2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[EwanSellars]

some late round guys im interested in are deandre coleman DT and Kareem Martin DE both were rated much higher earlier in the year i remember kareem martin being mentioned as a possible first rounder at least once and deandre coleman as a possible 2nd round pick for us earlier in the year now cbs has them projected in the 5 or 6th round id love to pick up one of these kind of guys who have dropped for whatever reason like buchanon did last year. I also want to see if we can get someone like bullough from mich state the ilb seems like he has a great make up and has a great fotball iq getting him in the 4th round would be nice but wouldnt mind 3rd on him if we let spikes walk

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I have not read all 700 posts but one guy I think the Pats would like is NT/DT Louis Nix of ND. However, I doubt he drops all the way to them. There's the relationship between BB and ND's coach and the Pats may be looking at some options depending how Vince Wilfork progresses through rehab.

I could see Nix dropping to us. He had a bad year playing through injury. Combine that with the "Passing League" and a deep first round and I expect WR, pass rushers, CB to be valued over those silly run stoppers. It's way too early to project "who will be there" but right now I could see Nix being there for us - and not being there for the next team.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Marcus Mariota staying in school.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Marcus Mariota staying in school.

Great news for us Duck fans. I was mixed on it, I get the thinking of coming out as soon as you'll be a #1 pick but stats are clear that, for QB, under something like 35 college starts the chance at NFL success goes way down. I saw the stat (it was basically a three year starter, forget exactly how many starts) and the list of QB that met it vs. those that didn't was staggering in terms of success rate.

 

[JDot]

Marcus Mariota staying in school.

Great news..

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Great news..

Except that's one fewer player that can help push the Pats' targets down to them.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

If that's a torn ACL for Mettenberger, that will knock him down the draft. If anyone in the forum is a big fan of him, he's in patriots draft territory now.

Turns out it is a torn ACL.

I'd draft him mid rounds, stash him on IR and keep Mallett next year. Year after, Mallett leaves and Mettenberger is ready to go physically and should know the offense too.

Gives us a backup for 4 years and the first possibility at THE successor (depending how he develops, of course).

 

[patsinthesnow]

Turns out it is a torn ACL.

I'd draft him mid rounds, stash him on IR and keep Mallett next year. Year after, Mallett leaves and Mettenberger is ready to go physically and should know the offense too.

Gives us a backup for 4 years and the first possibility at THE successor (depending how he develops, of course).

Definitely down for Mettenberger if he falls into the mid rounds. That sucks for him. He was a mid-late 1st round QB.

So Bridgewater, Carr, Manziel only real locks as 1st round QBs. Way more than 3 teams need a QB. This will get interesting. I wonder if the McCarron overdrafted rumors will turn out true in May.

Still think Jimmy G has a shot at round 1.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Definitely down for Mettenberger if he falls into the mid rounds. That sucks for him. He was a mid-late 1st round QB.

Not sure if he would have done that high, some say his old off field issues would have caused a Mallett like drop to the 2nd or 3rd round. Who knows, he has a LOT in common with Mallett that's for sure.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

So Bridgewater, Carr, Manziel only real locks as 1st round QBs. Way more than 3 teams need a QB. This will get interesting. I wonder if the McCarron overdrafted rumors will turn out true in May.

Still think Jimmy G has a shot at round 1.

I'd take McCarron over both Carr and Manziel myself. Of course, if I were a team needing a QB I'd take Mallett over any of them given his 3 years with the Patriots and the arm but that's another issue. It's definitely not a strong QB year, a lot of interesting guys but all with tremendous risk.

 

[meatface]

I'd take McCarron over both Carr and Manziel myself. Of course, if I were a team needing a QB I'd take Mallett over any of them given his 3 years with the Patriots and the arm but that's another issue. It's definitely not a strong QB year, a lot of interesting guys but all with tremendous risk.

isnt Mallet's service time part of the issue though? If he does great they will have to pony up right away, while these other guys would get several years of team control. I just don't think anyone is going to bite on Mallet for more than a late pick

 

[Gronkandez]

Not sure if he would have done that high, some say his old off field issues would have caused a Mallett like drop to the 2nd or 3rd round. Who knows, he has a LOT in common with Mallett that's for sure.

I believe there was only one issue. From what I can he "just" groped a girl at a bar. I say "just" because it seems relatively minor compared to Big Ben's bar exploits and seemingly more minor that Winston's accusations for that matter.

He was never a clear cut first rounder based on talent alone. Probably a 2nd rounder.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I believe there was only one issue. From what I can he "just" groped a girl at a bar. I say "just" because it seems relatively minor compared to Big Ben's bar exploits and seemingly more minor that Winston's accusations for that matter.

I'm not pretending to be an expert on him but SEC teams have a fairly high tolerance before kicking their football players off the team. I was mostly referring to some references from draftheadquarters.com about how off field concerns would drop him below where his talent would usually be drafted. This was before the injury and didn't give specific details.

 

[Gronkandez]

I'm not pretending to be an expert on him but SEC teams have a fairly high tolerance before kicking their football players off the team. I was mostly referring to some references from draftheadquarters.com about how off field concerns would drop him below where his talent would usually be drafted. This was before the injury and didn't give specific details.

I agree with that statement. There must have been more to it.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

isnt Mallet's service time part of the issue though? If he does great they will have to pony up right away, while these other guys would get several years of team control. I just don't think anyone is going to bite on Mallet for more than a late pick

I would say definitely not when Kirk Cousins is out there. For all of the value we hope that Mallett holds, Cousins already has NFL game experience in a playoff atmosphere.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I would say definitely not when Kirk Cousins is out there. For all of the value we hope that Mallett holds, Cousins already has NFL game experience in a playoff atmosphere.

And Mallett was a far better prospect coming out (on the field).

I suspect we'll never know as we have no viable backup without him so unless we get a veteran for next year I think we'll keep Mallett through his contract then let him go - and breathe a sigh of relief he was never needed.

As I said on the other thread, my impression is that last year when trade inquiries were made, a #2 pick was insufficient to Bill.

This is what I read, from someone I trust, from mid October. I know nothing more :

"Mallet is under contract through the 2014 season and the Browns have/had interest.

Bill Belichick was not receptive to dealing the QB in the past off-season -- unless a team wanted to trade a 1st round pick for him. Presently, I can say Belichick has no intention of dealing the QB right now.

What you see in Mallet is a strong-armed QB, quickness is not a strength, but does have on-field awareness -- and of course has been the under-study to Brady which is always beneficial.

Early on maturity was an issue for Mallet, he has grown up and developed into a solid teammate and man.

I can say if Belichick decides to trade the QB, Mike Lombardi will be getting a call from the onset.

Right now, Mallet is staying in NE.

I believe Mallet is a talent and based on tools, he is right there. His maturity issues are a thing of the past and his development time in NE is the added bonus in the equation.

My concern with Mallet is his limited mobility and decision-making. Despite his schooling, the QB still tends to make questionable decisions -- in preseason and practice opportunities in NE. Playing time generally helps to minimize this aspect in many cases, but not all.

Having the opportunity to see and talk with those in NE due to past relationships with some in NE -- those in NE aren't certain Mallet can be "the guy", but he shows plenty enough to project as a serious option in their scheme."

 

[everlong]

After being really high on Dont'a Hightower two years ago I've come around and want a Lavonte David type of player. I think Hightower is either going to get move to DE in the future or maybe a 3-4 OLB potentially. He's just too slow out there in space and not instinctual.

So I've started going through some prospects and the first was Ryan Shazier. If he has open space he makes the play every time. If he has to take on a block from any position he cannot fight through it. Additionally if there's wash in front of him he gets lost in it and cannot find his way through the traffic. When blitzing backs will stand him up or cut him low effectively. If he wins a one on one battle blitzing it's by running by a guard or tackle who wasn't ready for him.

He is effective in coverage and seems to understand his zone responsibilities and has the speed to snuff out screens to both RBs and WRs. He also seems instinctual in zone coverage. In man coverage I don't think he has loose enough hips to stay with backs or receivers at the NFL level.

Watching him reminded me of Akeem Ayers of UCLA from a few years back. I think the hype is based on measurables and a few big hits.

 

[patsinthesnow]

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

Forum 2nd round favorite Darqueze Dennard is 18th overall now. Garoppolo up to 69th overall. Tajh Boyd down to 112th overall.

 

[manxman2601]

After being really high on Dont'a Hightower two years ago I've come around and want a Lavonte David type of player. I think Hightower is either going to get move to DE in the future or maybe a 3-4 OLB potentially. He's just too slow out there in space and not instinctual.

So I've started going through some prospects and the first was Ryan Shazier. If he has open space he makes the play every time. If he has to take on a block from any position he cannot fight through it. Additionally if there's wash in front of him he gets lost in it and cannot find his way through the traffic. When blitzing backs will stand him up or cut him low effectively. If he wins a one on one battle blitzing it's by running by a guard or tackle who wasn't ready for him.

He is effective in coverage and seems to understand his zone responsibilities and has the speed to snuff out screens to both RBs and WRs. He also seems instinctual in zone coverage. In man coverage I don't think he has loose enough hips to stay with backs or receivers at the NFL level.

Watching him reminded me of Akeem Ayers of UCLA from a few years back. I think the hype is based on measurables and a few big hits.

His 21 tackles for loss and 6 sacks probably account for some of that hype too. Lavonte David had 24 tfl total. Shazier is small and that will affect how teams play him, but he is a playmaker with outstanding range.

 

[everlong]

His 21 tackles for loss and 6 sacks probably account for some of that hype too. Lavonte David had 24 tfl total. Shazier is small and that will affect how teams play him, but he is a playmaker with outstanding range.

The common these on all the ones I saw was they were to the outside and he didn't have to shed any tackles and most on screens not runs. In the NFL you rarely get a free ride to the ball carrier. I'm not saying he isn't physically talented but I think he's a better athlete than a football player.