Every year we try not to get sucked into endless months of NFL draft speculation, and pretty much every February we wind up falling hard off that wagon.
When the local team needs talent -- particularly a quarterback -- the draft is particularly intoxicating.
As such, we checked in on the latest mock drafts from ESPN.com's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
Also, McShay has Gophers DT Ra'Shede Hageman going No. 30 overall in the first round to the 49ers; Kiper does not have him in his first round.
Finally: Fresno State QB Derek Carr doesn't show up in the first round of either mock draft. That would be some serious second-round value, though as always everything is subject to change as we play the waiting game for the next three months.
