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Mock Draft Spectacular
1. You cannot
select a player rated higher than the Birds' respective draft slot. Thus, you cannot
select the 20th rated player with the 21st pick. You cannot select the 52nd rated player with the 53rd pick. Got it? Need more
examples? If you do, talk to Dan Leone.
2. No trade up/down scenarios.
You can post your mock in the comments section or you can email it to me directly (dave@blogsbyfans.com) with a little personal analysis/reasoning and I'll post them here on the main page.
Like last year, the winner takes home a used Max Jean-Gilles jockstrap - how's that working out for you Strock? Last year, loyal reader Strock selected - Jeff Otah, Chris Johnson, and Martellus Bennett with the 19th, 49th, and 79th picks respectively. Just shows the guy is an incredible drafter and I'm an incredible awarder of draft prizes. For the record, I had a Mike Jenkins, Trevor Laws, Donnie Avery board.
I'll kick the draft off with my own little best case scenario:
1st Round - 21st Pick - Brandon Pettigrew - TE - Oklahoma State
I like Pettigrew, I do, I just don't want to take him to a local motel and rent an hourly room like so many of the draft pundits. Based on the NFL Draft Scout rankings Pettigrew is the 30th best player in this draft. I've read that he could go anywhere from 15 to 30, so he's on the back end of this rating system (I guess NFLDS doesn't want to bang him either). If he's available at 21, I'd snag Pettigrew because I think he could step in from day one and improve the Birds' offense. Pettigrew is the best tight end in the draft because he's the most complete tight end in the draft - he can catch, block, and run after the catch. Would I rather have Andre Smith if somehow he slipped this far, of course, but that's not happening.
1st Round - 28th Pick - LeSean McCoy - RB - Pittsburgh
So McCoy's workouts have been less than impressive (4.5-40 yard dash) - who cares? Brian Westbrook ran a 4.57 at the combine in 2002. McCoy's 10-yard split was faster than DeSean Jackson's was during last year's combine (1.52 versus 1.53). His college production was fantastic, and he's a prototypical Eagles running back. Speaking of Westbrook - this was his scouting report coming out of college:
Is quick to and through the hole and sudden. Runs with very good vision, balance and pad level, and while a compact runner, he will surprise you with his ability to run inside. However, he is at his best when he bounces outside or fakes inside and goes wide and gets the corner turned. Will make the first man miss and, at times, will make multiple moves and make more than one tackler flail for air. Has very large hands for somebody his size and catches the ball well and can catch the ball going downfield with his hands while outstretched.
Now to McCoy's scouting report:
Gets to top speed as quickly as any back in the country. Special vision for the cutback and in traffic. Plants his foot and accelerates. Very elusive in space, with shifty hips and an ability to juke or shake off a defender. Maintains his balance well after making a move or running through arm tackles on the outside. Runs with a lean inside, will bounce off tackles and keep his legs moving. Patient enough to allow blocks to develop on stretch plays to the outside. Very natural hands as a receiver; will excel on swing and screen passes. Uses his quick feet to run crisp out routes. Ultra-competitive; works hard in the film and weight rooms. Wants the ball on every play.
2nd Round - 53rd Pick - Jamon Meredith - OT - South Carolina
You could go a number of ways here, but Meredith is the type of versatile lineman the Birds covet. Meredith played every line position but center during his career at South Carolina. Most scouts believe he fits better as a right, rather than a left tackle, but if you've noticed, scouts these days don't label players as left tackle prospects unless they're picked in the top-15 of the draft (which is ludicrous). Pouring through his scouting reports, Meredith has the athleticism, brains, and drive to be a top player - it seems like he just needs some technique and further physical development.
3rd Round - 85th Pick - Coye Francies - CB - San Jose State
During the Senior Bowl, Francies jumped out at me as someone who would fit in nicely with the Eagles scheme. Francies doesn't have great size (skinny) at 6'0" 185 but showed that he can fill in the running game, and most importantly showed impressive physicality in press coverage. His physical nature appeared during the game as he registered 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup. Basically a one-year wonder at San Jose State (69 tackles, 3 INTs) due to his dismissal from Oregon State for a violation of team rules. Charged with illegal possession of a firearm in 2007 (later dismissed, mark it zero Dude). His body type and physical press coverage remind me a little of Al Harris.
4th Round - 121st Pick - Kory Sheets - RB - Purdue
Two running backs in the first four rounds, what am I, on crack? Not yet, but it's only 5:30pm. I can pretend like I'm the all knowing draft madman, but when it comes to picks in the 100's, only certain names jump out at me. Could the Birds use another outside linebacker, wide receiver, defensive end, or even......quarterback? Sure. But I'm going running back here not so much for the ball carrying, but for the kick and punt returning ability. Assuming Quintin Demps is your full-time free safety and DeSean Jackson's role continues to expand, the Birds will likely remove the returning burden from their list of duties. Sheets is an insane athlete (4.37 40-yard, 37 inch vertical) who had an impressive career with the Boilermakers (16 TDs as a Senior).
I'd like to see what the readership thinks here, I could have gone a million different ways. Again, post you're mocks in the comments or email me directly.
