Top Three User Submitted Mock Drafts Of the Week: 1/31

First I want to say thank you for all the submissions, you made it extremely tough to narrow it down to just three. A large number of mocks deserve recognition, but I had to choose just three of my favorites. There were a lot of mocks with similar picks or similar strategies to these three mocks and they were in the running as well. If your mock didn’t get picked, no worries keep submitting them and we’ll feature three new ones next week.

 

Mock 1: Drew for the Jaguars            

Link to the draft: 

3 DE JADEVEON CLOWNEY

SOUTH CAROLINA

 

39 QB JOHNNY MANZIEL

TEXAS A&M

 

70 CB BRADLEY ROBY

OHIO STATE

 

101 RB CARLOS HYDE

OHIO STATE

 

110 DT EGO FERGUSON

LSU

 

132 DE GEORGE UKO

USC

 

138 CB ANTONE EXUM

VIRIGNIA TECH

 

147 OT AUSTIN WENTWORTH

FRESNO STATE

 

163 TE JACOB PEDERSEN

WISCONSIN

 

199 WR CODY LATIMER

INDIANA    

 

Why I like this Draft:

The Jaguars are a team with a lot of needs, but instead of taking a great risk at quarterback, Drew takes arguably the best player in the draft in Clowney, who still fills a major need. Clowney is the impact pass rusher the Jaguars need for their defense and a marquee player to build around.

Drew’s risk paid off as Johnny Manziel slid to the 2nd round in this mock. Some may say that is unrealistic, but really we see guys slide like this every year and yes sometimes they are quarterbacks. After taking care of the top two needs and getting a pair of marquee players, the Jags then do a great job getting value here and still hitting needs. Grabbing corners like Roby and Exum could turn this secondary around overnight. Adding Ferguson and Uko along the line, ensures that Clowney won’t have to do it alone next year for the Jaguars as well.

I really like the pick of Carlos Hyde, who can be the bruising back in the mold or Marshawn Lynch. Late in the draft I like the shrewd pick-ups of Wentworth, Pedersen and Latimer who are all really nice value picks for those spots. Overall I think it was great the Jags landed their QB and RB, but having a defensive focus was smart. That fits what Gus Bradley wants to do, and as we see in the NFL, a young QB’s best friend can be a top defense.

 

Mock 2: Scott for the 49ers

Link to the Draft

30 S CALVIN PRYOR

LOUISVILLE

 

56 CB BRADLEY ROBY

OHIO STATE

 

61 C WESTON RICHBURG

COLORADO STATE

 

77 WR ROBERT HERRON

WYOMING

 

94 WR MARTAVIS BRYANT

CLEMSON

 

125 CB PIERRE DESIR

LINDENWOOD

 

158 QB DAVID FALES

SAN JOSE STATE

 

189 DE WILL CLARKE

WVU

 

218 S PIERRE WARREN

JACKSONVILLE STATE

 

219 ILB STEPHON ROBERTSON

JAMES MADISON

 

220 OLB KEVIN PIERRE-LOUIS

BOSTON COLLEGE

 

222 CB AARON COLVIN

OKLAHOMA

 

Why I like this Draft:

This draft is run very much like the 49ers run their drafts, doing a great job balancing needs with value and finding sleepers and late round steals. Scott uses the 49ers picks to perfection here as he gets value in just about every round. Grabbing Pryor and Roby early on really helps boost this secondary with the Eric Reid pick from a year ago. Grabbing Richburg is a nice pick-up given their potential need at center. Whether Goodwin is back or not this year, the 49ers will need a starting caliber center sooner rather than later.

Grabbing two receivers in the 3rd round is brilliant as well. It’s such a deep wide receiver draft that the 49ers know they can get value later. Also if Boldin is back, there isn’t a pressing need for starting caliber WR’s considering how much the 49ers use their FB and two TE sets. Both Herron and Bryant though have a lot of upside and potential, and will be nice additions to the 49ers receiving corps. Coming back and grabbing Desir is another nice addition to this secondary. He’s long with plenty of potential and the 49ers won’t need to force him into the line-up like some teams.

David Fales is a nice value later in the draft and would help give the 49ers a nice back-up option. Late in the draft I really liked what Scott did with the 49ers. He grabbed some nice upside, but under the radar guys. If these guys don’t make the team as back-ups/special teamers, they have a shot of being snuck on to the practice squad . Finally the pick of Aaron Colvin is perfect for this team. While a lot of teams could look at him late in the draft, the 49ers have such depth (particularly with the earlier picks), that they can redshirt him for two years if they have to. This is just a great all-around draft and probably really similar to the 49ers strategy.

 

Mock 3 Jim for the Panthers

Link to the Draft

 

28 OT ZACK MARTIN

NOTRE DAME

 

60 WR JORDAN MATTHEWS

VANDERBILT

 

92 CB JAYLEN WATKINS

FLORIDA

 

124 CB ROSS COCKRELL

DUKE

 

156 TE JACOB PEDERSEN

WISCONSIN

 

188 DT RYAN CARRETHERS

ARKANSAS STATE

 

202 WR MATT HAZEL

COASTAL CAROLINA  

 

Why I like this Draft:

The Panthers had a great run this year, but they need to fix some things this offseason if they want to remain one of the top teams in the NFC next year. Jim does a great job recognizing these primary needs, and gets nice value for them. First up is a really nice pick-up of Zack Martin. The Panthers have two really good linemen, but beyond that they could give Cam Newton some better protection. Martin is an immediate starter at either guard or RT. He also could potentially be a replacement for LT Jordan Gross who has hinted at retirement in the near future.

The Panthers next pressing need is finding more weapons for Cam Newton in the passing game. Steve Smith and Greg Olsen have done a great job, but they need some help. Especially since Smith is near the end of his career. Jordan Matthews is the perfect receiver to complement Smith, as he brings good size and physicality to the position. He’s also got the potential to be a true number one and could take on that role after Smith retires.  Later round picks like Jacob Pedersen and Matt Hazel all boost the weapons that Newton needs to continue to grow. Hazel in particular is a guy who could develop into a future starter and could be a steal in the 7th round.

The third area of concern for the Panthers is their secondary. Carolina has one of the best defensive front 7’s in the league, but their secondary is their weak point on defense. Adding guys like Watkins and Cockrell, not only give them two guys with the potential to become starters, but they are pretty polished players and could contribute now. This is a really strong draft that Jim put together and would be a big boost to the Panthers next year and going forward as well.