five days out from draft day so I thought I'd post my final mock. there is no trades here, because they are tough to gauge. if you have any inquiries about any of the picks let me know and I'll answer you ASAP. 1. Houston -- Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina) 2. St. Louis -- Greg Robinson (OT, Auburn) 3. Jacksonville -- Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson) 4. Cleveland -- Mike Evans (WR, Texas A&M) 5. Oakland -- Khalil Mack (OLB, Buffalo) 6. Atlanta -- Jake Matthews (OT, Texas A&M) 7. Tampa Bay -- Aaron Donald (DT, Pittsburgh) 8. Minnesota -- Blake Bortles (QB, Central Florida) 9. Buffalo -- Taylor Lewan (OT, Michigan) 10. Detroit -- Hasean Clinton-Dix (S, Alabama) 11. Tennessee -- Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State) 12. Giants -- Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina) 13. St. Louis -- Odell Beckham Jr. (WR, LSU) 14. Chicago -- Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville) 15. Pittsburgh - -Darqueze Dennard (CB, Michigan State) 16. Dallas -- Timmy Jernigan (DT, Florida State) 17. Baltimore -- Zack Martin (OG, Notre Dame) 18. Jets -- Kyle Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech) 19. Miami -- Morgan Moses (OT, Virginia) 20. Arizona -- Derek Carr (QB, Fresno State) 21. Green Bay -- C.J.Mosley (ILB, Alabama) 22. Philadelphia -- Brandin Cooks (WR, Oregon State) 23. Kansas City -- Marqise Lee (WR, USC) 24. Cincinnati -- Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville) 25. San Diego -- Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame) 26. Cleveland -- Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M) 27. New Orleans -- Anthony Barr (OLB, UCLA) 28. Carolina -- Cody Latimer (WR, Indiana) 29. New England -- Ra'Shede Hageman (DT, Minnesota) 30. San Francisco -- Kony Ealy (DT, Missouri) 31. Denver -- Ryan Shazier (OLB, Ohio State) 32. Seattle -- Xavier Su'a-Filo (OG, UCLA) allow me to explain the thought process behind our pick. the way things shook out Dennard and Gilbert were both gone before our pick, since I didn't include a trades I decided to address the corner position here. Kyle Fuller is a great talent, some see him as the best corner in this class. I think if we didn't take him we wouldn't find a better corner in the later rounds. the talent kinda drops off, similar to the safety class. Since Rex's defense relies heavily on the corner position we need to address it early on. the receiver position can be addressed in either rounds 2-3, there is far too many good receiver prospects in this class, were bound to get one of them. again, if there are any questions or concerns with any of the other team's picks ask away.
I saw an article earlier today stating that Cincy has interest in him. the way I see it, Cincy still has faith in Dalton but that faith could be teetering. IMO Dalton is holding the team back from being a serious contender, sure they make the playoffs but they don't win the games. Dalton can't win big games and his play is too inconsistent. Plus Dalton was a round 2 selection. I say bring in Bridgewater and have him sit behind Dalton. if Dalton isn't getting it done they can pull the trigger on Teddy. they now have a suitable backup. it was either Cincy or Denver for Bridgewater. I couldn't place him anywhere else. I think most of the QB needy teams in the top 10 look elsewhere and try to grab a QB in round 2.
There has to be some off field issue we don't know about if Teddy is not in the top 10, pro days are that important now?
Cleveland taking Evans at 4 is a big reach, and it isn't even for a needy position. It doesn't make any sense for Cleveland to take him when there are significantly better players available. Aaron Donald is also a big reach for a non-needy position. I disagree that Arizona would consider a 1st round QB with so much other talent available as well, considering they have a starter for at least 2 more years. A later round QB makes much more sense for them. Cody Latimer is definitely not the next best WR available when Carolina picks, Jordan Matthews among others are a better pick. I really can't imagine Denver taking Shazier if Jason Verrett or Xavier Su'a-Filo is still available.
I always have to ask why so many people think that a first round CB improves the team more than getting one of the first round Wide receivers? I do not get it. Yes the WR depth is very good and what that means is that the supposed second tier players like Matthews, Benjamin and Robinson are likely gone by our second pick, which means that we would have to get someone like Abbrederis in the third or fourth. In my view, WR is a much greater need, and in your draft Cooks is available which is a much better pick for the Jets. Remember the Jets LOVED Tavon Austin last year at pick 8 and Cooks is viewed by pretty much everyone as a better player. There are probably 6-7 WR in this draft that would be the first WR picked last year, and if we go CB we likely get NONE of them. We must get better on offense. And why does Rex need only first round CB talent in the secondary. If we selected another one, we would have what 4 first round CBs on our roster or is it 5? Would seem Rex should be able to coach up some mid round CBs. WR and TE are MUCH bigger needs than CB
If the top 17 went that way I would rather grab Cooks, Lee or Barr or trade back, although I know you weren't doing trades in this. I don't like the fuller pick.
IMO the corners have a drop off talent wise, after Verrett they're up in the air. We could always trade up in the second to grab a receiver but I'm confident we would be able to get Matthews, Landry, Robinson or Adams without a trade up. I see it like this: say we take Cooks in R1, we would probably be looking at corners in R2 who are we left with? We need a starting corner and your not likely to find one in later rounds.
If we pass on Bridgewater, Carr and and Manziel I will break my TV. We will deserve another 45 years of futility. _
That's the recipe for championship football, the roadmap for success and sustained competitiveness. "Competent" quarterbacks. How our expectations have skyrocketed. _
I like it! We have a lot of similar picks too. I think Barr will go much higher than 27.. In fact i dont think he would slip past the Jets! Johnny Football i also doubt falls to the Browns at 26... Fuller to the Jets makes sense because of needs and his man to man skills however i think we are stretching taking him at 18 and would like to see us trade back if thats the player we covet.
OZY you stole my thunder, in my Final Jet's Mock I will be posting tomorrow Kyle Fuller is my 2nd ranked CB, behind Gilbert. Gilbert plays a little too soft for me, a Cro clone when it comes to getting physical. Fuller does it all, press, cover, great in run support. Fuller may never be an all-pro, but will be a very solid CB in this league. Just a few concerns: IMO, Manziel is going to go much earlier. Martin will be a top 12 pick. Xavier Su'a-Filo could a early 20's pick, he's rising fast. I don't see Barr slipping that far and if he's available at #18 the Jets will strongly consider him. I don't dislike Barr like most, he's getting a bad rap to a certain extent. I still see Barr going in the teens. Good job OZY.......you nailed the needs of most teams.
He's going for realism, which is completely understandable. I can do without another circus like atmosphere thanks. Fuller have quickly risen up for me. Like what I have heard and seen out of him. Seems like the type of player Rex and Idzik crave. Fans might give it flack for being another 1st round cornerback though.
I liked Fuller for sometime, his injury hurt his rankings. I understand the huge need to add a premium CB in this draft and after early rd 2, the quality drops significantly. I like Beckham & Cooks, but I think Idzik is going to address the WR later with all the depth at that position in this draft.
Fuller at 22 to 25 I am cool with. At 18? I feel like that's too early. Maybe I'm dead wrong and I certainly would give him the opportunity to prove himself but my initial reaction to Fuller's name being called wouldn't be an overly positive one.
First, good post Ozy. Second, my reply to the above post about not taking anything but WR early is simple: We need both WR and DB. Ones only available early, the other will be available in the 2nd and 3rd round. I can see Idzik using some our pics to move up slightly in the 1st (2-3 positions) to grab the DB he wants, then waiting to see what WR talent is falling into the 2nd and move up again if necessary to grab his guy. We have the fire power to come away with a very good DB and WR, plus 3 or 4 more players.
Can we really be so precise in our assessment that four places make the difference between a good pick and one that was too early? Surely getting the right player is all that matters? I'm not knocking you personally, I see this sort of comment a lot and I just don't get it.
