Pre-Combine Mock Draft

[RaineV1]

Gonna stick to just the first four rounds.

Round 1: Deforest Buckner, DE, Oregon

The Ravens need some young passrushers, and Buckner can be the guy to step in and help with that. The combination of him and Jernigan will give the Ravens a great interior passrush. Also, if there's one position that the Ravens know how to develop, it's d-linemen. Let Brooks work his magic on someone with Buckner's talent, and we'll end up with one of the best 3-4 DEs in the league.

Round 2: Jason Spriggs, LT, Indiana

A bit smaller than most LTs, but he shows incredible agility, good footwork, and has continually stopped edge rushers. He also had a very good Senior Bowl practice. What I like most about him is that he's gotten better every year. He gives the Ravens a shot at having a franchise LT again.

Round 3: Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

Lengthy receiver that's a solid route runner, and incredibly shifty. He does all the little things right, and consistently gets separation from DBs. He's quicker than fast, with a knack for getting yards after the catch, and has the ability to walk the tightrope at the edge of the field to pick up extra yards.

Round 4: Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota

He's the type of CB that goes unnoticed because he's doing his job well. He's a jack of all trades CB, capable of playing press, off man, and zone, and works hard on special teams. Amazing depth player with the potential to be a solid starter if thrust into that role as a rookie. And yes I picked this picture because it looks like he's knocking the ball away from a Steelers' player.

Round 4 (comp): Joe Schobert, OLB, Wisconsin

High motor, over-achieving edge rusher that gives his all on every play. He has the vision to slip between opposing linemen, and great instincts that lets him always be in the right place at the the right moment. Could potentially play ILB as well.

Edited February 8, 2016 by RaineV1

[ngatainmyhouse]

I love this mock. Very realistic options at all of our picks and address' our needs as well.

[JoeyFlex5]

love all of it. I like spriggs but I think we could get better value at our 2nd, the typical names like fuller and Boyd are in mind, and of course there's bound to be fallers but I have no complaints about spriggs

[PurpleCity5]

Problem that I have with Buckner, is that when I look at our first pick, I really want a guy that will solve our problems. Don't get me wrong, I think Buckner is really talented but I feel the same with Jaylon Smith, both the CBs, and Stanley. I look at Jaylon Smith, Alexander and Hargreaves and I think man, these guys can solve so much of our problems. Smith has the length, up-field burst, and explosiveness to not only become a great speed rusher for us, but offer elite linebacker cover skills while being a guy who can go side-line to side-line. Hargreaves and Alexander would give us a reliable starting long-term CB option who can develop as play-makers within the secondary. 

 

I don't hate picking Buckner at all, I'm just not sure if he'll make a big difference for our secondary or coverage. I think he would add more to our pass rush, but that's more on our OLB than DEs, of course having good rush DEs never hurts. 

[JoeyFlex5]

6 minutes ago, PurpleCity5 said:

Problem that I have with Buckner, is that when I look at our first pick, I really want a guy that will solve our problems. Don't get me wrong, I think Buckner is really talented but I feel the same with Jaylon Smith, both the CBs, and Stanley. I look at Jaylon Smith, Alexander and Hargreaves and I think man, these guys can solve so much of our problems. Smith has the length, up-field burst, and explosiveness to not only become a great speed rusher for us, but offer elite linebacker cover skills while being a guy who can go side-line to side-line. Hargreaves and Alexander would give us a reliable starting long-term CB option who can develop as play-makers within the secondary. 

 

I don't hate picking Buckner at all, I'm just not sure if he'll make a big difference for our secondary or coverage. I think he would add more to our pass rush, but that's more on our OLB than DEs, of course having good rush DEs never hurts. 

You won't be singing this same tune when Lawrence guy and Carl Davis are rotating opposite jernigan. Our DL could very well end up the next weak link on our team. 

[PurpleCity5]

4 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

You won't be singing this same tune when Lawrence guy and Carl Davis are rotating opposite jernigan. Our DL could very well end up the next weak link on our team. 

I'm not denying that DE could be a need, I wasn't too happy of how our DEs played but I really rather have Guy and Davis rotating after Jernigan rather than what we have put out at CB the past two seasons. Lemme ask you, would you rather have Buckner here with what we have been putting at CB or would you favor a CB with Guy and Davis rotating? I can't say for sure that both are great, but give the other option. 

[JoeyFlex5]

3 minutes ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I'm not denying that DE could be a need, I wasn't too happy of how our DEs played but I really rather have Guy and Davis rotating after Jernigan rather than what we have put out at CB the past two seasons. Lemme ask you, would you rather have Buckner here with what we have been putting at CB or would you favor a CB with Guy and Davis rotating? I can't say for sure that both are great, but give the other option. 

I'll take the guy that I think lives up to a 6th overall pick, there is absolutely some risk tied to taking hargreaves or Alexander 6th overall, a lot more bust factor than buckner, not saying that they are gonna be busts but I am always weary of taking a corner this high and I think buckner has the highest floor in this class and one of the highest ceilings as well.

[PurpleCity5]

7 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I'll take the guy that I think lives up to a 6th overall pick, there is absolutely some risk tied to taking hargreaves or Alexander 6th overall, a lot more bust factor than buckner, not saying that they are gonna be busts but I am always weary of taking a corner this high and I think buckner has the highest floor in this class and one of the highest ceilings as well.

I honestly feel differently. I think this kind of stuff has put us in the position that we are in. Someone brought this up here, but we have been drafting pure BPA for so long that it has come back to bit us. I think It wouldn't be a bad thing to go for Alexander, Hargreaves or Smith. You can think of a little bust factor there and go with BPA, but its what has put us where we are at now. 

[JoeyFlex5]

2 minutes ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I honestly feel differently. I think this kind of stuff has put us in the position that we are in. Someone brought this up here, but we have been drafting pure BPA for so long that it has come back to bit us. I think It wouldn't be a bad thing to go for Alexander, Hargreaves or Smith. You can think of a little bust factor there and go with BPA, but its what has put us where we are at now. 

I don't think we've went pure bpa though. On occasion we won't pass on a great talent for a need like Mosley and jernigan, but elam, brown, brooks, perriman, maxx williams, upshaw, osemele, all immediate need picks and right now only one of those guys have been great players. 

 

We can't afford to miss this pick, if we miss this pick then this 8 year run of excellence will be officially dead and buried and we will be staring down the barrel of a horrible roster in cap Hell and wasting Joes prime. 

[PurpleCity5]

2 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I don't think we've went pure bpa though. On occasion we won't pass on a great talent for a need like Mosley and jernigan, but elam, brown, brooks, perriman, maxx williams, upshaw, osemele, all immediate need picks and right now only one of those guys have been great players. 

 

We can't afford to miss this pick, if we miss this pick then this 8 year run of excellence will be officially dead and buried and we will be staring down the barrel of a horrible roster in cap Hell and wasting Joes prime. 

I'll give you Upshaw, Elam, and Brooks. I still believe the jury is out on Perriman and Williams especially who has shown that he can be a great TE, its not uncommon for first year TEs to be for the most part ineffective. I think Perriman and Williams can turn into great players, then again I know we haven't seen Perriman play but I got a feeling about him, different than the other guys we've had. 

 

I don't want to miss this pick either, but I don't think we will be buried if we miss on it, I think its the other picks we have to hit on, whiff on those and that will begin our burial. I really want to hit on our other picks far more than just our first and only pick of the day. 

[January J]

I actually think that Urban and Guy will surprise a lot of people next season. I see a lot of potential there. However I certainly wouldn't bank on that or think that would keep us from drafting Buckner. 

[Jaybirds]

10 hours ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I'm not denying that DE could be a need, I wasn't too happy of how our DEs played but I really rather have Guy and Davis rotating after Jernigan rather than what we have put out at CB the past two seasons. Lemme ask you, would you rather have Buckner here with what we have been putting at CB or would you favor a CB with Guy and Davis rotating? I can't say for sure that both are great, but give the other option. 

If we bring Wright back (and I think we will), then I'd much rather get a high-octane DE that can pressure the quarterback.   I think Wright & Smith,  Hill & Webb, and either Davis or Webb in the nickel is already an upgrade over what we started with last year.  Any improvement from Elam or Walker only reinforces that. 

Pass rush isn't that deep.  

[PurpleCity5]

12 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

 

Not trying to quote this post but for some reason it won't let me delete it and keeps auto-saving. 

[PurpleCity5]

1 hour ago, Jaybirds said:

If we bring Wright back (and I think we will), then I'd much rather get a high-octane DE that can pressure the quarterback.   I think Wright & Smith,  Hill & Webb, and either Davis or Webb in the nickel is already an upgrade over what we started with last year.  Any improvement from Elam or Walker only reinforces that. 

Pass rush isn't that deep.  

Shareece Wright has played well admittedly, but it feels like we've gone down this road before. CB emerges, we have confidence in him, then he crumbles when expectations are high. I don't know if I want to take that chance with Wright. I like Will Davis, but I don't know about someone who can return from two torn ACLs and play well, I think we know someone on this roster who lost a lot from that. As much of a fan I am of his, the sample size is too small and I can't say for sure that I have confidence he can log in a full 16. I view those guys as depth guys. 

 

The pass rush isn't deep, but I really put that on our OLB for the failure to hit home. I think we need faster and better edge rushers. I think our DEs contributed to the problem early on, but the edge did not do us a favor at all. 

[JoeyFlex5]

14 minutes ago, PurpleCity5 said:

Shareece Wright has played well admittedly, but it feels like we've gone down this road before. CB emerges, we have confidence in him, then he crumbles when expectations are high. I don't know if I want to take that chance with Wright. I like Will Davis, but I don't know about someone who can return from two torn ACLs and play well, I think we know someone on this roster who lost a lot from that. As much of a fan I am of his, the sample size is too small and I can't say for sure that I have confidence he can log in a full 16. I view those guys as depth guys. 

 

The pass rush isn't deep, but I really put that on our OLB for the failure to hit home. I think we need faster and better edge rushers. I think our DEs contributed to the problem early on, but the edge did not do us a favor at all. 

Let's also look at our draft history. Ozzie has shown to favor drafting the highest profile or safest player at a position of future need, rather than passing on an elite talent for an immediate need

[PurpleCity5]

2 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Let's also look at our draft history. Ozzie has shown to favor drafting the highest profile or safest player at a position of future need, rather than passing on an elite talent for an immediate need

I think some elite talent will be had at pick No.6. Also, no doubting Ozzie himself, his methods are proven to work but passing on needs will and can hurt you in the long run. I like our BPA formula a lot but I see guys like Jaylon Smith, Jalen Ramsey, and Vernon Hargreaves who I think are elite talent or can be elite who I'd rather have honestly. 

[JoeyFlex5]

4 minutes ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I think some elite talent will be had at pick No.6. Also, no doubting Ozzie himself, his methods are proven to work but passing on needs will and can hurt you in the long run. I like our BPA formula a lot but I see guys like Jaylon Smith, Jalen Ramsey, and Vernon Hargreaves who I think are elite talent or can be elite who I'd rather have honestly. 

I wouldn't take Smith or vh3 over buckner but that may just be me lol

[PurpleCity5]

1 minute ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

I wouldn't take Smith or vh3 over buckner but that may just be me lol

I think I would, but that is my opinion as well. 

[ALI624]

Anyone have a good highlight reel of Buckner the ones on youtube show so little of the actual play and for that matter a good place to see any prospects highlights. Thank you.

[trevorsteadman]

Buckner would be an amazing fit here. I also think he could play either DE or 3-4 outside linebacker. He is 25 pounds heavier than Suggs but also 3 inches taller but Suggs also went through that transition. I wouldn't be surprised if we did draft Buckner if he played on the line for his first couple years then shifts to outside linebacker. His height is underrated as well which is great at swatting balls down on the edge which can help eliminate some screens. Underrated in my opinion and if Ramsey, Bosa, and Tunsil are gone by our pick I would want our card to say Buckner.

[Drew P]

I'm all for Buckner at 6 however, I would like to see the secondary or the WR position addressed in the second round.

They just cant be content with SSS and a ? in Perriman being the 1 and 2.

[GrimCoconut]

I don't mind Buckner but I just have others ahead of him for this team. For me it's just that simple. He's not clearly the best DL in this class, either, and that also makes it tough to take him above others. I personally would take the following players before him:

1. Laremy Tunsil

2. Jalen Ramsey

3. Jaylon Smith

4. Joey Bosa

5. Ronnie Stanley

6. DeForest Buckner

That's how I see it at this moment. I doubt all five of those guys ahead of him are gone, but if they were them I'd certainly take him. 

I get that DL could be a weakness,@JoeyFlex5, and every year we over rate a position that ends up being a weakness. DL could be it this year. That said, we absolutely need secondary, edge defenders, and a reliable LT. Sometimes need comes first and I think this is that moment. 

Edited February 8, 2016 by GrimCoconut

[JoeyFlex5]

50 minutes ago, ALI624 said:

Anyone have a good highlight reel of Buckner the ones on youtube show so little of the actual play and for that matter a good place to see any prospects highlights. Thank you.

it is nearly impossible to find good highlights of defenders on youtube, all the highlight channels have sold out and scrapped quality content for red filters and flashing strobe light effects, and they just sync up big hits with bass drops and dont show anything with any depth. 

 

JustBombsProductions though, the rare highlight channel that does it right, no soundtracks, shows full plays in depth, unfortunately though he posts pretty infrequently compared to harris and he seems to favor offense quite a bit. 

 

they do have some actual film on youtube though, vs OreST. and OHST and MSU and i believe he has film there against hawaii as well, pretty well rounded look, showing some of his better performances along with his worst performance of his junior year, and a younger look at him in the championship so you can see his growth. you can get a real solid grasp on buckner by spending a half hour watching those.

[JoeyFlex5]

1 hour ago, PurpleCity5 said:

I think I would, but that is my opinion as well. 

i worry about how vh3 holds  up in this division, he will be have a big fat bullseye on his chest 6 weeks out of the year facing bryant, green, and possibly gordon, facing a dean pees defense it will be quite easy for all 3 of them to get the matchup of big-on-little and i think all of those receivers can win that matchup pretty often. 

 

jaylon smith, certainly an immense talent, just does not seem to be worth it at 6th, for starters he is a smaller guy, and even though he can play tough and holds up in traffic very well and has a versatile skillset, there is still a transition that he has to make, and he has to do this WHILE rehabbing and recovering from a pretty bad bi-ligament tear in his knee, trade back target absolutely, but 6th overall just feels like a stretch to me. 

 

i cant think of not one single risk with buckner, you can say "but we have brent urban already" and ill just say "so?" lol

[rmw10]

3 hours ago, PurpleCity5 said:

Shareece Wright has played well admittedly, but it feels like we've gone down this road before. CB emerges, we have confidence in him, then he crumbles when expectations are high. I don't know if I want to take that chance with Wright. I like Will Davis, but I don't know about someone who can return from two torn ACLs and play well, I think we know someone on this roster who lost a lot from that. As much of a fan I am of his, the sample size is too small and I can't say for sure that I have confidence he can log in a full 16. I view those guys as depth guys. 

 

The pass rush isn't deep, but I really put that on our OLB for the failure to hit home. I think we need faster and better edge rushers. I think our DEs contributed to the problem early on, but the edge did not do us a favor at all. 

Do we have a choice but to take the chance with Wright, though?  Of course it's a risk, but if you don't re-sign him, your CBs are Jimmy Smith, Will Davis, and Tray Walker.  Not only that, but you enter the bidding for other UFAs and we've seen how high those prices can get.  My thinking with Wright is that he won't be overly expensive and we have a better shot to re-sign him than another UFA.  On Wright's side, he found an organization that actually put him in a position to succeed, and he has his best friend here.  I think you still look to upgrade, but to be honest, Wright would be #1 on the (realistic) priority list as crazy as that might sound.

[Drew P]

1 hour ago, GrimCoconut said:

1 hour ago, GrimCoconut said:

I don't mind Buckner but I just have others ahead of him for this team. For me it's just that simple. He's not clearly the best DL in this class, either, and that also makes it tough to take him above others. I personally would take the following players before him:

1. Laremy Tunsil

2. Jalen Ramsey

3. Jaylon Smith

4. Joey Bosa

5. Ronnie Stanley

6. DeForest Buckner

That's how I see it at this moment. I doubt all five of those guys ahead of him are gone, but if they were them I'd certainly take him. 

I get that DL could be a weakness,@JoeyFlex5, and every year we over rate a position that ends up being a weakness. DL could be it this year. That said, we absolutely need secondary, edge defenders, and a reliable LT. Sometimes need comes first and I think this is that moment. 

I don't mind Buckner but I just have others ahead of him for this team. For me it's just that simple. He's not clearly the best DL in this class, either, and that also makes it tough to take him above others. I personally would take the following players before him:

1. Laremy Tunsil

2. Jalen Ramsey

3. Jaylon Smith

4. Joey Bosa

5. Ronnie Stanley

6. DeForest Buckner

That's how I see it at this moment. I doubt all five of those guys ahead of him are gone, but if they were them I'd certainly take him. 

I get that DL could be a weakness,@JoeyFlex5, and every year we over rate a position that ends up being a weakness. DL could be it this year. That said, we absolutely need secondary, edge defenders, and a reliable LT. 

I just can't understand the logic of selecting a complete wildcard in Jaylon in the first round. That would be the second year in the row they won't have a first rounder in uniform.

They already have a LT in Monroe. I know, he's got Gaitheritis, but he's the guy for now.

[ALI624]

1 hour ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

it is nearly impossible to find good highlights of defenders on youtube, all the highlight channels have sold out and scrapped quality content for red filters and flashing strobe light effects, and they just sync up big hits with bass drops and dont show anything with any depth. 

 

JustBombsProductions though, the rare highlight channel that does it right, no soundtracks, shows full plays in depth, unfortunately though he posts pretty infrequently compared to harris and he seems to favor offense quite a bit. 

 

they do have some actual film on youtube though, vs OreST. and OHST and MSU and i believe he has film there against hawaii as well, pretty well rounded look, showing some of his better performances along with his worst performance of his junior year, and a younger look at him in the championship so you can see his growth. you can get a real solid grasp on buckner by spending a half hour watching those.

Thank You.

[GrimCoconut]

1 hour ago, Drew P said:

I just can't understand the logic of selecting a complete wildcard in Jaylon in the first round. That would be the second year in the row they won't have a first rounder in uniform.

They already have a LT in Monroe. I know, he's got Gaitheritis, but he's the guy for now.

I thought the same as you. Want to know what changed my mind? I started thinking about Gurley and how far knee injuries have come. Also, after reading how Smith may be able to be an effective OLB, it made more sense. I thought he was a top 5 player before the injury and I'm not sure an injury changes that anymore. If we can't trade back, I think he'd be a great pick. If we can trade back then he's still a great pick. 

That's true regarding Monroe but truth is Stanley looks like a top 5 LT and if Ozzie feels the same I say do it. LT is a major need. 

[Drew P]

23 minutes ago, GrimCoconut said:

I thought the same as you. Want to know what changed my mind? I started thinking about Gurley and how far knee injuries have come. Also, after reading how Smith may be able to be an effective OLB, it made more sense. I thought he was a top 5 player before the injury and I'm not sure an injury changes that anymore. If we can't trade back, I think he'd be a great pick. If we can trade back then he's still a great pick. 

That's true regarding Monroe but truth is Stanley looks like a top 5 LT and if Ozzie feels the same I say do it. LT is a major need. 

But they draft BPA not by need.

f they select Stanley where does he play and what do they do with Monroe and his cap hit?

[PurpleCity5]

3 hours ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

i worry about how vh3 holds  up in this division, he will be have a big fat bullseye on his chest 6 weeks out of the year facing bryant, green, and possibly gordon, facing a dean pees defense it will be quite easy for all 3 of them to get the matchup of big-on-little and i think all of those receivers can win that matchup pretty often. 

 

jaylon smith, certainly an immense talent, just does not seem to be worth it at 6th, for starters he is a smaller guy, and even though he can play tough and holds up in traffic very well and has a versatile skillset, there is still a transition that he has to make, and he has to do this WHILE rehabbing and recovering from a pretty bad bi-ligament tear in his knee, trade back target absolutely, but 6th overall just feels like a stretch to me. 

 

i cant think of not one single risk with buckner, you can say "but we have brent urban already" and ill just say "so?" lol

Any of the CBs, Ramsey, Hargreaves, and Alexander will have a tough outing against those guys. It's a given, would it make the situation better with Wright and Davis there? Those guys will get toasted anyways honestly. 

 

I understand those concerns you have with Smith and while its legitimate, its been reported that Jaylon Smith's injury isn't as serious as some make it out to be. It's not as serious as some make it out to be and he should play a full 16 game season if he progresses as expected. Honestly, there is no one in this draft who has a better work ethic and body of work than Jaylon Smith. He works hard, I'm confident that if asked to make the transition to OLB, that he would do everything he could to make it happen.