Can Missouri football set new program-high in 2024 NFL draft? Final mocks are in

By Saturday night, Missouri football might set a new record.

Entering the 2024 NFL draft weekend, which runs Thursday through Saturday, Mizzou’s previous best for most players drafted in the modern era stands at seven — a draft class that came in 1981.

Eight Missouri players have a realistic or outside chance to hear their name called this weekend.

Defensive end Darius Robinson and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. stand to hear their name called on Day 1 or early on Day 2. Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, offensive tackle Javon Foster, running back Cody Schrader and safety JC Carlies each figure to hear their name called on Day 3.

If they all go, Missouri will tie a 43-year high. If placekicker Harrison Mevis earns a flier from a team, the Tigers will set a new record.

Those eight, plus the multiple more former MU players who will look to sign free agent contracts come Sunday, all played a role in Missouri’s 11-2, Cotton Bowl-winning 2023 season.

Now, it’s time to see their next steps.

Here is where nfl.com writer Chad Reuter has Missouri’s players landing on draft day in his mock draft:

More: Missouri football lands state’s No. 1-ranked prospect in Class of 2025

Missouri football DE Darius Robinson to the Detroit Lions in the first round

Darius Robinson will be in his hometown of Detroit on draft night. The Missouri team captain grew up in the Motor City suburbs, playing his high school football at Canton High, and Reuter has the defensive end staying home, mocking Robinson to the Detroit Lions with the 29th-overall pick in the draft. That would make him Missouri’s first first-rounder since Charles Harris, who went No. 22 in 2017. Robinson, after moving to the edge from defensive tackle last season, led Missouri in sacks in 2023 with 8.5.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to the Detroit Lions with pick No. 61

Following Robinson to Detroit in Reuter’s mock: cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., tabbed as a second-round selection for the Lions with the No. 61 overall pick. Rakestraw was once tipped as a first-rounder, but has fallen down most big boards after injuries impacted his Combine performance. Rakestraw spent most of the 2023 season on the sideline with an injury, too, but has the tape from his four-year Missouri career to keep him as a second-round selection.

More: What will Missouri football’s stadium upgrade look like? Renderings of proposed $250M project

Kris Abrams-Draine to the Los Angeles Chargers in Round 4

Kris Abrams-Draine led the SEC in passes defended last season with 16. He had four interceptions, which came in the space of five games. Reuter has him as a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, who use the 105th-overall pick to take the Tiger out west. Abrams-Draine has the ability to play inside and outside, and could go as high as the third round.

Javon Foster to the Chicago Bears in fourth round

The Chicago Bears are going to need somebody to look after quarterback Caleb Williams when they inevitably take him with the No. 1 overall pick. Missouri left tackle Javon Foster did a stellar job doing just that with Brady Cook last season. Reuters has Foster heading to Chicago with the 122nd selection in the draft. The tackle was a three-year starter for Missouri, playing in 50 games over his career.

More: Missouri football bolsters offensive line with SMU, All-AAC 1st-team tackle Marcus Bryant

Ty’Ron Hopper to the Kansas City Chiefs in fifth round

If you want to see more Ty’Ron Hopper, Reuter has Missouri fans covered, mocking the linebacker two hours west along I-70 to the Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round with the 159th-overall pick. Hopper spent two seasons with the Tigers after transferring from Florida. He appeared in 23 games for MU, totalling 133 total tackles, 20 of which for loss. Missouri’s last linebacker selected in the draft also went to Kansas City: Nick Bolton, a second-rounder in 2021.

Cody Schrader to the Buffalo Bills in fifth round

One pick later … Reuter predicted Missouri great Cody Schrader to head to the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 160th-overall pick, acquired in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. Schrader, whose journey from Division-II to Heisman Trophy vote recipient drew national attention last season, broke the Tigers’ single-season rushing record last season with 1,627 yards. He scored in 10 straight games to finish his college career — one that started at D-II Truman State and ended with a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State.

JC Carlies, undrafted

Reuter does not have Carlies hearing his name called over the next three days. Multiple prognosticators have tipped Carlies to switch to linebacker — think Fred Warner — in order to raise his stock. If those conversations have taken place — and Carlies’ Scouting Combine weigh-in of 227 pounds, up nearly 10 pounds from his listed college weight, is an indication they may have — then a late-round selection could come his way.

More: New Missouri athletic director Laird Veatch has contract approved. Here are the details

Harrison Mevis, undrafted

Missouri's "Thiccer Kicker" also doesn't appear in Reuter's mock draft, which is unsurprising for his position. Only Arkansas kicker Cam Little, Alabama kicker Will Reichard (Round 5) got the nod in the prognosticator's predictions. But Mevis has something neither of those two do — a 60-yarder on his resume, coming on a game-winner against Kansas State last season. College kickers don't boast those all too often, and that might tempt a team into bringing Mevis on board.

More: With Missouri basketball forward Jordan Butler off to South Carolina, who is MU’s next big?

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Can Missouri football set program-high in NFL draft? Final mocks are in