NFL mock draft: Could 3 centers go in the first round of the NFL Draft?

Last night I joined 31 of my fellow SB Nation writers on SB Nation Radio’s Straight Heat show for a live mock draft simulation.

It played out in pretty crazy fashion. For example, Saquon Barkley fell all the way to the Bills at pick No. 12 and Josh Allen went to the Cardinals at pick No. 15. While I was waiting to make pick No. 21, I actually said (to no one) into the phone, OH MY GOD because right before I was on the clock, the Lions made their pick, which was Ohio State center Billy Price.

If Billy Price is taken right before the Bengals are on the clock, I would love it. It would help validate the Bengals drafting a center in the first round, it would be far less of a reach to take Frank Ragnow — who I selected for the Bengals — and it would (kind of) make draft history. Last night, I thought there had never been two centers taken in the first round of the same draft, but there actually has been one year in which that happened. That year was 2009 and it was Alex Mack and Eric Wood, two centers that boast highly productive careers in the NFL, both of whom are Pro Bowlers. Wood just retired due to injury issues but Mack’s career is still going strong.

So, if two centers are taken in Round 1 it wouldn’t be as historic but it would tie that record and if they’re taken back-to-back, then I guess history would be made. But, in this mock draft it wasn’t JUST two centers taken in the first round. To close our Round 1, the Eagles selected Iowa center James Daniels. So, history would in fact be made with three centers selected. Could that really happen tonight?

I discuss that and more when the Bengals are on the clock and if you want to fast forward to my pick, you can find it just after the 51 minute mark of the show! Below are the full mock draft results.

What do you think of my pick? It’s none other than Arkansas center Frank Ragnow.