2015 Mocks

[Roy P]

Was Luis Castillo suspended for 4 games his rookie season for testing positive at the Combine?

Regardless, I would not have drafted Castillo or Cushing and I would not want Gregory this year with my 1st round pick. Red Flag that isn't worth the risk.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Was Luis Castillo suspended for 4 games his rookie season for testing positive at the Combine?

Good point, a positive test at the combine doesn't result in a suspension. But I think it does get them on the double-secret probation you talked about so if Cushing had tested positive at the combine it wouldn't have been treated like a first offense when he failed the test a year leader. And when Castillo tested positive at the combine, it was one of the big stories of that draft. If Cushing had done that it would've gotten out and it would've been a big deal. There were rumors of him juicing at USC, but never anything substantiated.

As for Gregory, you have to really wonder about a guy who tests positive when he knew he was going to be tested and how much was riding on the combine. It raises a lot of questions about his commitment, focus, and general mental state.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Warren

As for Gregory, you have to really wonder about a guy who tests positive when he knew he was going to be tested and how much was riding on the combine. It raises a lot of questions about his commitment, focus, and general mental state.

That is exactly the reason why I would not draft him in the 1st round. There are other talented players who have not demonstrated that type of stupidity and immaturity. It tells me that he thought because he's talented that he can get away with it. Drafting him in the 1st round would only substantiate his belief of entitlement. It sends the wrong signal to the rest of the team in my opinion.

[HPF Bob]

Having the Walter Football board produced some unique challenges.

I started with my two favorite moves:

1) Traded 1-16 to Pittsburgh for 1-22 and 2-24.
2) Traded 4th, 5th and 6th to Green Bay for 3-30.

When I got to 22, however, all four of my favorite receivers were off the board and many of my defensive favorites too. CB Trae Waynes had slid to us but, personally, I think he could be both the best CB in the draft and somewhat overrated. Breshard Perriman is there as well as Arik Armstead, Randy Gregory, Cam Erving and Andrus Peat.

But I took the best LB left on the board, Eric Kendricks of UCLA who some project inside and others outside.

That then changed my normal pattern and the rest of the draft went like this. You should see the gobsmacked expression I had when OLB Hauoli Kikaha of Washington was still on the board. Most project him as a second or third. He was still there with a sixth round comp pick. In fact, I like the back of the draft almost better than the front part.

22 - R1P22 (from PIT): ILB ERIC KENDRICKS, UCLA
51 - R2P19: WR SAMMIE COATES, AUBURN
56 - R2P24 (from PIT): CB-FS ERIC ROWE, UTAH
82 - R3P18: G A.J. CANN, SOUTH CAROLINA
94 - R3P30 (from GB): DT GRADY JARRETT, CLEMSON
175 - R5P39 (comp): TE JESSE JAMES, PENN STATE
211 - R6P35 (comp): OLB HAUOLI KIKAHA, WASHINGTON
216 - R6P40 (comp): WR-KR ANTWAN GOODLEY, BAYLOR
235 - R7P18: CB DAMIAN SWANN, GEORGIA

[Blitzwood]

I would take Gregory in a second. No debate needed from me.
He is by far the most talented DE/OLB in the draft. Period. So the guy smoked a little weed. I'm sure at least 50% of players smoke weed, it's so glorified now in society, it's in music, movies, ect. It's legal now in a few states, with more states probably being added this year. I believe Justin Houston tested positive at the combine and he's hasn't had any problems. So you never know.

After watching this scout break down how ridiculously talented he is, you might be swayed too.

https://youtu.be/S8AdCCOD4iw

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Blitzwood

I would take Gregory in a second. No debate needed from me.
He is by far the most talented DE/OLB in the draft. Period. So the guy smoked a little weed. I'm sure at least 50% of players smoke weed, it's so glorified now in society, it's in music, movies, ect. It's legal now in a few states, with more states probably being added this year. I believe Justin Houston tested positive at the combine and he's hasn't had any problems. So you never know.

After watching this scout break down how ridiculously talented he is, you might be swayed too.

https://youtu.be/S8AdCCOD4iw

Downgrading him is not about how bad marijuana is. If I told a guy not to eat shell fish for a month before the draft because it was worth millions of dollars and would seriously impact his professional future, and then he ate some delicious bacon wrapped shrimp and tested positive for shell fish, I would downgrade him. Not because those shrimp were bad, but because knowing the situation and eating them anyways would show a huge lack of professionalism/poor decision making combo I would not be excited to invest a 1st round pick in.

Occasionally this results in the Randy Mosses of the world being undervalued and tumbling down draft boards, but the flip side is when character concerns are ignored (Lawerence Phillips is an old school example with a recent headline grabbing example that many leopards never change their spots).

[Warren]

Originally Posted by barrett

Downgrading him is not about how bad marijuana is. If I told a guy not to eat shell fish for a month before the draft because it was worth millions of dollars and would seriously impact his professional future, and then he ate some delicious bacon wrapped shrimp and tested positive for shell fish, I would downgrade him. Not because those shrimp were bad, but because knowing the situation and eating them anyways would show a huge lack of professionalism/poor decision making combo I would not be excited to invest a 1st round pick in.

Occasionally this results in the Randy Mosses of the world being undervalued and tumbling down draft boards, but the flip side is when character concerns are ignored (Lawerence Phillips is an old school example with a recent headline grabbing example that many leopards never change their spots).

Exactly. If I were making the call I'd have to be convinced that he's someone the team could count on and not another Sam Montgomery. The positive test indicates the exact opposite.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by barrett

Downgrading him is not about how bad marijuana is. If I told a guy not to eat shell fish for a month before the draft because it was worth millions of dollars and would seriously impact his professional future, and then he ate some delicious bacon wrapped shrimp and tested positive for shell fish, I would downgrade him. Not because those shrimp were bad, but because knowing the situation and eating them anyways would show a huge lack of professionalism/poor decision making combo I would not be excited to invest a 1st round pick in.

Occasionally this results in the Randy Mosses of the world being undervalued and tumbling down draft boards, but the flip side is when character concerns are ignored (Lawerence Phillips is an old school example with a recent headline grabbing example that many leopards never change their spots).

I get it.
But IMO, his talent is worth his potential risk at 16. Again, some people wouldn't, but I'm not one of those.

[HPF Bob]

I thought I could do better and took the same arrangement through a second time, only a situation developed where I couldn't resist trading up which caused another trade back:

1) Traded 1-16 to PIT for 1-22 and 2-24
2) Traded 4th, 5th and 6th to GB for 3-30

Sitting at 22 this time were several players I liked but the best on the board was Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson. As I started the second, I noticed Jaelen Strong was still on the board so I traded up to get him.

3) Traded 2-19 and 3-18 to WSH for 2-5. Now, I'm really happy. I got one of the best pass rushers in the draft as well as the WR I've wanted all along. I then used the 2-24 from Pittsburgh to take ILB Stephone Anthony of Clemson. We've got a real haymaker of a draft starting out but I had to give a third, so what do I do with one I still have from the Packers? An offer from the Patriots came up:

4) Traded 3-30 to NE for 3-32 and 7-2. With that selection, I took Tre Johnson, OG, Florida St. to shore up the interior line.

There was a big chasm then to the late 5th but I still had 5 picks and I like what I have with those.

22 - R1P22 (from PIT): OLB VIC BEASLEY, CLEMSON
37 - R2P5 (from WSH): WR JAELEN STRONG, ARIZONA STATE
56 - R2P24 (from PIT): ILB STEPHONE ANTHONY, CLEMSON
96 - R3P32 (from NE): G TRE' JACKSON, FLORIDA STATE
175 - R5P39 (comp): C B.J. FINNEY, KANSAS STATE
211 - R6P35 (comp): DT DERRICK LOTT, CHATTANOOGA
216 - R6P40 (comp): DE DEION BARNES, PENN STATE
219 - R7P2 (from NE): CB QUANDRE DIGGS, TEXAS
235 - R7P18: WR ANTWAN GOODLEY, BAYLOR

[WMH]

I'd be OK with Waynes in Rd. 1.

1. Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State.
2. Titans: DT Leonard Williams, USC.
3. Jaguars: LB Dante Fowler Jr., Florida.
4. Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama.
5. Washington: LB Vic Beasley, Clemson.
6. Jets: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon.
7. Bears: WR Kevin White, West Virginia.
8. Falcons: OT La’El Collins, Louisiana State.
9. Giants: DT Malcom Brown, Texas.
10. Rams: WR DeVante Parker, Louisville.
11. Vikings: OT Brandon Scherff, Iowa.
12. Browns: S Landon Collins, Alabama.
13. Saints: LB Alvin “Bud” Dupree, Kentucky.
14. Dolphins: OT D.J. Humphries, Florida.
15. 49ers: DE Mario Edwards, Florida State.
16. Texans: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State.
17. Chagers: RT Ereck Flowers, Miami.
18. Chiefs: CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest.
19. Browns: OL Cameron Erving, Florida State.
20. Eagles: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska.
21. Bengals: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford.
22. Steelers: OT Donovan Smith, Penn State.
23. Lions: DT Danny Shelton, Washington.
24. Cardinals: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia.
25. Panthers: WR Jalen Strong, Arizona State.
26. Ravens: WR Breshad Perriman, Central Florida.
27. Cowboys: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin.
28. Broncos: DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma.
29. Colts: LB Shane Ray, Missouri.
30. Packers: WR Nelson Agholor, USC.
31. Saints: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma.
32. Patriots: CB Marcus Peters, Washington.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by WMH

I'd be OK with Waynes in Rd. 1.

16. Texans: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State.
17. Chagers: RT Ereck Flowers, Miami.
18. Chiefs: CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest.
19. Browns: OL Cameron Erving, Florida State.
20. Eagles: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska.
21. Bengals: OT Andrus Peat, Stanford.
22. Steelers: OT Donovan Smith, Penn State.
23. Lions: DT Danny Shelton, Washington.
24. Cardinals: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia.
25. Panthers: WR Jalen Strong, Arizona State.
26. Ravens: WR Breshad Perriman, Central Florida.
27. Cowboys: RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin.
28. Broncos: DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma.
29. Colts: LB Shane Ray, Missouri.
30. Packers: WR Nelson Agholor, USC.
31. Saints: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma.
32. Patriots: CB Marcus Peters, Washington.

I would have liked to have been able to trade down for extra picks and perhaps selected OLB Shane Ray or Eli Harold or even WR Strong or Perriman.

If they draft Waynes, I won't cry.