Inside The Panthers

Lions Take Pitt WR in New Mock Draft

Pitt Panthers wideout Bub Means was a high pick of the Detriot Lions in a new mock draft.

Stephen Thompson

Nov 11, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Bub Means (0) runs with
Nov 11, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Bub Means (0) runs with / Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers wideout Bub Means has been one of the biggest risers in NFL Draft circles this winter and into the spring as he flashed freakish athleticism and rapidly improving positional skills with his NFL Combine and Pro Day performances. Now Means has himself in position to be an earlier-than-expected draft pick at the end of the month.

With less than two weeks to go until the first pick is selected, ESPN's Mel Kiper and Field Yates released a more detailed, three-round mock draft that has Means as the highest-selected Pitt player, going 73rd overall in the third round to the Detroit Lions.

"Means was one of my combine risers in February. He has big hands and long arms, and he ran a 4.43-second 40 in Indianapolis," Kiper wrote. "He also was productive in college, leading the ACC with 18 contested catches in 2023."

Means caught just 68 passes for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Panthers, the second-highest yardage total of any Pitt pass-catcher over that span. He came on strong over the final two thirds of the 2023 season. He did deal with some subpar quarterback play at times, but those numbers still put him behind the other top wide receivers in his class in terms of production. 

He made up for it with outstanding testing numbers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Means moved well, especially for someone at his size. He has speed and strong hands that is has clearly been intriguing to scouts as he goes through a pre-draft gauntlet. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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