Okay, I guess it's time to revamp my mock draft, since my last one is so old. (Note: I will not be predicting trades, as they are impossible to predict.):
#16 overall - Keenan Allen / WR (California) - I honestly wanted to put Da'Rick Rogers in this mock somewhere...but he shouldn't be anywhere near the sixteenth overall pick with his character issues (even though he's clearly a first round talent), and there's no way I was going to bump up the next guy on my list to sixteen just to put Rogers at twenty-two. It's completely unrealistic, and the thing I pride myself on when it comes to mock drafts is realism. But that doesn't mean that Allen is a guy I wouldn't want. Far from it; I'd be very happy with this selection if it happened.
Allen has solid route-running abilities to go along with speed, hands, and decent size (6'2"). He's literally the perfect wideout for what we're trying to do, and he still has a lot of untapped potential. It's not often that Allen can't get separation, and his numbers were hurt by his poor quarterback. Imagine what he could do with an accurate passer like Bradford. Imagine what he could do for Bradford.
#22 overall - Kyle Long / OT (Oregon). This pick is shocking, I must admit. It completely goes against the grain. But it makes sense for a variety of reasons. I feel that Long's stock is going to shoot through the roof. I get that Fisher doesn't usually take offensive linemen in the first round, but he has to know that it's a major priority, especially since we may have three new starters on the line. I'm fine with letting some of our inside prospects like Watkins get a shot, and Barksdale could move to left guard, but would you be fine with letting Richardson or Hunter have another crack at the right tackle slot? I wouldn't. Plus he has the bloodlines. Long would immediately start as a right tackle, and he has the potential to be one of the best right tackles in the business.
#46 overall - David Amerson / FS (North Carolina State). Amerson is a prospect that I'm really starting to love. He won't be able to stick at cornerback, and he had a terrible year last year, but as a free safety, he'd be great for our defense. Amerson had thirteen interceptions as a sophomore. Thirteen. Think about that for a second. He'll need to bulk up and gain more strength to move to safety, but he has the frame to do it (6'3"). All in all, he'd be a key piece for our defensive unit and would immediately start at free safety and replace Dahl.
#78 overall - J.J. Wilcox / SS (Georgia Southern). Wilcox has been making waves at the Senior Bowl. He's a hard hitter who has the ability to cover when asked. But the reason I made this pick was because the Rams' last draft had no fewer than four prospects who participated at either the Senior Bowl or the East/West Shrine Game (Jenkins, Quick, Pead, and Watkins). Fisher and Snead put a lot of stock into those games, more so than the Combine (remember that Brockers struggled mightily there). In fact, Pead and Quick were the stars of the show at the last Senior Bowl. Wilcox could be next. Even if we keep Stewart or Mikell, it wouldn't hurt to have a guy behind them.
#110 overall - Jelani Jenkins / OLB (Florida). Jenkins is oozing with untapped potential, which is something else that Snead and Fisher value highly. He struggled with injuries last year, but when he played, he flashed the ability that made him so highly touted. Jenkins is a true sideline-to-sideline defender who has tremendous instincts. He has the pure athleticism to cover running backs and tight ends, and he's done nothing but make splash plays ever since he came to Florida. He'd be the backup to Dunbar at first, but he will eventually start at the weakside.
#142 overall - Brandon Williams / DT (Missouri Southern). Another guy who impressed at the Senior Bowl, Williams is a monster of a man with surprising athleticism for a guy his size (6'2", 340). Let's face it; we have no depth after Brockers, Langford, and Cudjo. That just won't cut it in today's NFL. Williams has the size that we desperately need, and he has the potential to get even better. He'd be a great component for a four-man rotation at defensive tackle.
#174 overall - Knile Davis / RB (Arkansas). Davis has injury concerns, true, but when he's healthy, he's one of the most dangerous running backs in college football. He's just too talented to be a seventh rounder or go undrafted. He runs with a balanced mix of power and speed, and he's also an able pass-catcher and blocker who is still learning. Davis is also the team captain, and didn't complain once when he lost touches to the current starter. He may not be able to carry the full load, but he wouldn't have to with Pead and Richardson sharing carries with him. He'd even have time to fully rehab his injuries if we keep Jackson.
#206 overall - Uona Kaveinga / OLB (BYU). Once a highly recruited linebacker for USC, Kaveinga is currently the inside linebacker for BYU after a transfer. He has the speed to play the outside as a SAM linebacker (he's 6'0", 245 lbs), but his real ability is defending against the run. Kaveinga is a ferocious hitter with great instincts who flies to the football. He's not nearly as talented as his college teammate, Van Noy, but he's still a very good prospect in his own right. Kaveinga would be a great special teams player at the very least. I wouldn't be surprised to see his name pop up on draft day.
