NFL Mock Draft 2016: Boise State's Kamalei Correa a first rounder?

It is mock draft season and ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. came out with his second mock draft which is another first-round edition. This particular mock is a straight-forward mostly need-based projections with the teams taking the player that can step in nearly right away and be a contributor.

Boise State is wildly considered the top-ranked safety in Darian Thompson and has even been projected as a first-round selection in his own right.

Kiper has Correa staying out West.

29. Arizona Cardinals: Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State

The Cardinals were fortunate that Dwight Freeney still had his spin move going into 2015, and they need to add more in the pass rush. Correa offers some of what we saw from a young Freeney as a quick-twitch edge rusher who can beat tackles with quickness and could be a useful situational pass-rusher early in his career for a team that needs to close out games as teams play catch-up throwing the ball. See the QB, get the QB.

Being compared to Freeney is an extremely high compliment for Correa as he was one of the greats at getting to the quarterback. The Cardinals are in need of defensive players since they weer torched by the Carolina Panthers in the NFC title game this year.

Even though Correa left a year of eligibility on the table it is looking very much like declaring for the NFL Draft was the right move even though his production dipped from his sophomore to junior seasons.

Also, keep in mind that this just one of many mock drafts that will come out and also the NFL Draft is still over eight weeks away. There have been no combines or pro days, and in Correa's case as an underclassmen he was not able to go to any post-season All-Star games for a closer look from NFL personnel.