dbair1967
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I've thought for awhile it'll come down to 1 of 3 players, Cox, DeCastro or Barron at 14. Each of them would be solid additions and upgrade an area that sorely needs help. In the unlikely scenario all 3 are gone before we pick, thats when I believe they'll do whatever they can to move back.
I'm sticking with the DeCastro pick because I think Cox will be gone, and they'll probably have DeCastro rated a little higher on their board than Barron. DeCastro moves into the LG spot from day one, likely becomes a perennial all pro and makes our left side of the OL one of the best in football for years to come.
If they do pick DeCastro at 14, I think they'll be really aggressive in trying to move back up into the late first and nab somebody like Brockers, Chandler Jones or maybe Upshaw if he slips that far. I did my mock though without trades, and went with Ronnell Lewis, the eventual replacement for Spencer if he were the pick. Spencer will get another year, and Lewis will rotate in as a situational pass rusher and probably be a killer on special teams. If somehow they ended up with a guy like Upshaw, maybe they do try and trade Spencer or remove the tag from him.
If they pick Barron at 14, then the next pick will likely be an interior OL IMO. They might take a similar approach as above, and be aggressive in hopes of landing Peter Konz late in the first. If not then either Silatolu or Zeitler make sense.
I backed off the Dwayne Allen pick at 45 because I dont think they're all that interested (or at least dont seem to be) in any TE except for Stanford's Coby Fleener, who they'd also have to move up from 45 to get in all liklihood. Perhaps they look at some late round alternative or possibly try to trade for a TE from a team that has some depth there. While unpopular with some, getting Fleener would give the offense a really scary set of skill guys and he'd likely be a nightmare for teams to match up with, much like Witten has been for years now. No LB can run with him, and he is too big for safeties. When I watched his clips, he reminds me alot of Jay Novacek.
The more I read about Boise State Tyrone Crawford the more I like him, and he was pretty productive there. Isnt quite as big as his teammate Billy Winn, but he has the frame to grow easily. I picked him in the 3rd, with the belief that Winn will go before our pick there.
It seems they are genuinely interested in WR Ryan Broyles, and his workout the other day is pretty amazing IMO considering he isnt even 6 months out of ACL surgery. He likely elevated his stock because teams will probably believe he can contribute this year. He seems to have the makings of a quality slot/3rd WR and is also a good return guy. I made him the pick in round 4, though he might not last that long now.
With the supp 4th pick I went with RB Cyrus Gray. I like Tanner, but Gray could be the eventual replacement for Felix Jones, as Jones is in the last year of his deal and I think he definitely has to stay healthy and have a pretty good year for us to make an effort to re-sign him next year. Can do a little of everything at RB (good runner, quality receiver and blocker in pas protection) and can also return kickoffs.
Picked LSU CB Ron Brooks in the 5th. Need developmental CB's and he has alot of physical talent, but needs seasoning. Could end up the replacement for Scandrick down the road.
6th round I went with NC State TE George Bryan. Has great hands and is a big target, but is no threat downfield. Can probably develop into a quality #3 TE and be a good blocker down the road. I really wouldnt be surprised if they looked elsewhere (ie, another NFL team) for a backup TE though.
Last pick I kept Pitt's Brandon Lindsey from my original mock. Good pass rusher, probably isnt big enough to play DE everydown in a 4-3 and doesnt have the speed to be a favorite of 3-4 teams looking for a starter at OLB. But he can get to the passer.
I know they made some effort to move back into the first last year, but I think this year they'll make even more of an effort because they'll probably believe they arnt far off from being a real contender after the free agency moves they've made. Getting an extra "impact" player would be a huge bonus.
I'm sticking with the DeCastro pick because I think Cox will be gone, and they'll probably have DeCastro rated a little higher on their board than Barron. DeCastro moves into the LG spot from day one, likely becomes a perennial all pro and makes our left side of the OL one of the best in football for years to come.
If they do pick DeCastro at 14, I think they'll be really aggressive in trying to move back up into the late first and nab somebody like Brockers, Chandler Jones or maybe Upshaw if he slips that far. I did my mock though without trades, and went with Ronnell Lewis, the eventual replacement for Spencer if he were the pick. Spencer will get another year, and Lewis will rotate in as a situational pass rusher and probably be a killer on special teams. If somehow they ended up with a guy like Upshaw, maybe they do try and trade Spencer or remove the tag from him.
If they pick Barron at 14, then the next pick will likely be an interior OL IMO. They might take a similar approach as above, and be aggressive in hopes of landing Peter Konz late in the first. If not then either Silatolu or Zeitler make sense.
I backed off the Dwayne Allen pick at 45 because I dont think they're all that interested (or at least dont seem to be) in any TE except for Stanford's Coby Fleener, who they'd also have to move up from 45 to get in all liklihood. Perhaps they look at some late round alternative or possibly try to trade for a TE from a team that has some depth there. While unpopular with some, getting Fleener would give the offense a really scary set of skill guys and he'd likely be a nightmare for teams to match up with, much like Witten has been for years now. No LB can run with him, and he is too big for safeties. When I watched his clips, he reminds me alot of Jay Novacek.
The more I read about Boise State Tyrone Crawford the more I like him, and he was pretty productive there. Isnt quite as big as his teammate Billy Winn, but he has the frame to grow easily. I picked him in the 3rd, with the belief that Winn will go before our pick there.
It seems they are genuinely interested in WR Ryan Broyles, and his workout the other day is pretty amazing IMO considering he isnt even 6 months out of ACL surgery. He likely elevated his stock because teams will probably believe he can contribute this year. He seems to have the makings of a quality slot/3rd WR and is also a good return guy. I made him the pick in round 4, though he might not last that long now.
With the supp 4th pick I went with RB Cyrus Gray. I like Tanner, but Gray could be the eventual replacement for Felix Jones, as Jones is in the last year of his deal and I think he definitely has to stay healthy and have a pretty good year for us to make an effort to re-sign him next year. Can do a little of everything at RB (good runner, quality receiver and blocker in pas protection) and can also return kickoffs.
Picked LSU CB Ron Brooks in the 5th. Need developmental CB's and he has alot of physical talent, but needs seasoning. Could end up the replacement for Scandrick down the road.
6th round I went with NC State TE George Bryan. Has great hands and is a big target, but is no threat downfield. Can probably develop into a quality #3 TE and be a good blocker down the road. I really wouldnt be surprised if they looked elsewhere (ie, another NFL team) for a backup TE though.
Last pick I kept Pitt's Brandon Lindsey from my original mock. Good pass rusher, probably isnt big enough to play DE everydown in a 4-3 and doesnt have the speed to be a favorite of 3-4 teams looking for a starter at OLB. But he can get to the passer.
I know they made some effort to move back into the first last year, but I think this year they'll make even more of an effort because they'll probably believe they arnt far off from being a real contender after the free agency moves they've made. Getting an extra "impact" player would be a huge bonus.
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