A Three Round Mock to End All Mocks!
Round 3
I'm doing my mock well early this year because it's already an exercise in futility and it's not as fun when info gets leaked like two days before the start of the draft and you pretty much know who is drafting who in the top few picks. I did this with no trades, so it will be blown up within the first three selections. It's a futile exercise, but it is a good indication of what teams need and how they may approach the draft, as well as where players are expected to be picked. And it's fun. Enjoy.
17. Baltimore Ravens
I'm doing my mock well early this year because it's already an exercise in futility and it's not as fun when info gets leaked like two days before the start of the draft and you pretty much know who is drafting who in the top few picks. I did this with no trades, so it will be blown up within the first three selections. It's a futile exercise, but it is a good indication of what teams need and how they may approach the draft, as well as where players are expected to be picked. And it's fun. Enjoy.
 |
| from sportsweekly.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu |
Calvin Pryor – S,
Louisville (Big Board #18)
They took Matt Elam in the first round last year, but the
Ravens lost James Ihedigbo in free agency and need another safety. Pryor and
Elam will pair well together as a couple of explosive and aggressive safeties
roaming the back end.
 |
| from fansided.com |
18. New York Jets
Eric Ebron – TE,
North Carolina (Big Board #15)
I don’t know that Ebron lasts this long on draft day, but if
he does he won’t last longer than this. He’ll give the Jets a reliable set of
hands and explosive playmaker in the intermediate part of the field. He will be
especially valuable as a security blanket if Geno Smith wins the starting job.
 |
| from rantsports.com |
19. Miami Dolphins
Zack Martin – OT/OG,
Notre Dame (Big Board #43)
I’ve seen this pick mocked so many times on other sites that
I honestly don’t know if I even have the option to differ. This is the range
Martin is expected to go in the draft and it does make a lot of sense for the
Dolphins. He can play anywhere on the line, where they have multiple holes, and
he’s a high character guy which they will value especially after the Incognito-Martin
fiasco.
 |
| from theb1gtime.com |
20. Arizona Cardinals
Bradley Roby – CB,
Ohio St. (Big Board #33)
Roby will compete to be the starting cornerback across from
Patrick Peterson. If he reaches his potential the Cardinals could surpass both
the Seahawks and 49ers for the league’s best overall defense.
 |
| from espn.go.com |
21. Green Bay Packers
C.J. Mosley – ILB,
Alabama (Big Board #7)
The Packers get a steal at a position of need. Mosley will
be an impact starter from Day 1 and help control the middle of the field for
the Packers defense.
 |
| from secondroundstats.com |
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Kyle Fuller – CB,
Virginia Tech (Big Board #25)
The Eagles secondary gets a boost from a smart, steady cover
corner.
 |
| from joe.ie |
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Odell Beckham Jr –
WR, LSU (Big Board #30)
This was a tough choice between Beckham and Cooks. Cooks
fits Andy Reid’s screen-based offense perfectly, but I think they opt for the
bigger Beckham who has more utility as an outside vertical threat.
 |
| from ncaa.com |
24. Cincinnati Bengals
Ryan Shazier – OLB,
Ohio St. (Big Board #29)
Marvin Lewis gets a ridiculously speedy and athletic outside
linebacker to pair with the thumping Vontaze Burfict. Shazier will bring speed
off the edge as a blitzer and use his instincts and athleticism when dropping
back in coverage. The Bengals also keep an in-state star in Ohio.
 |
| from news.yahoo.com |
25. San Diego Chargers
Kelvin Benjamin – WR,
Florida St. (Big Board #46)
Another surprise pick, Benjamin has the upside to be the big
vertical target Phillip Rivers has missed sense Vincent Jackson left for the
Bucs in free agency. He is a perfect complement to the steady and crafty Keenan
Allen, and might even take over some of the roles Antonio Gates has held as his
career winds down.
 |
| from usatoday.com |
26. Cleveland Browns (via
Indianapolis)
Derek Carr – QB,
Fresno St. (Big Board #31)
In this scenario there isn’t an early run on quarterbacks
and the Browns can sit back and land their man. I doubt it is so easy on draft
day. If it happens though, Carr has the arm talent to take advantage of all the
new weapons in Cleveland. Like Bortles, he’d be going into a pretty peachy situation
in terms of a supporting cast.
 |
| from ninerfans.com |
27.
New Orleans Saints
Demarcus Lawrence –
DE/OLB, Boise St. (Big Board #35)
Rex Ryan gets a versatile pass rusher to take advantage of
in his hybrid defense. Lawrence can stand up and play OLB in a 3-4 or put his
hand in the dirt as a 4-3 end. Ryan can keep it exotic like he did with another
pass rushing DeMarcus back in Dallas.
 |
| from boltbeat.com |
28.
Carolina Panthers
Brandin Cooks – WR,
Oregon St. (Big Board #23)
The Panthers desperately need receivers and Cooks makes a
ton of sense. I’ve compared him to Steve Smith, and he’d go to Carolina to try
to duplicate the success #89 had there for so long.
 |
| from cbssports.com |
Louis Nix III – DT,
Notre Dame (Big Board #28)
Bill Belichick drafts Vince Wilfork’s eventual successor.
Nix is a big defensive tackle capable of playing all over the line in a 3-4.
 |
| from sportsillustrated.com |
30. San Francisco 49ers
Marqise Lee – WR, USC
(Big Board #14)
This is probably wishful thinking on my part, but Lee’s
stock definitely seems to have dropped throughout the draft process. It’s
certainly likely he’ll be available after pick No. 20 and a fall this far down
the board definitely isn’t out of the question. He’d give the 49ers the speed
receiver they lack as well as a dangerous option in the return game. He’d be
perfect in the slot with Crabtree and Boldin on the outside, but he has the
size to play all three receiver positions, which is important on a team that
rarely goes to three receiver sets.
 |
| from tcu360.com |
31.
Denver Broncos
Jason Verrett – CB,
TCU (Big Board #19)
The Broncos sit back and take the top player available.
Verrett fits their defense and he’d help make up for the loss of Champ Bailey.
His ballhawking skills will be especially valuable on a team with Peyton
Manning, who will be thankful for every extra possession.
 |
| from nfl.com |
32.
Seattle Seahawks
Joel Bitonio – OT/OG,
Nevada (Big Board #40)
The Seahawks offensive line is their weakest position group.
Bitonio can play either guard position as well as right tackle. He’d give the
Seahawks options along the offensive line and is exactly the sort of player
offensive line coach Tom Cable would drool over; nasty and tough as nails.
No comments:
Post a Comment