Grading the Mocking the Draft Draft: NFC

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Carolina Panthers

1 (9)- DT Fletcher Cox
2 (40)- OLB Bruce Irvin
4 (105)- OG James Brown
6 (166)- WR Jordan White
6 (167)- CB Cliff Harris
6 (169)- P Bryan Anger
6 (188)- SS Duke Ihenacho

Good picks:

Bryan anger-it’s really not a great pick, but in these live drafts Kickers and punters never get drafted so it’s nice to see someone realize that they are important players and that at least one gets drafted every year.

Solid picks:

Fletcher Cox-I think it’s a near foregone conclusion that the Panthers go defense in the first round. Cox is right in the mix. He’s not terrific value but good solid value.

James Brown-addressing the offensive line is never a bad idea. Solid value here .

Cliff Harris-Harris has all the talent, can he stay out of trouble off the field. The Panthers need to upgrade the cornerback position as well. Solid pick. I’d feel more comfortable with this pick if I got the background information teams will get on Harris.

Duke Ihenacho-A nice developmental prospect in the late rounds.

Jordan White at 166 overall. Right about where he is on my big board.

Questionable pick:

Bruce Irvin-I think this is a reach and I’m not sure where he plays on the Panthers defense. I think Irvin is a little bit better than a one trick pony and could develop into a linebacker in time because he’ll take on blocks. But there are better picks for the Panthers at the top of round two.

Grade: C+/B-

Not my favorite draft. I don’t think there are any picks where I immediately think “steal”. I don’t love the Irvin pick and the rest are solid. I understand the process here, just don’t love the results.

Seattle Seahawks

1/11 (Traded 2013 1st, 2nd, 3/76 to Chiefs) – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina Along with 2/43, traded to Jaguars for 2/38, 3/71, 5/135, 2013 1st and 4th
1/12 – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
2/38 – Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
3/71 – Jayron Hosley, DB, Virginia Tech
3/92 (Traded 4/107 and 5/135 to Packers) – Mychal Hendricks, ILB, California
5/140 – Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
6/171 – Ryan Miller, G, Colorado
7/204 – Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
7/210 – Austin Davis, QB, Southern Miss.

Got 2013 1st and 4th from JAX

This is an A+ draft. Terrific picks all around. The first round is confusing with all the trading that happened there how he ended up picking 11th and 12th (I’m not entirely sure what went on), but eventually they had Quinton Coples, but traded him to Jacksonville for a first round next year. So their first round is Trent Richardson (Value) and a 1st rounder next year. Then every round was more and more value. Sean Spence at a 140 is an an arrestable offense with how much stealing happened there. Austin Davis is a great developmental QB prospect. Curry, Hosley, Miller all good values. The icing on the cake is getting a future first rounder.

The only pick I think that was made where the player was rated lower on my board then the actual pick was Kendricks, but not by much and after his combine his “draftable” value is higher than he is on my big board.

Arizona Cardinals:

1- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
2- Kevin Kolb, QB, Mickey Mouse University
3- Nigel Bradham, ILB, FSU
4- Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas
5- Kyle Wilber, OLB, Wake Forest
6- Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin
7a- Omar Bolden, CB, ASU
7b- Damon Harrison, NT, William Penn
7c- Eddie Whitley, FS, VA Tech

I call this a “man crush” draft. Last time it was the 49ers who I thought were too worried about not missing on their player to let the board fall to them. Jon Martin pick is a good not great pick. Nigel Bradham has a lot of physical ability and could end up in that range, but I think it’s too early. Greg Childs is not a bad pick here, but he hasn’t put up good numbers at Arkansas since his sophomore year. And has 859 yards receiving the last two years in 16 games-that’s not the kind of production you really want out of a fourth rounder.

The one pick I do love is Russel Wilson. Wilson to me is on par with all of the quarterback after Tannehill. Weeden is better, but the age bothers me (even if it doesn’t bother everyone else). I like Osweiler’s upside more, but after that. Wilson to me is better than Cousins, Foles etc. I like him. Good pick there.

Overall grade C

Not a big fan of the draft.

Dallas Cowboys

1) Melvin Ingram
2) Harrison Smith
3) Chase Minnifield
4) Brandon Brooks
5) Jarius Wright
6) Dominique Hamiliton
7) George Bryan

I think this is a draft that will grade higher on may people’s big boards than my own. I’m not the biggest Melvin Ingram fan. He’s not a bad player, but he’s not a top 20 player to me. He’s more of a late first round player. I just don’t know where he’ll play. Is he a 34 OLB? I Think he has the ability to be. In the right system I think he can be a disruptive interior pass rushing forced, but not on a 34 team. He also doesn’t fill a big need (which is not all that important to me, but a reach and not a need is not wise to me). If you love Ingram you love the pick. I don’t love Ingram. B-

Harrison Smith is another guy I think has become over-valued and by a lot. I don’t think he’s a fluid man coverage guy and to me most of his big plays seem to be more of a product of quarterbacks making mistakes than Smith going out and making a huge play. It’s not a knock-that’s how a lot of plays get made. I’m just not convinced he’ll be a big time presence in a secondary in the N.F.L, which is why I have him as 3rd round value. Again others love Smith and it makes sense. I’m just not a guy who loves Smith. B-/C+

Chase Minnifield is the best pick in this draft and it’s not even close. Minnifield to me is a top 50 player so while I don’t love Ingram or Harrisonn I think this is a terrific pick, and it fills a need. A

Brandon Brooks is a solid pick, again not a pick I’d classify as a steal. Brooks to me is right about my 100th best player on my board. Being that he’s around 100th best a mid 4th rounder seems about right. He’ll probably go a little earlier in the draft because he plays a line position, but good solid value.

Jarius Wright, Dominque Hamilton, and George Bryan. Are all good solid picks. All picks fill voids on the team while offering solid value. No player is a terrific value, Wright is close but they also do a good a job of filling out the Cowboys roster.

Overall- this draft would look much, much better on some people’s boards than on mine. On my board this is an average draft. Most of the picks present average value and fill needs. I can see the appeal of a lot of the players and thus why they are ranked higher than on my board so I understand the draft. B

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