Once the confetti has fallen, the countdown begins again.
The days are numbered. The anticipation rises. For the prospects it’s the first
step of their professional lives. The combine. For all of us fake football
coaches it’s the first glance at who could end up riding our virtual benches,
or filling out our two practice squad designations. Put that way it sounds
interesting right? Yet in reality, it’s our annual opportunity to watch men
compete against one another in their underwear. 40 times, bench presses, cone
drills. They all mean something, or nothing, depending on the person. Will the
results of these feats of strength sway a team into making a selection? Well,
let’s start the overreaction theater and dive headfirst into Mock Draft 2.0
(1.1) Tom-a-Hank
Ezekiel Elliot – RB – Ohio State
Previous Pick: Ezekiel Elliot
No changes here. Zeke is still the class of the draft in my
opinion. He’s also a fantastic dude off the field. At the combine he wore
custom cleats and then donated them to be auctioned off for victims of domestic
violence. The only way he doesn’t go 1.1 is if he lands in a spot with an
established back (a la Langford behind Forte) or if Derrick Henry also lands in
a very promising position.
(1.2) Average
Joes (from NattyBohs)
Derrick Henry – RB – Alabama
Previous Pick: LaQuon Treadwell
Probably the biggest story to come out of the combine was
the sheer size of Derrick Henry and his comparison to Von Miller. A man of his size
shouldn’t be able to do what he did week after week at the college level. I do
have my concerns that he won’t be able to hold up to the punishment of his
running style long-term, but that being said I think he will be a goal line
beast and work-horse given the right offensive scheme.
(1.3) For Narnia
(from Coach Dadbod)
LaQuon Treadwell – WR – Ole Miss
Previous Pick: Alex Collins
This one was tough. The Narnians do need plenty of help at Running
back but they can’t reach for one and let the top pass-catcher fall past them
at 1.3. Collins didn’t do himself any favors at the combine and no is probably
the 2nd Razor(running)back selected on draft day. Treadwell should
find himself in a comparable position like Amari Cooper did last year. I believe
he will be fed the ball like a true WR1 and he’s likely to end up on a squad
with at least a competent quarterback.
(1.4) Fat Eddie
(from For Narnia)
Josh Doctson – WR – Texas Christian
Previous Pick: Tyler Boyd
All signs point to Fat Eddie dealing this pick away and getting
some ammo for next year or some proven talent for 2016. Keegan has to be
disappointed that the Narnians didn’t reach on a Running Back and allow him to
scoop up Treadwell to help bolster a receiving corps that will be sans
Megatron. The bigger disappointment was Tyler Boyd finishing just two tenths of
a second fatter… err, I mean faster than Christian Hackenberg… yes, you read
that right. I now kind of feel stupid for even putting him on the first mock.
He is a tremendous talent who should surprise people, but then again we’ve seen
plenty of talented wide receivers flame out before they take a snap in the NFL.
I just hope Boyd turns the ship around. Since I wasted several sentences and I
have to make a pick, I think Doctson has the best upside to produce this year
and Keegan takes a chance.
(1.5) DaBert
DeVontae Booker –RB – Utah
Previous Pick: Derrick Henry
Booker showed he has rebounded fairly well from the meniscus
injury that shortened his season this past fall. I also think Bert might
surprise all of us and pull a Sonny Weaver Jr. by reaching for the guy he has scribbled
on a post-it note in his pocket. I’m not going to write who that is because I
believe it’s the same guy I have written on a post-it in my wallet. We will
just have to compare draft day… Ha! See what I did there.
(1.6) Gold
Standard
Jonathan Williams – RB – Arkansas
Previous Pick: Corey Coleman
Jonathan selects another Jonathan, not just because they
share the same name. Williams truly helps address a need on the roster. I think
Williams leaped Alex Collins as a draft prospect based on their performances at
the combine and Gold Standard will choose the former. My reasoning here is that
Williams very well could end up with a team like Seattle where we think there’s
an established guy but it turns into a timeshare during camp. If that happens
Williams could push for carries specifically in the redzone. It’s somewhat
ironic that scouts compare him to Thomas Rawls because he could very well be
playing alongside him.
(1.7) Milk Steak
Kenneth Dixon – RB – Louisiana Tech
Previous Pick: Kenneth Dixon
The need at the position is still priority number one, so
whichever Running Back falls to 1.7 will be selected by Milk Steak. Dixon very
well could be selected two picks prior but I didn’t see the wow-factor out of
him at the combine whereas both Booker and Williams did show scouts something
to build a case on. Again, in the right situation Dixon could be a three-down
back with tremendous PPR value. He’s the prospect who has the best chance to vault
himself into third place consideration behind Elliott and Henry or remain stuck
in the middle-ground.
(1.8) Size Does Matter
Corey Coleman – WR – Baylor
Previous Pick: Michael Thomas
Kendall Wright, Josh Gordon, Terrance Williams. Baylor Bears
that have risen high on draft boards (supplemental draft still counts) and have
been given tremendous opportunities to succeed in the NFL. Honestly in my
opinion, I like Corey Coleman’s skill set better than Treadwell’s but given the
weaker Wideout draft class, both should hear their names called early in the
first round. I see Coleman selected by the Bengals where both Marvin Jones and
Mohamed Sanu could walk in free agency. If/when that happens, Coleman could
instantly step into a starting and productive role opposite AJ Green. With
Alshon and DJax as the only true options, Size Does Matter needs to find a
player that can contribute now. Coleman should be that guy.
(1.9) Gold Standard
Keith Marshall – RB – Georgia
Previous Pick: Devontae Booker
Yes I know, Marshall wasn’t even on the first mock. Things
change, get used to it. Like Williams, Marshall found himself playing second
fiddle to the other talented Running Backs on his team’s roster. Marshall was a
5-star recruit to Georgia and initially had the starting gig but lost it to
some kid named Gurley who was then followed by Nick Chubb. He was one of the
shining stars of the combine and has the perk of having plenty of tread left on
the tires. Given those ultra-talented wideouts, Gold Standard will surely take
fliers on as many Running Backs as they can scoop up. Expecting him to start
right off the bat is unrealistic, but Marshall could develop into an
interesting fantasy option given the right environment.
(1.10) Coach DadBod (from Fat Eddie)
Alex Collins – RB – Arkansas
Previous Pick: Josh Doctson
Collins is bound to see his stock drop after his poor
showing at the combine but he should still find a home in the NFL and be
productive. After last year’s mishap with the first overall pick, Coach DadBod needs
to find a potential replacement for Melvin Gordon in case he turns out to be a
monumental bust. I would like to see Will Fuller selected here to help bolster
the receiving corps but the run on Running Backs should instill some panic
amongst owners. However, outside the big three of Treadwell, Doctson, and
Coleman it’s pretty much a dart throw as well. Getting Collins will help
provide some depth on a team that is severely lacking it.
(1.11) Average Joe’s
Will Fuller – WR – Notre Dame
Previous Pick: Jonathan Williams
It’ll probably hurt a Michigan Man to select a Golden-Domer but
Fuller was the lone speedster in a very slow crop of Wide Receivers. In fact,
getting the fourth wideout of the draft this late in the first round is
probably a huge value. The Joe’s are used to finding value in the draft as two
years ago it came in the form of Odell Beckham Jr. but Fuller is not that kind
of value. Unlike Beckham, the knock on Fuller is a full-blown case of the
dropsies. On the flip-side, he has what you can’t teach and that’s wheels and
separation. If the Joe’s scoop up Fuller, he will fill a slot currently being
held by Perriman, Kearse, and Smelter. If he can’t beat them for the gig, odds
are he will ride the bench behind Antonio Brown and ODB until he develops into
a star and is then dealt for more picks. Ah, the circle of life…
(1.12) I Vincitori
Sterling Shepard – WR – Oklahoma
Previous Pick: Will Fuller
I hate putting this name down because here’s a guy I have
loved watching for the past 3+ years and is very high on my personal draft
board. Yes, he’s small in stature but he’s probably the best all-around Wide
Receiver in the class. He reminds me of Tyler Lockett or Jarvis Landry (Yes, I
know they are both my players, but they were both significantly overlooked by 31
other teams) where their understanding of route concepts is already at the
master’s level. Where he’ll find the most success is in the slot but that doesn’t
mean he can’t also thrive on the outside. Look for him to be selected by a team
that has a solidified WR1 and will use Shepard as a security blanket
underneath. 