You have to love modesty and understatement in potential superstars.
Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones is projected as a first-round pick, no later than the Bears pick at No. 19 according to a number of mock drafts (CSNChicago.com, Mel Kiper, others). But he was slotted with a third-round grade by the NFL draft advisory board, created to help give young players a perspective on where they might be picked.
Hes fine with that, as ProFootballTalk.com reports after Jones appeared on WNST radio in Baltimore.
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And Whitney Mercilus, the Illinois defensive end who is projected by most to go around the Bears spot, also was told he was a third-rounder by the board.
Id be content wherever I go, Mercilus said at the NFL Scouting Combine. I would just be blessed to get a chance with a team and show them what I have and be able to produce for that team and help that teams success.
That team is the interesting part. Mercilus made the rounds at the Combine and onenot the Bearswas a bit of a surprise at this point.
Some of the teams that Ive talked with, Bears, Chargers showed interest, also the Bills, Mercilus said. The Bills showed interesta lot of interestand those are just to name a few. It sounds good, definitely, and I cant wait to see what unfolds and to continue on throughout the process and until draft day, see where I land at.