April is here and the NFL Draft is a mere 2 weeks away. All the time and preparation that goes into the draft for the players, coaches, and other staff personnel comes to a screaching halt in a matter of a few weeks. With all the movement at the Quarterback position in recent weeks by Quarterback needy teams, it leads me to believe that most if not all NFL teams are not confident there is a franchise QB in this class. Of course, it has been said countless times that there are no Andrew Luck's or RGIII's but there are guys like a Tannehill or Andy Dalton. Which leads to the biggest question on every draft enthusiast's mind: When will a QB be drafted? My answer: I'm glad I'm not a GM. I don't know. It is so difficult to evaluate this class because of the lack of success. All have really good qualities but all of them have a plethora of negative qualities. Only those most closely associated with the draft process will get a handle on who or who won't be a successful NFL QB.
As for those QB needy teams who seem to be tipping their hand, the Raiders, Cardinals, and Bills all made what I would call significant moves at the position. The Raiders were involved in two trades while the Bills picked up a former Cardinal while one of the Raider trades involved the Cardinals. Coincidence they all need QBs? Matt Flynn, the high priced free agent last year who was beat out by a third round pick, is now a Raider. Carson Palmer, who was drafted number one overall and was traded for a first and second round pick only to be traded two years later, is now a Cardinal. Kevin Kolb, who was a hot commodity after four good games in Philly then traded to Arizona where he signed a huge contract but was cut after two seasons, is now a Bill. All are deficient at their craft as evident by their career paths to this point. Will they find an answer in this year's class? Check back next year when I still probably won't have an answer.
Mock Draft #5 with two more still to come...
As for those QB needy teams who seem to be tipping their hand, the Raiders, Cardinals, and Bills all made what I would call significant moves at the position. The Raiders were involved in two trades while the Bills picked up a former Cardinal while one of the Raider trades involved the Cardinals. Coincidence they all need QBs? Matt Flynn, the high priced free agent last year who was beat out by a third round pick, is now a Raider. Carson Palmer, who was drafted number one overall and was traded for a first and second round pick only to be traded two years later, is now a Cardinal. Kevin Kolb, who was a hot commodity after four good games in Philly then traded to Arizona where he signed a huge contract but was cut after two seasons, is now a Bill. All are deficient at their craft as evident by their career paths to this point. Will they find an answer in this year's class? Check back next year when I still probably won't have an answer.
Mock Draft #5 with two more still to come...
1.) Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Joeckel OT/Texas A&M I think the Chiefs want to trade back but ultimately won't find a partner.
**Trade**The Jacksonville Jaguars trade the 2nd overall pick to the New York Jets for the 9th overall pick, 3rd and 5th round picks this year, and their 2nd round pick next year.
**Trade**The Jacksonville Jaguars trade the 2nd overall pick to the New York Jets for the 9th overall pick, 3rd and 5th round picks this year, and their 2nd round pick next year.
3.) Oakland Raiders: Eric Fisher OT/Central Michigan The Raiders throw a curveball here and begin to rebuild a subpar O-Line. Fisher could still challenge for the top overall pick.
**Trade**The Philadelphia Eagles trade the 4th overall pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for the 5th overall pick and a 3rd and 5th round pick in this years draft.
4.) Detroit Lions: Dee Milliner CB/Alabama I know it is a trade up to one spot, but the Browns proved last year if you want a player, you must secure him. Milliner is wanted by a lot of teams and the Lions can't afford to miss yet another strong CB prospect like they did on Patrick Peterson and Stephon Gilmore. And with a much lower rookie wage scale, moves like this will be more and more common once GMs get used to it.
5.) Philadelphia Eagles (from DET): Ziggy Ansah OLB/DE/BYU Perhaps could be Dion Jordan, but Ansah is picking up steam at exactly the right time. I think he is now a lock top 5 pick. And the Eagles need pass rushers.
**Trade**The Cleveland Browns trade the 6th overall pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for the 12th overall pick and a 2nd (pick from IND) and 6th round pick in this year's draft.
6.) Miami Dolphins: Lane Johnson OT/Oklahoma With all the offseason additions in SOuth Beach, the Dolphins are just a few pieces away from becoming an elite team. Losing Jake Long hurts but they find an immediate replacement in Johnson. Versatile and very athletic, he is a former QB. Also had to leap frog Arizona to get one of the top 3 OTs.
7.) Arizona Cardinals: Chance Warmack G/Alabama After missing out on a tackle, the Cardinals look to repair their interior O-Line. Warmack is considered the best Guard prospect in years.
**Trade**The Buffalo Bills trade the 8th overall pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the 14th overall pick and a 3rd and 4th round pick in this year's draft.
8.) Carolina Panthers: Sharrif Floyd DT/Florida The Panthers see arguably the best player in the draft continue to fall and can't wait any longer. They move up to nab a stud inside for their D-Line.
9.) Jacksonville Jaguars (from NYJ): Barkevious Mingo DE/OLB/LSU The Jags need to build their team up with young pass rushers. Dion Jordan or Jarvis Jones are an option here but health concerns make Mingo more desirable.
8.) Carolina Panthers: Sharrif Floyd DT/Florida The Panthers see arguably the best player in the draft continue to fall and can't wait any longer. They move up to nab a stud inside for their D-Line.
9.) Jacksonville Jaguars (from NYJ): Barkevious Mingo DE/OLB/LSU The Jags need to build their team up with young pass rushers. Dion Jordan or Jarvis Jones are an option here but health concerns make Mingo more desirable.
**Trade**The Tennessee Titans trade the 10th overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the 21st and 25th overall picks and a 3rd round pick in this year's draft and a 3rd round pick in next year's draft.
10.) Minnesota Vikings: Tavon Austin WR/West Virginia The Vikings take advantage of getting another first round pick and immediately replace Percy Harvin with a player without the baggage.
11.) San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Cooper G/North Carolina The Chargers need an improved O-Line. Many believe Cooper is just as good as Warmack.
12.) Cleveland Browns (from MIA): Xavier Rhodes CB/Florida State The Browns need a compliment to Joe Haden. Rhodes could push for top CB taken but unlikely.
**Trade**The Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade the 13th overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for the 18th overal pick a 2nd and 4th round pick in this year's draft. The Bucs also send a 6th round pick to Dallas.
13.) Dallas Cowboys: Dion Jordan OLB/DE/Oregon Second year in a row that the Cowboys move up to get an impact player. Jordan easily could go top 10. Injury is a concern.
| Cordarelle Patterson |
17.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Star Lotulelei DT/Utah The Steelers need to regain their dominating form of defense that they have seemed to have lost. Lotulelei will be the NT for Dick Lebeau's defense.
18.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from DAL): Kevin Minter LB/LSU The Bucs need to find the next Derrick Brooks. The just have not had the same defense look since he retired. CB is also a major position of need.
**Trade**The New York Giants trade the 19th overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the 32nd overall pick and a 3rd and 5th round pick this year and a 2nd round pick next year.
19.) Baltimore Ravens: Manti Te'o LB/Notre Dame After finding a replacement for Ed Reed, the focus should be to replace Ray Lewis. Te'o helped himself at his pro day and the most polarizing player in the draft finds a home with the defending champs. The Ravens have to get in fornt of Chicago if this is the direction they wish to go.
20.) Chicago Bears: Bjoern Werner DE/Florida State The Bears miss out on Te'o but still get good value at 20 by selecting Werner. His stock has fallen but in a good situation, can be a dominating player in the NFL.
21.) Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Vaccaro S/Texas The Bengals have a good defense but adding a piece to the secondary can only make them better. They have a chance to be a top defense in the NFL next season.
22.) St. Louis Rams (from WSH): Johnathan Hankins DT/Ohio State In order to make Robert Quinn and Chris Long more effective, they need a guy to demand double teams. Hankins is very athletic for his size and has pretty good footwork for a big man.
23.) Tennessee Titans (from MIN): Sheldon Richardson DT/Missouri Need a guy to fill the gaps and take on double teams. Better as a 3-4 DE.
24.) Indianapolis Colts: Damontre Moore DE/Texas A&M The fall from grace ends here at 24. Damontre Moore easily was a top 5 pick in February, then the Combine happened. Still a first round pick but this is where he fits best.
25.) Tennessee Titans (from MIN via SEA): Tyler Eifert TE/Notre Dame They lose Jared Cook in FA so they need a threat at this position and Eifert is the best TE, in my opinion, since Vernon Davis.
25.) Tennessee Titans (from MIN via SEA): Tyler Eifert TE/Notre Dame They lose Jared Cook in FA so they need a threat at this position and Eifert is the best TE, in my opinion, since Vernon Davis.
26.) Green Bay Packers: Matt Elam S/Florida The Packers have had a porr secondary since their Super Bowl win a few years ago. Elam is not the best cover guy but he is a monster in run support, something the Packers have lacked. Has big shows to fill in Charles Woodson.
27.) Houston Texans: Keenan Allen WR/California I don't think it will be any surprise if the Texans go WR in round one. They need another player oppostie Andre Johnson to make an impact. Allen would have been first WR taken had it not been for injuries.
28.) Denver Broncos: Margus Hunt DE/SMU This specimen burst onto the scene after the Combine. Explosive athlete, will replace Dumervil.
**Trade**The New England Patriots trade the 29th overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the 33rd overall pick, their 3rd and 5th round pick this year as well as a 2nd round pick next year.29.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Matt Barkley QB/USC One of the QB needy teams could wait no longer. The Jags jump up with who else but the Patriots and get their real QB of the future, sorry Blaine, it's not happening.
31.) San Francisco 49ers: Jonathan Cyprien S/Florida International THis team is loaded and adding depth in the secondary is never a bad idea.
32.) New York Giants (from BAL): D.J. Fluker OT/Alabama An underrated player in my opinion goes to New York for depth and eventually become the franchise LT for years to come.
Onto Round 2:
33.) New England Patriots (from JAX): Eric Reid S/LSU
34.) San Francisco 49ers (from KC): Datone Jones DE/UCLA
34.) San Francisco 49ers (from KC): Datone Jones DE/UCLA
35.) Philadelphia Eagles: E.J. Manuel QB/Florida State
36.) Detroit Lions: Alex Okafor DE/Texas
37.) Cincinnati Bengals (from OAK): Arthur Brown OLB/Kansas State
38.) Arizona Cardinals: Alec Ogletree LB/Georgia
39.) New York Jets: Zach Ertz TE/Stanford
40.) Tennessee Titans: Johnthan Banks CB/Mississippi State
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| Ryan Nassib |
41.) Buffalo Bills: Ryan Nassib QB/Syracuse In the end, I went back to Nassib. It makes a lot of sense in the fact that he knows the offense. In any other year and different circumstances, Nassib is a third or fourth round pick. But because of his familiarity with Hackett's system, he has to at least be considered at this spot.
42.) Miami Dolphins: David Amerson CB/North Carolina State
43.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamar Taylor CB/Boise State
43.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamar Taylor CB/Boise State
44.) Carolina Panthers: Justin Pugh G/Syracuse
45.) San Diego Chargers: Robert Woods WR/USC
46.) St. Louis Rams: Eddie Lacy RB/Alabama
46.) St. Louis Rams: Eddie Lacy RB/Alabama
47.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from DAL): Quinton Patton WR/Louisiana Tech
48.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Markus Wheaton WR/Oregon State
49.) New York Giants: Vance McDonald TE/Rice
50.) Chicago Bears: Sylvester Williams DT/North Carolina
51.) Washington Redskins: Jesse Williams DT/Alabama
52.) Minnesota Vikings: Sam Montgomery DE/LSU
53.) Cincinnati Bengals: Le'Veon Bell RB/Michigan State
54.) Cleveland Browns (from MIA via IND): Sio Moore OLB/UConn
55.) Green Bay Packers: Tank Carradine DE/Florida State
56.) Seattle Seahawks: Barrett Jones C/Alabama
57.) Houston Texans: Jordan Poyer CB/Oregon State
58.) Denver Broncos: Travis Frederick C/Wisconsin
59.) New England Patriots: Aaron Dobson WR/Marshall
60.) Atlanta Falcons: Tyrann Mathieu CB/LSU
61.) San Francisco 49ers: Terrance Williams WR/Baylor
62.) Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Long OT/Oregon
63.) Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Hunter WR/Tennessee
65.) Philadelphia Eagles (from DET): Robert Alford CB/Southeastern Louisiana
66.) Oakland Raiders: John Simon DE/Ohio State
67.) Philadelphia Eagles: Da'Rick Rogers WR/Tennessee Tech
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| Baccari Rambo |
68.) Cleveland Browns: Mike Glennon QB/North Carolina State
69.) Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Wilson QB/Arkansas
71.) Buffalo Bills: Larry Warford G/Kentucky Need to find Levitre's replacement.
Bills Pick from Carolina: Baccari Rambo S/Georgia Need depth and help at Safety.
Like I said earlier, 2 more mock drafts still to come. One the Monday of draft week and one the morning of the First round on April 25.
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