Friday, April 28, 2017

Round 1 Recap


I’ll have a more thorough recap after the draft is done but here are some initial reactions:

The Good
-The 49ers: They were able to trade down from 2 to 3 and then back up into the late first round to acquire Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster. Great haul for the rookies, Lynch and Shanahan.
-The Jets: They got the best player in the draft at 6. That’s a huge win.
-The Bucs: The OJ Howard top-10 buzz was just smoke, but he gives Jameis another pass-catching weapon. It’s finally an exciting time to be a fan of Tampa Bay again.
-My mock: I hit on six of the first 8 picks. (Of course it doesn’t count for anything, but I had Fournette going to the Jags in my first mock and talked myself out of it. D’oh.) And, I didn’t post some kind of final, FINAL mock draft like Kiper and McShay.
-My prop bets: If gambling were legal and you followed my picks, it would have been a money-making night for you as 4 of 6 hit for a profit of 50 fake dollars.
-Takarrist McKinley: Love everything about him including the huge picture of his grandmother that he brought on stage.


I just pre-ordered my Adams jersey. Gonna love this guy.



Not Sure Yet
-The Browns: Eventually they need to find a QB. They had the chance at 12 but instead chose to trade down for more picks. Time will tell but it will be another year of guessing about the future in Cleveland.
-The Raiders: Boldest move of the day wasn’t a trade up for the QBs; it was Oakland taking a guy that was accused of rape this week. They better be correct.
-Alabama: The Crimson Tide had four first rounders which is a tremendous accomplishment; however, aside from Marlon Humphrey, the others slipped much farther than most expected.


The Bad
-The Bengals: I’m not buying John Ross as a good value at 9.
-The Dolphins: Jarrad Davis over Reuben Foster?

Best 25 Available
1. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
2. Kevin King, CB, Washington
3. Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky
4. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
5. Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
6. Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
7. Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston
8. Budda Baker, S, Washington
9. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
10. Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
11. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
12. Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
13. Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
14. Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
15. Josh Jones, S, NC State
16. Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
17. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
18. Nathan Peterman, QB, Pitt
19. Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
20. Davis Webb, QB, Cal
21. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
22. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
23. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
24. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
25. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington


Remainder of Jets Draft
Round 2 (Overall Pick)
7 (39). New York Jets: Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky

Round 3 (Overall Pick)
6 (70). New York Jets: Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech
43 (107). New York Jets: Derek Rivers, OLB, Youngstown State

Round 5 (Overall Pick)
6 (150). New York Jets: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson

Round 6 (Overall Pick)
7 (191). New York Jets: Amba Etta-Tawo, WR, Syracuse

Round 7 (Overall Pick)
6 (224). New York Jets: Kyle Kalis, OL, Michigan

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Two Round NFL Mock Draft (And Then Some)


It's been five years since I put together a two-round mock draft. That's too long. For that, I apologize. I'll add all of the Jets picks too just for good measure. For what it's worth - although I will not make up trades in this mock - I think the Jets will work out a deal with either the Browns or .... the Redskins if Mitch Trubisky is still on the board. The Redskins would then deal Kirk Cousins to the 49ers (maybe for pick 34 this year and another second rounder next year?).

The best night of the sports year is almost upon us. And it will be even better without Chris Berman! Enjoy.

Updated as of 7:05pm. I haven't changed my Top 15 since this was originally posted on Saturday. Let's see how it plays out.

Round 1
1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DL, Texas A&M
2. San Francisco 49ers: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
3. Chicago Bears: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
5. Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
6. New York Jets: Jamal Adams, S, LSU
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanfor
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

Reddick might be the biggest beneficiary of Reuben Foster's recent issues.

10. Buffalo Bills: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
11. New Orleans Saints: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
12. Cleveland Browns: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
13. Arizona Cardinals: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
15. Indianapolis Colts: Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky
16. Baltimore Ravens: Jabrill Peppers, Athlete, Michigan
17. Washington Redskins: Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA
18. Tennessee Titans: Kevin King, CB, Washington
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
20. Denver Broncos: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
21. Detroit Lions: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
22. Miami Dolphins: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
23. New York Giants: David Njoku, TE, Miami
24. Oakland Raiders: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
25. Houston Texans: Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
26. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
27. Kansas City Chiefs: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
28. Dallas Cowboys: Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
29. Green Bay Packers: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
31. Atlanta Falcons: Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston
32. New Orleans Saints: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU


Round 2 (Overall Pick)
1 (33). Cleveland Browns: Budda Baker, S, Washington
2 (34). San Francisco 49ers: Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut
3 (35). Jacksonville Jaguars: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
4 (36). Chicago Bears: Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee - Rocket scientist.
5 (37). Los Angeles Rams: John Ross, WR, Washington  I’ll call this my boldest prediction (Ross falling out of Round 1).
6 (38). Los Angeles Chargers: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame - Rocket scientist he is not. What was he thinking with this quote? The greatest ever? Last year he was behind Malik Zaire on the depth chart.
7 (39). New York Jets: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss - It's been five years since a Jets tight end put up more than 400 yards receiving in a season. I'm not sure in Engram would top that mark in 2017, but with an actual QB he would in 2018.

Engram would give the Jets a weapon out wide.

8 (40). Carolina Panthers: Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
9 (41). Cincinnati Bengals: Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC - Pacman 2.0 without the off-field baggage.
10 (42). New Orleans Saints: Davis Webb, QB, Cal
11 (43). Philadelphia Eagles: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
12 (44). Buffalo Bills: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
13 (45). Arizona Cardinals: Josh Jones, S, NC State
14 (46). Indianapolis Colts: Antonio Garcia, OL, Troy
15 (47). Baltimore Ravens: Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
16 (48). Minnesota Vikings: Dion Dawkins, OL, Temple
17 (49). Washington Redskins: Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
18 (50). Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
19 (51). Denver Broncos: Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland
20 (52). Cleveland Browns: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington - There’s a good chance that 2017 becomes a redshirt year, but the Browns won’t be competitive anyway and this would be a smart gamble with the extra pick Cleveland owns in this draft.
21 (53). Detroit Lions: T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
22 (54). Miami Dolphins: Marcus Maye, S, Florida
23 (55). New York Giants: DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
24 (56). Oakland Raiders: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
25 (57). Houston Texans: Aviante Collins, OT, TCU
26 (58). Seattle Seahawks: Desmond King, CB, Iowa
27 (59). Kansas City Chiefs: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma - They already have Tyreek Hill so why not?
28 (60). Dallas Cowboys: Gareon Conley, CB Idiot, Ohio State - At some point, the risk that the charges against him are bogus might be worthwhile.
29 (61). Green Bay Packers: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
30 (62). Pittsburgh Steelers: Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama
31 (63). Atlanta Falcons: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
32 (64). Carolina Panthers: Chris Wormley, DT, Michigan


Dropped Out
Caleb Brantley, DT Idiot, Florida

Remainder of Jets Draft
Round 3 (Overall Pick)
6 (70). New York Jets: Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech
43 (107). New York Jets: Derek Rivers, OLB, Youngstown State

Round 5 (Overall Pick)
6 (150). New York Jets: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson

Round 6 (Overall Pick)
7 (191). New York Jets: Amba Etta-Tawo, WR, Syracuse

Round 7 (Overall Pick)
6 (224). New York Jets: Kyle Kalis, OL, Michigan


Other Thoughts
-I still like the idea of the Bills using their fourth rounder on Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly, nephew of Buffalo legend Jim Kelly.

-Crazy draft idea: The Browns should go all in on a 2017 tank job and focus exclusively on the 2018 season and beyond. Take Garrett at 1 and take the best available players at 12 and 33. Then trade 52 and 108 for a 2018 first rounder. Trade 65 and Joe Thomas (to Seattle or the NYG?) for a 2018 first rounder. Trade Kevin Zeitler for a 2018 second rounder. I know the Browns just signed Zeitler this offseason, but this would essentially allow the team to buy a second rounder for the price of Zeitler’s signing bonus. This series of deals would give Cleveland three 2018 first rounders and four 2018 second rounders along with Garrett in addition to boatloads of cap room.


Prop Bets
-Mitchell Trubisky Selected: Under Pick 11.5. 200 to win 50
-Alabama Players Selected in First Round: Over 4.5. 100 to win 50 (Allen, Howard, Foster, Robinson, Humphrey)
-LSU Players Selected in First Round: Over 2.5. 80 to win 50 (Fournette, Adams, T. White)
-SEC Players Selected in First Round: Over 11.5. 50 to win 50 (Allen, Howard, Foster, Robinson, Humphrey, Fournette, Adams, T. White, Garrett, Barnett, Harris, Davis, Engram, Cunningham) 
-Corey Davis Selected: Under Pick 17.5. 80 to win 50
-John Ross Selected: Over Pick 18.5. 50 to win 50