Matt's Bye-Week Blues Mock (3.0)

Hey All,

This is my final mock until the end of the season. Because of the bye-week, I watched a TON of college football and tape, so I figured I'd get my opinions out now.

As far as comp picks go, I've heard everything from two picks to four. I'll stay on the conservative side, and go with what WW85 did and say we'll get a 4 and a 6.

1. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU

I hear the groans in Radio City already. Another defensive player in the first round. My reasoning: I'm going BPA this draft. With Watkins, Evans, and probably Lee off the board, I don't see anyone better than Van Noy at this point. I think Van Noy is a better player than Amaro, Ebron, or ASJ, and will take him here. He's an absolute playmaker, and I think he's one of the best players in this draft period. LBs dropping in the draft (see Jones, Jarvis) along with the fact that a number of LBs are currently ranked higher than him (Mack, Barr, Beasley) will allow us to take him at around 20.

2. Odell Beckham Jr, WR, LSU

Has perhaps less than ideal size at 6'0 185, but he would be a first rounder if he had that size. Runs a 4.4 40, and is also very dynamic, fluid, and quick. He's not necessarily a burner with straight-line speed, but he's a very quick, agile athlete with great acceleration. Great hands, runs good routes, and is very good on PRs and KRs. It feels good to finally give Geno some weapons.

3 (from TB). Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida State

Lamarcus Joyner is an extremely versatile athlete. At FSU, he's gone back and forth between CB and FS. At the NFL level, he'd likely be a FS, and if he doesn't cut it there a nickel CB. Either way, he's an extremely versatile player which Rex will love. He's an absolute ball-hawk, a great blitzer, and an extremely high-motor player. He is the definition of a Rex player, and would do wonders for this defense. He's nothing fantastic on KRs, and hasn't done PRs at the college level, but given his skill-set, I see him being a good PR at the NFL level. Would also be a ST demon.

3. David Yankey, OG, Stanford

Another mantra of this draft will be competition. Winters has been so-so this year, and Colon is getting up there in age. Yankey, Winters, and Colon will fight it out for the two OG spots and the best two guards will play. Yankey has been an excellent guard at Stanford, and is quick enough to pull. Will fit well in our offense.

4. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State

As a Michigan student/STH, I watch a lot of B1G football, and as such, a lot of Ohio State. As much as it pains me to say it as a Michigan student, this guy is the real deal. He's big, powerful, fast, and quick. He's a power back. It may be bias from watching him so often, but I have no clue why he's ranked this low in the draft. Here, he'd be an absolute steal. He's much better than Ivory at snagging balls out of the backfield. He's also a pretty good blocker. He'd be a perfect mix between Rex's ideal back and MM's ideal back. I would NOT want to have to play against a team with both Ivory and Hyde, especially with Powell and Goodson to clean up.

4. Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State

I just happened to catch a Fresno State game (against Nevada, friend goes there) and I came away really impressed with Davante Adams. Proceeded to watch more tape on the kid, and came away EXTREMELY impressed. He has ideal size, and just plays so fluidly. He is an extremely fluid athlete. He has great hands, great jumping ability, ideal size, and will likely run just below a 4.5 40. Unlike our friend Stephen Hill, Adams also knows how to high-point a football, making him an excellent RZ threat. I think he may be pushed down here because he play for Fresno State, and the fact that this year is a loaded WR class. He is a RS-Sophomore, so he may not declare. Would provide great competition with Odell Beckham Jr.

5. Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

Perhaps more B1G bias, but Max Bullough is a very good ILB at State. He anchors the #1 defense in the NCAA, and is known for his leadership abilities. He is a very good run-stopper, but problems in coverage raise concerns about him being a 3-down LB. This will drop him down a couple of rounds. That being said, he's great value in the 5th, and it's nice to have someone not named Nick Bellore as our primary backup at the position. Will have a few years to develop until we part ways with Harris.

6. Cody Webster, P, Purdue

Might be more B1G bias, but I think he's the best punter in the nation. It's a position that has been brutal for us the past couple of years, and we need to address it. Obviously, the sign random FA route isn't working for us, so we try to fix it here.

6. Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon

Our OL would become scary (bad) if either Brick or Howard gets hurt. Not saying Jake Fisher would solve any of that (especially from the get-go), but it would be nice to start developing some talent back there.

7. Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon

After his recent arrest for the possession of cocaine, he will likely go undrafted. That being said, I think we have enough leaders in the locker room to be able to handle him. If he doesn't pan out, we cut him. A 7th round pick- no harm no foul. If he does, we have an extremely dynamic tight-end (likely better off as a H-Back) that will add another layer to our offense. Will compete with Cumberland, Sudfeld, and likely a lower level bargain-bin FA (perhaps a Fred Davis type) for playing time.


Thoughts:

I didn't draft a QB, which might annoy a couple of people considering how loaded this year's QB draft is. Reasoning: I think Geno showed enough for us to not warrant a QB taken in the first three/four rounds, and I didn't see any QB lasting until the 5th that was really worth taken that would provide that much of an upgrade over Simms. I also think we sign a vet (one that can actually play, not someone like Brunell or Garrard) to back-up Geno.

Regarding my lack of tight-ends until the 7th: As I said in my description of Van Noy, I didn't think ASJ, Ebron, or Amaro were better than Van Noy. I don't think any of those three (especially if Amaro doesn't declare) lasts until our 2nd round pick. After those three, I don't see any TEs that jump off the film for me. I still think Cumberland can develop into something good, and we'll have Sudfeld, Lyerla, and probably a vet competing with him for likely two/three TE spots.


Flame on.

 

I usually don't- as those are even more unpredictable as the draft.

If I were GM though, I would cut Holmes and Sanchez, Resign Wilk to a long-term deal, and resign Howard. I would probably resign Colon to a 1 (or 2 if he won't sign 1) year deal. Wouldn't really make any big-name signings. My only UFA (other than depth/ST signings) would probably be a lower-level TE, like a Fred Davis type, just to have a vet there.

 

I went with a BPA approach, and I'm not overly crazy with any of the TEs in this year's draft after the big-3 (Ebron, Amaro, ASJ), and I don't think they'll be around in round 2. I think we'll sign another stopgap, and see who wins the job(s) in TC.

Regarding Hubbard, my opinion is/was; he's a good player, but we already put Coples out of place by drafting Sheldon. If we draft another OLB, where will Coples play? Besides, we really need some receivers.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

I agree with 1&2, and don't get me wrong I'm sure Rex would make it work, I just think we can't afford to wait until round 4 to start surrounding Geno with weapons. Hubbard is a good player though. Then again, so is everyone on Bama's defense.

 

Sign me up for Van der Kamp. I honestly know nothing about him (as I do most punters, I just follow the B1G a lot as a Michigan student, hence the Webster pick).

 

We can't afford another CB in the first. If we do, that would make 3 1st round CBs and 3 1st round D-lineman in the last 4 drafts.

Davante Adams, who was a fifth round prospect according to Walter just a little while ago, jumped up to top 15 overall in his most recent mock. Guess he's out of range.