Mock Draft Simulater

[HPF Bob]

I'm not really listening to any talk about Bortles, Carr or Manzeil at 1-1. If we're going that route, it really has to be Bridgewater because he's the guy who has played in a pro-style offense and is the most ready to start the season as "the guy" under center. I can see drafting Clowney or trading down as the two other viable options.

Using the Mock Simulator, here's my latest "Bridgewater Draft". I expected to go heavy on defense but never found the RT I wanted. This draft, however, should vastly improve our pass rush and interior defense:

1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
2. Kyle Van Noy, DE-OLB, BYU
3. Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford
4. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE-OLB, Texas
5. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia
6. Shaquille Richardson, CB, Arizona
7. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

Several of these were the top of the draft board at their point.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I'm not really listening to any talk about Bortles, Carr or Manzeil at 1-1. If we're going that route, it really has to be Bridgewater because he's the guy who has played in a pro-style offense and is the most ready to start the season as "the guy" under center. I can see drafting Clowney or trading down as the two other viable options.

Using the Mock Simulator, here's my latest "Bridgewater Draft". I expected to go heavy on defense but never found the RT I wanted. This draft, however, should vastly improve our pass rush and interior defense:

1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
2. Kyle Van Noy, DE-OLB, BYU
3. Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford
4. Jackson Jeffcoat, DE-OLB, Texas
5. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia
6. Shaquille Richardson, CB, Arizona
7. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

Several of these were the top of the draft board at their point.

If you think Bridgewater is the best prospect, that's fine. But to suggest we should use the No. 1 pick on a guy because he's the best equipped to start day 1 is laughable. You take the guy you think has the best chance of developing into an elite QB. Who you think has the best chance to win games September 2014 is a ridiculous reason to draft someone No. 1.

[Arky]

Here's a "trenchy" draft:


1. (1) DE JADEVEON CLOWNEY - SOUTH CAROLINA
2. (33) G DAVID YANKEY - STANFORD
3. (65) OT MORGAN MOSES - VIRGINIA
4. (97) DT KELCY QUARLES - SOUTH CAROLINA
5. (129) QB A.J. MCCARRON - ALABAMA

Murray (Georgia), Smith (Wyoming), Fales (San Jose State) and Boyd (Clemson) were all still available at the QB position in the 5th round according to the simulator. I went with McCarron....

Eh, it's going to be a long off season....

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by Joshua

If you think Bridgewater is the best prospect, that's fine. But to suggest we should use the No. 1 pick on a guy because he's the best equipped to start day 1 is laughable. You take the guy you think has the best chance of developing into an elite QB. Who you think has the best chance to win games September 2014 is a ridiculous reason to draft someone No. 1.

That depends on what becomes of Schaub. If he's cut (or traded), then you're asking Keenum to take over as your starter in an entirely new offense until your "best prospect" quarterback is developed. Now, if he can't beat out Keenum for the job, why the hell did you draft him 1-1?

You draft a QB at 1-1 because he'll be ready to start on Day One and the only guy of the four that looks like he has all of that is Bridgewater. He has the experience and the maturity to be that sort of player who can assume that mantle.

What's laughable is to draft a QB 1-1 then sit him behind Case Keenum while he learns the job. If Schaub is still around, I could see learning at his feet for a few months if you can stomach the interceptions. But I think Schaub is going to be a June cut if he isn't traded before then.

I think in a good draft, Bridgewater is probably a mid-first QB and Bortles might go ahead of him because of size and athleticism but the Texans won't have that situation unless they trade down so a 1-1 "franchise" QB needs to be ready to walk into camp and take over. Of the four QB hopefuls, Bridgewater is the only one who I think could pull that off.

[HPF Bob]

My "Clowney Draft" has a surprise fall into the second round that changed my whole approach. Unfortunately, I kept waiting another round for a QB until all the best ones were gone.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
3. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
4. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
5. Lamin Barrow, ILB, LSU
6. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
7. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

I'd walk away pretty happy with this. Kouandjio can be the new RT until Duane Brown is done. Seastrunk should be great insurance if Foster struggles and Boyd, in the sixth, is a low risk who might still turn into something outstanding someday.

[HPF Bob]

My latest "Clowney" draft:

1. Jadaveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
2. Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech - Amaro (6-6, 260) is supposed to be this draft's Rob Gronkowski and, let me see, isn't the new head coach the guy who made a star out of the last Rob Gronkowski?
3. Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin - Help and insurance for Brian Cushing.
4. Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois - ranked in the low first round in some mocks. A steal this late.
5. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama. All he does is win championships. A caretaker QB who seems to give you just enough to win. Rarely makes mistakes.
6. Chris Davis, CB-KR, Auburn. Depth at two positions and can make big plays.
7. Trai Turner, G, LSU. Another OL candidate.

My latest "Bridgewater" draft:

1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
2. David Yankey, G, Stanford - He might convert to tackle but he'll solve one problem on the right side of the line. One Yankey who will be proud to be a Texan.
3. Christian Jones, ILB, Florida St. - Help and insurance for Brian Cushing.
4. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State - You knew O'Brien would get this one.
5. Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington - Slightly undersized but great one-cut back in the mold of Arian Foster.
6. Chris Davis, CB/KR, Auburn - Depth for two positions.
7. Aaron Lynch, DE, South Florida - position depth.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama. Rarely makes mistakes.

I guess you haven't seen his tattoo.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

I guess you haven't seen his tattoo.

No, but Brent Musburger and I have seen his girlfriend.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

My "Clowney Draft" has a surprise fall into the second round that changed my whole approach. Unfortunately, I kept waiting another round for a QB until all the best ones were gone.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama
3. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
4. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor
5. Lamin Barrow, ILB, LSU
6. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
7. Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty

I'd walk away pretty happy with this. Kouandjio can be the new RT until Duane Brown is done. Seastrunk should be great insurance if Foster struggles and Boyd, in the sixth, is a low risk who might still turn into something outstanding someday.

If it fell this way, I would be pretty happy also.

The Texans have some inside information from former coaches of Clowney's on staff here now, and they would know about his desire and real work ethic.

[HPF Bob]

My "Clowney" draft:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE-OLB, S.Carolina
2. David Yankey, G-T, Stanford
3. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio St. - Not sure why the drop. But if he's still there in the 3rd, I'll take him.
4. A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama
5. Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan St.
6. Chris Davis, CB-KR, Auburn
7. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford

My "Bridgewater" draft:

1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
2. Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio St.
3. Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford
4. Anthony Steen, OG, Alabama
5. Bruce Ellington, WR, S. Carolina
6. Chris Davis, CB-KR, Auburn
7. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford

[HPF Bob]

Fanspeak now has three big boards to choose from - Fanspeak, Walter Football and Optimum Scouting.

Here's the latest Clowney draft with the Fanspeak big board. Again, opportunity alters the projections:

1. DE-OLB Jadeveon Clowney, S. Carolina
2. DT Louis Nix III, Notre Dame (a big body to replace Earl Mitchell that amazingly falls to us).
3. OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama (a massive tackle who can be RT now and LT later)
4. QB Jimmy Garoppolo, E. Illinois (he's up to #5 on numerous QB draft rankings - similar to Tony Romo)
5. ILB Max Bullough, Michigan State (help for Cushing)
6. CB/KR Chris Davis, Jr., Auburn (still like what I saw of him late in year)
7. CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt (another corner with SEC experience)

Now the latest Bridgewater draft:

1. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville
2. OLB Dee Ford, Auburn (trash-talking speed rusher off the edge)
3. OT Joel Bitonio, Nevada (OLs flew off the board this time. He was the best left)
4. DT Daquan Jones, Penn St. (O'Brien gets his pick)
5. ILB Max Bullough, Michigan State
6. CB/KR Chris Davis, Jr., Auburn
7. CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt