NFL: Mock Draft 2.0 (Part IV)

Round Two

33.St. Louis (TSB): Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia - The Rams got their wide receiver in Justin Blackmon, now they grab the guy that will cover him in practice every day. A nice complement to free agent CB Cortland Finnegan.

34.Indianapolis (TSB): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech - Draft Bible Chapter 4, Verse 10: When you take a franchise quarterback in the first round, get him either a receiver or an offensive tackle in Round 2.

Swag commentary: I didn’t know the Rams had a roster spot for CB’s, good to know they have them, be a good idea to fill them. Love the Stephen Hill pick, he’ll be a burner on that turf in Indy, same body type as another GT alum who plays in Detroit.

35.Minnesota (Swag): Reuben Randle, WR, LSU - Big body, above average speed, good compliment to Percy Harvin and Kyle Rudolph and another weapon for Christian Ponder to work with. Durable, something that’s the complete opposite of Percy Harvin.

36.Tampa Bay (Swag): Doug Martin, RB, Boise State - Need a compliment to LaGarrette Blount who’s a heavy downhill power back, Martin has great ability out of the backfield in the passing game and could be used right away on 3^rd downs.

TSB commentary: Two personal favorites of mine. Both good fits here. Martin’s a good character guy which is more than we can say for the incumbent in Tampa Bay so I think Schiano goes with him right off the bat.

37.Cleveland (TSB): Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State - Colt McCoy got his weapons in Round 1, now he gets his competition in Round 2.  Weeden is actually three years older than McCoy. If age wasn’t a factor (currently he’s 28), he’s a no doubt first rounder. It’s not like NFL guys last that long anyway. If you can get five years out of him, that’s a win.

Colt McCoy better not get too comfortable with this guy lurking

38. Jacksonville (TSB): Shea McClellin, DE/LB, Boise State – The Jaguars have plenty of needs on the defensive side of the ball, but none more so than at defensive end.

Swag commentary: Actually love Weeden as well, I think his maturity and experience in professional baseball should hold more stock than his age. I think he’s ready to handle the pressure in the NFL, and like you said, if you can get some solid years out of him, it’s a low risk-high reward move.

39. St. Louis (Swag): Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina – Rams have only 4 LB’s under contract on their roster, and they’re not too impressive. Brown is impressive: As a member of the UNC track team he set the school record in the indoor 60-meter dash with a 6.72 in 2009 (remember, he’s a linebacker). Had a 29-0 record as a high school wrestler. Translate to the NFL? We’ll see but I’d bet he’s better than what they have.

40. Carolina (Swag): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina – Personally not a huge fan of Jeffery, but they could use a big target opposite of Steve Smith and Jeffery could provide just that. Not a burner, but can go up and get it for you.

TSB commentary: Brown is a freak athlete. He’ll look real good next do James Laurinaitis, maybe they’ll form a modern day Legion of Doom. I like Jeffery but I’m biased towards players that produce on the field.

41. Buffalo (TSB): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers - Let’s get our Harvard boy some weapons on the outside.

42. Miami (TSB): Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas - See the Colts’ pick in this round for more details.

Swag commentary: Each quarterback would be happy with the extra weapons, like Sanu even though he had a mediocre showing at the combine – miraculously ran better at his pro-day.

43. Seattle (Swag): Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska - I think getting him here presents great value, he’s a complete LB and someone who could play right away in Seattle and help solidify that defense.

44. Kansas City (Swag): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut - Run stuffing DT is something this team has been lacking since whiffing on 1^st rounders in recent years. Reyes wowed in his interviews, very intelligent and apparently picks up schemes very quickly. He’s light for a DT at a shade under 300, but very strong (36 reps at Combine). Could go higher than this.

TSB commentary: I was about to grab Reyes for the Eagles at 46 so I think this is a good area for him to go.

45. Dallas (TSB): Peter Konz, G/C, Wisconsin - Position of need. Could be in the league for 10+ years. Solid, if not spectacular player.

46. Philadelphia (TSB): Nick Perry, LB, USC - They got DeMeco Ryans a few weeks back, but Perry will help revamp this linebacking corps. Move over Penn State. USC’s the new Linebacker U.

Swag commentary: Like the pick for Dallas, they’ve long since needed help on the offensive line, this is a great pick here. Philly needs to pay attention to a lack of talent at LB, another solid pick.

47. New York Jets (Swag): Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State - Raw, but talented. If he had more experience or went to a big time school he’d be a first rounder “with upside”, big body and raw talent.

48. New England (From Oak) (Swag): Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida - Absolute burner, if he can’t contribute on defense maybe he can take Julian Edelman’s spot on offense.

TSB commentary: The Jets definitely need playmakers so I like the thought process. I had Josh Robinson on the radar too. That’s twice now Swag. Watch yourself.

49. San Diego (TSB): Devon Still, DT, Penn State - Run stuffer that can clog the middle of this D.   

50. Chicago (TSB): Travis Lewis, LB, Oklahoma - The Urlacher/Briggs combo can’t keep playing forever. Time to plan for the future.

Swag commentary: Interesting going with Travis over Ronnell, but Travis was simply more productive and was much more durable. San Diego gets nice value with Still, who dominated the Big Ten.

51. Philadelphia (Swag): Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame - Been looking for something, anything, since Brian Dawkins left. Actually think Smith is a bit underrated going into this draft. Must be the fact ND hasn’t produced a productive football player since Justin Tuck.

52. Tennessee (Swag): Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin - Titans would’ve loved to have Smith make it to them, but will have to settle with shoring up the offensive line. Their head coach is a former offensive lineman, Wisconsin produces great lineman, would be a great fit here.

TSB commentary: Two Midwestern boys. Rumors have Smith going as high as mid-first round so this is nice value. Zeitler probably loves eating brats.  I can’t give an honest assessment of Zeitler’s playing abilities because even though I watched Wisconsin play nine times this year,  I don’t remember noticing this guy once. He’s a guard so that isn’t shocking, but I’m just being truthful.

53. Cincinnati (TSB): Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska -  First round talent slipping because of injury.

54. Detroit (TSB): David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech - Another first round talent. Lions can’t trust Jahvid Best anymore.

Swag commentary: Love David Wilson, think he should be considered to go higher than where he’s projected to go, Lions getting a special RB right here. Wouldn’t mind if he slid all the way to 63 though.

55. Atlanta (Swag): Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson - Not long ago considered the top TE in the draft… Atlanta needs a plan in place when ageless wonder Tony Gonzalez calls it a career. A year to learn from the best who ever did it should make for a seamless transition and a young reliable target for Matt Ryan.

56. Pittsburgh (Swag): Mychal Kendricks, LB, California - Outside of Lawrence Timmons the Steelers are pretty thin at ILB. Steelers need to inject some more youth to a unit that has been the core of their defensive success and keep them stopping the run.

TSB commentary: The Steelers love them some versatile LB/DE’s: Timmons, James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds… Why not add Kendricks too.

57. Denver (TSB): Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State - Let him learn behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time with absolutely zero pressure on him this season.

58. Houston (TSB): Alameda Ta’amu, DT, Washington - One of my favorite names of the draft. Had to find a way for him to sneak into Round 2, and I think he fits nicely here.

Swag commentary: Couldn’t agree more with both these picks. Osweiler landing in Denver would be a perfect situation for both parties.

59. Green Bay (Swag): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami - Green Bay has been working with a committee of average RB’s for a while now, let’s throw a HR threat in there for a change. Just another weapon for Rodgers to use.

60. Baltimore (Swag): Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall - Ravens can fill the void left by Jarret Johnson’s departure with a young and hungry pass rusher who scouts call “one of the hardest workers in the 2012 draft class”. Nothing to not like here.

TSB commentary: The Ryan Grant experiment is winding to a close. I like Curry lined up opposite T-Sizzle.

61. San Francisco (TSB): Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati - He’ll swallow up some blockers so Patrick Willis can do his work.

62. New England (TSB): Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi - Matt Light replacement.

63. New York Giants (TSB): LaMichael James, RB, Oregon - The Giants can completely reverse course with their third down running back from Bandon Jacobs to LMJ. Bowling ball to pinball.

Swag commentary: Not like Willis needs help, but whatever I guess it’s fair to let him run around unblocked. Like the description of the Massie pick. Love the Giants pick, they need a RB behind Bradshaw to shoulder some of the load, James is one of those players who plays with a chip on his shoulder, should fight and win that spot.