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D6 · 05-01-2015, 12:55 PM

Quote:After day one, here are some of my observations:

5. I think Jaguars fans all over groaned a little when the Rams took Gurley. It was a surprising pick for them, but it was a brilliant pick, too. The Rams already had good depth at RB with Tre Mason and Zak Stacy. While Gurley recuperates from his knee injury, there is no need to rush him back. Once he's healthy, he could be a great fit in Fisher's offensive approach.

6. It was unsurprising-and almost as disappointing-when SD took Gordon. Once he and Gurley were gone, much of the incentive for the Jaguars to trade back up into the first round was gone.

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8. Detroit's selection of Tomlinson was surprising and disappointing. I was hoping to snatch him up in the late 2nd or 3rd round. But Detroit got him, once again leaving Detroit with a need at CB and the Jaguars without a stud at G to take later.

9. Carolina may have gotten Dexter Coakley v.2.0 in Shaq Thompson. I think he could do well in that front seven, though I wonder what they will do for their OL.

10. Green Bay's pick of Russell from Arizona State really hurt and befuddled me. His cover ability would have fit in perfectly in the Jaguars' scheme. When Gordon and Gurley were gone, I was kinda hoping he would fall to us in the second. But why would Green Bay take him? They just drafted a fine FS in the first round last year in Clinton-Dix.

12. How in the world does the Patriots keep getting these stud DTs late in the first round? First Wilfork, now Brown. I think that was a great pick for the champs. Brown will fit in seamlessly for them.

Bullseye, great football analysis as always!

For now I'm going to offer my two cents to some of what you mentioned.

I didn't see the St. Louis Rams as a prime landing spot for Todd Gurley based on their needs on the Offensive Line and Devante Parker also being available at a position they can definitely use more help at.   But in reflecting on the dimension that Eddie George gave Tennessee for many years,    the pick makes a great amount of sense.   Like you mentioned, the Rams can afford to bring him along slowly.   Gurley could easily be a faster more athletic version of Eddie George, which what be quite a football player.

I read this morning that Melvin Gordon was the last of 7 players the Chargers considered impact players on their draft board.   Based on that, the trade they made with the 49ers made sense.   If Gordon would have lasted into the 20's, it would have been interesting to know what the Jags would have been willing to give up to trade up for him.   I feel that Tevin Coleman is the most likely pick for the Jags at # 36.   Other than a trade, the potential obstacle to land Coleman is the Bucs.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...ct-player/

While the Lions needed help at Guard opposite Larry Warford, I was shocked the Lions traded Laken Tomlinson with pick # 28.   I was disappointed the Lions passed on DT Malcom Brown, who could have been a long term answer as a 3 Technique in the Lions Defensive Scheme.   While I had Tomlinson going to the Redskins in the early part of Round 3 in my mock draft,   he was my runner up projection at pick # 54 in Round 2.    I thought Donovan Smith was slightly more likely in that spot because of more potential versatility and the value of the Tackle spot vs. Guard. But one thing that I didn't consider which I should have is something Daniel Jeremiah brought up that appears on at least some of the sites that cover the Lions. Joe Lombardi comes from a team ( Saints ) that stresses having a wall in the interior to enable the QB to step up.   Though I still would have preferred Brown at # 28,   because Tomlinson is a very good fit for the Lions and he has as intangibles/ character that are beyond tremendous,   I understand the decision.    Being able to get a 5th Rounder in 2015, a 5th Rounder in 2016, and former Lions G-C Manny Ramirez from the Broncos in the trade that enabled the Broncos to land Shane Ray at # 23 certainly adds significant value for the Lions.

I thought the Panthers would seriously consider an OLB in Round 2 or 3 but with their needs in on the Offensive Line and Secondary, the Shaq Thompson pick surprised me.   That much more because I thought he was very likely going to be drafted somewhere in Round 2.   I wonder if the Panthers would have taken D.J, Humphries if he lasted one more pick?

Though I moved Damarious Randall up to the Colts pick # 29 in my Mock Draft,   like you I didn't think the Packers would take him.   Safety is arguably their # 1 strength on Defense. My guess is the Packers plan on using Randall as a Nickel Back and maybe even envision him as a potential starting outside CB.

   It will be interesting to see how the Patriots use Malcom Brown.   While the Patriots draft record is far from perfect, the fact that Bill Belichick sees something in him helps reinforce my decision in wanting the Lions to draft him.    The Patriots had a great situation at # 32, with pick more DT viable options available than I anticipated.