OT: My Early NFL Mock Draft
We are just short of a month away from the NFL Draft, and with today's scuttlebutt (always wanted to use that word) about Sammy Watkins and the Lions, it's time for smoke screen season. Now admittedly, I am a man with very few discernible talents, but one talent that I seem to have a knack for, is mock NFL drafts. As some of you may recall, I did one of these mocks last year, and it proved to be pretty damn accurate. So, here we go again. To keep this short, I'm only going to post 15 picks on this thread.
1. Houston- DE Jadeveon Clowney: Too much talent to pass up, and O'brien is a strong enough offensive coach that he feels he can find QB talent later in the draft.
2. St. Louis- DE/OLB Khalil Mack- I think St. Louis stays home and surprises people a little bit here. They would move down, but with Clowney gone, and teams that like Manziel feeling they can stay where they are and still have a shot at him, they can't stay up high enough to still get Mack.
3. Detroit (Trade with Jacksonville): WR Sammy Watkins- Detroit gets their man, and gives up less than they would've had to had they traded with St. Louis. Jacksonville probably isn't in love with any of the QB's, and realizes they need an influx of talent that extra picks would provide in the deepest draft in 10 years. I do, however, love what Jacksonville is doing. Don't believe me? You will soon.
4. Cleveland-QB Johnny Manziel: The Johnny "Football" era begins in Cleveland. At the end of the day, I think Cleveland rolls the dice here. They need a fan pleaser, and a franchise QB, and they'll get both with Manziel. He's no where near a sure thing, but the guy has all kinds of intangibles that you can't teach.
5. Oakland-OT Greg Robinson: Oakland will try to move down for the 2nd year in a row, but will find Robinson too good to pass up. For reasons only known to the Raiders, they let Jared Veldheer walk, so tackle is a position of need.
6. Atlanta- OT Jake Matthews: Should a QB go #1, Atlanta is a strong possibility to move up to #2, but with Clowney going 1, Atlanta stays put. Like Oakland, this could be a blessing in disguise for Atlanta, because you can never go wrong drafting a franchise left tackle.
7. Minnesota (Trade with Tampa Bay): QB Blake Bortles- Minnesota will move up one spot to get Bortles preventing someone else moving up with Tampa to get him. Tampa is in a win-win scenario here, because the two guys left on their board that they're likely targeting will still be available.
8. Tampa Bay- WR Mike Evans: Lovie likes big WR's, and Evans will give that Tampa offense size and a whole lot more.
9. Buffalo- OT Taylor Lewan: This is the pick that will determine where the draft goes. Does a team come up and get Bridgewater, or does he slide? There's a lot of directions Buffalo could go here, but I think Lewan is the safest option left, and you know exactly what you're getting with him.
10. Jacksonville- QB Teddy Bridgewater: Jacksonville moves down and still gets a Franchise type QB. Having Henne gives Jax the luxury of bringing Teddy along slowly. I don't see anyone moving up to get Bridgewater, so Jacksonville gambles and wins.
11. Tennessee-TE Eric Ebron- Whisenhunt loves having game changers at TE in his offense. Locker gets another weapon, and a pottential Jimmy Graham like talent.
12. New York Giants: CB Darqueze Dennard-Dennard is Coughlin's kind of corner. It'll be a tough decision between Dennard and Gilbert, but I think Dennard wins out.
13. St. Louis: CB Justin Gilbert: Gilbert would be a great piece to shore up the Rams secondary. Adding Mack and Gilbert in the first 15 picks is proof that Jeff Fisher is one of the best drafters of his generation.
14. Chicago: OLB Anthony Barr-Scouts either love or hate Barr, and that will cause him to slide, because they arguments war rooms will have when they are on the clock will lead to idecisiveness. I think he ends up being special, and the next in line of great Chicago Linebackers.
15. Pittsburgh- Haha Clinton-Dix (His name reads like a 1990's punch line): Polamalu is aging and is becioming a liability in coverage. The draft is deep in safeties, but Pittsburgh won't pass on a talent like Clinton-Dix.
I know, I know, I don't know your favorite teams at all, and I'm an idiot.
I'll be pissed off if Pittsburgh draft Shamarko, sign Mike Mitchell and draft Clinton-Dix in the span of a year. Waste of a pick. Donald or Hageman if Gilbert/Dennard aren't there.
Pre-draft verbiage notwithstanding the Lions will stand pat and draft the best player available. This I am confident of.
It won't be anytime soon, but they'll trade up. The fact that they didn't announce Watkins was visiting is very telling, coupled with the fact that I can't recall the last time a Lions controlling owner visited with a draft prospect. There's no reason for the lions to play this one close to the vest; it wouldn't achieve anything. Everyone knows the Lions love Watkins, it's not something the league has to wonder about.
The Lions need help on defense. This draft is also deep at WR. I just don't see them expending draft picks on a receiver with needs at DE, OLB, and in the defensive backfield. If the Lions had been able to be more aggressive in free agency then they were I would give more credence to a trade up.
What in Martin Mayhew's tenure suggests that he'll take a defensive back in the 1st round? If this is a smoke screen, it's the most poorly thought out smoke screen move in NFL draft history. the 10th spot in the draft is not a position in which you smoke screen about a player suspected to go in the top 3. If they were at 5 or 6, then yes, it would be very useful. It could be used against other teams who were attempting to trade up for a QB. If they'll be able to trade up is another question. Do they love Watkins? Yes. Would they pull the trigger on a move to get him if their price was to their liking? Absolutely.
How dare you suggest an opinion I don't agree with.
/s
If they end up drafting Watkins, I'll upvote everything you write for a week.
From everything i have read the Browns are not taking Manziel at 4..I think they are taking Sammy Watkins if Teddy B is gone..And they would love Derek Carr to be there at 26 but i doubt that as well.
Bridgewater will not go in the top 10, there are too many red flags. The Browns will take Manziel in my opinion, or trade down. Watkins won't be there at 4, I have no doubt about that.
What are the red flags other than he makes bad reads at times ? because every QB in this draft has that red flag...I dont think Mack goes in the top 4 and St Louis has all the reason in the world to go OLine to protect Bradford and lean heavily on Stacy... Greg Robinson is their pick in my book.
Mack will go Top 3, you can write down that I said that anywhere you like. Bridgewater's redflag's all have to do with his progressions, and mechanics. Were this another draft he may be looked at as a top 5 guy, but this is not the year for that. Cleveland can't afford to take a guy like Bridgewater.
I think you are off on Mack to the Rams..the Rams had one of the best pass rushes in the NFL last year..They are taking Robinson,Watkins, or trading down...I will give you that the Jags may take Mack but i think they still go QB and Teddy B is going in the top 10....write THAT down, bud
I have a feeling that Teddy B slides outside the top 10. Not sure why, just have a gut feeling that Teddy B might be the prospect who ends up outside the top 10.
I don't think Clowney is the right fit in Romeo Crennel's 3-4 system, but the Texans will make that pick anyway.
was hasean you mean. It's been legally changed for a bit now
I think it's safe to say that people in the north consider him a douche.
April 10th, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^
I'm a Browns fan and nearly every Browns fan I know, whether they love or hate Johnny, says he would fill the seats. With that said, I've talked to way more people who are begging the Browns to take Manziel than people who want them to stay away. He would definitely please a majority of the fans
Giants won't take Dennard. The best player available philiosophy only goes to a reasonable degree. Strongest and deepest part of the team are the DB's. Prince Amukamara and Dominick-Rogers Cromartie will start. Walter Thurmond who we also just signed from Seattle will play nickel. Then there are 2 ok backups at 4 and 5. If the first 11 picks went as you predicted I would see them go either Zack Martin, Mike Evans or Aaron Donald.
Bears take a OLB? Bostic + Briggs + Shea Mc . . . I know it's tough to project each team but c'mon they're in the same conference as the lions. No way they take an OLB over a DE/DT or Safety in the first round. They don't have stellar LBs besides briggs but they will bleed with or without conte playing safety. My money is on Bears trading back to pick up a safety and DE in late first and early second.
He's 33 and doesn't have a replacement.
I think the Bears will go defensive line, but linebacker is still a position of need.
- Houston takes Clowney. Easily the most talented player in the draft.
- St Louis. Takes Matthews. Robinson could go here, but coach Fisher knows what the Matthews name brings…Remember Clay.
- Jacksonville. Mack. Their new coach wants to bring a defensive philosophy to Jacksonville, and Mack is a good start.
- Cleveland. Robinson. Their right tackle gave up a lot of sacks, and Robinson bookended with Thomas solidifies their O-line. Expect them to try to get Carr with their other first pick.
- Oakland. Manziel. Obvious fit, both in need and drama.
- Detroit via trade with Atlanta. Watkins…way too much smoke.
- Minnesota. Bortles. They need a QB….bad
- Tampa Bay. Anthony Barr. Lovie Smith wants to improve the D.
- Buffalo. Taylor Lewan. Ebron could also go here.
- Atlanta. Eric Ebron
- Tennessee. Gilbert
- NYG. Denard
Probably wrong...but whatever
April 10th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
Seriously, why does everyone love this guy and think he's a possible better pick than Lewan?
You guys that had the testicular fortitude to make your predictions public will likely be more accurate than the pseudo experts: Kiper, McShay, Davis, Jeremiah etal. Salud...
What do people think about the Lions taking a safety, either Clinton-Dix or Pryor?
I think using the 10th pick on a CB is a big reach, especially considering all the youth the team already has and the time it takes a CB to adjust to the NFL (e.g., see Milliner's, who a lot of people wanted Detroit to take in the first last draft, rookie season). They picked up Ihedigbo from the Ravens, but I believe he and Quin are both more strong safety than free safety. It seems like a free safety type would be a good move to further shore up that pourous defensive backfield.
April 10th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
Clinton-Dix would be amazing for the Lions. I watched the A&M/Bama game, and Clinton-Dix and Mosley were all over the field.
If either one of those guys are available and the Lions take fucking Justin Gilbert instead I will explode in anger.
April 10th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
Then again, trading down, grabbing Mike Evans and maybe an additional 2nd round pick in the process doesn't sound so bad, either. Ugh what do I know?
April 10th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
Does Jacksonville really need a QB? I mean they have Chad Henne.
No way the Giants take a corner in the first round. They signed DRC, and Walter Thurmond. They have Prince Amukamara and re-signed Trumaine McBride. Much more likely the Giants to OL or TE (if Ebron is there) in the first round. If they don't like the value that is avaliable at 12 on the OL, my guess is that they finally take a linebacker or the best available defensive end.
Lions already ruined their draft. What they should have done is sign either Steve Smith or DeSean Jackson. Yes, it costs $$ but here is how they save $$ and make the team better. Let Pettigrew walk. Tell Suh to either restructure or GTFO (I'm not sold on him . . . we can find someone else to take on a double team and not do too much else). Trade down in the draft to say . . . 26th. Get a few extra picks because we all know we need Defense. Pick up Sefarian-Jenkins with the 26th pick (same size and blocking ability as Pettigrew but can actually hold onto a ball when it hits his hands). This way, you have 3 fantastic receivers, extra picks on defense, and an upgrade at TE.