Mel Kiper Jr. Mocks Ahmad Gardner to Atlanta Falcons at No. 8; Drops Multiple Bearcats From Latest Big Board

Gardner was the only Bearcat selected in the first round of Kiper's latest mock draft.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Mar 1, 2022 8:56 AM EST

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his second mock draft this week, and just one Bearcat made the top-32 picks. Ahmad Gardner landed in the top-10 once again—finding himself with the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8.

"I'm going to stick with the same position for the Falcons at No. 8 but switch the prospect," Kiper wrote. "Gardner is rising since the second half of the season and has a great shot at being the top corner in April's draft. He allowed just eight catches for 60 yards in 13 games.

"Why Gardner over Derek Stingley Jr.? NFL scouts just haven't seen Stingley playing to his 2019 level over the past two seasons. He has a high ceiling, but he played in just three games in 2021 and was so-so in 2020. Stingley won't work out at the combine, but he will have a chance to rise again if he puts up excellent testing numbers at his pro day. Gardner is a safer prospect at this point. This also is a spot to watch for an edge rusher, and the Falcons have an extra second-round pick because of the Julio Jones trade with Tennessee."

Gardner is the consensus eighth-best prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft and is getting selected in the first round of 82.4% of mock drafts so far.

Kiper also released his updated big board, and Gardner is one spot behind the consensus rankings at No. 9.

"Gardner is a lockdown corner, and other teams know it," Kiper wrote. "He was targeted just 31 times in 2021, and he allowed only eight catches for 60 yards as the nearest defender in coverage. He was targeted only one time against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and the throw was incomplete. In fact, there were five games in 2021 when he allowed zero catches. He's a legit No. 1 corner who has a chance to be the top cornerback in this class if he tests well at the combine. Gardner had three picks in 2021 and nine in his three-year career with the Bearcats."

In terms of the other draftable Bearcats, QB Desmond Ridder is Kiper's fourth-ranked quarterback. Jerome Ford is his seventh-ranked running back (unranked last time); Alec Pierce is his 12th-ranked wide receiver (ranked 11th last time); Myjai Sanders is his seventh-ranked defensive end; Gardner is his second-ranked cornerback.

Safety Bryan Cook and cornerback Coby Bryant fell out of the rankings. They were ranked eighth and 16th at their positions on Kiper's January big board.

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