The 2017 Mock Draft Thread

[I.M. Fletcher]

Maybe. I haven't really seen anyone that I think offer the same level of output in all four phases of the game (running, catching, returning, blocking) except maybe Kareem Hunt sans the returning. I'm not a fan of Samuels' body catching. I do like Matt Dayes though. Personally I think McCaffrey can be everything David Johnson is.

Minus 30lbs ( I kid).

He does offer a lot of versatility. I think Hunt would be close to the top of my list as well. If Mixon was clean, I'd take him at 12 without hesitation.

Foreman is my main focus right now, as the best power an blocking back in the draft. Not as versatile as the others, but a ready made role to step in to, and fits with our blocking scheme. Fumbles are an issue, but it looks more like endurance issues than anything.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I think they all get measured at the start of a season anyway which scouts will get the information on.

Yep, and apparently scouts are allowed to do measurements of their choosing when they come visit.

I do think it's not ideal for a player to have official weigh ins with really below average numbers. It will stick in GMs minds more than what their scout picked up in October.

 

[manxman2601]

Minus 30lbs

He does offer a lot of versatility. I think Hunt would be close to the top of my list as well. If Mixon was clean, I'd take him at 12 without hesitation.

Foreman is my main focus right now, as the best power an blocking back in the draft. Not as versatile as the others, but a ready made role to step in to, and fits with our blocking scheme. Fumbles are an issue, but it looks more like endurance issues than anything.

I've not watched him but am put off by his fumbles. I'd rather they just bring back Blount for the bigger back anyway. I do quite like Perine though. Not a lot of wiggle but pretty explosive for a back of his size. Big 12 offensive players scare me though. They've yet to see a defense

 

[manxman2601]

Yep, and apparently scouts are allowed to do measurements of their choosing when they come visit.

I do think it's not ideal for a player to have official weigh ins with really below average numbers. It will stick in GMs minds more than what their scout picked up in October.

Do you mean losing weight to gain speed for the combine? If so, I agree.

 

[luuked]

Yep, and apparently scouts are allowed to do measurements of their choosing when they come visit.

I do think it's not ideal for a player to have official weigh ins with really below average numbers. It will stick in GMs minds more than what their scout picked up in October.

See what I am curious is whether most teams wouldn't be more interested in his numbers over the final college football season than the ones shortly before the combine. All that decided to join the draft are now specifically training their body to perform well in those classic combine/pro day evaluations which imho makes all those measurements a bit questionable anyway.

Lose a bit of needed mass to run a bit faster, gain a bit of muscle mass to get a few more reps there..

 

[AzorianPats]

It's the weight to height combo that I think will be an issue.

It's one thing being 205 when you are 5'9. Quite another when you are 6'.

You are right though, it will be interesting to see what he weighs in at for the combine.

I actually think that's one of the reasons Foster sat out the senior bowl. An ilb weighing in at 225 would've given teams a lot of pause. But, a month later, 235-240 is easier to get around.

I think Dion Lewis is 5'8 185lbs. And by season end he was getting more carries than Blount.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I've not watched him but am put off by his fumbles. I'd rather they just bring back Blount for the bigger back anyway. I do quite like Perine though. Not a lot of wiggle but pretty explosive for a back of his size. Big 12 offensive players scare me though. They've yet to see a defense

Foreman, perine and Conner coming out the same year is very interesting. There are usually only one true back a year come out with that type of size, but all three are legit talents. Conner is the forgotten man, but I think he will definitely be a guy we have an eye on.

If you like perines explosiveness, foreman has an extra gear. Perine also seems a little slow to the hole on occasion, while foreman was just barreling over defenses.

Pretty similar situations though. Both offenses used the power game to set up the play action for big plays. Westbrook having a huge season is directly related to mixon and perine. Same can be said about Texas. It was either a handoff to foreman, or a 30yd bomb. Not much in between.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I think Dion Lewis is 5'8 185lbs. And by season end he was getting more carries than Blount.

5'7 and just about 200 now

 

[AzorianPats]

5'7 and just about 200 now

You're right. Just seen he was at 195. He looks smaller though.

I don't want McCaffrey here to carry the rock up the gut 30 times. But how we use Lewis or how Atlanta uses Freeman is ideal. He's just a mismatch.

If they go heavy, just split the defenses out wide and hope you see a LB on him.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Foreman is Blount 2.0. Same freaky feet for a guy his size. They can legitimately make people miss. Foreman gets up to speed more quickly, though. Most of the fumbles I saw were when he was in a scrum fighting for extra yards. Rarely did I see him just carelessly drop the ball. At the very least, he rarely did anything more egregious than Blount did in the Super Bowl. Fumbling can be fixed. Finding that kind of size, speed, vision, and production -- well, that's a lot harder. In most drafts, Foreman goes 1st round. He just happened to declare in the middle of a stacked class, which has both depth and premium talent.

 

[manxman2601]

Foreman, perine and Conner coming out the same year is very interesting. There are usually only one true back a year come out with that type of size, but all three are legit talents. Conner is the forgotten man, but I think he will definitely be a guy we have an eye on.

If you like perines explosiveness, foreman has an extra gear. Perine also seems a little slow to the hole on occasion, while foreman was just barreling over defenses.

Pretty similar situations though. Both offenses used the power game to set up the play action for big plays. Westbrook having a huge season is directly related to mixon and perine. Same can be said about Texas. It was either a handoff to foreman, or a 30yd bomb. Not much in between.

I've been a fan of Conner for a while but still think Blount is the better option. I'll watch Foreman but those fumbles really bother me.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Foreman is Blount 2.0. Same freaky feet for a guy his size. They can legitimately make people miss. Foreman gets up to speed more quickly, though. Most of the fumbles I saw were when he was in a scrum fighting for extra yards. Rarely did I see him just carelessly drop the ball. At the very least, he rarely did anything more egregious than Blount did in the Super Bowl. Fumbling can be fixed. Finding that kind of size, speed, vision, and production -- well, that's a lot harder. In most drafts, Foreman goes 1st round. He just happened to declare in the middle of a stacked class, which has both depth and premium talent.

If I am taking a running back at 32, it's foreman or (ducks) mixon.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I like mccaffrey, but can he handle the punishment?

I just do not have a first round grade in him.

 

[Gabriel_p94]

I like mccafrey as well. I think he would be a fit for what we do on offense but i dont think i would consider him in the first. Assuming we trade JG and get an earlier first round pick, i think this is the draft we can really stack the defensive side of the ball. With two firsts bb could draft a very higly touted player. I personally have my fingers crossed for reuben foster or solomon thomas if we were to have clevelands second pick, but i have a feeling after the combine thomas might work his way out of our range. Then with our second first im starting to warm up to hasson reddick. With two potentially game changing defensive players its very possible our defense gets even better than last year.

Im sorry for rambling but i just dont see McCaffrey being worth our second first round pick (again assuming we get clevelands 12th pick) we have players who can fill his role as a pass catcher and a runner. But I am pulling for donta foreman or samaje perrine in the third or later .

 

[Username]

Charlie Casserly has us trading Jimmy G to Cleveland for #12 and taking Derek Barnett & OJ Howard in the 1st.

 

[luuked]

Charlie Casserly has us trading Jimmy G to Cleveland for #12 and taking Derek Barnett & OJ Howard in the 1st.

I am not sure if I like Barnett enough to justify not snowballing #12 into multiple picks.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I am not sure if I like Barnett enough to justify not snowballing #12 into multiple picks.

I just wonder if he will be able to do anything beyond rush the passer. That's a pretty great skill to have, but I don't know about leaving him out in space, or locking up the edge.

His arms just look so short to go alon with very avg athleticism. I am good with one of those two, but without either, life would be hard for him in our system.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I am not sure if I like Barnett enough to justify not snowballing #12 into multiple picks.

I just wonder if he will be able to do anything beyond rush the passer. That's a pretty great skill to have, but I don't know about leaving him out in space, or locking up the edge.

His arms just look so short to go along with very avg athleticism. I am good with one of those two, but without either, life would be a hard fit for him in our system.

 

[BobDigital]

Mock cause I am bored but with different players and a different strategy.

Pats Trade Jimmy G for #12 and a 4th (with a 4th next year)

Pats trade #12 for #21 and #53

#21 - Ryan Ramcyzk- OT - If they need a Solder replacement this guy could do it. He is smaller than the Pats usually take. He needs a year but could be really good. Hip surgery could easily drop him in this range.

#32 - Forrest Lamp - IOL - This is for one of the 3 interior spots. Thuney I think will be fine but I want help for Mason or Andrews. Not good enough there and I think we need to improve the OL on the whole if we want Brady to play longer.

#53 - Carl Lawson - DE/OLB - Someone is going to fall form the pass rush side of things and this could be the guy. Also has functional strength.

#64 - Joleel Johnson - DT - Pats needs an answer for when Branch leaves.

#96 - Chidobe Awuzie - CB - A good CB is going to fall. Hope it is this guy

3rd comp - Jake Butt - TE - Red shirt year.

4th - Fish Smithson - S - Need a Harmon replacement.

4th - Corey Clement - RB - Need a new first down RB.

And I will stop there. A lot of balance here with O and D and choosing to pass on some D talent in the first to get OL help.

 

[manxman2601]

Mock cause I am bored but with different players and a different strategy.

Pats Trade Jimmy G for #12 and a 4th (with a 4th next year)

Pats trade #12 for #21 and #53

#21 - Ryan Ramcyzk- OT - If they need a Solder replacement this guy could do it. He is smaller than the Pats usually take. He needs a year but could be really good. Hip surgery could easily drop him in this range.

#32 - Forrest Lamp - IOL - This is for one of the 3 interior spots. Thuney I think will be fine but I want help for Mason or Andrews. Not good enough there and I think we need to improve the OL on the whole if we want Brady to play longer.

#53 - Carl Lawson - DE/OLB - Someone is going to fall form the pass rush side of things and this could be the guy. Also has functional strength.

#64 - Joleel Johnson - DT - Pats needs an answer for when Branch leaves.

#96 - Chidobe Awuzie - CB - A good CB is going to fall. Hope it is this guy

3rd comp - Jake Butt - TE - Red shirt year.

4th - Fish Smithson - S - Need a Harmon replacement.

4th - Corey Clement - RB - Need a new first down RB.

And I will stop there. A lot of balance here with O and D and choosing to pass on some D talent in the first to get OL help.

I would only have two issues with this mock. I've read that both Jaleel Johnson and Corey Clement have issues about how much they love football. If that's right (I don't know if it is), and after what happened with Easley, I wonder if they'd be on our board.