Trent McDuffie, Washington Huskies.
The NFL Draft is an important time for the Washington Huskies football program. It always hurts to lose good players, but the Dawgs and their fans can celebrate UW alumni headed to play at the highest level of professional football.
Putting players in the NFL is some of the best advertising the Huskies can get when recruiting. In 2021, there were 34 Washington Huskies alumni either on NFL rosters or practice squads.
Pacific Northwest Sports audited 48 different mock drafts to see where the next wave of Washington Huskies pros might go in the draft. Over 20 went two rounds, and 8 covered all seven rounds. We used top-quality sources ESPN, USA Today, NFL.com, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Walter Football, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and more.
Cornerback/ Nickelback, 6-0, 200 pounds
Trent McDuffie is a prime example of how a player can improve his standing during the offseason. In our first edition, the highest McDuffie was projected to go was 23rd. At that time, two mock drafts had him pegged as a late second-rounder.
He blew away scouts at the combine and then at the Washington Huskies Pro Day. Every one of our 48 mocks this time had McDuffie as a first-round pick, and most had him as the third cornerback off the board.
Although Buffalo at 25 was picked most often (8 times), don’t expect him to fall that far. Only 10 of 48 mocks had McDuffie going 25th or later, and 17 thought he would drop out of the top 20. Philadelphia is a better bet. The Eagles have two first-round picks (15 and 18); between them, McDuffie was the choice 9 times.
Cornerback/ Nickelback, 6-0, 200 pounds
This is another player who improved his draft position after the season ended. The good news for Kyler Gordon is that every mock draft we audited that went at least two rounds had his name it. Even better, the three teams he is most linked to won their division last year, Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Buffalo.
Those of us hoping the Seattle Seahawks would have a shot at him in the second round will probably be disappointed. Gordon has all the tools to be a great NFL cornerback; he lacks refinement. Teams will happily take on the development task because there is so much to work with.
Tight End, 6-5, 250 pounds
Next time someone gets on a player for leaving school early for the NFL, think about Cade Otton. He came back for his senior year, and it cost him. Otton was a borderline second-round pick after 2020. Because of injuries last year, Otton will be lucky to hear his name called on Day 2. He could be a fourth-round steal for the right team.
Two of the eight mock drafts that went seven rounds included center, Luke Wattenberg.
Good luck to all the Washington Huskies prospects in this year’s draft.