DTG's Mock Draft

Mock Draft: 3-26-17 (with edits thanks to reminders about Zuttah)

Draft strategy—offense heavy as there is a huge problem there and we all know Baalke was not an adept evaluator of offensive players. There are many young guys on defense and I could see more veteran FAs being picked up for that side of the line.

Let's start out with an improbable trade…which is a place holder for any trade should a team be willing. There is a lot of talent in the middle of the first round that could help the niners.

Trade #2 and next year's 4th Rd to Browns for #12 2017, #33 2017, first or second rounder 2018.

Trade #33 and next year's second rounder for a 1st round pick toward the latter half of the round.

Rd. 1 #12: WR Mike Williams, Clemson, 6'4" 218—arguably the top receiver in draft with similarities to M Floyd.

Rd. 1 #?: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 5'11" 202—all-around player for ST, RB and WR. Playmaker ideal for WCO and smart. Could quickly become a catalyst of the offense.

Rd. 2 #34: OLB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6'2" 250—very athletic pass rusher…a bit short but strong.

Rd. 3 #66: Brain drain--change from OC to .CB Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado, 6'3" 198--tall CB with speed and athleticism. Not sure it's a need but they are lacking height at CB.

Rd. 4 #108: QB Nathan Peterman, Pitts, 6'2" 226—a guy Shanahan might be able to develop, good arm, good touch. MD has him going much higher, which would necessitate taking a later QB, such as Evans, V Tech or Webb, Cal.

Rd. 4 #143: DT Nazair Jones, NC, 6'5" 304—run defender, strong…something the 9ers lack at the moment. Might be a good option at NT when they use 3 man line. They may have to trade up…which would screw up my later picks. ☹

Rd. 5 #146: WR Robert Davis, Georgia St., 6'3" 219—small school player with potential and will compete with backups.

Rd. 5 #161: OG Ben Braden, Michigan, 6'6" 329—athletic guy who might be ideal in Shanahan's offense. Can play swing tackle in a pinch.

Rd. 6 #198: K Zane Gonzalez, Ariz St., 6'0" 202—recording setting kicker who was productive all four years.

Rd. 6 #202: FB Freddie Stevenson, FL St., 6'0" 234—top FB in the draft on many boards. Needs to develop.

Rd. 7 #219 : QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss, 6'2 224--forgot this pick, but Kelly might be worth a flier. He's a knothead but a talented one.

Really would like more LBs but just don't see upgrades over the current niners--Armstrong, Harold, Carradine, Smith, etc. With the conversion to a 4/3 LB becomes a bit less of a need. They have picked up DL and LBs in free agency so may be willing to build on offense this year.

Personally I would rather have Davis over Williams otherwise you have a pretty good draft there.

Tak's from Richmond, so he would be staying home so to speak.

Originally posted by GorefullBore:
Personally I would rather have Davis over Williams otherwise you have a pretty good draft there.

Thanks for the feedback and kind words! I originally had Davis but then read some negative comments and became worried. Williams showed up in some big games and I really think he might translate to the NFL better. We will see! There are also some good receivers later in the draft and I thought about Foster at #12.

Who are the Browns trading up for? If they want a QB, they can trade up to 5 or 6 to get whoever they want and give up a lot less than that. There's zero chance they include their future 1st round pick and this year's 2nd round pick in trading up to #2 and I don't even think they'd offer their 2nd round pick and future 2nd.

Aside from the trade not being realistic, I'd be thrilled if this draft happened. Adding Williams and McCaffrey would transform our offense. I like Takk McKinley if he falls to 34 and if not, there are some other guys like Willis, Watt, and Lawson we can target.

The only thing I'd change is I'd probably take a defensive back in round 3 (Kevin King/Quincy Wilson at CB or Marcus Williams at FS assuming Chidobe Awuzie is long gone by then). There will be better values at CB and safety in rounds 3-4 than offensive linemen due to how incredibly deep this defensive back class is.

Good mock. Really like the 1st four picks

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:
Who are the Browns trading up for? If they want a QB, they can trade up to 5 or 6 to get whoever they want and give up a lot less than that. There's zero chance they include their future 1st round pick and this year's 2nd round pick in trading up to #2 and I don't even think they'd offer their 2nd round pick and future 2nd.

Aside from the trade not being realistic, I'd be thrilled if this draft happened. Adding Williams and McCaffrey would transform our offense. I like Takk McKinley if he falls to 34 and if not, there are some other guys like Willis, Watt, and Lawson we can target.

The only thing I'd change is I'd probably take a defensive back in round 3 (Kevin King/Quincy Wilson at CB or Marcus Williams at FS assuming Chidobe Awuzie is long gone by then). There will be better values at CB and safety in rounds 3-4 than offensive linemen due to how incredibly deep this defensive back class is.

The numbers are in favor of the trade, actually in the Brown's favor, but as I said--it's not necessarily realistic. That's why I included the caveat that it was a place holder trade for any trade should a team be willing. This is not a great year to expect a windfall trade but the Browns might be willing to jump to get the best player, Garrett, and their pick of QBs...or Hooker...or...

Depends on how they see the QBs in my opinion. I could see them really preferring Watson or Trubisky enough to make the trade.

Originally posted by tohara3:

Good mock

What qualifies as a bad mock for you?

Trade makes little to no sense. I don't think Mccaffery in the 2nd is realistic. The signing of Zuttah might lead to spending that 3rd rounder on another player. Would definitely like to see them adda a DB . Not to mention every player they picked up for defense are back up/depth quality players expect Mitchell. They really didn't add much talent to that side of the ball.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:

Who are the Browns trading up for? If they want a QB, they can trade up to 5 or 6 to get whoever they want and give up a lot less than that. There's zero chance they include their future 1st round pick and this year's 2nd round pick in trading up to #2 and I don't even think they'd offer their 2nd round pick and future 2nd.

Aside from the trade not being realistic, I'd be thrilled if this draft happened. Adding Williams and McCaffrey would transform our offense. I like Takk McKinley if he falls to 34 and if not, there are some other guys like Willis, Watt, and Lawson we can target.

The only thing I'd change is I'd probably take a defensive back in round 3 (Kevin King/Quincy Wilson at CB or Marcus Williams at FS assuming Chidobe Awuzie is long gone by then). There will be better values at CB and safety in rounds 3-4 than offensive linemen due to how incredibly deep this defensive back class is.

And we traded for a pro bowl center. Kilgore is the backup again

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Mock Draft: 3-26-17

Draft strategy—offense heavy as there is a huge problem there and we all know Baalke was not an adept evaluator of offensive players. There are many young guys on defense and I could see more veteran FAs being picked up for that side of the line.

Let's start out with an improbable trade…which is a place holder for any trade should a team be willing. There is a lot of talent in the middle of the first round that could help the niners.

Trade #2 and next year's 4th Rd to Browns for #12 2017, #33 2017, first or second rounder 2018.

Trade #33 and next year's second rounder for a 1st round pick toward the latter half of the round.

Rd. 1 #12: WR Mike Williams, Clemson, 6'4" 218—arguably the top receiver in draft with similarities to M Floyd.

Rd. 1 #?: RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 5'11" 202—all-around player for ST, RB and WR. Playmaker ideal for WCO and smart. Could quickly become a catalyst of the offense.

Rd. 2 #34: OLB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6'2" 250—very athletic pass rusher…a bit short but strong.

Rd. 3 #66: OC Pat Elflein, Ohio St., 6'3" 303—top center to develop behind Kilgore, perhaps moving Kilgore to OG.

Rd. 4 #108: QB Nathan Peterman, Pitts, 6'2" 226—a guy Shanahan might be able to develop, good arm, good touch. MD has him going much higher, which would necessitate taking a later QB, such as Evans, V Tech or Webb, Cal.

Rd. 4 #143: DT Nazair Jones, NC, 6'5" 304—run defender, strong…something the 9ers lack at the moment. Might be a good option at NT when they use 3 man line. They may have to trade up…which would screw up my later picks. ☹

Rd. 5 #146: WR Robert Davis, Georgia St., 6'3" 219—small school player with potential and will compete with backups.

Rd. 5 #161: OG Ben Braden, Michigan, 6'6" 329—athletic guy who might be ideal in Shanahan's offense. Can play swing tackle in a pinch.

Rd. 6 #198: K Zane Gonzalez, Ariz St., 6'0" 202—recording setting kicker who was productive all four years.

Rd. 6 #202: FB Freddie Stevenson, FL St., 6'0" 234—top FB in the draft on many boards. Needs to develop.

Rd. 7 #219 : QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss, 6'2 224--forgot this pick, but Kelly might be worth a flier. He's a knothead but a talented one.

Really would like more LBs but just don't see upgrades over the current niners--Armstrong, Harold, Carradine, Smith, etc. With the conversion to a 4/3 LB becomes a bit less of a need. They have picked up DL and LBs in free agency so may be willing to build on offense this year.

did you forget we got zuttaH... because no center is coming in and replacing zuttah.

Originally posted by lamontb:
Trade makes little to no sense. I don't think Mccaffery in the 2nd is realistic. The signing of Zuttah might lead to spending that 3rd rounder on another player. Would definitely like to see them adda a DB . Not to mention every player they picked up for defense are back up/depth quality players expect Mitchell. They really didn't add much talent to that side of the ball.

Trade wasf moving up into the late first for McCaffrey. You are correct about the signing of Zuttah, which slipped my mind.

Originally posted by davidboutte:
And we traded for a pro bowl center. Kilgore is the backup again

Originally posted by fan49:
did you forget we got zuttaH... because no center is coming in and replacing zuttah.

Thanks! Indeed I did forget about Zuttah! I had hoped they would draft either Elflein or Pocic. Zuttah has played both center and guard during his nine years, but the last three years have been at center. I'd still be interested in adding a center to develop behind Zuttah and Kilgore. That would add a young guy while both the vets can play either center or guard.

Thanks to you both I've added a CB who may strengthen the backfield. My mock was a bit heavy on offense so this is a welcome change.

Good but I doubt Williams last until picked 12

Originally posted by elguapo:
Good but I doubt Williams last until picked 12

It seems like either Williams or Davis will be available. If not...Ross? CBS has both going before Williams, who is listed at #21.