I’ll be the first to admit that 10 minutes is not sufficient time to plan and print a mock draft. NFL analysts dig around for months–NFL teams for years trying to predict and assess the behaviors of the 32 NFL teams in order to determine who to draft and when to do so. This is often referred to as a science. It is science. It is a mixture of social psychology and deep research. Teams are going to draft based on a handful of factors including team need, player talent (and ability to not act a fool, and depth of the draft class. I’ve watched enough film and analysis about this year’s draft to be able to, IMHO, predict what is about to happen with a fair degree of reliability. So, lets see how the 1st 10 play out:
- Texans: With the first pick in the 2014 draft the Texans select Khalil Mack. Everyone is high on the Clowney Sauce, but I think with a guy like JJ Watt on the front line, the Texans recognize they need to add a future all-star into the space just behind him. Mack is a primed to be a dominant LB for years to come.
- Oakland (Traded up from St. Louis): Clowney goes #2 here. Oakland needs to make a statement. Given the way Bridewater has slipped in the polls, he appears to be a guy they can snatch early in the 2nd, thereby silencing what would otherwise be immediate calls for Schaub’s head had they grabbed a QB straight off.
- Jaguars: It is here we see the departure of Johnny Manziel. I have no faith in his career path, but Jags are rebuilding and this is the perfect time to pick a figurehead.
- Cleveland: Another franchise sans QB, I suspect we see the departure of Blake Bortles here.
- St. Louis (from Raiders): With a bonus pick in hand, courtesy of the always dim Raiders, we will see the Rams start off the pick fest with Greg Robinson, an OT they can use as a cornerstone for their own line issues.
- Atlanta: ATL has got to get a pass rush together, but they also have to find some success on the back end. Aaron Donald has the size and presence to make the Falcons D-line formidable. They can figure the rest out later in the draft (perhaps even by trading for Brandon Flowers).
- Tampa Bay: The best OT, Jake Matthews leaves the board here.
- Minnesota: Angered by the loss of Jake Matthews, this team in flux decides to get smart and snatch up a great LB in CJ Mosley.
- Buffalo: Quaterbacks need weapons,which is why Buffalo is going to seize upon another one here with Sammy Watkins. SWAT gets a lot of buzz from the press, but more importantly he is someone who compliments an aging Bills receiving corps.
- Detroit: There is no shortage of talented receivers in the draft, but grabbing a slot guy right now might be the smartest move Detroit can make. Bekham and Evans don’t fit the bill, but Marqise Lee lives for the short routes. Put him out there with Megatron and you might as well start calling him Starscream.
Some Thoughts:
- Ran into one of the dudes I (used to?) play football with on weekends. It made me think about how far I’ve fallen atheletically. I’m supposed to be setting a positive example for my kids and here I am frankly sucking at being fit. That has to change.