CBS MOCK

[Mr. Laz]

2015 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Redskins go receiver in first round
By Will Brinson | NFL Writer
April 11, 2015 1:00 pm ET

We often build mock drafts and fail to see the forest for the trees. NFL teams do the same thing, so it's not a crime to focus on the now. The Buccaneers are a good example: They have almost no choice but to take a quarterback No. 1 overall because of its roster construction. Another example: The Washington Redskins at wide receiver.

The Skins have DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, so why would they draft a wideout? But as friend of the site and CBS colleague at 106.7 the Fan Chad Dukes pointed out when I spoke with him on the radio Friday, Redskins fans shouldn't ignore the idea of the team drafting a wide receiver despite obvious defensive deficiencies on the roster.

Remember, Scot McCloughan is a best-player-available-type of guy. And Garcon/Jackson aren't locks for the long haul on this roster. Jackson's contract runs through 2017 but he'll be 29 after 2015 ends and facing the likelihood of his biggest weapon, speed, moving in a declining direction. He has a $9.25 million cap hit in 2017 but cutting him after 2016 would result in just $1.25 million in dead money. He's probably on the roster through 2016.

Garcon probably has only one year left with the Redskins. He's got a $10.2 million cap hit in 2016 (and $9.7 million in 2015) but would result in only $2.2 million in dead money (both players' contract numbers via Spotrac.com) if cut before 2016.

Adding someone like Amari Cooper or Kevin White at the top of the draft seems like a luxury for a team with two expensive wideouts and so many other roster problems, but may well be a necessity with McCloughan looking toward the future.

We're gonna reflect that happening below and see if it changes anything.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Florida State QB Jameis Winston: Love hearing all the chatter about Jameis' character concerns and on-field issues now. Where was this stuff in the other two months before the draft? Barring Winston doing something stupid or someone high in the Bucs front office stepping in to quash this choice, it's going to be Winston first overall.

2. Tennessee Titans -- Oregon QB Marcus Mariota: The only thing better than landing a sure-fire franchise quarterback for a two-win team? Landing a guy who qualifies as a franchise guy to buy yourself three more years. The fit doesn't seem logical with Ken Whisenhunt but people are starting to figure out Mariota can do plenty of the things required of a starting NFL quarterback.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Clemson OLB Vic Beasley, OLB: We're getting wild in the first round! The Jaguars need a LEO for Gus Bradley's defense and no one in this draft has the ability to make the immediate pass-rushing impact like Beasley. Three feels high but he's not lasting until the second round.

4. Oakland Raiders -- USC DT Leonard Williams: Gifted Williams at 3, the Raiders pounce on the local (soon to be MORE local??) defensive tackle.

5. Washington Redskins -- Alabama WR Amari Cooper: Let's get nuts. The idea of the Redskins grabbing a wideout with Jackson and Garcon already on the depth chart sounds crazy, but this is a best-available-player situation for McCloughan and he's got his pick of wideouts here. Look at his draft run in San Francisco: the 49ers took offensive players in the first round during 4/7 first-round picks from 2005 through 2009. If you're thinking about life post-Garcon, Cooper probably matches up best with Jackson, though there's no guarantee he'll be there forever either.

6. New York Jets -- Florida OLB Dante Fowler Jr.: The Jets' strong offseason continues without actually having to be aggressive. One of the top pass-rushing targets falls into their lap at No. 6. Todd Bowles loves to blitz and Fowler gives him a versatile weapon to send after the quarterback from different spots.

7. Chicago Bears -- West Virginia WR Kevin White: With Brandon Marshall gone (and flip No. 6 and No. 7 if he wasn't) the Bears look to the draft for another weapon for Jay Cutler. Pairing White with Alshon Jeffery gives Chicago a terrifying tandem at wide receiver.

8. Atlanta Falcons -- Nebraska DE Randy Gregory: Concern over Gregory's failed test at the combine will vanish when the clock starts ticking and everyone's looking for the best talent. This especially matters in Atlanta, where the Falcons badly need a pass rusher and may not be as concerned about character as they were a few years ago.

9. New York Giants -- Washington DT Danny Shelton: When we re-drafted the 2011 NFL Draft, we imagined plugging Jurrell Casey in with the Giants pass rush. Giving defensive ends space-eating, quarterback-attacking defensive tackles does wonders for their production. So the Giants do just that at No. 9, grabbing the mammoth Shelton.

10. St. Louis Rams -- Iowa OL Brandon Scherff: For only the second time, Jeff Fisher grabs an offensive lineman in the first round. Wouldn't be surprising to see them go with a cornerback here, or even a wideout, but they need help protecting Nick Foles.

11. Minnesota Vikings -- Louisville WR DeVante Parker: Go get Teddy Bridgewater's guy so Bridgewater can throw to him. Mike Wallace isn't the answer at wide receiver, even though the trade at least gives Minnesota an additional weapon.

12. Cleveland Browns -- LSU OT La'el Collins: When Alex Mack went down last season, the running game fell apart. They need a mauling big body who can play on the right side or inside. Collins isn't going to take Joe Thomas' job, but fits this line's needs perfectly.

13. New Orleans Saints -- Michigan State CB Trae Waynes: Keep pumping that money into the secondary. The Saints want to come out of this draft with a lineman and a defensive player and nab the best corner on the board here.

14. Miami Dolphins -- UCF WR Breshard Perriman: Moves to dump Wallace and pick up Kenny Stills were smart and ultimately should prove effective, but this is WR corps still needs immediate help. The upside of Perriman, particularly utilizing the local product in Bill Lazor's offense on short throws (where he won't drop as many balls???) is spicy indeed.

15. San Francisco 49ers-- Oregon DT Arik Armstead: The 49ers need an upside-filled defensive lineman who can step in and fill Justin Smith's shoes when he inevitably retires and leaves another gaping hole on this defense.

16. Houston Texans -- Missouri OLB/DE Shane Ray: Double. Down. The Texans already have J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus. Bring in Ray and keep throwing pass rushers at opposing offenses. Force them to max out double teams for Watt and let him create havoc. There's also no telling if Clowney will be an impact pass rusher next season.

17. San Diego Chargers -- Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon: Flipping the script and sending Gordon, instead of Gurley, to San Diego. Gordon's health makes him potentially more impactful out of the gate, someone who can help the Bolts off to a hot start.

18. Kansas City Chiefs -- Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong: Grabbing Jeremy Maclin in free agency is huge but Andy Reid is in need of another weapon for Alex Smith.

19. Cleveland Browns (via Buffalo Bills) -- Kentucky DE Bud Dupree: Love the idea of Cleveland nabbing this athletic freak and plugging him into Mike Pettine's defense. They're pretty well-rounded in terms of having a strong defensive unit, but giving him another speedy edge rusher along with Barkevious Mingo could make things interesting.

20. Philadelphia Eagles -- Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson: Lot of free-agent money invested into the defense but there's no guarantee Chip Kelly fixed the secondary. Wouldn't be surprised if he kept doubling down on cornerback and attempted to grab a wideout in the next round.

21. Cincinnati Bengals -- Stanford OT Andrus Peat: Smart teams prepare for the future and the Bengals are -- gasp! -- a smart team in the draft these days. They're able to secure a value talent with Peat here while also managing to set themselves up for life after Andrew Whitworth should they let him walk after his contract year and at the age of 34.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Connecticut CB Byron Jones: The freakish combine monster gives the Steelers an athletic presence in a secondary desperately needing help. Keith Butler sees the way offenses are changing defensive alignments and understands more cornerbacks is critical.

23. Detroit Lions -- Miami (FL) OT Ereck Flowers: Plugging in Flowers on the right side of this line would give Matthew Stafford more protection as well as help the Lions in the run game, with Flowers nasty style showcasing an ability to get to the second level quickly.

24. Arizona Cardinals -- Georgia RB Todd Gurley: The Cardinals want to get more physical and dynamic in the run game and Gurley, when healthy, is capable of changing a ground attack. They've increased the talent on the offensive line and can afford to gamble on Gurley coming back to superstar form after knee injury last November.

25. Carolina Panthers -- Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings: Dave Gettleman needs to get help for Cam Newton (no offense to Michael Oher and Jonathan Martin). The athletic upside of Clemmings and the veteran presence of those guys gives Carolina time to work the Pitt tackle into the mix as a franchise cornerstone.

26. Baltimore Ravens -- Florida State DT Eddie Goldman: With the trade of Haloti Ngata, the Ravens need more depth on the defensive line. Goldman could pair with another former Florida State standout, Timmy Jernigan, to form the future of this defensive line.

27. Dallas Cowboys -- Texas DT Malcom Brown: Local product who fills a need. Tempted to have them go running back here, but somehow they've become self-aware when it comes to the draft too and decide to wait for the second round. Plugging Brown into the middle only improves the pass rush.

28. Denver Broncos -- Florida OT D.J. Humphries: More protection for Peyton Manning and sets up the franchise for life after Peyton. Athletic linemen play well in Gary Kubiak's scheme and while Humphries is raw, he's highly athletic.

29. Indianapolis Colts -- Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips: Chuck Pagano made it clear how important stopping the run is in 2015 after the Colts were unable to overcome the Patriots, thanks to coughing up yards in the physical ground game. Tons of potential and the ability to dominant in the middle early.

30. Green Bay Packers -- Virginia LB Eli Harold: Green Bay needs depth in the secondary but let's not forget how old Julius Peppers is. Harold would provide a boost in the pass rush and let Dom Capers continue to be creative with his use of Clay Matthews on the inside and outside.

31. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle Seahawks) -- Florida State OL Cameron Erving: The Saints want to get stronger in their running game. Erving isn't a mauling beast, but he's talented in the run game, has the versatility to boost the offense and provides insurance in case Max Unger gets injured again.

32. New England Patriots -- Utah CB Eric Rowe: With the losses of Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis in free agency, Bill Belichick can take a stab at another cornerback.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...in-first-round

[O.city]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I was really hoping Trae Waynes would fall to us but it just seems like far too many teams before us could use a top-notch CB..

I'd be afraid he's gonna be a penalty machine at the nfl level

[milkman]

If the draft fell like this, Dorsey would either take Kevin Johnson to prepare for Sean Smith's departure, or Alvin Dupree because of his measurables.

The third option would be Byron Jones, because he has the measurables, and he would fill the same role as Johnson.

I'd be really surprised if Strong is the pick, not because he doesn't fit the offense, but rather, he doesn't fit Alex Smith.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by TRR

While Im not sure Strong fits here with the way this mock fell, calling him a reach (and Bowe 2.0) is a bit ridiculous. Strong's draft stock has been on the rise and I've seen some mocks have him above anyone not in the top 3 WRs. While he's a bigger guy, he is a much better route runner coming out of College than Bowe, and has MUCH better hands...something Bowe never improved upon.

I would support Strong at 18. If you don't take a WR at 18, we better hope Lockett or Dorsett are there in round 2. I have nightmares about rolling out Avant all year in that role.

If Strong is Bowe 2.0, that's pretty damn good.

Just not if he plays for the Kansas City Chiefs with Alex Smith as his QB.

In any case, can we agree that he's NOT the best available player at 18 with the way that mock falls? Guess what that means. John Dorsey doesn't want you.

[Mr. Laz]

Just because a WR is big and strong doesn't mean he is Bowe.

Body type doesn't have anything to do with route running,hands,focus or ability to separate.


Strong does seem more fast than quick though, which isn't ideal.


CB would probably be better in that scenerio, has the athleticism and speed to play outside in Sutton's system almost immediately.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Just because a WR is big and strong doesn't mean he is Bowe.

Body type doesn't have anything to do with route running,hands,focus or ability to separate.

Jaelen Strong isn't a particularly adept route runner or the most focused WR in this draft. And that's putting it lightly. He's not a flaming dumbass, but he's definitely got work to do in that area, just like Bowe did coming out of college.

[RealSNR]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profil...ong?id=2552463

STRENGTHS Good combination of height, weight and arm length for the position. Former high school basketball player who knows how to keep defenders on his hip. Drives back to the ball from top of the route. Adjusts routes in space. Developed nifty inside release to defeat press. Comfortable from slot, using varying route tempo for separation. Tracks ball well. Good strength in hands and makes contested catches. Decent leaper who will climb the ladder for a catch or sink and secure low throw. Strong lower body and physical after catch. Sun Devils used him frequently on shallow crossers, bubble screens and hitches.

WEAKNESSES Still raw and learning to play the position. Allows too many throws into his frame and ball will beat him up at times on crossers. Not twitchy or sudden as an athlete. Long-strider who takes a while to build up speed. Play speed average at best. Rarely gets separation deep against man-to-man. Routes need improvement. Forced to make a substantial amount of contested throws. Corners don't fear his speed and are able to sit on underneath throws.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 1 or 2

SOURCES TELL US "He's not going to run fast, but it won't matter because any team who drafts him is going to have a plan for him. When he has a quarterback who can throw him open, his speed won't matter much. I love him." -- NFC West scout

NFL COMPARISON Dwayne Bowe

BOTTOM LINE Individual elements of Strong's game aren't awe-inspiring, but scouts really love the entirety of his game and where it is headed. His strength, size and ability to catch contested throws will be coveted by some, but his issues with separation quickness can only be solved if he becomes much better in his route-running. Strong looks the part of a physical, possession receiver with a relatively high floor.

I didn't even read the Bowe comparison. I arrived at that conclusion myself, and I saw this just now while googling for a scouting report to support my own thoughts on Strong.

Zierlein isn't the be-all-end-all voice of who or what a player is, but even if you don't think Strong is Bowe, you gotta admit that from watching his tape and reading what scouts like Zierlein think of him... that sounds pretty ****ing Dwayne Boweish.

[BlackOp]

KC takes OL/DL/CB in the first....LB/WR in the 2nd.

DT Malcom Brown? It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep Poe a bit more fresh....or pair them together at times. Lockett/Agholor in the 2nd?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

I would be pissed if the chiefs pass on Bud Dupree. He is perfect for the strong side and would be a perfect pairing with Ford.

This.

Originally Posted by SNR

Jaelen Strong makes zero sense for the Chiefs both theoretically and realistically.

We just got rid of Bowe, and now we're replacing him with Bowe 2.0? I thought the point of this offseason was to clean out the receivers who don't fit Andy Reid's offense and replace them with WRs who do? Not that Strong couldn't play in the offense, but why the **** would you burn your first on someone who will never quite do everything you want him to do when you can find a player who WILL do all those things in the 2nd round and beyond?

90% of mock drafts written by sportswriters who just want to project the first round are garbage because all they think about is team need. If the last two drafts are any indication, John Dorsey DOES NOT GIVE A **** about team need, and he'd rather have his first round pick sit behind a veteran for one year than reach for a player he's not comfortable with just because there's a hole on the roster and some dude is available at 18.

The Chiefs are NOT going WR in the 1st round unless Parker or White fall to them or they trade up. There simply aren't the guys available that they want or need.

Definitely this.

I just don't give a wet shit about any of these national guys anymore. They know far less about the Chiefs than we do.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by gonefishin53

Malcom Brown The most scheme versatile and position versatile DT would be perfect for Sutton's multiple front defense.

I can't help but wonder about this guy as well. He would make our front a long stronger and more versatile. This guy would help our run D and allow us to move Poe around and give him breathers to keep him fresh.
We have plenty of questions in Devito, Catapano and others.

[planetdoc]

If you watch Jalen Strong's highlight videos you will see that he is rarely not making contested catches. If he struggles to seperate at the college level, then the NFL will be an even bigger challenge for him.

Alex Smith prefers throwing to someone who is 'open' because he is risk averse. He doesnt like 'jump ball' situations. Strong is not a fit for this offense.

[BigChiefFan]

He's also been compared to Reggie Wayne and DeMaryius Thomas. Just saying.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

allow us to move Poe around and give him breathers to keep him fresh.
We have plenty of questions in Devito, Catapano and others.

With the contract the chiefs gave Allen Bailey, there is no way that Devito wins the RDE job. Jay Howard played admirably at LDE. Devito is stron against the run, but innefective as a pass rusher. To me it makes the most sense to use him at NT to relieve Poe.

I also think that Poe needs to put some of that weight back on. He went from 346lb at the combine to playing at ~ 330lbs in 2013 and ~315lbs by the end of the 2014 season.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

He's also been compared to Reggie Wayne and DeMaryius Thomas. Just saying.

Who ****ing cares?

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

He's also been compared to Reggie Wayne and DeMaryius Thomas. Just saying.

both of whom could consistently create seperation from dbs.....something that Strong struggles with.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by milkman

If the draft fell like this, Dorsey would either take Kevin Johnson to prepare for Sean Smith's departure, or Alvin Dupree because of his measurables.

The third option would be Byron Jones, because he has the measurables, and he would fill the same role as Johnson.

I'd be really surprised if Strong is the pick, not because he doesn't fit the offense, but rather, he doesn't fit Alex Smith.

I would put Ereck Flowers in this convo because of his measurables and him being a lineman.