Off The Grid
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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Perhaps the most difficult thing about doing a mock at this stage is the huge inconsistency in rankings between “experts”. Apart from the top 7 or so prospects (Luck, Barkley, RG3, Kalil, Blackmon, Richardson and Claiborne) there doesn’t seem to be any consensus on the rankings on the rest of the players. So I’m going to do 2 mocks. The first is based purely of the NFL Draft Scout Rankings, and I won’t go more than 3 picks over slot. Then I’ll post another mock where I think players will go.
NFL Draft Scout Rankings
NFL Draft 2012 - 2012 Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
Trades
Hoyer + 2nd (64) to KC for 2nd (45) + 3rd (76)
Haley is gone and Cassel is owed $5.25mil next season, so I think KC could be looking for a new QB. With Pioli still in charge in KC, I think Hoyer is an option for them. Similar to the Whitehurst trade, we swap 2nds and gain a 3rd.
Jermaine Cunningham for 6th
I don’t see Cunningham offering anything to this team in the near future. You can blame it on the scheme change or whatever you want, but the reality is he just isn’t a good enough football player to contribute to this team. He has a horrible first step, has no speed around the edge and from what I’ve heard he feels like an outsider in the locker room. Just move on and hope someone will give you a late round pick based on last year.
1st (27 from NO) to SF? For 2nd (61) + 2013 1st
Similar trade to the Saints one last year, move back to the late 2nd and gain a future 1st. This doesn’t have to be the 49ers, it could be any team looking to move back into the 1st round.
1 (32) to Phi for 2nd (47 from Ari) + 3 (75) + 4 (106)
Phi has extra picks in the 2nd and 4th rounds so they can afford to make a move up. I don’t really love any of the players in the late 1st, but really like some of the guys in the late 2nd, so move back and get some extra picks.
2 (47 from Phi) to NO? for 2 (59) + 4 (123) + 2013 4th
Move to the back of the 2nd round, any team looking to move up into the mid 2nd could be a trading partner.
4 (123 from NO) to ? for 5th + 6th + 7th
Pats don’t have many picks in the last few rounds, so move back with a 4th to get some extras. Any team could be a trading partner.
Picks
(Number after the name is the NFL Draft Scout Ranking)
2 (45) - SS- Mark Barron- Alabama (44)
This team really needs to add some talent to the defence, and Barron is a good start. Chung can’t seem to stay healthy, so a guy that can rotate with him and add depth the safety position is very important.
2 (52) - DT- Alameda Ta’amu – Washington (59)
Big, physical and athletic DT that could fit both a 3-4 or 4-3 base. Good value at this spot.
2 (59) -FS- TJ McDonald- USC (62)
FS is a huge need and I think McDonald is the best in the draft. He has great size and athleticism which allow him to play the deep CF role or match up with TE’s in coverage, and he is a big hitter who also gives you a presence over the middle of the field that the Pats desperately miss. Yes he takes some bad angles and may miss a tackle trying to put on a hit, and some have compared him to Brandon Meriweather, but I’m not concerned. My issue with Meriweather wasn’t that he had these problems; it’s that he refused to adjust and improve; I don’t see McDonald having the same issues.
2 (63) - LB- Vontaze Burfict- Arizona State (63)
Yes he has some character concerns, and yes he has a problem controlling his emotions on the field, but he is too talented to pass up at this stage. He has top 10 talent but hasn’t put it all together yet. For that to happen I think he needs a strong, structured environment where he can grow up and concentrate on football. But to be fair to Burfict, he goes to Arizona State, you can’t expect him to not get into any trouble when he goes to the #3 Party School in the Country
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3 (75) - Devin Taylor- South Carolina
Taylor isn’t listed on NFL Draft Scouts Rankings so this is where I think he is rated. Big, athletic and talented DE that I also think has the athleticism to play OLB in a 3-4. He still needs some time for his body to develop to play in the NFL, but he has shown some flashes as a pass rusher and looks very fluid in space. High ceiling, developmental edge rusher.
3 (76) – Cliff Harris- Oregon (91)
Character concerns, poor play and lack of size have really dropped Harris’ stock this year. He is a talented cover corner who is a big time playmaker both at corner and as a KR/PR. I think his lack of size means he would struggle against bigger receivers, but I think he would be a great fit as a slot CB. His character is a huge concern, but I think like a lot of college kids he just needs to grow up. Put him in a structured environment and I think he could flourish, and at this stage I think he is worth the risk. Even if he doesn’t work out as a CB, he is still one of the most talented punt returners in the draft.
3 (96) - Vinny Curry- Marshall (102)
I don’t know how Curry is rated this low because I think he is a late 1st, early 2nd rounder, but a lot of so called “experts” have him as a 3rd rounder. At this stage he is an absolute STEAL and I wouldn’t hesitate to grab him. I think he can play both 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB and do a lot of things to help this team.
4 (106) - Mike Brewster – Ohio State (129)
While I don’t think C is as big of a need as I did earlier in the year, but the value is just too good to pass up here. He might not be the next Mangold, but I don’t think his stock has dropped this far. He is still a smart and talented C that I think will have a good career in the NFL.
4 (122) - Michael Williams- Alabama
Not listed by NFL Draft Scout, but I really like Williams at TE. He is a monster blocker that has been a big part of the success of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, but I think he also has some underutilized talent as a receiver. I see him as a poor man’s Gronk or Brandon Pettigrew.
5th- CB- Trumaine Johnson- Montana (163)
Trumaine Johnson is one of the most physically gifted CB’s in this draft, but lack of competition and some character concerns have hurt his stock. I think he could add a lot of versatility to the defence with his size and ability to play press man coverage. I think a CB group with Johnson and Dowling to play press man coverage, McCourty and Arrington to play zone, and Cliff Harris as the slot CB, this defence would be a lot more talented and versatile.
*** Broken In Half!! ***
