- Cleveland Browns – Sam Darnold, USC QB – All this last second talk of Baker Mayfield smells like a smokescreen. ““Baker Mayfield … runs around and he kind of gets the ball downfield, has some good accuracy there.” That’s not something you say about the guy you draft number one. The Josh Allen predictions almost make sense with how Mahomes was considered a high risk guy. I drink Mike Mayock’s Kool Aid, who thinks Darnold goes at One here.
- New York Giants – Bradley Chubb, NC State DE – The Giants won two Superbowls with virtually no ground game. Barkley could make sense as a value pick from a certain angle. I can’t see how Gettleman doesn’t take Chubb. And if forty is the new thirty-five for Quarterbacks, maybe they really think Eli plays two to three more years.
- New York Jets (traded with Colts) – Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma QB – Supposedly the Jets like Baker. In the past they’ve taken USC talent. Analytics point to Baker being the only QB worth taking in this draft. With Rosen supposedly being number one for nobody and Allen requiring a multi-year investment to become an NFL starter Baker makes the most sense here.
- Buffalo Bills (Trade from Cleveland) – Josh Allen, Wyoming QB – The Bills clearly want to move up. Among reasons for Buffalo to want Josh Allen are; he played in cold weather frequently, he is very tall, and “likes buffalo wings.” In all seriousness, the Bills cannot wait too long to trade up. If the Bills weren’t satisfied with Tyrod Taylor, Allen would represent the polar opposite of the QB spectrum. Rosen is possible here also.
- Denver Broncos – Saquon Barkley, Penn State RB – The Broncos don’t have an urgent need to draft a quarterback here. If Barkley is available at five, Denver can replace C.J. Anderson with possibly the best player in the draft. John Elway, himself a former west coast passer will consider Josh Rosen, but could get the number one running back instead of the number four QB.
- Green Bay Packers (Trade with Indianapolis Colts) – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama DB – The Colts are reportedly looking to trade down, and the Packers to trade up. Minkah can take over for Damarious Randall and he plays for Alabama, a school the Packers like to draft from.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derwin James, FSU SS – James is a highly touted prospect from both an analytics and traditional scouting perspective. The Bucs have needs at tackle, running back, and pass rush. James is a value pick who can help to cover all the receiving height in the NFC South.
- Arizona Cardinals (Trade from Chicago Bears) – Josh Rosen, UCLA QB – The Bears have lots of needs across the board. The Cardinals have one enormous need behind center. The Cardinals have liked west coast passers who are more of a fit for what they typically like to do. Cardinals OC Mike McCoy will love to get a quarterback who can take over in game three when Sam Bradford goes down with a season ending injury.
- San Francisco 49ers – Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame OL – Should Nelson be available here, the 49ers would be smart to pick him up. Jimmy Garoppolo gets two games in 2018 against Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. With the Reuben Foster situation being relatively stabilized (for now) John Lynch can choose to protect his $100 million dollar investment over drafting yet another defensive player in round one.
- Raiders – Roquan Smith, Georgia ILB – The Butkus award winner from 2017 should help the Raiders awful run defense. Tremaine Edmunds is a real possibility here as well, but Smith fills an immediate need.
- Miami Dolphins –Denzel Ward, Ohio State CB – Unless Miami wants to get in a bidding war with Arizona, they can still land a top defensive prospect at eleven. Vita Vea is not a replacement for Suh, Ward can instantly be the top corner for the team.
- Cleveland Browns (Trade from Bills) –Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech LB – The Browns get a highly skilled, plus measurables defender in Edmunds. The Browns could also look at offensive tackle here to replace Joe Thomas.
- Washington Redskins – Derrius Guice, LSU RB – The Redskins could use improvement at the running back position and Guice projects to play well in the pros. Drafting a back in the first round isn’t sexy, Guice fills a need for the Redskins and is a blue chip back.
- Indianapolis Colts – Harold Landry, BC OLB/DE – The Colts have an atrocious pass rush. Landry is an extremely capable pass rusher who should start of Indy immediately.
- Chicago Bears – Will Hernandez, UTEP OG – Hernandez possesses several desirable traits for a starting NFL guard. The Bears need to replace starting high performer Josh Sitton. They also have needs at center where Grasu hasn’t been healthy or consistent when healthy where Hernandez could eventually slot in.
- Baltimore Ravens – Daron Payne, Alabama DT – Payne seems tailor-made for what the Ravens like. He won the starting job at Alabama. He plays extremely aggressively
- Los Angeles Chargers – UW DT, Vita Vea – The Bolts run defense is garbage tier. If Vea does one thing well it’s defending the run. If Tom Telesco likes one of the running backs they could acquire Nick Chubb or Penny instead of paying Gordon after the 2018 season.
- Seattle Seahawks – Marcus Davenport, UTSA DE – Seattle has lived and died on defense. The loss of Sherman and Bennett hurt for sure. A great pass rush can make up for holes in the defense. Davenport can provide Seattle with the pass rushing threat that Bennett gave them for so many years.
- Dallas Cowboys – Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State LB – I feel Courtland Sutton makes a ton of sense here, but the Cowboys defense needs help. Vander Esch performed well at the combine and can eventually replace the cardboard Sean Lee.
- Detroit Lions – Maurice Hurst, Michigan Defensive Tackle – Hurst if healthy could be the steal of this draft. Patricia will want to draft value defenders in his first year with Detroit. Hurst has had medical scares before but had a successful career at Michigan. PFF.COM says Hurst could have a Donald-like impact at the next level.
- Cincinnati Bengals from Buffalo Bills – Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame OT – The Bengals offensive line is showing flaws. Cordy Glenn was a several year starter for Buffalo but he is not a long term solution.
- Buffalo Bills – Mike Gesicki, Penn State TE – Josh Allen will need some big targets for his 56% arm to throw to. Gesicki blew up the combine and should be a great safety blanket for Allen.
- New England Patriots – Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB – TB12 just got another customer…?
- Carolina Panthers – Connor Williams, Texas OT – The Panthers overspent on Matt Kalil and it hasn’t worked out. A receiver like D.J. Moore could go here as well.
- Tennessee Titans – Josh Jackson, Iowa CB – The Titans need a safety. Jackson has the size to move to safety or just be another great coverage guy.
- Atlanta Falcons – D.J. Moore, Maryland WR – Moore is the top wide receiver. The Falcons expect too much of Jones and need a true number two to take attention off Jones. Moore played great in no man’s land at Maryland with different QBs.
- New Orleans Saints – Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State TE – Goedert is a true tight end who is willing to block for and a fierce pass catching threat. The Saints offense may regain some firepower from seasons past with a reliable asset that has Goedert’s height.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Isaiah Oliver, Colorado CB – Oliver nearly shut down any passes thrown his way while at Colorado. Oliver’s 6 foot plus so he can run with A.J. Green and Josh Gordon in the AFC South.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Calvin Ridley, Alabama WR – While the Jaguars don’t throw the ball a ton, Ridley can become that true number one for when they do. I suppose the Jaguars could look at Mason Rudolph here.
- Minnesota Vikings – Okla. OT, Orlando Brown – The Vikings could look at slot corner here. This offensive line is SO BAD considering how good the team is. Brown’s conditioning got called into question when he under-performed at the combine. Brown was a consistent performer against top competition at Oklahoma.
- New England Patriots – Courtland Sutton, SMU WR – The Patriots have a need at wide receiver. Bill doesn’t draft wide receivers before round five very often, but that doesn’t mean he won’t. The Patriots could also go with a Tackle, or say, Josey Jewell for inside linebacker.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Kolton Miller, UCLA OT – The Eagles lost tons of depth but still feel like the toughest team in the NFL. Drafting Miller would allow them to prepare for a future without Jason Peters. Peters is possibly the best left tackle in football when healthy.
Archive for April, 2018
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Seven days and counting; new mock draft (First half)
Posted: April 19, 2018 in Football, New entries, NFL- Cleveland Browns – USC QB, Sam Darnold – Purportedly several NFL GM’s view Darnold as the number one guy. Daniel Jeremiah began singing Darnold’s praises after his 2016 season. I’m not buying the “Josh Allen at One” narratives that Dorsey loves arm strength more than overall play.
- Buffalo Bills (projected trade) – UCLA QB, Josh Rosen – Bills GM Brandon Beane would have to overspend to get to number two, but trading away Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and trading up period makes no sense if they don’t get their guy. Rosen’s perceived as being ready to start sooner than other QB prospects in this draft. The name at QB1 for the Bills depth chart is A.J. McCarron, easily the most unproven QB set to start 2018.
- New York Jets (traded with Colts) – Wyoming QB, Josh Allen – Baker Mayfield is a real possibility here. Allen has high upside and plenty of mentorship opportunity from Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater to learn from. Allen had a great combine. Based on who GM Mike Maccagnan has drafted in the past, I think he’ll like Josh Allen better than Baker.
- Cleveland Browns – PSU RB, Saquon Barkley – At one point it was considered possible that Cleveland would take Barkley first overall after they signed Tyrod Taylor. Getting Barkley with their fourth would be the best possible scenario for Cleveland.
- Denver Broncos – OU QB, Baker Mayfield – I can’t buy the Quenton Nelson hot takes here. Bradley Chubb is possible at five. Based on analytics, Baker Mayfield’s the only QB worth drafting in this class. Denver QB Case Keenum was an extremely prolific 6 foot college passer who could get along with Baker until Denver feels comfortable with him. Denver traditionally values defense but I imagine John Elway will drool over the chance to land a QB with the potential of Baker.
- Indianapolis Colts – NCST DE, Bradley Chubb – The Colts get their guy anyway. Chubb fills an enormous need for Indy. They are garbage rushing the passer. Minkah would be a value pick here as well.
- Tampa Bay – FSU SS, Derwin James – James graded extremely well on ProFootballFocus.com and has impressive measurables. The Bucs would like to get Chubb at seven, but will settle for a hometown value defensive back.
- Chicago Bears – Notre Dame OL, Quenton Nelson – Nelson’s a blue chip guard prospect. The Bears have a hole to fill after losing Josh Sitton, one of the league’s top guards in free agency.
- San Francisco 49ers – Va. Tech LB, Tremaine Edmunds – Edmunds has crazy measurables and gives the 49ers leverage with the Reuben Foster situation. I’m a 49ers fan and want them to draft Maurice Hurst here. Hurst is a medical scare and won’t go top ten.
- Raiders – UGA LB Roquan Smith – Smith earned the prestigious Dick Butkus award given to the top linebacker in 2017. The Raiders had a gaping hole at run defense and smith is a top prospect who should be able to start contributing immediately.
- Miami Dolphins – Nick Saban U., Minkah Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatricks’ a top defensive back who can fill in at safety or corner. The ‘Phins struggled at corner last year. This is probably Gase’s last season, but Minkah a stud prospect for the short term and long term. Fitzpatrick was a huge part of Alabama’s championship run in 2017.
- New York Giants – BC OLB/DE, Harold Landry – Tom Coughlin is no longer with the organization, but the Giants personnel will recall how much success Boston College defenders over the years have had in the NFL. The Giants live and die on defense. Landry can start immediately and should form a beast with the other assets on the defensive line (Dalvin Tomlinson, Olivier Vernon).
- Washington Redskins – The Ohio State CB, Denzel Ward – The Redskins lost starting CBs Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland this offseason. The Redskins could also go with DT Vita Vea to assist with their run defense struggles.
- Green Bay Packers – Nick Saban U. WR, Calvin Ridley – Green Bay is in love with the Crimson Tide and are surprisingly light on wide receivers after letting Jordy Nelson walk. Ridley was the focal point of the championship Crimson Tide offense for years. Josh Jackson from Iowa is a possibility here.
- Arizona Cardinals – Louisville QB, Lamar Jackson – Jackson is a project, but the Cardinals are the team that can groom a raw rookie passer. Jackson has a cannon arm and top athleticism. Bradford can mentor Jackson and they have enough weapons on offense that the QB doesn’t have to win the game by himself.
- Baltimore Ravens – Maryland WR, D.J. Moore – ESPN released an analytics report raving about D.J. Moore’s production at Maryland. While not huge or fast, Moore is incredibly sure-handed and productive, two qualities Baltimore desperately needs at wide receiver. Their top wideout is Michael Crabtree.
Gridiron Seasonal 