2015 Mocks

[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.