A Mid-American Conference player went first in the 2013 draft, and if NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock had his way, a MAC player would go No. 1 in 2014, too.
Appearing on Minneapolis radio station KFAN on Friday morning, Mayock said he would take Buffalo outside linebacker Khalil Mack first overall. Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher was the No. 1 pick in the '13 draft.
"He's explosive off the edge, he's tough, he's twitchy, he's got a little edge about him," Mayock said of Mack.
Buffalo opened the season with a loss to Ohio State, but Mayock said that when he watched tape of that game, "[Mack] dominated Ohio State like nobody I've ever seen dominate them."
Mayock also said that Mack is "really a good kid off the field" as well.
"You talk about a kid like [Jadeveon] Clowney, who's just got superhuman abilities, versus this kid, and if I had a choice between the two, I think I'm taking Mack," Mayock said.
Mayock said Mack is a prototype outside linebacker in a 3-4, but that he also would fit as a "Sam" linebacker in a 4-3, and would really shine in pass-rush situations.
Mack was listed at 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds at Buffalo. His official weigh-in at the NFL Scouting Combine comes Saturday.
Mack set an NCAA career record with 16 forced fumbles and is tied for first in NCAA history with 75 tackles for loss; he is tied with former Western Michigan defensive end Jason Babin, who started for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. Mack also had 28.5 career sacks. Mack has been compared with Denver Broncossack specialist Von Miller.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.