Todd McShay's first mock draft had the San Francisco 49ers selecting Rashan Gary out of Michigan with the No. 2 overall pick and had Josh Allen of Kentucky falling all the way to No. 9 when the Detroit Lions select. That was, of course, in December and things have changed since then.
In McShay's latest mock draft, released on Thursday, he still has Nick Bosa of Ohio State going No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals but now has the 49ers selecting Allen at No. 2.
"The Niners really want an edge rusher after only DeForest Buckner cracked six sacks for them in 2018 (Buckner had 12)," wrote McShay. "Allen blew up offensive linemen all season en route to 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss for the Wildcats. With his big 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame, Allen could line up as a defensive end in the 49ers' 4-3 scheme if he tacks on some more weight."
Allen is viewed as the second-best pass rusher in the draft, but some wonder if he is worthy of a top-two selection. Allen himself is more confident about his abilities.
"You all record this," Allen told reporters after his three-sack performance in the Wildcats' 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. "If I don't go No. 1, I don't know who is."
Allen finished his senior season with 17 sacks — three more than he had during his previous two seasons combined. Allen set new Kentucky school single-season and career records for sacks this past season. He has accumulated 31.5 sacks in his four collegiate seasons.
Allen had an opportunity to participate in January's Senior Bowl where he would have landed on the 49ers-coached South squad but opted not to do so after initially accepting the invite in November.