The 2013 season that started with low expectations, then with a glimmer of hope, has nosedived and mercilessly come to an end. The future of head coach Dennis Allen and perhaps even GM Reggie McKenzie is up in the air. Several one and done contracts are also coming off the books as well as the uncertainty of key veterans Lamarr Houston and Jared Veldheer. What will happen next is anyone's guess.
What is now certain is the upcoming 2014 draft order. Below are the 20 slots set in stone with the final 12 playoff teams to be sorted after the post season. The Raiders are sitting at #5. Drafting either ahead of the Jaguars or the Browns would have been best case scenario given the 4-12 record. That pick would have been a better trade chip for moving down and getting picks, especially from the Browns who have multiple picks in 2 of the 3 rounds.
There is a real possibility that the Raiders could end up selecting Jadaveon Clowney. That domino would fall if Houston's rumored to be new HC Bill O'Brien wants his own QB to start his career. The Rams most likely will end up selecting offensive tackle, especially with Jake Long blowing out his knee. The Jaguars and Browns could both reach for the aforementioned Derek Carr and Blake Bortles. Which leads us to the Raiders. They could have two potential defensive studs to select from: Jadaveon Clowney or Anthony Barr.
That was best case scenario for staying put. Here's one scenario where the Raiders could definitely be looking to drop down and get additional picks: Texans draft Clowney. Rams draft OT Jake Matthews, Jaguars draft Teddy Bridgewater, Browns draft Derek Carr. Raiders could swap picks with either of the QB needy Buccaneers or Vikings and end up with an additional pick. A big factor to be mindful of is that the picks could be effected by who the Texans, Browns and Bucs (so far) end up hiring as the new head coach.
There's a lot of time from now till then and it will be fun to see how it all shakes out.
updated 1/12/2014
1. Texans
2. Rams (via Redskins)
3. Jaguars
4. Browns
5. Raiders
6. Falcons
7. Buccaneers
8. Vikings
9. Bills
10. Lions
11. Titans
12. Giants
13. Rams
14. Bears
15. Steelers
16. Cowboys / Ravens (coin flip)
17. Cowboys / Ravens (coin flip)
18. Jets
19. Dolphins
20. Cardinals
21. Packers
22. Eagles
23. Chiefs
24. Bengals
25. Chargers
26. Browns (via Colts)
27. Saints
28. Panthers
Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
BoJack's 4 Round Mock Draft 12.29.13
Here's my first 4 round offering going into the last game of the season. Tried to stay true to team needs and my big board. There are no trades in this draft, but I will be doing one later. Comments and/or criticisms are appreciated. Happy New Year's to everyone.
First Round
1. Houston Texans: DE Jadaveon Clowney South Carolina - QB could be the choice but bookending Clowney with Watt would be a formidable duo that teams will have a hard time gameplanning against. New HC might mean new QB though, unless that new coach's name is interim HC Wade Phillips. Clowney will be as good as he wants to be and if the switch stays on, we're talking HOF-type talent. The true question will be how bad does Clowney want it? Even with the down year, many see Clowney as the best DE prospect in the draft since Bruce Smith. His talent is on the Lebron James, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson mode. Guys that size shouldn't be as athletic and fast as they are. This also rings true for Clowney. There is a real possibility that if the Texans go Bridgewater here, that Clowney could be available at the current Raiders draft position.
2. St. Louis Rams (WAS): OT Jake Matthews - Who knew the trade down with Washington's selection of RGIII would give the Rams such a high pick? Great for the Rams, not so much for Shanarat and company. Matthews has the NFL bloodlines, good athleticism and technique. He's not a perfect OT prospect, but his ability and work ethic could make him one of the preeminent OTs in the league.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Teddy Bridgewater Louisville - The Blaine Gabbert experiment is over. Gus Bradley needs an impact signal caller and Bridgewater is the consensus top rated QB prospect in the draft. Bridgewater's strength is his uncanny accuracy shooting at over a 70% clip. His mobility and accuracy should go a long way for his career in Jacksonville. The big question on Bridgewater is how he'll do once he gets hit hard a couple of times.
4. Oakland Raiders: LB Anthony Barr UCLA - If the Raiders are staying put and Anthony Barr is still available, IMO there is no question he's the pick. Best player available AND the Raiders need to add some pass rushing talent. Barr is extremely versatile and the easy fit is in the 3-4, but he'd be just as good in the 4-3. Though he's an explosive edge rusher, Barr has other areas of his game that are somewhat underrated. He's rangy, strong in run support and plays well in space. Pairing him next to Sio Moore and Nick Roach, along with him coming off the edge on passing downs is really going to upgrade the Raiders defense. The popular thought is that the Raiders go QB here, but if OC Greg Olson is retained, going after FA Josh Freeman may be a better bet and fits Reggie McKenzie's penchant for going after talented players who need a break. Freeman completed 60%-plus of his passes 2 of the 3 years he played under Olson's direction.
5. Cleveland Browns: QB Blake Bortles - One of the hottest names in the draft, Bortles has all of the physical measurables that teams look for in a franchise QB. Lack of competition may be a concern, but the same could be said for Bridgewater. Bortles is a big QB who stands tall in the pocket but is just as comfortable throwing on the run or extending plays outside the pocket. I've read somewhere that he's a poor man's Andrew Luck.
6. Atlanta Falcons: OT Cyrus Kouandijo Alabama - Falcons could be a prime candidate to trade up if Clowney isn't the 1st pick overall. The Falcons defense desperately needs to improve their pass rush. In the meantime they need a long term LT to protect Ryan's blindside. Similar to Dallas LT Tyron Smith coming out of USC, Kouandijo has similar athleticism, good feet and long arms. He's raw but his upside is big.
8. Minnesota Vikings: QB Derek Carr Fresno State - neither Ponder or Cassel are the answer as the franchise QB and Adrian Peterson needs a serviceable QB to keep defenses honest. Carr on the surface might seem like a similar player to Ponder: underrated athleticism, good arm and can tuck and run if they need to. But Carr is a much better prospect and player, and with the right coaching, Carr can be the player everyone thought his brother would be.
9. Buffalo: LB Khalil Mack Buffalo - Do-everything stud and local star LB like Mack would look mighty nice next to Alonso. Mack is very athletic and versatile, with the ability to drop back into coverage or coming up to make the play in run support. Where Mack excels is as a pass rusher, using his burst and quickness to really come off the edge. Along with Alonso, Dareus and Williams, that's the makings of a nice looking young defense.
10. Tennessee Titans: LB CJ Mosely Alabama - Unanimous All-American CJ Mosely can play inside or out, but he should settle in nicely as the Titans defensive signal caller at MLB. Mosely was ultra-productive at Alabama, topping 100+ tackles two seasons in a row. Its equally impressive that he was the standout on a team that has some of the best talent in the country. Unlike former Raider bust Slowando McClain, Mosely plays very fast and is very cerebral. He's a star in the making.
11. New York Giants: CB Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State - Gilbert is my top rated CB because of his production and overall package of size and speed. Gilbert notched 6 INTs, returning 2 for TDs in 2013. The Giants have guys like Ross, Webster and Amukumara, but none of them display the playmaking ability of Gilbert. He also adds value in the return game, where the Giants rank near the bottom in kick return average.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Taylor Lewan Michigan - If there is a player in this draft that was tailored to be in yellow and black its Taylor Lewan. Lewan fits the Steelers throwback mold, and the idea of him lined up next to rising star OG David DeCastro and opening holes in the run game should have Steeler fans salivating. Lewan isn't quite the player Jake Long was coming out of Michigan, but he shares Long's onfield temperament.
13. New York Jets: WR Mike Evans TAMU - Good or bad, Geno Smith is the QB for the Jets at least until 2014, or as long as Rex is there. For the immediate future, he's their guy and he's going to need some offensive help to further develop or end up like Mark Sanchez. Mike Evans ceiling could mirror that of Vincent Jackson, using his combination of size and speed to be a matchup nightmare.
14. St. Louis Rams: WR Marqise Lee USC - Tavon Austin was supposed to be the deep threat, but it turns out that he's not a traditional perimeter receiver. Lee was nicked up for portions of the season but he showed his toughness by playing through the pain. His production was hindered by shaky play at the QB position, but it doesn't change Lee's ability and potential as a prospect. The Rams would be lucky to come away with an offensive playmaker like Lee.
15. Baltimore: OT Greg Robinson Auburn - Probably the fastest rising OT prospect since the end of the regular season, Robinson has played some of his best games when it mattered most to Auburn. Robinson plays with a chip on his shoulder and utilizes that anger positively in the running game. IMO he's the best run blocker in this draft and if he goes back to school, he's in the conversation as the first OT off the board in 2015. If he does declare early, he could leapfrog over guys like Kouandijo and Lewan in the draft.
16. San Diego Chargers: DE/LB Vic Beasley Clemson - HC McCoy rejuvenated Rivers and the rest of that Chargers offense, but the defense really needs an upgrade in talent if they're looking to make some real noise in the AFC West. Beasley is a bit of a tweener but is one of the most explosive pass rushers in this draft.
17. Dallas Cowboys: DT Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota - Jerry Jones has overtaken Al Davis' role as the butt of jokes for his weird drafting methods. Hageman is a versatile DT with a good motor and the Cowboys desperately need talent (and a new DC) on that side of the ball.
18. Green Bay Packers : TE Eric Ebron UNC - Jermichael Finley may never play football again, but even before his neck injury, he never fulfilled the promise as a consistent weapon at the TE position. Ebron has Vernon Davis-type athleticism and uses that to make difficult catches look easy. Ebron needs to be better about making the routine plays consistently, otherwise he's got the makings of the next big TE in the league.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: S Dion Bailey USC - Dion Bailey had a great junior year after his move back to the secondary this season and capped it off with a monster bowl performance against Fresno State. Bailey has been a versatile defender for the Trojans. He's a very sound tackler and has very good eyes and uses them to quickly track the ball. Haha Clinton-Dix was the top ranked S, but my board puts Bailey ahead of him.
20. Chicago Bears: DT Louis Nix III Notre Dame - Chicago is on pace to break the NFL record for opposing rushing yards this season. Some of that is due to injury after the Bears lost stud DT Henry Melton early on. Melton is a pending FA and even then, Chicago could use some much needed size up front. Nix has that in spades and is surprisingly nimble for a guy his size.
21. Detroit Lions: CB Darqueze Dennard Michigan State - If Dennard is still on deck when the Lions pick, there wouldn't be a better match of team to player. Dennard is a local star and Detroit could use some upgraded talent in the defensive secondary. Dennard has shutdown ability and many view him to be the best CB prospect in this year's draft.
22. Miami: OT Cameron Erving Florida State - Jonathan Martin's days in South Beach are all but over. Erving understands the city and the culture much better than the former high round OT. As much as scouts raved about Menelik Watson's ability, it was Erving who showed better consistency and technique on tape. Erving has very good knee bend and is rarely off balance pass blocking. He has all the skills to be a legit LT in the NFL.
23. Cleveland Browns (IND): C Travis Swanson Arkansas - Pro Bowler C Alex Mack has started every game after being drafted by the Browns, but he's due to hit free agency. Even with Mack signed, the Browns need interior line help. Swanson has very good size and has a high football IQ to make the line calls.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Oregon - This might be a low projection for IEO as he's been somewhat overlooked compared to Oregon's high power offense, but by many Pac-12 observers and scouts, he's been their best player on defense since last season. It will be interesting to see how IEO's size will play in his evaluation by scouts. At 5'10" and 175lbs, he may project to be a slot corner at the next level, but IEO has shown he has the speed, quickness and ball skills to cover opposing WRs.
24. Arizona Cardinals: OT Cedric Ogbuehi TAMU - After lining up next to Jake Matthews at RG last season, Ogbuehi has made a smooth transition to RT. He's still raw but there's a lot to like about Ogbuehi. He's got a long wingspan that he uses to his advantage in pass protection. His experience pulling at OG has helped him when he's been asked to block on the move at the second level. Jonathan Cooper will be back next season and the addition of Ogbuehi would further upgrade that OL.
29. New England Patriots: CB Bradley Roby Ohio State - Roby went into the season as one of the top rated CBs in the nation behind Florida's Louchiez Purifoy. Roby has very good speed at the position and covers a lot of ground. Sometimes he has a tendency to rely on that speed to make up for some of the mistakes he makes technique-wise and mentally. Those things can be fixed with coaching and the Patriots are known to coach up their guys.
26. Carolina Panthers: OT Antonio Richardson Tennessee - Panthers LT Jordan Gross is due to become a FA and he's stated he will retire a Panther if he doesn't get extended. Tiny Richardson is massive and very strong. He's also surprisingly quick off the snap and once he gets his big mitts on opponents, he usually wins. Richardson plays well when he's balanced and uses his feet to get outside, but he gets into trouble when his technique gets sloppy. He then ends up reaching and extending, thus losing all power. Richardson reminds me similarly to DJ Fluker last year.
27. San Francisco 49ers: DE Stephen Tuitt Notre Dame - Again, this is probably a low projection for Tuitt who started off the season heavier than last year, playing at over 300lbs. The additional weight took away Tuitt's quickness but he turned the corner midway through the season. Tuitt has a number of ways he can be effective, whether its against the run or coming off the edge.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Louchiez Purifoy Florida - The top CB prospect going into the 2013 season, Purifoy's play, along with the rest of the Gators has been a disappointment. To Purifoy's credit, he made a lot of plays, but what was evident was that there were some games and instances where the losing seemed to affect his play. An indicator of that is seen in his tackling totals, which are about half of what he had last season, and there were some big matchups where he came up short. KC would be a good landing spot for Purifoy to get his bearings back where he can learn from guys like Flowers and Berry.
30. New Orleans Saints: LB Kyle Van Noy BYU - Kyle Van Noy has been touted by some scouts as being the type of LB who can bust up the read option offense that's vogue in the NFL. BYU has regularly employed him at the SPY LB position where his responsibility was keeping tabs on running QBs. Van Noy isn't the physical freak of nature like former teammate Zeke Ansah, but is the most versatile 3 down LB not named Anthony Barr. Van Noy can play in any scheme inside or outside. He's good in coverage, rushing the passer and plays with great vision and awareness.
31. Seattle Seahawks: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Washington - ASJ didn't fulfill the talent and offseason hype he had going into the season. Whether it was injury or his own undoing, ASJ did not dominate the way many thought that he would. Instead he displayed bouts of inconsistency and disinterest when he wasn't part of the gameplan. From a talent standpoint, there aren't many that can measure up, so its going to take a coach like Pete Carroll to really help him mature as a professional. If he can turn the corner, he could be the next great TE in the league.
32. Denver Broncos: G David Yankey Stanford - Yankey was the best player of the group of very effective scrappers for the Stanford Cardinals OL. Yankey plays with very good body control and leverage, and displays the ability to pull effectively on running plays. Though Yankey deserves to go higher than this, IMO he's not going to jump out athletically in shorts and a t-shirt. Yankey is a no-nonsense player who reminds me a little of Logan Mankins.
Second Round
33. Houston: QB Johnny Manziel TAMU
34. Washington: DE/LB Trent Murphy Stanford
35. Oakland: OG Cyril Richardson Baylor
36. Jacksonville: DE Kony Ealy Mizzou
37. Atlanta: DT Timmy Jernigan Florida State
38. Cleveland: RB Ka'Deem Carey Arizona
39. Tampa Bay: TE Jace Amaro Texas Tech
40. Minnesota: DE Randy Gregory Nebraska
41. Buffalo: CB Jason Verrett TCU
42. Tennessee: DE Michael Sam Mizzou
43. NYG: LB Ryan Shazier Ohio State
44. Pittsburgh: S Ed Reynolds Stanford
45. NYJ: OG Gabe Jackson MSU
46. St. Louis: WR Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt
47. Detroit: CB LaMarcus Joyner Florida State
48. Dallas: QB Tajh Boyd Clemson
49. San Diego: CB Kyle Fuller Virginia Tech
50. Green Bay: LB Shane Skov Stanford
51. Miami: RB Tre Mason Auburn
52. Arizona: DE Ed Stinson Alabama
53. Chicago: OT La'el Collins LSU
54. Baltimore: RB Lache Seatrunk Baylor
55. Philadelphia: DE/LB Morgan Breslin USC
56. Indianapolis: OG Zac Martin Notre Dame
57. Cincinnati: LB Christian Jones Florida State
58. Carolina: WR Odell Beckham Jr. LSU
59. San Francisco: DT Brent Urban Virginia
60. New Orleans: OT Jack Mewort Ohio State
61. New England: WR Allen Robinson Penn State
62. San Francisco: WR Brandin Cooks Oregon State
63. Seattle: DT Will Sutton Arizona State
64. Denver: DE Chris Smith Arkansas
Third Round
65. Houston: S Hasean Clinton-Dix Alabama
66. Washington: CB Marcus Roberson Florida
67. Jacksonville: DT Ego Ferguson LSU
68. Oakland: RB Bishop Sankey Washington
69. Atlanta: DE Marcus Smith Louisville
70. Cleveland: CB Victor Hampton South Carolina
71. NYJ: OT James Hurst UNC
72. Minnesota: OG Xavier Su'a-Filo
73. Buffalo: DT DaQuan Jones Penn State
74. San Francisco: CB Wayne Lyons Stanford
75. NYG: DT Anthony Johnson LSU
76. Cleveland: S Kurtis Drummond Michigan State
77. NYJ: QB AJ McCarron Alabama
78. St. Louis: S Terrence Brooks Florida State
79. Detroit: WR Paul Robinson Colorado
80. Dallas: S Deon Buchanon Washington State
81. San Diego: OT Justin Britt Mizzou
82. Green Bay: CB EJ Gaines Mizzou
83. Miami: OG Anthony Steen Alabama
84. Arizona: QB Zack Mettenberger LSU
86. Chicago: DE Jackson Jeffcoat Texas
87. Baltimore: LB Jeremy Attaochu Georgia Tech
88. Philadelphia: LB Yawin Smallwood UConn
89. Indianapolis: WR Kelvin Benjamin Florida State
90. San Francisco: CB Aaron Colvin Oklahoma
91. New Orleans: WR Jarvis Landry LSU
92. New England: TE CJ Fiedorowicz Iowa
93. Carolina: S Ahmad Dixon Baylor
94. Kansas City: LB Chris Borland Wisconsin
95. Denver: LB Carl Bradford Arizona State
96. Minnesota: RB Charles Sims West Virginia
Fourth Round
97. Houston: RB Andre Williams Boston College
98. Washington: OT Morgan Moses Virginia
99. Jacksonville: DE Scott Crichton Oregon State
100. Oakland: QB Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois
101. Atlanta: TE Arthur Lynch Georgia
102. Cleveland: RB De'Anthony Thomas Oregon
103. Tampa Bay: DT Dominique Easley Florida
104. Minnesota: DE Trevor Reilly Utah
105. Tennessee: OT Joel Bitonio Nevada
106. Buffalo: OT JaWuan James Tennessee
107. NYG: WR Jared Abbrederis Wisconsin
108. Pittsburgh: RB Carlos Hyde Ohio State
109. NYJ: DE/LB Demarcus Lawrence Boise State
110. St. Louis: LB Dee Ford Auburn
111. Detroit: LB Telvin Smith Florida State
112. Dallas: DE Josh Mauro Stanford
113. San Diego: WR DeVante Adams Fresno State
114. Green Bay: C Weston Richburg Colorado State
115. Miami: OG Chris Watt Miami
116. Arizona: OT Seantrel Henderson Miami
117. Chicago: CB Keith McGill Utah
118. Philadelphia: WR Donte Moncrief Ole Miss
119. Jacksonville: CB Chris Davis Auburn
120. Cleveland: WR Brandon Coleman Rutgers
121. Cincinnati: DE Kareem Martin UNC
122. New Orleans: LB AJ Johnson Tennessee
123. New England: S Ty Zimmerman Kansas State
124. Carolina: S Kenny Ladler Vanderbilt
125. San Fransisco: DT Daniel McCullers Tennessee
126. Kansas City: LB Lamin Barrow LSU
127. Seattle: CB Pierre Desir Lindenwood
128. Denver: CB Ross Cockrell Duke
First Round
1. Houston Texans: DE Jadaveon Clowney South Carolina - QB could be the choice but bookending Clowney with Watt would be a formidable duo that teams will have a hard time gameplanning against. New HC might mean new QB though, unless that new coach's name is interim HC Wade Phillips. Clowney will be as good as he wants to be and if the switch stays on, we're talking HOF-type talent. The true question will be how bad does Clowney want it? Even with the down year, many see Clowney as the best DE prospect in the draft since Bruce Smith. His talent is on the Lebron James, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson mode. Guys that size shouldn't be as athletic and fast as they are. This also rings true for Clowney. There is a real possibility that if the Texans go Bridgewater here, that Clowney could be available at the current Raiders draft position.
2. St. Louis Rams (WAS): OT Jake Matthews - Who knew the trade down with Washington's selection of RGIII would give the Rams such a high pick? Great for the Rams, not so much for Shanarat and company. Matthews has the NFL bloodlines, good athleticism and technique. He's not a perfect OT prospect, but his ability and work ethic could make him one of the preeminent OTs in the league.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Teddy Bridgewater Louisville - The Blaine Gabbert experiment is over. Gus Bradley needs an impact signal caller and Bridgewater is the consensus top rated QB prospect in the draft. Bridgewater's strength is his uncanny accuracy shooting at over a 70% clip. His mobility and accuracy should go a long way for his career in Jacksonville. The big question on Bridgewater is how he'll do once he gets hit hard a couple of times.
4. Oakland Raiders: LB Anthony Barr UCLA - If the Raiders are staying put and Anthony Barr is still available, IMO there is no question he's the pick. Best player available AND the Raiders need to add some pass rushing talent. Barr is extremely versatile and the easy fit is in the 3-4, but he'd be just as good in the 4-3. Though he's an explosive edge rusher, Barr has other areas of his game that are somewhat underrated. He's rangy, strong in run support and plays well in space. Pairing him next to Sio Moore and Nick Roach, along with him coming off the edge on passing downs is really going to upgrade the Raiders defense. The popular thought is that the Raiders go QB here, but if OC Greg Olson is retained, going after FA Josh Freeman may be a better bet and fits Reggie McKenzie's penchant for going after talented players who need a break. Freeman completed 60%-plus of his passes 2 of the 3 years he played under Olson's direction.
5. Cleveland Browns: QB Blake Bortles - One of the hottest names in the draft, Bortles has all of the physical measurables that teams look for in a franchise QB. Lack of competition may be a concern, but the same could be said for Bridgewater. Bortles is a big QB who stands tall in the pocket but is just as comfortable throwing on the run or extending plays outside the pocket. I've read somewhere that he's a poor man's Andrew Luck.
6. Atlanta Falcons: OT Cyrus Kouandijo Alabama - Falcons could be a prime candidate to trade up if Clowney isn't the 1st pick overall. The Falcons defense desperately needs to improve their pass rush. In the meantime they need a long term LT to protect Ryan's blindside. Similar to Dallas LT Tyron Smith coming out of USC, Kouandijo has similar athleticism, good feet and long arms. He's raw but his upside is big.
7. Tampa Bay: WR Sammy Watkins Clemson - Mike Glennon has shown enough as a starter to give him a full year next season. Adding another offensive weapon like Watkins could further Glennon's development. Watkins has phenomenal hands and makes a ton of plays after the catch.
9. Buffalo: LB Khalil Mack Buffalo - Do-everything stud and local star LB like Mack would look mighty nice next to Alonso. Mack is very athletic and versatile, with the ability to drop back into coverage or coming up to make the play in run support. Where Mack excels is as a pass rusher, using his burst and quickness to really come off the edge. Along with Alonso, Dareus and Williams, that's the makings of a nice looking young defense.
10. Tennessee Titans: LB CJ Mosely Alabama - Unanimous All-American CJ Mosely can play inside or out, but he should settle in nicely as the Titans defensive signal caller at MLB. Mosely was ultra-productive at Alabama, topping 100+ tackles two seasons in a row. Its equally impressive that he was the standout on a team that has some of the best talent in the country. Unlike former Raider bust Slowando McClain, Mosely plays very fast and is very cerebral. He's a star in the making.
11. New York Giants: CB Justin Gilbert Oklahoma State - Gilbert is my top rated CB because of his production and overall package of size and speed. Gilbert notched 6 INTs, returning 2 for TDs in 2013. The Giants have guys like Ross, Webster and Amukumara, but none of them display the playmaking ability of Gilbert. He also adds value in the return game, where the Giants rank near the bottom in kick return average.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Taylor Lewan Michigan - If there is a player in this draft that was tailored to be in yellow and black its Taylor Lewan. Lewan fits the Steelers throwback mold, and the idea of him lined up next to rising star OG David DeCastro and opening holes in the run game should have Steeler fans salivating. Lewan isn't quite the player Jake Long was coming out of Michigan, but he shares Long's onfield temperament.
13. New York Jets: WR Mike Evans TAMU - Good or bad, Geno Smith is the QB for the Jets at least until 2014, or as long as Rex is there. For the immediate future, he's their guy and he's going to need some offensive help to further develop or end up like Mark Sanchez. Mike Evans ceiling could mirror that of Vincent Jackson, using his combination of size and speed to be a matchup nightmare.
14. St. Louis Rams: WR Marqise Lee USC - Tavon Austin was supposed to be the deep threat, but it turns out that he's not a traditional perimeter receiver. Lee was nicked up for portions of the season but he showed his toughness by playing through the pain. His production was hindered by shaky play at the QB position, but it doesn't change Lee's ability and potential as a prospect. The Rams would be lucky to come away with an offensive playmaker like Lee.
15. Baltimore: OT Greg Robinson Auburn - Probably the fastest rising OT prospect since the end of the regular season, Robinson has played some of his best games when it mattered most to Auburn. Robinson plays with a chip on his shoulder and utilizes that anger positively in the running game. IMO he's the best run blocker in this draft and if he goes back to school, he's in the conversation as the first OT off the board in 2015. If he does declare early, he could leapfrog over guys like Kouandijo and Lewan in the draft.
16. San Diego Chargers: DE/LB Vic Beasley Clemson - HC McCoy rejuvenated Rivers and the rest of that Chargers offense, but the defense really needs an upgrade in talent if they're looking to make some real noise in the AFC West. Beasley is a bit of a tweener but is one of the most explosive pass rushers in this draft.
17. Dallas Cowboys: DT Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota - Jerry Jones has overtaken Al Davis' role as the butt of jokes for his weird drafting methods. Hageman is a versatile DT with a good motor and the Cowboys desperately need talent (and a new DC) on that side of the ball.
18. Green Bay Packers : TE Eric Ebron UNC - Jermichael Finley may never play football again, but even before his neck injury, he never fulfilled the promise as a consistent weapon at the TE position. Ebron has Vernon Davis-type athleticism and uses that to make difficult catches look easy. Ebron needs to be better about making the routine plays consistently, otherwise he's got the makings of the next big TE in the league.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: S Dion Bailey USC - Dion Bailey had a great junior year after his move back to the secondary this season and capped it off with a monster bowl performance against Fresno State. Bailey has been a versatile defender for the Trojans. He's a very sound tackler and has very good eyes and uses them to quickly track the ball. Haha Clinton-Dix was the top ranked S, but my board puts Bailey ahead of him.
20. Chicago Bears: DT Louis Nix III Notre Dame - Chicago is on pace to break the NFL record for opposing rushing yards this season. Some of that is due to injury after the Bears lost stud DT Henry Melton early on. Melton is a pending FA and even then, Chicago could use some much needed size up front. Nix has that in spades and is surprisingly nimble for a guy his size.
21. Detroit Lions: CB Darqueze Dennard Michigan State - If Dennard is still on deck when the Lions pick, there wouldn't be a better match of team to player. Dennard is a local star and Detroit could use some upgraded talent in the defensive secondary. Dennard has shutdown ability and many view him to be the best CB prospect in this year's draft.
22. Miami: OT Cameron Erving Florida State - Jonathan Martin's days in South Beach are all but over. Erving understands the city and the culture much better than the former high round OT. As much as scouts raved about Menelik Watson's ability, it was Erving who showed better consistency and technique on tape. Erving has very good knee bend and is rarely off balance pass blocking. He has all the skills to be a legit LT in the NFL.
23. Cleveland Browns (IND): C Travis Swanson Arkansas - Pro Bowler C Alex Mack has started every game after being drafted by the Browns, but he's due to hit free agency. Even with Mack signed, the Browns need interior line help. Swanson has very good size and has a high football IQ to make the line calls.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Oregon - This might be a low projection for IEO as he's been somewhat overlooked compared to Oregon's high power offense, but by many Pac-12 observers and scouts, he's been their best player on defense since last season. It will be interesting to see how IEO's size will play in his evaluation by scouts. At 5'10" and 175lbs, he may project to be a slot corner at the next level, but IEO has shown he has the speed, quickness and ball skills to cover opposing WRs.
24. Arizona Cardinals: OT Cedric Ogbuehi TAMU - After lining up next to Jake Matthews at RG last season, Ogbuehi has made a smooth transition to RT. He's still raw but there's a lot to like about Ogbuehi. He's got a long wingspan that he uses to his advantage in pass protection. His experience pulling at OG has helped him when he's been asked to block on the move at the second level. Jonathan Cooper will be back next season and the addition of Ogbuehi would further upgrade that OL.
29. New England Patriots: CB Bradley Roby Ohio State - Roby went into the season as one of the top rated CBs in the nation behind Florida's Louchiez Purifoy. Roby has very good speed at the position and covers a lot of ground. Sometimes he has a tendency to rely on that speed to make up for some of the mistakes he makes technique-wise and mentally. Those things can be fixed with coaching and the Patriots are known to coach up their guys.
27. San Francisco 49ers: DE Stephen Tuitt Notre Dame - Again, this is probably a low projection for Tuitt who started off the season heavier than last year, playing at over 300lbs. The additional weight took away Tuitt's quickness but he turned the corner midway through the season. Tuitt has a number of ways he can be effective, whether its against the run or coming off the edge.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Louchiez Purifoy Florida - The top CB prospect going into the 2013 season, Purifoy's play, along with the rest of the Gators has been a disappointment. To Purifoy's credit, he made a lot of plays, but what was evident was that there were some games and instances where the losing seemed to affect his play. An indicator of that is seen in his tackling totals, which are about half of what he had last season, and there were some big matchups where he came up short. KC would be a good landing spot for Purifoy to get his bearings back where he can learn from guys like Flowers and Berry.
30. New Orleans Saints: LB Kyle Van Noy BYU - Kyle Van Noy has been touted by some scouts as being the type of LB who can bust up the read option offense that's vogue in the NFL. BYU has regularly employed him at the SPY LB position where his responsibility was keeping tabs on running QBs. Van Noy isn't the physical freak of nature like former teammate Zeke Ansah, but is the most versatile 3 down LB not named Anthony Barr. Van Noy can play in any scheme inside or outside. He's good in coverage, rushing the passer and plays with great vision and awareness.
31. Seattle Seahawks: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Washington - ASJ didn't fulfill the talent and offseason hype he had going into the season. Whether it was injury or his own undoing, ASJ did not dominate the way many thought that he would. Instead he displayed bouts of inconsistency and disinterest when he wasn't part of the gameplan. From a talent standpoint, there aren't many that can measure up, so its going to take a coach like Pete Carroll to really help him mature as a professional. If he can turn the corner, he could be the next great TE in the league.
32. Denver Broncos: G David Yankey Stanford - Yankey was the best player of the group of very effective scrappers for the Stanford Cardinals OL. Yankey plays with very good body control and leverage, and displays the ability to pull effectively on running plays. Though Yankey deserves to go higher than this, IMO he's not going to jump out athletically in shorts and a t-shirt. Yankey is a no-nonsense player who reminds me a little of Logan Mankins.
Second Round
33. Houston: QB Johnny Manziel TAMU
34. Washington: DE/LB Trent Murphy Stanford
35. Oakland: OG Cyril Richardson Baylor
36. Jacksonville: DE Kony Ealy Mizzou
37. Atlanta: DT Timmy Jernigan Florida State
38. Cleveland: RB Ka'Deem Carey Arizona
39. Tampa Bay: TE Jace Amaro Texas Tech
40. Minnesota: DE Randy Gregory Nebraska
41. Buffalo: CB Jason Verrett TCU
42. Tennessee: DE Michael Sam Mizzou
43. NYG: LB Ryan Shazier Ohio State
44. Pittsburgh: S Ed Reynolds Stanford
45. NYJ: OG Gabe Jackson MSU
46. St. Louis: WR Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt
47. Detroit: CB LaMarcus Joyner Florida State
48. Dallas: QB Tajh Boyd Clemson
49. San Diego: CB Kyle Fuller Virginia Tech
50. Green Bay: LB Shane Skov Stanford
51. Miami: RB Tre Mason Auburn
52. Arizona: DE Ed Stinson Alabama
53. Chicago: OT La'el Collins LSU
54. Baltimore: RB Lache Seatrunk Baylor
55. Philadelphia: DE/LB Morgan Breslin USC
56. Indianapolis: OG Zac Martin Notre Dame
57. Cincinnati: LB Christian Jones Florida State
58. Carolina: WR Odell Beckham Jr. LSU
59. San Francisco: DT Brent Urban Virginia
60. New Orleans: OT Jack Mewort Ohio State
61. New England: WR Allen Robinson Penn State
62. San Francisco: WR Brandin Cooks Oregon State
63. Seattle: DT Will Sutton Arizona State
64. Denver: DE Chris Smith Arkansas
Third Round
65. Houston: S Hasean Clinton-Dix Alabama
66. Washington: CB Marcus Roberson Florida
67. Jacksonville: DT Ego Ferguson LSU
68. Oakland: RB Bishop Sankey Washington
69. Atlanta: DE Marcus Smith Louisville
70. Cleveland: CB Victor Hampton South Carolina
71. NYJ: OT James Hurst UNC
72. Minnesota: OG Xavier Su'a-Filo
73. Buffalo: DT DaQuan Jones Penn State
74. San Francisco: CB Wayne Lyons Stanford
75. NYG: DT Anthony Johnson LSU
76. Cleveland: S Kurtis Drummond Michigan State
77. NYJ: QB AJ McCarron Alabama
78. St. Louis: S Terrence Brooks Florida State
79. Detroit: WR Paul Robinson Colorado
80. Dallas: S Deon Buchanon Washington State
81. San Diego: OT Justin Britt Mizzou
82. Green Bay: CB EJ Gaines Mizzou
83. Miami: OG Anthony Steen Alabama
84. Arizona: QB Zack Mettenberger LSU
86. Chicago: DE Jackson Jeffcoat Texas
87. Baltimore: LB Jeremy Attaochu Georgia Tech
88. Philadelphia: LB Yawin Smallwood UConn
89. Indianapolis: WR Kelvin Benjamin Florida State
90. San Francisco: CB Aaron Colvin Oklahoma
91. New Orleans: WR Jarvis Landry LSU
92. New England: TE CJ Fiedorowicz Iowa
93. Carolina: S Ahmad Dixon Baylor
94. Kansas City: LB Chris Borland Wisconsin
95. Denver: LB Carl Bradford Arizona State
96. Minnesota: RB Charles Sims West Virginia
Fourth Round
97. Houston: RB Andre Williams Boston College
98. Washington: OT Morgan Moses Virginia
99. Jacksonville: DE Scott Crichton Oregon State
100. Oakland: QB Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois
101. Atlanta: TE Arthur Lynch Georgia
102. Cleveland: RB De'Anthony Thomas Oregon
103. Tampa Bay: DT Dominique Easley Florida
104. Minnesota: DE Trevor Reilly Utah
105. Tennessee: OT Joel Bitonio Nevada
106. Buffalo: OT JaWuan James Tennessee
107. NYG: WR Jared Abbrederis Wisconsin
108. Pittsburgh: RB Carlos Hyde Ohio State
109. NYJ: DE/LB Demarcus Lawrence Boise State
110. St. Louis: LB Dee Ford Auburn
111. Detroit: LB Telvin Smith Florida State
112. Dallas: DE Josh Mauro Stanford
113. San Diego: WR DeVante Adams Fresno State
114. Green Bay: C Weston Richburg Colorado State
115. Miami: OG Chris Watt Miami
116. Arizona: OT Seantrel Henderson Miami
117. Chicago: CB Keith McGill Utah
118. Philadelphia: WR Donte Moncrief Ole Miss
119. Jacksonville: CB Chris Davis Auburn
120. Cleveland: WR Brandon Coleman Rutgers
121. Cincinnati: DE Kareem Martin UNC
122. New Orleans: LB AJ Johnson Tennessee
123. New England: S Ty Zimmerman Kansas State
124. Carolina: S Kenny Ladler Vanderbilt
125. San Fransisco: DT Daniel McCullers Tennessee
126. Kansas City: LB Lamin Barrow LSU
127. Seattle: CB Pierre Desir Lindenwood
128. Denver: CB Ross Cockrell Duke
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
ATO: 12.12.13
Allen, Tarver & Olson Press Conference for vs. Kansas City Week:
Thanks to RaiderCentral on YouTube
Thanks to RaiderCentral on YouTube
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wrench in the Works
The one player who could really set the 2014 NFL Draft off is University of Central Florida QB Blake Bortles.
Reports say that he's about 70% sure that he'll be coming out for the draft. The NFL Draft Advisory Board will likely give Bortles a favorable grade...probably a 1st or 2nd Round, but it's likely he will be drafted somewhere in the Top 15 picks if not higher.
If you haven't seen Bortles play, he is a very good player and has a lot of versatility in his QB play. He and the Knights will take on what could be their biggest challenge this season in the Baylor Bears in the Fiesta Bowl. UCF and Baylor will play at 5:30 pm PT on New Years Day, live from Glendale, AZ.
He could also very well be the Raider pick in the 1st Round should he be available in the Oakland slot. A solid Bowl performance, in what should be a shootout, could help persuade McKenzie and Olson to go after the kid.
Reports say that he's about 70% sure that he'll be coming out for the draft. The NFL Draft Advisory Board will likely give Bortles a favorable grade...probably a 1st or 2nd Round, but it's likely he will be drafted somewhere in the Top 15 picks if not higher.
If you haven't seen Bortles play, he is a very good player and has a lot of versatility in his QB play. He and the Knights will take on what could be their biggest challenge this season in the Baylor Bears in the Fiesta Bowl. UCF and Baylor will play at 5:30 pm PT on New Years Day, live from Glendale, AZ.
He could also very well be the Raider pick in the 1st Round should he be available in the Oakland slot. A solid Bowl performance, in what should be a shootout, could help persuade McKenzie and Olson to go after the kid.
BoJack's Mock Draft 12.12.13
Losing a must win game versus the Jets, the Raiders could very well end up with a pick in the top 5. Just like last season where GM Reggie McKenzie traded down to gain an additional 2nd round pick, I can realistically see a couple of teams wanting to leapfrog into the position to take a coveted player, especially if there's a QB slotted at the position. McKenzie in contrast may have coveted players but will always have his line open for GMs calling to trade for additional picks (unless of course that player is Derek Carr and McKenzie is sold on him). The Raiders could drop 4-5 slots, still get their man and add an additional pick in the top 64.
1st Round: WR Sammy Watkins - Clemson - Sammy Watkins is an electric playmaker who's a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He would give the Raiders offense a shot in the arm with his deep speed and velcro hands. Watkins is a very smooth receiver who has some of the best run after the catch ability of any WR to come out in the last couple of drafts. His ability to snatch the ball out of the air gives him an impressive catch radius and because of that he plays a lot bigger than his size. Watkins had a rough 2012 off the field but he seems to have matured this season. Watkins could very well be gone by the time the Raiders pick in the 10-15 range, but stranger things have happened. Player Comparison: Torrey Smith - Ravens Alternate Pick: WR Marqise Lee - USC
2nd Round: DT Aaron Donald - Pitt -Tweener was a bad word once in the NFL, but with today's pass heavy offenses, defenses want their linemen to be quick and versatile. Donald's lack of ideal measurables are made up by his ability to use his leverage and quickness to win battles at the point of attack. He's surprisingly strong, with the ability to generate good power in his hands and displays a good assortment of pass rush moves. Donald has a great motor, and evidenced by his 22.5 tackles for loss this season, he'd be a great weapon for the attacking style of defense DC Jason Tarver has employed for much of this season. Pairing him next to Houston would pose a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses. Player Comparison: DT Geno Atkins - Bengals Alternate Pick: DT Will Sutton - Arizona State
2nd Round: RB Bishop Sankey - Washington - There are bigger names with gaudier stats than Sankey, but he would be a great addition to the Raiders offense. Sankey is a true 3 down runningback, contributing to the passing game either out of the backfield or in pass protection. Sankey has a great blend of quickness, vision and balance and he makes positive plays after initial contact. He has the goods to be either a RBC or a bonafide starter. One of my favorite players in this draft. Player Comparison: Maurice Jones-Drew - Jaguars Alternate Pick: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz - Iowa
3rd Round: DE Shilique Calhoun - Michigan State - Redshirt sophomore Calhoun is a very explosive edge rusher who may end up staying at MSU to bolster his draft status and let his body mature with his already uber-athletic skill set. As a defensive end, Calhoun has 3 defensive touchdowns this season to go with 14 TFL and 7.5 sacks. His athleticism and quickness allows him the ability to drop back and make plays in the open field to go along with his edge rushing. Calhoun's upside is huge. Player Comparison: Olivier Vernon - Dolphins Alternate Pick: OG Gabe Jackson - Mississippi State
4th Round: CB Aaron Colvin - Oklahoma - Physical defensive back with good size at the position. Colvin is a tough corner who plays well in coverage and against the run. His strength allows him to jam WRs effectively at the line of scrimmage. Colvin could be a higher rated prospect if he can cut down his mental mistakes. His aggressiveness has gotten him into trouble in the past with pass interference penalties, especially in the bigger games. Player Comparison: Cary Williams - Eagles Alternate Pick: CB Keith McGill - Utah
6th Round: TE Kaneakua Friel - BYU - Friel went from being buried in the depth chart to becoming a solid contributor in the Cougars passing game this season. He has the strength to run tackles after the catch and is a willing blocker.
7th Round: OG Spencer Long - Nebraska - Former walk-on turned team captain Spencer Long has been a long time fixture of the Huskers OL, having played both tackle and guard in his career. Long moves well from his right guard position, with good lateral movement and the quickness to pull on run blocks. He isn't very athletic and needs to work on not being such a waist-bender, where he then tends to reach and lunge, losing his balance and ending up on the ground. He needs to improve on his technique and getting stronger at the point of attack. Long's definitely a try hard guy and could become a better player than many think he will be. His mid-season knee injury drops his draft stock.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Depth
With a team already weak on depth, all the late injuries here in December aren't helping Oakland at all...(though the return of Veldheer has been huge thus far).
The turnovers in your own territory, the blocked punts, the missed field goals...the Raiders aren't good enough to overcome these mistakes. It falls on the players making poor decisions and not making plays, but there's something to be said for the coaching staff as well. It felt like a question of motivation early...then again, it could have just been a lack of focus on the road...either way it's a perfect storm for the Raiders right now. QBs struggling to be consistent and a Raider defense that is faltering down the stretch, having a tough time getting off the field on 3rd down.
The 2014 1st Round pick is getting higher and higher...looking like a Top 5 pick, considering the rest of the Oakland schedule.
The turnovers in your own territory, the blocked punts, the missed field goals...the Raiders aren't good enough to overcome these mistakes. It falls on the players making poor decisions and not making plays, but there's something to be said for the coaching staff as well. It felt like a question of motivation early...then again, it could have just been a lack of focus on the road...either way it's a perfect storm for the Raiders right now. QBs struggling to be consistent and a Raider defense that is faltering down the stretch, having a tough time getting off the field on 3rd down.
The 2014 1st Round pick is getting higher and higher...looking like a Top 5 pick, considering the rest of the Oakland schedule.
Friday, December 6, 2013
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