UCLA Football: McKinley, Vanderdoes Are Projected 1st Round Draft Picks, Per Pro Football Focus

Two UCLA Football players are projected to go in the first round of an early mock draft by Pro Football Focus for the 2017 NFL Draft.

The  UCLA Football team might have had a disappointing season, but there were a few bright spots which they can hang their hat on. Many of those bright spots were individual efforts by a few Bruins who will be moving on to the NFL.

With senior Takkarist McKinley graduating and redshirt junior Eddie Vanderdoes declaring for the NFL draft, both have been projected to be first round selections.

Today, ProFootballFocus.com released their first round mock draft for 2017 which has McKinley and Vanderdoes going simultaneously later in the first round..

PFF has Vanderdoes going at #21 to the Houston Texans. Vanderdoes is a very quick player for his size and would help thicken up the D-line. PFF author Steve Palazzolo likes EV here because “Vanderdoes has the tools to play all along the interior of the Texans’ defense.”

McKinley was picked to go right after at #22 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Takk has been getting a lot of attention all season long. As one of the most explosive defensive ends in college football, he is projected to be a “playmaker” on the Bucs’ line.

Next: UCLA Football: 5 Takeaways From the 2016 Season

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The Bruins are not expected to have a lot of players chosen in the 2017 NFL Draft, though what they are putting out will definitely give some lucky pro team reason to cheer, as McKinley and EV are the real deal. Go Bruins!