2016 First Round Mock Draft 1.0
(1.1) Tom-a-Hank
Ezekiel Elliot – RB – Ohio State
This will be quite possibly the easiest decision of the
draft. I envision Brady already has his pick acceptance speech written and he’s
just waiting to copy and paste it into our shared message/conference call. Even with the good fortune of snagging Zach
Zenner from Ole’s practice squad, RB is the biggest weakness on the roster. Tevin
Coleman, Kadeem Carey, and Jay Ajayi all have HUGE upside but are blocked by others
on their prospective rosters. At this point Elliot’s landing spot is anywhere
from the Giants at 1.10 to the Texans at 1.22. Regardless, he is in a tier of
his own when it comes to Running Backs in this draft.
(1.2) Average
Joe's (from NattyBohs)
LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Ole Miss
When you look at the roster, two names literally jump out at
you (one of them, snagging a catch with just three fingers) those are Antonio
Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. There are several question marks and a pretty glaring
need at RB for this squad but Joe is too smart to reach for need and bypass the
cream of this year’s WR crop. He’s been burned by Bishop, tricked by TJ, and so
this time he’ll get the sure thing and bolster the WR corps. Treadwell is not
running at the combine but it won’t hurt him, he has all the other skills to
excel at his position and should be a factor starting day one. Just hope he
gets picked by a team other than the Los Angeles Rams.
(1.3) For Narnia
(from Coach Dadbod)
Alex Collins – RB - Arkansas
Here’s the guy that is going to get the most buzz from now
until draft day. At his best, he’s been compared to Marshawn Lynch, others see
him as a Knowshon Moreno because of his superb pass-catching skills. In three
years at Arkansas he’s surpassed 1000 yards rushing each season and until this
season he split carries with fellow draftee Jonathan Williams. He could sneak
into the first round of the NFL draft and land in a very fantasy friendly
position. The WR position for the Narnians is pretty
solid so RB is a given. It’s just a question of is it the ‘buzz-beast’ or the
Heisman winner.
(1.4) Fat Eddie
(from For Narnia)
Tyler Boyd – WR - Pittsburgh
With the top wideout and top RB options taken, Fat Eddie
will probably be trying hard to deal this pick for more in the future. However,
I could also see him taking a calculated risk in selecting a guy that could be
the next Larry Fitzgerald. Tyler Boyd was on the Heisman watchlist and figured
to be the top wideout going into the season. He has the size-speed combo teams
want but more importantly has soft hands and a sharp mind. He had off-field issues
that will affect his draft position but my thinking is that while Boyd will be
a day 2 pick, he will fall into a much better position with a competent QB who
can help him win OROY honors. Yeah, I’m going there in Mock 1.0.
(1.5) DaBert
Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama
With the season’s first blockbuster trade Bert finds himself
in the enviable position of being able to draft the best player available and
not have to worry about them needing consistent player time in their rookie
year. Derrick Henry may have a ton of miles on his tires but should still find
a productive home in the NFL. The track record for Heisman Trophy winning RB’s
isn’t the greatest, but every ‘curse’ is meant to be broken. If you ever feel
bad about the pick just remember the side-by-side look we got of Henry with
Mark Ingram… yeah Henry is an ox and he should be more than fine to start his
career. Worry about the mileage later.
(1.6) Gold
Standard
Corey Coleman – WR - Baylor
With two picks in the first round, Gold Standard has options
to bolster a roster that underperformed in 2015 and was also hit by the injury
bug. Even with names like Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and AJ Green, I think
the best value right here is at WR. Corey Coleman was spectacular last year for
Baylor and didn’t miss a step when the backup QB took over, it ultimately took
the 3rd string QB to have a negative impact on his numbers. Baylor
Wide Receivers are perennially en vogue (even when they get suspended
constantly! Josh Gordon!) I think Gold Standard could also look to trade one or
both of these picks for proven commodities to bolster the RB position.
(1.7) Milk Steak
Kenneth Dixon – RB – Louisiana Tech
Again, here’s another name you may not know yet, but just
you wait. There is only one person in NCAA history to have more total touchdowns
(Navy QB/RB Keenan Reynolds) than our boy Kenneth Dixon. Not only is he a
strong and hungry runner, he has great hands out of the backfield. He has been
compared to guys like Matt Forte and err… Ray Rice… but I think he could be
this year’s David Johnson. Depending on where he gets drafted he will probably
start as a change-of-pace back but he has the tools to really emerge as a
feature back late in the season and into his sophomore campaign.
(1.8) Size Does
Matter
Michael Thomas – WR – Ohio State
We didn’t always get to see Thomas shine as a Buckeye
because the system really didn’t throw down the field on a consistent basis,
who would blame them when you have a dual-threat QB, a workhorse RB, and a
gadget player in Braxton Miller. Thomas has the pedigree (Keyshawn Johnson is
his uncle) and the size-speed combination you want in a WR1. He has great hands
to go with the 6’3” frame but still needs to be a better route-runner. He could
find himself on a very fantasy friendly team towards the end of day 2. With
only three wideouts currently on the roster, it’s a safe bet several picks will
be spent at the position.
(1.9) Gold
Standard
Devontae Booker – RB – Utah
Gold Standard may not like rolling with Eli and Romo at the
gunslinger position but now is not the time to select a QB that isn’t a sure-fire
franchise player. The run on Running Backs has left fewer options but outside
Elliot, every other player is dependent on the team and opportunity for
touches. Booker is a guy who should fall because of his torn meniscus last fall
but you can’t discount his production while a Ute. By snagging a wideout early,
Gold Standard can take a flier who could help as a bye week fill-in for David
Johnson, Charcandrick West, and Ameer Abdullah. Again, this pick has trade-bait
written all over it.
(1.10) Coach
DadBod (from Fat Eddie)
Josh Doctson – WR – Texas Christian
I hope I am wrong, but every time I visit Josh Doctson, I get
the feeling he could end up being this year’s Kevin White. He has everything you
want in a wideout (have I said that a lot already?) has the speed to make
defenses scared, can climb the ladder and high-point the ball, and then has the
hands to snag those difficult catches. What he’s missing is the muscle and that’s
where I think an injury in camp will force him to start on IR-designated for
return, or keep him from meeting his true potential. Honestly that could be the
outlook for any draft prospect, so don’t take my word for it. If he sees the
field I think a rookie projection of 55 catches, 875 yards, and 6 TDs (11pts
per game average) is more than respectable.
(1.11) Average
Joe's
Jonathan Williams – RB – Arkansas
I think Joe really would have liked to snag Alex Collins early
but Treadwell was too good to pass up. So getting the other Razor-Running Back
is a nice consolation. If not for a foot injury that required surgery, Williams
would be higher on the draft board than Collins but he is a very solid between
the tackles runner who has a very good chance of carving out the early-down
role in many offenses across the league. If the anticipated run on running
backs does happen I envision that Joe will try and trade the pick for a more
proven runner or more draft capital in next year’s draft.
(1.12) I Vincitori
Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame
I am making it a stipulation that anyone who drafts Will
Fuller has to immediately change their team name to “Fuller House” and make
their avatar a picture of Jesse Katsopolis and his flowing mullet. I will also
accept the name of “ Jesse and the Rippers.” Ok back to all seriousness. Will
Fuller is a straight-line burner who plays bigger than his 6’0” size. You
probably are thinking this sounds like DeSean Jackson right about now, but I think he’s an even more
polished receiver. On the tape he is very shifty and can get separation because
DBs are afraid of his speed. I think the Patriots could scoop him up and make
it very hard for Mr. Heinert to pass on a fellow Pat. 