Universaldraft's Mock Draft 1.0

Err I'm not so sure Clausen is clear cut the best QB prospect in the draft. Trade back in and get Colt McCoy? They get a center piece for the defense for the next decade and a possible franchise QB.

 

Bradford's got an underrated arm IMO.

 

There is always plenty of opinion to go around where it concerns the draft, but imo Clausen is clearly the best prospect. McCoy Im not sold on at all. He seems like a guy that an established team may take to try and develop, but hes not the pro prospect that Clausen is, not by a longshot.

That team needs a franchise signal caller more than anything else, more than Suh, or they will continue to be a laughingstock in the league. They have passed on them 2 years in a row now and you see where they still are.

 

We cant forget also that if anyone knows about his shoulder its gonna be the Skins - Andrews is their team doctor Im pretty sure. It will be an interesting debate in that warroom for sure.

Oh wait, Mike Shannahan doesnt brook debate ...

 

To me, Bradford has the one thing that a coach cannot give to a quarterback. He's got outstanding accuracy. You can't coach a stronger arm into a quarterback, but you can scheme around a lack of arm strength. You can't scheme around a lack of accuracy.

That accuracy is why Sam Bradford is the top quarterback on my board.

 

Same here. I think his footwork is pretty damn good too, which is a big part to why his arm is good IMO. His intelligence is very high too.

EDIT: Anytime someone brings up Bradford's arm strength, I think back to his game against Oklahoma State in the 08-09 season. He threw a beautiful high arching deep ball down the right sideline, over the outside shoulder and perfectly placed to Jaquin Iglesias, who beat Perrish Cox. That ball made me go "WOW".

 

Yeah, I read something from Schefter like two months ago and it said that the Redskins were likely to take him. I don't know how true that is but I just pass it along. I think his arm is better than given credit for, which is why I think it's a legit possibility.

 

Bradford has it all IMO anyone who drafts him is getting a franchise QB.

 

Agreed.

I like Clausen too. I think he's got a very good arm and he throws really well outside the hashes. He's also got toughness, which you have to love. Problem that I have with him is his accuracy and decision making. He can get shaky in those two aspects IMO. Then again, we all said the same thing about Matthew Stafford and he didn't look too bad this past season.

 

Back to the mock draft, I really have questions about Derrick Morgan's ability to convert to an outside linebacker. I've been watching some film of him, and everything I've seen tells me that he's a 4-3 defensive end prospect.

 

Same here KB, I like Morgan but I'm not sure if I see him as a 3-4 OLB.

Draft Daddy has us taking B Graham which imho makes a bit more sense, but it is Mock 1.0 and the Universal Crew hate mocks in general so whaddya want?

BTW as for Clausen, could someone point out to me the last player who was injured and recovering heading into the draft that was picked Top 5?

Clausen has toe problems, that makes it tough to dump tens of millions into the bank account.

 

Maualuga is a mess that's true but Lauriniatis would have fit just fine IMO. You went through every outside linebacker but you didn't address our lack of talent at inside linebacker.

You need a starter and a backup at almost every position. For me you can pencil in JT as our starter with Wake as his backup. That leaves the strong side. However I would not use the #12 pick on that position. There are too many quality later round prospects.

R2 - Jerry Hughes
R3 - Jermaine Cunningham
R4 - A.J. Edds
R6 - George Johnson
R7 - John Fletcher

I'm basing Merling's potential off his athletic ability coming out of college. Maybe he only rotates in on running downs. You know he could set the edge.

And yes Brian Johnston will compete for an OLB spot but nobody is saying he is a possible savior. He got hit with the injury bug early in his career and has another chance with the Dolphins. Maybe he will pan out. Maybe he won't. However he cannot be any worse than Ayodele or Torbor respectively.

 

Ah..J Fletcher, I really like his game, he is the sort of player who you could put anywhere on the field and he would do a competent job, at WY he played everything from OLB to DT, he has nice size and best of all, he understands how to use leverage at 6'5, that is rare to find in a player in College.

He is more likely to be a UDFa though Big Red, he did not snag a single combine invitation which is a "red flag" for Scouts, though there are 255 draft slots and 320 combine invitees so it is not like this is an exact science..

Agreed, both are interesting athletes, as is I Francis, but I would not rule out a SLB being signed via Free Agency.

 

I disagree on Laurinaitis. And you listed the ILB's for me, why would I go through them again? They all lack talent but I still think CC is better than anything we have at OLB.

Who said JT would be back? Wake hasn't stood up a lot either.

Cunningham doesn't impress me. Edds is an ILB on this team IMO. Late round guys are late round guys. I like Hughes but I don't know if he lasts until 43.

He's 290+ now. I don't see him moving to OLB but I've been wrong plenty other times.

Sure he can be. Johnson hasn't done a single thing. I wouldn't rely on him to provide competition.

 

Overrated imo, and he should be fine for the opening of the season. If anything, the fact he played well with the injury should speak more highly of him, and his toughness.

The last guy I recall that had a much talked injury was Jonathan Stewart who many said would drop into the second round because of it.

 

Jonthan Stewart is still battling that Toe injury FYI. So I would be worried somewhat but I think Bradford is the better QB. Clausen vs McCoy is a toss up.

 

I can easily buy the Bradford/Clausen toss up, but to say McCoy is anywhere near the same league ...

Well I guess time will tell, but I dont buy it at all.

 

Here's the thing with undrafted free agents. They get to choose which team they play for. So if we really want Fletcher we should use a 7th round pick on him to insure we get him. He led his team in sacks, was selected All-Mountain West First Team, and he was a standout on special teams.

Absolutely. I am sure we are keeping tabs on Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Jevon Kearse, Aaron Kampman, Julius Peppers, Adewale Ogunleye, Jarvis Green, and Derrick Burgess.

I believe Ikaika Alama-Francis is more of a defensive end.

 

Guess we are not going to change each other's mind.

I disagree that Crowder is better than Wake. I believe Wake will become a playmaker. That has always been Crowder's Achilles heel. He is very good but not a playmaker. Of course you are correct that Jason Taylor might not be back. However if I was the GM I would re-sign him. JT is definitely better than Crowder.

I believe Edds would be a great outside linebacker on the strong side. He is very capable of covering tight ends, setting the edge, and rushing the passer. Cunningham is underrated IMO but like you said I could be wrong.

However you are correct about Hughes. He probably won't make it out of the 1st round. Wishful thinking on my part.

Truth is neither of us knows how much Merling currently weighs. For all we know he might be in the 280s. It sucks being on the outside looking in doesn't it? I wish we knew somebody on the inside. FWIW Merling weighed 276 at the Combine in 2008. Could he get back to that weight? Who knows?

I agree that you are probably right about Brian Johnston. However you must admit that Ireland doesn't sign players who he feels are worthless. Maybe Johnston will finally show something now that he is 100% healthy. Its a longshot but you never know.

 

Why not? Chris Canty played OLB for Parcells in Dallas. You have to love Merling's motor and backside pursuit. He can set the edge and rush the passer. Can he cover? That remains to be seen.