Wednesday War Room: Dylan’s Mock Draft V4.0 (1st and 2nd Round)
I’ll update this on Thursday.
Now hear me out.
Nobody has been louder about Houston’s need to draft a receiver in the first round to play opposite Andre Johnson than I have. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYqUyVPenvA
In my latest mock, I have Houston selecting LB Dont’a Hightower at 26. He would be a welcome addition to the Houston defense, with his versatility (he can play inside, outside, and put his hand down), intelligence, toughness, and leadership, no rookie would do a better job of filling the hole left when DeMeco Ryans departed to Philadelphia. Hightower is extremely adept at reading defenses, even compared to standards of SEC defensive prospects. Weighing in at 265 lbs. at the Combine–lacking in quickness but certainly not a slow player–Hightower looks more like a defensive end than a linebacker, and his strength and ability to shed blocks proves it. Adept at making calls, playing zone, and disrupting plays in the backfield, he’s a player that any Houston fan should be glad to call a Texan.
In the second round, I have Houston picking up receiver Brian Quick out of Appalachian State. The organization has no qualms about drafting small school receivers. Even though they have yet to pan out, it could very well happen again this year. At 6’4″ 220 lbs., Quick is another receiver that has the build of a #1 receiver. He possesses excellent strength, and also has surprising acceleration which could make him a big threat downfield, where he made lots of difficult catches in college. Due to running a unique system in school, he was required to block downfield and shows great potential in this aspect of his game. The system also gave him very little experience in his route tree, and his top gear is lacking due to his size. However, he should be an intriguing prospect at receiver for Houston, and with tutelage from Johnson could become a dangerous pass-catcher at the next level.
1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck (QB)–Stanford
2. Washington Redskins (5-11) (from St. Louis): Robert Griffin III (QB)–Baylor
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil (OT)–USC
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Trent Richardson (HB)–Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Bucs (4-12): Morris Claiborne (CB)–LSU
6. St. Louis Rams (2-14) (from Washington): Justin Blackmon (WR)–Oklahoma State
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Michael Floyd (WR)–Notre Dame
8. Miami Dolphins (6-10): Ryan Tannehill (QB)–Texas A&M
9. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Fletcher Cox (DT)–Mississippi State
10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Riley Reiff (OT)–Iowa
11. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9): David DeCastro (G)–Stanford
12. Seattle Seahawks (7-9): Luke Kuechly (OLB)–Boston College
13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Melvin Ingram (DE/OLB) South Carolina
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Mark Barron (SS)–Alabama
15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Quinton Coples (DE)–North Carolina
16. New York Jets (8-8): Courtney Upshaw (OLB/DE)–Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland) (8-8): Cordy Glenn (T/G)–Georgia
18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Chandler Jones (DE/OLB)–Syracuse
19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Whitney Mercilus (OLB/DE)–Illinois
20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Nick Perry (DE/OLB)–USC
21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Stephon Gilmore (CB)–South Carolina
22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright (WR)–Baylor
23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Dre Kirkpatrick (CB)–Alabama
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Dontari Poe (DT)–Memphis
25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Michael Brockers (DT/DE)–LSU
26. Houston Texans (10-6): Dont’a Hightower (ILB)–Alabama
27. New England Patriots (13-3): Shea McClellin (OLB)–Boise State
28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Jerel Worthy (DT/DE)–Michigan State
29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Peter Konz (C)–Wisconsin
30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Kevin Zeitler (G/C)–Wisconsin
31. New England Patriots (13-3): Kendall Reyes (DE/DT)–Connecticut
32. New York Giants (9-7): Jonathan Martin (OT)–Stanford
33. St. Louis Rams: Devon Still (DT/DE)–Penn State
34. Indianapolis Colts: Coby Fleener (TE)–Stanford
35. Minnesota Vikings: Janoris Jenkins (CB)–North Alabama
36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Brown (OLB)–North Carolina
37. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Weeden (QB)–Oklahoma State
38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Andre Branch (OLB/DE)–Clemson
39. St. Louis Rams: David Wilson (HB)–Virginia Tech
40. Carolina Panthers: Stephen Hill (WR)–Georgia Tech
41. Buffalo Bills: Mohamed Sanu (WR)–Rutgers
42. Miami Dolphins: Reuben Randle (WR)–LSU
43. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Adams (T/G)–Ohio State
44. Kansas City Chiefs: Amini Silatolu (G)–Midwestern State
45. Dallas Cowboys: Vinny Curry (OLB/DE)–Marshall
46. Philadelphia Eagles: Lavonte David (OLB)–Nebraska
47. New York Jets: Alshon Jeffrey (WR)–South Carolina
48. New England Patriots: Harrison Smith (SS)–Notre Dame
49. San Diego Chargers: Jared Crick (DE)–Nebraska
50. Chicago Bears: Brandon Thompson (DT)–Clemson
51. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Robinson (CB)–Central Florida
52. Tennessee Titans: Alfonzo Dennard (CB)–Nebraska
53. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller (HB)–Miami
54. Detroit Lions: Bobby Massie (OT)–Mississippi
55. Atlanta Falcons: Dwayne Allen (TE)–Clemson
56. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jeff Allen (G)–Illinois
57. Denver Broncos: Brock Osweiler (QB)–Arizona State
58. Houston Texans: Brian Quick (WR)–Appalachian State
-. New Orleans Saints: Bounty Gate (Forfeit)
59. Green Bay Packers: Trumaine Johnson (DB)–Montana
60. Baltimore Ravens: Doug Martin (HB)–Boise State
61. San Francisco 49ers: Bruce Irvin (OLB)–West Virginia
62. New England Patriots: Brandon Boykin (CB)–Georgia
63. New York Giants: Jayron Hosley (CB)–Virginia Tech