Cause I'm Bored A : Pre All Star Games Mock

[HPF Bob]

Now that free agency has shaken up the roster, I tried Fanspeak (3/8 board) for the first time without the need for a QB or RB early.

I honestly saw no reason not to trade down so I took a deal with Baltimore for their 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounders for our first, leaving Houston with no 1st or 7th round picks but two in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th plus one in the sixth:

36: R2P5 OT GERMAIN IFEDI TEXAS A&M
52: R2P21 S VONN BELL OHIO STATE
70: R3P7 TE HUNTER HENRY ARKANSAS
85: R3P22 DT CHRIS JONES MISSISSIPPI STATE
105: R4P6 C MAX TUERK SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
120: R4P21 RB JORDAN HOWARD INDIANA
159: R5P20 ILB JOSH FORREST KENTUCKY
166: R5P27 WR BRALON ADDISON OREGON
198: R6P20 QB JAKE COKER ALABAMA

TRADE PARTNER:
BALTIMORE RAVENS
SENT:
ROUND: 1 PICK: 22

RECEIVED:
ROUND: 2 PICK: 5
ROUND: 3 PICK: 7
ROUND: 4 PICK: 6

Ifedi was the last of the early-round OTs available so I grabbed him while I could. Bell is the sort of safety that should stick for awhile. Henry was still around in the early third so i took him but I would have taken Hooper or Vannett if he wasn't there. Jones is a solid run-stuffer for the middle. Tuerk gives us a backup behind our new center and Howard a solid RB to add behind Miller. Forrest is a good complement in the middle while Addison is ultra-quick and can be used for kick returns. There's about 5 late-round QBs one could bring to camp and Coker is one of them. Say this about Alabama QBs, they aren't flashy but they find ways to win and so does Coker.

[HPF Bob]

Now that we have Osweiler in the fold, look who falls to us at #22? (Fanspeak, Walter Football 3/11 board). If he's there, you gotta take him.

Not many good trade offers, but I had one.

22: R1P22 QB CARSON WENTZ NORTH DAKOTA STATE
52: R2P21 DT AUSTIN JOHNSON PENN STATE
85: R3P22 RB ALEX COLLINS ARKANSAS
147: R5P8 DE CHARLES TAPPER OKLAHOMA
159: R5P20 TE TYLER HIGBEE WESTERN KENTUCKY
166: R5P27 CB CYRUS JONES ALABAMA
189: R6P11 ILB JOSH FORREST KENTUCKY
198: R6P20 C MIKE MATTHEWS TEXAS A&M

TRADE PARTNER:
MIAMI DOLPHINS
SENT:
ROUND: 4 PICK: 21

RECEIVED:
ROUND: 5 PICK: 8
ROUND: 6 PICK: 11

[HPF Bob]

Here's an interesting one. I couldn't trade up or down in the first round. Paxton Lynch was there and I was tempted to take him but I don't want to have Osweiler start his Houston career with another QB controversy.

I later traded out of the third round because I was offered a 4th, two 5ths and a 6th.

22: R1P22 ILB REGGIE RAGLAND ALABAMA
52: R2P21 C RYAN KELLY ALABAMA
115: R4P16 TE NICK VANNETT OHIO STATE
120: R4P21 OLB ERIC STRIKER OKLAHOMA
144: R5P4 DT ANTWAUN WOODS USC
155: R5P15 WR KENNY LAWLER CALIFORNIA
160: R5P20 S DEON BUSH MIAMI (FL)
167: R5P27 QB CARDALE JONES OHIO STATE
195: R6P19 CB KEVON SEYMOUR USC
196: R6P20 K ROBERT AGUAYO FLORIDA ST

I added two impact LBs for the time we want to move on from Cushing and Clowney. Kelly has a chance to start as a rookie. Vannett is one of those flex-type TEs who can make use in various formations.

Cardale Jones??? Are you crazy?? Well, hear me out. He's a very raw talent but he dominated briefly and I would try to groom him as a "slash" player who could play RB, WR and throw passes from exotic formations while being the emergency QB. The dude is a load to bring down and I think he could be stashed on the practice squad while he learns.

Notice how almost all these guys are players on winning programs expected to win most of the time. I think they'd help fill out our roster in ways that one showcase player would not do.

TRADE PARTNER:
OAKLAND RAIDERS
SENT:
ROUND: 3 PICK: 22

RECEIVED:
ROUND: 4 PICK: 16
ROUND: 5 PICK: 4
ROUND: 5 PICK: 15
ROUND: 6 PICK: 19


Comments?

[chuck]

I would pick Cardale Jones in the fifth round (or later) without a second thought.

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Notice how almost all these guys are players on winning programs expected to win most of the time.

This I think is under-appreciated. I would much rather take my chances with a Louis Nix than some goofy Casserly project from SE Indiana Tech. The guys from the big schools on balance get better coaching and practice and play against a much higher level of competition.

Of course watch Wentz and Lynch come out and perform far better than Goff and Cook.

[HPF Bob]

Everybody wants another Ben Roethlisberger (Bowling Green) or Joe Flacco (Delaware). Where did Favre play college ball? Oh, yeah - Southern Mississippi.

Not poking a hole in your theory but I don't think I can automatically discredit a QB from Memphis or North Dakota St. simply because they aren't among the elite conferences. Only that the dice role is a little bit more against you if you are reaching for small-college players.

[chuck]

The rapist went to Miami of Ohio. I'm certainly not suggesting writing off small school guys, just saying that I prefer guys from big schools if all else is more or less equal. Better coaching, better competition, better facilities, better nutrition, more acclimation to being on a big stage, etc.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Everybody wants another Ben Roethlisberger (Bowling Green) or Joe Flacco (Delaware). Where did Favre play college ball? Oh, yeah - Southern Mississippi.

Not poking a hole in your theory but I don't think I can automatically discredit a QB from Memphis or North Dakota St. simply because they aren't among the elite conferences. Only that the dice role is a little bit more against you if you are reaching for small-college players.

Flacco has basically played a good month of football in his 8 year NFL career. It was a well timed month, but even a QB starved franchise like ours shouldn't want another Joe Flacco.

[painekiller]

23: R1p23 wr corey coleman baylor
60: R2p29 te hunter henry arkansas
85: R3p22 rb alex collins arkansas
120: R4p21 c max tuerk southern california
122: R4p23 dt matt ioannidis temple
128: R4p29 te tyler higbee western kentucky
153: R5p13 s jayron kearse clemson
160: R5p20 qb cardale jones ohio state
196: R6p20 g denver kirkland arkansas
197: R6p21 rb aaron green tcu


trade partner: New orleans saints sent:
Round: 7 pick: 22
round: 5 pick: 27
texans received:
Round: 5 pick: 13

trade partner: New england patriots sent:
Round: 2 pick: 21
texans received:
Round: 2 pick: 29
round: 4 pick: 29
round: 6 pick: 21
round: 7 pick: 22

trade partner: Minnesota vikings sent:
Round: 1 pick: 22
texans received:
Round: 1 pick: 23
round: 4 pick: 23