The 2016 NFL Mock Draft Thread

BobDigital · Dec 20, 2015

I was thinking of doing an off season plan but it is still a bit premature. Here is what I have so far though.

Pats are at 153M with 155M projected.

Cuts/Savings

Mayo - Cut
Cannon - Cut
Amendola - Extend/Restructure
Sheard - Extend/Restructure

Those moves put the Pats 20M below the cap.

Lafell - Keep - Looking at the FA WRs out there I don't see a good chance to upgrade much without risk or Jeffery who while great is not a guy I wanna pay for. Lafell is a bit disappointing this year but he knows the system mostly and I don't see the big upgrade in FA.

Chandler - Keep - He had 1.5 Good games without Gronk which put me back on the keep him band wagon for now. I think a FA TE is possible as an add though.

Blount - Don't resign

Branch - Keep - Keeping a solid vet is good and with 4 young guys I don't mind doing it at all. His plays deserves the money

Dobson - Cut - Just didn't work out but marginal savings so not worth worrying about too much

Sign (odds and ends) - These should not impact the Cap much

Martin - WR
Kline - OG
Develin - FB
Ebner - ST/S
Siliaga - DT

Bigger name signings

Hightower/Chandler Jones/Collins - Extend all 3 and it will not add to the 2016 cap most likely.

Akeem Hicks - DT - He is looking good and with him our DTs stay young and we don't need to invest it in it the draft. Sadly I think this means Siliga or Chris Jones is gone. - 3M

Derrick Johnson - LB - This is a bit of over kill but he is a good short term 1 year solution for LB depth and will keep our D ticking if Hightower or Collins or both go down for a span. At 33 he might be looking for 1 last chance to get a ring and would come in a bit cheap to do it. - 5M

Terrance Newman - CB - Another vet signing that is short term. He sure doesn't play like he is 37 and seems to want to come back next year. I don't think he will be overly expensive and can really make our D have great depth at all levels It will allow the team to bring Roberts along slowly with no pressure like they did Butler and doesn't stop the team from drafting a young longer term prospect. - 2M

Ben Watson - TE - proved he can still do it and I would love to bring him back. Another Short term vet that doesn't keep you from drafting a young TE - 2M

So you have about 7-8M left of spare money for draft picks and emergency funds and other odds and ends.

Draft

2nd - OT - Klye Murphy - OT a future RT and can back up both spots. Good to groom for when Vollmer leaves but needs to put on some weight.
3rd - LB - Tyler Matakevich - Our young depth LB of the future. A true 3rd option.
3rd comp -WR - Sterling Shepard - My fav WR so far, Getting over looked cause he is not a true deep threat but can do it okay and does everything else so well.
4th - RB - C.J. Prosise - Big enough to be a lead back and can catch a bit. If need be the Pats can always pick up a FA RB on the cheap or Blount if this does not work out.

I don't know enough about the draft to even guess anyone below round 4. Here is my current roster obviously subject to change.

Offense - 24

QB - 2 - Brady Garo
TE - 3 - Gronk Chandler Watson
RB - 5 - Lewis Prosise Bolden White Develin
OT - 4 - Solder Vollmer Murphy Flemming
OG/C - 5 - Stork Jackson Mason Andrews Kline
WR - 5 - Edelman Amendola LaFell Martin Shepard

Defense - 25

DT - 5 - Easley Brown Branch Hicks Siliga
DE - 5 - Jones Sheard Nink Flowers Grissom
LB - 5 - Collins Hightower Johnson Marakevich Freeney
CB - 5 - Butler Ryan Johnson Newman Roberts
S - 5 - McCourty Chung Richards Harmon Ebner

STs - 4 (you know em)

manxman2601 · Dec 20, 2015

BobDigital said:
I was thinking of doing an off season plan but it is still a bit premature. Here is what I have so far though.

Pats are at 153M with 155M projected.

Cuts/Savings

Mayo - Cut
Cannon - Cut
Amendola - Extend/Restructure
Sheard - Extend/Restructure

Those moves put the Pats 20M below the cap.

Lafell - Keep - Looking at the FA WRs out there I don't see a good chance to upgrade much without risk or Jeffery who while great is not a guy I wanna pay for. Lafell is a bit disappointing this year but he knows the system mostly and I don't see the big upgrade in FA.

Chandler - Keep - He had 1.5 Good games without Gronk which put me back on the keep him band wagon for now. I think a FA TE is possible as an add though.

Blount - Don't resign

Branch - Keep - Keeping a solid vet is good and with 4 young guys I don't mind doing it at all. His plays deserves the money

Dobson - Cut - Just didn't work out but marginal savings so not worth worrying about too much

Sign (odds and ends) - These should not impact the Cap much

Martin - WR
Kline - OG
Develin - FB
Ebner - ST/S
Siliaga - DT

Bigger name signings

Hightower/Chandler Jones/Collins - Extend all 3 and it will not add to the 2016 cap most likely.

Akeem Hicks - DT - He is looking good and with him our DTs stay young and we don't need to invest it in it the draft. Sadly I think this means Siliga or Chris Jones is gone. - 3M

Derrick Johnson - LB - This is a bit of over kill but he is a good short term 1 year solution for LB depth and will keep our D ticking if Hightower or Collins or both go down for a span. At 33 he might be looking for 1 last chance to get a ring and would come in a bit cheap to do it. - 5M

Terrance Newman - CB - Another vet signing that is short term. He sure doesn't play like he is 37 and seems to want to come back next year. I don't think he will be overly expensive and can really make our D have great depth at all levels It will allow the team to bring Roberts along slowly with no pressure like they did Butler and doesn't stop the team from drafting a young longer term prospect. - 2M

Ben Watson - TE - proved he can still do it and I would love to bring him back. Another Short term vet that doesn't keep you from drafting a young TE - 2M

So you have about 7-8M left of spare money for draft picks and emergency funds and other odds and ends.

Draft

2nd - OT - Klye Murphy - OT a future RT and can back up both spots. Good to groom for when Vollmer leaves but needs to put on some weight.
3rd - LB - Tyler Marakevich - Our young depth LB of the future. A true 3rd option.
3rd comp -WR - Sterling Shepard - My fav WR so far, Getting over looked cause he is not a true deep threat but can do it okay and does everything else so well.
4th - RB - C.J. Prosise - Big enough to e a lead back nd can catch a bit. If need be the Pats can always pick up a FA RB on the cheap or Blount if this does not work out.

I don't know enough about the draft to even guess anyone below round 4. Here is my current roster obviously subject to change.

Offense - 24

QB - 2 - Brady Garo
TE - 3 - Gronk Chandler Watson
RB - 5 - Lewis Prosise Bolden White Develin
OT - 4 - Solder Vollmer Murphy Flemming
OG/C - 5 - Stork Jackson Mason Andrews Kline
WR - 5 - Edelman Amendola LaFell Martin Shepard

Defense - 25

DT - 5 - Easley Brown Branch Hicks Siliga
DE - 5 - Jones Sheard Nink Flowers Grissom
LB - 5 - Collins Hightower Johnson Marakevich Freeney
CB - 5 - Butler Ryan Johnson Newman Roberts
S - 5 - McCourty Chung Richards Harmon Ebner

STs - 4 (you know em)

No Michael Williams or Justin Coleman? I'd like to see both come back next year personally. I'm really enjoying the youthful nature of this team right now.

BTW, and I'm not trying to be a d!ck, but it's Matakevich, not Marakevich.

Brady6 · Dec 20, 2015

manxman2601 said:
This is a sort of Donald Trump approach to football evaluation. Miller should be viewed as an individual. And as an individual, rather than sulking when he lost his QB job and transferring to another school, he took one for the team and learned a new position. Nothing wrong with his character.

I was only joking I don't even know who the player is that is being discussed.

BobDigital · Dec 20, 2015

manxman2601 said:
No Michael Williams or Justin Coleman? I'd like to see both come back next year personally. I'm really enjoying the youthful nature of this team right now.

BTW, and I'm not trying to be a d!ck, but it's Matakevich, not Marakevich.

Nah its fine. Thanks for the correction. I don't care what his name is as long as he plays as good as i think he will

manxman2601 · Dec 20, 2015

BobDigital said:
Nah its fine. Thanks for the correction. I don't care what his name is as long as he plays as good as i think he will

A bit concerned about a sub 6' linebacker and how he projects to the NFL. Can't question his talent in CFB though. Not saying he can't make it - haven't watched enough yet.

BobDigital · Dec 20, 2015

manxman2601 said:
A bit concerned about a sub 6' linebacker and how he projects to the NFL. Can't question his talent in CFB though. Not saying he can't make it - haven't watched enough yet.

CBS has him listed as 6'0 even and 232lbs.

Guys like D'Qwell Jackson, Lavonte David, NaVorro Bowman (the 3 leading NFL tackling LBs) are 6'0 6'1 and 6'0. So while he is certainly a small LB for the Pats guys his size get it done in the NFL on occasion. Also I see him as a sub player who fills in as a starter for short periods of time when needed but will not be a huge drop off if either misses time.

manxman2601 · Dec 20, 2015

BobDigital said:
CBS has him listed as 6'0 even and 232lbs.

Guys like D'Qwell Jackson, Lavonte David, NaVorro Bowman (the 3 leading NFL tackling LBs) are 6'0 6'1 and 6'0. So while he is certainly a small LB for the Pats guys his size get it done in the NFL on occasion. Also I see him as a sub player who fills in as a starter for short periods of time when needed but will not be a huge drop off if either misses time.

I think they're rounding up. I've seen 5'11.5. And they tend to get shorter than the official number at the combine. We'll see but my eye says he's shorter than preferred.

I.M. Fletcher · Dec 20, 2015

Just an FYI, the next linebacker that bb drafts under 6'1 will be the first.

BobDigital · Dec 21, 2015

manxman2601 said:
No Michael Williams or Justin Coleman? I'd like to see both come back next year personally. I'm really enjoying the youthful nature of this team right now.

BTW, and I'm not trying to be a d!ck, but it's Matakevich, not Marakevich.

I just realized I never answered the first part of your question

While Coleman and Williams have been decent I don't mind looking to upgrade them. Maybe Coleman takes Roberts' spot and he stays on the PS and maybe you carry 4 TEs. At this point the Patriots roster being what it is you will have to let a few decent players go if you want to keep more than a few of your draft picks or spend your cap space to get depth. This is my more aggressive alternative to a more conservative off-season plan i laid out earlier.

I noticed you liked Watson as a player to and see him as a Chandler replacement but why not have both? I doubt the Pats cut Chandler with his contract structured the way it is for next year.

I.M. Fletcher said:
Just an FYI, the next linebacker that bb drafts under 6'1 will be the first.

Well there is a first time for everything and I think BB might look past it. He does seem to consider body types a lot but has broken the mold when he likes a player.

Luxusdk · Dec 22, 2015

Bob would he be able to add 20-25 Lbs to his body? 6.1 is one thing, but 250+ is another and a place BB won't go below. Talked about it once, something about absorbing the punch from RBs. Bruschi was 6.1 or something so thats not a problem, but he was still 250-255.

BobDigital · Dec 22, 2015

Luxusdk said:
Bob would he be able to add 20-25 Lbs to his body? 6.1 is one thing, but 250+ is another and a place BB won't go below. Talked about it once, something about absorbing the punch from RBs. Bruschi was 6.1 or something so thats not a problem, but he was still 250-255.

He will probably be 240 lbs in the NFL is my guess which is smaller then BB likes. However even though he does not fit into the Mold BB typically likes he has shown in the past that he is will to break it if he really likes a player. Cannon for instance is not the ideal BB OT but he took a shot on him. So it is not like he is 100% married to a particular size and shape automatically.

Luxusdk · Dec 22, 2015

BobDigital said:
He will probably be 240 lbs in the NFL is my guess which is smaller then BB likes. However even though he does not fit into the Mold BB typically likes he has shown in the past that he is will to break it if he really likes a player. Cannon for instance is not the ideal BB OT but he took a shot on him. So it is not like he is 100% married to a particular size and shape automatically.

Cannon was a second round talent you could get in round 5 - If you can have your guy in round 5 then plz go.. But sounds like you wanna use a day 2 pick...

BobDigital · Dec 22, 2015

@Luxusdk

Well you are treating him like he is not really a 2nd round talent because he does not fit the general Patriots mold. His talent to me is clearly 2nd or 3rd round talent. I have us picking him in the 3rd round if he falls. I am not saying we should use a 2nd round pick on him btw.

Also it is not like guys with his projected height and build do not get picked high either.

Just last year guys like Eric Kendricks, Denzel Perryman and Paul Dawson were taken in rounds 2-3 as ILBs and they basically have the exact same build as Tyler Matakevich.

Just because the Patriots in the past have not gone for guys of that build does not mean they are seen as not worth picking high based on that generally.

Sometimes you see a player who just gets it. I think BB may see him as such a player if he is sitting there in the late 3rd even though it would be a departure for him.

However if you don't see it that way we can simply agree to disagree. The odds are he will not be picked by the Patriots just cause 31 other teams have a shot but either way I think whoever he plays for he will be highly successful in the NFL. I hope the Patriots choose to go against type and cash in on that success.

I.M. Fletcher · Dec 22, 2015

He has fantastic skills, but for the role on the pats he would be drafted for, I don't see the fit.

Guarding rbs is one thing, but guarding tight ends is another.

I think if we are looking for a chess piece to use in coverage, they will be looking at someone with length.

Beyond that, I just can't see a top two pick being used on a guy who would will play based on matchups and injuries. As stacked as we are right now, I would say we probably have higher priorities.

That's not a criticism of your eye or your thought on need @BobDigital, just differing thought process. I do like the player a lot, just an expensive piece.

patsfaninpa · Dec 23, 2015

BobDigital said:
I was thinking of doing an off season plan but it is still a bit premature. Here is what I have so far though.

Pats are at 153M with 155M projected.

Cuts/Savings

Mayo - Cut
Cannon - Cut
Amendola - Extend/Restructure
Sheard - Extend/Restructure

Those moves put the Pats 20M below the cap.

Lafell - Keep - Looking at the FA WRs out there I don't see a good chance to upgrade much without risk or Jeffery who while great is not a guy I wanna pay for. Lafell is a bit disappointing this year but he knows the system mostly and I don't see the big upgrade in FA.

Chandler - Keep - He had 1.5 Good games without Gronk which put me back on the keep him band wagon for now. I think a FA TE is possible as an add though.

Blount - Don't resign

Branch - Keep - Keeping a solid vet is good and with 4 young guys I don't mind doing it at all. His plays deserves the money

Dobson - Cut - Just didn't work out but marginal savings so not worth worrying about too much

Sign (odds and ends) - These should not impact the Cap much

Martin - WR
Kline - OG
Develin - FB
Ebner - ST/S
Siliaga - DT

Bigger name signings

Hightower/Chandler Jones/Collins - Extend all 3 and it will not add to the 2016 cap most likely.

Akeem Hicks - DT - He is looking good and with him our DTs stay young and we don't need to invest it in it the draft. Sadly I think this means Siliga or Chris Jones is gone. - 3M

Derrick Johnson - LB - This is a bit of over kill but he is a good short term 1 year solution for LB depth and will keep our D ticking if Hightower or Collins or both go down for a span. At 33 he might be looking for 1 last chance to get a ring and would come in a bit cheap to do it. - 5M

Terrance Newman - CB - Another vet signing that is short term. He sure doesn't play like he is 37 and seems to want to come back next year. I don't think he will be overly expensive and can really make our D have great depth at all levels It will allow the team to bring Roberts along slowly with no pressure like they did Butler and doesn't stop the team from drafting a young longer term prospect. - 2M

Ben Watson - TE - proved he can still do it and I would love to bring him back. Another Short term vet that doesn't keep you from drafting a young TE - 2M

So you have about 7-8M left of spare money for draft picks and emergency funds and other odds and ends.

Draft

2nd - OT - Klye Murphy - OT a future RT and can back up both spots. Good to groom for when Vollmer leaves but needs to put on some weight.
3rd - LB - Tyler Matakevich - Our young depth LB of the future. A true 3rd option.
3rd comp -WR - Sterling Shepard - My fav WR so far, Getting over looked cause he is not a true deep threat but can do it okay and does everything else so well.
4th - RB - C.J. Prosise - Big enough to be a lead back and can catch a bit. If need be the Pats can always pick up a FA RB on the cheap or Blount if this does not work out.

I don't know enough about the draft to even guess anyone below round 4. Here is my current roster obviously subject to change.

Offense - 24

QB - 2 - Brady Garo
TE - 3 - Gronk Chandler Watson
RB - 5 - Lewis Prosise Bolden White Develin
OT - 4 - Solder Vollmer Murphy Flemming
OG/C - 5 - Stork Jackson Mason Andrews Kline
WR - 5 - Edelman Amendola LaFell Martin Shepard

Defense - 25

DT - 5 - Easley Brown Branch Hicks Siliga
DE - 5 - Jones Sheard Nink Flowers Grissom
LB - 5 - Collins Hightower Johnson Marakevich Freeney
CB - 5 - Butler Ryan Johnson Newman Roberts
S - 5 - McCourty Chung Richards Harmon Ebner

STs - 4 (you know em)

Good job on identifying ways to save some cap space. I'd extend Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones to big contracts. Collin's cap hit will go up quite a bit. Love the idea of extending Sheard. I liked his acquisition and he's even exceeded my expectations. Hightower plays so hard, he gets hurt quite a bit. I want to wait another year. Derrick Johnson is overkill IMO. Just need a solid vet to back them up. Jasper Brinkley?? Not a pro-bowler. I'd draft one in 3rd or 4th too. A 3rd corner is a good idea too. Maybe even Tarell Brown on a cheaper deal. I'd draft a cb in 3rd or 4th there too.

To improve the offense for the rest of TB12's career. How bout Jimmy G and Solder for
Joe Thomas and Cleveland's second? Not sure about rb yet. Ivory could be the guy. Jets
have to sign Fitzy, Wilkerson and D. Davis-LB.

2a Jason Spriggs - T - Indiana - Seabass's replacement in 2017
2b Tyler Boyd - WR - Pitt - Trading up. 2,4 and 6.
3a Kendell Beckwith - ILB - LSU
3b Eric Murray - CB - Minnesota
5 Kevin Hogan - QB - Stanford 6th and 7th to move up.

Boom or bust types with supplemental picks.

QB - Brady, Hogan
RB - Ivory, Lewis, White, Bolden
FB - Develin or 4th TE
TE - Gronk, Chandler, Williama
WR - Edelman, Amendola, LaFell, Boyd
OL - J. Thomas, Mason, Stork, Jackson and Vollmer
Back-ups; Spriggs, Andrews, Kline and Fleming

ST - Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona and Slater

DE - Chandler Jones, Sheard, Ninko, Grissom, Flowers
DT - M. Brown, Branch, Easley, Siliga
LB - Collins, Hightower, Brinkley, Beckwith, Freeney
CB - Butler, Ryan, T. Brown, Murray and D. Roberts
L.Johnson, Coleman will battle for a spot.
S - McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Ebner and B. King

53rd guy could be a lb or wr. Probably a wr.

manxman2601 · Dec 24, 2015

patsfaninpa said:
Good job on identifying ways to save some cap space. I'd extend Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones to big contracts. Collin's cap hit will go up quite a bit. Love the idea of extending Sheard. I liked his acquisition and he's even exceeded my expectations. Hightower plays so hard, he gets hurt quite a bit. I want to wait another year. Derrick Johnson is overkill IMO. Just need a solid vet to back them up. Jasper Brinkley?? Not a pro-bowler. I'd draft one in 3rd or 4th too. A 3rd corner is a good idea too. Maybe even Tarell Brown on a cheaper deal. I'd draft a cb in 3rd or 4th there too.

To improve the offense for the rest of TB12's career. How bout Jimmy G and Solder for
Joe Thomas and Cleveland's second? Not sure about rb yet. Ivory could be the guy. Jets
have to sign Fitzy, Wilkerson and D. Davis-LB.

2a Jason Spriggs - T - Indiana - Seabass's replacement in 2017
2b Tyler Boyd - WR - Pitt - Trading up. 2,4 and 6.
3a Kendell Beckwith - ILB - LSU
3b Eric Murray - CB - Minnesota
5 Kevin Hogan - QB - Stanford 6th and 7th to move up.

Boom or bust types with supplemental picks.

QB - Brady, Hogan
RB - Ivory, Lewis, White, Bolden
FB - Develin or 4th TE
TE - Gronk, Chandler, Williama
WR - Edelman, Amendola, LaFell, Boyd
OL - J. Thomas, Mason, Stork, Jackson and Vollmer
Back-ups; Spriggs, Andrews, Kline and Fleming

ST - Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona and Slater

DE - Chandler Jones, Sheard, Ninko, Grissom, Flowers
DT - M. Brown, Branch, Easley, Siliga
LB - Collins, Hightower, Brinkley, Beckwith, Freeney
CB - Butler, Ryan, T. Brown, Murray and D. Roberts
L.Johnson, Coleman will battle for a spot.
S - McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Ebner and B. King

53rd guy could be a lb or wr. Probably a wr.

I love the Tyler Boyd and Eric Murray picks but I'm seeing Spriggs being talked of as a potential first rounder (not that it's that important at this stage. I also like the Beckwith pick but his partner Deoin Jones really impresses me. A little undersized but he's so quick at closing on the ball carrier.

On the other hand, I hate the idea of trading Jimmy G and bringing in a rookie for Brady's age 39 year. Sorry.

Edit: Re Spriggs: Sorry but I didn't see the acquisition of Cleveland's 2nd rounder. Still don't like trading Garoppolo but thst 2nd pick makes more sense in terms of Spriggs' value.

ctpatsfan77 · Dec 26, 2015

manxman2601 said:
On the other hand, I hate the idea of trading Jimmy G and bringing in a rookie for Brady's age 39 year. Sorry.

I hate the idea, too.

For the record, though, the Patriots MO suggests that if Brady continues to be the QB, then you'll have a rookie backing up a 40- or 41-year-old Brady.

meatface · Dec 27, 2015

we as fans have shown time and time again that we have no idea how this team values players, I don't think they gave Cannon an extension just to cut him and they aren't exactly rolling in OT depth. Dobson is in the same boat, they arent going to cut him just because fans here dont like him; I could see either of them getting squeezed out by competition but not just getting in the beginning of the offseason.

Ochmed Jones · Jan 1, 2016

manxman2601 said:
I love the Tyler Boyd and Eric Murray picks but I'm seeing Spriggs being talked of as a potential first rounder (not that it's that important at this stage. I also like the Beckwith pick but his partner Deoin Jones really impresses me. A little undersized but he's so quick at closing on the ball carrier.

On the other hand, I hate the idea of trading Jimmy G and bringing in a rookie for Brady's age 39 year. Sorry.

Edit: Re Spriggs: Sorry but I didn't see the acquisition of Cleveland's 2nd rounder. Still don't like trading Garoppolo but thst 2nd pick makes more sense in terms of Spriggs' value.

If Cleveland believes that jimmy g is a better qb than goff then a trade for jimmy allows them to still take bosa at #1.

manxman2601 · Jan 1, 2016

Ochmed Jones said:
If Cleveland believes that jimmy g is a better qb than goff then a trade for jimmy allows them to still take bosa at #1.

Not to be pedantic but the Titans currently have the number one pic but I take your point. But after what happened with Mallett and Hoyer, I have no great expectations in getting value for Jimmy G. After what's been happening across the NFL this year with QBs, I'd rather keep the decent backup to be honest.

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