Some people around here were saying Blake Bortles was a smoke screen as a first round pick right up until the moment Jacksonville took him 3rd overall. Wentz has all the same factors working for him that Bortles did.
Not sure that really proves much... Could just as easily say Jacksonville bought the hype. I don't really have an opinion on Wentz, he very well could be a franchise QB. I am skeptical of a high profile executive of another team volunteering the sincere opinion that the Browns should take him at #2 and be set with a franchise QB for 10-15 years.... That is a self serving statement by someone.
That's basically meant to increase the hype over Wentz, have the Browns select him, resulting in Goff or Lynch dropping to the high profile executive's team.
No offense, but the idea that Pro Player Personnel guys who do nothing but watch film all day are going to be fooled by peer pressure from anonymous quotes on Cleveland.com into drafting an inferior player while internet warriors on a basketball BBS who've watched 45 minutes of game tape are going to see right through the "deception" is laughably self-congratulatory.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> had <a href="https://t.co/1GUncg0Le7">https://t.co/1GUncg0Le7</a> DL Vernon Butler cornered for quite a while, and w/ more than one scout.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeniorBowl?src=hash">#SeniorBowl</a></p>— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseGoodbread/status/691764420905717760">January 25, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I want CJ Procise, he will end up being the best running back of this draft. Maybe a little reach with our 1st rounder but I'd do it then trade up in the 2nd to grab Hackenberg.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NFL_Draft/comments/439emi/film_room_friday/czgxuf9 For anyone interested: my thoughts on Goff's tape against Stanford on r/nfl_draft. I'd post it here but the format's smoother over there for the gyfcats I use as examples.
Procise is an intriguing prospect but taking him in the first is a big reach. Good chance he'll be available in the 2nd or 3rd IMO.
He's a big reach now but come closer to draft time, I guarantee you mocks will have him close to a mid-late first rounder. People don't know much about his game now since he didn't play for a big time school but once more people start looking into him more, the hype on this kid will be through the roof - will definitely be picked before Hackenburg imo
Here's a decent scouting video on him for those who haven't heard of him <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CsiADOEH3Ks" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I actually prefer Procise over Elliot mainly because Procise has much more big play ability/better catcher in the backfield/runs better routes for catches and believe has way more potential Elliot has. Procise has only been a running back for one year and look at the work he has done this year. Reminds me of the Whitey Mercilus situation where he fell in the draft because people thought he was just one year wonder - look at where he is now. Procise has the massive potential to be the one of the best. Can only imagine how much better he can get. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2-MyeF1m7x4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Uh...Notre Dame isn't a big time school? Not that many people know about Procise because he only spent 1 season at RB and missed a lot of time the last 5 games of the season. He looked good in the games he did play in though. He could definitely rise with an excellent pro-day (not sure if he'll get invited to the combine) but as of right now, there are quite a few RBs ranked ahead of him.
Compared to his competition right now in Derrick Henry and Elliot, it isn't. Well I guess there's no way to know for sure now, but don't say I didn't tell you when he ends up being the best RB of this draft
Nvm I like this highlight vid more <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BBG3fbHCgk4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
ESPN INSIDER: McShay Mock Draft 2.0 Spoiler A lot has changed in the NFL since we published our first 2016 mock draft in December. The order for the first 29 picks is now locked in, and the final two slots will be determined by the result of Sunday's Super Bowl between the Broncos and Panthers. (Remember, there are only 31 first-round picks because the Patriots lost their selection as a result of Deflategate sanctions.) With NFL evaluators digging more into college tape -- and several players having breakout performances at last week's Senior Bowl -- our Mock Draft 2.0 looks a little different from version 1.0. Which player will your team select in the first round? Here is our second projection of the 31 first-round picks in the 2016 NFL draft. 1. Tennessee Titans (3-13) Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes If the Titans are looking to trade this pick, they might be able to find a team hoping to jump the Browns to select a quarterback. If no deal materializes, Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil would fill the team's biggest need. But the move is to pull the trigger on Bosa, the best player in the class. You can never have too many pass-rushers. And remember: One of Bosa's best traits is that he's scheme versatile, so he'd be a fit even if the Titans decide to stick with a 3-4 alignment. 2. Cleveland Browns (3-13) Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears If Bosa is still on the board here for whatever reason, he would be a good option. But quarterback is undoubtedly Cleveland's top need, and the more tape I study, the more I believe it's a two-horse race between Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz for the No. 1 passer. As it stands now -- after studying five of Goff's games this season and four of Wentz's -- the two have identical grades. From Cleveland's perspective, Goff has a bit more velocity on his fastball to cut through the wind, while Wentz has more experience playing in the cold. Tough call, but I'll go with Goff for now. 3. San Diego Chargers (4-12) Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels With Philip Rivers now 34, there's a school of thought that says San Diego should pick its long-term successor here (Goff or Wentz). But if the Chargers are going to make a run at the playoffs before Rivers retires, they must solidify their offensive line. Rivers can't function without better protection and more balance from the running game (ranked 31st in the NFL last season). Tunsil -- the top pass-blocking OT in the draft -- needs to improve his strength, but he's an outstanding athlete for his size (6-foot-5, 305 pounds). 4. Dallas Cowboys (4-12) Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State Bison Now that I'm deep into Wentz's tape, I feel very comfortable saying he's a legit first-round talent. He has the height, sturdy frame, natural accuracy, pocket mobility and on-field leadership you look for in a QB. He was 20-3 as a starter at NDSU and won two FCS national titles. You could certainly make a case for the Cowboys taking the best available D-line prospect, such as Oregon's DeForest Buckner. But if Dallas is sold on Wentz (or Goff, if he's available), this could prove to be a very wise long-term investment at the game's most important position. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State Seminoles For a team looking to improve on defense, this would be an ideal scenario. Ramsey is the No. 2 overall player on our board, thanks to his versatility in the secondary (he can play corner or safety at the next level), along with his incredible athleticism. He isn't the best pure man-to-man cover CB in this class (that distinction belongs to Vernon Hargreaves III), but Ramsey is the best all-around player among the secondary crop. 6. Baltimore Ravens (5-11) Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Fighting Irish When picking this high -- and the Ravens rarely do -- you'd ideally like to draft a priority position (QB, OT, pass-rusher, CB or WR, with the order depending on team needs). Stanley benefited greatly from returning to school for his senior season, during which he showed improved strength and technique. He is a fine athlete for his long frame and would give the Ravens a long-term solution at left tackle. 7. San Francisco 49ers (5-11) Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Rebels Chip Kelly must eventually solve the 49ers' QB situation, but if Goff and Wentz are off the board, it's likely not going to happen with this pick. The next-best option: Treadwell, who is this draft's clear-cut top wide receiver. He might not blaze a 4.3 40 at the combine, but he's a legit difference-maker at every level of the field. Treadwell reminds me a lot of Dez Bryant physically when he was coming out of Oklahoma State. This is a big, strong receiver with a very good combination of athletic ability, body control and ball skills. 8. Miami Dolphins (6-10) Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida Gators At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Hargreaves has adequate size to go along with outstanding suddenness, body control and deep speed. He thrives in man-to-man coverage, and with CB Brent Grimes turning 33 this summer, Hargreaves would be a good fit in Miami. The other option would be Oregon DE DeForest Buckner if free-agent-to-be Olivier Vernon leaves town. 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-10) DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon Ducks At 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Buckner isn't a traditional edge rusher -- and some teams may view him as a 5-technique -- but playing in a four-man front, he could be a stout run defender at left defensive end and move inside to rush the QB on obvious passing downs. Buckner, who posted 12.0 tackles for loss in conference play this season, would give the Bucs a much-needed playmaker at DE. 10. New York Giants (6-10) Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Cardinals We've been on Rankins' bandwagon for quite some time, as his combination of quickness and power popped off the screen whenever we turned on the film. After having a terrific week of practices at the Senior Bowl, the versatile D-lineman is shooting up draft boards. At 6-foot-2, 303 pounds, Rankins would give the Giants a devastating DT combo with Johnathan Hankins. 11. Chicago Bears (6-10) Myles Jack, LB, UCLA Bruins An outstanding natural athlete, Jack doesn't fill the Bears' biggest need (edge rusher), but he does given them a major playmaking upgrade at linebacker. While Alabama's Reggie Ragland would be a more traditional ILB fit, Jack -- who's coming off a torn ACL in September -- would provide more versatility in coverage. 12. New Orleans Saints (7-9) A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide Yes, Robinson can play too high at times, but the tape shows a player who frequently took on two blockers, freeing up others along the front seven to make plays. Not many 315-pounders move like Robinson, who found himself in the backfield more often than not. He put up his best production in 2015 (46 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks), but he played even better than those numbers indicate. This offseason for New Orleans is all about finding defensive playmakers, and Robinson certainly fits that bill. 13. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9) Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Spartans At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Conklin shows good mobility for his size, along with very consistent awareness, technique and effort. He plays with power and is a finisher in the run game. He's balanced enough to protect a quarterback's blind side. Even after signing Lane Johnson to an extension, the Eagles need to plan for the future at tackle with Jason Peters now 34. 14. Oakland Raiders (7-9) Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels Conklin would be a good pick here if available, but he's not in this scenario. If the Raiders are willing to take a risk, Nkemdiche is a top-10 talent who has fallen this far because of character concerns. When he's right, the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Nkemdiche is a highly disruptive 3-technique D-lineman with the versatility to play inside and outside. 15. Los Angeles Rams (7-9) Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis Tigers This is a tough call. The Rams have an obvious need at quarterback, but is Lynch their long-term answer? While I still have more work to do on him, Lynch does have a lot of the tools you look for in future NFL starters -- size, arm strength, mobility and the ability to create when the initial play breaks down. Two concerns I have early in the pre-draft process: his inconsistent decision-making and accuracy. 16. Detroit Lions (7-9) Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama Crimson Tide This is a tone-setting player in the middle of the defense, which is exactly what the Lions need. Ragland could fall because of positional value and team needs, but I could make an argument that he's one of the 10 best pure football players in this year's draft. He showed excellent power at the point of attack and has very good straight-line speed for his size. 17. Atlanta Falcons (8-8) Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson The Falcons had a league-low 19 sacks last season, so it's clear they need to continue to bolster their pass rush. Lawson -- a former teammate of Atlanta's 2015 first-round DE Vic Beasley Jr. -- could be the answer because of his good combination of power, quickness and relentlessness. This also would be a great spot for Notre Dame OLB Jaylon Smith, who tore his ACL and MCL in the Irish's bowl game and would be a top-five player in this draft if healthy. 18. Indianapolis Colts (8-8) Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Buckeyes Andrew Luck would love this pick after getting beat up in 2015 before suffering season-ending injuries. The 6-foot-7 Decker has enough range, strength and toughness to hold up in pass protection on the perimeter in the NFL. He's not overpowering as a run-blocker, but he's highly efficient and consistent. 19. Buffalo Bills (8-8) Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish This selection comes with some risk because of Smith's knee injury, but if the Bills' doctors clear him, Smith would be a great pick. He took his game to the next level this past season and is an elite athlete. Smith has experience playing inside and outside and would fit well as the weakside off-ball linebacker in Rex Ryan's defense. Other options here: Alabama DT Jarran Reed and Ohio State OLB Darron Lee. 20. New York Jets (10-6) Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes Elliott makes a lot of sense for the Jets, whose top three running backs are all free agents. Over the past two seasons, Elliott has shown plenty of examples of his game-breaking ability as a rusher (3,699 yards and 41 TDs). He's also an outstanding pass-blocker -- the best RB I've ever studied in that area -- and a reliable weapon as a pass-catcher. Depending on what the Jets decide to do with free-agent DTs Muhammad Wilkerson and Damon Harrison, Reed also could be in play at this spot. 21. Washington Redskins (9-7) Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide Reed is one of the best run-stuffing defensive linemen in this draft, which is saying something considering the talent pool up front. And while his sack numbers are underwhelming (2.0 total in two seasons), he still provides adequate inside push as a bull rusher. Even if free agent Terrance Knighton returns, it's time for Washington to add youth to its defensive front. 22. Houston Texans (9-7) Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Quarterback is clearly the top need for Houston. Michigan State's Connor Cook is the next-best available player there, but he's a reach at No. 22 overall. Christian Hackenberg could be in play for the Texans in Round 2, considering his connection with coach Bill O'Brien. Butler would fill another need along the interior of the D-line. He showed off outstanding agility for his size (325 pounds) at the Senior Bowl last week. He plays with explosive power and brings a unique skill set to the field. Spoiler 23. Minnesota Vikings (11-5) Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes A former high school quarterback, Lee is a terrific athlete and a natural playmaker, racking up 27.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 INTs and 3 forced fumbles over his past two seasons. He's still developing as a run-stopping LB, but he has come a long way in that regard. Even if Minnesota signs free-agent LB Chad Greenway, it's time to add another young piece to the linebacker corps. 24. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes This might be a bit of a reach, but the Bengals could certainly use a versatile offensive weapon like Miller. He was the best pure athlete on the field during Senior Bowl practices, dazzling in agility drills and one-on-ones. His precise route-running ability is not indicative of a player who has been playing the position full time for less than a year. With three WRs set to be free agents, Cincinnati has lots of question marks after A.J. Green at that position. 25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Buckeyes With good length (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) and top-end speed, Apple showed he could turn and run with Notre Dame speedster Will Fuller during the Fiesta Bowl. He's also a strong tackler and run supporter, which are qualities the Steelers value highly in their defensive backs. 26. Seattle Seahawks (10-6) Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor Bears Billings has freakish weight-room strength that he puts to good use as a run defender. A great athlete for the position, he displays an impressive combination of quickness and power. Billings improved his consistency as a third-year starter, and that led to him playing the best football of his career in 2015 (14.0 TFLs and 5.5 sacks). 27. Green Bay Packers (10-6) Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas Razorbacks This is not a deep TE class, so the top prospects could come off the board earlier than expected. Henry is an underrated talent, partly due to playing in Arkansas' run-heavy offense. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, he has the body type to make plays down the seam, and he has shown the intelligence to find holes in zone coverage. Aaron Rodgers needs an upgrade at TE, and Henry would give him another weapon in the passing game. 28. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State Buckeyes With nine career interceptions, Bell displays great instincts and range in coverage. He's an aggressive and tough run defender who had remarkable durability, playing in all 42 Ohio State games since 2013. This is an NFL-ready safety who could start for the Chiefs in Week 1. 29. Arizona Cardinals (13-3) Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky Colonels Spence tore it up at the Senior Bowl, displaying natural speed and athleticism off the edge. He might be the best pure pass-rusher in this draft. He's a top-15 talent -- until you factor in his off-field issues. A former top recruit, Spence was suspended twice at Ohio State for using Ecstasy, before transferring to Eastern Kentucky in 2015. Teams will really have to do their homework on Spence, because you can't teach his type of quickness. 30. Denver Broncos (12-4) Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana Hoosiers Spriggs is getting a lot of first-round love after a strong Senior Bowl. I need to study more of his tape, but from what I've seen so far, this would be a reach. With that said, we see teams reaching for offensive tackles in the first round nearly every year. A team like Denver, which needs to upgrade its O-line, could get enamored with a LT prospect like Spriggs, who showed off ideal measurables and good athleticism at the Senior Bowl. 31. Carolina Panthers (15-1) Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson Tigers Dodd notched 23.5 tackles for loss this season, second in the FBS to his fellow Clemson DE Shaq Lawson. Dodd brings a great energy to the game, and I think he's a more fluid athlete and a better natural edge rusher than Lawson. But Dodd is not as stout vs. the run or as consistent. Notre Dame WR Will Fuller also would make sense here because of his ability to stretch the field vertically.
I'm beating a dead horse here. Please excuse me. My better judgement is just to let this drop, but I'm bored, and I have a penchant for bad decisions. You think it's a smoke screen, it looks nothing like one to me. I should leave it at that. BUT... respectfully, from what I've seen this is how smoke screens work: You "show" something that isn't true to obfuscate. That happens every year. Teams have an allotted number of interviews at the combine, and about 1/3 to 1/2 are scheduled with people the team doesn't like very much. But nobody believes a word coming out of anybody else's mouths. What was the last smokescreen you can remember where someone tried to sell you brand B, with the hope of setting up some intellectual Rube Goldberg machine, causing a chain reaction knocking brand A to a different trajectory? The only recent direct talk "smoke screens" I can remember were Cam Newton and Clowney, and those were all . And, honestly, I'm not 100% sure they were screens. I can't ever remember anything as circuitous as hyping one guy so another will fall. I don't think that happens "all the time" at all. Honestly, if you know of any examples, I'd be interested. I find it much more likely that some fat old scouting guy was trying to talk up a moderately cute reporter, and dropped a quote about something that wasn't exactly top secret. If it were a smoke screen, I'd expect a big spiel about how Cowboys coaches spent 3 hours interviewing Wentz, or something like that. Some random quote from some random"NFL executive" with no further appellation dropping a quote three months before the draft looks like a pretty half-assed attempt at a smoke screen if that's what they are trying to do. Go back and look at Senior Bowl coverage from the last few years. The guys getting hype are guys who rocketed up in the actual draft. BTW, when I said Wentz is like Bortles, I wasn't just talking about situation. He's big. He's a top notch athlete for the position (without stepping up to Vick "freak" level). He's got a ton of tools. He's raw, but has good reason to be raw (poor competition level, unlike Jamarcus Russell, for whom being raw after being a starter in the SEC should have been a huge red flag). He has good basic instincts, and he interviews as a guy who will follow a coach's direction. I loved Teddy Bridgewater, for example, but it takes all of 2 seconds to figure out why the NFL didn't. Wentz and Bortles both look and feel like what a coach wants in their dream QB - the perfect lump of clay to mold into exactly what they want. If you went down to Central Casting and ordered up a QB, he would look and talk like Bortles or Wentz. I like Wentz from what I've seen, but I didn't like Bortles and did like Bridgewater. That said, I've come to understand why Bortles was what coaches wanted more and why teams didn't "trick" Jacksonville into taking him. The NFL is a cattle market. NFL teams want physical measurables above all else, preferably paired with the right personality.
