Nice job as usual Manx. I appreciate the effort you, mayo, Grid, and others do getting ready for the draft. It's an impossible thing for most to agree on specifically but this forum of a great place to discuss it and bounce ideas around. I no longer put in the effort I once did but team building has always been the most interesting aspect of football to me and the draft is a big part of that process. I still look fairly closely at the to 125-150 players but don't spend much time going past that anymore. At this point I'm looking at the first four rounds and trying to narrow down those prospects I would like and where the relative strengths are in those rounds. My short board at #32 will mostly be gone but my hope is one is still around and they are interested in them. At #32 it looks like this, but keep in mind I look at it proxy style and expect many be gone when they pick. I recently dumped Gurley and Lael Collins because I don't see them having any chance at falling to #32, and while the same can be said of many I do think there is some chance they could be.
1) Cameron Erving OL FSU It's not looking like he will be there but Erving is the player I want the most out of those who could possibly be there. He is a perfect fit for them and pairing him inside with Stork would be a significant upgrade at Guard, and would give them insurance if Stork was out.
2) Byron Jones CB UCONN. Like Jamie Collins a few years ago Jones is the best out athlete in this draft and has as high a ceiling as any prospect in this draft. IMO first round picks are about getting all pro caliber players and Jones upside would fit that criteria if he panned out. I would take that chance.
3) Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma Massive DT with exceptional athleticism for a guy that big. There are some concerns but his upside is higher than Goldman and Brown imo.
4) Marcus Peters CB Washington I don't like character questions in the first round but in terms of his play he is probably the best CB in this draft. If he falls this far they would have to consider him.
5) Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest Probably the safest pick of the CB's who could be available at 32. Should turn into a quality CB but doesn't have the ceiling you would like in the first round.
6) T.J. CB Clemmimgs Pittsburgh. Another pick based upon ceiling. Would be somewhat of a project as his time on the OL is limited and he would be moving inside to guard but he has the potential to become a really good pro guard.
7) Malcolm Brown DT Texas Brown has been slipping throughout the lead up to the draft but he's a top DL in this class and he's worth using the #32 on imo.
8) Eddie Goldman DT FSU In not as high on Goldman as I was a month ago but he's still a top DT I this draft and would also be worth the #32, although at this point I would be more inclined to try to trade down and add to the 2nd round if possible.
At this point I would try to trade down as there really aren't many players I would want to use a first on.
