SBD Mock 2.0

TRADE: We trade our 1st for the Vikings 1, 3, and 5.


1. Deandre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Initially I was happy we're finally sitting towards at least the middle of round 1, but the more I look at prospects, and our needs, the more I want to move down. I see WR as our biggest need. Right now Antonio Brown is the only WR we have that I trust. Sanders is a RFA and is always hurt, and isn't a #2 yet in my opinion. Hopkins is a guy I see moving up media boards as the process continues. He's very well rounded and dangerous after the catch. He reminds me a lot of Santonio Holmes who we selected in about the same range. If it's not Hopins there's several WR's that would be a good value at the Vikings' #23 spot (which I very well may change here at some point) including Keenan Allen, Tavon Austin, and Cordarelle Patterson.

2. Eric Reid, S, LSU
Eric Reid reminds me a lot of our own LSU product at safety, Ryan Clark. Reid isn't nearly as good in coverage yet, as Clark, but he's an extremely physical in the box run defender the way Clark is. Despite all the crazy new rules I think there's still a place for enforcers like this guy (look at Bernard Pollard in this years playoff run). I think Clark would really take Reid under his wing and have him ready in a year or two.

3. Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida
If it pans out this way, this might be my favorite pick of the draft. I really like Eddie Lacy, but this draft is just way too deep to select him before our 2nd pick (by which time I think he'll be gone). Gillislee has so much to like. First of all, he's already and elite pass blocker which means he will see the field quickly. There's a great highlight against LSU where he laid out Sam Montgomery on an end around. He's a fearless and willing blocker. Second, there's been rumors of the Steelers checking this kid out, and I can see why. He might fit the zone-blocking scheme better than any RB in this draft. He's very patient, and has that cutback ability you see in guys like Arian Foster. He's not overly fast or powerful, but he's pretty good in both areas... He's more a jack of all trades master of none (other than blocking), but he has a lot of tools to hurt you with.

3. Corey Lemonier, OLB, Auburn
This is a pick I'm a little bit unsure about. Lemonier is pretty raw, but I think he wouldn't be a bad pick at this spot. He's got a great motor, and is a good pass rusher, but he needs to get bigger or he'll get run on a lot, he also may struggle in pass protection. He's got some natural gifts and a good motor, so I take him and start with those, then coach him up.

4. Terron Armstead, OG, Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Armstead has shot up boards recently because he performed well in the senior bowl. I think he's a guard at the next level but he has the ability to backup all 5 positions. He fits our new scheme well because he's very athletic for a big man, and would pull well, and get out in space on screens.

5. Nico Johnson, ILB, Alabama
I think some people will have Nico higher just because he went to Alabama. I expect Johson to drop because Alabama took him off the field in obvious passing downs, which doesn't bode well at the next level. We saw in the Superbowl how an offense can pick on a LB that's bad in coverage. I think Nico probably won't ever be a fulltime starter because of that, but he is a force against the run. He and Spence could probably rotate since they pretty much complete opposites stylistically. He'll also be a solid special teams contributor because he did it at Alabama.

5. Zac Dysert, QB, Miami
The fifth round is our front office's QB round. Dennis Dixon, Omar Jacobs, Brian St Pierre, Tee Martin... On second thought maybe we should wait until round 6, we might have better luck... Anyway, I think Byron is gone, Batch will backup Ben, so we need a #3 to hopefully be our future #2. I just read today he has an injury that will keep him out of the combine... which makes me think he might be able to be had later than this. Dysert has average size and athleticism, but he's very smart. Zac overall doesn't blow you away with anything he does. He has marginal arm strength, his accuracy is good but occasionally will throw a head scratcher... but I think that's why he's a career backup, but could be a pretty good one.

6. Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State
Stoneburner moved to WR at OSU, but he doesn't have the speed to do it in the NFL. He has pretty good speed though and is very versatile. His biggest weaksness will be his blocking, but again, he's probably a career backup. And hey, we can't go a whole draft without taking a Buckeye.

7. Corey Broomfield, CB, Mississippi State
CB depth... Developmental guy. If we don't sign Lewis, I'll have a CB higher in here somewhere.

 

I anit in favor of trading down but if someone really wants our 17th pick i say a 2nd not a 3rd. we need to much help. i like reid and gillislee. I watched lemonier alot at aubrn and he is a high motor guy but he will struggle in coverage. I wish we could just rush our olb all the time and he would be a stud i think. i dont think we draft two qbs. we need depth there but i dont think we want to rookies behind ben. of the two i like klein and picking him in the 7th wont hurt at all. i would take your first pick and change to a defensive player dt or db. then take 5th pick and go wr

 

I love a trade down scenario... mostly because I think WR is our biggest need (I have some faith in Worilds at least short term), and the 20-35 range is the sweet spot for wide receivers. There's a lot of them that are a good value there. This is just one scenario.

One I saw mentioned elsewhere was if KC decides to go with Joekel at #1 and wants to move back up to grab a Quarterback... we trade them our #17 pick for their pick at the top of round 2 and a 2014 1st rounder... I'd probably pass out if that happened because I'd get one of the receivers I like first, and a potentially top 5 pick next season.

Agreed, no 2 QB's... That was me making changes (and I still am).

Lemonier is a guy I'm still on the fence about, but want a OLB in that spot, so I'm probably reaching.

 

I like it overall. A couple of comments/observations. If we are going to draft a receiver in the first round, I'd rather draft Allen or Patterson over Austin or Hopkins simply because of the size differential. We've already got short and shifty guys on the roster. We need a stud WR with good size who will go up like Anquan Boldin and fight for the ball. I like the pick of the QB out of Miami of Ohio. Good size and arm strength and would be the perfect backup to Ben, same style, etc.

 

I'm with you on the size thing. Allen would def be my first choice, but I have serious doubts about him being there at 23 (where I traded down to here). However, I'm not going to pass on a guy I think is very talented because he lacks size.

 

Please! No more DTs in the later part of round 1. Remember Ziggy "I don't deserve a nickname" Hood and Cam Heyward?? We need a game changer, now!

 

Um... what?

 

What about this don't you understand?? I don't want the 1st pick to be a DT, it would be much better to draft a stud WR or pass rusher. The Steelers don't have the best track record recently on drafting DL.

 

I agree..no more D -Lineman please..the more I think about it, the more I think we need an offensive player who can start on day 1..either a stud WR (Patterson) or a stud TE...(Eiffert or Ertz)

Tomlin always talked about not getting enough splash plays...


I am surprised by some of the people on this board who want to so badly draft someone on defense with our 17th pick who most likely won't start until 2-3 years later. I think we can get an outside linebacker with the 3rd pick...


I don't understand how we are going to score points with an average running backs group, an unknown status on Heath Miller, and a wide receiver group of Brown and Sanders...someone please tell me.


just my 2 cents

 

I'm going to assume he's questioning you since this post is about HIS mock draft and he doesnt have any DT being picked...so he's probably saying "ummm...what are you talking about I didnt select a DT". This post is not about the draft in general but about his mock.

 

Thank you gpguy

 

Totally. What's even worse though is the QB he has us taking in round 2. I mean, at this point in Ben's career that would just be a wasted pick. Maybe in 2015, but now? What were you thinking, SBD??

 

I must admit, I am totally confused about what to do in this draft, especially in the first round.

On defense, I think most of what we do here will be revealed by what happens with Foote and Harrison combined with how the GM and coaches feel about the players who lack experience yet.

If Harrison is kept (with a pay cut) and the FO likes Robinson and Carter and Worilds, why exactly would the first rounder be a priority.

The Dline, I think will be decided by what they truly believe about Fangupo and Ta'amu and McLendon. If they believe McLendon can start, even splitting some time giving Ta'amu about 5-10 snaps, I don't see us drafting a Dlineman unless they decide to cut Keisel, which I don't expect.

At ILB, again I think it comes down to Foote and Spence. Do they resign Foote on the cheap and see what Spence has before committing to another top 3 draft pick at the ILB position?

If we resign Lewis, where would a CB go? Have they given up on Brown and the other younger CBs? I don't see it.

At S, I think we all know that EVENTUALLY we need to look at replacements here and to me this is the most likely. With Clark being in his last year they may look for his replacement this year and Troy's replacement next year. Of course they could always do what they did when our last S left...sign a UFA. Do we forget that he was a UDFA with the Giants, then played 2 years with the Redskins? He has to be right there with Farrior for one of our better signings in free agency.

On Offense, I see bigger needs, and a bunch of them.

WR - lost Wallace
TE - Will Heath be healthy
OL - We only have like 6 guys right now, and most of those guys have less than 16 games started on their career. Our current line would only have Pouncey who had started more games than 16 if we go Adams, Beachum and DeCastro, Gilbert. Unfortunately going out and drafting guys doesn't fix this issue.
RB - We currently have 1...and everyone agrees that the 2 RFA guys aren't necessarily a great fit for the new blocking scheme.

Here is the problem we have IMO. Most of these positions DON'T have a high enough ranking to go where we are going to pick in the draft. I could seriously see us moving back in this draft for the first time in a LONG while. Move back and get more assets rather than take someone who won't live up to that spot. If we don't move back, I am in favor of drafting Warmack if he is there. That would give us a very young, but a very highly talented line. My preference move back but not out of the first round, unless it is the top pick in the 2nd. If I could get KC's 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, or even 2nd 4th and 5th, I move back and draft for quantity rather than take someone who doesn't fit.

 

me too i'm confused we should have clearest picture after the free agency , but we can take a lot of directions

 

Am I the only one not impressed (aside from blocking) on gillisee??

I hate the way he looks running.

I won't be able to explain it but I feel I can see a good RB. The way in which they move and burst and run is, of course, pivotal. I watch him and see a big body finding a hole and dying. He runs with no explosion. "those" running backs " hit holes. As in the minute they get near it they have a change of "gear" and explode into and through it. I see gillisee as a redman or Dwyer type.

He benefitted from a good school with talent around him. RBs should have excitement when they touch the ball. I see 3rd gear cruise from touch to finish.

 

I'm not that enthralled with him either. Doesn't look like he's a natural runner and doesn't appear to have great vision.

 

Rather have Taylor than Gillesee

 

I really like Gillislee, but I can understand why a lot of people wouldn't.

He doesn't have any truly great quality other than blocking. When it comes to speed, strength, elusiveness, etc he's pretty average in a lot of them... However I think his intangibles are what make me like him. He's smart, plays hard, and is patient. If we were still running our power OL scheme, I wouldn't be interested... but I think he could fit our new scheme very well.