Okay, time for my holiday mock draft and free agency period! Ready to face insanity and trades galore (as well as an attempt at guessing the Josh Gordy pick)? No? Well, let's do it anyway!
Resign: Rodger Saffold, Tim Barnes, Kellen Clemens (because really, we do need a veteran option).
Cut: Cortland Finnegan, Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells, Kendall Langford, Jared Cook, Isaiah Pead.
I know, I know, you're shocked that I'm giving up on Cook after one year. I just feel that he's too inconsistent for what he's getting paid to do. Langford is the only one I'd be tempted to keep, but cutting him saves us money, and there are better options in this draft, so...yeah. And Pead, in my honest opinion, is a complete bust.
#2 overall (via Redskins): TRADED to the Cleveland Browns for picks #5 (first round), #23 (first round), and #37 (second round).
Cleveland grabs the next best quarterback, as Houston takes Teddy Bridgewater with the number one overall pick. In exchange, we get their first round picks and a second...which leads me to:
#5 overall (via Browns): TRADED to the Miami Dolphins for picks #19 (first round), #51 (second round), #115 (fourth round), and a 2015 second round pick.
Miami grabs Jake Matthews while we move back and score a bounty of picks. I know that you guys are probably screaming at me for not grabbing Matthews, but I don't think we need a tackle in the first round at the moment. Not with Long and Barksdale playing well with Saffold as a potential option.
#14 overall: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. (Junior, 5'10", 185 lbs)
Obviously we need a cornerback. I debated between Ekpre-Olomu and Darqueze Dennard for the longest time, but I eventually decided on the former because of his elite coverage skills, his surprising physicality for his size, and his closing speed. He's actually received comparisons to a rich man's Cortland Finnegan, interestingly enough.
#19 overall (via Dolphins): Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota (RS Senior, 6'6", 311 lbs).
Yeah, so Langford's gone. This is the man who replaces him. I've had Hageman at the top of my wish list for a very long time. He's a touch inconsistent, but he's been a dangerous pass-rusher for Minnesota while getting double-teamed by two offensive linemen on every snap. And you simply don't teach 6'6" with vine-like arms, brute strength, and amazing quickness like he has.
#23 overall (via Browns): Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State (RS Sophomore, 6'5", 242 lbs).
Surprised with this pick? Benjamin is probably going to enter the draft because he's already twenty-three years old. But he's definitely worth this pick. One scout already has compared him to a combination of Calvin Johnson and Alshon Jeffery. He isn't as polished as they were at this stage of their careers, but there's still time, and he's just too much of an elite and rare talent to pass up.
#37 overall (via Browns): Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington (Junior, 6'6", 272 lbs).
Here we get a true tight end/matchup nightmare to replace Jared Cook. Seferian-Jenkins, who doubles as a small forward for the Huskies basketball team, was one of the most dominant tight ends last year. This year, however, has not gone as planned. A DUI arrest and a down year have dropped his stock significantly, to the point where he's become a borderline first round pick instead of the top fifteen player that he was supposed to be. But Seferian-Jenkins definitely shows more effort in blocking than Cook ever did, and his receiving skills are arguably better, even though he's not the athlete that Cook is.
#46 overall: Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA (RS Junior, 6'3", 305 lbs).
Here is a guard to replace Chris Williams. Su'a-Filo is a prospect that I really like a lot. He currently plays left tackle for the Bruins, but he'll have to move to guard for the NFL. He may not be a mauler, but he does play with a mean streak, he will finish blocks, and his pass-protection is superb. This is a guard you can build around for the future of the offensive line.
#51 overall (via Dolphins): Deone Bucannon, FS, Washington State (Senior, 6'1", 215 lbs).
Here we get the ballhawking free safety that we all covet. Bucannon is amazing in coverage, is a willing run-defender, and has improved every single year. The problem? He's a really shitty tackler, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. His tackling technique needs to be completely refined because he only goes for the big hit and doesn't wrap up ever. But tackling is something that can be taught. The skill and size that Bucannon has can't.
#78 overall: E.J. Gaines, CB, Missouri (Senior, 5'9", 195 lbs).
Another cornerback? Well, it's not like we don't need them; we're ranked around the bottom in pass defense despite our relentless pass-rush. And besides, Gaines is probably one of the better cornerbacks in the SEC. In spite of his size, Gaines is a willing run-supporter, has excellent coverage skills, and is a valuable contributor on special teams. Some nagging injuries and his size drop him to the third round, but in my opinion, he could eventually wind up as a great nickleback somewhere down the road.
#110 overall: Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU (Junior, 6'2", 295 lbs).
Here I say "Screw need" and take the best available player, someone who can potentially replace one of Cudjo or Conrath (likely Cudjo). Johnson reportedly runs a 4.7, but he had a lackluster year statistically. Then again, Michael Brockers didn't have the best year either, and look how he's turned out. Johnson could be yet another key cog in our pass-rushing rotation, and - like with most of my picks - you simply can't teach athleticism.
#115 overall (via Dolphins): Yawin Smallwood, OLB/ILB, Connecticut (RS Junior, 6'3", 236 lbs).
Another BPA scenario, but it's possible. Smallwood has already declared for the draft, and he has a really intriguing skillset. He excels at getting off blocks and making the sure tackle, which will help our run defense tremendously. He's easily an upgrade over Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who has not looked even remotely the same after his suspension for PEDs. All in all, he's a playmaker and a good value this late in the draft.
#142 overall: Wesley Johnson, OT/OG/C, Vanderbilt (RS Senior, 6'5", 305 lbs).
Here we get a versatile lineman who can (and has) play(ed) literally every position on the line. Johnson isn't going to wow you; he's just going to come in, do his job, and be a valuable contributor to a team. Remarkably consistent, Johnson has committed only two holding penalties in fifty games started and has given up only 7.5 sacks in over a thousand passing plays. His bulk and strength aren't all that great, which causes his run-blocking to suffer as a result. But all in all, adding him would be key for our depth.
#174 overall: Jeff Mathews, QB, Cornell (Senior, 6'4", 229 lbs).
Mathews is one of the best quarterbacks that the Ivy League has ever seen. Unfortunately, he had an awful year which exposed a lot of his flaws. His accuracy really takes a hit when he moves around, he tends to be a statue in the pocket, and he will commit unnecessary turnovers to make a play. But on the good side, he has the ability to make every throw when given enough time. He's insurance for Sam Bradford in case the ACL rehab doesn't go as planned.
#183 overall (via Colts): Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech (RS Senior, 6'0", 220 lbs).
Yet another cornerback for our porous secondary. Exum is very intriguing: he's a bigger cornerback who can also play as a safety. He's coming off of a knee injury, so he will take a while to groom...but he could end up being an excellent special teams player for us.
#206 overall: Henry Josey, RB, Missouri (RS Junior, 5'10", 190 lbs).
You may think that it's a homer pick. I'm telling you that Josey has what it takes to succeed in the NFL. He's most well-known for his remarkable recovery from a horrible knee injury that took a year-and-a-half to heal properly. There were questions about his career...but he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark for second time in his brief career as a Tiger, and scored 11 touchdowns to boot. He's quick, elusive, catches the ball out of the backfield, blocks with enthusiasm, and he has the heart and athleticism to succeed in this league as a third down scat back. Oh, and did I mention that he put up his stats while splitting carries with two other running backs?
Key UDFAs: Kaneakua Friel (TE, BYU), Michael Philipp (OT/OG, Oregon State), Cornelius Lucas (OT, Kansas State), Trey Millard (FB, Oklahoma), Chaz Sutton (DE, South Carolina).
Friel gives us another tight end with potential, Philipp was a top left tackle who has struggled through injuries, Lucas is huge and nimble but also soft, Millard had a recent knee injury but is a great fullback who can literally do everything, and Sutton is a former five-star recruit who never really got playing time until his senior year.
QB: Sam Bradford, Jeff Mathews, Kellen Clemens.
RB: Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham, Daryl Richardson, Henry Josey.
FB: Trey Millard.
WR: Kelvin Benjamin, Tavon Austin, Brian Quick, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens, Austin Pettis.
TE: Lance Kendricks, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Cory Harkey, Kaneakua Friel.
OL: Jake Long, Rodger Saffold, Barrett Jones, Joe Barksdale, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Tim Barnes, Wesley Johnson, Michael Philipp, Cornelius Lucas.
DE: Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Chaz Sutton.
DT: Michael Brockers, Ra'Shede Hageman, Anthony Johnson, Matt Conrath/Jermelle Cudjo.
LB: James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree, Yawin Smallwood, Ray Ray Armstrong, Darin Bates, Phillip Steward.
CB: Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, E.J. Gaines, Antone Exum.
S: T.J. McDonald, Deone Bucannon, Rodney McLeod, Matt Daniels, Cody Davis.
ST: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide.
All thoughts are appreciated. Happy holidays!
