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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I have to say, and this galls me no end, but Zach Hodges won't be in my mock. Unfortunately I don't see the fit and that really irks me.
It's interesting that you've talked about big guards because I've gone in that direction too but he's not amongst those you've listed. Guy is a man mountain and a scarily good run blocker when he latches on.
Not really a fan of Armstead but since you have Prewitt all is forgiven
I personally still really like Shawn Oakman and Dante Flowers, but their playing style is more redundant with the edge players that we already have (Oakman is a bigger Chandler Jones and Flowers is somewhat similar to Hightower in his versatility). A lot depends on what kind of scheme the Pats want to run, and what kind of player they are looking for. I've assumed a certain defensive hybrid front.
And Manx isn't a fan of Prewitt. You can't please everyone.
Seriously, is it that you don't like something in particular about Armstead, or that you don't want that kind of player? Armstead is obviously raw, but he has a lot of physical ability and upside. Again, I was focused more on "fits" than on specific players. I felt that a big (290-310+#), agile player who could play both 3-4 DE, 4-3 Under LDE and 4-3 DT would fill the biggest hole on the DL right now, assuming that Hightower and Ninkovich platoon as edge rushers. Carl Davis would be a good alternative, but right now he's ranked #24 on NFL DraftScout and I generally used their rankings as a guide. Leonard Williams would be fine with me, if you can figure out a way to swing that.
I personally still really like Shawn Oakman and Dante Flowers, but their playing style is more redundant with the edge players that we already have (Oakman is a bigger Chandler Jones and Flowers is somewhat similar to Hightower in his versatility). A lot depends on what kind of scheme the Pats want to run, and what kind of player they are looking for. I've assumed a certain defensive hybrid front.
OK, time for my first mock of the year. For the purposes of this mock, I'll borrow some of Mayo's assumptions:
- Revis and McCourty get locked up long term
- Pats get 3rd and 6th round comp picks.
- Pats pick in the 28-32 range.
- Our extra 4th round pick from Tampa Bay is in the top half of the round.
And a couple of caveats:
- I'm only including players that I have watched to some degree
- BUT, I'm a long long way from getting any real feel for this draft class so take this as no more than a snapshot of where I am right now in terms of watching prospects.
- I have been fairly liberal in terms of where CBS has a prospect ranked.
Rnd 1
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
This isn't a pick I'm completely sold on, particularly in the first round, but if we are to continue playing with a three man front, we'll need a stronger, better run-defender than Chris Jones or Joe Vellano. Carl Davis can be that player and sometimes is a dominating run defender but he needs to do it more consistently. Based largely on the Dolphins game, I think a five or one tech that partners Wilfork to defend the run freeing up Easley to be a one gap specialist is a priority. Carl Davis becomes our Red Bryant (hopefully).
Rnd 2
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
He's in this mock because he excites me when I watch him, he really has the wow! factor. He most likely won't be in my final mocks but I'll indulge myself for now. And let's not forget him tweeting Alfonzo Dennard "bro tell the Pats to draft me! Lol" so we know his heart is in the right place.
Rnd 3A
Anthony Harris, S, Virginia
a 6'1" safety, Harris reminds a lot of Devin McCourty. He's a smart excellent centrefield ballhawk who, whilst not a big-hitting tackler, is more than good enough when filling in inside the box. Like Jimmie Ward last year, he won't appeal to those who would like a Kam Chancellor type on the team but in a defence that wants to put two similar safeties on the field together like we do, Harris is an excellent candidate for the second safety spot.
Rnd 3B
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Beyond Edelman, Gronk, Dobson and Vereen, there are questions about our receiving corps. White is a 6'3" WR who has had a blistering start to the season (32 catches, 460 yds in three games), a start not reflected in CBS' rankings who have him ranked no 296.
Rnd 4A
Aundrey Walker, OG, USC
Walker is 6'6" and 319lbs and unfortunately sometimes looks like a 6'6" person playing guard in that he'll lose leverage. But at times, Walker drives defensive linemen 10 yards downfield and that's the Walker I have in my mock. He also has long arms and tremendous feet for someone of his size which makes me wonder why he's not playing tackle, admittedly something else that concerns me. But then I watch him and see an athletic DJ Fluker playing OG and I get excited.
Rnd 4B
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
a 6'3" 270lb DE who would be ideal as a RDE in our new 3 man front. Odighizuwa has excellent burst at the snap and showcases tremendous strength with very powerful hands. Think about how we used Zach Moore in pre-season for the role I see Obdighizuwa playing. I'll make two predictions about him should he stay healthy all year. Firstly, he'll become a board favourite, and secondly, he'll be a first round pick.
Rnd 5
Jake McGee, TE, Florida
He left Virginia last year to go to Florida because he wanted more experience inline and didn't want to just be thought of as a receiving TE. On very limited watching, he has a very good pair of hands as you can see below:
Rnd 6
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Another RB, another player I just want to showcase. Josh Norris compares Coleman to Darren McFadden. That strikes me as a little lofty, but Coleman is a strong runner that breaks contact and has the speed to go all the way. His tape last year didn't overly impress me but his first game this year was outstanding. am looking forward to seeing him again.
The big omission in this mock is a linebacker. I definitely think we need a Mayo/Collins backup but I've yet to see someone I like in the middle or late rounds, hence the omission.
Grat work, as usual. I haven't studied most of these guys in detail yet, so I can't comment on too many of the individual choices. Can't wait to go watch some film of them.
Here's my first try of the year although i have to say this was much harder than i anticipated. Its really early so i mostly wanted to put out there some names that i havent heard yet and went with players i know and liked from last year.
I also borrowed Mayo's assumptions but didnt pay much attention to cbs rankings.
Round 1 - Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor
We need all the help we can get on the Oline, Drango can play tackle but i think he will play guard in the NFL. Strong in run support and mobile in pass protection.
Round 2 - Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss
I gotta say, i love Prewitt and i think he could be a 1st rounder. Is he perfect? Far from it, but he is everything i want in someone next to McCourty. Led the SEC and tied for seventh nationally with six interceptions last year plus is a big hitter.
Round 3a - Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St
Both Ridley and Vereen are in contract years, i think we can all agree we need at least 1 RB. This is what Grid wrote about him last year and should tell you all you need to know: "What an explosive, athletic, marauding Beast!!"
Thanks Grid, a great read as always http://www.fanaticalyankee.com/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-reports/category/jay-ajayi
Round 3b - Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan
Another old crush of mine. 2 seasons ago he was playing OLB and was arguably the best defensive player for Michigan then he had ACL injury that kept him out almost the entire season.
A team captain this year, Michigan moved him to the middle, could be a good backcup linebacker here with versatility. Someone to keep an eye on.
Round 4a - Devante Davis, WR, UNLV
Like Manx and Mayo i think we could upgrade the receiver position, Amendola is disappointing and Lafell is just there to block or whatever. Davis had 87 passes for 1,290 yards and a school-record of 14 touchdowns last year and everyone thought he would leave, lucky for us he didnt. A 6'3 guy with a long frame and ball skills to match.
Round 4b - Lynden Trail, DE/OLB, Norfolk St
Trail is a Florida transfer, he was a high regarded recruit who never really had the chance do showcase in Florida. Plays OLB in Norfolk but can play end too. Terrific speed and agility, he actually lines up as a receiver(he is a former high school receiver) in some red zone sets.
Round 5 - Charles Tuaau, DT, Texas A&M Commerce
Wait..wat? Commerce? Are you sure you're not making that up?
Another small school prospect(yes, i love those). My Carl Davis backup, since i wanted a top O-Line player i couldnt get a top tier DT so i go with Tuaau here who could be a gem in this scheme we are playing now. He's good against the run and had 12.5!!! sacks last year. Yes i know its Division II football but still..
Round 6 - Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
Bell was the sooners QB just last year, this year moved to TE. A project yes, but at 6'6 250lbs he has tremendous potential.
There you have it, probably not my best effort but oh well its only the first ihih
Here's my first try of the year although i have to say this was much harder than i anticipated. Its really early so i mostly wanted to put out there some names that i havent heard yet and went with players i know and liked from last year.
I also borrowed Mayo's assumptions but didnt pay much attention to cbs rankings.
Round 1 - Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor
We need all the help we can get on the Oline, Drango can play tackle but i think he will play guard in the NFL. Strong in run support and mobile in pass protection.
Round 2 - Cody Prewitt, S, Ole Miss
I gotta say, i love Prewitt and i think he could be a 1st rounder. Is he perfect? Far from it, but he is everything i want in someone next to McCourty. Led the SEC and tied for seventh nationally with six interceptions last year plus is a big hitter.
Round 3a - Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St
Both Ridley and Vereen are in contract years, i think we can all agree we need at least 1 RB. This is what Grid wrote about him last year and should tell you all you need to know: "What an explosive, athletic, marauding Beast!!"
Thanks Grid, a great read as always http://www.fanaticalyankee.com/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-reports/category/jay-ajayi
Round 3b - Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan
Another old crush of mine. 2 seasons ago he was playing OLB and was arguably the best defensive player for Michigan then he had ACL injury that kept him out almost the entire season.
A team captain this year, Michigan moved him to the middle, could be a good backcup linebacker here with versatility. Someone to keep an eye on.
Round 4a - Devante Davis, WR, UNLV
Like Manx and Mayo i think we could upgrade the receiver position, Amendola is disappointing and Lafell is just there to block or whatever. Davis had 87 passes for 1,290 yards and a school-record of 14 touchdowns last year and everyone thought he would leave, lucky for us he didnt. A 6'3 guy with a long frame and ball skills to match.
Round 4b - Lynden Trail, DE/OLB, Norfolk St
Trail is a Florida transfer, he was a high regarded recruit who never really had the chance do showcase in Florida. Plays OLB in Norfolk but can play end too. Terrific speed and agility, he actually lines up as a receiver(he is a former high school receiver) in some red zone sets.
Round 5 - Charles Tuaau, DT, Texas A&M Commerce
Wait..wat? Commerce? Are you sure you're not making that up?
Another small school prospect(yes, i love those). My Carl Davis backup, since i wanted a top O-Line player i couldnt get a top tier DT so i go with Tuaau here who could be a gem in this scheme we are playing now. He's good against the run and had 12.5!!! sacks last year. Yes i know its Division II football but still..
Round 6 - Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
Bell was the sooners QB just last year, this year moved to TE. A project yes, but at 6'6 250lbs he has tremendous potential.
There you have it, probably not my best effort but oh well its only the first ihih
Very nice work. I haven't seen Drango but I can't help think of Cyril Richardson when I think of a Baylor LT projected to guard which is unfair I know. And I'm not an early fan of Prewitt but will keep an open mind.
I have to say, for now my top four hopes for future Patriots are Bernadrick McKinney (Mayo's persuaded me with the caveat that I need to watch him properly), Odighizuwa (an ideal pick), Ameer Abdullah (so exciting) and Anthony Harris (the logical Patriots type player pick I latch onto every year). Now I just need the obligatory WR to fall in love with and I'm golden
No OL?
Surpriced WR is lefted out in peoples mocks. Right now that happens so be Patriots biggest need. They havn't had a true 1.WR since Moss.
Surpriced WR is lefted out in peoples mocks. Right now that happens so be Patriots biggest need. They havn't had a true 1.WR since Moss.
Not convinced they're an early round priority, or at least not in BBs mind, and haven't found one I really like yet although Aundrey Walker intrigued me as does the Oregon RT whose name I've forgotten. But if you think about the OL, it's not impossible that Solder-Cannon-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer becomes a more than serviceable OL in time, particularly when the new coach has more time to spend with them. At most then, you are probably only looking at one OG as a priority if at all with the potential for an OT depth/upside pick too.
Edit: Forgot about Scherff though. He would definitely qualify.
Fisher, or Johnstone? Fisher was the RT until Johnstone got injured so he moved to LT and did a great job against Michigan St. But he got injured himself and will be out quite some time. I like him a lot too but he is a bit light for what the Patriots seem to want these days.Not convinced they're an early round priority, or at least not in BBs mind, and haven't found one I really like yet although Aundrey Walker intrigued me as does the Oregon RT whose name I've forgotten. But if you think about the OL, it's not impossible that Solder-Cannon-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer becomes a more than serviceable OL in time, particularly when the new coach has more time to spend with them. At most then, you are probably only looking at one OG as a priority if at all with the potential for an OT depth/upside pick too.
Edit: Forgot about Scherff though. He would definitely qualify.
Very nice work. I haven't seen Drango but I can't help think of Cyril Richardson when I think of a Baylor LT projected to guard which is unfair I know. And I'm not an early fan of Prewitt but will keep an open mind.
I have to say, for now my top four hopes for future Patriots are Bernadrick McKinney (Mayo's persuaded me with the caveat that I need to watch him properly), Odighizuwa (an ideal pick), Ameer Abdullah (so exciting) and Anthony Harris (the logical Patriots type player pick I latch onto every year). Now I just need the obligatory WR to fall in love with and I'm golden
Nice job, with some interesting and obscure prospects - lots of food for thought, which is the main purpose of these early mocks. I like Drango (not necessarily my first choice, but I'd be quite happy with him) and I like Prewitt. I'm not sure I'd go RB that early, but I like Ajayi. I'll have to look into the other guys more. Anyone with a name like Charles "can I buy a vowel?" Tuaau has got to be interesting.
OK, time for my first mock of the year. For the purposes of this mock, I'll borrow some of Mayo's assumptions:
- Revis and McCourty get locked up long term
- Pats get 3rd and 6th round comp picks.
- Pats pick in the 28-32 range.
- Our extra 4th round pick from Tampa Bay is in the top half of the round.
And a couple of caveats:
- I'm only including players that I have watched to some degree
- BUT, I'm a long long way from getting any real feel for this draft class so take this as no more than a snapshot of where I am right now in terms of watching prospects.
- I have been fairly liberal in terms of where CBS has a prospect ranked.
Rnd 1
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
This isn't a pick I'm completely sold on, particularly in the first round, but if we are to continue playing with a three man front, we'll need a stronger, better run-defender than Chris Jones or Joe Vellano. Carl Davis can be that player and sometimes is a dominating run defender but he needs to do it more consistently. Based largely on the Dolphins game, I think a five or one tech that partners Wilfork to defend the run freeing up Easley to be a one gap specialist is a priority. Carl Davis becomes our Red Bryant (hopefully).
Rnd 2
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska
He's in this mock because he excites me when I watch him, he really has the wow! factor. He most likely won't be in my final mocks but I'll indulge myself for now. And let's not forget him tweeting Alfonzo Dennard "bro tell the Pats to draft me! Lol" so we know his heart is in the right place.
Rnd 3A
Anthony Harris, S, Virginia
a 6'1" safety, Harris reminds a lot of Devin McCourty. He's a smart excellent centrefield ballhawk who, whilst not a big-hitting tackler, is more than good enough when filling in inside the box. Like Jimmie Ward last year, he won't appeal to those who would like a Kam Chancellor type on the team but in a defence that wants to put two similar safeties on the field together like we do, Harris is an excellent candidate for the second safety spot.
Rnd 3B
Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Beyond Edelman, Gronk, Dobson and Vereen, there are questions about our receiving corps. White is a 6'3" WR who has had a blistering start to the season (32 catches, 460 yds in three games), a start not reflected in CBS' rankings who have him ranked no 296.
Rnd 4A
Aundrey Walker, OG, USC
Walker is 6'6" and 319lbs and unfortunately sometimes looks like a 6'6" person playing guard in that he'll lose leverage. But at times, Walker drives defensive linemen 10 yards downfield and that's the Walker I have in my mock. He also has long arms and tremendous feet for someone of his size which makes me wonder why he's not playing tackle, admittedly something else that concerns me. But then I watch him and see an athletic DJ Fluker playing OG and I get excited.
Rnd 4B
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
a 6'3" 270lb DE who would be ideal as a RDE in our new 3 man front. Odighizuwa has excellent burst at the snap and showcases tremendous strength with very powerful hands. Think about how we used Zach Moore in pre-season for the role I see Obdighizuwa playing. I'll make two predictions about him should he stay healthy all year. Firstly, he'll become a board favourite, and secondly, he'll be a first round pick.
Rnd 5
Jake McGee, TE, Florida
He left Virginia last year to go to Florida because he wanted more experience inline and didn't want to just be thought of as a receiving TE. On very limited watching, he has a very good pair of hands as you can see below:
Rnd 6
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Another RB, another player I just want to showcase. Josh Norris compares Coleman to Darren McFadden. That strikes me as a little lofty, but Coleman is a strong runner that breaks contact and has the speed to go all the way. His tape last year didn't overly impress me but his first game this year was outstanding. am looking forward to seeing him again.
The big omission in this mock is a linebacker. I definitely think we need a Mayo/Collins backup but I've yet to see someone I like in the middle or late rounds, hence the omission.