Ravensnick Mock 1.0 (First 4 Rounds)

[ravensnick]

First Round:

 

Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

 

While Ramsey's struggles at CB and Hargreaves messy end to the season have cast doubts on both prospects, Alexander had a phenomenal season. Alexander's man to man skills proved to be some of the best in the nation and it allowed Clemson to create an island to his side of the field. Offenses simply did not throw his way. He is listed at 5'10" on the Clemson roster but he is talented enough to scrap with bigger WRs. 

 

Second Round:

 

Shalique Calhoun, OLB, MSU

 

With Kevin Dodds rapid rise in the playoffs, he will likely push his way into the first round. Calhoun is projected to go in the late first, but it is very likely that he could experience a small drop. Calhoun was project to be a first rounder entering the 2014, but disappointing play let to him returning to school for 2015. Calhoun really worked on his pass rush moves and put together a specular senior season. He definitely has the athleticism and fluidity to play in the 3-4 employed by the Ravens, but he is relatively light for his frame and position. 

 

Third Round:

 

Kenny Lawler, WR, Cal

 

While Lawler's receiving yardage is low for an NFL prospect, Lawler has had a nose for the endzone during his career at Cal. He had 13 TDs this year and 9 last year. He has nice height and hands, but he could stand to add some weight on his frame. He could work as a posession receiver to compliment Perriman. 

 

Fourth Round:

 

 Keanu Neal, FS, Florida

 

Neal probably should have stayed in school, but he proved to be an asset in Florida's talented secondary. He offers prototypical size and could be a player worth developing. he has the athleticism to be a playmaker, but needs to work on his technique. 

 

Joe Dahl, OG/OT, Washington State

 

Dahl transferred from Montana to WSU, were him became a stud left tackle. However, due to less than preferred length and height, Dahl may have to play guard at the next level. Dahl is very quick and uses his hands well. He broke his foot early into the year, but will have the Senior Bowl to repair his stock.  

Edited January 18, 2016 by ravensnick

[Purple Punishment]

You only did 2 rounds

[ravensnick]

You only did 2 rounds

Posted it early, finished now.

Edited January 18, 2016 by ravensnick

[GrimCoconut]

Calhoun has a slow first step. I'm not his biggest fan, but he has a great arsenal of pass rush moves. I'd rather take Ngakoue or Spence, personally. I love the first pick, however. 

 

I love Joe Dahl. 6-4 isn't great but it's not bad. I love his ability to pass protect. He's really special at it. I think his quickness around the edge is something special. He has good footwork & nice use of hands. I was pleasantly surprised every time I watched him. 

Edited January 18, 2016 by GrimCoconut

[ravensnick]

Calhoun has a slow first step. I'm not his biggest fan, but he has a great arsenal of pass rush moves. I'd rather take Ngakoue or Spence, personally. I love the first pick, however. 

 

I love Joe Dahl. 6-4 isn't great but it's not bad. I love his ability to pass protect. He's really special at it. I think his quickness around the edge is something special. He has good footwork & nice use of hands. I was pleasantly surprised every time I watched him. 

i really like Calhoun's moves. His Iowa tape really impressed me. Ngakoue or Spence would also be more than suitable for that position, but I'll admit I need to watch more of Ngakoue before I make a decision on him. Spence does have off the field concerns, but he has made steps in the right direction. 

 

I really have liked Dahl as well. Senior Bowl could launch him up the boards.

[52liveforever]

I like Alexander, but him at 6 is reaching

[ravefan52]

Calhoun has a slow first step. I'm not his biggest fan, but he has a great arsenal of pass rush moves. I'd rather take Ngakoue or Spence, personally. I love the first pick, however.

I love Joe Dahl. 6-4 isn't great but it's not bad. I love his ability to pass protect. He's really special at it. I think his quickness around the edge is something special. He has good footwork & nice use of hands. I was pleasantly surprised every time I watched him.

I like Dahl too, I think he's pretty underrated. Also 6-4 can definitely work. That's like the cutoff for LT's generally, other than Kelvin Beachum.

[ravensnick]

I like Alexander, but him at 6 is reaching

The more I watch the film, the more I like Alexander better than Hargreaves or Ramsey at CB. You could argue Ramsey is a more talented prospect at S, but CB is more valuable than S. Plus, even if you take a player projected to go 9-14 at #6, thats not really much of a reach. 

[GrimCoconut]

The more I watch the film, the more I like Alexander better than Hargreaves or Ramsey at CB. You could argue Ramsey is a more talented prospect at S, but CB is more valuable than S. Plus, even if you take a player projected to go 9-14 at #6, thats not really much of a reach. 

The one and only problem I really have with Alexander is simply the quality of competition. He really didn't play any great QBs. I guess Marquise Williams was the best QB he played against. 

 

Don't get me wrong since I do like him a lot but the competition does concern me.

[52liveforever]

The more I watch the film, the more I like Alexander better than Hargreaves or Ramsey at CB. You could argue Ramsey is a more talented prospect at S, but CB is more valuable than S. Plus, even if you take a player projected to go 9-14 at #6, thats not really much of a reach.

I do like him, but he really isn't proven enough to go in the top 20. He didn't play against the toughest competition. He could even slide to us in the second.

[BmoreBird22]

I do like him, but he really isn't proven enough to go in the top 20. He didn't play against the toughest competition. He could even slide to us in the second.

From Matt Miller...

 

For example, I've spoken with seven teams (scouts, coaches or general managers) that have Mackensie Alexander over Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey at defensive back.

[PurpleCity5]

I don't think Ramsey has struggled at CB, I just believe there are concerns. I still am a Vernon Hargreaves fan but his recent struggles have given me the chance to watch others and I do think Alexander might have bumped him out for best CB in the draft. He's def. one of the guy I'm taking a hard look at if/when Bosa and Tunsil are gone. The concerns I would have about him are the same one's that people have about Hargreaves, he's not a willing tackler at times, and his size could come under question at 5'10. I don't give height that much merit for NFL Cover CBs, I think its very overblown but they are concerns for NFL scouts. 

 

I'm just not a fan of Calhoun. For a guy with that kind of athleticism and size, you would expect him to be explosive off the LOS but instead his first step is pretty slow. I think he does plenty well and he's fairly refined as a pass rusher but there are plenty of guys I would take over him. 

Edited January 18, 2016 by PurpleCity5

[GrimCoconut]

From Matt Miller...

For example, I've spoken with seven teams (scouts, coaches or general managers) that have Mackensie Alexander over Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey at defensive back.

I think that's a totally fair statement. He's so good at reading the QB and diagnosing the play. He's pretty elite at that.

[52liveforever]

From Matt Miller...

For example, I've spoken with seven teams (scouts, coaches or general managers) that have Mackensie Alexander over Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey at defensive back.

If he goes before Hagreaves and Ramsey I'll be shocked. If he ends up being better than them, I won't be shocked at all.

I'm not saying I don't like Alexander. I'm just saying I think he will be around way after the number 6 pick. If we want him we could trade back and get him, but getting him at 6 doesn't work for me personally.

Edited January 18, 2016 by 52liveforever

[BmoreBird22]

If he goes before Hagreaves and Ramsey I'll be shocked. If he ends up being better than them, I won't be shocked at all.

I'm not saying I don't like Alexander. I'm just saying I think he will be around way after the number 6 pick. If we want him we could trade back and get him, but getting him at 6 doesn't work for me personally.

I don't think it's a reach at all and that's the exact player I want at six, personally.

[52liveforever]

I don't think it's a reach at all and that's the exact player I want at six, personally.

I just think if that's the guy you want you can trade back and get him. I mean you could trade back to 12 and most definitely get him and at the very least get a 3rd out of it.

[Dewy101]

The more I watch the film, the more I like Alexander better than Hargreaves or Ramsey at CB. You could argue Ramsey is a more talented prospect at S, but CB is more valuable than S. Plus, even if you take a player projected to go 9-14 at #6, thats not really much of a reach.

Did you miss all the receivers that Alexander has allowed to fly by him only getting bailed out by horribly thrown balls by QBs? Or the fact that he's literally holding, making illegal contact, or having a pass interference on almost every play. Edited January 18, 2016 by Dewy101

[JoeyFlex5]

I said a year ago that I strongly dislike Calhoun and nothing has changed there. I simply see a bust. No edge rusher has succeeded in the NFL by being the last player off the snap, and players don't just improve their first step, that's pretty much a "ya got it or ya don't" thing. Also I'll take Shepard, cooper, dural, Wilson, Robinson, and I'm sure I could name a bunch of others over Lawler who I have as a 5th rounder.

[RavensDieHard21]

Id like to see us take a take Alexander then get a pass rusher, such as Floyd or Ogbah, even if we sneak back to last picks of round 1.

[Winchester]

Calhoun has a slow first step. I'm not his biggest fan, but he has a great arsenal of pass rush moves. I'd rather take Ngakoue or Spence, personally. I love the first pick, however. 

 

I love Joe Dahl. 6-4 isn't great but it's not bad. I love his ability to pass protect. He's really special at it. I think his quickness around the edge is something special. He has good footwork & nice use of hands. I was pleasantly surprised every time I watched him.

Dahls stock will explode eventually. Plays like a not as strongstrong but slightly more athletic Matt Light. Dahls will likely go round 2 in my opinion. I prefer stronger OLine players. Would like to see Dahl addvsome muscle and strength and play at about 320 lbs. Need to see more of his punch and arm use strength. Violent punchers are born not built in the gym. Of course adding muscle helps it but it needs to be present to begin with to build upon to be great in that aspect. Dahl could be the #3 tackle in the draft.

[GrimCoconut]

Did you miss all the receivers that Alexander has allowed to fly by him only getting bailed out by horribly thrown balls by QBs? Or the fact that he's literally holding, making illegal contact, or having a pass interference on almost every play.

You are right, actually. I really like Alexander, but he has gotten lucky with some poorly thrown balls when he was beaten. He isn't the shutdown CB people make him out to be, but I do love him quite a bit. His ability to diagnose & read the QB is exceptionally good & he could be a great fit with Dean Pees & I think he has the talent to be effective in either man or zone. 

[GrimCoconut]

Dahls stock will explode eventually. Plays like a not as strongstrong but slightly more athletic Matt Light. Dahls will likely go round 2 in my opinion. I prefer stronger OLine players. Would like to see Dahl addvsome muscle and strength and play at about 320 lbs. Need to see more of his punch and arm use strength. Violent punchers are born not built in the gym. Of course adding muscle helps it but it needs to be present to begin with to build upon to be great in that aspect. Dahl could be the #3 tackle in the draft.

Yeah, I see the comparison. Dahl's a really good LT prospect that the media mostly ignores & forgets, but I do think he will rise. I think his ceiling is the 2nd round, but I think he may well go in the 3rd round. I think the 4th is a bit optimistic. I think the Combine & Senior Bowl will really help shape his draft stock. You are right, in that he could rise pretty high if he shows he can handle the big game. His stock reminds me of Terron Armstead, a guy we thought we could get in the 5th & then he gets 2nd round, first round hype, but goes in the 3rd. I see a similar comparison. 

 

I love Jack Conklin as well. He gets a lot of labels saying he's a RT, but I don't see it. He plays really well & did a great job against Alabama. I think Seattle takes him with their first pick, but if he makes it to us, we better take him with our 2nd round pick. I can't imagine I'd take any other player over him at that point, but it depends on who's there, of course. 

[Dewy101]

You are right, actually. I really like Alexander, but he has gotten lucky with some poorly thrown balls when he was beaten. He isn't the shutdown CB people make him out to be, but I do love him quite a bit. His ability to diagnose & read the QB is exceptionally good & he could be a great fit with Dean Pees & I think he has the talent to be effective in either man or zone.

He's too aggressive at this point. I feel like he's going to be a flag magnet his first year. I'm not even sure if he has the top speed either. I think one player that isn't getting enough attention is DJ White from Georgia Tech.

[443hurricane]

Give me Noah Spence!

[Mt. Crushmore]

The one and only problem I really have with Alexander is simply the quality of competition. He really didn't play any great QBs. I guess Marquise Williams was the best QB he played against. 

 

Don't get me wrong since I do like him a lot but the competition does concern me.

 

UNC was definitely one of his weaker games

[GrimCoconut]

UNC was definitely one of his weaker games

I noticed that as well. He's really good, but the question surrounding the QB competition he played against is a very legitimate concern. He has benefited quite a few times from some badly thrown passes. He's got the instincts & ability to diagnose, but I wonder if he can consistently do that against quality NFL QBs & savvy NFL WRs. 

[nishadrahman13]

For me, Alexander does not belong in a top 10 discussion. He should go in the 20s imo based on what he has put on tape so far. Whether he will be a great NFL player is another story; I think he does have potential to be really good.

[ravensnick]

He's too aggressive at this point. I feel like he's going to be a flag magnet his first year. I'm not even sure if he has the top speed either. I think one player that isn't getting enough attention is DJ White from Georgia Tech.

White looks like a high third day pick to me. He's a fine player, but he doesn't stick out to me as a top talent.