(1.1) Hawkins' TBD Team:
Todd Gurley RB - STL Rams
This could go either way but call me crazy, if I had this pick it would be Gurley. I know MG3 has a clearer shot to playing time, I know he's a candidate to start on the PUP list, I know he's on a team that has gaping offensive line issues, and how many times does he have to play the NFC West teams each year? Ask the Joker. Despite all this, I firmly believe that Gurley will be the closest RB we've seen to Adrian Peterson since... well Adrian Peterson. If Hawkins is looking for a player to contribute on week one, he'll go Gordon. If he wants a player who could be a perennial top 5 pick after his rookie year, he'll go Gurley. I won't point fingers if he guesses wrong because Lord knows I did way back when... but like I said in the first mock, he's the closest thing to Beastmode in this draft and Hawkins' team is desperate for a bell-cow back. With only one pick in the first three rounds, this one has to count.
(1.2) Size Does Matter:Melvin Gordon III RB - SD Chargers
Previous Pick: Melvin Gordon III RB
In my first Mock I said that you could make a case for wide receiver at this spot, that's no longer the case. Several runningbacks on this roster saw their team select a ball carrier to, at the very least, steal touches from the incumbent. Joique has Ameer, Tre has Gurley, Zac got shipped to the Jets, and Oliver has MG3. As i said in the first mock, Gordon will find himself on a team ready to challenge for lead-back duties. In San Diego he should be the starter day one. The fumbling issue doesn't concern me but the Badger RB heritage sure does. That being said he will find himself at the top of rookie scorers and Smarty will be very happy to select whoever Hawkins deems unworthy of the first overall selection.
(1.3) Average Joe's (from Natty Bohs):
Tevin Coleman RB - ATL Falcons
Previous Pick: Kevin White WRIdeally, the Average Joes would welcome a trade here but I don't think one get's done. The 3-hole offers tremendous value but the two blue chip players will have already been scooped up. What the Joe's could do is grab the most valuable commodity and work a trade closer to week one. I had Kevin White initially and given where he landed, the pick also makes sense here but in a league where runningbacks are scarce, it makes sense to grab them while you can. Coleman torched B1G defenses this year and like I guessed in my previous mock he finds himself on a Falcons team that has plenty of weapons in place and is need of a true early down thumper.
(1.4) Gold Standard (from Launchpad McQuack):TJ Yeldon RB - JAX Jaguars
Previous Pick: Jay Ajayi RB
The glaring hole on the roster is runningback and Gold Standard will keep the run on ball carriers rollin' with TJ Yeldon. The only issue with the pick is that Yeldon is on the Jaguars. that being said he is a much better athlete than the RB's currently on the roster. Yeldon may not have the shiftiness, but he's faster than many people think at first glance. What makes him special is he has a knack for always falling forward and can push the pile in those short yardage and goal line downs. Like Gordon, Yeldon follows the footsteps of some failed franchise runningbacks which may diminish his value, but I see a little bit of Eddie Lacy in TJ and Gold Standard will gladly welcome him to the squad.
(1.5) Tom-a-Hank (From Milk Steak)
Jay Ajayi RB - MIA DolphinsPrevious Pick: Ameer Abdullah RB
Everything in me wants to have Amari Cooper be selected with this pick, but it's so hard seeing the Raiders with a potent (non-garbage time) offense. Tom-a-Hank is also a smart maneuver-er (is that a word?). The Hanks have three of the next four picks so the order here is critical. There is a spot open for wide receiver but I believe he will scoop up two runningbacks at 5 and 6, then happily snag the wideout that falls to him. I believe the first potential bell-cow will be Jay Ajayi. The knock on Ajayi is that doctors believe his knee is bone-on-bone. That fact scared off a lot of potential suitors, but falling to Miami in the fifth, Ajayi is an absolute steal. Lack of ligaments isn't an issue for a young athlete, but does mean his life in the NFL will be a short one. If you ask me it will still be a productive one. He does have Lamar Miller ahead of him but when has that stopped Philbin from using multiple men in the backfield? Of the two I think Ajayi has the power to be the early down back and with that revamped offense could be a candidate for double digit touchdowns.
(1.6) Tom-A-Hank:Ameer Abdullah RB - DET Lions
Previous Pick: Amari Cooper
In the first mock I wrote "Abdullah I imagine will fall a bit in the draft and end up on a great team that will accentuate his skill set." Not to toot my horn but am I right or am I right? Abdullah is a great complement to Joquie Bell on the Lions. I think he's more of a complete back than people give him credit for but it may take time for him to earn his stripes and get the majority of carries. I'm sure the comments on Facebook at this point will be along the lines of "I can't believe Cooper and White are still there!" and "Seriously... six straight runingbacks?!?" You better believe it.
(1.7) Luck Dynasty (from Keenan & Robs):Amari Cooper WR - OAK Raiders
Previous Pick: Jeremy Langford
I think Luck Dynasty would've liked to select a runningback here but with the most polished and pro-ready receiver in this draft falling to the seven-spot, it's a no-brainer. You can make the case for Kevin White who is in a better offense (initially) but Cooper has a significantly higher floor and consistently produced against SEC defenses. Cooper reminds me of AJ Green. All through the season he was the guy, then after the combine the pundits start praising the guy who flashed the most. Back then it was Julio Jones, this year it's Kevin White. I picked Julio, Luck shouldn't pass on this year's AJ because he's got Derek Carr slinging the ball to him. Cooper's got the goods to be Offensive ROY.
(1.8) Tom-A-Hank (from Average Joe's):Kevin White WR - CHI Bears
Previous Pick: Tevin Coleman
After giving up Emmanuel Sanders, Tom-a-Hank needs a franchise wideout to build around. Cooper would've been great but the Bears replaced Brandon Marshall with an absolute beast of a player in Kevin White. Sharing time with Alshon Jeffery could limit his weekly point totals (much like Roddy White and Julio Jones initially) but I think he could score the most touchdowns of all the rookie pass catchers in this draft. I am honestly still scratching my head from the trade of Mark Ingram and Sanders, but after seeing who Hank was able to replace them with, it makes some sense. It's still a huge gambl, but it's one with significant upside.
(1.9) Average Joe's (from Luck Dynasty):Nelson Agholor WR - PHI Eagles
Previous Pick: TJ Yeldon
The Average Joe's were probably hoping to snag one of the top two wideouts, and heck it would be something to see him pass on White or Cooper at 3 and still get one of them at 9, but getting Agholor is a huge pickup. In Chip Kelly's system, any offensive weapon that has a clear path to playing time is going to be productive. Agholor jumps right in to take over for Jeremy Maclin and should see numbers similar to what Desean Jackson put up just two years ago. Yes, Jordan Matthews has the benefit of playing a year in Coach Kelly's system but he doesn't have the speed that Agholor provides and will probably man the slot and still be productive. Think of it plain and simple: more offensive plays per game = more targets for playmakers. Oh and did I mention that Agholor returns punts and kicks?
(1.10) For Narnia:DeVante Parker WR - MIA Dolphins
Previous Pick: Dorial Green-Beckham
With CJ Anderson and Matt Forte toting the rock, For Narnia will look to bolster the aging receiving corps. DeVante Parker is a wideout that Miami hasn't had in a very very long time. Here's a guy that gives you both size and speed to win down the seam and the ability to high-point the ball and make some spectacular catches. I also think his presence will finally help Ryan Tannehill turn the corner as a consistent fantasy performer. I could very easily see the Narnians taking Breshaud Perriman but in terms of pure talent, Parker gets the edge.
(1.11) Gold Standard:
David Johnson RB - ARZ CardinalsPrevious Pick: Javorius 'Buck' Allen RB
Like I have said earlier, Gold Standard is set for the next decade at wide receiver and I think he'll go after another running back and play the numbers game at that position. I initially thought Buck Allen would be the pick and yes he has landed in a tempting spot in Baltimore but with Forsett in front of him he will probably be drafted as a complementary guy. At this point though, any runningback selected will be in some sort of time-share so Gold Standard will take the guy who has the best chance to lead the committee, that's David Johnson. In landing with the Cardinals, Johnson could vie for early down and goal line bruiser role with Andre Ellington as the scat-back. The Cardinals brass is already raving about him but we will have to wait and see if these comments are the real deal or a way to motivate Ellington.
(1.12) Luck Dynasty (from I Vincitori):David Cobb RB - TEN Titans
Previous Pick: Jameis Winston QB
This pick could go so many ways but I think if Luck Dynasty doesn't trade out of the spot they'll select a runningback with upside. Cobb fits that role completely. The Titans are a less than favorable position at first glance but he should very easily beat out the shell of Shonn Greene and find himself splitting carries with Bishop Sankey. These two are very different style runners with Cobb actually showing some flashes of power (I mean look at the photo). What really makes me excited about Cobb is that the Titans are going to build around Marcus Mariota's strengths, that means the Zone Read. Just look at what that play calling system has done for Marshawn Lynch in Seattle and Alfred Morris in Washington (before RG3 forgot how to play), this is a system that will pa dividends to whomever is in the backfield. If you ask me, that will probably be Cobb a majority of the time.
Who's out?
Jameis Winston QB - TB Buccaneers: Talented and a great spot to thrive but need elsewhere will cause him to be overlooked by teams.
Jeremy Langford RB - CHI Bears: Super talented player and a guy I love, but he's absolutely buried on the depth chart in Chicago. The one plus is that he's totally different than Forte and Carey so he could fight for carries.
Buck Allen RB - BAL Ravens: I've always liked Buck Allen as a runningback and hoped he'd land in a better situation. He'll get his chances especially as a pass catcher on 3rd down, but I don't think he's going to be the guy in Baltimore.
Dorial Green-Beckham WR - TEN Titans: Had he been drafted by a team with an established quarterback and a free path to playing time, he'd be more intriguing. Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter will lead the way and DGB is going to have to earn his stripes.
No comments:
Post a Comment