Elvis "Board/Mock" Rounds 1-3

I have eschewed the standard mock draft format because it assumes that certain guys are available for our picks. Instead what I have done is list, in order of preference, a few players on my radar at the middle of each round (i.e. where we pick). A couple of notes – 1) the list mostly includes players that I have reviewed by watching game “film,” mostly on youtube (I – and my DVR - thank all of the youtubers who put time into editing all of these “player X vs….” videos). If I haven’t extensively watched the kid on tape, which is the case for some of these prospects, I have put an (NR) after his name. In those cases, I am going on a combination of limited viewing and matching our needs/scheme to what I’ve read about those players by good sources. I have also left a lot of players out because I have not had the opportunity to review them well enough to slot them. 2) I am basing approximate player position on a combination of Rob Rang’s big board (CBS/nfldraftsout) and Rob Esch’s value board (thehuddlereport). They tend to be pretty close on draft day when compared to many of the others.

Round 1 –
1. Jarvis Jones – OLB – Georgia: Despite the misgivings that I have stated in other threads, he still intrigues me more than the other prospects that appear to be in the neighborhood of pick #17 (largely because of our need at the position). I don’t think he’s a legit Top 10 pick like many, but I also don’t agree with Gil Brandt’s assessment that he’s not a 1[SUP]st[/SUP] round talent.
2. Keenan Allen – WR – Cal: I don’t care what he runs at his pro day this week. The film shows a complete receiver who knows how to help his QB out of tough spots. He has everything you want in a receiver except for long speed, but he may still demand double teams due to his quickness in and out of breaks for a bigger guy. I think that the Reggie Wayne and Anquan Boldin comparisons that I have heard are pretty close. He seems like a guy who has a lot of the qualities of both players.
3. Damontre Moore – OLB – Tex A&M: I am not really happy about this one, and at this point I would probably look to trade down if anyone out there is crazy enough to trade up. If we ran a 4-3, I would be all over him at #17, but I have questions about his ability to do anything other than attack the backfield (but he is great at attacking the backfield).
4. Xavier Rhodes – CB – FSU (NR): I am seeing him in the teens now. I admit I haven’t watched much of him, but what I have seen suggests that he can fit our scheme and be a great red zone corner against bigger receivers running fades.
5. Kevin Minter – LB – LSU: I think he’s the most complete 3-4 ILB prospect in this draft. I’d hate it if we took him at #17, but would be good with him as the pick if we trade down.
6. Tavon Austin – WR – WV: Soooo quick in tight spaces. He’s like a Wes Welker/Percy Harvin hybrid. If used correctly he will impact big time. My reason for putting him lower is that I am not sure that Ben would use him in a way that maximizes his production.

Round 2 – I HATE where we are sitting in round 2. A lot of the players at positions of need who I think are worthy of pick #48 are projected to be gone, and the players that are left look indistinguishable in overall grade from guys at the same positions who will probably be there in round 2. I am hoping for a faller – maybe Minter or Jonathan Banks (due to 40 time). Maybe Hopkins due to other teams above us liking other WRs more than him.
1. Eric Reid/Matt Elam/Kenny Vaccaro – S: I have them about even. It’s just a flavor of which guy you like more, or more realistically which guy (if any) makes it to #48. If any of the 3 do, I think it’s a no brainer pick unless we catch a faller.
2. Barrett Jones – C/G/T – Alabama: I hate the thought of spending another high pick on an O lineman, but he is great value here IMO.
3. Robert Woods – WR – USC: I don’t see him ever being a #1 WR in the NFL, but I think he’s almost certain to be a capable #2. I’m not thrilled with this pick, but I wouldn’t want to reach for another position.
4. Jonathan Cyprien – S – Fla Intl (NR): I haven’t watched enough film to be 100% sure on him, but his Sr Bowl week was pretty great.
5. John Simon or Trevardo Williams – OLB: If we don’t get a pass rusher in round 1, it may be best to get one of these two guys in round 2 to avoid watching them go off the board before pick #78. Ideally, I would try to trade down a few spots and get one. I have really warmed up to Simon after watching more film lately. Like Damontre Moore, I am not 100% sure if he has the ability to anything other than attack the backfield, but he does that at an elite level IMO.

Round 3 – I wish we had a bunch of 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] rounders. I think that many of the guys who will land here are as good as their 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] round competition.
1. Simon/Williams – OLB: If we don’t get one in the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] or 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], and one of these guys is still here in the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP], I go for it.
2. Blidi Wreh-Wilson – CB – UCONN: I have watched this kid in person for a few years, and he is the real deal. He needs to get a little big stronger, but no 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] round corners are perfect prospects. He can be one of that new breed of big corner.
3. Chase Thomas – OLB – Stanford: Another good OLB prospect. He doesn’t look as “sudden” on film as the more athletic guys, but man is he smart. Just watch some tape and see how he always seems to diagnose plays quickly.
4. Baccari Rambo/Shawn Williams – S – Georgia: It depends on whether we want to fill the SS or FS spot. I have them roughly equal, although I have watched Williams in isolation a bit less than Rambo.

That’s all I have time to type out for now. If I have a chance I will add more at a later date. I have a lot of handwritten notes on round 4 – 6 prospects, and that’s where I get happy about the RB prospects.

 

JA, I would LOVE to trade down in R1 and pick up another 3rd, but I don't see many teams being willing to do that. Maybe if a guy like Cordarelle Patterson is available at #17 we'll see some interest. I could see the Vikings (at 23 and 25) having interest in pick #17 if he's there. Perhaps a guy like Warmack or Cooper could generate that kind of interest. It's tough to find partners for a trade down in a deep draft that has questionable top end talent.