Second time around, some different results. Let me know what you think! 1. Bills (T/Texans): Jadeveon Clowney, DE 6'5" 266. South Carolina The Bills make a bold move to go up and get the guy that can really put Buffalo on the map. They trade with the Texans to draft Clowney; Combined with Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcel Dareus, the Bills will undoubtedly be the best defensive line in the league for Jim Schwartz to put Tom Brady on his back. They could stay at 9 and take a WR or OL, but I think they are just in range to make this move, and I think this single move can instantly make Buffalo a wildcard contender. 2. Vikings (T/Rams): Blake Bortles, QB 6'5" 232. Central Florida The Vikings need a QB, and although at 8 they could probably get one of the top 3, it may not be who they want to build their franchise around. Mike Zimmer won't want Manziel and his flash, and Blake Bortles is the head-on-straight, tough, big arm guy who can make it in the NFC North. Zimmer is a great fit for Minnesota I think, but he watched his Bengals lose out every year in the playoffs because their QB just wasn't close enough to elite. Adrian Peterson will take the pressure off Bortles, but the Vikings hope their franchise QB becomes the face of the twin cities as Peterson will begin to decline. 3. Jaguars: Khalil Mack, OLB 6'3" 245. Buffalo The Jaguars are going to be built in the mold of the Seahawks, and I just don't see Gus Bradley as a big Maziel fan. Bridgewater is a possibility, but Mack would give Bradley a nightmare moveable chess piece to get after the QB. Mack can play a modified Leo OLB some plays, but will primarily be rushing the passer from all over the field. I think Bradley will see Mack as a guy who can be a true star in his system. 4. Browns: Johnny Manziel, QB 6' 200. Texas A&M The Browns supposed lack of interest in Manziel is bogus. The Browns have faced a poor image as the dregs of the league for over a decade and a half, and there is one player in this draft who could change all of that. Sammy Watkins is not going to be worth it without someone to spread the ball around, and Joe Thomas is still too good to make a tackle worth it with Manziel there. Mike Pettine was there for two good years with Sanchez, and knows what Manziel could be. It will be there first time I will be excited to watch a Browns game, ever. (I am a young fan). 5. Raiders: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB 6'5" 255. UCLA The Raiders have Schaub, and don't need to take a QB this high because they are best situated to take Carr at the top of round 2. They know the Texans will probably take Bridgewater at the position they are in, and it's unlikely anyone else in the first who would take Carr if that's who they want. They signed Donald Penn (LT) and Austin Howard (RT) so they don't need to take a tackle this high either. MJD, DMC, and Marcel Reese show that they will be a run heavy offense with Schaub managing the game. Barr provides a much needed pass-rush aspect to their defense. 6. Falcons: Greg Robinson, OT 6'5" 332. Auburn The Falcons have need in both trenches, but offensive line is the strongest. The Falcons are going to draft the guy who will protect Matt Ryan's blind side for the rest of Ryan's career, and Robinson is clearly the best player remaining aside from Watkins and Bridgewater. This is really a no brainer. 7. Buccaneers: Jake Matthews, OT 6'5" 308. Texas A&M The Buccaneers have two QBs who will be competing, so a top 10 pick on a QB is not Tampa's priority. Sammy Watkins would be a luxury but they need a left tackle too badly after Donald Penn went to the Raiders. Matthews is a plug in LT. 8. Rams (T/Vikings): Sammy Watkins, WR 6' 211. Clemson The Rams have need at a couple positions, but neither were pass rusher or quarterback. At 2nd overall, those are the best picks, so the Rams will trade down knowing Watkins, Robinson, Matthews, Gilbert, or Lewan would most likely be around. Watkins is the best player available. They can look at a tackle or CB at 13, or trade down again to try and address both needs. Watkins is the best option to maximize the talents of last years top pick, Tavon Austin. They will draw coverage away from each other and give the Rams two potential game breakers for Sam Bradford for relatively cheap, for years to come. 9. Texans (T/Bills): Teddy Bridgewater, QB 6'2" 214. Louisville The Texans aren't in love with a QB enough for the top pick, and as good as Clowney is he just doesn't quite fit the Texans scheme in a way that will maximize his talents. They will maximize their pick value by trading down to any team around this draft position knowing that even if all three top QBs are taken, they have the best position to get Carr. With Bridgewater still there at 9, however, they have to pull the trigger. 10. Lions: Mike Evans, WR 6'4" 231. Texas A&M The Lions new coach Jim Caldwell is an offensive guy, and he has a good defensive line already set up. If the Lions take Evans, they will have an incredible, explosive offense behind Stafford's big arm. They will outscore you and pass rush you just like Manning did in Indy for years. Johnson, Evans, Tate, Bush, and Pettigrew would probably be the best collection of skill players in the league. Any weakness in their secondary can be be improved some later in the draft, and the high powered offense would certainly help cover up the holes. 11. Titans: Justin Gilbert, CB 6' 202. Oklahoma State The Titans have need at CB since they are transitioning to a 3-4 defense, and won't want to try and rely on Jason McCourty covering #1 WR's all season. They are pretty well built for a ground and pound offense with a stout defense to compliment, and Gilbert adds pedigree to the secondary. 12. Giants: Haha Clinton-Dix, FS 6'1" 208. Alabama The Giants have a few needs, most specifically at defensive tackle and safety. Clinton-Dix is better than any available defensive tackle, and instantly upgrades the Giants with an excellent cover safety. If the Giants are going BPA, they are choosing between Clinton-Dix and Taylor Lewan. Tackle is a bit deeper in this class, and safety is a bit of a stronger need so I see them taking the top 10 talent who has rare cover skills for the position. They are going to need a fast cover safety to help counter Chip Kelly's dynamic offense as well. 13. Rams: Taylor Lewan, OT 6'7" 309. Michigan The Rams need a tackle and take the last sure fire guy in Lewan at 13. Who better to mentor Lewan for a season or 2 as a RT than Jake Long, another well respected Michigan tackle? The Rams would take any of the three between Gilbert, Cinton-Dix, or Lewan, whichever is still available suits them. Keep Bradford safe, give him some weapons, and if he can't make it happen it's time to look for some new blood at QB for 2015. If for some reason none of those three players are available I think they'd trade back a couple spots to 16 and take Darqueze Dennard. I think the Cowboys would be willing to go up to 13 and grab Aaron Donald right in front of the Bears at 14. 14. Bears: Aaron Donald, DT 6' 285. Pittsburgh The Bears take the best, most disruptive DT in the draft, it's a no brainer with how thin their defensive front was in 2013. They need an influx of youth and talent on defense desperately, and need a DT more than any other position. 15. Steelers: Marqise Lee, WR 5'11" 192. USC The Steelers have a bare cupboard after watching Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery sign with other teams the past two off seasons. Ebron the TE is definitely an option with this pick, Antonio Brown needs someone on the other side and Lee is ready to come in and make a difference. 16. Cowboys: Timmy Jernigan, DT 6'2" 299. Florida State The Cowboys have a glaring need at DT, even with Melton on board. Hageman has better measurables, but is more of a bust risk, so Jernigan is the next Cowboy. The Cowboys could trade back knowing there's a couple DTs, but I think they'll want the known in Jernigan.
17. Ravens: Eric Ebron, TE 6'4" 250. North Carolina The Ravens signed their WR 2 and 3 in FA, and extended Pitta. Ebron is the best player left, and the Ravens would love to get him integrated with two TE sets. Pitta is a good security blanket for Flacco, but Ebron will make a difference. I could see the Ravens taking Calvin Pryor if Ebron goes earlier, say to the Steelers. 18. Jets: Darqueze Dennard, CB 5'11" 199. Michigan State It seems to be in the cards for the Jets to go defense in round 1 again. Dennard is good with press man, the coverage most often used by the Jets. He struggles some in off man, and doesn't have the same top tier speed as Cro to make up for it. Even as a first round pick he will probably be competing with Walls for the starting spot, although I'd expect him to win. If a certain WR is giving him a hard time in-game, they may make the switch to Walls without Dennard technically losing his starting spot much like with Milliner's first season. Who is BPA at this point? It's difficult to say, the Jets could view Pryor as BPA, or Odell Beckham or Brandin Cooks perhaps. It is most likely one of those 4, and if I had to guess, Dennard it will be. 19. Dolphins: Zack Martin, G/OT 6'4" 308. Notre Dame The Dolphins have such a strong need at offensive line that Martin is the ideal choice, a guy that can come an play either OT or OG, and improve either position dramatically. The best offensive lineman on the board has to be the Dolphins' pick. 20. Cardinals: Calvin Pryor, SS 5'11" 207. Louisville This just seems to be a match made in heaven at this point in the draft. An impact playmaker to go alongside Tyrann Mathieu, and one of the biggest holes on the roster. He was even a cardinal in college, lol. SS is the biggest need, and Pryor is arguably BPA at this point anyway. 21. Packers: CJ Mosley, LB 6'2" 235. Alabama The Packers need defense and although defensive line would be nice, they have a hole next to AJ Hawk at ILB. Mosley is the most well rounded true LB in the draft, strong in both run defense and in coverage. With Hawk a vet and able to call the plays as the QB of the defense, Mosley will be free to make plays with his strong instinct. 22. Chiefs: Odell Beckham Jr, WR 5'11" 198. LSU The Chiefs are a relatively complete team, but they need some speed at WR and Beckham can step right in as WR across from Dwayne Bowe. The threat of Jamaal Charles will open up some big play action opportunities for the speedster from LSU. 23. Eagles: Louis Nix, DT 6'2" 331. Notre Dame The Eagles could go for Cooks here, but they already have numerous offensive weapons and a complete offensive line. They have a hole at NT, and Nix is a big, strong, run plugger. He may not play on a lot of 3rd downs, but he is a force in the run game and will help the Eagles become more whole on defense. 24. Bengals: Kony Ealy, DE 6'4" 273. Missouri The Bengals love having depth at DE, and Ealy is the most complete on the board. The Bengals can have him start immediately if they want, or start him as a role-player in their pass rushing rotation. Their other main hole is at OLB, but they can address that in later rounds without too much trouble. 25. Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB 5'9" 189. TCU The Chargers are rather desperate at corner, and are in a good spot to take the 3rd overall CB. No other position is of such dire need, although offensive line could use both upgrades and depth. If the Chargers want to keep up with Denver and KC's passing attacks, they need a CB who can slow it down. 26. Browns: Ryan Shazier, LB 6'2" 237. Ohio State The Browns need a key cog for the middle of Pettine's defense. They have a crafty vet in Karlos Dansby, but they need speed coming from the middle. Shazier has a ton of speed, and Dansby's leadership can only help Shazier's development. The Browns even manage another enthusiasm boost from the fans, by selecting the home town Ohio State hero. Taking an offensive centerpiece in Manziel and a defensive centerpiece in Shazier gives the Browns something to smile about, especially with a pick near the top of the second round. With Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron catching passes from a potentially electrifying Manziel, and Shazier flying around making plays similar to Kiko Alonso in Pettine's Buffalo defense last year, the Browns can make waves in the NFC North and make people forget about the decade plus of misery and embarrassment. 27. Saints: Bradley Roby, CB 5'11" 194. Ohio State The Saints take Roby to add to their new and improved secondary. Roby gives the Saints a very fast corner who also has some blitzing edge rush ability, something Rob Ryan will love. The Saints are assembling a tough defense to match the explosive offense led by Drew Brees. If they want to make waves in the playoffs, they need to be able to match up with the NFC's powerful offenses. Roby gives them a starting caliber CB and a gadget to create some pressure onQB's as well. 28. Panthers: Morgan Moses, OT 6'6" 314. Virginia The Panthers may wish they could go WR here, but Jordan Gross' retirement leaves them with a gaping hole at LT. It would not be helping out Cam Newton or the run game to pass on one of the last ready-to-start offensive tackles left. Although they need WRs, they are a run first offense and will rely on DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to carry the load. Make their job easier with an improved offensive line. 29. Patriots: Jace Amaro, TE 6'5" 265. Texas Tech The Patriots grab their next major passing game threat by drafting Amaro, a solid blocker but most importantly runs very consistent, smooth routes. Tom Brady can use a TE who runs like Amaro to destroy opposing defensive match ups, and they desperately need insurance in case an injury prone Gronk has yet another season with 6 plus games out from injury. 30. 49ers: Brandin Cooks, WR 5'10" 189. Oregon State The 49ers and everyone else know that they need to get faster on offense. Cooks can be a moveable toy for Harbaugh's offense, and just imagine some option plays with the defense trying to contain both Cooks and Kaepernick. The Seahawks showed how useful a guy like Harvin can be, and the 49ers are very ready to have their own. 31. Broncos: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG 6'4" 307. UCLA The Broncos are in true win now mode, so they reach just a little to take the best guard to fill their need. They could go CB but it would be smarter to protect Peyton Manning and give him extra time to blow up the scoreboard. A team like the Broncos will go for the areas of need because of the short window remaining in Manning's career. 32. Seahawks: Antonio Richardson, OT 6'6" 336. Tennessee The Seahawks normally go BPA, but they are so deep they can afford to specifically pick for a position of need. Giacomini's move to the Jets leave the Seahawks with no starting RT, and Richardson provides just that.
I saw the first pick and had to stop. The Buffalo/Houston trade is just a smoke screen to try and get another team to trade up. I saw on NFL Network that Houston said there is no way they trade down to 9.
If Houston is on the record saying there's no way they'd trade down to 9, it kind of defeats the purpose of a smokescreen...
I have resigned myself to the fact that not only are we going to use a first rounder om defense again but that it is entirely likely that it is on Dennard, a CB. Again. At this point my hope is that someone ahead of us picks him first.
If it falls that way I think the Jets might take C.J. Mosley at 18. He's by far the BPA at that point and the Jets ILB's aren't top rate at this point.
Dennard the better player given Mosley has health concerns that some think could drop him to late round 1/early round 2. I like the pick btw but I just don't know how Baltimore skips on Martin for Ebron. I know Ozzie's a BPA type of guy but at the same time, he loves versatility and Zack Martin gives it to them. I used to think Ebron to the Jets would be a real pipe dream but looking at the first 17 teams ahead of us, barring a trade up....I become more and more convinced that Ebron might just be there by pick 18.
The last thing I saw was a three team trade where Buffalo still gets the #1 and Houston ends up somewhere in the 3-5 range but that is probably still wishful thinking on somebody's part..probably Buffalo's..imagine Clowney on one side and Mario Williams on the other.
I would take Dee Ford over Dennard any day, his burst off the snap is incredible and we need an edge rusher.
Really? I think Davis is a good backer but I would agree that Harris's better days are gone. Would you move Davis to OLB or get rid of Harris?
David Harris is at the age next year. He's kind of plateau'd the last couple of years after stepping down from his early prime when he really was a hit monster. If he steps down again this year he's going to be an easy cut. If he stays at the same level then he's got another year. A year early is a lot better than a year late. The Jets keep screwing this up with LB's in the middle of the field. Lost a step and out has been the rule since the early 00's. I suspect John Idzik might be a bit more proactive than that. Harris is 30 this year.
Agreed. I'm tired of seeing a quick pass over the middle and #52 trailing behind him. Harris I think is still really good against the run but someone like Mosley would offer the kind of sideline-to-sideline speed this team needs in an ILB
Indeed. And Jets need to start thinking about phasing their cornerstone of the franchise. That includes: Nick Mangold D'Brickashaw Ferguson David Harris As for Mangold and Ferguson, I think Jets have about 2 years before hitting panic button - that means Jets would do well to draft their replacements next year. As for Harris, we're almost there. That puts Jets in some predicament, as Jets will have to burn the top pick on QB if Geno does not pan out this year.
DBrick wasn't very good last year and I think Mangold under-performed, but I think Mangold will rebound this year. As for Ferguson I'm not sure how he does next year and it will really dictate our drafting if both start to clearly age
Dee Ford is definitely a reach at 18. We have a strong pass rush up the middle of the defense, so reaching for a 1 trick edge rusher with so much talent on the board is a bad move. Very unlikely, inside linebackers just generally aren't valued as top 10 picks anymore. In the past 10 years, only 4 ILB's have gone in the top 10: -2012- Luke Keuchly at 9 -2010-Rolando McClain at 8 -2008- Jerod Mayo at 10 -2006-AJ Hawk at 5. Only Keuchly has developed into a player that was worth a top 10 pick, and Mayo has been a key role player but in my opinion not worth a top 10 pick. In the last 10 years 9 ILB's have gone in the second round who have made more than or debatably as much impact as Jerod Mayo or AJ Hawk: -2012- Bobby Wagner at 47 -2010- Daryl Washington at 47 -2010- Sean Lee at 55 -2009- James Laurinaitas at 35 -2009- Ray Maualuga at 38 -2008- Curtis Lofton at 37 -2007- Paul Posluszny at 34 -2007-David Harris at 47 -2004- Karlos Dansby at 33 Every other top ILB or MLB drafted in the last 10 years was either a later 1st rounder, or a 3rd rounder or later. They just aren't worth that much. Besides that, He isn't considered ready to come in and successfully make defensive calls and be a productive player yet. I think he's better fit a bit later for the Packers who already have a vet in AJ Hawk, so Mosley has at least a year of integration before becoming the guy. For the Jets, Harris has been the leader of the defense for years now. Unless you believe the DeMario Davis is ready to step in and call the defense, putting Harris on the trade block, taking an ILB in the top 20 is probably not the Jets best option. RR and DT have been grooming Davis as Harris' successor for 2 years now, but I think 1 more year of Harris and Davis will be enough for Davis to take over that leadership role. If we draft Mosely, we'd have 3 starting ILBs who would never be on the field together except in the most rare circumstances. They could consider moving Davis to OLB, but I doubt they'll try and change his position after 2 years of relatively productive development. taking an ILB later in the draft with one of those 12 picks is a better idea.
I don't see him as a 1 trick edge rusher, and his tape is excellent plus he has an insane motor. Did you watch any tape on Dee? His snap off the ball is almost offsides its so fast. His first step reminds me of D Ware and he always plays to the whistle.
Lol, have you watched any tape on him? He has an amazing burst off the line and in the senior bowl that's going to look great against an offensive line with a week to learn schemes. Athletic defensive linemen always look good at the senior bowl, but RBs miss chip blocks and Tackles have to worry about guys coming inside on blitzes too. Ford did not make a SINGLE play against the run, he consistently over-ran the run and was often the block that opened the running lane. In the opportunity he had to make his only RB tackle for a big stop for a loss, he whiffed badly on the tackle allowing the back to gain like 8 yards past the line of scrimmage. People get all excited about edge rushers, but if he is going to be selected with the Jets #18 pick to play OLB, he better be able to set the edge and stop the run, something he can't do yet. Therefore, 1 trick edge rusher. He can play the right and left side, but never lined up inside at all.
I ddn't watch the senior bowl, I'll admit that he is pretty bad against the run but not because he gets blown off the line of scrimmage he is strong enough to hold the point of attack. I think with some coaching he can learn to shed blocks and make plays in the running game he definitely has the strength and the hand to hand skills to do it. However, he is dominate on passing downs off the right or left side, hand in the dirt or standing up and is relentless. You can't teach effort and he brings it every play and he can even drop back and cover the flat. We have some of the best DL coaches in the world on our staff so they can teach him how to disengage from the linemen.
He's all speed though, did you watch his game film from the national championship? They ran it at him all the time and he made no tackles. They accounted for his outside rush by throwing quick passes to WR's on his side at the line of scrimmage, and they were successful in doing so. He has a fast counter move but if it doesn't work, he won't get off the block. He is not a good tackler and has trouble with mobile QBs. Everything shows he is a 1 trick player, he doesn't have a good hand slap or spin move, and his bullrush is ok but only because he gets off the line so quickly. His bullrush will be less effective against an NFL tackle. His counter isn't bad, but really where he excels is coming with pure speed outside. He may develop into a good NFL player, but there are many players much better than him at the 18th pick I guarantee it.
