2015 Mocks

[HPF Bob]

I think I would consider this my dream draft and, boy, was I working the trade phones to get what I wanted/needed. Other than getting a second o-lineman and addressing the safety position, this took care of every immediate need with players I really like (other than QB which needs another year to determine how to address).

Before the draft, the Lions wanted to trade up for our 1-16. I took it to get their 1-23 and 2-22. In case you're curious, they used 1-16 for Malcom Brown, DT, Texas.

I also traded my 4th, 5th and 6th to Seattle for 3-31.

Still, DTs and WRs were falling on the first-round board. I tapped into the Dallas Cowboys and they acquired 1-23 for 1-27, 4-28 and 5-27. They used 1-23 on Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska - who I didn't want.

At 1-27, my intended choice, WR Jaelen Strong, was still on the board but so was DT Danny Shelton from Washington who I decided was too great a value to pass up. Goodbye, Louis Nix.

That meant I still didn't have the WR I wanted so I dealt 2-19, 3-31 and 5-27 to Atlanta for 2-10 and hoped someone above that wanted Green-Beckham instead of Strong. Bingo. Strong was there at 2-10.

With the 2-22 I got from Detroit, I thought hard about Bernardrick McKinney before taking OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, Louisville. This kid has both DE and OLB experience so he won't have the learning curve most converted DEs have to a 3-4 and he's solid insurance if Clowney can't come back. I love McKinney but the ILB role is decreasing in the game so I'm willing to chance a mid-round pick instead of a premium one for that position.

Now, I'm back to just one third-rounder but Baltimore knocked with another deal. I moved down from 3-18 to 3-26 and picked up 4-23. With 3-26, I took Jesse James, TE, Penn St. whom I think will make a great tandem with Fiedorowicz - two solid blockers with mid-range receiving skills.

I'm holding my breath that the two guys I'm really hoping for will still be there late in the fourth. Indeed, they are! I nab C B.J. Finney, C, Kansas St at 4-23 to back up Ben Jones and Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan St. at 4-28 to cover the hole next to Brian Cushing.

I fill other needs with my comp pick and finally take a corner in the 7th. I'd like to have done more in the secondary but I love the rest of what I've done here:

27 (from DAL) - R1P27 DT DANNY SHELTON WASHINGTON
42 (from ATL) - R2P10 WR JAELEN STRONG ARIZONA STATE
54 (from DET) - R2P22 OLB LORENZO MAULDIN LOUISVILLE
90 (from BAL) - R3P26 TE JESSE JAMES PENN STATE
122 (from BAL) - R4P23 C B.J. FINNEY KANSAS STATE
127 (from DAL) - R4P28 ILB TAIWAN JONES MICHIGAN STATE
175 (comp) - R5P39 WR-KR TY MONTGOMERY STANFORD
211 (comp) - R6P35 DE-OLB DEION BARNES PENN STATE
216 (comp) - R6P40 RB-KR KARLOS WILLIAMS FLORIDA STATE
236 - R7P19 CB JACOREY SHEPHERD KANSAS

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

27 (from DAL) - R1P27 DT DANNY SHELTON WASHINGTON
42 (from ATL) - R2P10 WR JAELEN STRONG ARIZONA STATE
54 (from DET) - R2P22 OLB LORENZO MAULDIN LOUISVILLE
90 (from BAL) - R3P26 TE JESSE JAMES PENN STATE
122 (from BAL) - R4P23 C B.J. FINNEY KANSAS STATE
127 (from DAL) - R4P28 ILB TAIWAN JONES MICHIGAN STATE
175 (comp) - R5P39 WR-KR TY MONTGOMERY STANFORD
211 (comp) - R6P35 DE-OLB DEION BARNES PENN STATE
216 (comp) - R6P40 RB-KR KARLOS WILLIAMS FLORIDA STATE
236 - R7P19 CB JACOREY SHEPHERD KANSAS

I love it when you get all these draft picks. I ran a mock for the Colts and went back to see who I would've taken for the Texans. Was surprised to see Jalen Strong was selected before DeVante Parker.

#27 WR Devante Parker
#42 DB Eric Rowe
#54 QB Bryce Petty
#90 OLB Anthony Chickillo
#122 ILB Jake Ryan
#127 TE Mycole Pruitt
#175 RB Cameron Artis-Payne
#211 OL Mitch Morse
#216 CB Justin Coleman
#236 WR Ty Montgomery

I selected Rowe over Stephone Anthony because I figured I would get an athletic ILB later, but wouldn't be able to get a FS who could also play CB. Mike Mayock now believes Damarious Randall is the #1 prospect over Landon Collins, so go figure. I'm hoping that taking Petty with my 3rd pick doesn't mean that I have to start him right away but can sit him on the beach while he learnsthe Offense. I took Pruitt over James because he is better suited for being a pass-catching TE. Fedorowicz is already my blocking TE. Artis-Payne gives me depth, without spending a 1st round pick on Gordon or Gurley. I would be ecstatic with this.

[HPF Bob]

In my mind, I wrestle James vs. Pruitt as well. I think O'Brien wants to be a grind-it-out running coach which means he wants TEs who can be plus blockers on the line and willing to sacrifice the deep speed a Maxx Williams or Mycoll Pruitt offer. At 6-7, James is *always* going to be open against these 6-1, 6-2 safeties. Part of Gronk's success is that he's 6-7 so Brady can always find him.

I'm also weighing the fact that O'Brien is going to know what type of guy/player James is from Penn State and have his own opinion whereas Pruitt, from a smaller school, wasn't seeing top flight competition (as much as I joke about how the Big 14 sucks).

I wouldn't be sad to see us take Pruitt over James. He does mean we can take someone else good in the 3rd (although some mocks have Pruitt rising).

I agree about Rowe. He shows up in many of my mocks for the same reason - he can play FS. He can play CB. He'll be a top special teams guy while he learns the ropes and he's a solid tackler.

I'm starting to see Taiwan Jones as our best ILB option. His profile fits exactly what we want at the position and he won't cost us a second or third the way some other top LBs will. That allows me to fill the DE-OLB spot with someone more capable of playing right away.

IMO, replacing AJ is the top priority so I want Strong or Parker if possible. Most of the top DE-OLBs are gone by the time 2-19 rolls around. I think it's entirely possible that the Texans use 1-16 on Shane Ray or Bud Dupree and take a WR in the 2nd or 3rd but he probably won't be the total-package WR that I'm looking for to replace Andre and take pressure off Hopkins.

I could also be talked into a DT in the first if a good one falls to us which is what I did with Shelton but only after trading down twice to 27 and still finding him there.

I also run Denver Bronco mocks and I look to see who the computer drafted for the Texans. One time, Marcus Mariota fell to 1-16 and we took him. I might have posted it here but the rest of their picks were just terrible so I didn't.

[Roy P]

I could see us taking Jesse James for the reasons you cited. I am only stating why I selected Pruitt. He had a lot of catches against small school competition, but he is accustomed to having the ball thrown his way. Maybe a very poor man's Shannon Sharpe.

I was hoping that the rest of the league would be focusing on Trae Waynes, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters, Jalen Collins, and Byron Jones and Eric Rowe would slip under the radar. I mean, he is bigger than those guys, can tackle, has played Safety and CB, and will probably be the most successful of the group. The fact that Demarious Randall is "flying up draft boards" means people are realizing the importance of the position in a passing league and the dearth of talent to fulfill the need. I would simply assign him to cover the pass-catching TEs we face, like Fleener. Anyway, if I can see his highlights and compare his measurables, I am sure that NFL GMs can too. It won't surprise me if he's drafted in the first round.

Taiwan Jones is similar to Bernardick McKinney, but not as athletic. Good downhill thumpers who stop the run, but never on the field in passing downs because of the liability in coverage. We have Cushing already, so I want a complimentary ILB who can handle the RB in pass coverage. The guys like Alexander, Hicks, Heeney, or Ryan are "Nickle-Linebackers" sort of "bulked up Kam Chancellor - types.

I won't be surprised if Bud Dupree is our first pick and would be fine with it. Unless Amari Cooper or Kevin White is still on the board. If Parker is there, I might raise an eyebrow, but would understand. I'm higher on Chickillo than most and I sometimes try to wait until the 3rd round, and then miss out on him and have to settle for a Kyle Emanuel or Alani Fua. So, getting the OLB early relieved the stress of potential for missing out.

If we go OLB first and WR after, Devin Smith, Phillip Dorsett, Jalen Strong, Breshad Perriman, Tyler Lockett, those guys are going to add to the talent.

[Blitzwood]

I'm glad you brought up Fua. Call me crazy, but I really like Alani Fua as a SS/nickel LB. He's got the same measureables as Kam, 6'4" and 235, and his 3 cone and shuttle #'s are better than almost all the safeties. Worst case is he becomes a great ST player. I could see us taking a flier on him in the 5th or 6th.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

#42 DB Eric Rowe


I selected Rowe over Stephone Anthony because I figured I would get an athletic ILB later, but wouldn't be able to get a FS who could also play CB. Mike Mayock now believes Damarious Randall is the #1 prospect over Landon Collins, so go figure.

Just saw that Mayock has moved up Eric Rowe to a tie for 5th best CB with Byron Jones.

[Roy P]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...am-projections

Houston Texans

Round 1 (16): Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF
Round 2 (51): Eric Rowe, CB, Utah
Round 3 (82): Jaquiski Tartt, S, Samford
Round 4 (116): Max Garcia, C, Florida
Round 5 (152): Bryce Hager, ILB, Baylor
Round 5 (175): Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State
Round 6 (195): Darrian Miller, G, Kentucky
Round 6 (211): Zach Wagenmann, OLB, Montana
Round 6 (216): Tray Walker, CB, Texas Southern
Round 7 (235): Tayo Fabuluje, G, TCU

I'm okay with Perriman, his hands aren't that bad. Andre used to frustrate me early in his career too, but if he makes enough plays, you live with it.

I love Eric Rowe, unfortunately QB Bryce Petty was selected at #41 by the Rams. I couldn't believe the Jaquiski Tartt pick. I would have taken Chickillo or even Marpet and it killed me that the Patriots selected both with #96 and #97.

I understand the Max Garcia pick, which is why I was looking for Marpet. Very pleased with Karlos Williams (good RB pick at about the right time).

Not having drafted an OLB earlier, I can understant the Zach Wagenmann selection. Pretty decent mock.

[Roy P]

Another Fanspeak.com mock draft without trading :

#16 OLB Eli Harold
#51 WR Breshad Perriman
#82 QB Bryce Petty
#116 ILB Jake Ryan
#152 TE Mycole Pruitt
#175 DL Derrick Lott
#195 CB Justin Coleman
#211 RB Zach Zenner
#216 OLB Kyle Emanuel
#235 OC Greg Mancz

Harold is a "reach" because I have seen mocks where he gets down to the Cardinals and Steelers, but I am comfortable with taking him at #16 if my top 7 players are off the board.

I have seen mocks where we select Perriman at #16 or he's off the board before our first pick, so excited to take him at #51.

Petty has a legitimate shot at starting in his 2nd season, and we don't have to draft a QB next year. I am not sure if Mallet or Hoyer are the answer, and want a guy waiting in the wings. A 3rd round pick is not too expensive for a potential Franchise QB who simply needs some seasoning as he transitions from the College Spread to something more complex at the NFL level.

I wondered if Ben Heeney would drop to #116, but he was selected at #115. I prefer Jake Ryan due to his size and versatility.

#152 Jesse James was gone, but I like Pruitt in the passing game and he is better at getting separation due to his quickness.

I continue to draft Lott because he has agility that is uncanny for someone his size. He impressed me at the Shrine game.

Coleman is my Nickel CB who can cover the slot.

Zenner rushed for 2K more than once. Is available here because he played at a small school. I'm okay with that.

Emanuel and Mancz are insurance and could be getting significant snaps in their 2nd season.

[HPF Bob]

I'm posting this only for the absurdity of the first pick and how it affects the rest of my drafting.

Somehow, someone I wasn't expecting fell to 16 and, I only made one trade after that - sending 2-19 to Baltimore for 2-26 and 4-23.

16 - R1P16 QB JAMEIS WINSTON FLORIDA STATE
58 (from BAL) - R2P26 WR SAMMIE COATES AUBURN
82 - R3P18 TE JESSE JAMES PENN STATE
116 - R4P17 DT GABE WRIGHT AUBURN
122 (from BAL) - R4P23 CB JOSH SHAW USC
152 - R5P16 WR-KR TY MONTGOMERY STANFORD
175 (comp) - R5P39 S ADRIAN AMOS PENN STATE
195 - R6P19 C GREG MANCZ TOLEDO
211 (comp) - R6P35 DE DEION BARNES PENN STATE
216 (comp) - R6P40 OLB ALANI FUA BYU
235 - R7P18 ILB JEFF LUC CINCINNATI

I'm sure some of you wouldn't want Winston, even at 16. The way I see it is this. The girl he may or may not have raped is now in civil court. What does that tell me? He's no longer likely to ever have a criminal case. He could be out some money, but he's not going to jail. If the consensus #1 QB is falling to us when we so desperately need a frontline QB, how can we pass him up.

Of course, NOW I haven't done 2 things I'm usually eager to do - 1) trade down and 2) use my first-rounder on a wide receiver. At 2-26, some top WRs are still there including DGB (no thanks) and Devin Smith (no thanks). The only WR I like in that spot is Sammie Coates.

3-18 offers a lot of good choices but my favorite OLB, Lorenzo Mauldin, got snagged by the Bears. My new QB needs weapons so here's Jesse James.

Gabe Wright and Josh Shaw are both value picks and positions with some need. Ty Montgomery and Adrian Amos are definite role players. The last four are positions I should have addressed sooner but the right guys never fell in the right spots.

[HPF Bob]

This pretty much nails what and who I want from this draft. Of course, it presumes these trades would be made and these players would be available but this pretty much sums up what I would do with the Texans' 2015 draft:

1. Traded 1-16 to Arizona for 1-24, 2-23 and 4-24.
2. Traded 4-17, 5-16 and 6-19 to Green Bay for 3-30.

24 - (from ARZ) R1P24 WR JAELEN STRONG ARIZONA STATE 6-2, 217
Dropping on some boards but still my pick as an AJ replacement. I think this makes a trade-down credible and sets up the rest of the draft.
51 - R2P19 ILB BENARDRICK MCKINNEY MISSISSIPPI STATE 6-4, 246
Would be okay here with Anthony or Perryman though McKinney is my guy.
55 - (from ARZ) R2P23 OLB LORENZO MAULDIN LOUISVILLE 6-4, 259
College DE with OLB experience. Can pass rush or play over the TE.
82 - R3P18 CB-FS ERIC ROWE UTAH 6-1, 205
Houston product who makes perfect safety/slot corner combo. Not likely to actually be available in the mid-3rd. Opinions vary.
94 (from GB) - R3P30 TE JESSE JAMES PENN STATE 6-7, 261
Huge target that O'Brien knows well. Ran 4.69 at Pro Day. Capable blocker.
123 (from ARZ) - R4P24 C ANDY GALLIK BOSTON COLLEGE 6-2, 306
We need to take a center here and several will work out ok. Finney, Dismukes, Mason, all could work here.
175 (comp) - R5P39 DT JOEY MBU HOUSTON 6-3, 313
Either Mbu or Derrick Lott works for me as Wilfork's backup. Flip a coin.
211 (comp) - R6P35 WR-KR TY MONTGOMERY STANFORD 6-0, 221
Either Montgomery or Antwan Goodley is my 4th WR/ KR. Flip a coin.
216 (comp) - R6P40 DE RAY DREW GEORGIA 6-4, 265
Raw but has potential to be effective DE or slim down to a 3-4 LB. Deion Barnes works here too.
235 - R7P18 G-C MILES DIEFFENBACH PENN STATE 6-4, 301
Bench depth for guard and center. Tough kid. O'Brien connection.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Another Fanspeak.com mock draft without trading :

#16 OLB Eli Harold
#51 WR Breshad Perriman
#82 QB Bryce Petty
#116 ILB Jake Ryan
#152 TE Mycole Pruitt
#175 DL Derrick Lott
#195 CB Justin Coleman
#211 RB Zach Zenner
#216 OLB Kyle Emanuel
#235 OC Greg Mancz

Petty has a legitimate shot at starting in his 2nd season, and we don't have to draft a QB next year. I am not sure if Mallet or Hoyer are the answer, and want a guy waiting in the wings. A 3rd round pick is not too expensive for a potential Franchise QB who simply needs some seasoning as he transitions from the College Spread to something more complex at the NFL level.

John McClain ‏@McClain_on_NFL 31s32 seconds ago
Wow! @RapSheet just said on NFL Network Saints might take Baylor QB Bryce Petty with 31st pick! Sic 'Em!