FanPost

SMD's Mid-Season First Round Mock Draft

Nfl-draft_medium

Yes, the moment you've all been waiting for. I know ya'll been wonderin when SMD was gonna give ya'll his first mock draft of the season, well here it be. The basis behind this mock draft is not only team need, i also tried to get into the mind of the GM. So we'll see how i can do with this. I've had success predicting draft picks in the past (EJ Manuel to the Bills, CornWash to the Bears, along with others) For those of you who are new to WCG and have never seen a post of mine, I have been considered a draft genius. I'm the Kanye of draftniks.

Note: I didn't feel like writing out my own draft order so I used WalterFootball.com 's projected draft order. They just take purely record into account, so it's completely un-biased.

Round 1


Jacksonville (0-8)- Marcus Mariota, QB, OR-Everyone is going Bridgewater here, not me. Mariota has three major advantages over Bridgewater. Durability, Mobility, and style points. Mariota is the type of guy a new GM and HC can build a franchise around. I'm not saying Bridgewater is bad. Because he's not, he's very good. I just think Mariota has a bigger boom/bust ratio that will attract the #1 overall team

Tampa Bay (0-7)- Teddy Bridgewater, QB, LOU- Here's where I have Bridgewater. Honestly, it could be either or for #1,#2. It's Luck/Griffin all over. Neither choice is a bad choice. to be completely honest I could see Anthony Barr, or Clowney going here too. I go with Teddy because I fully believe Lovie Smith to be coaching in TB next year, and I think he will learn from his mistakes and try his hardest to get a real franchise QB, and Bridgewater fits the bill. Strong arm, mobile enough, and he's got that marketable smile.

Minnesota (1-6)- Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA - First off, I'd like to say I fully expect Minnesota to shop this pick so that they can get into the middle of the 1st and draft Tajh Boyd. I don't do trades in my drafts so they take the BPA at a position of need. I expect them to keep Jared Allen around, and this year is deep at pass rusher, so they pass on Clowney and go for the best LB available. Barr is fast, smart, and strong. He has drawn comparisons to Clay Matthews. Oh and by the way he reportedly ran a 4.4.

New York Giants (2-6)- Jadaveon Clowney, DE, SCAR - So here he is. Had Clowney come out last year he may have been the #1 overall pick. I take that back, he WOULD have been the #1 overall pick. But, so far this year he has been a somewhat disappointment. Still, even with his injuries and his down season, he is a physical freak at the DE position. He could play 3-4 DE, 4-3 DE, and even scoot inside on passing downs. I know the NYG would be ecstatic if Clowney was there when they picked.

St. Louis - from Washington (2-5) - Jake Matthews, OT, TAMU - Jake Long has been a disappointment to say the least. If St. Louis expects to move forward with Sam Bradford, they will need to protect him. Robert Saffold could be a FA after the season. Jake Matthews is comparable to Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel from last year. He could come in day 1 and anchor that line for 15 years.


Atlanta (2-5) - Louis Nix, DT, ND -
ATL has to do something about their defense and it all starts up front. Louis Nix is the type of player that can literally play any position on the line. At 6'2, 345lbs, he's as stout as Dwarven Ale, but as quick as a mongoose. He can play football and that's what Atlanta needs right now, football players.

Houston (2-5) - Johnny Manziel, QB, TAMU - Boom! Throwing out my wild card. this is going to be a super popular pick this year. Just like Tebow to Jacksonville was a couple years ago, except, you know, Manziel can actually throw the ball. He's got Russel Wilson's arm with Mike Vick's legs. This kid is the real deal and if he can keep his nose clean he could be in a gold jacket in 20 years.

Pittsburgh (2-5) - Taylor Lewan, OT, MICH - Pittsburgh's OL is remenecent of the 2009-2011 Bears' OL. Horrible. They need to get younger, quicker, stronger, and just all around better. Lewan is big (6'7, 320lbs), fast (expected 4.8), and strong. He can come in and immediately provide Big Ben's back side protection.

Philadelphia (3-5) - Tajh Boyd, QB, CLEM - I guess I'll go mainstream here. Philly has so many needs that I had like 10 guys they could've taken here. In the end it came down to the fact that Chip Kelly needs a QB. Vick is done and Foles kinda sucks. Boyd is fast enough to run this offense and smart enough to be able to learn the next HC's offense once Kelly gets fired in a year or so.

Buffalo (3-5) - Khalil Mack, LB, BUFF - The Bills need some major defensive help, and Khalil Mack is a complete beast. He can rush the passer, or drop back into zone. He could be the leader this defense needs.

St. Louis (3-4) - Hasean Clinton-Dix, S, BAMA - St. Louis took TJ Macdonald last year and he's shown some flashes, however they need a good FS to pair him with. "HaHa" is that guy. He isn't a strong tackler, but he has the ball skills to play in Fisher's style of 4-3.

Cleveland (3-4) - Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU - Browns need a QB with more star power than Brandon Weeden or Brian Hoyer. They take Mettenberger here because he is the combination of size, speed, and arm strength that you can build a franchise around.

Oakland (3-4) - Sammy Watkins, WR, CLEM - The argument can be made that Watkins should be higher. IDK, i feel like teams aren't valuing wide receivers as highly as they have in the past. It looks like Oakland wants to role with Pryor, so if they want him to succeed then they need to give him weapons.

Tennessee (3-4) - Cyrus Kouanjio, OT, BAMA - Tennessee spent big money on their interior line, but they still need help on the edges. Cyrus provides the size and athleticism to come in and play RT early, then eventually make the shift to the left side.

Miami (3-4) - Antonio Richardson, OT, TENN - Bryant McKinnie is still pluggin away at the age of 67, but he can't play forever, they need to find a franchise backside blocker, and Richardson could be that guy.

Baltimore (3-4) - Mike Evans, WR, TAMU - Baltimore has a #2 player #1 and a KR playing #2. They need a big, physical guy who can come in and command that safety bracket to open Torrey Smith. Mike Evans is 6'5 230lbs. He's been compared to Brandon Marshall, except faster. The Ravens could use him like they used Anquan Boldin.

New York Jets (4-4) - CJ Mosely, LB, BAMA - The Jets may have finally found their QB in Geno Smith, now they just need to find that guy on defense that can lead them. Mosely could be that guy. He's a pass rusher who could excel in Rex's defense

Arizona (4-4) - Vic Beasley, LB, CLEM - Arizona needs front 7. Vic Beasley is a solid LB who excels at getting after the passer. This pick makes sense.

Chicago (4-3) - Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, ND - Bears are weak on the DL. Very weak. They need some star power, and Tuitt brings it. Ever wonder why Manti Te'o had the stats he did? Look no further. Tuitt is a man amongst boys. He's 6'6 300 lbs. He can play 4-3 DE, and slide in to DT on passing downs. Don't let his size fool you, I fully expect him to run a 4.6, as well as put up 40 on the bench.

Carolina (4-3) - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, OR - If Carolina has a weakness on defense it's definitely their secondary. They add speed and size here. No need to elaborate.

Dallas* (4-4) - Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, MINN - Dallas has to get a 3tech to run their newly installed Tampa 2. Hageman can be that guy. He can rush from all four line positions and is big enough to stuff the run.

San Diego* (4-3) - Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida - San Diego has to figure out how to fix their defense. It's absolutely atrocious. Purifoy is more athlete than anything. His football mind isn't fully developed, but he will be the best athlete on the field. also, he plays special teams.

Detroit* (5-3) - Marqise Lee, WR, USC - Detroit has to figure out who they can line up across from Megatron. Because they absolutely suck without him.


Cleveland - from Indianapolis* (5-2) - Jordan Matthews, WR, VANDI - Browns have to replace Greg Little. He's become a liability. Matthews brings sure hands and would give whichever QB the Browns decide to go with their first pick, a great WR to grow with.


Green Bay* (5-2) - Will Sutton, DE/DT, AZST - It's not unknown that GB's DL isn't spectacular. Sutton is a big run stuffer who would be a 5-tech in their system.

New England* (6-2) - Allen Robinson, WR, PennST - We see what happens when you give Tom Brady a bunch of no names, so let's give him one of the more reliable pass catchers in the nation. Robinson has made an 18 year old QB look good this year, so he can come in and give Tom Brady that safety blanket he likes.

Cincinnati* (6-2) - Bradley Robey, CB, OSU - Terrance Newman and Adam PacMan Jones are old. they need to inject some youth into their defensive backfield. Robey gives speed and intelligence to a defense that could be stacked.

San Francisco* (6-2)Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida - Roberson may be the more sound player out of the two Florida DBs i have going in my first round. He's a solid corner who can learn behind Carlos Rogers and eventually take over.

New Orleans* (6-1) - Cameron Erving, OT, FSU - I honestly think NO misses Bushrod. Drew Brees is still having an MVP season, but he's not as comfortable as normal back in the pocket. I give them the big OT from FSU here.

Denver* (7-1) - Cyril Richardson, OL, BAY - Yet another mainstream pick. everyone's got Denver going Richardson. Zane Beadles is the bane of Peyton Manning. They've got to replace him.

Seattle* (7-1) - Brandon Coleman, WR, RUT - Who wouldn't want a 6'5 220lb receiver? i know Russel Wilson does.

Kansas City* (8-0) - Craig Loston, DB, LSU - I look at the Chiefs and I honestly see no blaring weakness. The only reason they didn't have this success last year is because they had poor coaching. They had like 40 pro bowlers last year. I am giving them Loston, who is a strong special teamer, can play the NB, or either safety position.

So there you have it. this is my first edition. My next mock, whenever that is, will be a two rounder. Enjoy.

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.