05-08-2014, 09:10 AM
Here's mine.
1. Texans - Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina - Far and away the best player in the draft. There is an issue with scheme fit here, but whether they plug him in at OLB or opposite Watt, he'll be a stud. Sucks for us, but oh well.
2. Rams - Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M - Most people have Robinson ahead of Matthews, but I think it's more dependent upon the specific team. The Rams have a left tackle, need a right, and want to know sooner rather than later whether Bradford is the guy. That being said, if I was their manager, I would take the guy with a higher ability to step in right away and pass protect on the right side. Won't be surprised at all if it's Robinson, however.
3. Jaguars - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M - Maybe this is a personal preference pick, but it also makes a lot of sense. We need a QB, and Manziel is the best one. We have some kind of mad scientist offensive coordinator who can take advantage of his skill set. We have his freaking left tackle, for goodness' sake. We also are so young in our rebuild that IF (and I don't think it's a necessity) we need to "tailor our offense around him", we could do it without losing too much steam. I think Manziel will either be a star or a bust in the league, and I've learned not to bet against him.
4. Browns - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - The Browns pair Watkins up with Gordon and make a strength stronger on their surprisingly talented young roster.
5. Raiders - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo - Similar to the Browns pick, here the Raiders decide to take a strong point on their roster and improve it. They'll pair up Mack with last year's stud, Sio Moore, and have a rangy and hard-hitting LB core. Good on them.
6. Falcons - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - I think if the Falcons had their way they'd want Matthews with this pick, but getting a guy with elite upside is certainly not a bad consolation prize. I think Matthews will be the better, more complete player the first year - but watch out for Robinson come year two.
7. Buccaneers - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M - A lot of people have the Bucs going QB with this pick, but I don't see it. They brought over an established guy and have a nice reserve in Glennon. Maybe they'll take someone later on, but here top value matches need and they snag the receiver who I think has the highest upside in this draft.
8. Vikings - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State - The Vikings lost a lot of close games at the end last year, chiefly due to poor play at cornerback outside of Rhodes. Here, they take a tall and rangy guy who could be a legitimate shutdown defender.
9. Bills - Eric Ebron, TE, UNC - This draft should be all about giving EJ Manuel a chance to succeed. The two routes for that are better protection and better weapons. In this mock, the tackle value doesn't line up, so Manuel gets the best pass-catching TE in the draft.
10. Lions - Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU - The Lions are kinda stuck if the draft falls out this way. The two top receivers are gone, the tackles as well, and even Ebron. I don't think the value for OBJ is quite this high, but I think the Lions are desperate enough for a threat opposite Megatron that they'll reach for one here.
11. Titans - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA - Not very original, I know. It just makes a ton of sense. They need pass-rushers and Barr has excellent potential. I hope that if he lands here he doesn't live up to it.
12. Giants - Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame - Yep, Martin before Lewan. I don't think Coughlin will want to risk the character concerns that have plagued Lewan's stock. Martin also gives fantastic versatility to help Eli stay upright wherever he plays on the line.
13. Rams - Aaron Donald, DL, Pittsburgh - Crazy fall for this guy, I expect him gone earlier than this tonight, it's just hard to slot him. Here the Rams won't reach on a tier two WR due to the depth of the draft. I also feel like the safeties commonly mocked here are gonna fall a little farther than people expect. So Donald goes here, making the Rams' defensive line possibly the best in the league.
14. Bears - Louis Nix, DL, Notre Dame - I don't know if the Bears run a 34 or 43, but Nix will be solid in both. Solid double here for them.
15. Steelers - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan - He finally comes off the board. I think his nastiness fits in perfectly with the Steelers and his talent does as well. Steal for them here if he can get his head on straight.
16. Cowboys - Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville - First safety off the list halfway into the round, and it's not HaHa. He'll pair nicely with JJ from last year and help this defense try to be respectable again.
17. Ravens - CJ Moseley, MLB, Alabama - Boom. Ish just got real. I think CJ is a top ten talent in this draft but positional value throws him down a ways. The Ravens take him here and can shift Arthur Brown to OLB, either opposite Daryl Smith or as his replacement once he retires. I really like CJ's speed, and I think Baltimore will too.
18. Jets - Brandin Cooks, WR, Okahoma State - Get Geno some weapons. This guy has speed for days and will grow with his young quarterback to maybe put them in the playoffs.
19. Dolphins - Cyrus Koundijio, OT, Alabama - He's getting devalued, sure, but the Dolphins had a chance to pick a tackle with high upside last year and didn't. How did that work out?
20. Cardinals - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn - I really want to slot Derek Carr here, but I think that the Cards will want another pass rusher to push them over the hump in that crazy division.
21. Packers - HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama - They need help on the back end, and while I still think this is a little high for him, I think the Packers will get antsy. They need some better defenders if they're ever gonna get back to the big one.
22. Eagles - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota - TBH, I had no idea who to put here. I do know, however, that Hageman will be a stud if he has consistent effort. Good value for the Eagles if that happens.
23. Chiefs - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech - Similar deal with the last pick. Don't know much about these guys aside from the fact that every team likes valuable players. The big man from Texas Tech certainly fits the bill here.
24. Bengals - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State - The most physical corner in the draft goes to a team desperately needing one. They've had bad luck with this position in the first round recently, but maybe this will change that.
25. Chargers - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State - Also a pick that's been pegged for a while. They need cornerbacks and Roby has some of the best developmental upside in the draft.
26. Browns - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Recent rumors have the Browns "enamored" with Teddy. He has endured an Aaron Rodgers - like fall, which is interesting because I think their playstyles are very similar. He will have Gordon and Watkins on the outside , Joe Thomas and Alex Mack on the line, and a massive chip on his shoulder.
27. Saints - Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State - The Saints still need pass rushers after not getting any last year. With Lawrence as well as their recent defensive additions, though, they may take their defense back to the top.
28. Panthers - Marquise Lee, WR, USC - I feel like this pick is bound to happen. The Panthers NEED a receiver and Lee presents excellent value here. I also think he plays very similar to Steve Smith. A natural fit.
29. Patriots - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF - My big wildcard pick. Tom Brady can make any receiver talented, so I don't think that's a need. He can't do it forever, though. So the Pats take a guy who has speed and size that Brady doesn't, and sit him to learn behind a great one for a couple years.
30. 49ers - Dominique Easley, DL, Florida - SF continues its trend of taking injured stars. Easley would be duking it out with Donald for the first DL taken if not for injury concerns. Imagine in a few years, when both Tank Carradine and Easley are fully healthy... Scary.
31. Broncos - Xavier Sua'Filo, OG, UCLA - Take the best guard in the draft and plug him right where Zane Beadles used to be. Solid pick.
32. Seahawks - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington - To close out the round, the Hawks decide to put another weapon in Wilson's hands, cause their defense sure as heck doesn't need any work.
Wow that was a lot of writing.
Your thoughts? Your mocks? Post them here.
1. Texans - Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina - Far and away the best player in the draft. There is an issue with scheme fit here, but whether they plug him in at OLB or opposite Watt, he'll be a stud. Sucks for us, but oh well.
2. Rams - Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M - Most people have Robinson ahead of Matthews, but I think it's more dependent upon the specific team. The Rams have a left tackle, need a right, and want to know sooner rather than later whether Bradford is the guy. That being said, if I was their manager, I would take the guy with a higher ability to step in right away and pass protect on the right side. Won't be surprised at all if it's Robinson, however.
3. Jaguars - Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M - Maybe this is a personal preference pick, but it also makes a lot of sense. We need a QB, and Manziel is the best one. We have some kind of mad scientist offensive coordinator who can take advantage of his skill set. We have his freaking left tackle, for goodness' sake. We also are so young in our rebuild that IF (and I don't think it's a necessity) we need to "tailor our offense around him", we could do it without losing too much steam. I think Manziel will either be a star or a bust in the league, and I've learned not to bet against him.
4. Browns - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - The Browns pair Watkins up with Gordon and make a strength stronger on their surprisingly talented young roster.
5. Raiders - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo - Similar to the Browns pick, here the Raiders decide to take a strong point on their roster and improve it. They'll pair up Mack with last year's stud, Sio Moore, and have a rangy and hard-hitting LB core. Good on them.
6. Falcons - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - I think if the Falcons had their way they'd want Matthews with this pick, but getting a guy with elite upside is certainly not a bad consolation prize. I think Matthews will be the better, more complete player the first year - but watch out for Robinson come year two.
7. Buccaneers - Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M - A lot of people have the Bucs going QB with this pick, but I don't see it. They brought over an established guy and have a nice reserve in Glennon. Maybe they'll take someone later on, but here top value matches need and they snag the receiver who I think has the highest upside in this draft.
8. Vikings - Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State - The Vikings lost a lot of close games at the end last year, chiefly due to poor play at cornerback outside of Rhodes. Here, they take a tall and rangy guy who could be a legitimate shutdown defender.
9. Bills - Eric Ebron, TE, UNC - This draft should be all about giving EJ Manuel a chance to succeed. The two routes for that are better protection and better weapons. In this mock, the tackle value doesn't line up, so Manuel gets the best pass-catching TE in the draft.
10. Lions - Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU - The Lions are kinda stuck if the draft falls out this way. The two top receivers are gone, the tackles as well, and even Ebron. I don't think the value for OBJ is quite this high, but I think the Lions are desperate enough for a threat opposite Megatron that they'll reach for one here.
11. Titans - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA - Not very original, I know. It just makes a ton of sense. They need pass-rushers and Barr has excellent potential. I hope that if he lands here he doesn't live up to it.
12. Giants - Zack Martin, OL, Notre Dame - Yep, Martin before Lewan. I don't think Coughlin will want to risk the character concerns that have plagued Lewan's stock. Martin also gives fantastic versatility to help Eli stay upright wherever he plays on the line.
13. Rams - Aaron Donald, DL, Pittsburgh - Crazy fall for this guy, I expect him gone earlier than this tonight, it's just hard to slot him. Here the Rams won't reach on a tier two WR due to the depth of the draft. I also feel like the safeties commonly mocked here are gonna fall a little farther than people expect. So Donald goes here, making the Rams' defensive line possibly the best in the league.
14. Bears - Louis Nix, DL, Notre Dame - I don't know if the Bears run a 34 or 43, but Nix will be solid in both. Solid double here for them.
15. Steelers - Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan - He finally comes off the board. I think his nastiness fits in perfectly with the Steelers and his talent does as well. Steal for them here if he can get his head on straight.
16. Cowboys - Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville - First safety off the list halfway into the round, and it's not HaHa. He'll pair nicely with JJ from last year and help this defense try to be respectable again.
17. Ravens - CJ Moseley, MLB, Alabama - Boom. Ish just got real. I think CJ is a top ten talent in this draft but positional value throws him down a ways. The Ravens take him here and can shift Arthur Brown to OLB, either opposite Daryl Smith or as his replacement once he retires. I really like CJ's speed, and I think Baltimore will too.
18. Jets - Brandin Cooks, WR, Okahoma State - Get Geno some weapons. This guy has speed for days and will grow with his young quarterback to maybe put them in the playoffs.
19. Dolphins - Cyrus Koundijio, OT, Alabama - He's getting devalued, sure, but the Dolphins had a chance to pick a tackle with high upside last year and didn't. How did that work out?
20. Cardinals - Dee Ford, DE, Auburn - I really want to slot Derek Carr here, but I think that the Cards will want another pass rusher to push them over the hump in that crazy division.
21. Packers - HaHa Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama - They need help on the back end, and while I still think this is a little high for him, I think the Packers will get antsy. They need some better defenders if they're ever gonna get back to the big one.
22. Eagles - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota - TBH, I had no idea who to put here. I do know, however, that Hageman will be a stud if he has consistent effort. Good value for the Eagles if that happens.
23. Chiefs - Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech - Similar deal with the last pick. Don't know much about these guys aside from the fact that every team likes valuable players. The big man from Texas Tech certainly fits the bill here.
24. Bengals - Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State - The most physical corner in the draft goes to a team desperately needing one. They've had bad luck with this position in the first round recently, but maybe this will change that.
25. Chargers - Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State - Also a pick that's been pegged for a while. They need cornerbacks and Roby has some of the best developmental upside in the draft.
26. Browns - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - Recent rumors have the Browns "enamored" with Teddy. He has endured an Aaron Rodgers - like fall, which is interesting because I think their playstyles are very similar. He will have Gordon and Watkins on the outside , Joe Thomas and Alex Mack on the line, and a massive chip on his shoulder.
27. Saints - Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State - The Saints still need pass rushers after not getting any last year. With Lawrence as well as their recent defensive additions, though, they may take their defense back to the top.
28. Panthers - Marquise Lee, WR, USC - I feel like this pick is bound to happen. The Panthers NEED a receiver and Lee presents excellent value here. I also think he plays very similar to Steve Smith. A natural fit.
29. Patriots - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF - My big wildcard pick. Tom Brady can make any receiver talented, so I don't think that's a need. He can't do it forever, though. So the Pats take a guy who has speed and size that Brady doesn't, and sit him to learn behind a great one for a couple years.
30. 49ers - Dominique Easley, DL, Florida - SF continues its trend of taking injured stars. Easley would be duking it out with Donald for the first DL taken if not for injury concerns. Imagine in a few years, when both Tank Carradine and Easley are fully healthy... Scary.
31. Broncos - Xavier Sua'Filo, OG, UCLA - Take the best guard in the draft and plug him right where Zane Beadles used to be. Solid pick.
32. Seahawks - Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington - To close out the round, the Hawks decide to put another weapon in Wilson's hands, cause their defense sure as heck doesn't need any work.
Wow that was a lot of writing.
Your thoughts? Your mocks? Post them here.
