If the draft goes this way, I will be doing the funky chicken dance, ala Merton Hanks, in my bedroom.
I'm sure not everyone here will feel the same. Some of my picks are players I know not everyone here feels as positively about as I do. However, this is the draft that I think would serve the 9ers best (within reason, of course).
Round 1: Kelvin Benjamin - WR - Florida State
I think when it comes to WRs people tend to over think things and talk themselves out of the obvious. People thought Alshon was too slow and that Corderrelle was too raw. But ultimately, in today's NFL, the most dominant weapon you can have is a big, fast, physical WR that can both burn you and out muscle you. I really don't think it's enough to just be fast. If you're going to be a game changing WR you have to be able to win tough balls in traffic as well as stretch the field. Kelvin Benjamin looks to me like the most dynamic WR threat in this draft, outside of Watkins.
Other WRs I would be okay with taking here are Beckham and Moncrief.
Round 2 (A): Jeremiah Attaochu - DE/OLB - Georgia Tech
He might not last this long, but it's not uncommon to see the second tier 3-4 OLB prospects last well into the second round. However, despite not being in that top tier, Attaochu looks like he could develop into a force at OLB. With all the drama surrounding our current starters, we could easily end up opening the 2015 season with Lemonier and Attaochu as our starters. And that might not be bad at all...
If Attaochu does not make it this far I think Marcus Smith is the guy should target.
Round 2 (B): Stanley Jean-Baptiste - CB - Nebraska
Like the Benjamin pick, this one is sure to have detractors. But I really do think the best way to counter the passing heavy offenses of today's NFL is with physical CBs that can still cover and play the ball well. SJB looks to me like Brandon Browner minus the baggage. And him and Brock/Culliver could potentially be a great covering, physical tandem at CB.
If SJB isn't around in the late second I hope Gaines is.
Round 3 (A): Deone Bucannon - SS - Washington St.
I was tempted to go with my back up pick here, because I'm not sure Bucannon lasts this long. But I've seen him all over on draft boards and so I'm slotting him in anyway. I think he's the ideal Strong Safety for us, with his combination of size and ball skills. He's big enough to cover tall TEs and strike fear into the hearts of smaller WRs. But even though he's bordering on LB size, he seems to have the cover skills that are sometimes missing on other big bodied Safeties.
If Bucannon is not available there's great of selection of other safeties I'd be very happy with, like Dixon, Loston and Bailey.
Round 3 (B): Bruce Ellington - WR/KR/PR - South Carolina
I am generally leery of undersized WRs. But in addition to speed and elusiveness, Ellington has the one trait that makes me comfortable with smaller WRs, he's nugget-y. By that, I mean he's got a solid, compact, muscly build and plays with the physicality of a bigger player. He catches with his hands and out muscles DBs, but will still break away in open space. Even though he didn't do a lot of kick and punt returning in college, I've seen scouting reports that say he has the ability to be a return man at the NFL level. I think he has the potential to be a great slot WR in the pro, and if he can handle return duties as well, more the better.
If he's not available, I like Martavius Bryant as a second WR pickup, although I admit his skill set is very different.
Round 3 (C): Lache Seastrunk - RB - Baylor
RB is obviously not our greatest need. Whether or not we trade James, we still have 3 starting caliber RBs in Gore, Lattimore and Hunter. However, health is a concern with all 3 of them, and I really think Seastrunk would be a great fit on this team. He has game breaking speed, but is still physical enough to potentially play every down. And he has one very important skill that I think the 9ers need to focus on again: he can catch the ball well out of the backfield. He could, one day, be a devastating 1-2 punch with Lattimore.
If Seastrunk isn't here I would also be very happy with De'Anthony Thomas.
Round 4: Lamin Barrow - ILB - LSU
I don't think our depth at ILB is terrible, but since we know we'll be playing a lot of the season without Bowman drafting a potentially better backup ILB makes sense. Barrow is the kind of fast, hard hitting LB we need backing up Bowman and Willis.
If Barrow is gone I like Khairi Fortt, although probably not this early.
Round 5: Daniel McCullers - NT - Tennessee
I actually think NT is D line position we need to address in this draft. We have less depth there than at DE, and McCullers is the kind of immovable man mountain that could really dominate as a 3-4 NT in the NFL.
Another late round NT we could take here is Allen Beau.
Round 7 (A): Logan Thomas - QB - Virginia Tech
This is kind of a wild card. There's no telling whether or not he can put his talents to use in the NFL better than he did in college. There's also no telling whether or not he'll be there this late. It's certainly very possible that other team's might want to roll the dice given his size, arm and speed. But it may take a coach like Harbaugh to get the most out of him at the next level. And not every team has a Harbaugh...
If he's not there I think Fales would also be a great late round QB to potentially groom as a backup.
Round 7 (B): Trey Burton - TE - Florida
Burton's actual position in college is RB/WR/QB. But I think he's a great potential jack of all trades TE that could fill the void left by Delanie Walker's departure. He's a similar size to Walker and he's used to being asked to do everything. I think our offense ran way more smoothly when we had that hybrid utility player on the field all the time. Burton could bring that back for us.
Round 7 (C): Spencer Long - G - Nebraska
Not sure he makes it this far, but on the other hand, his injury might keep him from getting drafted at all. If he does make it this far, he could be a great long term value for minimal investment.
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The Funky Chicken Dance Inducing Mock Draft
Apr 25, 2014 at 6:23 PM
- TheFunkyChicken
- Veteran
- Posts: 4,207
Apr 25, 2014 at 8:42 PM
- tatdwolf49
- Veteran
- Posts: 3,206
uummm i like tha Ellington ,Long N Barrow picks ....
Apr 25, 2014 at 9:01 PM
- MC9BEAT
- Veteran
- Posts: 1,173
Like everything but the seastrunk pick. Would prefer another top CB there. Even if we trade LMJ he would start the season as 4th string. If we don't trade LMJ he is 5th string. The only RB we have with health issues is Lattimore and if he can't play for us we still have the other 3 and would be fine. There will be plenty of talented RB's we can get in next year's draft if we need a RB of the future. Next season Hunter's contract is up and Gore will be a year older and we will know what we have in Lattimore and we could look to draft a RB then. A rookie RB this year will have a hard time suiting up let alone playing. Remember LMJ in his rookie year? He didn't even suit up til the 2nd half of the season and he was the #3 back. Seastrunk would be #4 or #5.
Apr 25, 2014 at 10:11 PM
- CWin4949
- Member
- Posts: 8,165
Ugh......
I'd definitely kick my wife's dog several times over the few days if it went down like that.
I'd definitely kick my wife's dog several times over the few days if it went down like that.
Apr 26, 2014 at 7:42 AM
- NYniner85
- Veteran
- Posts: 107,347
NO to Benjamin he is slow and over weight! Scouts are talking about lining him up as a TE. We need 2CB and 2WR in the first 2 RDS.
Apr 26, 2014 at 7:55 AM
- eastcoast49ersfan
- Veteran
- Posts: 4,054
Ellington will not be available at 93 and your backup pick Bryant has even less of a shot at being there at 93. Bryant will likely be gone before 56 and may be taken before your first pick, Benjamin. Herron will probably be there at 93 if you're looking for a slot receiver then but I think that may be a little high for him.
Apr 26, 2014 at 9:50 AM
- Rascal
- Veteran
- Posts: 13,926
Hmm, some of my reactions have been shared by some :
- Benjamin - He is too slow and certain analysts believe teams will play him as a TE instead. I believe he will slide plus I don't think you have to be 6'5" to be a legit red zone target. There are a lot of 6'3"+ guys. Martavis Bryant that you mentioned is 6'4" and I am sure he can be a red zone threat too plus he is much faster than Benjamin.
- Pierre-Baptiste - He is a good pick, one of my CB picks in fact. However, I don't think one CB is enough, we should pick one in the 1st, Roby is my personal pick, but I am also fine with any other 1st round CB prospects if they happen to be available, be it Gilbert, Dennard or Verrett.
- Ellington - If you are after a speed receiver, my choice would be Paul Richardson. The guy is explosive and can burn the DBs for great separation, plus his run after the catch is just amazing.
- Seastrunk - You know I like this kid. However, I have thought about it again, it might be a tough ask if I want to squeeze both Seastrunk and Dri Archer into the draft given our other needs. So, if I am forced to pick one, I would rather have Archer as a change of pace impact guy that we could plug in in the passing as well as running game on top of kick and punt returns.
- I do like the fact that you have included a QB. However, if you intend to pick one from as low as the 7th, Logan Thomas will not be my choice and I will explain why. Yes, he might have all the measurables, at 6'6", 248 lbs, 10 7/8" hands, but I am afraid I can't swallow his TD/INT %. Do you know what they were in the 2013 season ? 16 TDs and 13 INTs. That is pretty terrible in my book. Instead, like I said if you must pick one from the 7th round, I have a may be a less popular suggestion - Conor Shaw, South Carolina. The guy doesn't have the measurables like Thomas, he is only 6' and 206 lbs. However, he has a reasonably big arm which has touch and is accurate. In 2013, he had 24 TDs and only 1 INT, plus he can run the read option too. This kid is tenacious and tough, I like him.
[ Edited by Rascal on Apr 26, 2014 at 10:04 AM ]
Apr 26, 2014 at 9:56 AM
- 9ertillidie
- Veteran
- Posts: 159
i like burton.Not a fan of Benjamin
Apr 26, 2014 at 12:47 PM
- LVJay
- Veteran
- Posts: 27,847
I don't know you, but because you root for the 49ers, I care enough for you not to hurt yourself in your bedroom. Therefore, I hope to the high heavens the draft does not go this way!
Apr 26, 2014 at 1:27 PM
- Mertonschickendance
- Veteran
- Posts: 4,491
I do it everyday.