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Final Mock draft 5.0

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Trade w/ Minn - Dolphins #12 for Minnesota's #23 and #52

Rd1. D.J. Hayden CB Houston 5'11" 191
Analysis
STRENGTHS:
Fluid athlete with the agility and speed to effectively remain in the hip pocket of receivers. He breaks on the ball quickly and has shown natural ball skills, intercepting six passes in just 23 games, returning two of his four interceptions this past season for long touchdowns. Excellent top-end speed (clocked as low as 4.33 in the 40 at Houston's pro day). Combined with good height at 5-11, Hayden has the tools to develop into a true No. 1 corner. Excellent overall athlete who also boasts a 33.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump.
WEAKNESSES: Hayden has been fully cleared by doctors, but a life-threating experience will still give some teams caution. Lacks much experience against elite competition and will have a significant learning curve in the NFL.
Injury History:
Hayden only has one injury on his chart, but it's a duesie. Hayden had a freak injury, where a major blood vessel in his chest was torn, almost costing him much more than a chance at the NFL. It is normally an injury only seen in auto accidents. "It's the most unique injury in the history of the draft," Packers senior executive Alonzo Highsmith said. "The only people that ever had it aren't alive and doctors have never seen it."
The injury is very difficult to get any read on due to the unique nature. So far, no doctors are willing to say that there is a major risk of recurrence on record, though the fact that Hayden is still healing from November surgery is definitely notable. Hayden is still not participating in drills and could not perform the bench press at his pro day.
Combining a blank slate of an injury history with one traumatic incident is often difficult, but the upside is that a team which feels the trauma is healed and non-recurrent should feel confident in his physicality.
Combine/Pro Day:
Hayden was not ready to perform at the NFL Scouting Combine, but did participate in the medical portions. He was able to put up a solid performance at his pro day, putting up good physical numbers, including a 4.4 40-yard dash. While the time was solid, Hayden only ran once due to a mild hamstring strain. His time off from the game makes that one a bit less concerning than most, especially considering his lack of previous issues with his legs.
Hayden is still healing from the November surgery that saved his life. In that surgery, his chest was cracked open, necessitating extra healing time not only for the repaired blood vessel, but time for his ribs and sternum to fully solidify. Hayden's medical care was overseen by Dr. Walt Lowe, the team physician for both the University of Houston and the Houston Rockets. Lowe is very well thought of and his involvement may help some teams increase their comfort level.
Inside Look:
"That's an unusual injury. First, we'd of course look at the medical records, talk to the doctors involved and get a good look at the athlete. This would be treated somewhat like how we would deal with an injured spleen. With time off and the proper care, there's no reason to think this would be a long-term problem. Teams will just have to do their due diligence." - Dr. Neal ElAttrache
Draft Status:
Mike Mayock of NFL.com made a late move, pushing Hayden above Dee Milliner and Xavier Rhodes at CB to his best-rated slot. That comes in contrast to Matt Miller's rating of a sixth-round pick status in his last mock draft, though Miller also agrees with the late shift, telling me that Hayden is now in his top 50. The injury is the major concern costing him from being considered with players like Milliner and Rhodes in the first round and well above someone like Tyrann Matthieu, who comes with a different set of risks.
Pro Prognosis:
There is mixed thought on Hayden throughout the NFL. A one-off injury that is not likely to recur has to be considered, but his recovery is on track and there seems to be a shift to his prior results. A good pro day helped assuage some of the physical concerns and the medical side could get a look at the pace of his healing. While Hayden is not yet cleared for contact, he is expected to be ready for training camp. Once past this trauma, it is reasonable to expect that Hayden should continue his prior healthy ways in the pros.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...cbs-pro-career
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p...4883/dj-hayden

Rd2a. Justin Pugh OT Syracuse 6'5" 298
Strengths: Pretty good size, with room to add bulk. Very athletic and quick. Has a great kick slide and is fast enough to mirror speed rushers. Also shows true strength and establishes a good base to handle the bull rush. Upper body strength is truly impressive. He is solid is pass protection. Does a good job at extending his arms to keep defenders off him. He shows good awareness when dealing with the blitz. Shows very impressive power when run blocking but is very inconsistent throughout games. Shows textbook football I.Q. when double-teaming linemen; he helps out the guard then peels off to the second level. Plays with a mean streak. Has a terrific motor. Has a lot of potential.
Weaknesses: Overall consistency needs major improvement. I saw a lot of film I really liked on Pugh, but there was a lot I did not like. He has immense potential but he is not consistent in both run and pass blocking. He is a better pass blocker in my opinion, but there were still times I saw him get beat bad. His run blocking was where I saw he needed the most improvement. He does not consistently get low, does not stay on his man, does not keep his shoulders square, does not drive his opponents and often over-pursues his blocks. This shows a lack of focus and fundamentals; both of which can be improved. His run blocking worked in college, but this will not work in the NFL. I would like to see him be more aggressive. Overall he is a little raw, needs to develop more into a better prospect. Had shoulder surgery last August.
Summary: Justin Pugh kind of surprised me by declaring for the NFL draft this year. I don’t think it was necessarily a bad decision, but with his head coach leaving I can understand it. I noticed Pugh when I first started watching film on Ryan Nassib. Pugh stood out to me as a solid pass blocker who looked like he had potential to be a really solid player in the NFL. So I began watching more and more tape on him and I saw a lot of stuff I really liked. First off, he’s a solid pass protector with a great punch, excellent ability to mirror defenders, quick feet and powerful hands. He also can be very dominant when he wants to be. There were times where he simply took his man completely out of the play. Pugh really impressed me in these areas. I saw a lot of things I did not like though; mainly his run blocking consistency, which is not close to where it needs to be. He did a good job opening holes in college but his techniques will not work in the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, he has the ability to be a great run blocker, but he lacks the focus and fundamentals that will be needed in the NFL (getting low, driving opponents ect..). Pugh is a strong guy, and he relied on that when blocking at Syracuse; well in the NFL the guys are bigger and stronger and Pugh will need to get back to the basics and improve his techniques because strength alone will not cut it. In short, Justin Pugh has areas where he needs to improve (like all prospects) but he also has a high ceiling and potential to be great.
http://thefootballexpert.com/nfl-dra...h-ot-syracuse/

Rd2b. Alex Okafor DE Texas 6'5" 261
STRENGTHS: Displays strong hand play, chopping away at his opponents' attempts to get their hands on his chest or using an effective arm-over swim move to slip by them. High-revving motor. Arrived at the Senior Bowl leaner. Good overall athlete. Most impressive attribute is his power. Okafor can knock opponents onto their heels on his way to the quarterback and also sets the edge nicely as a run defender. Okafor's ability to make plays against the run and pass makes him arguably the most well-rounded senior defensive end in the country.
WEAKNESSES: Has the body of a classic RDE speed rusher but the game better suited to playing the left side as a run-defender. Lacks quick-twitch burst and isn't a speed rusher, as indicated by the fact that Texas initially lined him up at defensive tackle. Slightly stiff upper body demonstrated by his struggles in changing directions, making him a better candidate to remain as a defensive end rather than dropping back into coverage, as he was occasionally also asked to do at Texas. Came in lighter than expected at the Senior Bowl at 261 pounds. Was arrested in May 2012 for "failure to obey," though the charges were later dropped.
COMPARES TO: Ray Edwards, DE, ex-Atlanta Falcons -- A team expecting Okafor to become a lightning-quick speed edge rusher will be disappointed. However, his strength, length and high effort could make him a fine addition as a left defensive end capable of holding up against the run and proving a solid supplemental pass rusher.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p...75/alex-okafor

Rd2c. Travis Kelce TE Cincinnati 6'5" 255
Analysis
Strengths
Kelce has an ideal tight end frame. Athletic for his size, with great strength, and the ability to stretch the field vertically. Very physical run blocker, generates power from the lower half, and will move defenders off the ball. Plays with leverage. Wide catching radius, can adjust and make the difficult catch. Tough to bring down after the catch. Light feet, and has lined up in numerous different positions.
Weaknesses
Suspended for an entire season for violating team rules. Only one season of production. Doesn't have blazing speed. Not a tremendously explosive athlete. Doesn't come out of his breaks all that well.
NFL Comparison Rob Gronkowski
Bottom Line Kelce has been a tremendous run blocker throughout his career for the Bearcats, but really elevated his game as a receiver in his senior season. He isn't a tremendous athlete, but he does a lot of things very well. It's a deep tight end class, but Kelce's play suggests that he should be highly sought after.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/travis-kelce?id=2540258

Rd3a. Brian Winters OG Kent St. 6'4" 320
Analysis
STRENGTHS: Naturally large man with good overall weight distribution. Shows at least adequate initial quickness off the snap. Takes short, quick power steps in pass protection and shoots his hands out to corral his opponent. Plays with a wide base and shuffles well laterally to remain squarely in front of the pass-rusher, controlling him with his upper-body strength. Three-year high school letterman in wrestling and it shows in his play. Uses his hands and leverage well to control his opponent, seeming to enjoy the physicality and one-on-one nature of the game. Strength and tenacity are especially evident when run-blocking, as he latches onto his opponent and keeps driving his legs to finish blocks until the whistle is blown.
Excellent durability. Played in all 49 games of his collegiate career. Showed his toughness in playing through a left shoulder dislocation (third game of the season) that left him at what he described as "70 percent." The injury originally occurred during the state wrestling tournament during his sophomore year of high school and ultimately required surgery following the 2011 season.
WEAKNESSES: May not possess the foot speed or flexibility required to remain at left tackle against NFL pass rushers. Has been able to rely on his strength and tenacity at this level but consistently plays with a high pad level, negating his own power and losing out on the leverage battle. Projected by many as a guard but has no experience inside. Shoulder injury requires a close medical evaluation.
COMPARES TO: Adam Snyder, OG, Arizona Cardinals -- Like Snyder, Winters' value lies in his toughness, physicality, durability and potential versatility.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p.../brian-winters

Rd3b. Stedman Bailey WR West Virginia 5'10" 193
Analysis
STRENGTHS:
Bailey tracks the ball very well and shows outstanding body control and timing on deep passes. He has excellent hand/eye coordination and is a natural hands-catcher, snatching it away from his body with strong hands and making tough catches look easy.
Bailey is a balanced athlete with quick feet in/out of his breaks and the agility in the open field to make defenders miss. He is a smart route-runner and knows how to bait defenders and attract defensive pass interference penalties. Bailey shows excellent patience and burst in his routes with good stop-and-go motions to release at the line of scrimmage and gain a step or work back to the ball. He does a nice job gaining inside position and uses his body well, doing a nice job catching the ball in stride.
Bailey has a RB-like build with a little bit of power for the position and strength to pick up yards after contact. He has some wiggle after the catch and is not always easy to bring down with his slippery run style.
Bailey was extremely productive over his career, setting several school records including career touchdown catches (39). He has good starting experience with 35 career starts the past three seasons, lining up all over the offense.
WEAKNESSES: Bailey lacks ideal height, length and leaping ability, lacking the large catching radius of other receivers. He doesn't have great explosiveness to beat defenders with speed alone, lacking the same suddenness as his teammate Tavon Austin.
Bailey doesn't always appear invested in the play when it isn't designed to go his way. He has limited experience and production on special teams (11 career kick returns).
He needs to play smarter, drawing a celebration penalty after a touchdown against Baylor (2012). He battled a gimpy left ankle much of the 2012 season and has some minor durability concerns. Bailey has some character concerns after he was cited for stealing over-the-counter cold medication in Jan. 2012.
NFL Comparison: Mix of Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers and Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks - Bailey has the build and athleticism of Tate, but shows the toughness and downfield playmaking ability of Smith.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664860/stedman-bailey

Rd4. Chase Thomas OLB Stanford 6'4" 245
If you're looking for a pro comparison, Thomas' game is similar to Chicago Bears rookie Shea McClellin and Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews. Thomas is a dangerous edge rusher who has a knack for producing sack-fumbles. He is quick off the snap with good athleticism to dodge linemen and get to the quarterback.
Thomas is good in space, too. He does well dropping into coverage and is a solid pass defender. Thomas flows to the ball well and is a good tackler in run defense. He needs to improve his ability to shed blocks. That is his biggest weakness right now.
Like McClellin and Matthews, Thomas is extremely instinctive. He is around the ball and has a knack for producing big plays. Thomas should go to a 3-4 defense in the NFL. He would probably be a Sam (strongside) linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Thomas would be a quality defender in a 4-3, but his pass-rushing in a 3-4 defense is his greatest strength. He also has the flexibility to play some inside linebacker in the 3-4.
Thomas has the frame to add weight. In the NFL, it would be ideal if he was playing in the 250-260 range.
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013cthomas.php

Rd5a. Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina 5'11" 221
Analysis
Strengths
Taller north-south runner who plays with good lean to plow for yards between the tackles. Possesses vision and quick feet for his size to slide into a rushing lane and the speed to get upfield once finding the hole. Quite effective on zone runs when used in that capacity. Has the wiggle to freeze and elude tacklers to space. Spins off piles inside and keeps his legs churning to pick up the extra yard. Gets into his routes fluidly out of the backfield and flashes the hand to adjust to poor throws. Good build for pass protection, and is willing to hustle and make contact to keep his quarterback clean.
Weaknesses
With back to back seasons ending in traumatic knee injuries, durability is a major red flag. There are also the questions of how his medicals will check out, and how much he will be able to contribute his rookie season. Even before his injuries, struggled to get into a second or third gear in order to break off longer gains.
NFL Comparison
Arian Foster
Bottom Line
Lattimore offers an extremely intriguing blend of power, balance, vision and production. However, it's hard not to question his future durability and how much of the same player he will be going forward after major injuries to both knees in consecutive seasons. While his talent suggests a late first-round pick, it's much more likely that he is a Day 3 pick.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profil...ore?id=2540174

Rd5b. Tony Jefferson FS Oklahoma 5'10" 212
There is a lot to like about Jefferson, and he is a great fit for the current trends in the NFL. Jefferson has the ability to play free safety or strong safety with the schematic flexibility for a zone- or man-coverage-based defense. He excels in all phases of the game. Jefferson's standout trait is that he is extremely fast, possessing enough speed to blaze around the field like a cornerback.
Jefferson is a good wrap up tackler in the open field. He is constantly looking to lay a hard hit, but does a good job of maintaining ahold of ball-carriers. There are times when Jefferson throws his body around with reckless abandon. It is clear that he possesses excellent pursuit speed.
Not only does Jefferson use that to chase down backs and receivers, he is also a standout blitzer. Jefferson picks his lanes well and gets pressure on the quarterback even when he doesn't record a sack.
In pass-coverage, Jefferson covers a lot of ground. He is a natural free safety who patrols the deep part of the field well. Jefferson doesn't get caught out of position or take false steps. That makes him a real asset to his cornerbacks.
Jefferson picks up receivers running deep down the middle and has plenty of speed to get to the sideline. In the NFL, he should be very valuable to cover tight ends in man coverage. With Jefferson' speed and aggressiveness, it would be surprising if some teams look at him at corner. He could play safety and slot cornerback to cause more confusion for offenses.
Jefferson is very decisive. He uses his instincts to get in position and fires into ball-carriers. That makes Jefferson very dangerous when he moves up into the box. Jefferson routinely blasts into the backfield to disrupt runs or blow up quick passes like bubble screens.
The biggest negative with the junior seems like it has been corrected. Jefferson looked a little too lean and slender for the NFL the past two seasons, but reportedly he is up to 212 pounds after being listed at 199 last year. That added weight will help him when taking on the bigger receivers and backs at the next level.
Reliable sources have told Walterfootball.com that Jefferson is a high-character individual and does not have off-the-field concerns. They say that he comes from a good family and is a positive locker-room presence. That will help Jefferson to ease any concerns of the minor incident regarding Stills in January 2011.
With the manner in which the NFL has evolved, Jefferson is a perfect fit at safety because of his rangy pass-coverage abilities. His flexibility will carry a big appeal with talent evaluators. He is a difference-maker and a regular generator of splash plays. Assuming Jefferson stays healthy, he will enter the NFL with three or four years as a starter with a lot of experience against pass-heavy offenses. Jefferson has a lot going for him entering the NFL.
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingre...tjefferson.php

Rd7a. Caleb Strugis PK Florida 5'10" 188
Analysis
Strengths
Flashes the ability to hit strong, high field goals in the 45-52 yard range and drive kicks through the uprights from 55-plus yards away. Has improved his field goal accuracy over time. Shows mental toughness in bouncing back from misses.
Weaknesses Only adequate size for the position. Inconsistent in his trajectory on both shorter kicks and when driving the ball low to get a bit extra once past 50-plus yards. May need to speed up his approach on placements, his three-step delivery can be a bit slow. Kickoffs reaching the end zone are a bit lower than scouts prefer, and could be brought out by NFL returners.
NFL Comparison Phil Dawson
Bottom Line Now two years off a back injury that cost him most of the 2010 season, Sturgis has enough leg strength and accuracy to have earned All-American honors in two consecutive seasons.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/caleb-sturgis?id=2539637

Rd7b. Mike Catapano DE Princeton 6'4"275
Coming out of high school, Catapano — who then weighed 215 pounds — was offered scholarships to every Ivy League school, plus Temple. Ultimately, Catapano went to Princeton and capped his college career with as a Bushnell Cup recepient — for the Ivy League’s top defensive player — and an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Game.
At his pro day, Catapano (6-foot-3 7/8, 271 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds on each attempt. He had a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8 broad jump. He ran the short shuttle in 4.31 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.09 seconds. Catapano threw the bar up 33 times on the bench press (225 pounds).
The last time a player from Princeton was selected in the draft was in 2001, when the Seattle Seahawks took offensive tackle Dennis Norman in the seventh round. Princeton’s most notable alum in the NFL is Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who also was a quarterback for the team from 1993 to 1999.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2013/03/27/mike...aguer-drafted/

Rd7c. Mychal Rivera TE Tennessee 6'3" 240
Unlike all the other tight ends on this list, Rivera is under-sized and somewhat of a “tweener” between tight end, h-back and fullback. Despite his lack of bulk/weight, Rivera flashes the ability to be a dominant down/side blocker who can drive defensive end down the line. However, the trouble is that when Rivera does not block with good leverage and attack defender, he can be "stoned" at the point of attack. Effective getting through the line, when he keeps his knees bent Rivera can be a good blocker on the second level. His upright running style makes him look slower running routes and running after the catch, but the reality is that he has the quickness and speed to consistently get separation against man coverage and to make plays running after the catch. Overall, Rivera is not a big name prospect, but NFL scouts are very intrigued by his versatility and ability to contribute catching passes from a variety of alignments.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...raft-6976.html
 
Love it for the most part, except i think we need a 2nd CB....i'd swap out Winters for a CB in Round 3 and take Hugh Thornton at OG later. I like him better than Winters anyway.
 
Love the Hayden, Kelce, and Lattimore picks. SOLID DRAFT!
 
One of the best mocks I've seen. Some risk in there with Hayden and Lattimore's injuries, and Pugh at Tackle, but frankly Hayden and Lattimore aren't available at those picks if there aren't questions about their health, and Pugh would just slide inside Guard if he's not capable of playing Tackle.
 
I can not believe Armando and myself actually agree on something!

Armando Salguero: Miami Dolphins should select cornerback D.J. Hayden
D.J. Hayden should be your man, Jeff Ireland.

You don’t have to pay a king’s ransom to trade up to get him and that’s probably what you’d have to do to get Dee Milliner. Hayden, the most complete cornerback in this draft, will be sitting right there if you pick at No. 12 during the first round of Thursday night’s NFL Draft, and he might even be there if you trade down a few spots.

You don’t have to worry about Hayden making plays because he did that in college. You don’t have worry about how fast he runs because he ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at his pro day last month. You don’t have to worry about Hayden dropping interceptions thrown in his hands like one of your past picks because, well, have you seen him play?

Hayden should be your pick, Jeff.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/25/3362854/armando-salguero-miami-dolphins.html#storylink=cpy
 
Solid. But I'm questioning Pugh if you're intention is to play him at OT. If it's at G, winters may be a bit redundant. I'd shoot for an Armstead, long or Watson with 2A.

Love the Hayden, Lattimore, Bailey and Thomas picks! Like Kelce as well, just not sure he's a Philbin (character) type of guy..
 
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