3 Aggies NFL-Bound In ESPN's Latest Mock Draft; Devon Achane Too Low?

A successful pro day Tuesday for the Texas A&M Aggies gave their draft-bound players a chance to shine and speak with media ahead of what each of them hopes will become the start of their illustrious NFL careers.

Since 1970, the Aggies have had 14 top-10 overall picks — the latest being All-American edge rusher Myles Garrett in 2017, whose sack totals since joining the NFL have made him both a multi-year Pro-Bowler and a star in the league.

And while last season for the Aggies did not quite meet the expectations set by the years prior, when Texas A&M finished ranked No. 4 in the country in the 2020 season, followed by a win against top-ranked Alabama and the No. 1 recruiting class in 2021, the Aggies did have some stand out players who are ready to make a splash at the next level.

According to ESPN.com, here is where they could potentially land next season:

Antonio Johnson, Safety — New York Jets (Round 2, Pick 43)

Last season, Antonio Johnson was two tackles short of leading Texas A&M, but still made his presence felt. On top of his 71 tackles, the 6-2 junior out of East St. Louis also forced a team-high three fumbles and a sack — proving his versatility.

Combine scouts ranked him the top safety in the draft, which ESPN noted:

Safety isn't a pressing need, but taking the best prospect available could make sense. Johnson had 150 tackles over his final two college seasons.

The Jets last season had themselves a productive year in the secondary, allowing the third-fewest passing yards on the season behind the Saints and Eagles, and easily became one of the toughest secondaries to face throughout the season.

That was highly influenced by New York's rookie addition — Sauce Gardner — who went on to earn his first Pro Bowl selection on top of winning the AP's Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league in passes defended.

Adding another talented piece to the secondary is not exactly a must for the Jets, but would gladly be welcomed should the team want to build upon last year's success, and Johnson could very well be the guy to take them a step higher.

Jaylon Jones, Cornerback — San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, Pick 99)

Jones played a big part in Texas A&M's secondary last season. The junior recorded 33 total tackles, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery for the Aggies, and backed up his successful year with a standout pro day performance.

His speed was one of the biggest aspects of his game and something that he would bring to any NFL defense, and as ESPN noted of the 49ers':

The 49ers like long corners on the outside, and Jones is exactly that at 6-2, 200 pounds. He would thrive in a zone scheme that sprinkles in man coverage principles.

Bringing him in would allow San Francisco to add to its secondary that tied the Arizona Cardinals for most interceptions last season and continue to find success.

Despite his size and speed, NFL scouts have questioned whether or not he would be able to keep up with some of the league's top receivers, noting Jones' giving up of space in coverage.

But should the 49ers call on the 25-year-old, they would surely focus on that aspect of his game before allowing him to earn his way into the rotation, also showing their trust in his potential.

Devon Achane, Running Back — San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, Pick 102)

With the last written-up draft pick projected by ESPN, the 49ers added a second Aggie to their roster, grabbing former All-SEC running back Devon Achane.

At first glance, Achane's speed was the clear frontrunner of his list of pros heading into the draft, but his impressive stats throughout his time in College Station were also notable factors for ESPN:

This makes three San Francisco picks in the final four of this round, and the Niners could use this one on a versatile running back. Achane could be a nice fit in this offense. He rushed for 1,102 yards and had 11 total touchdowns last season.

However, one major concern sits atop the list of concerns regarding the running back – his size.

Standing at only 5-8.5, Achane could see difficulty adjusting to the NFL, facing defenders that typically towered over their teammates in college.

While that aspect of his game may be the reason for his fairly low projection, Achane shares his size and low draft pick with last year’s first-team running back, Tyler Badie from Missouri.

Badie was drafted by the Ravens and has since moved to the Broncos, but has yet to see significant playing time — though Achane would be looking to change that narrative with his speed.

Either way, three more Aggies are likely to be NFL-bound come April, adding to Texas A&M’s reasonably large list of Aggies in the league.

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