Mock Drafts Thread

Westside Steve

Hey since there's not already another official thread for mock drafts......

I realize posting every single one separately is going to clutter up the joint.

I would think twice about drafting a huge tackle who already needs to lose some weight, that doesn't seem to happen once they make millions of dollars.

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2020/02/21/cleveland-browns-double-tackles-7-round-mock-draft/amp/2/

WSS

calfoxwc

@westside-steve said:

Hey if there's already in official thread for Mike draft feel free to move this one over there.

I realize posting every single one is going to clutter The Joint up.

I would think twice about drafting a huge tackle who already needs to lose some weight, that doesn't seem to happen once they make millions of dollars.

https://dawgpounddaily.com/2020/02/21/cleveland-browns-double-tackles-7-round-mock-draft/amp/2/

WSS

Interesting - I'd have to take some time to look at that one. One similarity - that Bryant db? about the same size as the one I drafted in the sixth round. Interesting.

Offhand, I'd hate to take Mekhi so high, and have him have trouble with speed rushers - and I'd hate to pass on him and have him be all-pro at LT. lol

Westside Steve

@calfoxwc said:

Interesting - I'd have to take some time to look at that one. One similarity - that Bryant db? about the same size as the one I drafted in the sixth round. Interesting.

Offhand, I'd hate to take Mekhi so high, and have him have trouble with speed rushers - and I'd hate to pass on him and have him be all-pro at LT. lol

No doubt that's the best possible scenario. Here's where I questioned relying too much on Analytics, in football desire work ethic Etc are so very important. That's where you need not only a football guy but a football guy that knows people. Crapshoot? Sure but what the hell your odds might be a little better the guy who's positives are on the attitude side rather than on the numbers side

WSS

Tour2ma

Here's the thing about mocks... they are nearly impossible to judge because you don't know who the other available options were when each pick was made.

That said...

Becton (OT) - still can't get comfortable with his size; he's my #4 OT at the moment.
Jackson (OT) - feels like fools' gold; too many other good options at other positions.
Davis (FS) - love this pick; next to McKinney my favorite FS in the class.
Dye (OLB) - another fav in a limited LB class.
Jones (FS) - can work as an SS; one of the better economy Safeties in the Draft.
Bryant (CB) - don't know him; smallest CB in the draft
Victor (WR) - ton of flawed WRs will be here late, taking one of the taller ones makes little sense to me.

Bottom line... I can get behind the middle three picks here, but find the opening and ending pairs to be highly questionable.

Westside Steve

Tour I like your offensive line takes so here's a question. Do you think it's better to draft pickguard who's been a guard all along or a tackle and convert him?

WSS

TexasAg1969

Here's a question. Given all the "smart guy"?? moneyball men in the room, what are the chances we trade down from our #10 overall?

Let's call it "smarty pants" Part II.?

Tour2ma

@westside-steve said:

Tour I like your offensive line takes so here's a question. Do you think it's better to draft pickguard who's been a guard all along or a tackle and convert him?

Thanks... and I like your movie reviews...

While it's easier to evaluate a prospect playing the position you expect him to play for you... ultimately I don't think it matters, Steve.

Ultimately whether an OT moves inside depends on several factors starting with his physical measurements, athleticism and the size of the school that produced the prospect. Measurements now focus on arm length/ wingspan. Then comes evaluation of a prospects strength/agility mix plus balance. Different attribute sets are because OTs "play in space" whereas IOLs "play in a phone booth".

Smaller D-1s (FBS?) and all the lesser divisions are going to put their best, most athletic OL talent at OT. It then becomes a matter of whether they are built to play that position as a Pro. A lot of these kids move inside, if they make it to the Pros. On the other hand the power five conferences are more likely to attract OL talent that will play OG and OC because they've recruited even better talent to play OT. It should be noted that much of the collegiate "IOL talent" likely played OT in HS... so it's kinda the same projection process.

That said the above is hardly a firm rule as shown by Iowa's OT, Wirfs being projected as an OG. DraftScout has him as their top OG in this class. Wirfs' 2015 Alumni, Brandon Scherff, on the other hand was projected as an OT, but after WSH took him 5th overall, they found out he had to move inside... where he's flourished. In 2014 Bito was projected inside, after playing OT at Nevada.

Tour2ma

@texasag1969 said:

Here's a question. Given all the "smart guy"?? moneyball men in the room, what are the chances we trade down from our #10 overall?

Let's call it "smarty pants" Part II.?

I think they are low, Ag...

While I'm not a "need-based drafter" I do use need as a way to order prospect in my groupings and in my top grouping I have two players higher than Wills at #3 and Thomas at #4... Burrow and Young. I am confidant that 1 of the 4 players will be there at #10. I actually had Young fall to me at #10 last nite in the FirstPick sim... I took him of course...

But never say never... if none of the four are there, then I hope we can find a good trade partner.

Orion

@texasag1969 said:

what are the chances we trade down from our #10 overall?

If the OT's they like are not there, it would not surprise me. They liked to do that when Berry was here before.

TexasAg1969

@tour2ma said:

I think they are low, Ag...

While I'm not a "need-based drafter" I do use need as a way to order prospect in my groupings and in my top grouping I have two players higher than Wills at #3 and Thomas at #4... Burrow and Young. I am confidant that 1 of the 4 players will be there at #10. I actually had Young fall to me at #10 last nite in the FirstPick sim... I took him of course...

But never say never... if none of the four are there, then I hope we can find a good trade partner.

@orion said:

If the OT's they like are not there, it would not surprise me. They liked to do that when Berry was here before.

I think if Wills is still there we take him (I'm 99% sure Thomas is already gone unless we do the unthinkable, trade up for him). If both are gone I think there is a better than even change we trade down low enough to justify a lessor OT talent. God knows we need the highest we can get though. I would not be against a trade up, but not sure that is even in the moneyball equation.

Tour2ma

@texasag1969 said:

I would not be against a trade up, but not sure that is even in the moneyball equation.

It is...

If the draft eVALUation says moving up to take a single prospect is worth more than the two (or three) you'd net if you stay put, then you make the move.

TexasAg1969

@tour2ma said:

It is...

If the draft eVALUation says moving up to take a single prospect is worth more than the two (or three) you'd net if you stay put, then you make the move.

I think Thomas would be one of those to consider moving up for then.

Tour2ma

@texasag1969 said:

I think Thomas would be one of those to consider moving up for then.

While I can see the temptation as I noted above I rate Wills higher due to higher floor vs. Thomas' possibly higher ceiling.

Other factors include the number of other prospects that are vying to be a top ten pick including up to 3 QBs, an Edge, 2 CBs, a LB and 2 DTs. That's 9 total. Add that Wirfs is still also getting top ten love and that Becton and Jones are still viable choices in the bottom half of R1, and I don't see a move up.

gumby73

@tour2ma said:

While I can see the temptation as I noted above I rate Wills higher due to higher floor vs. Thomas' possibly higher ceiling.

My only bother on Wills is, he protected Tua's blindside by playing his bama career all at RT..am i missing game-tape on Wills playing any LT? These Wills game cut-ups are beastly https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/19/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-alabama-jedrick-wills/

Orion

Our tackles are going to have to be fleet of foot. Stefanski likes to zone block and run wide.

Tour2ma

@gumby73 said:

My only bother on Wills is, he protected Tua's blindside by playing his bama career all at RT..am i missing game-tape on Wills playing any LT? These Wills game cut-ups are beastly https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/19/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-alabama-jedrick-wills/

Damn... those vids reminded me how good a healthy Tua looked...

Point taken on Wills, but it's not as if his right-side tech is highly developed/ingrained...

Bring him in... work him out... see how he looks at LT. Hell... he might look even better!

Tour2ma

@orion said:

Our tackles are going to have to be fleet of foot. Stefanski likes to zone block and run wide.

While they can't be turtles, lightness of foot (agility) and ability to think/react on the move are more important attributes than flat-out speed in the ZBS. The 3-cone and short-shuttle are big here. Unfortunately the actual drills are usually not shown; we only get to see the final times.

Also need to have fluid hips. The drill where OL chop their feet while backing away from a coach who flips them from side to side is very revealing.

gumby73

I have all my trust in Bill Callahan finding the right guy...pay close attention to the private visit list to Berea..18 minutes at combine is a cup of coffee..when Callahan gets them to a day in berea? am thinking were jumping Zona at pick 8?

Tour2ma

@gumby73 said:

am thinking were jumping Zona at pick 8?

At what price to grab who?

Agree on Callahan (Dirty William???)... my fav Position Coach hiring.

gumby73

imo. It's Will's or Thomas with no LT on our roster.. and we might lose both sitting at #10... can't risk Jones being around in 2nd & Becton is winning on raw power with zero in tech..Callahan can school any of them..but how many lives does Haslam have left?