The 2014 Mock draft Thread.

ctpatsfan77 said:

If the D is as good as we hope, the entire D won't be playing much more than 50 snaps per game.

Click to expand...

We can hope, but I like to prepare for the worst.

Elijah said:

I made this mock draft using the Fanspeak simulator and Walterfootball's board, but the AI made some strange decisions (some might even argue I did too):

1-29. DL Tuitt
2-62. TE Seferian-Jenkins
3-93. C Richburg
4-130. WR Coleman
4-140. S Dowling
6-198. RB Grice
6-206. T Patchan
7-243. DL/LB Webster

Thoughts? I tried to go BPA across quite a few positions with each pick. I think this gives the team what it needs - players with high potential at positions where they are needed (DT, TE, C, WR, S, DE) and solid reserves at RB and T. This wouldn't really fill the need for a DE or LB who could serve a reserve role immediately, unfortunately.

Click to expand...

I like it, but I'd go with Latimer over Coleman.

2014 New England Patriots Mock Draft - 4/2/14

Straight Up - No Screwing Around

Round 1 - Ryan Shazier, OLB - Ohio State (28)

Round 2 - Westin Richburg, OC - Colorado State (74)

Round 3 - Joel Bitonio, OG/OT - Nevada (96)

Round 4 - Tyler Gaffney, RB - Stanford (143)

Round 4 Compensatory - Justin Ellis, DT - Louisiana Tech (156)

Round 6 - Marqueston Huff, FS - Wyoming (202)

Round 6 - Trey Millard, FB - Oklahoma (239) or Gator Hoskins, FB - Marshall (265)

Round 7 - Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB - Coastal Carolina (276)

Parenthesis - NFLDraftScout Overall Rankings dated 3/31/2014

NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Note: Multiple selections depends on availability

Collegiate UDFAs (potential diamonds in the rough):

Roderick McDowell, RB - Clemson (433)
Jake Murphy, TE - Utah (293)
Blake Annen, TE - Cincinnati (316)
Ted Bolser, TE - Indiana (332)
Quincy Enunwa, WR - Nebraska (308)
Colton Underwood, DE - Illinois State (381)
Terrence Fede, DE - Marist (561)
Zach Kerr, DT - Delaware (305)
Lawrence Virgil, DT - Valdosta State (436)
Caleb Lavey, ILB - Oklahoma State (362)
Brock Coyle, ILB - Montana (427)
Anthony Hitchens, OLB - Iowa (325)
Xavius Boyd, OLB - Western Kentucky (374)
Jonathan Dowling, FS - Western Kentucky (284)
Brock Vereen, SS - Minnesota (336)
Brandon Dixon, CB - Northwest Missouri State (318)
Keith Reaser, CB - Florida Atlantic (345)

Unrestricted Free Agent Acquisitions:

Michael Hoomanawanui
Julian Edelman
Brandon LaFell
Ryan Wendell
Will Svitek
Brandon Browner
Darrelle Revis

Salary Cap Casualties:

Isaac Sopoaga
Steve Gregory
Adrian Wilson (Seriously Bill, what are you waiting for?)

NFI List (to be "redshirted" for the 2014 NFL Season):

Trey Millard

Trades –

- Trade Mallett, #62, #93, #130, and #206 to the Texans for #33, #65, #101, and #177
- Trade #33 and #65 to the Vikings for #40, #72, #96, and #108

Draft Selections –

- 29-RaShede Hageman, DL
- 40-Scott Crichton, DL
- 72-Joel Bitonio, OL
- 96-C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE
- 101-Jordan Tripp, LB
- 108-Cody Latimer, WR
- 140-Jerick McKinnon, RB
- 177-Tyler Larsen, OL
- 198-Colt Lyerla, TE
- 244-Gator Hoskins, FB

Positions drafted –

- 2 Defensive linemen
- 2 Offensive linemen
- 2 Tight end
- 2 Running back
- 1 Linebacker
- 1 Wide receiver

My trade logic –

- When reading about Mallett to the Texans the biggest concern appears to be that, the Texans have too many holes to give up a valuable pick in the second round. This trade does not take any picks from the Texans.

- The Vikings are going to pass on a first round QB and then want to leap frog the other QB needy teams in the second round to have a chance at Derrick Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo.

Here comes another Mock but with a different spin on it. This is my complete break down of mocking pick #29. As how that pick is used will effect how every other pick is used there is not a lot of point going beyond it in a comprehensive breakdown.

So first up - Trade up options with values.

The players I trade up for are Donald - DT, Ebron - TE and that is it. No one else who could fall is IMO worth trading up and using drafting capital FOR US.

Donald - DT - How I weigh his ability & value to the team is thus. He would be a dominating pass rush DT and even a reasonable DE option at times for certain matchups. Though our depth at DT is pretty solid right now (projected) I think a player of Donald's ability is worth extending for. I would be willing to trade our 29th & 93rd to get him (whatever range that moves us up in... probably about 21 max).

Ebron - TE - I think he is the type of player that comes in and has an instant impact. He will make plays in our O day 1 and improve. His ceiling however IMO is not as high as some may think. He can be a top 10 TE but probably not top 5. However the instant impact THIS YEAR is why I value him particularly over other options which I believe have a higher ceiling perhaps. I value him enough to trade pick #29 & #130 (so probably only 25 max)

If any of these 2 players fall in that value range or that range expands somehow I still suggest using those picks to get these players. No one else is trade up worthy IMO.

At pick 29.

The guys I pick at value fall into 2 catagories. Guys I gladly take. Guys I relunctantly take cause the trade offer on the table is not good value.

Guys I gladly take - Lee - WR, Ealy - DE, Clinton, Pryor - S

Guys I take but feel is not a great value or need fit - Jernigan - DT, Shazier - OLB, Hageman - DT. Tuitt - DE/DT, Ford - DE.

Even if you lose a fair amount on the trade down after those players I think you should.

Also a quick note on how to trade down. Even though I think we should not leave this draft picking more than 8 players (same as our current picks). I am not opposed to a trade down for 3 or even 4 picks assuming we combine them later.

In fact my 2 Ideal trade downs (if value pick players are not availible) are as follows

#29 - for #33 #97 (This trade allows us to add 1 extra pick while also giving us the option of another value trade down if the chance is there a #33. The more options open the better).

#29 - For #53 #85, 4th and 7th (basically the Collins trade again). Talk about options being open. This trade allows a LOT of flexibility in how we approach the next 6 rounds. It gives us the ammo to pick and choose whatever we want to do past about pick 45 which is a VERY good thing in a draft like this.

A couple of thoughts on this . . .

BobDigital said:

Even if you lose a fair amount on the trade down after those players I think you should.

Click to expand...

Food for thought: given how deep this draft is, would Belichick really consider it "losing a fair amount" if, say, he traded #29 for #33 and, say, a 5 or a 6? Or even, to use a trade similar to the 2009 trade, trading #29 for #40ish and a single 3 (instead of the two 3s he got for #26 to #41 that year)?

Also a quick note on how to trade down. Even though I think we should not leave this draft picking more than 8 players (same as our current picks). I am not opposed to a trade down for 3 or even 4 picks assuming we combine them later.

#29 - For #53 #85, 4th and 7th (basically the Collins trade again). Talk about options being open. This trade allows a LOT of flexibility in how we approach the next 6 rounds. It gives us the ammo to pick and choose whatever we want to do past about pick 45 which is a VERY good thing in a draft like this.

Click to expand...

Would anyone actually make that trade, given the depth of this draft? [I would argue that any GM who gave Belichick that much draft ammo this year should be fired on the spot.]

Why limit us to only 8 picks? Given how many holes we still have, we'll need a dozen picks
just to attempt to fill them all.

captain stone said:

Why limit us to only 8 picks? Given how many holes we still have, we'll need a dozen picks
just to attempt to fill them all.

Click to expand...

I count 4 or 5 holes.

#2 Receiving TE
#3 DE
Interior OL
#4 or #5 LB (Depending on how Belichick sees Beauharnais)
#3 or #4 RB

captain stone said:

Why limit us to only 8 picks? Given how many holes we still have, we'll need a dozen picks
just to attempt to fill them all.

Click to expand...

Well the more picks you have generally the more the talent per pick is diminished. While we could fit maybe 10+ picks on the roster I think about 7-8 is the perfect number for our team.

JMC00 said:

I count 4 or 5 holes.

#2 Receiving TE
#3 DE
Interior OL
#4 or #5 LB (Depending on how Belichick sees Beauharnais)
#3 or #4 RB

Click to expand...

I agree generally with this. We definitely need a 2nd TE, 3rd DE, 4th LB, backup 3rd down RB & an interior OL; Ideally a center.

So those are 5 holes. However I would like 3 more guys to sure things up and gets guys that are not just JAG players but good legit emergency depth. I think more than that then you have traded down to much and you are just replacing JAGs with other JAGs you personally picked.

Current Ideal Mock.

#29 - Ealy - DE (would love to trade up for Donald but it is going to cost too much now.. I think he goes top 12).
-TRADE- next years first for 46 & 78.
-TRADE- 62 & 130 & 193 for 41
#41 Tuitt - DE/DT
#46 ASJ - TE
#78 Richburg - C
#93 Tripp - OLB (I am thinking more and more we need to pick him here if we want to get him)
#140 Exum - SS
#208 Thomas - RB
#244 Murphy - TE

BobDigital said:

Current Ideal Mock.

#29 - Ealy - DE (would love to trade up for Donald but it is going to cost too much now.. I think he goes top 12).
-TRADE- next years first for 46 & 78.
-TRADE- 62 & 130 & 193 for 41
#41 Tuitt - DE/DT
#46 ASJ - TE
#78 Richburg - C
#93 Tripp - OLB (I am thinking more and more we need to pick him here if we want to get him)
#140 Exum - SS
#208 Thomas - RB
#244 Murphy - TE

Click to expand...

I get the idea that this years draft is a deep one, but there is no way we should be trading next year's first for a mid-second and mid-third.

BobDigital said:

Current Ideal Mock.

#29 - Ealy - DE (would love to trade up for Donald but it is going to cost too much now.. I think he goes top 12).
-TRADE- next years first for 46 & 78.
-TRADE- 62 & 130 & 193 for 41
#41 Tuitt - DE/DT
#46 ASJ - TE
#78 Richburg - C
#93 Tripp - OLB (I am thinking more and more we need to pick him here if we want to get him)
#140 Exum - SS
#208 Thomas - RB
#244 Murphy - TE

Click to expand...

Instead of trading next years pick for 46 and 78 you mind as well just move up and trade it for Donald.

I'm not a big fan of giving away 1st round picks for 2nd and 3rd round players. It's deep but it's not that deep.

Trade Ryan Mallett to the Texans for pick #33
Trade pick #33 to the Rams for picks #44 and #75

29-RaShede Hageman, DL
44-Scott Crichton, DL
62-Joel Bitonio, OL
75-Telvin Smith, LB
93-C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE
130-Jerick McKinnon, RB
140-Cody Latimer, WR
198-Tyler Larsen, OL
206-Connor Shaw, QB
244-Gator Hoskins, FB

Patriot Missile said:

Instead of trading next years pick for 46 and 78 you mind as well just move up and trade it for Donald.

I'm not a big fan of giving away 1st round picks for 2nd and 3rd round players. It's deep but it's not that deep.

Click to expand...

A lot of people aren't a fan of trading next years pick. I am definitely in the minority on that. I have gone into my reasons for doing it and will not go into all of them again. Generally though my argument (short version) Brady's time is almost up and rookies generally take a year to become impact players anyway.

Now is this the trade I would hope for if we do trade next years first? No. I would want something better. It is however just about the bare minium I would accept which is why I included it. Also unlike the "Mallet trade" mocks this is a possibility that we know is possible if the will to make the move is there.

BobDigital said:

A lot of people aren't a fan of trading next years pick. I am definitely in the minority on that. I have gone into my reasons for doing it and will not go into all of them again. Generally though my argument (short version) Brady's time is almost up and rookies generally take a year to become impact players anyway.

Now is this the trade I would hope for if we do trade next years first? No. I would want something better. It is however just about the bare minium I would accept which is why I included it. Also unlike the "Mallet trade" mocks this is a possibility that we know is possible if the will to make the move is there.

Click to expand...

The only way next years first is traded is if we're somewhere in the pick 31-38 range and -- and this is the critical part -- there is a certain player available that Belichick has rated as a top 20 guy. At that point, including next year's first round pick in a trade become viable.

There is no way to justify trading next year's first round pick for draft slots ahead of the draft.

Throw the "takes a year to contribute" argument out. It's just not true --especially when it comes to a first round pick. In fact, I would postulate that a player drafted with our first round pick in 2015 would contribute more in 2015 than players drafted with the 46th and 78th picks in 2014 will.

dryheat44 said:

The only way next years first is traded is if we're somewhere in the pick 31-38 range and -- and this is the critical part -- there is a certain player available that Belichick has rated as a top 20 guy. At that point, including next year's first round pick in a trade become viable.

There is no way to justify trading next year's first round pick for draft slots ahead of the draft.

Throw the "takes a year to contribute" argument out. It's just not true --especially when it comes to a first round pick. In fact, I would postulate that a player drafted with our first round pick in 2015 would contribute more in 2015 than players drafted with the 46th and 78th picks in 2014 will.

Click to expand...

Well obviously I am not for just trading a pick for a slot in this years draft. I would only like to do it if I think a player(s) will be there that is worth trading away our 1st round pick for as well as the bonus value of additional picks later potentially.

However I do think a player will likely be there for us and I am working under that assumption when I say we should trade down.

Also I don't think it need to be a top 20 talent automatically in this draft to be worth a trade down. A top 30 talent is fine by me (especially if this draft is as good as experts say and will be better than next years which the experts also say).

Also the trade I proposed was my worst case scenario trade. It is the lowest value I would expect from a trade. I would hope we do better than that.

Here was my highly rated mock last night using first-pick.com. I would have got a slightly higher score if I went for RB Deanthony Thomas or CD Aaron Colvin with my 7th rounder but I love Gator.

Your score is: 4966 (Drafting Ability: A, Player Quality A-, Future Draft Picks: N/A)

Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 30 (S.F.): Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri (A)
Round 2 Pick 30: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington (A)
Round 3 Pick 13 (S.F.): Deone Bucannon, SS, Washington State (A)
Round 3 Pick 29: Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU (A)
Round 4 Pick 32 (SEA): Deion Belue, CB, Alabama (A)
Round 4 Pick 40 (COMP): Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton (A)
Round 5 Pick 27 (N.O.): Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers (A)
Round 7 Pick 29: Gator Hoskins, FB, Marshall (B+)

How You Matched Up:
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 5416
2. New England Patriots - 4966
3. Cleveland Browns - 4951
4. St. Louis Rams - 4818
5. New York Giants - 4746
6. San Diego Chargers - 4664
7. Houston Texans - 4591
8. Philadelphia Eagles - 4573
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - 4513
10. Dallas Cowboys - 4473
11. Oakland Raiders - 4472
12. Seattle Seahawks - 4449
13. Kansas City Chiefs - 4403
14. San Francisco 49ers - 4403
15. Cincinnati Bengals - 4349
16. New York Jets - 4341 17. Green Bay Packers - 4328
18. Atlanta Falcons - 4315
19. Washington Redskins - 4266
20. Baltimore Ravens - 4229
21. Buffalo Bills - 4218
22. Arizona Cardinals - 4212
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - 4099
24. Minnesota Vikings - 4089
25. Tennessee Titans - 4062
26. Carolina Panthers - 4058
27. New Orleans Saints - 3998
28. Miami Dolphins - 3958
29. Denver Broncos - 3886
30. Chicago Bears - 3666
31. Detroit Lions - 3592
32. Indianapolis Colts - 3551

1. Houston Texans-Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
2. St. Louis Rams-Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
3. Jacksonville Jaguars-Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
4. Cleveland Browns-Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
5. Oakland Raiders-Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
6. Atlanta Falcons-Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
8. Minnesota Vikings-Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
9. Buffalo Bills-Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
10. Detroit Lions-Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
11. Tennessee Titans-Anthony Barr, LB, California-Los Angeles
12. New York Giants-Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
13. St. Louis Rams-Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
14. Chicago Bears-Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
15. Pittsburgh Steelers-C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
16. Dallas Cowboys-Timmy Jernigan, DL, Florida State
17. Baltimore Ravens-Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
18. New York Jets-Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
19. Miami Dolphins-Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
20. Arizona Cardinals-Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
21. Green Bay Packers-Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
22. Philadelphia Eagles-Odell Beckham, WR, Louisiana State
23. Kansas City Chiefs-Marqise Lee, WR, Southern California
24. Cincinnati Bengals-Jason Verrett, CB, Texas Christian
25. San Diego Chargers-Louis Nix, DL, Notre Dame
26. Cleveland Browns-Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
27. New Orleans Saints-Dee Ford, DL, Auburn
28. Carolina Panthers-Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
29. New England Patriots-Aaron Donald, DL, Pittsburgh
30. San Francisco 49ers-Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
31. Denver Broncos-Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
32. Seattle Seahawks-Ra'Shede Hageman, DL, Minnesota

Brady6 said:

1. Houston Texans-Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
2. St. Louis Rams-Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn
3. Jacksonville Jaguars-Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
4. Cleveland Browns-Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
5. Oakland Raiders-Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
6. Atlanta Falcons-Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
8. Minnesota Vikings-Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
9. Buffalo Bills-Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
10. Detroit Lions-Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M
11. Tennessee Titans-Anthony Barr, LB, California-Los Angeles
12. New York Giants-Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
13. St. Louis Rams-Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan
14. Chicago Bears-Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama
15. Pittsburgh Steelers-C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
16. Dallas Cowboys-Timmy Jernigan, DL, Florida State
17. Baltimore Ravens-Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
18. New York Jets-Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
19. Miami Dolphins-Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame
20. Arizona Cardinals-Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
21. Green Bay Packers-Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
22. Philadelphia Eagles-Odell Beckham, WR, Louisiana State
23. Kansas City Chiefs-Marqise Lee, WR, Southern California
24. Cincinnati Bengals-Jason Verrett, CB, Texas Christian
25. San Diego Chargers-Louis Nix, DL, Notre Dame
26. Cleveland Browns-Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
27. New Orleans Saints-Dee Ford, DL, Auburn
28. Carolina Panthers-Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
29. New England Patriots-Aaron Donald, DL, Pittsburgh
30. San Francisco 49ers-Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
31. Denver Broncos-Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State
32. Seattle Seahawks-Ra'Shede Hageman, DL, Minnesota

Click to expand...

If Aaron Donald doesn't get drafted by the Giants I'll..........Hmmm. Haven't thought that through. I'm thinking that that's one of the locks for the draft.

manxman2601 said:

If Aaron Donald doesn't get drafted by the Giants I'll..........Hmmm. Haven't thought that through. I'm thinking that that's one of the locks for the draft.

Click to expand...

I find it unlikely Jernigan and Ealy would go before Donald, just keeping to D linemen. I guess Nix going ahead is possible, but still unlikely I would think.