2012 mocks

[HPF Bob]

It looks like Fleener is getting some late love on the nets and now a second projection of us taking OT Martin from Stanford.

Also read from Gosselin in Dallas that this draft has "six blue-chippers and 22 who should get a first-round grade", meaning that when it comes our time to pick we are looking at high-end second-round talent. He sees a large group from 23-50s who could all be late 1st, early 2nds in no particular order. Judging from how widely the rankings are for DTs and WRs in this draft, there really seems to be less consensus than normal.

Of course, now that you have 32 teams spreading disinformation and 1001 "draft experts" all trying to be the smartest guy in the room, you're going to get a lot of confusion. I'm always amazed how often the draft winds up looking largely like it should have with a few boons and busts factored in.

One guy whose name will be interesting to see/not see in this draft is LB Vontaze Burfict. There's no question he has second-day talent but he has a UDFA brain and as poorly disciplined as anyone can remember. Does a bad-ass team like the Ravens or Raiders take a chance on him anyway and see if they can straighten him out or will he fall totally out of the draft?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

One guy whose name will be interesting to see/not see in this draft is LB Vontaze Burfict. There's no question he has second-day talent but he has a UDFA brain and as poorly disciplined as anyone can remember. Does a bad-ass team like the Ravens or Raiders take a chance on him anyway and see if they can straighten him out or will he fall totally out of the draft?

I'm betting we won't be seeing his name. Supposedly some teams had taken him off their boards even before his horrible combine and pro day performances. According to reports he just didn't play well -- he missed tackles, was often out of position, couldn't get off blocks, and drew a ton of stupid penalties. I could see the Ravens gambling on a talented guy with character issues (like CB Jimmy Smith last year), especially at ILB where they Ray Lewis to mentor him, but it sounds like even if Burfict had his head screwed on straight he'd still be a marginal prospect. And is the Raiders' new regime going to follow the old Al Davis failed gameplan? That will be interesting to see.