[sherck]

My Work Mock Draft

Interesting experience this week. A guy at my work (around 3,000 in the building) got 32 folks together over lunch on Monday - Wednesday (with a lot of e-mails in between) who were fans of all 32 teams and we did a live, in-person mock draft. I had not done something like this in over 15 years since I last participated in an in-person fantasy football league.

I went in armed with what I perceived as the Colts team needs (CB, ILB, OLB[Rush] as starters as well as RB, TE, D-Line and Safety depth. I also went in with a combo of Gil Brandt’s Hot 150 list, PFF Big Board list and Walter Football’s positional ranking list.

Trades were not allowed since the complexity of that would have just thrown everything into a hot mess.

The top of the 1st round went just about how everyone expected except look who fell to the Colts at 1-15:

ILB Reuben Foster, Alabama
Foster is a vicious hitter with elite playmaking range and an ability to toggle between 225 and 240 pounds. Athleticism gives him cover ability that former teammate Reggie Ragland never possessed. Has Pro Bowl potential as a 3-4 inside linebacker or a 4-3 weak-side linebacker, but concerns over his medical history could be a consideration, according to some teams.

The 2nd round started with a surprise with RB Joe Mixon going with the first pick to CLE (who picked Trubisky #1 overall and Malik Hooker with the 1-12 pick). OLB Tim Williams went 2 picks prior to us to BUF relieving me of the burden of trying to decide if his potential off-field issues were too great for the Colts to take and I was faced with the choices of: CB Quincy Jones, S Budda Baker, DE/OLB Tarell Basham or CB Cordea Tankersley. I ended up picking with the #46 overall pick:

CB Cordea Tankersley, Clemson
Has an impressive body of work as a lockdown, boundary cornerback but he has some holes in his transitions that could open the door for more separation on the next level. While he's not always the most fluid in coverage, his 6-foot-1 frame and eight interceptions will be the two numbers some teams will focus heavily on. If he runs well at pre-draft workouts, his stock could soar thanks to his size and production.

The 3rd round was embarrassing because there was an absolute feast of folks available that I thought would go much higher. A real run started on offensive specialty players in the 2nd round continuing into the 3rd round that pushed some defensive folks on down the list. My choices were between: OLB Devonte Fields, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, OLB Duke Riley, CB Teez Tabor and CB Shaquill Griffin. I really wanted to go OLB here because our pass rush, while better on paper than in 2016, still needs help. However, I did not like the skill sets of Fields or Riley as much as I liked at #80 overall:

CB Teez Tabor, Florida
Tabor has terrific size and quickness, but his pedestrian 40 times at both the combine and his pro day workout are hard to ignore. While he has some lapses in judgement and awareness in coverage, his nine career interceptions didn't happen by accident. Tabor can pattern match around the field, but he may need safety help over the top if he's playing on the outside. If he's going to be a zone corner, he'll have to do a better job of tackling. Tabor looks like a second day pick.

The 4th round was where I hoped to find some help at immediate depth folks and I was not disappointed. Still a lot of good folks available. For the #121 pick, I possibly picked him a bit high but my hope for pass rush and his athleticism and production (at a small school) just married up and I could not ignore him. After the pick, the Cheats fan who was picking (the friend that I reference occasionally), indicated that he was planning on picking him with his #131 pick so that made me feel better:

OLB Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
More of a second-effort sack man than a quick-win specialist, but he did show some edge rushing ability at the Shrine Game practices that didn't flash as often on tape. His lack of length on the edge will be a turnoff for some, but he flashes enough to warrant a third-day draft selection as a backup 4-3 defensive end who could continue to develop as a rusher with additional work.

The #137 pick ended up being the spot where I sort of had some wildcard choices. My “highest” rated guys left on the board included: S John Johnson, Boston College, S Montae Nichoson, Michigan State, OG Nico Siragusa, San Diego State, WR Mack Hollins, North Carolina and ILB Ben Boulware, Clemson. I wanted to take Siragusa because of the name (no relationship to Tony) but, in the end picked:

FS John Johnson, Boston College
Ascending defender with the experience, athleticism and ball skills to play as a high safety or in man coverage. Johnson is well above average as a ball-tracker and has the soft hands to finish at the catch-point against receivers. He has decent size but won't be a banger as a tackler, however, his ability in coverage has NFL personnel men buzzing as a potential early starter in the league.

With the last pick of the 4th round, the sweet spot for RB had arrived. My choices? Brian Hill, Wyoming, Corey Clement, Wisconsin, Wayne Gallman, Clemson, Joe Williams, Utah or James Conner, Pittsburgh. My choice?

RB Brian Hill, Utah
A well-rounded running back, Hill is a stout downhill runner who became one of the most productive runners that Wyoming has ever seen. Hill’s production comes from the running back’s great vision and balance. A quick decision maker, Hill channels his way through blockers to consistently pick up tough yardage. Being over six feet and 210-pounds, Hill also carries a variety of power moves that he can use to get tough yardage. Hill does not avoid contact and will drive through defenders in the open field. A plus in pass protection, the Wyoming product has the vision and intangibles that many teams will want to add to their roster. Hill may never be a face of the franchise type back but being a serviceable starter is not out of the question.

And finally our 5th round choice came around. My highest rated players left on my board were: TE Michael Roberts, Toledo, OT Dan Skipper, Arkansas, WR Amara Darboh, Michigan, OT Collin Buchanan, Miami (OH), TE George Kittle, Iowa and WR Deangelo Yancey, Purdue. It was a hard choice between Dan Skipper, Michael Roberts or Amara Darboh but in the end, I picked:

OT Dan Skipper, Arkansas
Size will be appealing to some NFL teams as will his experience at both tackle positions. His experience in Arkansas' physical rushing attack should work in his favor, but he lacks the sand in his pants to consistently match power with power against bigger, NFL-caliber talent at the point of attack. The same height that will intrigue some teams might ultimately rob Skipper of the necessary leverage he needs at the next level. Could project as a third-day (Rounds 4-7) swing tackle prospect who will have to battle to win a roster spot.

Skipper will battle the likes of Haeg, Good and Cooper for depth OT spot.

There you have it, Freaks. I was pretty surprised as some of the picks who were still available and hope that the defensive depth of this draft class affords Ballard the same quantity of quality choices in a week. Fun exercise.

Cheers,