FearTheBeard
FearTheBurke
So like many of you I figured I'd give Fanspeak a try now that I've gotten a good amount of tapework in on the top guys and all the offensive lineman, as well as seen some guys for the first time at the combine. This mock draft is assuming the moves that are in my sig happen in FA. Take a look and tell me what you think!
19. TE ERIC EBRON, UNC
At this point in the draft you can't turn down one of the top playmakers. Ebron would open up our entire offense and would be exceptional value at 19, chances are slim but a pretty average 40 time could drop him a tiny bit. This would be a dream scenario as Mosley and Martin are also still on the board. I'm still lukewarm on Mosley, trying to get a feel for him and I really like the depth at OL in the mid to late rounds so I figured Ebron would bring a new dimension to our offense in the Vernon Davis sort of mold, I think he has some potential as a blocker as well. If he's off the board I'd lean towards Mosley, but need to watch more.
50. RB CARLOS HYDE, OHIO STATE
There were some great options on the board at 50, but I couldn't pass on my top rated RB. Hyde has the perfect combination of size and speed and also offers value as a pass catcher. He could pair with Miller and form an impressive 1-2 punch. Jason Verrett was next in line, he would be a starter at nickel back from day 1 and is very physical, I believe he could man the boundary with his skillset, even at 5-9 and is a first round value in my eyes. Borland is another plug and play guy, but I think we need a WLB more and he's still likely below Easley and Brandon Thomas on my board. Easley is a first round talent on tape, but has some injury concerns, I feel like DT can be on the backburner a bit with a deep FA class. One of my personal favorites in Brandon Thomas, even at 6-3 I see a guy with the feet to man the left-side or either tackle or guard spot, he's going to see his stock rise IMO as the draft comes closer.
81. OT JOEL BITONIO, NEVADA
At this point I had to take the top rated OL on my board to start me retooling of the OL. Bitonio can step in day 1 at RT where I think he offers the most value, but also would be capable at one of the guard spots. Moncreif is a guy we've been linked to and he'd be great value here. He would bring a big body receiver into the mix. Hurst was my next highest rated OL and would be a great fit and value here, but I prefer Bitonio's flexibility. Billy Turner has immense upside and I view his best fit at tackle, Bitonio simply graded out higher and is a safer bet to start early. I loved Weston Richburg's tape, I think he'd be a perfect fit at center in our offense, great blend of mobility and power and is my top rated guard. I have a 2nd round grade on him, as I do with the other 3 guys I considered here. I doubt Bitonio's getting out of the 2nd, so a more realistic selection would be Hurst or Turner.
112. DT JUSTIN ELLIS, LOUISIANA TECH
This pick really came down to Yawin Smallwood and Caraun Reid and Ellis. I haven't watched any of them a ton but they're all solid values at this juncture. Ellis fits the Soliai mold more and if retained he could develop into his successor. Depth at LBer is needed and with more film on Smallwood I could see myself considering him. Reid is a high character guy from an Ivy league school who would definitely be in line with Philbin and Hickey's high character interests, but his strength is questionable and I wanted more of a power guy.
143. G TRAI TURNER, LSU
To be honest no one else was seriously considered at this pick and I think Turner is a serious diamond in the rough in this draft. I have a 3rd round grade on him and if he wasn't rated so low on fanspeak he would've been the pick in round 4. He played a ZBS at LSU and ran a sub 5 forty at the combine. What really jumps out in his game is his ability to plant guys in the run game, he recorded 10 pancackes in his game vs A&M and he's at the top of my list of draft targets, this guy's gonna be a stud and the sky's the limit. There was also solid value for Seantrel Henderson who is also a high upside guy, Fales could slot in as the backup and looks like a natural at QB, he looks like a solid long-term backup with starting potential, even with a marginal arm. Prince Shembo impressed me in drills at the combine and more LB depth is definitely needed.
174. RB DRI ARCHER, KENT STATE
This would be a steal this late, frankly he's not gonna make it this far but if a guy this explosive is sitting there in round 6 you run to the podium with the same 4.24 speed he displayed at the combine. He'd be a solid gadget guy who could add to an offense that's becoming more explosive. If he was off the board I'd consider Connor Shaw as a potential backup to Tannehill, I haven't watched a ton of him but he seems to have starting QB tools. Haven't watched Bodine either but depth at center would be nice, plus he benched 42 reps at the combine so the dude has serious strength.
211. OLB KEVIN PIERRE-LOUIS, BOSTON COLLEGE
Pierre-Louis popped at the combine, running a blazing 40 and looking extremely fluid in drills. Some project him to safety but after measuring in at 230 pounds he could easily stick at LB, I think he would be an upgrade over Jenkins but I need to watch more, serious athlete who I doubt makes it this far after a stellar showing at the combine. Gabe Ikard the center from Oklahoma was also a solid option here and could eventually turn into a starter at center, he's a plus athlete.
19. TE ERIC EBRON, UNC
At this point in the draft you can't turn down one of the top playmakers. Ebron would open up our entire offense and would be exceptional value at 19, chances are slim but a pretty average 40 time could drop him a tiny bit. This would be a dream scenario as Mosley and Martin are also still on the board. I'm still lukewarm on Mosley, trying to get a feel for him and I really like the depth at OL in the mid to late rounds so I figured Ebron would bring a new dimension to our offense in the Vernon Davis sort of mold, I think he has some potential as a blocker as well. If he's off the board I'd lean towards Mosley, but need to watch more.
50. RB CARLOS HYDE, OHIO STATE
There were some great options on the board at 50, but I couldn't pass on my top rated RB. Hyde has the perfect combination of size and speed and also offers value as a pass catcher. He could pair with Miller and form an impressive 1-2 punch. Jason Verrett was next in line, he would be a starter at nickel back from day 1 and is very physical, I believe he could man the boundary with his skillset, even at 5-9 and is a first round value in my eyes. Borland is another plug and play guy, but I think we need a WLB more and he's still likely below Easley and Brandon Thomas on my board. Easley is a first round talent on tape, but has some injury concerns, I feel like DT can be on the backburner a bit with a deep FA class. One of my personal favorites in Brandon Thomas, even at 6-3 I see a guy with the feet to man the left-side or either tackle or guard spot, he's going to see his stock rise IMO as the draft comes closer.
81. OT JOEL BITONIO, NEVADA
At this point I had to take the top rated OL on my board to start me retooling of the OL. Bitonio can step in day 1 at RT where I think he offers the most value, but also would be capable at one of the guard spots. Moncreif is a guy we've been linked to and he'd be great value here. He would bring a big body receiver into the mix. Hurst was my next highest rated OL and would be a great fit and value here, but I prefer Bitonio's flexibility. Billy Turner has immense upside and I view his best fit at tackle, Bitonio simply graded out higher and is a safer bet to start early. I loved Weston Richburg's tape, I think he'd be a perfect fit at center in our offense, great blend of mobility and power and is my top rated guard. I have a 2nd round grade on him, as I do with the other 3 guys I considered here. I doubt Bitonio's getting out of the 2nd, so a more realistic selection would be Hurst or Turner.
112. DT JUSTIN ELLIS, LOUISIANA TECH
This pick really came down to Yawin Smallwood and Caraun Reid and Ellis. I haven't watched any of them a ton but they're all solid values at this juncture. Ellis fits the Soliai mold more and if retained he could develop into his successor. Depth at LBer is needed and with more film on Smallwood I could see myself considering him. Reid is a high character guy from an Ivy league school who would definitely be in line with Philbin and Hickey's high character interests, but his strength is questionable and I wanted more of a power guy.
143. G TRAI TURNER, LSU
To be honest no one else was seriously considered at this pick and I think Turner is a serious diamond in the rough in this draft. I have a 3rd round grade on him and if he wasn't rated so low on fanspeak he would've been the pick in round 4. He played a ZBS at LSU and ran a sub 5 forty at the combine. What really jumps out in his game is his ability to plant guys in the run game, he recorded 10 pancackes in his game vs A&M and he's at the top of my list of draft targets, this guy's gonna be a stud and the sky's the limit. There was also solid value for Seantrel Henderson who is also a high upside guy, Fales could slot in as the backup and looks like a natural at QB, he looks like a solid long-term backup with starting potential, even with a marginal arm. Prince Shembo impressed me in drills at the combine and more LB depth is definitely needed.
174. RB DRI ARCHER, KENT STATE
This would be a steal this late, frankly he's not gonna make it this far but if a guy this explosive is sitting there in round 6 you run to the podium with the same 4.24 speed he displayed at the combine. He'd be a solid gadget guy who could add to an offense that's becoming more explosive. If he was off the board I'd consider Connor Shaw as a potential backup to Tannehill, I haven't watched a ton of him but he seems to have starting QB tools. Haven't watched Bodine either but depth at center would be nice, plus he benched 42 reps at the combine so the dude has serious strength.
211. OLB KEVIN PIERRE-LOUIS, BOSTON COLLEGE
Pierre-Louis popped at the combine, running a blazing 40 and looking extremely fluid in drills. Some project him to safety but after measuring in at 230 pounds he could easily stick at LB, I think he would be an upgrade over Jenkins but I need to watch more, serious athlete who I doubt makes it this far after a stellar showing at the combine. Gabe Ikard the center from Oklahoma was also a solid option here and could eventually turn into a starter at center, he's a plus athlete.
