Pre-season 2014 mock draft

Look for the mouth guard

I did this for two reasons:

1. People like mock drafts

2. We can have a good laugh at it in a few months time

I determined the order by splitting the 32 teams into three groups.

Group 1 – the ‘is it April yet?’ collection
Oakland, Jacksonville, San Diego, New York Jets, Detroit, Arizona, Cleveland, Buffalo, Tennessee, Carolina

Group 2 – The ‘oh dear, you’re really average’ section
Dallas, Miami, Kansas City, Washington, Chicago, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia

Group 3 – The big guns, like Seattle etc
New England, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston, Denver, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle

I put the three groups into a random organiser and the results were fairly acceptable. Oakland were given the #1 pick, which is apt given they’re already planning what to spend it on next April. New England face the New York Giants in the Super Bowl (again). And although the Seahawks only picked at #24, at least there’s the satisfaction of seeing San Francisco at #21 — meaning a first round playoff exit for Jim Harbaugh. Shame.


#1 Oakland Raiders – Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina)
I see the argument that says quarterback here — and the Raiders desperately need a quarterback. But how do you pass on Clowney? The simple answer is, you can’t.


#2 Arizona Cardinals – Teddy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville)
If the Cardinals are picking this early in 2014, Carson Palmer clearly didn’t work out. Bridgewater is exactly the type of quarterback the league is looking for — capable of running all the new wrinkles such as the read option but also a formidable pocket passer.


#3 San Diego Chargers – Cyrus Kouandijo (T, Alabama)
The Chargers have holes all over the roster but own a competent veteran quarterback. They started to try and rebuild their offensive line last year and that might continue in 2014. Kouandijo would theoretically replace King Dunlap and he looks like a future franchise left tackle.


#4 Cleveland Browns – Marqise Lee (WR, USC)
I’m not a huge Brandon Weeden fan, but Norv Turner’s offense actually really suits him. Is he the future? Maybe not. But he can be a nice transition player for that franchise. He’ll need help at receiver and Marqise Lee is a phenomenal talent.


#5 Carolina Panthers – Jake Matthews (T, Texas A&M)
Jordan Gross is flirting with retirement and is a free agent next year after restructuring his deal. It’ll create a big hole when he leaves. Matthews has to show he can transition to the left side but there are things about his game that suggest he could be a better player than Luke Joeckel.


#6 New York Jets – Kyle Van Noy (DE, BYU)
The Jets don’t have an outside rusher who can make plays. Kyle Van Noy is undersized but he makes things happen. If he keeps churning out sacks and performs well at the combine, there’s no reason why he can’t be a high pick.


#7 Buffalo Bills – Anthony Barr (DE, UCLA)
The Bills are switching to a hybrid defense and will be looking for a flexible pass rusher to help Mario Williams. Barr has the look of a future star and can play at the line or in space.


#8 Tennessee Titans – Louis Nix (DT, Notre Dame)
Big nose tackle prospect who really turned up in Notre Dame’s Championship run last year. Nix will interest the 3-4 teams too and could be a very early pick.


#9 Detroit Lions – Antonio Richardson (T, Tennessee)
I was a big Dallas Thomas fan in Tennessee and the fact he had to move to guard to accommodate Richardson speaks volumes. I only realised a few weeks ago he was eligible for the 2014 draft. The Lions have Riley Reiff slated to start at left tackle but he could easily move over to the right.


#10 Jacksonville Jaguars – Aaron Lynch (DE, USF)
Lynch is a monster who could go higher than this. The Jaguars are in a talent accumulating transitional stage. If he gets backs up to his Notre Dame weight, Lynch would make a great 5-tech for Gus Bradley’s four man front.


#11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Taylor Lewan (T, Michigan)
I think he’ll end up finding a home at right tackle. The Buccs have a decent roster and much will depend on the form of Josh Freeman this year. Assuming he earns a new contract, a player like Lewan could further bolster Tampa Bay’s offensive line.


#12 Kansas City Chiefs – Sammy Watkins (WR, Clemson)
Andy Reid drafted fast, playmaking receivers in Philadelphia. While he’s already re-signed Dwayne Bowe and now traded for 49ers bust A.J. Jenkins, he might still be looking for a receiver next year. Watkins is electric but needs to show renewed focus.


#13 Chicago Bears – Bradley Roby (CB, Ohio State)
A player who just gets better and better at Ohio State. Roby is a fantastic football player and could be a top ten pick. Chicago’s two starting corners are aged 32 and 29.


#14 Pittsburgh Steelers – Loucheiz Purifoy (CB, Florida)
Purifoy isn’t too far behind Bradley Roby and despite a disappointing Sugar Bowl performance last season, SEC teams generally kept away from him in the passing game.


#15 Philadelphia Eagles – Stephon Tuitt (DE, Notre Dame)
Philly’s defense has been terrible in pre-season. While it was tempting to put a quarterback in this slot (Manziel? Mariota?) it’s hard to see anything but an all-out assault on the defense coming up. It’s just not good enough at the moment. Tuitt has great size and flashed as a pass rusher in 2012. He also looked decidedly average in the BCS Championship against Alabama.


#16 Miami Dolphins – Zack Martin (T, Notre Dame)
It’s still a mystery why the Dolphins threw good money at average free agents, yet allowed Jake Long to join the Rams. Jonathan Martin looked surprisingly poor as a rookie and getting a new left tackle might be priority #1 next year for Miami.


#17 Minnesota Vikings – Tajh Boyd (QB, Clemson)
I’m not sure who will be the #2 quarterback to leave the board behind Bridgewater, but I know Minnesota will probably have to consider getting him next year. Christian Ponder’s 90-yard games won’t cut it. Boyd’s display against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl was tremendous. He’s lost DeAndre Hopkins but retains Sammy Watkins.


#18 St. Louis Rams (from Washington) – Brandon Coleman (WR, Rutgers)
Unless Brian Quick really turns it on this year it’s not unrealistic that the Rams go in search of another big receiver. Coleman makes unreal plays for a guy his size and his inconsistencies can be levelled at the fact he plays with one of the most erratic quarterbacks in college football.


#19 Dallas Cowboys – Timmy Jernigan (DT, Florida State)
Prototype three-technique that’d probably interest Monte Kiffin. Jernigan has all the physical potential in the world but needs to put together a more consistent season. That’ll be tough without Tank Carradine and Bjoern Werner.


#20 St. Louis Rams – Ha Ha Clinton Dix (S, Alabama)
A safety prospect with a ton of potential, he could be the next Nick Saban protege to make it into the first round.


#21 San Francisco 49ers – De’Anthony Thomas (WR, Oregon)
With Tavon Austin going in the top ten this year, could Thomas also secure a high grade? He’d look good in the read option for San Francisco. Plus the NFC West is quickly becoming a copy-cat division. The Rams have Austin, Seattle has Percy Harvin. Will the Niners go for their version?


#22 New Orleans Saints – Denzel Perryman (LB, Miami)
The Saints have gone to a 3-4 and might have some teething problems this year. Up front they need a nose tackle, while they lack a top outside rusher at linebacker. Even so, I’m giving them an inside guy in Perryman here purely as a long-term cornerstone and defensive leader. He’s been compared to Ray Lewis by Tony Pauline.


#23 Atlanta Falcons – Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, Washington)
Tony Gonzalez can’t go on forever and already appears semi retired (he’s been allowed time off during camp). Seferian-Jenkins would be a natural successor to Gonzalez. You never want to compare college players to first-ballot Hall of Famers, but ASJ could be special.


#24 Seattle Seahawks – Colt Lyerla (TE, Oregon)
Whether he becomes more of a feature for Oregon this year or not, Lyerla is destined to blow up the combine in 2014. You have to believe the Seahawks would enjoy moving Lyerla all over the field to create mismatches. He’s 6-5 and 250lbs, but takes snaps at running back, blocks, lines up as a receiver. He’s a great chess piece for a creative offense.


#25 Baltimore Ravens – Adrian Hubbard (LB, Alabama)
The Ravens always make some kind of intelligent move and this would be another one. Hubbard is more of a pass rusher than C.J. Mosley and would fit nicely into Baltimore’s defense.


#26 Denver Broncos – Jackson Jeffcoat (DE, Texas)
Needs to bring it this year. There are too many underwhelming players at Texas these days. Jeffcoat has flattered to deceive but a big year in 2013 and he has first round potential. Let’s see it.


#27 Houston Texans – Daniel McCullers (DT, Tennessee)
At the moment McCullers is more about potential than production. However, at 6-8 and around 350lbs, he’ll turn some heads this season. He won’t be helped by a Tennessee team that is transitioning (again) to a new coaching staff. But he could shine in the post season and be a quick riser.


#28 Indianapolis Colts – Jordan Matthews (WR, Vanderbilt)
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more consistent, reliable receiver in college football than Matthews. He took major strides in 2012 and  just looks like the kind of guy you can imagine Andrew Luck throwing to.


#29 Green Bay – Ed Reynolds (S, Stanford)
Just a flat out playmaker and interception machine. Might not have the athletic qualities to warrant an earlier pick but has every chance of making it into the first frame.


#30 Cincinnati Bengals – Scott Crichton (DE, Oregon State)
I can see the Bengals looking at quarterbacks if Andy Dalton continues to hold back the plethora of weapons Cincy has on offense. Dalton is average. The guys he’s throwing to are world class. The extension for Carlos Dunlap makes keeping Michael Johnson difficult. Although they did draft Margus Hunt.


#31 New York Giants – Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (CB, Oregon)
There’s every chance New York goes cornerback next year. Ekpre-Olomu has great athletic qualities and would fill a need for the Giants.


#32 New England Patriots – Damian Swann (CB, Georgia)
I spent a lot of time watching the Bulldogs last year and this guy constantly kept jumping out. Georgia’s lost a lot of defensive talent to the NFL so it’ll be interesting to see if Swann continues to shine in 2013.

Notes

– Only two quarterbacks are listed in the first round. I can only give Teddy Bridgewater a sure-fire first round grade going into the new college season.

– Don’t sleep on Logan Thomas (QB, Virginia Tech) making a comeback. He had a lousy 2012 season but has all the physical tools. If he can rebound this year and put together a strong season — he could be back in contention as an early pick. A game against Alabama early in the year is the perfect platform to get back on track.

– I resisted the temptation to flood the mock with read-option quarterbacks. I’m not convinced Marcus Mariota (Oregon), Stephen Morris (Miami) and Brett Hundley (UCLA) will declare. Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) just has too much baggage right now to put in round one.

– A.J. McCarron (Alabama) might start in the league for a team that features an orthodox passing game and likes to run the ball. But he isn’t a first round talent. And for me, neither is David Fales (San Diego State).

– The two players I really wanted to include here but couldn’t? Boston College defensive tackle Kaleb Ramsey. He’s had too many injury issues but nobody can deny his talent. Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley. Terrific player but other talented linebackers have struggled to crack the first round.

– If I had to include a running back in this mock it probably would’ve been Ka’Deem Carey (Arizona) or Lache Seastrunk (Baylor) but I can’t see the first round runner for 2014. It’ll be interesting to see how Michael Dyer gets on in Louisville.

49 Comments

  1. MJ

    Colt Lyerla as a Hawk Is too perfect. Brings the attitude/nasty and has the potential to be an absolute night mare in the NFL. He’s definitely my #1 want for the Hawks in 2014. Good stuff Rob.

    • williambryan

      I want Lyerla on this team too bad. If the super bowl doesn’t happen this year, getting lyerla in the draft would be the next best thing

  2. Colin

    And the Seahawks are not at 32 because…?

    • Rob Staton

      It’s a random draw.

      • Bjammin

        Ha, was going to give you crap for that. Pass on my derision to the random draw for me.

  3. James

    Hate to agree with the expert this early in the game, but you could be right on this one, Rob. CJ Mosley is one of the best 3-down 4-3 LBs in years, and is truly elite defending the underneath passing game, which is one of the Seahawks 2 biggest weaknesses, the other being lack of interior pass rush. But the R1 DTs will be gone, and PCJS can find LBs beneath a pile of moss, so an athletic TE may be the call. Sure would love to see Mosley out there on third down, however. Of course, the real weakness of this team is the salary cap…or to say, how to pay Sherman, Wilson, Browner, Tate, Baldwin, Thomas and Okung to name a few. Replacing high priced, older veterans may be the core strategy for the next few drafts.

    • Bjammin

      By the time some of those contracts are up, likely the cap goes up. If they cut rice or others, cap might not be as concerning as we all seem to think it will be. There’s some older players making a lot of scratch. Also could restructure some contracts, pay cuts, etc.

  4. Aaron

    It’s great to see a mock draft again. This site has turned me into a draft fanatic for good.

    First of all the award for the best name has to go to Ha Ha Clinton Dix. That’s the greatest player name to come along in quite some time. (Take that Barkevious Mingo.)

    I too absolutely love Colt Lyerla for the Seahawks. An ultra-physical, old-school, tough-guy, football player who can play full back and tight end? You couldn’t find a better fit for this team right now. (Plus he played for my High School in Hillsboro Oregon, so I’d love to root for the guy on Sundays.)

    I’m not going to argue with the Cardinals having the #2 pick, only because I understand how it came about. You placed them in the bottom third and they randomly came up at that spot. My bold prediction for this season, however, is that the Cardinals finish ahead of the Rams. With a decent-to-good QB in Palmer, an improved run game with Mendenhall and Andre Ellington, and the addition of John Abraham to an underrated defense, watch out for the Cardinals. They’ll be a tough out this year.

    Btw, my other bold prediction is that Tavon Austin will be shown to have been massively over-hyped.

    Finally, I don’t know if he will be a first round pick, but Lake Seastrunk is a bad ass running back IMO who will bring something significant to whatever NFL team drafts him.

    I’m glad to be talking draft again. It’s never too early!

  5. Kip Earlywine

    I just don’t see it with Van Noy, who has almost the exact same size as one of our safeties (Kam Chancellor). Think about how size hurt Irvin last year, and Irvin has far more athleticism, natural talent, and weighed 10 pounds more at the same height while playing in a tougher conference with less experience when compared to Van Noy.

    That’s not to say I don’t think he could get drafted that high though. If Barkevious Mingo could go super-high, Van Noy has a shot. Mingo wasn’t just undersized- he was under productive too. I am still amazed he was drafted as high as he was. At least with Noy, he has some production (in a much weaker conference) and could probably do fine as a traditional LB if he fails as a pass rusher.

    There seems to be a few sketchy picks at pass rusher every year anyway. They are one of the NFL’s rarest commodities and it seems like teams are getting increasingly eager to overdraft them every year.

    Anthony Barr is my guy, if we are talking SAM/OLB type pass rushers. 6’4″, 248 with some room to grow if needed, but looks like a natural 3-4 OLB or maybe a SAM type for Seattle. In 13 games last season he went without a sack just 3 times. One of those three was against one of the elite lines in college football (Stanford), then he came back the very next week against Stanford in the championship game and had a 1.5 sack performance. Barr passes the eyeball test with ease, but what I really like about him is his consistency week to week, which is a rare trait in a pass rusher.

    Van Noy, by comparison, was held without a sack 5 times in 13 games playing a mostly creampuff schedule and when you peak at his game log his production disappears vs. quality opponents. I do think Van Noy is a good football player. He can close quickly against the run (he racked up 22 TFL last season).

    But his uninspiring physical profile and weak competition are major red flags, IMO. He is not an NFL DE. He feasts on OL who can’t anchor and he doesn’t seem to use his hands as well as you’d think he would given his production. He plays too high and only shows strength against very bad linemen. He just looks like the kind of guy that’s going to get knocked on his ass a lot by big, strong NFL O-lineman and he doesn’t have the speed / technique to run right by them. Even if I am wrong on all these counts, what I am very confident in is his limited NFL ceiling. His tools just aren’t that great. I think his upside is similar to O’Brien Schofield.

    To be fair, I don’t think Barr is likely to be a DE in the NFL either; he looks like a huge SAM LB or 3-4 OLB with extremely good upside, both in terms of physical talent and natural pass rush talent. He has his issues too- he seems to lack instincts, but I like how he flashes strength and ability to disengage even against NFL caliber lineman from ranked schools. Coach him up a bit, and he could be great.

    • CHawk Talker Eric

      I like Barr too, and as an Angelino and Bruin fan, I’m very much looking forward to watching him this fall. But if I remember correctly, a lot of his sack production came off of Datone Jones collapsing the pocket or blasting into the backfield and flushing the QB. It will be interesting to see if Barr can maintain his production without Jones on the DL. Sure hope so.

  6. Kip Earlywine

    One player not on this mock who I think might slip into the back of round 1: CJ Mosely. He’s arguably a better linebacker than Upshaw or Hightower who were late 1st/early 2nd round prospects. He’s one of the best all around linebackers I’ve watched in the past 5 years.

    • Kip Earlywine

      He’s also way better than Ogletree, a 1st rounder last year. I think he’s got a decent shot, especially since he has the versatility to play inside or outside.

      • Kenny Sloth

        Don’t sleep on Mariota. Reminds me of a slightly slower Kaepernick. He’s humble and hardworking. Not a natural leader, but works hard to be one. I definitely have him over Manziel for the time being.

        Sam Bradford would be the slowest and oldest quarterback in the NFC West hahahaha.

        • Kenny Sloth

          Dammit. Comment Fail

      • Attyla the Hawk

        Yeah, I believe there was considerable consensus was he would be the top rated LB coming out last year. I’d have a hard time seeing him not make the top 32 unless some kind of injury thing cropped up.

        • Rob Staton

          I remember thinking the same about Arthur Brown last year to be fair.

          • Troy Trocano

            To be fair you were also higher on K. Greene than A. Brown @ LB.

            • Rob Staton

              I liked both. And they both fell. The position overall is not considered premium. I think we’ll consider to see OLB’s suffer a dip.

  7. Unitas77

    What about Aaron Murray q’s Georgia. He seems like a mathew stafford type potential top ten pick.

    • Colin

      I don’t think he’ll go top 10. He could go in round 1 ala EJ Manuel, but he needs to sharpen his game up a fair amount.

      • Kenny Sloth

        I’m concerned about arm strength.. He reminds me of Matt Flynn.

    • MJ

      Aaron Murray = Tyler Wilson. Smaller size. Mediocre arms, BUT could have a chance. Worthy of a mid round flyer IMO.

    • Rob Staton

      Arm strength a big issue for Murray.

  8. Unitas77

    I meant quarterback Georgia.

  9. Kenny Sloth

    Don’t sleep on Mariota. Reminds me of a slightly slower Kaepernick. He’s humble and hardworking. Not a natural leader, but works hard to be one. I definitely have him over Manziel for the time being.

    Sam Bradford would be the slowest and oldest quarterback in the NFC West hahahaha.

  10. Trudy Beekman

    I think Oakland absolutely passes on Clowney for Bridgewater … the QB position is just too important. I don’t disagree that Clowney is the Andrew Luck of DE’s, but Bridgewater adds more value to that organization. I’m kinda rooting for the Raiders to make a resurgence because I think they drafted really well outside of the Hayden pick.

    Don’t want to nitpick about the draft order because it was pseudo-random and that’s not what this exercise is about but the Browns are going to push for the AFC North this year. Also agree with Kip that Barr looks like a far superior prospect than van Noy.

    Haven’t watched all of the tackles but if there are this many guys better than Taylor Lewan, this is a stacked class.

    Tajh Boyd throws high all the time … I guess not stepping through his throws? Watched 6 of his game tapes and that was what I came away with. Mobile, big arm, mehhh accuracy. Tajh “Hang ’em High” Boyd”.

    Brandon Coleman going 3rd and you know this is a stacked class at WR too. If all these guys declare, Jordan Matthews and that kid out of BYU look really good as well.

    Daniel McCullers looked like he could be a Top 15 guy to me and looked like a better DT prospect than either guy out of Notre Dame. I thought he was pretty quick off the snap, extremely strong at the point of attack, very disruptive, played with an unusually high motor for a guy that big, and was also a sure tackler.

    Colt Lyerla could go ahead of ASJ. Just re-watched ASJ against LSU and his blocking was abysmal. Doesn’t seem to play with much physicality outside of being extraordinary at high-pointing. Lyerla is the absolute truth and should go much higher than 25, but him as a Hawk is drool.

    I liked Ka’Deem Carey but he honestly isn’t that fast. Looks like a Gio Bernard without breakaway speed but might be good in a ZBS.

    I also thought Will Sutton would be a first rounder but then I read somewhere that he played at 6’0 270? Yikes. Rushes kind of like Sharrif Floyd the way he gets sideways, which I think compromises his gap integrity, but maybe not. This kid right now could only 1-gap and looks to be a sub-package or pure 3-tech. He’s going to have another big year and will probably get drafted too early. I really think Jordan Hill was the better prospect, but didn’t have the numbers because PSU had him at 1-tech so much.

    Khalil Mack out of Buffalo is the truth and should be a 1st rounder. Sio Moore but better in every way and with all the measureables. There is a YouTube game of him against Kent State.

    • Kenny Sloth

      Khalil Mack is going to have the highest vertical jump out of the LB’s at the combine.

  11. MJ

    I am beginning to think that ASJ will not be a 1st rounder…and trust me, I love ASJ.

    Here’s my thinking: His blocking ability is extremely average for a college TE, which says a lot about a guy his size (elite size). He has the potential to be a good blocker, but as we all know, this is a mentality thing. You have to want to get your hands dirty a la Zach Miller.

    Secondly, his 40 time is going to be really bad. I’m thinking in the 4.8s. Now, I do think he plays faster than that due to his savy as a route runner and overall feel for the game, which is why I love the Tony Gonzalez (30s version) as a comparison. BUT, we all know what a poor 40 time can do on draft day. I do think ASJ has a long, productive career and would enjoy his as a Seahawk.

    All that said, for the Seahawks, I think it’s a no brainer that Lyerla is the better option. He brings the attitude and physical skill set that lines up more with what the Hawks look for. Additionally, I can totally see a contract adjustment/extension with Zach Miller. His “game” will age really well as he’s not dependent upon youthful athleticism, and as we have come to know, his blocking ability is elite and paramount in this offense. So, if we can anticipate/assume Miller is here for another few years and re-negotiates his contract, Lyerla is a perfect fit for what this offense wants to do and the diversity it wants to bring.

    My question for you Rob, who do you prefer between ASJ and Lyerla?

    • Trudy Beekman

      I agree 100% with this. As I said in the last post, ASJ is great at using his size to high-point and looks to be a solid route runner. Watch the game of him against LSU. It is awful. He gets blown up constantly trying to block. It looks like he doesn’t run, just kind of jogs routes or maybe he’s really that slow and no YAC moves, speed, or finishing ability as far as running guys over. ASJ had some great stuff against Utah that I saw and looked like a serviceable enough blocker. The problem I have with him is what you touched on with that “getting your hands dirty” mentality. It just doesn’t show up. He is actually kind of the opposite of Lyerla. ASJ is a guy on paper who should be a physical in-line guy, but is actually a smooth route runner with baby soft hands that can get up after it.

      Lyerla on the other hand is one of the nastiest blockers I’ve ever seen, playing through the whistle and often times his guy is already on the ground. Freak athlete, I’ll post the video of him jumping into a truck bed below. Watching him on those inside runs against Arizona was incredible and the announcers commented on his fluidity through the hole and wiggle in tight spaces. Not something I’ve ever seen out of a guy that was 6’5″ 250lbs. Finishing ability through the roof and you see him drag the pile constantly. His athleticism shows in the open field as well with him cutting and hurlding over guys. It all comes together with him being great after the catch with a full repertoire of moves at his disposal. I can’t comment on his route running as I don’t remember how crisp he was in and out of his cuts, but he has the athleticism. Exceptional hands as well. I don’t think there is a player that is comparable to Lyerla in the NFL right now, and if there is he probably weighs 30lbs less.

      For the Seahawks, I think Lyerla is the clear choice if Luke Willson doesn’t start learning quickly. ASJ to me you have him drop 20lbs and work more as a receiver.

  12. Jacob

    Ugh….anyone else’s stomach drop seeing the Rams take Brandon Coleman? Ever since I read about Coleman on this site, I’ve been watching him closely. It would be nice to find a TE who can run, catch and block great but someone with Coleman’s ability is rare. I’m hoping he makes strides this year in his pass catching but like Rob said, “he plays with one of the most erratic quarterbacks in college football.” and that won’t happen in Seattle. Brandon and Russell could be BFF’s (first time I’ve ever used this abbreviation) for a long time in Seattle.

  13. CHawk Talker Eric

    My top 3 choices for SEA:

    1. Jadeveon Clowney (never get him in a million years)
    2. Brandon Coleman (might never get him in a million years)
    3. Colt Lyerla (might get him in a million years)

  14. Spencer

    I think Cody Hoffman out of BYU is going to surprise people with how high he goes. He is fast, strong,tall, has great hands and has room to put more weight on. Not to mention his career so far has the amazingly fantastic talents of Jake Heaps, Riley Nelson, and Taysom Hill throwing to him.

    • Kenny Sloth

      Has pretty weak hands. Not a good blocker. struggles to get a consistent release. Gets redirected on routes pretty easily. makes wow catches.

  15. Clayton

    Thanks for posting the mock draft! It’s never too early. The question I have is, if Seattle decides to go and get Clowney, what would it take to get him? Would it be as much as what it took for the Redskins to get RGIII (3 firsts and a second)? Even more?

    • Rob Staton

      You’d be talking RGIII ball park.

      • MJ

        Honestly…I’d do that. Yes, we talk crazy every year, but if it’s a potentially premiere QB or Pass Rusher…go for it. Crazy talk, I know, but your core would be RW, Okung, Unger, ET, Sherm, Wagner, Clowney, Harvin, + our Run Game (ie Lynch, Michael, Ware). Yikes, bikes.

        • Miles

          I can honestly say that if we had the chance to get Clowney, I would be happy with an RGIII-esque trade. We have so much talent on this team that we really don’t need to spend a ton of draft picks on upper-echelon college players. I would say our only big remaining concerns are a run-stuffing D-lineman and a solid backup tight end.

          Other concerns are a pass-rushing D-tackle and a tall, game-changing WR. But we presumably have the former with the additions of Michael Bennett and Jordan Hill, and maybe the latter with the addition of Stephen Williams. But WRs, like pass-rushers, are very hard to find, not to mention develop and translate to gameday players. So when you take a WR in the draft, especially early, you should be confident that they will be something special for you. The Seahawks honestly are pretty stacked at WR and with a quarterback that makes all his receivers better, they really don’t need to spend a pick like that.

          Clowney, it seems, would make our defense guaranteed top three in the league every year pending we keep the Legion of Boom intact. Plus if you’re able to keep guys like Avril and Bennett on the roster, along with Irvin, just how good can this defense get? Clowney could help us get to 50 sacks in 2014, and if he could do that, how exactly are teams supposed to do anything against our defense…?

        • Jeff M.

          Bear in mind that RG3 value wasn’t just any old “3 firsts and a second,” it was #6, #39, plus two future firsts. We’d be looking at moving up a lot more than 4 spots to get him.

          According to the trade value chart, #4 is worth 1800 points, and assuming we’re picking in the 30s, our whole draft would be worth about 1100. Even a future first wouldn’t make up the difference, but a future 1st and future 2nd probably would.

          We probably couldn’t get #39 for a future 1st, but maybe a future 1st/future 3rd? We won’t even account for the fact that our other future picks are less desirable (and farther in the future) than the ones the Redskins gave up.

          So conservatively speaking to equal the value RG3 got, we’d have to trade one full draft plus 4 firsts plus at least 1 2nd and 1 3rd. It’s not happening.

          • Connor Jackson

            Yeah let’s please stop the Clowney talk before it even gets started. Thats so ridiculous and silly. This draft is stocked and that’s so nearsighted to say we’re stacked now. You know you do lose players over the years due to salary cap and in 4 years after you’ve given up 4 1st round picks your not gonna be feelen so hot about that trade. Forget about it!

  16. Kenny Sloth

    I like Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. I propose we nickname him Ifo “Pig Latin” Ekpre-Olomu

  17. MarkinSeattle

    I will be surprised if Zach Martin goes that high. He isn’t particularly tall (6’4) with average weight (308), no clue on arms. He does have very quick feet and does a great job sliding in front of his guy, rarely giving up a sack. He kind of reminds me of Bronco LT Ryan Harris. Good technician, but not a physical specimen other than having quick feet. That having been said, if there is a run on OT’s, I could see him going in the first round.

  18. kigenzun

    I’d gladly give the Raiders/Cards 3 firsts and 3 seconds to move up for Jadeveon Clowney. Imagine what he could do for our team’s passrush!!! And besides, we get all our best players in rounds 3 thru 7 + UDFA anyway…

    • Rob Staton

      Clowney is one of the few players I’d consider such a deal for. He’s a superstar in the making with his best football ahead of him.

    • Jeff M.

      It’s probably still not enough, unless you think we’re going to play a lot worse this year than I do. Take a look at the trade value chart, and assuming we’re picking in the 30s, this year’s 1st= ~600 points and 2nd=~300 points. Discounting the next year’s conservatively (subtracting a round and figuring we’re still in top 3rd of league), 1st=~350 points and 2nd=~150 points. And for the final year, 1st=~150 points and 2nd=~50 points.

      So in total you get to (and this is generous by the chart) maybe 1600 points for our 3 1sts and 3 2nds, or the value of the #6 pick. It’s just not possible to move up to a top-2 pick without a 1st in the top half of the round to start with.

  19. Stuart

    It’s never to early for a mock draft! It allows us to get familiar with more players. It’s probably unlikely that we move up since we have already lost our 3rd rounder for Harvin. Boy I hope he comes back in December in time for the playoff push on our way to the Super Bowl.

    Prediction: Russell Wilson will win three Super Bowls and make the Hall of Fame.

  20. Connor Jackson

    I don’t know if I’m the only one that scrolled back up to the top once going through the mock draft then scrolling down and scrolling back up again in shock that CJ Mosley wasn’t in this first round. I have him in like the top 15. He is my DREAM for the Seahawks to get! I would be so estatic if we took a guy that has a knack for always being around the ball and in my opinion what he does best is what our LB’s and defense do the worst… and thats cover the underneath routes. He is poetry in coverage. I will be an advocate for the Seahawks picking him till draft day, but once he rockets up the draft charts (which he will!) then I will be completely on board with Lyerla. Another perfect fit for this squad. And until it gets fixed I will keep looking for monsters at DT to fall in love with in the same way I did with Sheldon Richardson last year. Get Mock draft though and always fan to start up conversation. I do think that by the end of this year ASJ and Van Noy’s draft stock will start to take a hit. My cousin is best friends with ASJ and the dude straight up tells him he HATES TO BLOCK.

    My Seahawks top 3 for now:
    1- CJ Mosley
    2- Aaron Lynch
    3- Colt Lyerla

    • Connor Jackson

      Two other names that need to be reconized are FSU running back James Wilder Jr. (not that he’s a need for Seattle) and Ryan Shazier LB Ohio St.

      • Rob Staton

        I’m not a big fan of Ryan Shazier personally.

    • Rob Staton

      I am a huge CJ Mosley fan, and he was one of the players I desperately wanted to get in there. It’s just I’ve seen so many OLB’s go lower recently than their talent warrants. I think going into this season he’s an early second rounder with amazing value.

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