dbair1967
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Its pretty hard to do a mock draft for them. You don't know who's available or how they'll move (up or down). Here's my two cents on all positions for us:
QB- I think we'll draft one, but not in the first couple of rounds. However, if they have info that says Romo isn't doing well with his rehab or is going to be lucky to get by another year or so, then that changes. I liked Bortles more than the others but beyond the first round guys like Mettenberger and Savage would be my next in line. After them, Garoppolo and McCarron would be my next preferences. Murray I m on the fence about, but we could probably get him with a day three pick. I doubt Manziel and Bortles are around at 16, but if they are and they pick one of them its because they know Romo is about done. I totally agree with BB in that Jones wouldn't run Romo through the ringer of having a top-pick QB sitting behind him.
RB- With 11 picks, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if we used a late pick on one to compete with Dunbar and Randle, but it wouldn't be a priority for me.
FB- Kinda like RB, with 11 picks I think it wouldn't be a surprise if we used one on the position, and to me this is more of a need than RB is. My favorite is Ryan Hewitt from Stanford but Millard from OU, Prosch from Auburn, Copeland from LSU or maybe the Abram kid from FSU are all upgrades for us to. I think Millard gives you more flexibility because he could be a GL RB too, and I like the way he and Hewitt catch the ball too. Any of these guys would really help the run game, particularly the short yardage and GL run game.
WR- Really deep, talented WR group this yr and because of that I think we'd be foolish to not draft one. With so many really good ones it could mean drafting one earlier than some would probably agree with, but my thoughts are Beasley and Harris are pretty much role player slot WR guys at best. With Dez having some minor back issues and Williams promising but not 100% proven, getting a good all around WR is a smart play this yr. Maybe in the 3rd or 4th round. Guys taken here in this draft would probably equate to late first or second round guys in some other drafts.
TE- Wouldnt take one until late, and would only take that guy if he's a really quality blocker. If we get one of the really good FB's this becomes less of a need. If they don't take a FB then a 4th TE is a need IMO.
OL- Many seem to think this is the fall back for round one if they cant get the DL they want. I think Lewan might be gone before we pick, and he may have some off field stuff to worry about but getting him would be a huge upgrade to the OL and give us top shelf talent at LT, C and RT for years to come. I like Zach Martin but wouldn't take him at 16 unless they feel sure he could move to RT at some point. If he is strictly a G, I'd pass. After the first rd I like guys like Antonio Richardson, Jack Mewhort, Cam Fleming and Billy Turner. If they go with a middle to late round interior OL there's plenty to like there too. Ideally, it would be beneficial to find a G/C swing guy. With 11 picks, I'd probably look at using two on OL.
DL- No brainer #1 priority. We need major talent infusion here and I'd definitely be spending two or three, perhaps even four picks on DL's. Really hard to argue against any of the names being tossed about, all could help this team easily. We really need pass rushers in the worst way.
LB- Lee is a stud when he is healthy but every year he is hurt, and every year it hurts us when he misses time. Carter has proven he cant be counted on (and he took struggles to stay healthy). Holloman is someone I like a lot and feel pretty certain he will start for us this yr and play at a quality level. He also showed he has a lot of flexibility in that he can play any 4-3 LB spot for us. That said, we need depth and probably need a 3rd starter. If they were to get a weakside OLB starter I think Carter will be shopped around for a late rd pick. Pretty obvious this staff doesn't like him that much (and IMO its an effort issue, not a talent issue with him). Telvin Smith lacks size but the kid has blazing speed and coverage/play making ability, he seems tailor made for WOLB in this scheme. Bonus with him or Iowa's Christian Kirkey is we could probably get either with a 3rd or 4th rd pick. Shazier is a tremendous player and if we move down into the 20's he'd be a nice add. Love the Bradford kid from ASU and noticed he seems to be on our radar. He could play OLB on early downs and be a pass rush guy on 3rd downs. I'd add one LB for certain in this draft and maybe two.
CB- Wouldn't appear to be a critical need, but Carr was awful last yr and if he doesn't improve he will be gone after this season. Claiborne is in year three and has to show why he was worth trading up for, otherwise he will be gone too. Scandrick improved quite a bit IMO and is probably our best CB right now, but he will probably never be a "playmaker". Hopefully BW Webb can develop, but he was a real disappointment last yr. Drafting a CB on day three would seem to be likely IMO.
FS/SS- Church is a try hard guy who gives 100% and is ok, but he is a major liability downfield and will never be a playmaker vs the pass. Ideally suited to backup SS/nickel LB type role IMO. I think JJ Wilcox will develop into a decent starter and unlike Church he does have really good athletic ability and range. Matt Johnson is in his last chance training camp, if he doesn't stay healthy or show something he wont make the team. Would be great if he did stay healthy, because he does have size, range and playmaking skill. But I don't think they can count on any of this, so using a pick on a safety is a must.
Special teams- No need for a kicker, but I would think about perhaps using one of those 7th rd comp picks on an elite punter if one were available. Harris is a dynamite return guy, but having a plan B in case he gets hurt would be smart.
If Barr or Donald were there at 16, they are no brainer picks for us. I probably would hesitate to move up a few spots for either because we do need so much on the roster, but could understand why they would. I don't think they are moving up for the elite guys this yr, but if they believed Clowney were the next Reggie White/Bruce Smith type DE on the field, if he slipped to say 5 it might be more doable than people think. If I were running things and Barr or Donald weren't there, I'd move down.
I think ultimately we will end up moving down and selecting someone like Ealy, Jernigan or Shazier in the 20's, then either getting the DL position we didn't take in round two or three (or both if we took Shazier or Jimmie Ward in late first). OL would be the other position they might use a day one or two pick on and if so, that guy would probably start at either RT or RG. I think they'll take a QB in one of the middle rounds (3rd 4th or 5th).
QB- I think we'll draft one, but not in the first couple of rounds. However, if they have info that says Romo isn't doing well with his rehab or is going to be lucky to get by another year or so, then that changes. I liked Bortles more than the others but beyond the first round guys like Mettenberger and Savage would be my next in line. After them, Garoppolo and McCarron would be my next preferences. Murray I m on the fence about, but we could probably get him with a day three pick. I doubt Manziel and Bortles are around at 16, but if they are and they pick one of them its because they know Romo is about done. I totally agree with BB in that Jones wouldn't run Romo through the ringer of having a top-pick QB sitting behind him.
RB- With 11 picks, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if we used a late pick on one to compete with Dunbar and Randle, but it wouldn't be a priority for me.
FB- Kinda like RB, with 11 picks I think it wouldn't be a surprise if we used one on the position, and to me this is more of a need than RB is. My favorite is Ryan Hewitt from Stanford but Millard from OU, Prosch from Auburn, Copeland from LSU or maybe the Abram kid from FSU are all upgrades for us to. I think Millard gives you more flexibility because he could be a GL RB too, and I like the way he and Hewitt catch the ball too. Any of these guys would really help the run game, particularly the short yardage and GL run game.
WR- Really deep, talented WR group this yr and because of that I think we'd be foolish to not draft one. With so many really good ones it could mean drafting one earlier than some would probably agree with, but my thoughts are Beasley and Harris are pretty much role player slot WR guys at best. With Dez having some minor back issues and Williams promising but not 100% proven, getting a good all around WR is a smart play this yr. Maybe in the 3rd or 4th round. Guys taken here in this draft would probably equate to late first or second round guys in some other drafts.
TE- Wouldnt take one until late, and would only take that guy if he's a really quality blocker. If we get one of the really good FB's this becomes less of a need. If they don't take a FB then a 4th TE is a need IMO.
OL- Many seem to think this is the fall back for round one if they cant get the DL they want. I think Lewan might be gone before we pick, and he may have some off field stuff to worry about but getting him would be a huge upgrade to the OL and give us top shelf talent at LT, C and RT for years to come. I like Zach Martin but wouldn't take him at 16 unless they feel sure he could move to RT at some point. If he is strictly a G, I'd pass. After the first rd I like guys like Antonio Richardson, Jack Mewhort, Cam Fleming and Billy Turner. If they go with a middle to late round interior OL there's plenty to like there too. Ideally, it would be beneficial to find a G/C swing guy. With 11 picks, I'd probably look at using two on OL.
DL- No brainer #1 priority. We need major talent infusion here and I'd definitely be spending two or three, perhaps even four picks on DL's. Really hard to argue against any of the names being tossed about, all could help this team easily. We really need pass rushers in the worst way.
LB- Lee is a stud when he is healthy but every year he is hurt, and every year it hurts us when he misses time. Carter has proven he cant be counted on (and he took struggles to stay healthy). Holloman is someone I like a lot and feel pretty certain he will start for us this yr and play at a quality level. He also showed he has a lot of flexibility in that he can play any 4-3 LB spot for us. That said, we need depth and probably need a 3rd starter. If they were to get a weakside OLB starter I think Carter will be shopped around for a late rd pick. Pretty obvious this staff doesn't like him that much (and IMO its an effort issue, not a talent issue with him). Telvin Smith lacks size but the kid has blazing speed and coverage/play making ability, he seems tailor made for WOLB in this scheme. Bonus with him or Iowa's Christian Kirkey is we could probably get either with a 3rd or 4th rd pick. Shazier is a tremendous player and if we move down into the 20's he'd be a nice add. Love the Bradford kid from ASU and noticed he seems to be on our radar. He could play OLB on early downs and be a pass rush guy on 3rd downs. I'd add one LB for certain in this draft and maybe two.
CB- Wouldn't appear to be a critical need, but Carr was awful last yr and if he doesn't improve he will be gone after this season. Claiborne is in year three and has to show why he was worth trading up for, otherwise he will be gone too. Scandrick improved quite a bit IMO and is probably our best CB right now, but he will probably never be a "playmaker". Hopefully BW Webb can develop, but he was a real disappointment last yr. Drafting a CB on day three would seem to be likely IMO.
FS/SS- Church is a try hard guy who gives 100% and is ok, but he is a major liability downfield and will never be a playmaker vs the pass. Ideally suited to backup SS/nickel LB type role IMO. I think JJ Wilcox will develop into a decent starter and unlike Church he does have really good athletic ability and range. Matt Johnson is in his last chance training camp, if he doesn't stay healthy or show something he wont make the team. Would be great if he did stay healthy, because he does have size, range and playmaking skill. But I don't think they can count on any of this, so using a pick on a safety is a must.
Special teams- No need for a kicker, but I would think about perhaps using one of those 7th rd comp picks on an elite punter if one were available. Harris is a dynamite return guy, but having a plan B in case he gets hurt would be smart.
If Barr or Donald were there at 16, they are no brainer picks for us. I probably would hesitate to move up a few spots for either because we do need so much on the roster, but could understand why they would. I don't think they are moving up for the elite guys this yr, but if they believed Clowney were the next Reggie White/Bruce Smith type DE on the field, if he slipped to say 5 it might be more doable than people think. If I were running things and Barr or Donald weren't there, I'd move down.
I think ultimately we will end up moving down and selecting someone like Ealy, Jernigan or Shazier in the 20's, then either getting the DL position we didn't take in round two or three (or both if we took Shazier or Jimmie Ward in late first). OL would be the other position they might use a day one or two pick on and if so, that guy would probably start at either RT or RG. I think they'll take a QB in one of the middle rounds (3rd 4th or 5th).
