The official offseason draft thread

They wouldn't be going in totally blind. The worst case scenario is Lang at C, Barclay at RG and Bulaga at RT, all vets at positions they've played.

My guess is a young guy will be brought in with Lang as an worst-case scenario. Of course, it'll probably be some Ivy League guy and everyone knows those guys can't play center.

The problem with using Lang at Center to fill in is that one injury requires two spots on the line to be filled.  I'd rather they have a true Center to backup the starter.  Cut down on the "line shuffles".

Manziel will go to Cleveland.

Are you OK, Oshbaul?  I worry about you when you start saying things that are 100% coherent. 

Looking at all the rumors and obvious smokescreens being thrown out there, this my latest mock:

 

Pick	Team	Player
1	Houston	QB Blake Bortles (UCF)
2	St. Louis	OT Greg Robinson (Auburn)
3	Jacksonville	DE Jadaveon Clowney (South Carolina)
4	Cleveland	WR Sammy Watkins (Clemson)
5	Oakland	QB Derek Carr (Fresno St.)
6	Atlanta	DE Kahlil Mack (Buffalo)
7	Tampa Bay	OT Jake Matthews (Texas A&M)
8	Minnesota	OLB/DE Anthony Barr (UCLA)
9	Buffalo	OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan)
10	Detroit	TE Eric Ebron (North Carolina)
11	Tennessee	CB Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma St.)
12	New York Giants	DT Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
13	St. Louis (from Washington)	CB Darqueze Dennard (Michigan St.)
14	Chicago	FS Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama)
15	Pittsburgh	WR Mike Evans (Texas A&M)
16	Dallas	DT Timmy Jernigan (Florida St.)
17	Baltimore	SS Calvin Pryor (Louisville)
18	New York Jets	WR Brandin Cooks (Oregon St.)
19	Miami	OT Zack Martin (Notre Dame)
20	Arizona	DE Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota)

 

This is based on team needs and looking at which positions/players the media are talking about for each team. If the media says Team X is definitely taking a certain position or a specific player, I guarantee Team X is not taking that player/position. Teams have gotten so good at manipulating the media. I stopped at Arizona because I wanted to show, based on this scenario, who could be available. Here's my list of available players (ranked by value):

 

OLB Trent Murphy (Stanford)

WR Marqise Lee (Southern Cal)

CB Jason Verrett (TCU)

CB Bradley Roby (Ohio St.)

OG Xavier Su'a-Filo (UCLA)

OT David Yankey (Stanford)

WR Kelvin Benjamin (Florida St.)

QB Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)

WR Odell Beckham (LSU)

OLB Ryan Shazier (Ohio St.)

DE Dee Ford (Auburn)

ILB C.J. Mosely (Alabama)

WR Allen Robinson (Penn St.)

RB Carlos Hyde (Ohio St.)

DE Scott Crichton (Oregon St.)

TE Jace Amaro (Texas Tech)

WR Davante Adams (Fresno St.)

DE Stephon Tuitt (Notre Dame)

NT Louis Nix (Notre Dame)

 

As you can see there could be a lot of players available at 21 who are either at positions GB doesn't necessarily need or they just simply aren't worth the pick. Some thought it was ridiculous that I suggested a trade back, but I don't see a player available at 21 who will be any better value than if we traded back into the 30's. If Ra'Shede Hageman is available, I fully expect him to the be the pick, but I don't see him being there. I think the only way we pick in round 1 is if we trade UP or there's some kind of Bryan Bulaga scenario where a guy slated for the top 15 drops...only guys that I see that possibly happening with is DT Aaron Donald or DT Timmy Jernigan. 

 

Nice job & nice explanations.

 

A trade down is not ridiculous & certainly not out of the question if TT feels the same value is available 5-10 selections later. He did it with Eddie Lacy & Jordy Nelson & Greg Jennings & others.

 

The guy knows what he is doing & I, for one, appreciate his secrecy. Iced cookies notwithstanding. 

If your scenario is true then other teams may find it to be true also making a trade partner to trade down impossible to make a deal with

Outside of Bortles #1 and Mike Evans falling all the way to Pittsburgh, I could see it going close to that. Receivers are ungodly deep this year, but I think Evans will be too tempting for someone in the top-10. The QBs should drop, part of me hopes they do and if they do I think the chances of Green Bay staying at 21 decreases greatly.

Jesus **** gravy highway....No way Manziel makes it out of the top ten

I see your point. I think there will be good players available to GB, but they will be players at positions GB doesn't necessarily need to pick in r1. As you can see I think there will be several talented CBs, WRs, and QBs available to GB...GB won't pick a QB or CB in r1 and I find it unlikely they will take a WR. There will be teams in the top half of r2 or the end of r1 who might want to jump Philly for a guy like Maqise Lee or Kelvin Benjamin or jump Cincy for a CB like Verrett or Roby. 

quote:

Jesus **** gravy highway....No way Manziel makes it out of the top ten

Which team do you think will draft Manziel?

 

That's exactly what everyone said about Rodgers too. Except Mike Mayock of course.

 

The draft has a funny way of changing very quickly.

Gravedigger:  As it relates to the Packers (for me) where players go are not as important as when they go and I think you did a good job identifying the most likely 20 players off the board when GB selects. 

  I agree that GB would do well to trade back a few places and get at least an additional 3rd round pick.  There are a couple of obvious trading partners if the QB scenario is as you see it.  One is Cleveland who probably would be willing to pay if the guy they like they like is still there at 21. Lot of thoughts about who their guy is but with a Patriot team that actually seems intent on getting a  staring caliber QB this year and they may want to get around the Browns at 26.  NE  may also want Jace Amaro and are willing to pay to ensure they get him. Jacksonville could also be in play but their cost would be steep. Should a trading partner show up I am hoping it is Cleveland as they may still get the player they wanted and a really good 3rd round pick (or a swap of 2nd round positions) for the move!
Pack88

The thing that no one knows is where the Packers rate these guys. I've seen mocks that have Mosley go from the 9th pick to early in the second round. If there is a guy that they really covet there at 21, take him, if there are 10 guys that you view as fairly equal, trade.  

The Shadow knows

Brandin Cooks is short and he, like shorty A-rod, will slide. I think Beckham will go before him. Doesn't change anything except I would never pass over Cooks, but TT would, so the franchise is safe on that one.

 

Yesterday they claimed Manziel is going to the Rams.

 

Which would put the Minnesota lineman in the selection pool.

 

I would not draft a lineman over 6'5". Injury situation just too risky. 

 

 

I do not want to see Ebron in DET.

 

If you've seen my earlier posts, you know I like Cooks too.

 

Man is he smooth in drills at the combine. Supposedly the Jets really like him & a lot of people have him mocked at 19.

 

I'd like to keep Cooks away from SF if at all possible

CJ Fed8wtr61#cierz is making more and more sense in the 3rd or 4th. The guy loves to block. High character. Kind of reminds me of Jordan Cameron in CLE that went in the 4th round in 2011 but CJ is a much better blocker. Cameron is a little faster. Cameron caught a total of 17 passes at USC and 1 TD in essentially two years. He caught 80 passes alone last year and 7 TD's.  

 

I think CJ would be a fantastic Packer if he became a trusted chain mover for AR on 3rd down because it's pretty much a given he'll mix it up with DE's and LB's to help open holes for Lacy and Starks.

 

I could really see TT grabbing him if things line up right.    

Recent comments that Manziel is Favre... "he's that good". Problem is, Holmgren isn't coaching right now and Thompson won't be drafting him.

 

I like Cooks too but don't think he makes it to 21 unfortunately.

 

GD, nice work and I hope it falls similar to what you posted because I too think that would raise the trade-back opportunities.

 

I'm curious if the general consensus that this is the deepest draft in years will impact the return on a trade back.

I think they're talking mobility and arm strength, and not brain strength.

Regardless, still need someone to put the player in a position to succeed.

 

 

We have McCarthy, a QB coaching legend.

 

The other day Baldinger had Jeff Fisher picking the Mathews kid because Fisher had coached the kid's father. 

 

I think just a terrible reason to draft somebody.

 

So taking this network sport analyst approach, the Falcons should take Manziel and then trade him to the Packers. The Packers could use Rodgers to trade up in the draft to pick Evans...

Manziel can improvise "like Favre" all he wants, scramble 'til the cows come home or whatever, but it's the NFL and the main reason Favre was able to improvise (re: get away with a lot of things) was because he had an absolute cannon for an arm, which Manziel doesn't.  

It doesn't hurt when you have 2 top 5 pick LT protecting you (Joeckel and Matthews)  and a 6'5" top 15 WR catching jump balls. And he played in a system that historically has been really QB friendly.

But can he sext, that is the question.

Anyone have any background on Weston Richburg? C out of Colorado St. Have seen GB taking him in round 2 in a few mock drafts. He's pretty much the consensus #1 C in the draft with a second round grade. 

 

CJ Mosley

Weston Richburg

Shane Skov

CJ Fiedorowicz

 

Not a reach to think these guys are Packers in the first 3 rounds in two weeks. And I'd be fine with it. 

 

I do have a feeling everyone's been blowing smoke on Mosley and he's long gone before 21. I think just the opposite on Calvin Pryor and he'll be there at 21. 

 

 

 

 

"When they talk about my versatility, I think they're talking about that I can play wherever they need me to play," Richburg said. "I think if somebody gets hurt, we have guys who are capable, but I'm able and willing to go play any position. ... I've talked to some guys (about the NFL) and they've said that a guy was only a center, and he went into camp and was going against a guy who could play center and guard, and the center-only guy might be a better center than the other guy. But they're going to keep the guy who plays guard and center, so it's really valuable to be trying to do as much as I can."  -Denver Post (10/09/2013)

 

 

Fanspeak has added two new big boards to their simulator. Here is my latest using "Ourlads"

 

Roger Goofball: NFL draft could increase to four days

I was hoping it would go back to a saturday sunday thing

I'd be basking in the afterglow of TT taking another day 1 draft to the woodhshed and bloviating to no end about the shiny newborn Packer (and nursing a filthy hangover) if Goodell didn't get a bug up his hind end and move the draft to May. Last night would have been round 1.

 

Damm you Goodell!!!

 

 

Yeah right....Too much money involved now. It's on Primetime Thursday & Friday. I'm lucky I'm still grandfathered in with diehard status. (130 of us left on the planet) I'm sure at some point in the future they will start charging for those tickets to enter RCMH. If (when) I lose my diehard status, I will never attend a draft live unless they give me tickets. 

Whats there to do there all them hours, Christ its boring as hell when you sit home and watch. Is it any better when you're sitting there?

Goodell is unsure whether the draft will remain in May or go back to April. Traditionally, the draft would take place this weekend.

Earlier this week the talk was that it might get moved back another week next year to mid May. I think that was a smoke screen so that Goodell to get it to 4 days. I think Rog started his career running a game of 3-card monte in NY.

 

 

 

This way Draft Day II can be a mini-series instead of a movie, more face-time for Roger Goofball & Chris Berman.

If in three days people haven't figured out these guys have virtually no clue what they are doing, might as well sell ads for 7 days.