We're bringing you a special weekend edition of Mocking the Mocks because this one doesn't result in a wide receiver being taken, and it's not offensive tackle Mike Adams. Russ Lande of the Sporting News unleashed his first mock draft upon the digital firmament, and the player he has the Chicago Bears taking at #19 caught me off guard.
So who did they take that got this reaction out of me? Well, hit the jump...
OT Riley Reiff, Iowa. Now an offensive tackle doesn't sound like an awful pick in the first round - the team could definitely use a left tackle to bookend Gabe Carimi. Here's what they had to say about Reiff...
Even when Jay Cutler was healthy, the offense struggled with consistency because the line could not provide consistent pass protection. They gamble on Reiff, who is viewed as overrated by many draft analysts.
So the Bears would look to upgrade pass protection with Reiff. But let's look at some scouting reports on the Iowa tackle...
First up from FFToolbox.
Like many other Big 10 prospects that have come before him, Reiff really excels at run blocking and bringing an intense, ferocious attitude each and every snap.
Reiff has to prove from now until the draft that he can be a left tackle. There are concerns about his footwork and lateral quickness. If teams feel he can only play on the right, he'll fall rapidly down draft boards.
Wait, didn't we already draft Gabe Carimi last year? Anyway, a second scouting report (one that is a bit more detailed and sounds more like a left tackle) on him...
Reiff is technically solid in pass protection, using his natural foot quickness and lateral agility to mirror speed rushers on the edge. He has nice length and uses his arms to his advantage to gain leverage on defenders, although he does overextend at times causing a loss of balance. Reiff seems only average when anchoring against bull rushers, but at the same time he does a nice job of recovering and fighting for position even when pushed off balance.
Everything I've seen has him as a top 10-15 pick (including SBNation's own site Mocking the Draft having him at 6 to the Rams), so being able to pick him up at 19 (and the fourth and final offensive tackle off the board in the first behind Kalil, Martin and Adams) sounds like either a steal or a pipe dream. What do you guys think?