The most common criticism I've seen of mock drafts this year is when no FS is taking in the first three rounds. Looking at the prospect rankings, there are 3-5 FS in the top 100 prospects depending on the list. And I don't think any are worth where they'll be drafted.

 

Gerod Holliman had a scout recently call him unathletic and unable to tackle, while acknowledging his instincts. From my perspective he'd be ok. If we're following the Seattle model defense once we have a good safety in coverage that's where we'll generally keep him. However, this guy isn't a burner. He'd have average to below average range for a FS in the NFL and therefore I wouldn't take him before late round 2. He'll almost certainly be gone in the first 40 picks to fill somebody's need.

 

Derron Smith is the one I know the least about. From what I've seen he's very similar to Holliman. Good instincts while not being that elite athlete you want in an early round safety. Also a little undersized. He's expected to go in round 2 and I wouldn't touch him until our third round pick.

 

Cody Prewitt is the one I like the best, but he's still just an average starting FS in the NFL. Good size, good instincts, good tackler, but once again doesn't have that elite range. Considering the options I've seen left for our second round pick I can't see passing up potential elite players for a guy with a limited ceiling. And in virtually every mock I've seen he's gone well before our third pick comes around.

 

Kurtis Drummond is more of a SS than a FS despite where some have him listed. Strong, great tackler, not asked to play center field much.

 

Durrell Eskridge is a wildcard. He's got the best speed of all of them. Good size, decent tackler, but the worst football player. He doesn't seem to have the natural instinct for the ball and gets burned by being overaggressive. He's usually available for the 3rd round pick but is in no way ready to start right away and has very high bust potential.

 

Which is why I think we'd better get a patch in FA because it's unlikely the long term answer for FS is in this draft class unless we settle for an average FS in round 2 instead of an excellent player elsewhere.

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Even though FS is a big need right now, I'm not seeing us drafting one either until 3rd round or after this year.

 

I see no reason to reach just to get a starter, and miss out on a better player elsewhere like LB, OT, RB, or really anywhere to be honest. Also, I think our defense has shown it can be pretty good even with Evans at FS.

 

I'm with you though, I think FA is our best bet at upgrading that position as well as RT and TE.

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I think the best bet would be to sign a FA FS and then draft one in the mid-rounds. McCourty would be nice but I think I would go hardest after Tashaun Gipson.


He is 24 years old and had 6 picks this year. He would be perfect and it would be nice to stick it to the Browns for the whole Mack thing. Heck we should sign Jordan Cameron off them too...


Anyways, I would love to have Gipson and a Cody Prewitt at FS and then slide Evans over to SS.

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I think the best bet would be to sign a FA FS and then draft one in the mid-rounds. McCourty would be nice but I think I would go hardest after Tashaun Gipson.


He is 24 years old and had 6 picks this year. He would be perfect and it would be nice to stick it to the Browns for the whole Mack thing. Heck we should sign Jordan Cameron off them too...


Anyways, I would love to have Gipson and a Cody Prewitt at FS and then slide Evans over to SS.

 

Gipson was high on my list as well until I realized he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. It's a no brainer for Cleveland to give Gipson a first round tender. McCourty is really the only above average free safety that will be an unrestricted free agent.

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Good catch on Gipson being a RFA. Yep that pretty much guarantees his return to the Browns.

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Not a fan of this crop of FS in the upcoming draft. I certainly wouldn't draft one of them too high. We'll probably be better off looking for a stop gap veteran type. Then hopefully the 2016 draft will bear out a better crop of FS to choose from. 

 

We were smart last year in grabbing 3 WR from one of the deepest WR drafts in memory, so I'd rather use that same strategy and don't reach and take what this years draft is giving you. 

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Gipson was high on my list as well until I realized he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. It's a no brainer for Cleveland to give Gipson a first round tender. McCourty is really the only above average free safety that will be an unrestricted free agent.

Didn't realize that, damnit.

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Gipson was high on my list as well until I realized he'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. It's a no brainer for Cleveland to give Gipson a first round tender. McCourty is really the only above average free safety that will be an unrestricted free agent.

 

Maybe they'll transistion tag him like Mack and the Browns will do it to us again... :pinch: 

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IMO, Dave Caldwell really will have to step up his game this off-season for this team to have the turnaround that it needs to save his and Gus' job. IMO, our biggest immediate needs are FS, TE, OL, and LB.

 

The crop for this year's FA and draft is pretty terrible for FS and TE, with a handful of names (like McCourty, Thomas) likely re-upping with their teams and a handful with concerns (Cameron). OL has some veterans to hit the market, but they will be stop gaps at best.

 

Only LB through the draft, IMO, can provide us with value + need.

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Sign McCourty please

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Another Safety to consider is Anthony Harris - S - Virginia - 6'1" 190 Lbs.

 

In 2013 he had 8 Ints with 80 tackes, He could be available at the top of Rd 4.

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Another Safety to consider is Anthony Harris - S - Virginia - 6'1" 190 Lbs.

 

In 2013 he had 8 Ints with 80 tackes, He could be available at the top of Rd 4.

 

A little light, but I like the apparent nose for the football. 

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We were smart last year in grabbing 3 WR from one of the deepest WR drafts in memory, so I'd rather use that same strategy and don't reach and take what this years draft is giving you.

I think this is the right approach to take.


This year seems to have a number of interesting defensive prospects, but for other positions. Seems strong in running backs too.

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Maybe draft mid-late and try to develop. But for 2015, we need a veteran back there.

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FS has to be addressed in FA in my opinion. We cant keep hoping to rely solely on draft picks and FS is just too an important position. With the draft not containing any obvious FS studs, plus with McCourty and Gipson (even though he's a RFA) potentially available, you have to sign one of those guys.

 

Gipson would be brilliant, but theres no chance he leaves Cleveland (they'd be mad), McCourty is very good though and still young. Would be interesting to see if he would leave the Patriots, but we need to sign one of these guys, the draft isnt the answer this year for FS  

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Many times CBs are converted to FS if they do not have the speed to run with fast WRs one on one. Gratz appears to be an excellent candidate for conversion to FS.

 

In Free Agency, Chris Culiver - CB - San Francisco, is another such candidate. I remember he started out at South Carolina as a Free Safety before switching to CB.

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Many times CBs are converted to FS if they do not have the speed to run with fast WRs one on one. Gratz appears to be an excellent candidate for conversion to FS.

 

In Free Agency, Chris Culiver - CB - San Francisco, is another such candidate. I remember he started out at South Carolina as a Free Safety before switching to CB.

 

Gratz isn't the answer. He's a guy who does better in man than in zone. You don't want to put a guy like that back there as a center field type FS. Since we've been drafting corners who fit the Seattle mode, I don't think any of our guys can really do it. Maybe Colvin, but he's doing well as a CB, so there's no reason to mess with that.

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I'll take a ball hawk like Holliman for center fielder

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If that RV sales place wants Tebow in Jax bad enough to take out a billboard saying as much.....they should just HIRE him.

I'll take a ball hawk like Holliman for center fielder

I dunno. Read this thread:

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://jungle.jaguars.com/index.php?/topic/9128-bob-mcginn-scouting-notes-from-the-milwaukee-journal-sentinel/#entry388857'>http://jungle.jaguars.com/index.php?/topic/9128-bob-mcginn-scouting-notes-from-the-milwaukee-journal-sentinel/#entry388857</a>

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

What about Rahim Moorre - FS - Broncos as a potential FA FS signee? He will only be 25 years old after 4 years in the league.

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