Start United States USA — Sport Here's a deep dive into MSU's NFL Draft prospects

Here's a deep dive into MSU's NFL Draft prospects

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When it comes to the NFL Draft, beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. While some teams might covet one player, others could…
When it comes to the NFL Draft, beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder.
While some teams might covet one player, others could look at the same prospect and have a vastly different view. Which view is correct probably won’t truly reveal itself for at least a couple years.
With the NFL Draft set to begin Thursday night, two former Michigan State defensive backs find themselves right in the middle of those differing opinions.
For cornerback Justin Layne, it’s a matter of being a fringe first-round pick or going as late as the fourth round. Safety Khari Willis likely isn’t a first-round selection, but projections have him going as early as the second round and as late as the sixth.
By Saturday evening as the draft concludes with rounds four to seven, both will get the answers they’re looking for while a handful of other former Spartans will be hoping they’ve heard their name called, as well.
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Layne, the 6-foot-2 corner who left Michigan State after his junior season, likely will be the first Spartan taken. According to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr., that could happen by the end of the first round.
“Layne, you’d certainly watch him in coverage, I think every game you could see the improvement,” Kiper said. “Then you test out and you have the length obviously that everybody wants in a corner. Everything about him to me indicates he could be a late first. He could be one of those guys that didn’t necessarily get mocked as a late first but goes in the late first.”
That’s not the way Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network sees it for Layne, who began his career as a wide receiver before making the quick shift to defense as a freshman and recording 15 pass breakups in 2018 while earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
More: Steroids link took luster off Mandarich, Michigan State’s 1988 Rose Bowl victory
“I thought second round there, somebody who’s a former wide receiver who’s got tremendous ball skills,” Jeremiah said. “There’s always teams looking for size, speed corners.

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