With that being said, this is obviously a very early mock and the players could end up projecting into different rounds in the coming weeks. Right now I'm projecting us to be drafting 5th overall, ironically for this team I'm at the 5th stage of loss and grief...Acceptance.
Anyways have fun reading and dissecting my guys.
1. Ronnie Stanley
OT Notre Dame
With the sudden departure of Davis and the complete failure of Pears we MUST address OT. Stanley has played both RT and LT for the Irish. Depending on the board, he is either 1a or 1b for best OT in the draft. He fits an immediate need at RT and when Staley retires, can flip easily back to LT. Athletic, smart, and strong with fantastic size for the position. This is a very no-brainer pick for us, its not sexy but right now we dont need sexy.
Day 1 starter
2. Jordan Jenkins
OLB Georgia
After 4 weeks of play we finally had some pressure from our OLB's. Unfortunately, we are still missing a dominant threat that can be relied upon every week. While Aldon was on a record breaking pace early in his career, his stupidity destroyed a major cog for our D this year. Jenkins doesn't have eye popping size and will need to put on some weight, but is a relentless player. Already versed in the 3-4, he is a solid player vs the run and pass. He plays at both OLB spots for UGA so his learning curve should be very short when transitioning into the NFL. He can get to the QB and create constant pressure. He probably wont put up 20 sacks a year but will be a force on QB's.
Day 1 starter/rotational
2b. (Trade our 3rd and 5th to move up into the late 2nd)
Pat Elflein
OG Ohio State
Raise your hand if you want to see Devey next year. No takers? Didn't think so! Taking all OT converts out of the equation, Elflein is top 5 at his position this year. Prior to the season starting he was already on the All American watch list. Has the ability to handle power rushers with the agility to pull when needed. Solid in pass pro and run blocking. We pair him up with Boone (yes we resign Boone) and have a set of Buckeyes protecting the interior. His combine numbers will be worth a look. If we are staying in the zone blocking scheme Elflein will need to show some quickness. But he is an upgrade over Devey day 1.
Day 1 starter
4a. Fabian Moreau
CB UCLA
Guess what this pick is? Trent's annual injured draftee! Broken bone in foot-done for the year.
Moreau takes the place of Wright once we release him. Solid frame, great closing speed, fluid hips, and willing to tackle. Predominantly played in man coverage so he's not worried about running with the WR. Only knock is a lack of INT's but that's not a deal breaker at this spot. If his medial checks out he could be a bit of a steal at this spot.
4b. (Comp pick)
Tyler Matakevich
ILB Temple
If Sloth and Shrek had a baby Matakevich would be that off spring. High motor, loves to hit, and is generally a relentless animal on the field. He's a dominant force for the Owl's and is already on the Lott IMPACT watch list. He could be a quick riser unavailable at this spot if his play continues. He would immediately push for the #3 ILB spot and could offer some serious competition to Wilhoite for #2. He's not a Willis replacement by any means but could be a work horse if coached properly.
Possible Day 1 starter
5a. Drew Ott
DE/OLB Iowa
This pick is a day 3 "luxury." Looking at the roster: Brooks, Jenkins, Lynch, and Harold should round out the locked in 4. Ott is an insurance plan if one of them goes down. Jenkins will push Lemon head off the roster, Ott is a developmental pick that will "redshirt" his first year. He is not a speed rusher by any means, he's a bulldozer with size and power. Good awareness with above average agility and he does have some experience dropping into coverage. He will be a place holder for Brooks' eventual departure down the line.
5b. (San Diego pick acquired from 2015 draft trade-back)
Traded to move up for Elfein
5c. (Comp pick)
Evan Boehm
C Missouri
Let me start off by saying Kilgore is probably one of the most underrated players on the team. Yes, we all know how much acclaim Martin had coming out of college, does it make anybody feel warm and cozy today? Boehm is not being drafted to be a starter, he's a developmental guy like Kilgore was coming out. He's going to need time to adjust and lose around 10-15lbs. He's a mammoth of a man who an abundance of raw power. Decent agility and great hands and a thick frame. Ultimately he could end up being a backup OG, but for now, I like the idea of competition at C. Between Kilgore, Martin, Easton, and Boehm we should be able to find a suitable backup going forward.
6a. Joel Heath
DT Michigan State
Stealing this from NFL.com...I'm tired and its late
An impressive physical specimen, Heath stands at 6-6, 293 pounds and has solid straight-line speed for his size. He grew into this build over his first three years on campus, and then earned a starting nod inside in 2014 (29 tackles, five for loss, 2.5 sacks). Continued growth and improved strength holding his ground and shedding blocks against pro-caliber Big Ten guards this season should convince scouts he can earn playing time as a three- or five-technique at the next level.
To me this is a replacement for TJE!
6b. Luke Rhodes
ILB William & Mary
Small school standout that tends to be a bit of an overachiever taking himself out of position. Bellore has done nothing IMO to have a special spot saved from him by our s**t ST coach. Rhodes is a bit of a physical freak who hasn't reached his potential yet due to unrefined technique and awareness. 2015 Preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year, he's basically the best ILB in the small conferences. ST's will be his ticket to the roster but he has the size and speed to be an Ace. Baalke can find the small school kids late in the draft, this could be another one of his gems.
6c. (Comp pick)
Brad Craddock
K Maryland
Stole this pick from Phoenix lol. If we are cutting All Pro punters for cash might as well cut our Kicker too. At least this one isn't a 5th rounder.
Day 1 starter
7. Kolby Listenbee
WR TCU
Arguably the fastest player in college football. This is strictly an Al Davis pick with the hope he can do something positive for us. Patton keeps making retard mistakes and Ellington is healthy half the time, he could find a spot. With Smelter and the other guys we picked up this year I dont see a real need for WR. We dumped a load of cash on Torrey and he never sees the ball. No sense in drafting WR's high if we dont have the OL and QB figured out first.
And that's version 1.0 for the year! It's around 3:30 a.m. right now so I apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors. Aside from the top 3 picks many of these guys will be up and down by draft time. If anything, just keep their names in mind next time you're watching college ball.
[ Edited by jreff22 on Oct 5, 2015 at 6:56 AM ]