Three months remain until the 2023 NFL Draft, but one notable draft analyst has already made a significant projection when it comes to Auburn’s top draft prospect.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected Auburn edge defender Derick Hall as a first-round pick in his most recent mock draft. It appears Kiper is the first mainstream draft analyst to slot the two-time All-SEC defender in as a Day 1 selection.

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Kiper currently projects Hall to be selected 27th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of this year’s draft. Here’s what Kiper had to say about the pick, noting that he also entertained projecting an offensive tackle or offensive guard to the Bills in that spot:

“The Bills have one of the league’s best rosters, but they could lose a few defenders in free agency, including Jordan Poyer, Tremaine Edmunds and Shaq Lawson,” Kiper wrote. “They need to restock in this draft. And even though Buffalo has used first- or second-round picks on Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham and AJ Epenesa in the past three drafts, its depth on the edge has to get better. That’s why I see Hall, who had 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons, as a stellar fit on Day 1. He could turn into a steal here.”

The 6-foot-3, 256-pound Hall was a three-year starter at Auburn after signing with the program as a four-star recruit in the 2019 class. He was a team captain as a senior, when he finished with a team-high seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss during a season in which he had a career-high 60 tackles for the Tigers. He added seven quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles as he earned All-SEC first-team honors from the league’s coaches and was a second-team AP All-SEC selection.

His senior campaign was a solid follow-up to his breakout junior year, when he had 54 total tackles, including a career-high 12.5 for a loss and nine sacks, along with a pair of forced fumbles. Hall finished his Auburn career with 147 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks.

Next week, Hall will be one of two Auburn players participating in the Senior Bowl, joining fellow edge defender Eku Leota. Linebacker Owen Pappoe recently backed out of the Senior Bowl due to an injury.

The 2023 NFL Draft will take place April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.