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I thought about doing something crazy here, but I ultimately changed my mind. My idea was to swap one of the 6ths for Miami's 7th and Suh (since Miami is reportedly wanting to get rid of him). Imagine Suh at NT next to Donald and Brockers. I'd love to see that, but it is doubtful that it happens. Shaquem Griffin will not be in this mock (but I still love his game and want him). Without further ado, here we go:
Cut
WR Tavon Austin
ILB Mark Barron
I don't see anyone trading us anything for Austin. Barron played well for us, but we can find a better fit for our scheme.
Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - 5 years $25 million
S LaMarcus Joyner - Franchise Tag (5 years $45 million extension)
S Cody Davis - 3 years $4.5 million
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million
We let Trumaine walk. Sammy gets a better offer and also walks. The rest of it is consistent with what I've done before in past mocks.
Free Agency
C Weston Richburg - 5 years $42.5 million
ILB Avery Williamson - 5 years $32.5 million
OLB Pernell McPhee - 1 year $3.5 million
Weston Richburg was considered to be one of the best Centers in the NFL before missing almost all of 2017 with concussion issues. The Jets are reportedly very interested in Richburg, so that may make it difficult for us to land him. However, if we do, he'd offer us a Center with the potential to be among the best in the NFL in his prime. That would lock down the spot for us for years.
Avery Williamson fills our need of more of a thumper ILB next to Ogletree. At 6'1" 246 pounds, Williamson has the size and strength to handle the more physical ILB role in our defense. He has four years of starting experience for Dick LeBeau in his 3-4 in Tennessee, and will only turn 26 years old next week. Williamson has some limitations in coverage, but he's been very effective and productive against the run.
Pernell McPhee flashed a lot of ability in Baltimore and Chicago and has a lot of experience in the 3-4. He can replace Barwin in our scheme. He's had some injury issues the past few years, but I think he could do well platooning with Samson. He's a big OLB who can set the edge, but can also get after the passer. If he's able to stay healthy, he could provide us solid play at SOLB.
Trade
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #22
Broncos trade Round 7 Pick #7 and CB Aqib Talib
The Broncos will likely have to cut him, so they take what they can get here. We get Talib on a two-year $19 million deal with no guaranteed money left.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #23 - Harold Landry OLB Boston College
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqnW41ooVG4
Analysis: Landry possesses the potential to be one of the NFL's premier pass rushers. Landry decided to return to school after a 2016 season where he produced 22 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, and 7 FFs. However, Landry had a down year and saw his stock tumble a bit. Regardless, Landry wins like Robert Quinn. He's extremely explosive off the ball and can bend around the edge to get to the QB. His short stature (6'2" 252) and low center of gravity also allows him to play under blocks when he turns the corner. In 2016, Landry flashed some diversity to his pass rush approach by showing impressive hand usage and an effective inside move at times along with flashing a speed-to-power rush. However, in 2017, he was too reliant on attacking the edge. If Landry can develop those secondary and counter moves and bring back his more sophisticated pass rushing plans, he could be one of the NFL's best pass rushers. If he just relies on his speed and bend, he'll still be effective, especially with our interior's ability to collapse the pocket, but he won't reach his incredible potential. As a run defender, Landry can set the edge and hold his ground, but he gets engulfed at times by bigger OTs and needs to be more aware on trap plays as he gets too aggressive and allows himself to be pinned inside. He's shown the ability to drop into coverage with some effectiveness and has rushed out of two, three, and four-point stances. I'd say he looks most explosive with his hand in the dirt. @Boston Ram
Round 3 Pick #23 - Derrick Nnadi NT Florida State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ppqsBUMiB4
Analysis: I don't really understand why Nnadi isn't higher rated than he is. He's as consistent and reliable as they come on tape from snap to snap. It's hard to find a bad snap from him. At 6'1" 317 pounds, Nnadi is a short and squatty NT. However, he has long arms and big hands for a 6'1" player and uses them well. Nnadi is very difficult to move off the ball due to his low center of gravity, natural leverage, and impressive overall strength (both in his ability to anchor and his ability to overpower OLs with his upper body). As a run stopper, Nnadi can stack double teams, shed single blocks, and move laterally to disrupt zone blocking schemes. He's a tremendous run stopper at NT against both zone and gap schemes. As a pass rusher, Nnadi offers more upside than you'd expect out of a guy with his body type and run stopping chops. He has very heavy hands, great strength throughout his body, and good agility. He's not very explosive off the ball and doesn't possess great closing speed, but he is quite adept at bulling interior OLs into the QBs face or overpowering OLs on stunts and twists. Nnadi displays a great motor on both running and passing downs. I'm really surprised he is seen as a mid-round pick. He'll be a rock in the middle of somebody's defense, so let's make it ours.
Round 4 Pick #11 - Antonio Callaway WR Florida
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcuxLvpI-k
Analysis: Callaway is one of the most frustrating players I've seen in college football. If the kid would have taken his head out of his arse, we'd be talking about him as a top 10 or 15 pick and the #1 WR in this class. Callaway checked into the Combine at 5'11" 200 pounds and posted a 4.41 40. He put up outstanding tape at Florida as a freshman and sophomore with bad QB play. He's a dynamic returnman in addition to his receiving skills. Yet, this kid continuously landed himself in trouble year after year. Regardless, I think it's worth the risk in the 4th round. If he doesn't get his crap together, cut him and move on. If he does, you will have a top 10 NFL WR. Callaway is an explosive and sudden athlete with see ya later type speed. He runs by defenders who don't give his deep speed due respect, and he embarrasses defenders at the LOS with his quickness and explosion. While under 6'0", Callaway plays with a mean streak and is willing to get physical. He's extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch with the ability to make people miss and break tackles. His hands can be a bit inconsistent, but I don't think it's an issue that can't be solved. His route running needs a lot of polish, but his physical tools allow him to compensate. Hopefully, Woods and Kupp can take him under their wing and show him how to run routes, study film, and work hard. If Callaway manages to stay out of trouble, we won't miss Sammy Watkins or Tavon Austin.
Round 5 Pick #23 - Scott Quessenberry C/OG UCLA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTrruoBYB0o
Analysis: Scott Quessenberry is a guy whom I've liked for years. He has the versatility to play anywhere on the interior, good size at 6'4" 315, and a lot of experience as a starter. Athletically, he showed out well at the Combine, which surprised me., He's also a smart player with good technique who will play through the whistle. I really liked his film while zone blocking as well. His brother, David, overcame cancer to return to the NFL. Scott is the type of kid who will make a great backup on the interior and could end up starting down the line for us somewhere. He likely won't be an elite player, but he projects as a potentially solid starter.
Round 6 Pick #9 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTirt1ZQFI4
Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.
Round 6 Pick #20 - Greg Senat OT Wagner
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhYEq9vwIlE
Analysis: Greg Senat is a ball of clay for Aaron Kromer to mold. He'll get to start off as a swing OT for us, which is for the best for Senat. It'll allow him to bulk up and get stronger. Senat was arguably the best OT on the field during the E-W Shrine Game and surprised a lot of evaluators with how quickly he improved and caught on. Senat's film at Wagner is uneven. He's a very raw OT who needs to get stronger, but his smoothness, length, and overall athleticism are easy to see on tape. Senat started his career at Wagner on the basketball team and didn't join the football team until after his sophomore year. Thus, it is understandable that he's raw and needs to get stronger because he only has two years of football experience at a small school. Still, Senat has starting OT potential down the line, and we have one of the best OL Coaches in the game to develop him. At 6'6" 305 pounds with nearly 35 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Senat has all the dimensions of a starting NFL OT, and nobody doubts his movement skills. He's a worthwhile project and good depth player to have while Toth is serving his time in the military.
Round 6 Pick #21 - Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lpqc99k9-I
Analysis: Phillip Lindsay's nickname is the "Tasmanian Devil" because of his endless energy, toughness, and refusal to let his size limit him. At 5'8" 190 pounds, Lindsay is definitely undersized, but that didn't stop him from rushing for 2726 yards and 30 TDs over the past two seasons at Colorado. He also caught 76 passes during that time. Lindsay is a fearless pass protector who will stonewall edge rushers despite his small stature. He saved his QB from a number of hits in college. He's actually been compared to Chris Thompson by some, and there's validity to the comparison. Lindsay is small with good speed, great pass protection skills, and good pass-catching skills. He won't break a lot of tackles as a runner, but he'll get what's blocked. He has the potential to be a valuable HB on passing downs.
Round 7 Pick #7 - Brett Toth OT Army
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slHlORcQodQ
Analysis: Brett Toth stood out at both the E-W Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl in a big way. Measuring in at 6'6" 303 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Toth has all the dimensions of a NFL OT. After playing in a triple-option offense, Toth impressed with his pass protection skills in the off-season bowl games. Toth can also get after it in the running game. On top of that, Toth is graduating from Army with a degree in Physics. Originally recruited as a Tight End, Toth added weight and ended up at RT for Army helping them to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in quite awhile. You must be asking yourself, "Why is a such a smart and gifted player with LT traits falling this far in the Draft?" Toth has to serve two years in the military before he can play in the NFL. Last year, the DOD change the rules to prevent athletes from getting waivers allowing them to play immediately in the NFL. It's possible the DOD could change its mind and grant Toth an exception, but it seems unlikely. Due to that, any team that drafts him must wait two years for him to play.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Josh Reynolds vs. Antonio Callaway
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Weston Richburg
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Derrick Nnadi
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Harold Landry
WILB: Alec Ogletree
SILB: Avery Williamson
SOLB: Pernell McPhee
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
I'll probably put out my next mock pretty quickly because I've been sitting on this one until the Combine ended, and FA is right around the corner.
Cut
WR Tavon Austin
ILB Mark Barron
I don't see anyone trading us anything for Austin. Barron played well for us, but we can find a better fit for our scheme.
Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - 5 years $25 million
S LaMarcus Joyner - Franchise Tag (5 years $45 million extension)
S Cody Davis - 3 years $4.5 million
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million
We let Trumaine walk. Sammy gets a better offer and also walks. The rest of it is consistent with what I've done before in past mocks.
Free Agency
C Weston Richburg - 5 years $42.5 million
ILB Avery Williamson - 5 years $32.5 million
OLB Pernell McPhee - 1 year $3.5 million
Weston Richburg was considered to be one of the best Centers in the NFL before missing almost all of 2017 with concussion issues. The Jets are reportedly very interested in Richburg, so that may make it difficult for us to land him. However, if we do, he'd offer us a Center with the potential to be among the best in the NFL in his prime. That would lock down the spot for us for years.
Avery Williamson fills our need of more of a thumper ILB next to Ogletree. At 6'1" 246 pounds, Williamson has the size and strength to handle the more physical ILB role in our defense. He has four years of starting experience for Dick LeBeau in his 3-4 in Tennessee, and will only turn 26 years old next week. Williamson has some limitations in coverage, but he's been very effective and productive against the run.
Pernell McPhee flashed a lot of ability in Baltimore and Chicago and has a lot of experience in the 3-4. He can replace Barwin in our scheme. He's had some injury issues the past few years, but I think he could do well platooning with Samson. He's a big OLB who can set the edge, but can also get after the passer. If he's able to stay healthy, he could provide us solid play at SOLB.
Trade
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #22
Broncos trade Round 7 Pick #7 and CB Aqib Talib
The Broncos will likely have to cut him, so they take what they can get here. We get Talib on a two-year $19 million deal with no guaranteed money left.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #23 - Harold Landry OLB Boston College
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqnW41ooVG4
Analysis: Landry possesses the potential to be one of the NFL's premier pass rushers. Landry decided to return to school after a 2016 season where he produced 22 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, and 7 FFs. However, Landry had a down year and saw his stock tumble a bit. Regardless, Landry wins like Robert Quinn. He's extremely explosive off the ball and can bend around the edge to get to the QB. His short stature (6'2" 252) and low center of gravity also allows him to play under blocks when he turns the corner. In 2016, Landry flashed some diversity to his pass rush approach by showing impressive hand usage and an effective inside move at times along with flashing a speed-to-power rush. However, in 2017, he was too reliant on attacking the edge. If Landry can develop those secondary and counter moves and bring back his more sophisticated pass rushing plans, he could be one of the NFL's best pass rushers. If he just relies on his speed and bend, he'll still be effective, especially with our interior's ability to collapse the pocket, but he won't reach his incredible potential. As a run defender, Landry can set the edge and hold his ground, but he gets engulfed at times by bigger OTs and needs to be more aware on trap plays as he gets too aggressive and allows himself to be pinned inside. He's shown the ability to drop into coverage with some effectiveness and has rushed out of two, three, and four-point stances. I'd say he looks most explosive with his hand in the dirt. @Boston Ram
Round 3 Pick #23 - Derrick Nnadi NT Florida State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ppqsBUMiB4
Analysis: I don't really understand why Nnadi isn't higher rated than he is. He's as consistent and reliable as they come on tape from snap to snap. It's hard to find a bad snap from him. At 6'1" 317 pounds, Nnadi is a short and squatty NT. However, he has long arms and big hands for a 6'1" player and uses them well. Nnadi is very difficult to move off the ball due to his low center of gravity, natural leverage, and impressive overall strength (both in his ability to anchor and his ability to overpower OLs with his upper body). As a run stopper, Nnadi can stack double teams, shed single blocks, and move laterally to disrupt zone blocking schemes. He's a tremendous run stopper at NT against both zone and gap schemes. As a pass rusher, Nnadi offers more upside than you'd expect out of a guy with his body type and run stopping chops. He has very heavy hands, great strength throughout his body, and good agility. He's not very explosive off the ball and doesn't possess great closing speed, but he is quite adept at bulling interior OLs into the QBs face or overpowering OLs on stunts and twists. Nnadi displays a great motor on both running and passing downs. I'm really surprised he is seen as a mid-round pick. He'll be a rock in the middle of somebody's defense, so let's make it ours.
Round 4 Pick #11 - Antonio Callaway WR Florida
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcuxLvpI-k
Analysis: Callaway is one of the most frustrating players I've seen in college football. If the kid would have taken his head out of his arse, we'd be talking about him as a top 10 or 15 pick and the #1 WR in this class. Callaway checked into the Combine at 5'11" 200 pounds and posted a 4.41 40. He put up outstanding tape at Florida as a freshman and sophomore with bad QB play. He's a dynamic returnman in addition to his receiving skills. Yet, this kid continuously landed himself in trouble year after year. Regardless, I think it's worth the risk in the 4th round. If he doesn't get his crap together, cut him and move on. If he does, you will have a top 10 NFL WR. Callaway is an explosive and sudden athlete with see ya later type speed. He runs by defenders who don't give his deep speed due respect, and he embarrasses defenders at the LOS with his quickness and explosion. While under 6'0", Callaway plays with a mean streak and is willing to get physical. He's extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch with the ability to make people miss and break tackles. His hands can be a bit inconsistent, but I don't think it's an issue that can't be solved. His route running needs a lot of polish, but his physical tools allow him to compensate. Hopefully, Woods and Kupp can take him under their wing and show him how to run routes, study film, and work hard. If Callaway manages to stay out of trouble, we won't miss Sammy Watkins or Tavon Austin.
Round 5 Pick #23 - Scott Quessenberry C/OG UCLA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTrruoBYB0o
Analysis: Scott Quessenberry is a guy whom I've liked for years. He has the versatility to play anywhere on the interior, good size at 6'4" 315, and a lot of experience as a starter. Athletically, he showed out well at the Combine, which surprised me., He's also a smart player with good technique who will play through the whistle. I really liked his film while zone blocking as well. His brother, David, overcame cancer to return to the NFL. Scott is the type of kid who will make a great backup on the interior and could end up starting down the line for us somewhere. He likely won't be an elite player, but he projects as a potentially solid starter.
Round 6 Pick #9 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTirt1ZQFI4
Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.
Round 6 Pick #20 - Greg Senat OT Wagner
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhYEq9vwIlE
Analysis: Greg Senat is a ball of clay for Aaron Kromer to mold. He'll get to start off as a swing OT for us, which is for the best for Senat. It'll allow him to bulk up and get stronger. Senat was arguably the best OT on the field during the E-W Shrine Game and surprised a lot of evaluators with how quickly he improved and caught on. Senat's film at Wagner is uneven. He's a very raw OT who needs to get stronger, but his smoothness, length, and overall athleticism are easy to see on tape. Senat started his career at Wagner on the basketball team and didn't join the football team until after his sophomore year. Thus, it is understandable that he's raw and needs to get stronger because he only has two years of football experience at a small school. Still, Senat has starting OT potential down the line, and we have one of the best OL Coaches in the game to develop him. At 6'6" 305 pounds with nearly 35 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Senat has all the dimensions of a starting NFL OT, and nobody doubts his movement skills. He's a worthwhile project and good depth player to have while Toth is serving his time in the military.
Round 6 Pick #21 - Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lpqc99k9-I
Analysis: Phillip Lindsay's nickname is the "Tasmanian Devil" because of his endless energy, toughness, and refusal to let his size limit him. At 5'8" 190 pounds, Lindsay is definitely undersized, but that didn't stop him from rushing for 2726 yards and 30 TDs over the past two seasons at Colorado. He also caught 76 passes during that time. Lindsay is a fearless pass protector who will stonewall edge rushers despite his small stature. He saved his QB from a number of hits in college. He's actually been compared to Chris Thompson by some, and there's validity to the comparison. Lindsay is small with good speed, great pass protection skills, and good pass-catching skills. He won't break a lot of tackles as a runner, but he'll get what's blocked. He has the potential to be a valuable HB on passing downs.
Round 7 Pick #7 - Brett Toth OT Army
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slHlORcQodQ
Analysis: Brett Toth stood out at both the E-W Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl in a big way. Measuring in at 6'6" 303 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Toth has all the dimensions of a NFL OT. After playing in a triple-option offense, Toth impressed with his pass protection skills in the off-season bowl games. Toth can also get after it in the running game. On top of that, Toth is graduating from Army with a degree in Physics. Originally recruited as a Tight End, Toth added weight and ended up at RT for Army helping them to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in quite awhile. You must be asking yourself, "Why is a such a smart and gifted player with LT traits falling this far in the Draft?" Toth has to serve two years in the military before he can play in the NFL. Last year, the DOD change the rules to prevent athletes from getting waivers allowing them to play immediately in the NFL. It's possible the DOD could change its mind and grant Toth an exception, but it seems unlikely. Due to that, any team that drafts him must wait two years for him to play.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Josh Reynolds vs. Antonio Callaway
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Weston Richburg
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Derrick Nnadi
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Harold Landry
WILB: Alec Ogletree
SILB: Avery Williamson
SOLB: Pernell McPhee
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
I'll probably put out my next mock pretty quickly because I've been sitting on this one until the Combine ended, and FA is right around the corner.
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