Mayock ranks Ayers as third best player in the draft!

[BadMoFo]

In a conference call to NFL reporters, Mike Mayock said he ranks Tennessee DE Robert Ayers as the third best player in the draft.

Other tidbits, or tweets, from the conference call, via Twitter:

Colts? Think about Brian Robiskie. Mayock calls him the most polished of this year's wide receivers. Interesting...

Iggles? Mayock likes Knowshon Moreno better than Beanie Wells. Says Moreno will go somewhere in 15-25 range, so Iggles holding their breath.

Mayock has Robert Ayers as the third best player in this draft. Wow!

Jets need to upgrade at WR. 17 is probably too late for elite QB. Heyward-Bey might be the guy.

Mayock: If Broncos don't try to get Sanchez, they're crazy. If they go 4-12 with Orton, Josh McDaniels probably gets fired.

Mayock on Vikings: If they're ok with the 2 qbs, they need playmaker. Maybe Harvin slides to 22. How about Pat White in 2nd (wildcat)?

Mayock on Bucs: QB Josh Freeman makes a ton of sense but they prolly won't get him if they wait til 19. He has Peria Jerry as the 11th best

Mayock: 8 offensive tackles who could go in the first round. Look for another early run on them.

Mayock: Any team in the top 10 looking to get out will listen to any reasonable offer. Same quality of player at 7 as u can at 20.

Mayock: Three top tackles might be off the board for Packers at 9. Gotta look at T Oher or DE Orakpo.

 

[Irish Hooligan]

Wow. Things are getting a bit nuts now.

 

[bakes781]

I had already heard him state that 3 years from now that Robert Ayers would be the best defensive player from this draft class.

 

[jmt57]

Well, another week and a half and we'll find out. My guess is that McDaniels will see what he has with Orton and Simms, and if it appears neither is the right fit then he'll grab a QB in the first round next year. Pat White is a winner and a great athlete, but I just think that the second round is too high for him. And while a RB to go along with Westbrook is intriguing for the Eagles, they really have to get an OT to replace Tra Thomas. They'd be a perfect team to trade up, in exchange for a team with an early pick that wants to trade down for multiple picks.

And with so many needs but only one pick on day one, I don't see Tampa Bay drafting a QB. As for Peria Jerry, even if he is available at #19 he does not fit the scheme that will be used by their new DC, Jim Bates; it's almost opposite of what Monte Kiffin was using (speed, mobility, quickness.) Bates' system puts more of a premium on power, size and strength. I can see them trying to trade down a little and pick Ron Brace or Fili Maola later, or else go for a DE, DB, maybe an OLB with their first pick.

 

[dryheat44]

I had already him state that 3 years from now that Robert Ayers would be the best defensive player from this draft class.

Which I find hilarious, since he's been an underachiever/non-factor his entire college career up until the end.

 

[patchick]

I think Robiskie is benefiting from the general unpredictability of WR picks. With so many "diamonds in the rough" and character questions, a team that hopes to plug a rookie wideout right into their lineup is likely to overdraft Robiskie as a polished prospect who carries himself like a pro -- rather than as an elite talent.

 

[BradyManny]

I think Robiskie is benefiting from the general unpredictability of WR picks. With so many "diamonds in the rough" and character questions, a team that hopes to plug a rookie wideout right into their lineup is likely to overdraft Robiskie as a polished prospect who carries himself like a pro -- rather than as an elite talent.

Robiskie is my favorite wideout in the draft for this very reason though. I concede his upside does not compare favorably to DHB or Nicks, but Robiskie's such a sure thing as a contributor. For a team like the Patriots that has a tough offensive system to grasp, I think that could be valuable.

 

[Urgent]

On Ayers:
Ayers had a great Senior Bowl - practice and game. If all you saw was the Senior Bowl, you might make that projection. However, his entire season was pedestrian. If all you saw was his season stats, you would project him as the 10th-15th best DE or so. The truth may be in the middle. But ignoring the entire season is sort of foolish.

On McDaniels:
There is no way a first-year coach gets fired for going 4-12. That sours future coaches on your program. Coaches are always given a down year, if it occurs, while they install a new system and turn over the roster. You seldom expect a rookie coach to win the Super Bowl, so 4-12 vs. 12-4 really doesn't make that much difference in the NFL when you are looking at the next couple years. A team is almost as likely to go to the Super Bowl off a 4-12 season as a 12-4 season - there are plenty of turnarounds like that. Belichick's first year with the Pats, they went 5-11, good for 5th place in the AFC East. Next season they won the Super Bowl. Saying that about McDaniels is also foolish.

 

[pats_premi]

Rick Gosselin ranks him 7th best DL. So who knows..

NFL draft preview: Defensive line | NFL Draft News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

 

[bakes781]

Which I find hilarious, since he's been an underachiever/non-factor his entire college career up until the end.

he did site a game against Alabama in which he dominated Andre Smith, but now that his own stock is plummeting take it fwiw.

 

[BPF]

Here's what Mayock had to say on the Pats and OLB options in the draft:

Mayock on OLB options for Patriots - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock is holding a conference call today, and he was asked about the Patriots' first-round options at outside linebacker.

The Patriots presumably want to come out of this draft with some added explosion for their pass rush at that position, so I asked Mayock which outside linebackers he views as the best fit for the Patriots at No. 23.

His response:

"I think the guys that will be in the picture at that point are [Aaron] Maybin and [Larry] English. They're the two high-level guys that could be there. I like English better than Maybin. I think he's a natural pass-rusher, isn't quite as explosive as Maybin with his first step or two, but I think he's a better run defender and I think he's smart and tough. I don't think [Clay] Matthews and [Brian] Cushing are that type of linebacker. Then I think Clint Sintim and Cody Brown are more second-round guys."

I'm with him on English, I think he would be the best fit and the best option if we stay at 23.

 

[BPF]

he did site a game against Alabama in which he dominated Andre Smith, but now that his own stock is plummeting take it fwiw.

Smith's stock is not plummeting, he will will go in the top 15 no doubt.

 

[bakes781]

I agree, but still going from a top 5 to top 15 is pretty steep.

Here's what Mayock had to say on the Pats and OLB options in the draft:

Mayock on OLB options for Patriots - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com



I'm with him on English, I think he would be the best fit and the best option if we stay at 23.

Same here obviously!

 

[supafly]

Here's what Mayock had to say on the Pats and OLB options in the draft:

Mayock on OLB options for Patriots - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com



I'm with him on English, I think he would be the best fit and the best option if we stay at 23.

That's the thing about trying to predict the draft, one guy has someone as the 3rd best player, another has him as a low first rounder. I know I'm glad I don't have to make these decisions, what that said, I will seriously be happy with whomever our future HOF coach picks.

IMO--I'd like Cody Brown in the 2nd round too, but that would most likely mean 2 LB's in day one--and that's not too likely probably. I heard BB gave him like a 35 minute chalk talk, and I wonder how he did.

 

[bakes781]

I trust Mayock's opinion over most.

 

[dryheat44]

I trust Mayock's opinion over most.

As do I, but the Ayers bit is ridiculous. Why on earth would you expect a guy who's reportedly never put much effort into becoming a great football player to put in three years worth of dedication after he becomes a millionaire to become the best defensive football player in the draft....over hard working, high character guys like Orakpo, Brown, Curry, Jenkins, even Raji?

It's like saying that in three years, Michael Moore is going to become the most well-respected even-footed historian in the world.

 

[bakes781]

It does fly in the face of most of his reports where he seems to carry more weight on game tape. I guess he just figures he's a late bloomer.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

On Ayers:
Ayers had a great Senior Bowl - practice and game. If all you saw was the Senior Bowl, you might make that projection. However, his entire season was pedestrian. If all you saw was his season stats, you would project him as the 10th-15th best DE or so. The truth may be in the middle. But ignoring the entire season is sort of foolish.

This is three State of Tennessee players in row that he's championed. 2007 draft: Cutler was his binky. 2008 draft: He was early to the Mayo crusade. 2009 draft: Ayers has emerged as his boy.

On McDaniels:
There is no way a first-year coach gets fired for going 4-12. That sours future coaches on your program. Coaches are always given a down year, if it occurs, while they install a new system and turn over the roster. You seldom expect a rookie coach to win the Super Bowl, so 4-12 vs. 12-4 really doesn't make that much difference in the NFL when you are looking at the next couple years. A team is almost as likely to go to the Super Bowl off a 4-12 season as a 12-4 season - there are plenty of turnarounds like that. Belichick's first year with the Pats, they went 5-11, good for 5th place in the AFC East. Next season they won the Super Bowl. Saying that about McDaniels is also foolish.

This goes to his Cutler love from and since the 2007 draft. Denver went into the toilet from the moment Jake the Snake was benched and Cutler was handed the reigns, Mayock is just as protective of his binky as any of the rest of us. I'd wish Chicago's season in the toilet, but I think that is a moot point.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Rick Gosselin ranks him 7th best DL. So who knows..

NFL draft preview: Defensive line | NFL Draft News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

H'mmm, 'potential first round picks in bold'...

Always an interesting thing to note coming from Gosselin.

I'm liking Ron Brace as a NT the more I read about him.

 

[rookBoston]

I saw an interview with a player (was it Patrick Chung?) where he was asked what other player had impressed him most in the Senior Bowl. He said Ayers without even hesitating.