This is my pre-christmas mock draft and first of the year... hope you enjoy. Premise: The more I think about it the more I agree with the big threes (GH, Mr. E, WW) in thinking that Beal is the guy we should all be hoping to draft. But I wanted to shake things up so let's assume he's not available. The idea is we re-sign all our important players, if we let a WR go I'm assuming we're trading him (franchise him then trade him). A guy to replace him will be picked up with that pick. (I like Greg Little if we let Edwards/Cotchery go). Other assumption is we're giving up a 2rd for Cromartie and Lowery proves his worth as a FS. Rd 1: JJ Watt, 3-4 DE --- Wisconsin --- 6-6, 292 This guy will be a BEAST in the NFL (gut feeling)... with a guy like him the OLBs will have a lot more room to get to the QB too. Rd 3 - high: Steven Friday, 3-4 OLB --- Virginia Tech --- 6-4, 250 Older prospect (will be 25 in his first NFL season) that could be a solid OLB. A good frame (should add 10lbs) and good use of hands / rushing moves could make him an immediate contributor in our D. His age will make him drop a little so he might be available in the top of rd 3. Rd 4: Traded to go from bottom of Rd 3 to top of Rd 3. Rd 5 - mid: John Clay, RB --- Wisconsin --- 6-1, 255 or Roy Helu, RB --- Nebraska --- 6-0, 220 Both of these guys would fit well in our system. Clay would just kill whoever is in front of him (talk about smash mouth football Rex?) while Helu is a bit faster and a bit more mobile (but still a bruiser if he wants to). With an 18 games season it makes sense to have 4 good RBs plus who knows when LT will decline. Rd 6: Used to trade from low 5th rd to mid 5th rd. Rd 7 (acquired in one of those trades): a DB... no idea who... C.J. Bailey?
Watt is a good player, I just have some doubt about his transition to the NFL. I have nothing to back it up, just a gut feeling. I like Cameron Jordan's overall game and believe he would be better fit in our defense than Watt. Friday was in my latest Mock in round 3 and is a terror pass rusher and can cover. Great size which Rex insists from his OLBs. If we don't address OLB in Round 1...Ayers, Beal, Miller...Friday is a great option later. John Clay is a human wrecking ball, he's one tough son of a bitch. I think he's more of a Rd 3/4 prospect than Round 5. Would like a Safety and OT in the mix.
What did Watt do in the big games this year? From what I understand Wisconsin is doing the same thing as all the other big schools, feasting on mediocre opposition with 2 or 3 ranked teams thrown in the mix. I'm a MS fan by the way.
Michigan State did almost the exact same thing. Both schools had extremely soft out-of-conference schedules. JJ Watt is a beast regardless of who he's playing against.
Love the Clay/Helu pick. Both those players would be great to team up with Shonn Greene. Imagine pounding defenses with Greene and Clay, then handing the ball to a game breaker like McKnight. It would be awesome to see.
I like the draft, however I dont know how I feel about a RB, when we could have possible needs at other possitions. But if the values match up then go for it
Tomlinson is basically a rental player. We're going to need another back eventually - grabbing someone like John Clay in the middle rounds would be a smart move.
I love the JJ Watt selection and there is nothing that I haven't liked when watching Clay play this season. I'm not to familiar with the other picks but these two would be solid-great choices. Watt is a beast and I would love to see what he can do in this defense.
FS has moved down my priority list a little because I too believe Lowery will prove to be good there. I like this draft a lot overall. I'm a big McKnight fan though so I don't think RB is a big priority.
I'd like Helu over Clay if they went RB, I'm hesitant when "prospecting" Badger backs as pro prospects. Clay is no exception. His reflexes seem slow for a RB, plus it doesn't help that he plays at a school that churns out big lineman every year. I know it's not fair to Clay to base judgement off of his predecessors, but I see Ron Dayne and PJ Hill all over again. I don't think his power running style will transfer over to the NFL...
