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I wanted to post this prior to the Senior Bowl, because I know how guys are so inclined to make knee jerk reactions on talent. 1 game does not make a career. Most have seen the video clip of Aaron Donald (a fantastic, even if undersized DT) running over G Cyril Richardson and putting him on his butt in one of the practices. I would take Cyril in a heartbeat. Hes the best G in college (or at least 1a or 1b to David Yankey) and has the athleticism to pair with Cooper on our line. Cyril isnt actually in my mock, but im just making the point that dont make judgments on 1 outing, or 1 play (like the Jadaveon Clowney hit vs Michigan)
Really sound mix of BPA vs need considered in all picks, in addition to consistency throughout career, which I feel is important.
1. Kyle Van Noy - OLB - BYU - "Perfect Fit" is an apt way to describe this pick. The fastest and most athletic OLB in the draft (and BA just said a couple days ago he wants a speed rusher. Thats something ive been saying for a millenia. Speed pass rushers are much more effective than bull rushers. Even Levi could stop a bullrusher). He was a splash play maker all through his career. Most importantly - 2 birds 1 stone: the days of AZ getting burned by TEs every single game? Van Noy also might be the best pass coverage LB in the NFL, rookie at least. Freakish athleticism. He will shut down Vernon Davis, or anyone else (which will lead to coverage sacks by our slower rushers like Acho). Hes not Von Miller, but dont look for one at #20 overall. This guy is a piece who makes your entire defense better substantially.
2. Dieon Bucannon - SS - Washington St - Dare I say Adub Jr? Possibly. We need physicality put back on this team. We need an enforcer and a toughness that we lack a little bit. This guy hits like Sean Taylor in the open field. He does not miss tackles, and hes very good in pass D.
***Ive seen about 30 mock drafts on this site with Calvin Pryor listed- note that Calvin is a FS. We need a SS. They are not interchangeable positions.
3. James Hurst - T - NC - The only reason hes here in the 3rd, and not a fringe 1st rounder, is because he broke his leg a month or so back. Its bone, not a knee, or ligaments. He will return 100% in not too long. This an investment pick. Possibly getting your future franchise LT in the 3rd round is what championship teams do, having the foresight. Depending on what we do at LT, he could just as easily be our RTOTF. He played with Coop at NC, and so he can pair with him on the left side and really flourish since they have that chemistry.
4. TE, Georgia, Arthur Lynch. Blue chip blocker who is reliable as a receiver. Knack for making big plays in pressure moments. I love this pick. Everyone wants the flashy Eric Ebron pick, but TE is a luxury position. Atlanta had the greatest TE of all time, Tnny Gonzalez, this past season but still were a miserable team because TE has very little impact on a weak team. Charles is everything you want in a franchise TE. (Again)Blue chip blocker who will further improve our Oline, and he is a reliable receiver. HEs not going to runaway from anyone, but neither does Jason Witten and he still carves up Ds to this day. Take this guy, and your TE position is locked up for the next 10 years.
5. C, Colorado State, Weston Richburg - Sendlein does a good job, but we have zero depth at the position if he were to go down. Weston is a stud. I read that in his 3 years playing, hes graded out as one of the top Centers in all of college football every year. Hes doesn’t give up pressure up the middle. He can be found in the 5th only because his quality of competition is questionable, but otherwise he has been consistently dominant throughout his career. Very technically polished. Just needs to get a little stronger.
6. WR, Saginaw Valley, Jeff Janis - Small school stud who is a field stretcher. If he does nothing else well besides having a ton of speed, then hes performed up to expectations. We need a guy to bust the top off the D and he does that. *I was surprised, and happy, to see in a blog documenting the Senior bowl practices that Janis has stood out. I made this mock prior to SB practices ever starting, so it was nice hearing my guy might actually have the chops to stick around in the league. We need speed, and hes got it.
notes:
- Not a bigger "Go find the franchise QB" than me around, but I dont see him in this draft (or at least not when we're picking).Maybe next year.
- Do not ever reach due to need. You wont see a LT (besides an injured Hurst) because there are none who are the BPA at the time ( besides Hurst obviously). The only ones who might be there, like Cyrus Kouandjio, are Levi-esque.
- Noy, Bucannon, and Lynch are franchise cornerstones, IMO. I think if you can walk away with 3 in every draft (like Coop, Tyrann and Ellington as we did last year + probably Kevin Minter) you are on the road to being a real contender.
- We finished, what 2 games out of the playoffs this year? We only need to get a smidge better, and we should walk in next year (not to mention it wont be year 1 in a new, difficult, offense this time around). I really like this mock draft for accomplishing that.
Really sound mix of BPA vs need considered in all picks, in addition to consistency throughout career, which I feel is important.
1. Kyle Van Noy - OLB - BYU - "Perfect Fit" is an apt way to describe this pick. The fastest and most athletic OLB in the draft (and BA just said a couple days ago he wants a speed rusher. Thats something ive been saying for a millenia. Speed pass rushers are much more effective than bull rushers. Even Levi could stop a bullrusher). He was a splash play maker all through his career. Most importantly - 2 birds 1 stone: the days of AZ getting burned by TEs every single game? Van Noy also might be the best pass coverage LB in the NFL, rookie at least. Freakish athleticism. He will shut down Vernon Davis, or anyone else (which will lead to coverage sacks by our slower rushers like Acho). Hes not Von Miller, but dont look for one at #20 overall. This guy is a piece who makes your entire defense better substantially.
2. Dieon Bucannon - SS - Washington St - Dare I say Adub Jr? Possibly. We need physicality put back on this team. We need an enforcer and a toughness that we lack a little bit. This guy hits like Sean Taylor in the open field. He does not miss tackles, and hes very good in pass D.
***Ive seen about 30 mock drafts on this site with Calvin Pryor listed- note that Calvin is a FS. We need a SS. They are not interchangeable positions.
3. James Hurst - T - NC - The only reason hes here in the 3rd, and not a fringe 1st rounder, is because he broke his leg a month or so back. Its bone, not a knee, or ligaments. He will return 100% in not too long. This an investment pick. Possibly getting your future franchise LT in the 3rd round is what championship teams do, having the foresight. Depending on what we do at LT, he could just as easily be our RTOTF. He played with Coop at NC, and so he can pair with him on the left side and really flourish since they have that chemistry.
4. TE, Georgia, Arthur Lynch. Blue chip blocker who is reliable as a receiver. Knack for making big plays in pressure moments. I love this pick. Everyone wants the flashy Eric Ebron pick, but TE is a luxury position. Atlanta had the greatest TE of all time, Tnny Gonzalez, this past season but still were a miserable team because TE has very little impact on a weak team. Charles is everything you want in a franchise TE. (Again)Blue chip blocker who will further improve our Oline, and he is a reliable receiver. HEs not going to runaway from anyone, but neither does Jason Witten and he still carves up Ds to this day. Take this guy, and your TE position is locked up for the next 10 years.
5. C, Colorado State, Weston Richburg - Sendlein does a good job, but we have zero depth at the position if he were to go down. Weston is a stud. I read that in his 3 years playing, hes graded out as one of the top Centers in all of college football every year. Hes doesn’t give up pressure up the middle. He can be found in the 5th only because his quality of competition is questionable, but otherwise he has been consistently dominant throughout his career. Very technically polished. Just needs to get a little stronger.
6. WR, Saginaw Valley, Jeff Janis - Small school stud who is a field stretcher. If he does nothing else well besides having a ton of speed, then hes performed up to expectations. We need a guy to bust the top off the D and he does that. *I was surprised, and happy, to see in a blog documenting the Senior bowl practices that Janis has stood out. I made this mock prior to SB practices ever starting, so it was nice hearing my guy might actually have the chops to stick around in the league. We need speed, and hes got it.
notes:
- Not a bigger "Go find the franchise QB" than me around, but I dont see him in this draft (or at least not when we're picking).Maybe next year.
- Do not ever reach due to need. You wont see a LT (besides an injured Hurst) because there are none who are the BPA at the time ( besides Hurst obviously). The only ones who might be there, like Cyrus Kouandjio, are Levi-esque.
- Noy, Bucannon, and Lynch are franchise cornerstones, IMO. I think if you can walk away with 3 in every draft (like Coop, Tyrann and Ellington as we did last year + probably Kevin Minter) you are on the road to being a real contender.
- We finished, what 2 games out of the playoffs this year? We only need to get a smidge better, and we should walk in next year (not to mention it wont be year 1 in a new, difficult, offense this time around). I really like this mock draft for accomplishing that.
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