Pre-Senior Bowl Mock
Re-sign:
Alan Branch
Akeem Ayers
Darelle Revis
Devin McCourty
Shane Vereen (if the money is right)
Stephen Gostkowski
Seaver Siliga
James Develin
Sign:
Delvin Breaux
Keep if affordable:
Vince Wilfoek
Jerod Mayo
Danny Amendola
Draft
I have a trade scenario to propose here. Firstly, let me just acknowledge that it's unrealistic so can we leave that as given please. However, I need it to demonstrate that without Clemmings, Scherff, Collins, Dupree and Fowler being available as things stand, my interest in the first round has declined significantly. Secondly, whilst there are a number of second rounders that interest me (Erving, Obdighizuwa, Maxx Williams), for this mock, I have equivalent and arguably better value prospects later in the mock.
The Trade
The Falcons have demonstrated that they're prepared to be aggressive in the draft and that they value offensive skill position players. They need a pass rusher badly and are ideally positioned in the top 10 to get a really good one. They also need a TE and, arguably, an elite RB. To that end, they trade their third, fourth round picks and a 2016 first rounder to us for our first round pick. that enables them to draft Maxx Williams and Todd Gurley with our pick and their own second rounder to go along with their first round pass rusher. I'd argue that that would be a significant haul for them. Even if Gurley takes a redshirt year, one can argue that getting him back next year is worth the first rounder they lost this year. Or t least goes some way towards relieving some of the pain of losing the first rounder.
**Trade 2015 first rounder for Atlanta's 2015 3rd (74) and 4th Rounder (104) and 2016 1st rounder.
64
Jeremiah Poutasi, OL, Utah
I haven't scouted him properly yet and I still would prefer the other linemen I mentioned earlier (Scherff, Collins etc) but, and all credit to Mayoclinic here, Poutasi definitely intrigues me. Certainly we seem to be moving more towards linemen where size and strength have caught up with athleticism as a requirement and Poutasi certainly scores highly in terms of size/strength. Poutasi-Stork-Fleming is a really intriguing interior O-Line moving forward that makes me think of the Ravens OL and what they did to our DL last weekend.
And by the way, Poutasi can do this:
74 (From Atl)
Marcus Hardison DE/DT, Arizona State
I know, this is an ambitious evaluation as things stand and based upon current projections. But here's the thing, I'm not sure it will turn out that way. in fact, I think this could end up being somewhat of an under-estimation. At this time in 2012, Seattle's LB Bobby Wagner was an unheralded prospect barely considered as draftable. He went on to be the North squad's MVP at the Senior Bowl and had a terrific combine and ended up taken ahead of Lavonte David. I think, that if Hardison excels at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine, then he too could benefit from such a rise. That's a lot too ask, but it's not impossible.
Previously I've suggested a Stephon Tuitt comparison for Hardison but having rewatched him, I have a different comparison for you. How about Sheldon Richardson? Hardison can be terrifically quick off the snap, has the athleticism to bend the edge like someone 30 or 40 pounds lighter and whereas Richardson performed well at the combine running a heralded 4.86 forty, according to his school bio, Hardison runs a 4.7 forty. Now a forty time for a defensive lineman is far from the be all and end all but I do think it reflects a level of athleticism (big guys with good forty times rarely bomb at other athletic tests) and I also think that the 4.7 time probably is a touch exaggerated but it's still likely to be in the 4.8s/9s at worse. For perspective, a quick research of DEs of 290lbs plus has Mario Williams tops at 4.7, the same as Hardison is currently being reported at.
So now that I've justified why I am picking him so high, why am I picking him for The Patriots. I have debated with Mayoclinic and others the direction we should look towards as regards our DL. Mayo and others have made compelling cases, in Mayo's case for adding an interior disruptor like Eddie Goldman/Jordan Phillips and an EDGE player/Linebacker like Max Valles. I have no problem with that hypothesis. But here's why I go in a slightly different direction.
- As has been evidenced by what has happened to Akeem Ayers since Chandler Jones has returned, BB is happy to play Jones/Ninkovich on every down. With Hightower and Collins being every down players too, that leaves little to room for an additional EDGE player to play straight away.
- I saw a statistic that said that the Patriots are the second lowest blitzers in the NFL. That means there is a greater onus on the DL to get pressure which is why I'm looking at these bigger DEs that can kick inside and that can generate pressure off the edge and inside too without compromising the run or contain. Hardison and Odhigizuwa are top of my list of those player types.
- One of the most iconic plays for me this year was that one against the Packers where we rushed only three and Rodgers had well over ten seconds to sit in the pocket. That play has driven me to look at prospects that can get pressure when we only rush three. A three man DL of Hardison-Easley-Chandler Jones has a much better chance.
Now that I've written an essay on Hardison, on to my next pick
96
Zach Hodges, EDGE, Harvard
Hodges was my first binky of the year so he sticks in the mock for now. A potential 3rd down LEO and Jamie Collins backup is how I best see Hodges fitting on our roster.
97 (Comp)
David Johnson, RB, Northern Iowa
Johnson is a fascinating guy at 6'3" and 225lbs that runs in the 4.5's. I see him best as 3rd down back/H-Back. A future Charles Clay type perhaps or merely a bigger Shane Vereen? He's fairly difficult to project but I can see a myriad of ways that he can be used to help the offense. I find him very intriguing.
102 (From TB)
Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary
I've spent all week on Tre McBride so I really don't need to repeat myself. I'll just leave you with a poor man's Amari Cooper/sammy Watkins comparison. I'm fine with that player on our team.
104 (From Atl)
Deandre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech
Note: I'd trade further back with this pick to pick up additional day three pick. Let's say an additional 5th rounder.
He seems to be edging towards board binky status and i'm very happy with that. Whilst I think Smelter's upside is much higher, I'd be fine with describing him as an excellent Lafell backup/successor; their games aren't dissimilar. If he ends up as little more than that, I still think this is an excellent pick. McBride and Smelter would add real competition to a camp that will probably still feature Josh Boyce and Aaron Dobson.
132
Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas
With me not re-signing Casillas, I need a backup linebacker. Heaney may be undersized at 230lbs and lacking in top notch athleticism but Heeney has outstanding instincts, a leader and one of the top tacklers in CFB. He might also come with the recommendation of his former HC Charlie Weis. Heeney could be an outstanding backup and special teams player.
145 (Acquired with trade back from #104. See Deandre Smelter above)
Terry Williams, DL, Eastern Carolina
My favourite day three DL. in fact, one of my favourite DLs period. In the past, BB has partnered Kyle Love and Vince Wilfork and lately Sealver Siliga and Vince Wilfork. Terry Williams and Sealver Siliga becomes the continuation of that pattern after the 2016 season.
217 (From Tenn)
Jean Sifrin, TE, UMass
He's 27, he's not an outstanding blocker and he doesn't have a long track record of success. However, he's outstanding athletically and is a very good catcher of the ball. Tim Wright might still be a success for us but his effect on our offence has been in a bit of a decline and whilst things might work out for him after camp next year, Sifrin adds some camp insurance.
178 (From TB)
Shaq Mason, OG, Georgia Tech
I'm a big fan of Mason and I think he can be a potential starter - I love his athleticism. However, after drafting Poutasi earlier, I see an interior DL of Poutasi-Stork-Fleming as the future. Mason adds depth and can work as a backup or go on the PS.
Just a final word. I love Odighizuwa and I don't like presenting a mock without him being there. But I love Hardison too and it's difficult to justify both. Please regard those two as interchangeable.
