UConn Players Look to NFL Draft
The Story: The NFL Draft began last night with USC quarterback Caleb Williams going to the Bears with the No. 1 pick, and it will continue tonight with UConn’s Christian Haynes likely being selected in the second round and tomorrow with defensive end Eric Watts going in the middle or final rounds.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Haynes stands to be the Huskies’ first second-round draft pick since Obi Melifonwu went No. 56 to the Raiders in 2017. And, if he goes earlier than Melifonwu did, he’d be the first player chosen that high since Byron Jones was taken by the Cowboys in 2015.
• Haynes, a two-time third-team All-American, started four seasons at right guard for the Huskies. He’s one of the highest-ranked offensive guards available and, depending on the team that selects him, has a chance to start from Day 1 in the NFL.
• Watts is the only other player expected to be drafted. He’s much more of a developmental prospect who will probably see his most significant action on special teams as a rookie, assuming he makes the team.
WHAT DID DANE BRUGLER SAY? Few people put as much effort into scouting prospects and projecting the NFL Draft as The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who tirelessly ranks each player every year.
• Brugler ranks Haynes as the No. 47 prospect and the No. 4 offensive guard behind Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Arizona’s Jordan Morgan and Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe. He has Haynes as a second- or third-round pick. “Haynes doesn’t always play up to his testing numbers, but his play strength, football IQ and finishing mentality make him equipped for battle against NFL fronts. He has the floor of a high-level backup but should compete for starting reps at guard during his rookie season (similar to Kevin Dotson).”
• Brugler has Watts as the No. 17 edge rusher and a fifth- or sixth-round pick. “Watts is a frenetic pass rusher and still figuring out how to properly unlock all his power, but the physical traits and competitive mentality are there for him to become a valuable part of a defensive line rotation with additional coaching. He might never put it all together, but he’s worth a Day 3 draft pick to find out.”
• Brugler also has Jackson Mitchell as the No. 30-ranked linebacker, but he’s projecting Mitchell won’t be drafted.
OUR PROJECTIONS: We’ve seen mock drafts have Haynes going as high as No. 35 to the Cardinals, but a lot of others have him as the No. 55 pick to the Dolphins. Watts, meanwhile, seems like a sixth-round pick; it’s anyone’s guess at that point who’d take him.
— Zac Boyer
In Case You Missed It
• The men’s basketball team hosted Liam McNeeley, one of the top uncommitted high school seniors, on an official visit earlier this week. McNeeley, who hasn’t yet made his decision known, decommitted from Indiana after the season. He’s a 6-foot-7 guard and a consensus top-15 prospect who’s one of the best shooters in the class. Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney, a sophomore this past season, is on an official visit.
• The women’s basketball team hosted Princeton guard on an official visit this week and is one of the finalists, along with Oklahoma, for Oregon State center Raegan Beers.
• Defensive end Jack Barton is transferring to UConn from Georgia Tech, even though he only joined the Yellow Jackets in January. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Georgia native spent the last five seasons at Furman and was a second-team all-SoCon player last season.
• The men’s basketball team is working to finalize a home-and-home series with Texas that would start next season in Austin. In addition, the Big East/Big 12 matchups have been set, with the Huskies getting a home game against Baylor and not a return game against Kansas, which UConn faced in December.
Top photo: Jim Mora coaches Jackson Mitchell and Christian Haynes in the Huskies’ game against Fresno State. (Ian Bethune for The UConn Daily)
