Final Draft Plan With Trade Proposals

[Mitch]

This mock is my own hope -- it is very likely not going to happen -- "but hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things, for no good thing ever dies."

* There are 6 players I would stay at #13 for:

DE Solomon Thomas
DE Jonathan Allen
SS Jamal Adams
FS Malik Hooker
RB Christian McCaffrey
TE O.J. Howard

* However I think Solomon goes to the 49ers at #2, Allen goes to the Bengals at #9, Adams goes to the Bears at #3, Hooker goes to the Chargers at #7, McCaffrey goes to the Saints at #11 and Howard goes to the Browns (or a trading partner) at #12.

* I would offer the New England Patriots the #13 pick and a 2018 3rd round pick for QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo is my #1 choice for QBOF. He counts $820K on this year's cap.

* if the Patriots agree to the trade, my draft then looks like this:

1-Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
2-Josh Jones, FS, North Carolina St.
3-Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego St.
4-Blair Brown, ILB, Ohio
5-Shelton Gibson, WR/PR, West Virginia
5-Carroll Phillips, OLB, Illinois
6-C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa
7-Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafeyette

* if the Patriots do not accept the trade proposal for Garoppolo, I would like to trade down in the first round and add an extra 3rd round pick. Here then are what my top projections are:

1-Budda Baker, FS/NCB, Washington--or--Kevin King, CB, Washington
2-Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston--or--Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama
3-Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego St.--or--John Johnson, FS, Boston College
3-Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee--or---ArDarious Stewart, WR, Alabama
4-Blair Brown, ILB, Ohio--or--Elijah Lee, ILB, Kansas St.
5-Shelton Gibson, WR/PR, West Virginia--or--Jerod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech
5-Lorenzo Jerome, S, St. Francis--or--Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
6-Darrell Daniels, TE/HB, Washington--or---Cole Hikutini, TE/HB, Louisville
7-Elijah McGuire, RB, Louisiana-Lafeyette--or--Taquan Mizzell, RB, Virginia

One of my favorite tacklers in this draft is ILB Blair Brown of Ohio. Here's an article and highlight tape. I love this kid's instincts, how quickly he plugs the holes and love his pad level. This kid is a finisher. He reminds me some of Patrick Willis, watch the way he plugs holes. Check out Brown's workout numbers versus Willis':

40: PW-4.51, BB-4.58
225: PW-22, BB-22
VJ: PW: 39", BB-38"
20: PW: 4.46, BB-4.18
3C: PW: 7.23, BB-6.92

http://texanswire.usatoday.com/2017/03/06/combine-watch-blair-brown-great-sleeper-fit-at-lb/

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There are so many other players I love in this draft. Please feel free to ask about any of your favorites. I know that most of you are sick of mocks -- but I hope that you found this final one at least somewhat informative and thought-provoking.

I have been greatly enjoying our discussions of the draft and the prospects. Kudos to everyone. This board is outstanding!

 

[BullheadCardFan]

If NE would accept that trade we should make it. After reading about all this years QB's I think JG would be worth a shot. We'd have to sign him to a team friendly contract to complete the trade.

Nice find on Blair Brown. I like hearing about mid-late rounds surprise picks. A solid ILB would solidify our D. Do you believe he is a 3 down player? Cover skills up to snuff?

 

[NJCardFan]

I don't see McCaffrey making it past 10. I'm hearing the Eagles are hot for him so if he falls to us, I'd look to see if they're willing to trade up. This way we get an extra pick somewhere and still get the guy we really want if available.

 

[Mitch]

If NE would accept that trade we should make it. After reading about all this years QB's I think JG would be worth a shot. We'd have to sign him to a team friendly contract to complete the trade.

Nice find on Blair Brown. I like hearing about mid-late rounds surprise picks. A solid ILB would solidify our D. Do you believe he is a 3 down player? Cover skills up to snuff?

3 down ILB for sure. You know those RB flat passes that Minter had trouble getting to...Brown would have those covered. Plus, I love the way he blows up screens. His reactions are quick and decisive. I think he would be superb against Russell Wilson. He'd get to him before he could wriggle free.

 

[Mitch]

I don't see McCaffrey making it past 10. I'm hearing the Eagles are hot for him so if he falls to us, I'd look to see if they're willing to trade up. This way we get an extra pick somewhere and still get the guy we really want if available.

If McCaffrey gets to us...race to the podium! David Johnson and Christian McCaffrey would be like having two queens on your chess board. Plus, what an upgrade McC would be to our woeful STs.

 

[pinetopred]

Mitch I was wondering what your thoughts are on Cordrea Tankersley. I really like his size speed and seems to play his best in press man.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch I was wondering what your thoughts are on Cordrea Tankersley. I really like his size speed and seems to play his best in press man.

Yes, pinetopred. I really like Cordrea Tankersley. His length (6-0, 200) and physical style of play, especially in press coverage would make him a nice fit in AZ. The one part of his game that needs work is his tendency to hold. He uses his hands for leverage too often when the ball is in the air. If he can eliminate that from his game and still be in position to make plays, he can be superb. I think in a normal draft year, he's an early 2nd round pick. But because of the great depth at CB this year, he's probably going to go in round 3.

 

[cardncubfan]

I would love to get Jimmy G from the Pats. I would definitely do that trade.

 

[Ohcrap75]

I'm a big fan of Brown also. Lots of Rumors of ATL wanting to move up for a pass rusher. It's a long ways back, but would be interesting to see what they would offer. A lot of good DB's would still be there.

 

[Mitch]

I'm a big fan of Brown also. Lots of Rumors of ATL wanting to move up for a pass rusher. It's a long ways back, but would be interesting to see what they would offer. A lot of good DB's would still be there.

OK, Atlanta, it would take the #31, #63 picks and DT Ra'Shede Hageman (6-6, 313, 4, Minnesota). The Falcons are pretty deep in the interior DL and Hageman has started to show why he was a 2nd round pick in 2014.

Would you do that trade, Ohcrap75? Anyone?

I would.

1-Budda Baker, FS, Washington
2-Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
2.Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
3-**** Tabor, CB, Florida
4-Blair Brown, ILB, Ohio
5-Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia
5-Samson Ebukam, OLB, Eastern Washington
6-Scott Orndorff, TE, Penn St.
7-Johnathan Ford, S, Auburn

 

[Ohcrap75]

I was already a fan, but this video of Brown was fun to watch! So many LB's run around blocks, leaving gaping holes leading to big plays. Brown not only takes them on, but drives though them often still making the tackle.

His ability to see things developing before they happen is also very impressive. He is great at sniffing out screens!

Will be interesting to see where he ends up going. I think somewhere in the fourth is a good bet.

 

[pinetopred]

Every indication is this is a very deep draft at many positions. O-line IMO is not there are a number of teams drafting after us that need O-line help. I know the general rule don't trade up unless you are targeting a pass rusher CB or QB, this year may be the exception to that rule if you have the QB but nobody to protect him you may be more willing to move in front of other teams to get a guy like Forrest Lamp.

 

[Ohcrap75]

OK, Atlanta, it would take the #31, #63 picks and DT Ra'Shede Hageman (6-6, 313, 4, Minnesota). The Falcons are pretty deep in the interior DL and Hageman has started to show why he was a 2nd round pick in 2014.

Would you do that trade, Ohcrap75? Anyone?

I would.

1-Budda Baker, FS, Washington
2-Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
2.Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
3-**** Tabor, CB, Florida
4-Blair Brown, ILB, Ohio
5-Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia
5-Samson Ebukam, OLB, Eastern Washington
6-Scott Orndorff, TE, Penn St.
7-Johnathan Ford, S, Auburn

I would take this deal. It would also give us the ammunition to move up from 31 too.

 

[WildBB]

I'm looking to come out of the draft with those positions covered. FS, CB, QB and ILB. If we Come away with good prospects at each of those spots the draft will have been a success. I like the tape on Brown.

1- Kizer - QB
2- B. Baker - FS / Q. Wilson -CB / M. Williams FS
3- T. Tabor - CB / Z. Jones - WR
4- A. Darboh- WR / A. Walker Jr. - ILB / J. Johnson -FS
5- B. Brown -ILB / T. Hendrickson - OLB
5- S. Perine - RB / K. Hunt - RB / D. Pumphrey -RB
6- CJ Beathard - QB / C. Kelly QB / L. Jerome -FS
7- J. Toth - C

 

[Shaggy]

This is whats crazy about mock drafts, they are always changing. What has changed your mind from your other mock draft when you had Reddick as our number one?

 

[Mitch]

This is whats crazy about mock drafts, they are always changing. What has changed your mind from your other mock draft when you had Reddick as our number one?

What's changed is that I think Reddick will be taken prior to whatever spot the Cardinals trade down to...and I think that Steve Keim, because of the depth in this draft and because of how many needs the Cardinals have, will make every effort to trade down, assuming that their top 5 targets are off the board.

Personally, the two players from the start that I have hoped for at #13 (Christian McCaffrey and Haason Reddick) are still my two biggest hopes. Last night on NFL Network they did a round table mock draft -- it was a great show -- and I felt a overwhelming sense of deja vu as the players I like most in the draft are taken right after the Cardinals pick. In this case last night, it went like this:

13. AZ: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
14. PHI: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
15. IND: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

Over the years on so many occasions the Eagles and Steelers have been right in front of us, or have traded up to get right in front of us. This year we are in front of them. If they wind up with McCaffrey or Reddick in the picks after ours, I will be especially frustrated. I think McCaffrey will add 2-3 extra wins to whatever team drafts him. He will be a difference maker in close games, in all three facets of his game.

 

[WildBB]

You could get White at the end of the 1st round, early 2nd. LOL @ NFL net.. they just throw a CB there to us and set up the teams after them.

 

[JeffGollin]

This is whats crazy about mock drafts, they are always changing. What has changed your mind from your other mock draft when you had Reddick as our number one?

What's crazier is to build in trades. At least with drafts-only you're trying to guess what one personnel guy is thinking. When you're including predicted trades, you're trying to guess what 31 other teams are thinking.

It's fun to play "If I Were GM", but that's kind of where it begins and ends.

(Digression: A fellow draft enthusiast - I'll call him Charley - entered an NFL mock draft contest. He did something ridiculous like score 32 direct hits on every pick in the 1st round. I think they gave him a hat or something. That was about it).

 

[JeffGollin]

You could get White at the end of the 1st round, early 2nd. LOL @ NFL net.. they just throw a CB there to us and set up the teams after them.

I was revising my Top 120 board this morning and integrating it with my position rankers list when I realized that at the 120 top players and 15 top CB's limit - there were still 10 or more extra corners I couldn't shoe-horn onto either list (Moreau, Myrick and Elder are three that come to mind).

Makes you wonder if some teams will downplay the urgency of drafting corners early. (Same thing is true - though to a somewhat lesser extent - about this years crop of wideouts).

 

[Cardiac]

I was revising my Top 120 board this morning and integrating it with my position rankers list when I realized that at the 120 top players and 15 top CB's limit - there were still 10 or more extra corners I couldn't shoe-horn onto either list (Moreau, Myrick and Elder are three that come to mind).

Makes you wonder if some teams will downplay the urgency of drafting corners early. (Same thing is true - though to a somewhat lesser extent - about this years crop of wideouts).

I was wondering the same thing about CB's not going early and often because of the depth in this draft. It also made me wonder if Tabor and Sidney Jones will slide more than normal because of the depth.

 

[WildBB]

I was revising my Top 120 board this morning and integrating it with my position rankers list when I realized that at the 120 top players and 15 top CB's limit - there were still 10 or more extra corners I couldn't shoe-horn onto either list (Moreau, Myrick and Elder are three that come to mind).

Makes you wonder if some teams will downplay the urgency of drafting corners early. (Same thing is true - though to a somewhat lesser extent - about this years crop of wideouts).

Cardinals could trade down and pick one, or at 45, 77. But not at 13.

 

[JeffGollin]

One of the pifalls of 7 round mocks is that you tend to cluster the possible picks for a position to within 4 or 5 picks of where you pick (i.e. 45th - 50th ranked players when you're picking #45th). The field is made even narrower when you don't choose players who are rated 1 - 5 picks earlier than your pick "in order to be fair."

By ignoring all players not rated within 5 points later than your pick, you exclude over 90% of the available players in any given round.

My latest 7 round mock selects TE's in both the 6th & 7th rounds despite my wanting desperately to load up on CB's.

Two ways to avoid this problem: (1) Don't be afraid to pick a player rated 20 picks later than where you pick, (2) Develop your own 120 board, (3) trust it and (4) expect some players you expect to be drafted earlier to fall into your lap and even stick around for a couple of picks.

Final suggestion - Reset your Board after every Cardinal pick. It helps address the issue of "need" and you may see a few guys you thought would be gone remain high on your Board for 2 or 3 more rounds.