Full 1st round mock, followed by Falcons 7 round mock

[Robb4242]

This mock is based of the assumption that there is no settlement in the labor negotiations and that there will be no free agency prior to the draft and quite possibly none prior to the start of the season.

1 Carolina - Cam Newton - QB - Auburn

2 Denver - Marcell Dareus - DE - Alabama

3 Buffalo - Von Miller - LB - Texas A&M

4 Cincinnati - Robert Quinn - DE - North Carolina

5 Arizona - Patrick Peterson - CB - LSU

6 Cleveland - A.J. Green - WR - Georgia

7 San Fran - Nick Fairley - DT - Auburn

8 Tennessee - Blaine Gabbert - QB - Missouri

9 Dallas - J.J. Watt - DE - Wisconsin

10 Washington - Julio Jones - WR - Alabama

11 Houston - Da'Quan Bowers - DE - Clemson

12 Minnesota - Jake Locker - QB - Washington

13 Detroit - Prince Amukamara - CB - Nebraska

14 St. Louis - Cameron Jordan - DE - California

15 Miami - Mark Ingram - RB - Alabama

16 Jacksonville - Adrian Clayborn - DE - Iowa

17 New Eng (Oak) - Tyron Smith - OT - Southern Cal

18 San Diego - Anthony Castonzo - OT - Boston College

19 NY Giants - Cameron Heyward - DE/DT - Ohio State

20 Tampa Bay - Ryan Kerrigan - DE - Purdue

21 Kansas City - Phil Taylor - DT - Baylor

22 Indianapolis - Mike Pouncey - OG - Florida

23 Philadelphia - Jimmy Smith - CB - Colorado

24 New Orleans - Justin Houston - DE/LB - Georgia

25 Seattle - Nate Solder - OT - Colorado

26 Baltimore - Aldon Smith - DE - Missouri

27 Atlanta - Gabe Carimi - OT - Wisconsin

28 New England - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

29 Chicago - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

30 NY Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson - DE/DT - Temple

31 Pittsburgh - Danny Watkins - OG - Baylor

32 Green Bay - Mikel Leshoure - RB - Illinois

Falcons:

1. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

2. Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

3. Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State

4. Justin Rodgers, CB, Richmond

5. Denarius Moore, WR, Tennessee

6. Da'Rel Scott, RB, Maryland

7. Chas Henry, P, Florida

7. Danny Aiken, LS, Virginia

7. Scott Tolzien, QB, Wisconsin

[Mr Pickle1]

This mock is based of the assumption that there is no settlement in the labor negotiations and that there will be no free agency prior to the draft and quite possibly none prior to the start of the season.

1 Carolina - Cam Newton - QB - Auburn

2 Denver - Marcell Dareus - DE - Alabama

3 Buffalo - Von Miller - LB - Texas A&M

4 Cincinnati - Robert Quinn - DE - North Carolina

5 Arizona - Patrick Peterson - CB - LSU

6 Cleveland - A.J. Green - WR - Georgia

7 San Fran - Nick Fairley - DT - Auburn

8 Tennessee - Blaine Gabbert - QB - Missouri

9 Dallas - J.J. Watt - DE - Wisconsin

10 Washington - Julio Jones - WR - Alabama

11 Houston - Da'Quan Bowers - DE - Clemson

12 Minnesota - Jake Locker - QB - Washington

13 Detroit - Prince Amukamara - CB - Nebraska

14 St. Louis - Cameron Jordan - DE - California

15 Miami - Mark Ingram - RB - Alabama

16 Jacksonville - Adrian Clayborn - DE - Iowa

17 New Eng (Oak) - Tyron Smith - OT - Southern Cal

18 San Diego - Anthony Castonzo - OT - Boston College

19 NY Giants - Cameron Heyward - DE/DT - Ohio State

20 Tampa Bay - Ryan Kerrigan - DE - Purdue

21 Kansas City - Phil Taylor - DT - Baylor

22 Indianapolis - Mike Pouncey - OG - Florida

23 Philadelphia - Jimmy Smith - CB - Colorado

24 New Orleans - Justin Houston - DE/LB - Georgia

25 Seattle - Nate Solder - OT - Colorado

26 Baltimore - Aldon Smith - DE - Missouri

27 Atlanta - Gabe Carimi - OT - Wisconsin

28 New England - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

29 Chicago - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

30 NY Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson - DE/DT - Temple

31 Pittsburgh - Danny Watkins - OG - Baylor

32 Green Bay - Mikel Leshoure - RB - Illinois

Falcons:

1. Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

2. Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

3. Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State

4. Justin Rodgers, CB, Richmond

5. Denarius Moore, WR, Tennessee

6. Da'Rel Scott, RB, Maryland

7. Chas Henry, P, Florida

7. Danny Aiken, LS, Virginia

7. Scott Tolzien, QB, Wisconsin

You get good players, you get good value, and yet I don't feel like we get better. Your top 4 picks include ZERO explosive players at WR/TE/RB/DE. Zero. That would seem to be the opposite of what the FO claims we want to do. Carter is explosive, but at OLB. To me, this draft just gives us more of the same. I like D. Moore, and D. Scott, but both have serious concerns and given that those are two primary positions which need upgrades, waiting until this late in the draft to address it seems odd, to me.

[Zodiac]

I would be ok with this

However Pernell McPhee wont do anything in the NFL. YOu'd be better to go after a WR or TE with this pick

[Kennesaw77]

However Pernell McPhee wont do anything in the NFL. YOu'd be better to go after a WR or TE with this pick

why not?

[etherdome]

I would be ok with this

However Pernell McPhee wont do anything in the NFL. YOu'd be better to go after a WR or TE with this pick

McPhee was stellar in his junior year. He got bigger his senior year and his numbers went down. It could be his weight, or it could have been that teams keyed on him. He is a high effort player that made waves in the SEC. Why do you feel that he will not do anything in the NFL?

I like the mock, but I have reservations drafting Carimi over Sherrod.

[Kennesaw77]

I have reservations drafting Carimi over Sherrod.

If we intend on using Carimi only at RT why would you have reservations?

[Mr Pickle1]

If we intend on using Carimi only at RT why would you have reservations?

It would mean that our best OL is gone, and we're essentially treading water at the position and we use our top pick to do that. That is VERY dissapointing.

If we aren't going to grab a big DE or WR in FA, then we should at least resign our own stud RT. If this draft assumes that Clabo is gone...ugh.

Throw in putting in a rook OLB over Nicholas, then it seems likely we are simply maintaining the status qou for next year, after using up our top 2 picks=vomit.

[Zodiac]

McPhee has great Motor and work Ethic but he's never really struck me as a guy who could be a long term solution at a DE position

and really we have 4 Prospective DEs why add another?

[Robb4242]

It would mean that our best OL is gone, and we're essentially treading water at the position and we use our top pick to do that. That is VERY dissapointing.

If we aren't going to grab a big DE or WR in FA, then we should at least resign our own stud RT. If this draft assumes that Clabo is gone...ugh.

Throw in putting in a rook OLB over Nicholas, then it seems likely we are simply maintaining the status qou for next year, after using up our top 2 picks=vomit.

Not necessarily. Clabo can play RG easily. That's probably his more natural fit anyway. We do have 3 FAs (depending on what happens with the CBA) among our 5 starters on the OL. I'd be willing to bet that 1, if not both, guards will be gone next year. And, given that McClure needs to be replaced IMO as well, we've got quite a bit of work to do on our OL. If Carimi can't play LT and allow us to give Baker a shot at LG, then we can move Clabo inside and put Carimi on the right side.

And if maintaining a 13-3 record & top spot in the NFC makes you vomit then sorry.

As for not getting explosive players at WR/RB, I'd have to disagree. First off, we're not looking for a starting RB or #1 WR, so there is really no purpose in drafting one in the first 2 or 3 rounds. Second, D. Moore is explosive, what else would you call 21 yards per reception on 47 catches? D. Scott is also explosive, just not a full time RB. He'll be a healthy Norwood for whoever drafts him.

At TE, we're not replacing TG in this draft. There are zero TE's in this draft that are anything NFL quality backups. There are some that will be good receivers, but the majority of those are going to be lousy blockers. Others are going to be good blockers, but lousy receiving threats. There are a couple of small school guys with potential, but they would need a year or two on a roster to get NFL ready. TE is one of the few positions where the player can come in and contribute year one, this can wait until next year.

McPhee, maybe he's not going to be a stud, but I think he'll be a solid pro and really what else can you ask for from a 3rd round pick? Maybe he's not an explosive upgrade, but maybe he can allow Bierman to go back to a pass rushing specialist type role.

[Robb4242]

McPhee has great Motor and work Ethic but he's never really struck me as a guy who could be a long term solution at a DE position

and really we have 4 Prospective DEs why add another?

Who are the 4?

Sidbury

And the other 3?

I'm really not sure Chauncey or JA98 are going to be here very much longer.

Biermann is a little more than prospective, he's a legit pass rushing specialist (but not really starter quality).

JA55 is definitely not prospective.

That leave Stephens as your 2nd prospective guy.

[FalconFanatic304]

I would be ok with this

However Pernell McPhee wont do anything in the NFL. YOu'd be better to go after a WR or TE with this pick

Hey since you can predict the future how many TDs will Roddy catch next year?

[Zodiac]

Who are the 4?

Sidbury

And the other 3?

I'm really not sure Chauncey or JA98 are going to be here very much longer.

Biermann is a little more than prospective, he's a legit pass rushing specialist (but not really starter quality).

JA55 is definitely not prospective.

That leave Stephens as your 2nd prospective guy.

Yea I still consider Davis, JA98(Whos still real young), Biermann, and Sid all prospects.

[vel]

I agree with you Mr. Pickle. This was just a very solid draft. It fills our holes but not with anything special. Yea we don't know how these players will end up but as prospects I feel like we could get more explosion than what you provided through this mock.

[Robb4242]

Yea I still consider Davis, JA98(Whos still real young), Biermann, and Sid all prospects.

Ok, I can see that. I consider prospects being guys who have not been on the field much, but I can see your reasoning for still considering them prospects since they are all still in the fairly early parts of their careers.

I knew this wasn't an "exciting" draft, but I really think that if Carter is healthy (and if he doesn't check out you obviously don't draft him), and the 4/5/6 round picks all have a chance to be explosive type players. Not immediate, big time contributors, but give the draft 2 years and I think it would surprise a lot of people. I picked guys who I felt had value and a lot of upside to them.

[blizzard_falcon]

You get good players, you get good value, and yet I don't feel like we get better. Your top 4 picks include ZERO explosive players at WR/TE/RB/DE. Zero. That would seem to be the opposite of what the FO claims we want to do. Carter is explosive, but at OLB. To me, this draft just gives us more of the same. I like D. Moore, and D. Scott, but both have serious concerns and given that those are two primary positions which need upgrades, waiting until this late in the draft to address it seems odd, to me.

I agree 100%. This mock fulfills our needs overall, but not in the order I'd want, and I don't feel any explosiveness has been added to the roster. I get what you're trying to do, I'm just not excited about it at all. But I wouldn't necessarily be upset if things went down like this.

[Kennesaw77]

we're not looking for a #1 WR, so there is really no purpose in drafting one in the first 2 or 3 rounds.

At TE, we're not replacing TG in this draft. There are zero TE's in this draft that are anything NFL quality backups. There are some that will be good receivers, but the majority of those are going to be lousy blockers. Others are going to be good blockers, but lousy receiving threats.

No but we are looking for a #2 WR and it's going to be hard to find one after round 3.

I'd have to disagree. Keep in mind TG was a lousy blocker when he entered the league.

you don't like- Kyle Rudolph, Lance Kendricks, DJ Williams,

[MSalmon]

Ok, I can see that. I consider prospects being guys who have not been on the field much, but I can see your reasoning for still considering them prospects since they are all still in the fairly early parts of their careers.

I knew this wasn't an "exciting" draft, but I really think that if Carter is healthy (and if he doesn't check out you obviously don't draft him), and the 4/5/6 round picks all have a chance to be explosive type players. Not immediate, big time contributors, but give the draft 2 years and I think it would surprise a lot of people. I picked guys who I felt had value and a lot of upside to them.

I'm not going to be quite so critical For one, i like the Carimi pick. At the #27 pick it makes sense, you get a big road grading guy--who at best is a LT, and worse case a heckuva a RT. So i'm great with that pick, as he fits our system and is an upgrade IMO over Clabo. If we do go with a Carimi, i think it's bye bye Dahl and possibly Clabo. With either Reynolds or Johnson moving up the depth chart.

Carimi also by default adds explosion by improving the OLine play. I'm good with the #1 pick

Bruce Carter is also a fine pick. If healthy, he's a heckuva WLB and will add mass speed and explosion to our defense. BTW that pick would give us 3 young and athletic LBs.

YOu lose me at the third pick. I don't see McPhee as being an upgrade over anyone on our roster and while it's great to build the lines, you gotta get some offensive skill players in at some point. IMO this is a great spot to grab a passcatching TE (Stocker comes to mind or the Kendricks). Maybe one of the speed wrs drop like Titus Young. Might get lucky and get a Randall Cobb here. Also this is great spot for a speed rb.

I get the Moore pick and he's fast. I also get the Scott pick, but I think hoping to get an explosive skill position player to immediately upgrade your offense's team speed in the 5th and 6th round is wishful thinking--could happen, but it's hard. Usually, these type picks are "maybes" with potential. Also don't really understand the QB pick at the end. Tolzien could be an UDFA, plus why would we give up on Wilson? Or we getting rid of Redman?

Like, i said i don't have a problem with the logic of this draft overall, but i do think if we go OLine first (which could happen) and then grab speed at the OLB (again could happen), I honestly believe that we go WR, TE and RB hunting. I don't see us waiting until the 5th and 6th rounds to address these positions.

But, overall, it aint a bad haul. Now IMO you go Kendricks or Stocker at the third round pick, and the whole draft changes overall as it is suddenly about adding Ryan immediate weapons. IMO a down the field TE is adding explosiveness and weapons for Ryan. And i don't think that getting a TE is replacing TG as it's easy enough to work in 2 TE sets (see Pats). And adding either Kendricks or Stocker, means that you can still run the ball as both are good blockers, but you also get the ability to push the ball down the field (particularly the middle). IMO TG would still get his receptions.

[etherdome]

If we intend on using Carimi only at RT why would you have reservations?

I believe that Carimi would make an excellent RT. The problem is that RT's are much easier to find than LT's. Sherrod is a LT prospect and therefore a better value in the first round.

[blizzard_falcon]

No but we are looking for a #2 WR and it's going to be hard to find one after round 3.

I'd have to disagree. Keep in mind TG was a lousy blocker when he entered the league.

you don't like- Kyle Rudolph, Lance Kendricks, DJ Williams,

I'd add Luke Stocker and Rob Housler to that list as well. All five of these guys will be quality starters in the league, and guys like Virgil Green and Julius Thomas could be even better if they're groomed correctly. I definitely think we will be looking for a successor to Tony G this season, because it's almost a sure bet he won't be back in 2012.

[Kennesaw77]

I'd add Luke Stocker and Rob Housler to that list as well. All five of these guys will be quality starters in the league, and guys like Virgil Green and Julius Thomas could be even better if they're groomed correctly. I definitely think we will be looking for a successor to Tony G this season, because it's almost a sure bet he won't be back in 2012.

right but the guys I you listed either aren't blockers or are blockers and not natural receiver's (save Stocker who I accidentally left out)

[blizzard_falcon]

right but the guys I you listed either aren't blockers or are blockers and not natural receiver's (save Stocker who I accidentally left out)

Yeah, Housler, Thomas and Greene would have to be groomed/coached, but that's why you take one of them this season and let him sit behind Tony G. for a year before being forced to start.

I really do think we'll be drafting a tight end this month, and in the first few rounds. I know none of the guys available is "lights out," but as we saw in 2008, this offense doesn't necessarily need a badass tight end to be effective.

[EllijayFalconsFan]

God I hope we don't take an OT in the first round. All of these guys are RTs in the NFL and I don't want the Falcons taking a RT in the first round.

[Robb4242]

God I hope we don't take an OT in the first round. All of these guys are RTs in the NFL and I don't want the Falcons taking a RT in the first round.

And if Clabo decides to walk in FA because we can't/won't pay him pro bowl OT type money, then we get to watch Garrett Reynolds out there for a full season. woohoo

Just curious, looking at the full 1st round part of the mock, if it fell that way, who would you guys select over Carimi?

[coachx]

If we intend on using Carimi only at RT why would you have reservations?

I have reservations b/c we already have a mauling Pro Bowl RT who we can resign. I'd rather keep Clabo and use the 1st round pick to fill an existing hole.

[coachx]

Just curious, looking at the full 1st round part of the mock, if it fell that way, who would you guys select over Carimi?

J. Sheard and B. Reed are DEs I would strongly consider based on the players who would be left available.

If the plan is to let Clabo walk then I would draft Sherrod or Carami but I'm hoping the plan is not to create a new hole to fill at RT.

Edited April 8, 2011 by coachx