Mock (4/24/13)

[Direckshun]

My last of this draft season. This is, more or less, my official endorsement (save for the 1st round pick, which is going to be either Joeckel or Fisher, and NOT Geno).

Because of that, I'm warning you right now, you're going hate this. Sorry.

1.1
OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Alt: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

Like I said, it's one of these two guys. While I believe Fisher has the higher ceiling, he's played like two meaningful games in his career. He played well in both games, but if you're going to burn your 1st on a tackle, which this team is (don't hate, I didn't make that call or support it), you gotta burn it on Joeckel, who is a Top 3 player in this year's draft, anti-Joeckelers be damned.

2.54
DE Margus Hunt, SMU
Alt: ILB Kevin Minter, LSU
Alt: OLB Alex Okafor, Texas

Hunt's stock rocketed up to bottom of the 1st consideration, and now seems to have deflated comfortably to a mid-2nd pick. I absolutely love Minter at this point, but Minter's position simply isn't important enough. Hunt has faced criticism for playing a bit stiff, but the potential here is electric as his motor is one of the highest of the 3-4 ends in this class. The team has Tyson Jackson on a one-year rental, and if Hunt can pick up some passrushing ability, we may finally have a presence along this DL that, along with a developing Poe, scares OL into having to double-team on passing downs.

3.63
QB Matt Barkley, USC
Alt: QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
Alt: OG/C Barratt Jones, Alabama

This will be unpopular for two reasons: a lot of folks here hate Barkley, and the folks that don't refuse to believe he'll drop this far. But he very much can -- he's bouncing back from an injury concern, is shorter and not remotely athletic, and has had a shakey ****ing year at USC. Nassib and Manuel have rocketed up draft boards. Barkley's probably the 4th or 5th guy on most boards.

That said, this choice needed to be a QB and thank the lord, there's some value here to make a choice. Wilson is a more athletic version of Barkley but sucked out loud this past year. Both are made for the West Coast offense, but honestly I just like Barkley's pedigree better. I've read that he has potential as a Schaub-kind of guy, and I agree. He can go through multiple reads and his short- and intermediate-throws are superior than Wilson, and tailor made for the WCO. Also, I have it on good authority that he has a peerless work ethic. If he has the roof to become a franchise guy, that's the you want leading your team.

3.96
TE Jordan Reed, Florida
Alt: S Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
Alt: WR Aaron Dobson, Marshall

Teams are gravitating towards these more athletic tight ends that create mismatches. Reed is the best in this draft. Moeaki is broken, and Fasano's more of a traditional block/receive tight end. This offense needs a pure receiving threat, and short of moving Baldwin to that role, Reed gives this offense its biggest boost.

4.99:
WR Marquise Goodwin, Texas
Alt: DT Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern
Alt: ILB Jelani Jenkins, Florida

Like many folks on this board, I've played sports my entire life against every imagineable type of opponent. Fewer opponents are more challenging to guard in the open space of the secondary are guys that are simply faster than you. They don't need to be better, necessarily, they just need to be faster. An Olympic caliber sprinter, Goodwin is made for taking the top off defenses. He has pretty good hands as well, but speed like this, even in the intermediate game, is hell for defensive coordinators who have to commit two guys to neutralizing the threat posed by one guy. I believe we can put together a speed package with Donnie Avery, McCluster in the slot, and Charles and Gray out of the backfield that would give defenses a really unique, scarey look.

5.134
OLB Brandon Jenkins. Florida State
Alt: RB Mike Gillislee, Florida
Alt: ILB A.J. Klein, Iowa State

This team sorely needs depth behind Hali and Houston. Hali may not even be on this team next year when the team asks him to restructure. Jenkins is a 2nd day caliber talent that will not yeild immediate results, but has the perfect work ethic and ability for a guy you take in the 5th. If the NFL trainers can bring him back to 100% physically, he will be in the ideal slot, grooming behind Hali and Houston, a pure passrushing OLB talent.

6.170
DE/OLB Devin Taylor, South Carolina
Alt: ILB Nico Johnson, Alabama
Alt: S Duke Williams, Nevada

The Chiefs plan on running a hybrid defense this year to a certain extent, for which Taylor would be uniquely suited. If you wanted Dion Jordan for his size and athleticism, Taylor's got all the size (more actually), some of the athleticism, and more college production. I love Taylor's arm length and while I think he could beef up on some of his passrushing moves, that's what Hali's for, who clearly had an influence on Justin Houston. I don't care if Edgar Jones and Frank Zombo are also on this roster; a combo of Jenkins and Taylor offer far more in terms of potential.

6.204
RB Stepfon Jefferson, Nevada
Alt: RB Dennis Johnson, Arkansas
Alt: ILB Steve Beaunarhais, Rutgers

I love the Nevada program, always have. It's one of the absolute toughest in terms of the work ethic they install in their players. And while I absolutely love Dennis Johnson as a sleeper talent, Jefferson's bigger, more aggressive running style adds an element to our backfield that we honestly don't have. Nevada prospects are almost always NFL ready in terms of their bodies and work ethics. He'd compete for the #2 RB slot immediately.

7.207:
ILB Steve Greer, Virginia
Alt: OLB Stansly Maponga, TCU
Alt: S Rontez Miles, California

The talent pool in the 7th is deepest at ILB, where I believe there are starting-caliber SILBs all over. Greer is the kind of guy that sticks in the NFL, I believe. He's got pretty good size but his athleticism is shit (5.0 40). Most teams prefer small school projects with incredible measurables, but only Manti Te'o has logged more tackles over the past four years, and Greer is a prototypical two-down lineman in the Belcher mode.

[Direckshun]

Denard will probably go sooner, and should.

Ace will probably be there in the 6th. I'm not a fan, though.

5'7" with 4.6 speed. Yeah... no. Especially when we're already two-deep at the slot.

[O.city]

Eesh, he plays faster but 4.6 is slow.


I would love to get Dennard, might even take him in the 5th.

[Dave Lane]

OK I'd jizz for this draft.

[Hoover]

I'd be thrilled with this, but would rather have Minter

[tyton75]

If Barkley fell that far I would be thrilled.. Hell, I'd be happy taking him with the 2nd rounder.

[DTLB58]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Barkley sliding until the 3rd round? WOW

I think he was still playing with "First-Pick.com"