Everyone's favorite weekend of the NFL offseason is here: The NFL Draft! Maryland has had someone drafted in eight of the last nine drafts and this year expects to be no different with a handful of Terps slated to have their dreams come true.
Let's dive into our Terps that are expected to be picked over the next handful of days:
A three-time All-Big Ten selection for the Terps who totaled 134 tackles over his Maryland career,
Nick Cross impressed in all his pre draft workouts, especially the NFL combine.
Cross also knocked his pre-draft interviews out of the park, an important part of the process.
So the question now becomes, where will Cross go? Let's take a look at some mock drafts.
- Mel Kiper Jr. has Cross at No. 61 (second round) on his big board.
- Chad Reuter of NFL.com has Cross going No. 61 to the 49ers.
- Matt Miller has Cross going No. 62 to the Chiefs:
- Nick Cross, S, Maryland
- Speed on defense is a huge need in Kansas City after that unit broke down late in the season. Buffalo wideout Gabriel Davis running all over the Chiefs is a lasting impression that should haunt the front office. Cross has great range with 4.3-second speed and a hitter's mentality in coverage.
- Todd McShay has him at No. 75 (third round) on his big board.
- The Ringer has Cross at No. 81 on their big board and has this to say about him:
- Cross is tall with a well-built, muscular frame. A four-star prospect out of Hyattsville, Maryland, he ranked as the no. 4 safety and no. 55 player overall in his class. He was a three-year starter and three-time honorable mention All-Big Ten for the Terrapins, racking up six picks, 12 passes defensed, four sacks, and 6.5 TFLs to go with 135 tackles in his college career. He tallied 67 tackles, three picks, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles in 2021.
- Cross played all over the secondary for Maryland, seeing snaps in the box, in the deep middle, and over the slot. He's a good hitter who arrives at the ballcarrier with a thwack. His closing speed seems to surprise opponents and he's the type of player who forces opposing receivers to keep their heads on a swivel. He's a good tackler with a wide tackle range and packs plenty of punch, finishing the play with fundamental technique. He consistently breaks down in space, chopping his steps to avoid overrunning the play. He does a good job of corralling the ballcarrier when he's the last line of defense. He's rangy in the back end and has experience playing deep middle. He tracks the ball like a center fielder and posted good ball production in his college career, with six picks and 12 passes defensed in three seasons. He should be a core special teamer and contribute from day one.
- CBSSports' Ryan Wilson has him going No. 81 to the Buffalo Bills.
- Jordan Reid of ESPN has Cross going No. 93 overall to the 49ers:
- Nick Cross, S, Maryland
- The 49ers are in need of help on the back end, and Cross is an underrated prospect in a loaded safety class. As a traditional single-high, high-post safety, he provides a unique presence on the third level.
We should know where Cross ends up by Friday night (rounds two & three). Good luck Nick!
Chigoziem Okonkwo, who this past season earned All-Big Ten honors for the Terps after catching 52 passes for 447 yards and a team-best five touchdowns, will look to hear his name called over the next few days.
Like his buddy
Nick Cross, Chig also impressed at the combine:
Where is Chig going in the mock drafts? Most have him in between the third and fifth rounds.
- NFL.com's Chad Reuter has Chig going No. 82 overall (third round) to the Philadelphia Eagles.
- ESPN's Jordan Reid has Chig going in the fourth round to the Tennessee Titans.
- CBSSports' Ryan Wilson has him in the fifth round to join Darnell Savage in Green Bay.
Want the full scout on Chig? Here is Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network's scouting report:
Positives: Developing tight end who followed up a solid senior season with outstanding practices at the Shrine Bowl. Remains disciplined with blocking assignments, keeps his head on a swivel, and stays square. Explosive, fires off the snap into blocks, and keeps his feet moving.
Fluid releasing off the line of scrimmage as a pass catcher, runs solid routes for a big man, and nicely adjusts to make receptions in stride. Reaches back to grab errant passes from the air, snatches the ball out of the air, and shows soft as well as quick hands. Makes a lot of athletic plays on the field.
Good luck Chig!
The other Terp that has a good shot to be drafted is Third Team All-Big Ten selection
Sam Okuayinonu. Okuayinonu led the Terps with 8.5 sacks in 2021 and totaled 55 tackles (36 solo).
He was the star of Maryland's Pro Day held in late March.
Many expect Sam O to be a late round guy with his name called on Saturday.
- CBSSports.com has him going in the seventh round to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Good luck Sam!
Other Names to Watch Out For
