was dismissed, and Quan Easterling elected to transfer. Chez Mellusi tore his left ACL in November, leaving Allen as one of the few remaining options.
In Week 4 against Illinois, Allen ran for 131 yards, the first of seven straight 100-yard rushing performances. He finished the year with 1,268 yards as a true freshman and 12 touchdowns, then added 1,242 yards as a sophomore last year with 11 scores. As a sophomore, he became a consensus second-team All-Big Ten choice.
More: After meeting new head coach Luke Fickell, Braelon Allen felt comfortable returning to Wisconsin
Allen's placement in the first round might be a question of position as much as talent. Two running backs were taken in the first round of the 2023 draft, none in 2022, two in 2021, one in 2020 and one in 2019.
Jonathan Taylor, who racked up 6,174 yards over three years with the Badgers (the most rushing yards in NCAA history through a junior season), was taken in the second round by the Colts in 2020 and was a first-team All Pro in 2021 and the runner up for the Offensive Player of the Year award. Melvin Gordon (selected by the Chargers at No. 15) is the last Wisconsin running back selected in the first round, taken in 2015. Before that, Michael Bennett (27th in 2011) and Ron Dayne (11th in 2000) went in back-to-back years.
Allen isn't a consensus first-rounder by any means, but Joseph Acosta of SB Nation put Allen at No. 25 on his prospect big board. The Draft Network put Allen at No. 21 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Former Catholic Memorial star JC Latham appearing on most first-round draft boards
JC Latham, who started all 13 games last year for Alabama at right tackle, started his high school career at Catholic Memorial in Waukesha and became the highest-ranked offensive lineman in his class after transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. With CMH, he was on the team that won the 2018 WIAA Division 3 state title.
A couple places wondered if Latham would be heading back to his Wisconsin roots.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic puts the Packers at No. 13, right where they picked this year and has Green Bay taking … Latham.
"As the Tide’s starting right tackle, Latham consistently pitched shutouts in pass protection last season — he didn’t allow a sack in his first year as a starter," Brugler wrote. "With improvements as a run blocker, he will earn starting-level grades from scouts."
Cody Williams of FanSided has the Packers taking Latham at No. 6, pointing out that he could fill a void left by David Bakhtiari.
"I’m admittedly higher on JC Latham early in looking at the 2024 NFL Draft than some but I think it’s warranted given the pedigree and his work at right tackle," Williams wrote. "He didn’t allow a sack in nearly 500 snaps in pass protection last season and has the elite physical traits NFL teams look for in these types of players."
Bleacher Report has Latham going No. 11 to the Bears, Ryan Wilson of CBS says No. 10 to the Patriots and Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus says No. 12 to the Patriots.
"Latham was an elite pass-protector at right tackle for Alabama this past season as a sophomore," Chadwick wrote. "He earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets, fourth among all tackles in the country. On 486 pass-blocking snaps, he only allowed one hit and didn’t give up a sack."
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL mock draft: Could Braelon Allen be a first-round pick in 2024?
