Cole Bishop Selected by Super Bowl Contender in Latest ESPN Mock Draft
A recent 2024 NFL mock draft, composed by ESPN insider Field Yates, has a former Utah defensive star join a Super Bowl-contending NFC roster.
Yates’ two-round mock draft, released on April 3rd, projected standout safety Cole Bishop to join the Philadelphia Eagles, selected in the second round. Bishop is the only Ute selected in the first two rounds of Yates' mock draft, taken at 53rd overall.
Out of all the former Utes eligible for this year’s NFL Draft, no player has improved their stock more than Bishop.
A three-time Pac-12 All-Conference safety and 29-game starter for Utah, Bishop flashed mind-boggling athleticism at the NFL Combine in early March. Among droves of coaches and scouts at Lucas Oil Stadium, the former Ute turned heads with a 4.45 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical, and 10-foot-4-inch broad jump. What makes these metrics even more impressive is Bishop's large (for a safety) 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame.
Bishop’s athleticism and football IQ have had analysts drooling during the pre-draft process. In a recent interview with Eric Allen from the New York Jets, former college safety and current NFL Network analyst Charles Davis added to the hype train, raving about Bishop’s ability.
.@eallenjets brought up safety being a need for the #Jets & Charles Davis of the @nflnetwork jumped in, ‘not at 10.’ 🤣
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) April 4, 2024
‘This kid out of Utah Cole Bishop, I’m crazy about him. When he ran 4.45 at the #NFLCombine I think some more people got crazy about him because I think people… pic.twitter.com/WNqvRvBxwp
“This kid out of Utah, Cole Bishop, I’m crazy about him,” Davis said, “When he ran 4.45 at the NFL Combine I think some more people got crazy about him because I think people liked him a lot but they weren’t sure athletically what he would be…I just think he cleans up everything in front of him. He plays the game with intelligence. He’s around the football where he’s supposed to be.”
NFL Draft analyst and ESPN colleague of Yates, Matt Miller, who had Bishop selected in the fourth round of his seven-round mock draft, further added to the discussion, calling Bishop one of his favorite “sleeper prospects” in this year’s class.
It isn’t a far cry from the truth to say Bishop will not be available in the fourth round like Miller thought. More likely would be his selection in the second round, akin to what Yates mock predicted.
🧵Answer to yesterday's question is @Utah_Football safety Cole Bishop. Very little buzz on here but teams telling us he's not getting out of Round 2.@Cole_bishop_8 has done three things to boost his draft stock during pre-draft process: 1) proved he has man-cover skills at… pic.twitter.com/0A88fUj9Wv
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 24, 2024
Regardless of where he is selected, Bishop will prosper. One of the smartest players at his position, who also possesses the ability to play at every level of the field, there will be plenty of teams fighting for his services.
While Yates mock has Bishop joining his former teammate Britain Covey in Philadelphia, the Utah safety has also been linked to teams such as the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Houston Texans.
AUSTIN EAMES