Walter Football 4RD Mock - Cherry Pick

[popanot]

What fun are mock drafts if you don't cherry pick the heck out of them. Here's Walter's 4RD Mock:

http://walterfootball.com/draft2014.php

Of course, me taking Clowney instead of QB-X will change how the mock plays out, but I'd go:

1.1 - Jadeveon Clowney - DE/OLB
Yep, I'm taking the best player in the draft and gambling that a QB will be there in RD2. If there isn't one, I'm calling WASH or NE and offering up my RD3 pick for Cousins or Mallett. Either that, or I'm going Matt Schaub another year. -- Just kidding!!!

2.1 - Derek Carr - QB
Well, well...my gamble paid off! Carr has the arm, but can BOB fix his footwork? Will Houston embrace him? I'm willing to try it. Far less pressure on him than there was on his brother.

3.1 - Carlos Hyde - RB
This a tough one as OL, ILB, CB all make sense. Skov is tough to pass up here, but with Tate going in FA and Foster showing signs of wear mentally and physically - in addition to him racking up baby-momma's at a rapid pace - I think I'd go with the bruiser RB. The run on RBs is in this round so I'm taking the guy I like the most. We'll address ILB in FA.

4.1 - Billy Turner - OT
I'm tempted to go CB, but reports indicate Turner was a stud at the Senior Bowl practices and we do need OL in the worst way.

[Keith]

You drafted Derek Carr AND a third round running back.

You're fired!

No chance I'd take a RB. Need LBs and DBs, and there are usually really good ones at the top of the 3rd.

[HPF Bob]

It's an interesting hypothetical. Which draft would you prefer?

a) Take Clowney at 1/1, draft Carr/Metzenberger with next pick or
b) Take Bridgewater/Bortles at 1/1, draft Van Noy with next pick.

I'd be more inclined to take Clowney at 1/1 and trade 2/1 to New England for QB Ryan Mallett.

[Joshua]

Can't say I understand the infatuation with Mallett. He's a third round pick with no meaningful snaps in the NFL. He also has the distinction of being one of the few people in the NFL who's considerably slower than Matt Schaub (ran 3/10 of a second slower than Schaub did when both came out). Tell me again what he has done to warrant trading the first pick in the 2nd round?

[Joshua]

And to answer your hypo, coming away with the best QB and a decent defensive player is always preferrable to coming away with the best defender and a decent QB.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Can't say I understand the infatuation with Mallett. He's a third round pick with no meaningful snaps in the NFL. He also has the distinction of being one of the few people in the NFL who's considerably slower than Matt Schaub (ran 3/10 of a second slower than Schaub did when both came out). Tell me again what he has done to warrant trading the first pick in the 2nd round?

I don't have any infatuation with Mallett. I just think he's someone young that I'd look at possibly trading for if there were no better options in the draft. He's likely familiar with BOBs offense so there might be slightly less of a learning curve and maybe some potential there. Secondly, I said I'd consider trading my 3rd RD pick for Cousins or Mallett, not my 2nd RD pick. Maybe you were replying to Bob's post, but I selected Carr at #2 so it's kind of moot as far as what I posted.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Joshua

And to answer your hypo, coming away with the best QB and a decent defensive player is always preferrable to coming away with the best defender and a decent QB.

Not if I don't like the QB's at the top of the draft. I'm not taking a QB I don't like or think is way overvalued at #1 just because I need a QB.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

You drafted Derek Carr AND a third round running back.

You're fired!

No chance I'd take a RB. Need LBs and DBs, and there are usually really good ones at the top of the 3rd.

Ha! Thanks, Keith. Now that I'm fired, I'll take the remaining $4MM on my contract in one lump sum.

As for the 3rd RD and Hyde, like I said, it was a tough decision and I could go either way. I just think our RB situation is looking dire and I like Hyde more than the other RBs. I'll try to fix ILB in FA or the later rounds. CB is definitely a concern though.

[nunusguy]

I like the idea of trying to make a deal for Mallet if O'Brien does because he's (1)a known quantity to the new HC and (2) I'm wanting to avoid drafting one/any of this years rookie QBs. Now the thing about Mallet, I think he's only got a year left on his current contract, so would certainly not want to tie-up much for him unless we have a new trade-and-signed-contract arrangement with him for multiple years.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by popanot

Now that I'm fired, I'll take the remaining $4MM on my contract in one lump sum.

Verrrrrry shrewd. Well played. Even Casserly is impressed that you left town with a Carr at QB and overrated early round RB left behind. You're just a straight shooter with upper management written all over ya. An NFL owner should come knocking any day now, or at the very least, the NFL Network.

[popanot]

Man, I thought I was ending up with 4 sure immediate and future (Hyde) starters at some major areas of weakness. Oh well, I tried.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Keith

You're just a straight shooter with upper management written all over ya. An NFL owner should come knocking any day now, or at the very least, the NFL Network.

Ooooh. Yeah, um... I'm gonna have to go ahead and sort of disagree with you there?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Not if I don't like the QB's at the top of the draft. I'm not taking a QB I don't like or think is way overvalued at #1 just because I need a QB.

I totally agree with this. Don't force it if you don't think any of the 3 are 1st round talent.

I don't get the idea that if you don't go QB 1.1 you should at 2.1 or you should immediately trade for some relatively young guy. Why force a mediocre prospect (Carr), when you wouldn't force a good prospect (Bridgewater)? Why throw away the 33 pick? If your future at QB is not there, sign a stop gap veteran, don't draft a guy who excelled at behind the LOS passes in a gimmick offense, against terrible competition.

[chuck]

I've decided that Bridgewater is the real deal and will be happy if the team takes him. But I certainly see both sides of this. It's clear that to win in this league you need a top quarterback. It's also clear that reaching for a guy when you're desperate for a quarterback gets you a Matthew Stafford (or much, much worse). Stafford's pretty good but I don't see him winning a Super Bowl.

If those guys aren't convinced that any of the available QBs can and will take the Texans to the Super Bowl then I'm happy to wait and get the best football players available at #1 and #33 and go from there.

To answer a question occasionally asked around here, yes, I would have been content to watch Tony Banks play for a few years. It turns out I had no idea just how content I would have been, in fact.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

I've decided that Bridgewater is the real deal and will be happy if the team takes him. But I certainly see both sides of this. It's clear that to win in this league you need a top quarterback. It's also clear that reaching for a guy when you're desperate for a quarterback gets you a Matthew Stafford (or much, much worse). Stafford's pretty good but I don't see him winning a Super Bowl.

If those guys aren't convinced that any of the available QBs can and will take the Texans to the Super Bowl then I'm happy to wait and get the best football players available at #1 and #33 and go from there.

To answer a question occasionally asked around here, yes, I would have been content to watch Tony Banks play for a few years. It turns out I had no idea just how content I would have been, in fact.

I like a lot about Bridgewater. His pro style offense credentials are very intriguing. Of course, Leinhart was a pro style guy out of college too, so some of just comes down to good old fashioned talent.

Hopefully Teddy is well prepared AND talented. Most of all, I really hope there is a QB that is worth 1.1, since this is likely the best chance at a franchise QB that we will get this decade. Even if we delay, it's not like there is some QB in next year's class to get all excited about (no Andrew Luck on the horizon).

So unless Tom Brady breaks his neck this year, gets cut, and goes looking for work in 2015, I hope we come out of this draft with a real QB.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

It turns out I had no idea just how content I would have been, in fact.

Hahaha, yes, the power of hindsight.

You wouldn't say this about Kent Graham though.

[HPF Bob]

1. Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida

(I'd rather have Bridgewater over Bortles,)

2. Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee

(Won't argue with this)

3. Jeremiah Attaochu, DE-OLB, Georgia Tech

(ILB Christian Jones of Florida State would be my choice)

4. E. J. Gaines, CB, Missouri

(overall not bad but disagree with Bortles at 1-1)

[painekiller]

1 Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida
33 Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee
65 Carl Bradford, DE/OLB, Arizona State
97 Brandon Thomas, G/OT, Clemson


I could see this, not sure I like it, but I could see it.

[painekiller]

Walter Football

1 Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida

If the 2014 NFL Draft were held today, Jadeveon Clowney would probably be the pick; Bob McNair stated that he was smitten with him, though that was likely an attempt to create a trade possibility. But this reminds me of the 2011 NFL Draft. Both Kiper and Todd McShay thought a defensive lineman would be the top choice (Kiper said Nick Fairley, while McShay suggested Da'Quan Bowers), yet the Panthers ultimately fell in love with Cam Newton.

With Jay Cutler re-signed, the same thing will almost certainly happen to the Texans, who will have three months to become smitten with Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel. One of those signal-callers will probably be the No. 1 pick.

Bortles has become the favorite out of the three quarterbacks. Multiple sources are now leaning toward Bortles, as you can see in our 2014 NFL Draft Team Rumors page. Charlie also reported that two teams in the top five prefer Bortles over Bridgewater and Manziel. Meanwhile, Tony Pauline said that Bortles is the consensus No. 1 quarterback, and that he has been impressive in the interviews.

Bortles makes the most sense, as he has the characteristics of what Bill O'Brien looks for in a quarterback. Bridgewater is still an option though, as is Manziel, whom McNair seems to like. There's also a huge campaign forming for Manziel to be the No. 1 pick, so he's probably leapt in front of Bridgewater as well.

33 Lamarcus Joyner, CB/S, Florida State

There are a few areas the Texans need to address outside of the quarterback position. They need to find a new right tackle, upgrade the outside linebacker position and acquire a better nickel. Out of those three areas, the best player available is Lamarcus Joyner, who would satisfy the latter need.

Pick change; previously Antonio Richardson, OT

65 Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford

As mentioned earlier, the right tackle position was a huge problem area for the Texans. They'll have to find an upgrade in Rounds 2-4.

Pick change; previously Marcus Smith, DE/OLB

97 Trevor Reilly, DE/OLB, Utah

The Texans would kill two stones with one bird with this pick, as Emmitt would say. They need to upgrade their pass rush and find some help at inside linebacker. Marcus Smith would satisfy the former, which would allow Brooks Reed to move inside.

Pick change; previously Brandon Thomas, G/OT

Still not sold on Bortles, now if OBrien goes that way then I become a fan.

How I would go right now with no trade down.

1 Jadeveon Clowney, DE/OLB, South Carolina - Can you image Clowney next to Watt?

33 Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU - I don't think he's a BoB type, but he has a cannon. And I could not type Carr's name, I just could not do it.

65 DaQuan Jones, NT, Penn State - BoB goes for one of his boys.

97 Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

[painekiller]

March 5, 2014

1 Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida ( they claim this is new, but the explanations have not changed for weeks)
33 Carl Bradford, DE/OLB, Arizona State

The Texans would kill two stones with one bird with this pick, as Emmitt would say. They need to upgrade their pass rush and find some help at inside linebacker. Carl Bradford would satisfy the former, which would allow Brooks Reed to move inside.

Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Pick change; previously Lamarcus Joyner, CB/S

65 Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford

As mentioned earlier, the right tackle position was a huge problem area for the Texans. They'll have to find an upgrade in Rounds 2-4.

97 Jaylen Watkins, CB, Florida

There are a few areas the Texans need to address outside of the quarterback position. They need to find a new right tackle, upgrade the outside linebacker position and acquire a better nickel.

Pick change; previously Trevor Reilly, DE/OLB

129 Storm Johnson, RB, Central Florida

The Texans will be searching for a backup running back this offseason with Ben Tate bound to sign elsewhere.

Pick change; previously Jerick McKinnon, RB

My alternative: Has a trade down with Cleveland:

4 Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson
26 Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
33 Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA
65 Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson
97 Daniel McCullers, NT, Tennessee
129 Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

OK I am having a little fun drafting Clemson's QB and WR and giving Hopkins some familiar faces to play with.

No way in hell do I do the mock I just did. What I really would be more inclined to do with a trade down.

4 Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Buffalo
26 Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
33 Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois
65 Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford
97 Daniel McCullers, NT, Tennessee
129 Lamin Barrow, ILB, LSU