Media Mocks

[Couch-Potato]

Figured we’d start a thread to share and debate mock drafts we find around the web, even though we all know the mocks we produce ourselves here in the Draft Forum are far superior!

[kccrow]

Any time an OT prospect comes in under 320 and under 6'5", he's going to automatically get tagged with an "or OG" label. Happens every single year without fail. It's like the lab didn't create all of them at 6'6" 325 with 35" arms so they can't be a LT. Hey, a lot of times that's correct, won't say it's not. But then you have guys like Wirfs who got tabbed as an RT or OG. You have Slater. You have Ekwonu. Even Fautanu last year, and then got stuck at RT immediately.

I don't think Banks is going to fail at OT in this league, I just don't.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

He’s got a ton of experience at LT in the best conference in CFB. Why do you think this kid is being questioned as a LT? Dane Brugler is about the best at draft stuff as any media draft personality and he has him at G. The talk the entire combine was how Banks , Campbell and Membou were probably better at G.

Even the scouts report from Bob McGinn had the scouts either saying he should be a G or strongly suggesting he “fail at LT first” and could “be a RT”.

The analysis on these kids isn’t exactly what you want to hear if you are looking for a left tackle tbh.

Did you just put a clip up yesterday talking about how there are going to be 3 top 10 OLs taken and how each of them are premier OT prospects?

Everyone's all over the road here and there's no reason to just presume that Simmons would've just blown past any of them.

The issue isn't Banks in a vacuum -- it's Banks in comparison to Simmons. And there's just nothing about Simmons that's better than Banks. You wanna live and die over a half inch of arm length (when the tape was wonky at the combine to begin with)?

All banks has ever done was be REALLY good at LT even starting as true freshman. And I'm suppose to just handwaive that in favor of what someone who was largely only mediocre over 3 years in college prior to a season where he blew out his patella because he beat the brakes off Alcorn State?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Any time an OT prospect comes in under 320 and under 6'5", he's going to automatically get tagged with an "or OG" label. Happens every single year without fail. It's like the lab didn't create all of them at 6'6" 325 with 35" arms so they can't be a LT. Hey, a lot of times that's correct, won't say it's not. But then you have guys like Wirfs who got tabbed as an RT or OG. You have Slater. You have Ekwonu. Even Fautanu last year, and then got stuck at RT immediately.

I don't think Banks is going to fail at OT in this league, I just don't.

I'm not even completely convinced that Zabel or Milum are 'doomed' to the IOL. Though Zabel also has wingspan issues to go with the arm length which suggests he can't use technique and just being generally broad to help him out the way someone like Banks can.

Banks arms are a little shorter than ideal, yes. But his wingspan is ENORMOUS. Which means he's just a broad dude. And we've seen guys be successful at OT by simply being big enough to take an extra step to get around. And Banks feet are fine -- he's not a slug out there by any means. The wingspan and broad build will play up because of that.

He can -- and will -- be a successful OT in this league, IMO.

[kccrow]

I don't know about Zabel and Milum. We're talking two dudes at 32". I think 33" is already pushing it with a guy like Campbell, who is just stellar in almost every other area. If I had to pick one, it'd be Milum, but I think he's going to move to LG and be a Thuney-like rock there. Zabel seems to be a lock to move into OC in the mold of Mitch Morse.

[kccrow]

If we can get Banks, sign me the f' up. I don't see how he doesn't go in the top 18 though.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I don't know about Zabel and Milum. We're talking two dudes at 32". I think 33" is already pushing it with a guy like Campbell, who is just stellar in almost every other area. If I had to pick one, it'd be Milum, but I think he's going to move to LG and be a Thuney-like rock there. Zabel seems to be a lock to move into OC in the mold of Mitch Morse.

I think those are both the most likely outcomes, for sure.

Zabel, in particular, looks like a C in the making. Most teams likely won't even give him a shot at OT.

I'm just saying that I think draft heads get in a hell of a rush to write some of these guys off. There are some squads that might see a path to a viable OT there.

Zabel's a very tough one, though. I can't complain too loudly about anyone that just calls him an IOL. That length is such a bummer for him because man do I like so much of what else he brings to the table.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by kccrow

If we can get Banks, sign me the f' up. I don't see how he doesn't go in the top 18 though.

He’s going in the top 13. That clip I posted yesterday pretty much confirms that.

And like DJ was saying, he can play, but I am not confident teams want him as a LT. It seems he’s gonna be a RT or possibly G.

I really like Banks. I’m just not sure where the talk of a weak class is coming from? It’s most likely arm length if I had to guess

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by RunKC

He’s going in the top 13. That clip I posted yesterday pretty much confirms that.

And like DJ was saying, he can play, but I am not confident teams want him as a LT. It seems he’s gonna be a RT or possibly G.

I really like Banks. I’m just not sure where the talk of a weak class is coming from? It’s most likely arm length if I had to guess

Well to your point, I think it's the lack of prototypical LT sorts.

It's a weak LT class if Banks, Membou and Campbell are RTs.

And there's no Joe Alt at the top of it.

'Tackles' it's a pretty ordinary class but weaker at LT unless a couple of those guys stick at LT.

I just see no reason to say any of them can't and Simmons is a prototype. A half inch of arm length? Because it ain't experience or movement skills.

It's why I keep saying that he's not getting the full roto rooter treatment that a healthier player would've gotten. People stop at the injury. But had he been healthy, I see no reason to presume he's any more likely to stick at LT than the 'big 3' from the class.

[kccrow]

Not sure where to put this, but in Schefter's podcast, he said Pittsburgh is absolutely willing to move back from 21. That opens a trade door. It's rare that Pittsburgh trades down.

Edit:

Here's the excerpt from his column as well:

Where are the trades? And who could get dealt?
This draft already has made a mark all on its own: Now that it is three days away, this is the closest to the start of Round 1 that there have been no trades for first-round picks in the common draft era (since 1967).

One of the biggest reasons for the lack of movement is what evaluators perceive to be the lack of blue-chip quarterbacks; for most teams, there isn't a quarterback outside of Cam Ward (Miami) worth trading up for. The Browns inquired about the possibility trading up from No. 2, and the Giants at No. 3 were even more persistent in their efforts to try to trade up for the top pick with Tennessee. The Titans have resisted those overtures and are expected to hold on to their pick.

On the other side of things, the Steelers (No. 21) are among the teams interested in moving back from their first-round slot. That list also includes the Jaguars (5), Panthers (8), 49ers (11), Falcons (15), Seahawks (18), Buccaneers (19) and Vikings (24), who currently have four picks, the fewest any team.

There has been, however, a lack of teams willing to trade up -- at least so far. Denver is one of those: The Broncos have made inquiries about moving up in Round 1, according to sources. But there aren't many others. This always could change when players start falling and teams are on the clock.

Draft weekend is also a busy time for trades of players already on rosters. Here are players on rookie contracts who could be deemed expendable:

• Will Levis, QB, Titans
• Treylon Burks, WR, Titans
• Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Giants
• Evan Neal, OL, Giants
• Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants
• Sam Howell, QB, Seahawks
• Tyree Wilson, Edge, Raiders
• Greg Newsome II, CB, Browns
• Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jaguars
• Odafe Oweh, Edge, Ravens
• George Pickens, WR, Steelers
• Rachaad White, RB, Bucs
• Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots

And here are veterans who could be available via trade:


• Jalen Ramsey, CB, Dolphins
• Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers
• Kirk Cousins, QB, Falcons
• Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
• Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens
• Trey Hendrickson, Edge, Bengals

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Not sure where to put this, but in Schefter's podcast, he said Pittsburgh is absolutely willing to move back from 21. That opens a trade door. It's rare that Pittsburgh trades down.

Edit:

Here's the excerpt from his column as well:

For giggles, ran that through Dunc's sim.

We had to deal 31 and 66 for 21. The following are on the board:

Pearce
Emmanwori
Simmons
Starks
Grant
Harmon
Nolen
Egbuka
Burden

Who's the pick and was it worth it?

[Bowser]

Oooff. Talk about a tough call.

I probably go Harmon, but man oh man, Burden or Egbuka would be SO tempting. Probably too tempting for me to skip one of them. How's Harmon's medicals, again??

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

For giggles, ran that through Dunc's sim.

We had to deal 31 and 66 for 21. The following are on the board:

Pearce
Emmanwori
Simmons
Starks
Grant
Harmon
Nolen
Egbuka
Burden

Who's the pick and was it worth it?

The other thing he talked about at length in the podcast was that teams aren't making deals that much because they feel the meat and potatoes of this draft are in rounds 2 and 3 and that players selected anywhere after the middle of round 1 are probably going to be the same around pick 100 before it really drops off.

So, would it be worth it? Doubtful.

For the guys wanting a Nolen or a Harmon or Williams, that might be a doorway. Maybe even a Banks if he slips.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath15

For giggles, ran that through Dunc's sim.

We had to deal 31 and 66 for 21. The following are on the board:

Pearce
Emmanwori
Simmons
Starks
Grant
Harmon
Nolen
Egbuka
Burden

Who's the pick and was it worth it?

Nolen might be the only player I'd do it for out of that group.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by kccrow

The other thing he talked about at length in the podcast was that teams aren't making deals that much because they feel the meat and potatoes of this draft are in rounds 2 and 3 and that players selected anywhere after the middle of round 1 are probably going to be the same around pick 100 before it really drops off.

So, would it be worth it? Doubtful.

For the guys wanting a Nolen or a Harmon or Williams, that might be a doorway. Maybe even a Banks if he slips.

Originally Posted by staylor26

Nolen might be the only player I'd do it for out of that group.

Took Nolen, both Egbuka and Burden were there at 31.

Have a feeling I'm going to hate R2/3 because I'm missing out on someone unless I can trade back.

[OnTheWarpath15]

And Burch went the pick before me.

****.

EDIT: Yep, I hate it.