Where Miss. State prospects are projected to land
The 2024 NFL Draft has arrived, signaling an important three-day stretch for Mississippi State football.
The Bulldogs await to see which of their prospects will hear their names called, though it likely won't come until the latter part of the draft, which is being held Thursday through Saturday in Detroit..
The top prospects for MSU include cornerback Decamerion Richardson, linebacker Nathaniel Watson, wide receiver Lideatrick Griffin and defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy. Linebacker Jett Johnson and defensive back Marcus Banks are among a collection of hopefuls who aren't expected to get picked but are eligible.
As NFL teams prepare to build their rosters, here's a look at where various draft experts have Mississippi State's prospects going.
ESPN mock draft
ESPN's Jordan Reid projects Richardson to be the lone Bulldogs player selected this year, adding to a rich recent history of draft success for MSU cornerbacks. He has the Cincinnati Bengals taking Richardson in the fourth round.
Last year, Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes was taken in the first round by the Washington Commanders. In 2022, Martin Emerson was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the third round.
Mississippi State has had eight defensive backs drafted since 2012.
NFL mock draft
The NFL's Chad Reuter has three Mississippi State players getting selected in his mock draft. He has Richardson going to the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round, and Watson and Crumedy going in the fifth round.
Reuter has the Minnesota Vikings taking Crumedy, and the New Orleans Saints use a compensatory pick on Watson.
Watson is a product of Maplesville, Alabama, who led the SEC in tackles and sacks last season.