New Game for 3/24

[dryheat44]

Instead of the usual, where we look at a ranking list of draftees and choose whom we want at each spot, let's look at an actual mock draft. Since neither Mayock nor Rang nor Gosselin has anything more that a 1st round mock out, I used Walter Football, who have a 6-rounder out this week:

WalterFootball.com: 2011 NFL Mock Draft

So, you know the rules. Given the options, who do you pick at 17, 28, 33, 60, 74, 92, 123, 156, and 184.

Trades are allowed. For simplicity's sake, let's assume that the players that are off the board when the Patriots pick are actually off the board, even if it's not necessarily in this order or by the original team -- none of this choosing a player who goes 5 spots before the Patriots selection.

Also, try to run this like an actual draft, with no a priori knowledge of when players are going to go off the board. If you want a guy at pick 60, no fair peeking ahead to see if he'll be available at 74.

Good luck, I'm counting on all of you.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I'm in a rush, so no time to complete this right now, but I'm posting anyway so that I can find the thread again quickly.

THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR MY MOCK

I love these threads and always try to participate. Thanks for posting.

 

[dryheat44]

You're welcome. I've got too much to do and not an overwhelming desire to do it, so here's what I did:

17. Cam Jordan DE Cal - I'm starting to come around on him, and being available at #17 seemed to be a no-brainer.

28. Trade to Cincinnati, along with 92, for 35 and 66.

33. Trade to Arizona for 38 and 69. We gave it to them sans KY here, but they desperately need a QB.

35. Danny Watkins G Baylor
38. Jabaal Sheard OLB Pittsburgh
60. Edmund Gates WR Abilene Christian. It might go against the BB mantra for a small school WR to go this high, but I think he's a real deal.
66. Clint Boling G Georgia
69. Shane Vereen RB California
74. Orlando Franklin OT Florida
123. Greg Romeus OLB Pittsburgh
156. Kris O'Dowd C USC. The injury history is a red flag, but down here, I'm buying.
184. Scott Tolzien QB Wisconsin.

Interesting note that twice Baltimore took the guy I was targeting right before my pick. Bastages. Also, since teams can trade for 2012 picks "at their own risk", I decided to keep all trades in the present.

 

[Husse]

#17 - Cameron Jordan, DE - I'm not comfortable taking any other player left on the board except maybe Wilkerson and I think Jordan is the better prospect.

#28 - Stefen Wisniewski, OC - I think it's harder to find a quality C than it is to find a quality G, so I go with the best C with this pick.

#33 - Jabaal Sheard, OLB - Neither WR or RB has any prospects I want to take here. I could take Pouncey, but as explained by #28 and that in my opinion the drop-off of OLB talent after Sheard is bigger than after Pouncey until the next G. Also, I happen to like Sheard.

#60 - Danny Watkins, OG - I would like to have a skill position guy here, but I don't really like anyone left on the board with this pick. Watkins is a solid prospect and and age isn't really a worry for me.

#74 - DeMarco Murray, RB - I think right around here and #92 is the sweet spot for picking a RB. Murray is a versatile guy that can compliment the others at the position.

#92 - Edmond Gates, WR - Maybe looking at a backup DT, but but no one left has enough value with this pick. Gates is a big play guy, although raw. He gets a year to develop on the bench.

#124 - Greg Romeus, OLB - High upside with injury concerns, what is not to like? If the Patriots believe he can stay healthy I think this is a good value pick. I'm kinda looking for this pick to be the start of trading down to acquire more 6 and 7 round picks if the CBA issue isn't solved.

#156 - If I had to pick it would probably be a DB. Not sure I want anyone here though, so I trade it to next year.

#184 - Jah Reid, OT - I think Reid is undervalued, he is a solid pick. I don't think he will ever be a Pro Bowler, but a serviceable starter, sure. He is strictly a ROT prospect.

 

[dryheat44]

#17 - Cameron Jordan, DE - I'm not comfortable taking any other player left on the board except maybe Wilkerson and I think Jordan is the better prospect.

#28 - Stefen Wisniewski, OC - I think it's harder to find a quality C than it is to find a quality G, so I go with the best C with this pick.

#33 - Jabaal Sheard, OLB - Neither WR or RB has any prospects I want to take here. I could take Pouncey, but as explained by #28 and that in my opinion the drop-off of OLB talent after Sheard is bigger than after Pouncey until the next G. Also, I happen to like Sheard.

#60 - Danny Watkins, OG - I would like to have a skill position guy here, but I don't really like anyone left on the board with this pick. Watkins is a solid prospect and and age isn't really a worry for me.

#74 - DeMarco Murray, RB - I think right around here and #92 is the sweet spot for picking a RB. Murray is a versatile guy that can compliment the others at the position.

#92 - Edmond Gates, WR - Maybe looking at a backup DT, but but no one left has enough value with this pick. Gates is a big play guy, although raw. He gets a year to develop on the bench.

#124 - Greg Romeus, OLB - High upside with injury concerns, what is not to like? If the Patriots believe he can stay healthy I think this is a good value pick. I'm kinda looking for this pick to be the start of trading down to acquire more 6 and 7 round picks if the CBA issue isn't solved.

#156 - If I had to pick it would probably be a DB. Not sure I want anyone here though, so I trade it to next year.

#184 - Jah Reid, OT - I think Reid is undervalued, he is a solid pick. I don't think he will ever be a Pro Bowler, but a serviceable starter, sure. He is strictly a ROT prospect.

That's a hell of a first post coming from Sweden. Good job, and wilkommen.

 

[Husse]

That's a hell of a first post coming from Sweden. Good job, and wilkommen.

Thank you.

It took me like 3 hours, so any compliments are appreciated. I did notice similarities between our drafts, so that is good for me to atleast have somewhat close to more experienced guys.

On a side note, it's actually 'välkommen'.

 

[dryheat44]

On a side note, it's actually 'välkommen'.

I've been corrupted by my German-speaking in-laws. Apologies.

 

[Husse]

I've been corrupted by my German-speaking in-laws. Apologies.

No apologies needed, as far as I'm concerned you get and A for effort.

 

[Criptonite]

#17 DE Cameron Heyward - I realize I'm probably the only one that feels this way, but I believe he's the best fit for us out of all the DE prospects in this draft.

#28 WR Torrey Smith - Although I'm not on his bandwagon, we are looking at a potential #1 WR here. At 28 it's worth the gamble IMO.

#33 OLB Martez Wilson - He's a good player with perfect measurables to play the position for us. I'm glad he's coming in for a PW so the coaches can get a close look and determine if he's a fit here.

#60 CB Brandon Burton - Very underrated player IMO. Smart kid who would immediately compete with Arrington and Butler. Loved how he outplayed Baldwin last year.

#74 HB Shane Vereen - Versatile athlete who could see a lot of action in year 1.

#92 DL Javaris Jenkins - Need to take him since he's still on the board here. Potential to play all over the line. I'd feel great having him backing up our D line.

#124 G David Arkin - Tough smart player who I feel would fit perfectly in our system.

#156 OLB Ugo Chinasa - Great size and impressive measurables. Doesn't seem to move like an OLB, but I'll take the chance in round 5.

#184 OT Jah Reid - Great physical specimen with stating potential. He needs some molding first by Scar.

 

[SteveKiner]

Not smart enought to figure out trades that make sense for both sides. I do think the Pats will trade up from 33(to get the longer 1st round contract) but I didn't figure the trade up in this mock.

17 Castonzo OL, BC, I think he is top OL on Pats board
28 Heyward DL, Ohio State, I think he is the DE the Pats covet.
33 Sheard OLB, Pitt, Pass rusher/good against run, moving up.
60 Watkins OL, Baylor, Best interior OL prospect.
74 Chris Carter OLB, Fresno State, Double up on pass rusher.
92 Moffitt, OL, Wisconsin, Our future center.
124 Skrine, CB, Great athlete, had great combine, BB will find place for him.
156 Clay, RB, Wisconsin, Big load, was real good before injuries.
188 Klug, DL/LB, Iowa, too good a footabll player to pass up, BB will use.

Top heavy on the trenches but feeel that is NE's weak spot.
Fire Away.

 

[Off The Grid]

#17 DE Cameron Heyward - I realize I'm probably the only one that feels this way, but I believe he's the best fit for us out of all the DE prospects in this draft.

Well chosen!!

I was pounding the table for Brother Heyward quite vehemently for a while there, against a TIDE of opposition ~ obviously not including yourself.

The only reason that I've ceased doing so, is because I rate others ahead of him, but I think VERY highly of Heyward, and would be THRILLED if we called his name. Well done, sir.

 

[mgteich]

We probably should have some rules for trades. ARIZ only gave me #38 and #102 for #33.

You're welcome. I've got too much to do and not an overwhelming desire to do it, so here's what I did:

17. Cam Jordan DE Cal - I'm starting to come around on him, and being available at #17 seemed to be a no-brainer.

28. Trade to Cincinnati, along with 92, for 35 and 66.

33. Trade to Arizona for 38 and 69. We gave it to them sans KY here, but they desperately need a QB.

35. Danny Watkins G Baylor
38. Jabaal Sheard OLB Pittsburgh
60. Edmund Gates WR Abilene Christian. It might go against the BB mantra for a small school WR to go this high, but I think he's a real deal.
66. Clint Boling G Georgia
69. Shane Vereen RB California
74. Orlando Franklin OT Florida
123. Greg Romeus OLB Pittsburgh
156. Kris O'Dowd C USC. The injury history is a red flag, but down here, I'm buying.
184. Scott Tolzien QB Wisconsin.

Interesting note that twice Baltimore took the guy I was targeting right before my pick. Bastages. Also, since teams can trade for 2012 picks "at their own risk", I decided to keep all trades in the present.

 

[bbell31]

Lets go Muhammad Wilkerson/jordan at 17, Justin Houston at 28, and Derek Sherrod at 33, and Demarco Murray, Boling, Wisnewski, Leshoure, Fusco, Watkins, Buster Skrine, etc with our 60 or wateva pick it is.

 

[mgteich]

17 DE Jordan
26 OLB Houston (traded 28 and 123 to BALT for 26)
38 OL Ojilana (traded 33 for 38 and 102 to ARIZ) It seemed right with no peeking that a top OG would be there at 38.
60 OL Watkins All that sweating on who was better at 38 and we get them both.
74 DB Dowling
75 RB Vareen (traded 92 and 102 to DET for 75)
156 OC Fusco
184 LB Hezlick
=============

This meets my goals: a top DE and OLB, and two top OL's by the middle of the third. Dowling, Vareen and Fusco are bonuses.

 

[bbell31]

17 DE Jordan
26 OLB Houston (traded 28 and 123 to BALT for 26)
38 OL Ojilana (traded 33 for 38 and 102 to ARIZ)
60 OL Watkins
74 DB Dowling
75 RB Vareen (traded 92 and 102 to DET for 75)
156 OC Fusco
184 LB Hezlick

thats very nice mg, we think alot alike. i love buster skrine and taiwan jones btw.

 

[MaineMan]

Used the NFLDraftScout rankings as a guideline.

17 - Heyward

** 28 - TRADE to BUF for #34 + #121 + #164 (BUF takes Jordan)

** 33 - TRADE to SF for #45 + #114 + #138 + #185 (SF takes QB)

34 (FROM BUF) - LeShoure (yer WTF??!! moment #1)

45 (FROM SF) - Acho (yer WTF??!! moment #2) - toss-up w/ Sheard, actually

60 - Watkins (hard for me to believe he falls this far, but he was still on the board, so . . .)

74 - Franklin (Was thinking maybe Carpenter, but he was gone at #68. Slightly surprised Franklin is still on the board.)

92 - Cortez Allen (Carmichael and Black gone already?! Yikes!)

114 (FROM SF) - Delone Carter

121 (FROM BUF) - Niles Paul (Expected to be able to wait till #156 for Pettis and Paul should have been gone by now.)

124 - Romeus (Guys like Terrell McClain going way earlier than I expected.)

138 (FROM SF) - McElroy (Crap! Missed Barnes and Richard Sherman)

156 - Fusco

164 (FROM BUF) - Virgil Green (Toss-up w/ Jordan Cameron, but Julius Thomas already gone)

185 (FROM SF) - Justin Rogers (Just missed Herzlich. Bair and Trattou both went early.)

188 - David Carter

Comp pick at end of 7th (if we get one), one of:
FB Anthony Sherman
TE Lee Smith
RB Anthony Allen
DE Karl Klug
WR Lester Jean

 

[Gator Mike]

#17 Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple - I like him slightly more than Cameron Jordan because he's a little bigger and I think his upside is a little higher. I wouldn't be too disappointed if Cameron were the pick, though.

#28 Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida - Perfect pick for the Pats, IMO. He fits the mold for the kind of OL that Dante Scarnecchia likes, and with the retirement of Neal and the long-term future of Mankins in doubt, I think guard is the biggest need the Pats have.

TRADE: Patriots trade #33 to the Tennessee Titans for #39 and #77. My gut says the odds of the Patriots picking at #33 are really slim. Someone will overpay to get one of the QBs at the top of the 2nd round, and I don't see there being anyone available that the Pats will feel they HAVE to have.

TRADE: Patriots trade #39 and #90 to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for #45 and #76. See above. This is about the point where I see teams starting to panic to get the last of the Ponder, Mallett, Locker trio.

#45 Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois - No doubt we need a RB in this draft, and Leshoure is an excellent value at this point. Big kid with speed and athleticism. I think Leshoure, Green-Ellis, and Woodhead would be an excellent trio of running backs.

#60 Brandon Burton, CB, Utah - Consider this a wake up call to Darius Butler. And at the very least, it should finally bring an end to the Jonathan Wilhite Era.

#74 Chris Carter, LB, Fresno State - I can't see the Pats using a pick in the first two rounds on a pass-rushing LB convert a year after picking Jermaine Cunningham in the 2nd round. But one of three 3rd round picks on a guy sure to win Pat Hill's endorsement? Absolutely.

#76 Will Rackley, OT, Lehigh - I think he can play RT, which would allow the Pats to switch Vollmer to the left down the road. If he can't, he should be able to play guard, which gives the Pats a lot of long-term flexibility if they've already got Pouncey on the roster.

#77 Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana - Bit of a do-it-all WR who has at least some ability to get deep.

#123 Jaiquawn Jarrett, FS, Temple - Good athlete, good tackler, big hitter, versatile... those all sound like qualities BB likes in his safeties. I get the feeling that the Pats aren't real high on Brandon Meriweather, even before the shooting incident.

#156 Scott Tolzien, QB, Wisconsin - Developmental QB prospect to compete with Hoyer. At this point, why not? I kind of liked him with the Badgers.

#184 Shaun Chapas, FB, Georgia - Big, physical, old-fashioned fullback who doubles as a very effective lead blocker. Replacement for Sammy Morris, although he's not nearly the runner Morris is.

 

[Criptonite]

Well chosen!!

I was pounding the table for Brother Heyward quite vehemently for a while there, against a TIDE of opposition ~ obviously not including yourself.

The only reason that I've ceased doing so, is because I rate others ahead of him, but I think VERY highly of Heyward, and would be THRILLED if we called his name. Well done, sir.

We're on the same wavelength way too much OTG lol. I probably would put Wilkerson as my #2 DE for us, though I'd feel much better getting him at 28 than 17. I like Jordan and Watt, but just don't think they fit what we're specifically looking for.

 

[MaineMan]

#17 Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple - I like him slightly more than Cameron Jordan because he's a little bigger and I think his upside is a little higher. I wouldn't be too disappointed if Cameron were the pick, though.

#28 Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida - Perfect pick for the Pats, IMO. He fits the mold for the kind of OL that Dante Scarnecchia likes, and with the retirement of Neal and the long-term future of Mankins in doubt, I think guard is the biggest need the Pats have.

TRADE: Patriots trade #33 to the Tennessee Titans for #39 and #77. My gut says the odds of the Patriots picking at #33 are really slim. Someone will overpay to get one of the QBs at the top of the 2nd round, and I don't see there being anyone available that the Pats will feel they HAVE to have.

TRADE: Patriots trade #39 and #90 to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for #45 and #76. See above. This is about the point where I see teams starting to panic to get the last of the Ponder, Mallett, Locker trio.

#45 Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois - No doubt we need a RB in this draft, and Leshoure is an excellent value at this point. Big kid with speed and athleticism. I think Leshoure, Green-Ellis, and Woodhead would be an excellent trio of running backs.

#60 Brandon Burton, CB, Utah - Consider this a wake up call to Darius Butler. And at the very least, it should finally bring an end to the Jonathan Wilhite Era.

#74 Chris Carter, LB, Fresno State - I can't see the Pats using a pick in the first two rounds on a pass-rushing LB convert a year after picking Jermaine Cunningham in the 2nd round. But one of three 3rd round picks on a guy sure to win Pat Hill's endorsement? Absolutely.

#76 Will Rackley, OT, Lehigh - I think he can play RT, which would allow the Pats to switch Vollmer to the left down the road. If he can't, he should be able to play guard, which gives the Pats a lot of long-term flexibility if they've already got Pouncey on the roster.

#77 Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana - Bit of a do-it-all WR who has at least some ability to get deep.

#123 Jaiquawn Jarrett, FS, Temple - Good athlete, good tackler, big hitter, versatile... those all sound like qualities BB likes in his safeties. I get the feeling that the Pats aren't real high on Brandon Meriweather, even before the shooting incident.

#156 Scott Tolzien, QB, Wisconsin - Developmental QB prospect to compete with Hoyer. At this point, why not? I kind of liked him with the Badgers.

#184 Shaun Chapas, FB, Georgia - Big, physical, old-fashioned fullback who doubles as a very effective lead blocker. Replacement for Sammy Morris, although he's not nearly the runner Morris is.

Pretty nice. One nitpick: I like Rackley, too, but he really doesn't project to tackle at the NFL level, more OG and, apparently, he can even play OC. Versatility is never bad.

Also, one suggestion: If you like a true FB for the Pats, and I sorta do, too, check out Anthony Sherman (UConn). Good runner, decent receiver, devastating blocker.

 

[Richard Camembert]

#17 Cameron Jordan, DE, California

#28 Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida

#33 Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA

#60 Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor

#74 Titus Young, WR, Boise State

#92 Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson

No trades although I wanted to trade out of 74. My knowledge base doesn't really allow me to go further. But I'm already very happy with this draft, they fill DL x 2, OL x 2, another OLB, and even an adequate WR. I realize that many of the top picks match what Walter Football had, but I just think they got them generally right. Also, I allowed myself to draft Young at 74 because no WR were drafted between 60 and 74.

The player who I thought fell the furthest was Dontay Moch, and I even had a version where we got him at 60 and WR Greg Little, UNC, at 74,instead of Watkins and Young; I just think Moch is too small for our scheme, unless he gets converted into a 3rd safety or something.