Since everybody is starting to get revved up for the NFL Draft on Thursday, I figured that I would put out a mock draft. Why? Because I can pick them just as well as the major draftniks. And if I do real good for a couple of years maybe, just maybe, I will be invited on a show to look and sound stupid. Anyways on to what I think will happen on Thursday for the NFL Draft.
1. Houston Texans - Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina. I don't like this pick, but he has become the consensus #1 for the Texans. The rumors about Atlanta moving up here to take Clowney are just a smokescreen. The Texans need other help besides pass rush.
2. Atlanta Falcons (Trade w/St. Louis Rams) - OLB Khalil Mack, Buffalo. While Clowney would have been preferable, I don't see Atlanta paying that much for that pick. Mack is a pass rusher and will fit with the Falcons and upgrade the defense.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M. Johnny puts butts in the seats. And when he steps into town, he is the best QB on the roster.
4. Cleveland Browns - WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson. There is a thought that the Browns want a Tackle here. I understand that the O-Line needs help, but with the receiving corps that the Browns have, you need the best receiver in the draft more than the best Tackle who would be on the right side of the line.
5. Oakland Raiders - T Greg Robinson, Alabama. The Raiders need help everywhere, but with the immobile Matt Schaub being the QB, help on the offensive line is a must, unless you want the Schaub "Duck and Throw" instructional video Part II.
6. St. Louis Rams (Trade w/Atlanta Falcons) - T Jake Matthews. The Rams would have bookend Tackles that would help Sam Bradford and the offense tremendously.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M. This is a no-brainer. After Vincent Jackson, the WR corps looks like a refugee camp from the CFL.
8. Minnesota Vikings - ILB C.J. Mosley, Alabama. I almost had the Vikings taking Bortles here, but I think that the Vikings will take a strong ILB to shore up that position that has been a problem for the past couple of years.
9. Buffalo Bills - TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina. The Bills have strength of skill outside. Now to bring in a TE that has the skills to relieve pressure on E.J. Manuel would help the passing offense a lot.
10. Detroit Lions - CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State. The Lions might look to Clinton-Dix with this pick, but I believe that the braintrust will take the highest ranked CB on the board, hoping to slow down the suddenly dangerous passing games throughout the NFC North.
11. Tennessee Titans - QB Blake Bortles, UCF. Jake Locker isn't the answer in Tennessee. So it is time to pick the replacement and Bortles has the background and ability to turn into an upper-echelon QB.
12. NY Giants - OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA. The Giants are basically running up to the podium to get this pick in. Barr will help the Giants and their pass rush which does need some new blood.
13. St. Louis Rams - WR Odell Beckham Jr., LSU. The Rams come back after picking a Tackle for protection with a receiver to throw to. Beckham Jr. should be a receiver that gets into the starting lineup a few games into the season and shows what he can do.
14. Chicago Bears - DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh. The Bears D-Line is in a state of flux. Peppers out, Allen in. And they still need help in the middle. The help has arrived with this pick.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Calvin Pryor, Louisville. I know, the Steelers have great safeties. But they are starting to lose a step and Pittsburgh is known for hard hitting defenders. This guy might be the hardest hitting prospect in this draft. A match made in heaven.
16. Cleveland Browns (Trade w/Dallas Cowboys) - QB Derek Carr, Fresno St. I believe that the Browns want Carr bad. And trading up before Arizona at #20 is the only way they are going to get him. I think Carr will be the best QB out of this year's draft.
17. Baltimore Ravens - T Taylor Lewan, Michigan. They showed they needed offensive line help last year. Taking one of the best 3 tackles in the draft will give them help.
18. NY Jets - WR Marquis Lee, USC. I don't think that Lee is the receiver that everybody else thinks. The Jets will take a shot and he will probably become another bust for the Jets and their 1st Round picks.
19. Kansas City Chiefs (Trade w/Miami Dolphins) - OLB Ryan Shazler, Ohio State. I imagine that the Dolphins want out of this spot to obtain one or two more draft picks. The Chiefs would be a good trading partner and take the outstanding OLB from Ohio State to improve upon a already stout defense.
20. Arizona Cardinals - T Zach Martin, Notre Dame. The QB that they want is gone, so they work on keeping Carson Palmer upright with Offensive Line help
21. San Diego Chargers (Trade w/Green Bay Packers) - CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State. The Chargers need CB help badly. So they decide to trade up and get the guy that they want. I believe it is Roby.
22. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan St. The Eagles are desperate for corner help. Dennard is good and should start right away.
23. Dallas Cowboys (Trade w/Miami Dolphins (Trade w/Kansas City Chiefs)) - QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville. After trading with Cleveland, the Cowboys move back up and take Bridgewater. Jerry Jones will get some of the spotlight again from the draft because people will not understand why he took a QB.
24. San Francisco 49ers (Trade w/Cincinnati Bengals) - S Ha Ha Clinton-Nix, Alabama. The 49ers need safety help. Why not take the best Safety in the draft and move up a couple of picks.
25. Green Bay Packers (Trade w/San Diego Chargers) - NT Louis Nix III, Notre Dame. The Packers defense is in a state of disarray. Starting to rebuild with a good Nose Tackle will solidify some of the problems in the past
26. Miami Dolphins (Trade w/Dallas Cowboys (Trade w/ Cleveland Browns)) - RB Carlos Hyde, Ohio State. The Dolphins have a running back by committee sort of approach. They will take Hyde to see if they can eliminate the committee.
27. New Orleans Saints - CB Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech. The Saints defense needs to catch up with their offense. Teaming Fuller with Vicaro back in the secondary will help contain the NFC South opponent's passing games.
28. Carolina Panthers - G Xavier Su'a-flio, UCLA. Protection for Cam is the name of the game. And this guy will provide protection.
29. New England Patriots - DT Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota. A boom or bust player. Bioll Belichick likes drafting these types of players. And with the Patriots, he should boom once he gets his opportunity.
30. Cincinnati Bengals (Trade w/San Francisco 49ers) - DE Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame. Cincy needs to try and replace their losses at Defensive End. Tuitt could be a nice fit into their scheme.
31. Houston Texans (Trade w/Denver Broncos) - QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois. I think that the Texans will panic and decide to take Garoppolo late in the 1st round. Not sold on him, but the scouts certainly are.
32. Seattle Seahawks - WR Brandin Cooks, Oregon St. The Seahawks need a good receiver since Golden Tate is gone and the injury careers of Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice if he decides to come back. Cooks should be able to become a nice backup or third receiver.
2 comments:
I'd be shocked to see the Falcons trade up for Mack. I also find it interesting the Raiders would go for Robinson over Matthews or Lewan.
I think it would be a bigger shock to see Clinton-Dix drop out of the Top 20, though.
The Falcons need defense. The price for Clowney is very high according to reports. And they are very interested in pass rushers, which Mack is one.
The tackles are interchangeable. I went with the highest rated which was Robinson. I don't think that Reggie is worried about lineage with Matthews and Lewan's stock according to people is falling.
And I am sitting here with Clinton Dix and saying I understand that he is highly regarded, but besides the Lions at 10, there are teams that have greater needs than S.
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