Zone Reads Post-Combine Mock Draft

While we continue to put together our big board and player database, we thought we’d give you something to read by doing another mock draft based on how we adjusted our boards after the Combine. Plus, we’ve only gotten to watch more and more tape since then, so we’re starting to form more solid impressions of some players (and first impressions of others).

The three-round mock we conducted live last night, after the jump.

  1. Houston Texans – Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina.
    vixticator: The best player in the draft is Clowney. Yes, the Texans “need” a QB more than anything else, and there are good ones available here. I’m taking Clowney and playing the long game, even though you don’t get the opportunity to pick #1 overall very often.
  2. St. Louis Rams – Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville.
    Matt: Sam Bradford is okay, but Teddy Bridgewater is a legitimate franchise QB. Can play right away if the Rams want.
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo.
    tweedybirdd: The Jags need anything and everything. Mack has explosion, athleticism, and speed. He uses his hands well and is more polished than any of the top pass rushers in the last year’s draft.
  4. Cleveland Browns – Blake Bortles, QB, UCF.
    Nath: As much as I like Sammy Watkins, Bortles is a great QB prospect, with a strong arm and accuracy. Playing outdoors in Cleveland in December will not be a problem for him.
  5. Oakland Raiders – Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson.
    V: Once upon a time the Raiders took Jamarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson. Sammy Watkins is not Calvin Johnson – he doesn’t have the size – but he is one of the most talented, and yes, “polished” receivers to come out in a while. Al Davis would be proud of the speed selection as well.
  6. Atlanta Falcons – Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M.
    M: BPA and fills a big need for the Falcons. Matthews’ ability to pass protect makes him the top OT prospect in this class.
  7. Tampa Bay Bucs – Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan.
    T: I am leaning toward Lewan being the best tackle in the class. He blew up the combine and is much more polished than Greg Robinson in pass protection. The Bucs could use quite a bit of help along the OL.
  8. Minnesota Vikings – Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M.
    N: In reality I think the Vikings will fall just outside of the range of elite prospects and would do well to trade down (and take Derek Carr or another QB later). Here, Johnny Football is still on the board and Rick Spielman is looking for someone to high-five. (ed. note: Yes, this is the exact same writeup as last week, because the exact same situation fell to the exact same drafter.)
  9. Buffalo Bills – Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn.
    V: There’s a number of ways Buffalo can go here. Whether or not Greg Robinson can play tackle, he can come in right away and contribute somewhere on the line. Their best offensive player is CJ Spiller; Robinson is a bulldozer. Makes sense.
  10. Detroit Lions – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh.
    N: No, they don’t need him, but he’s the best player left on my board, a defensive tackle with the kind of burst and acceleration that’s earned him comparisons to Geno Atkins and John Randle. Taking Donald with Suh and Fairley on the roster is certainly a test of BPA over need, but at the same time Donald’s presence might make Suh’s mammoth contract expendable.
  11. Tennessee Titans – Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame.
    T: The Titans have a hole at RT with David Stewart leaving, and Michael Roos will turn 32 next season. Martin blew up the senior bowl and can play anywhere on the OL.
  12. New York Giants – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina.
    M: Ebron’s athleticism allows him to get open rather easily. He’s a mismatch waiting to happen. He would take a lot of pressure off Victor Cruz and provide Eli a nice outlet when he gets in trouble.
  13. St. Louis – Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M.
    V: Let’s give Bridgewater a big target to throw to downfield who knows how to work back to the QB on busted plays and gives the Rams some size at the position. A core of Evans, Austin, and possibly Bailey going forward is exciting.
  14. Chicago Bears – Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.
    N: Barr is very raw, but shows enough speed and athleticism that he was able to be a Pac-12 defensive standout despite his lack of experience. Chicago is in dire need of pass rush help, and Barr is the best edge rusher remaining.
  15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU.
    T: With Emmanuel Sanders leaving, the Steelers need to pair someone with Antonio Brown. Beckham has everything you want in a receiver except for size.
  16. Dallas Cowboys – Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame.
    M: Dallas is desperate for some help along the defensive line and Nix would help a lot. Huge, agile player that will use up double and triple teams consistently. If he can get healthy and into better shape, he could be a force at the next level.
  17. Baltimore Ravens – Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State.
    V: Verrett is the best corner in the draft, I believe, but he lacks the size of Gilbert, who happened to crush the combine as well. It’s not like his tape is bad either. Gilbert is the ‘almost’ prototype corner to match up against the big receivers of the world. The do have to play four games against Josh Gordon and AJ Green.
  18. New York Jets – Marqise Lee, WR, USC.
    N: The Jets will be heartbroken if Ebron, Evans, and Beckham are really all gone by this point, but Lee isn’t a bad consolation prize. His hands are inconsistent and he didn’t have a great combine, but he’d still immediately be the best receiver on the roster.
  19. Miami Dolphins – Jason Verrett, CB, TCU.
    T: Brent Grimes and Nolan Carroll are free agents, and Jamar Taylor couldn’t get on the field. Verrett crushed the combine and plays big, despite being under 5’10”. Phins fans everywhere celebrate this STEAL.
  20. Arizona Cardinals – C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama.
    M: No good value in offensive players here, Mosley is close to BPA at this point and the Cardinals could use another ILB. Mosley is a terrific ILB prospect who will consistently make plays. He would make the Arizona defense even scarier.
  21. Green Bay Packers – Dee Ford, OLB, Auburn.
    V: Good lord if this happens I will cry (being a Lions fan); Dee Ford is a nightmare off the edge. Oh, and that Clay Matthews guy ain’t half bad on the other side. There’s an issue about Ford’s back that needs to check out medically, but if he’s clear on the medical end, this is the pick.
  22. Philadelphia Eagles – Calvin Pryor, FS, Louisville.
    N: With all the high draft picks spent on the front seven, even if they haven’t produced, I’m reluctant to go to that well yet again. Instead, Pryor gives them a safety with range who has homing-missile instincts, and since they were terrible at safety last year, they’ll be happy with that.
  23. Kansas City Chiefs – Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota.
    T: Hageman is a tiny bit stiff, but he moves incredibly well for his size. He has flashed dominance and will be a welcome addition next to Dontari Poe.
  24. Cincinnati Bengals – Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State.
    M: Leon Hall is getting older and Dre Kirkpatrick has not looked good so far. Dennard is nice value here and he would be the physical corner that Cincinnati hoped for when they drafted Kirkpatrick.
  25. San Diego Chargers – Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State.
    V: Bear with me: I’m aware Rivers is coming off of a Pro Bowl season. He’s not getting younger, though, and the Chargers need to think about the future here. Rivers sat behind Brees a few years and Carr can do the same. I didn’t pick him for this reason; I picked him for his talent. Just happens to be a similar situation.
  26. Cleveland – HaSean Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama.
    N: The best receivers are gone, and they’ll be able to find another player there at pick 35. They might not be able to get a safety of this caliber, though. Clinton-Dix was perhaps the most impressive player on Alabama’s defense last season and his range will make a nice complement to T.J. Ward’s hard hitting.
  27. New Orleans Saints – Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech.
    T: Fuller has all the tools necessary to be a top tier corner. Size, speed, fluidity, ball skills, you name it. He is raw in his technique, but if New Orleans can coach him up, he’ll make a quality running mate with Keenan Lewis.
  28. Carolina Panthers – Morgan Moses, OT, Virginia.
    M: Moses was inconsistent in college but the potential is there. Jordan Gross just retired, so Carolina desperately needs to find 2 starters at OT. Moses could be a contributor at RT immediately.
  29. New England Patriots – Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt.
    V: Bill Belichick is unlikely to make this pick, given he hates drafting receivers with actual talent and production, but [bleep] that guy, this is who the Patriots need. All time leader in everything in the SEC, oh and he runs in the 4.4’s. He’s pretty, pretty, pretty good.
  30. San Francisco 49ers – Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech.
    N: You can never have too much outside rushing. You never know when Aldon Smith might go on another liquor-and-guns rampage, and Ahmad Brooks seems to have been voted to the Pro Bowl by accident.
  31. Denver Broncos – Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State.
    T: Why is he available? No reason, in fact. Jernigan has ridiculously quick feet and is a very smart player. Denver’s defense struggled to get pressure without Von Miller and will be happy to add another disruptive player.
  32. Seattle Seahawks – Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State.
    M: Benjamin goes one pick after his college teammate and lands in a perfect situation. Seattle could really use a big, true #1 receiver. Benjamin has the size and ability to be just that.

Round 2

  1. Houston – Ju’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee. 
    V: First round grade on James and fills a need on the right side of the Texans line. I don’t think it is impossible he can play left tackle. He’s clearly the most talented player on Tennesse’s o-line (four of them are draft eligible; in other news, good luck to whoever is lining up under center next year), really good player.
  2. Washington – Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State.
    N: When you’re 3-13, you need help more or less everywhere. Crichton is their best bet at landing an impact pass rusher, something they might need if they can’t afford Brian Orakpo.
  3. Cleveland – Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State.
    T: The Browns are thin behind Josh Gordon at WR, with no true #2 WR on the roster. In fact, they don’t have a true #3 WR on the roster. Cooks blazed at the combine and will make people miss in the NFL. He should be a nice underneath target for Bortles and he complements Gordon’s vertical game.
  4. Oakland – Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri.
    M: Oakland’s biggest need? Football players. Kony Ealy is a good one. Has a good motor and always seems to be in the right position. He isn’t flashy but he gets the job done. Oakland could use more guys like that.
  5. Atlanta – Brandon Thomas, G/T, Clemson.
    V: The need for offensive line is not solved by Jake Matthews. Atlanta has multiple needs to stop players from unloading on Matt Ryan. Brandon Thomas can play multiple positions, and likely ends up as the long term bookend to Matthews regardless of where he plays as a rookie. Matt Ryan approves of this draft.
  6. Tampa Bay – David Yankey, G/T, Stanford.
    N: Yeah, they already drafted an offensive lineman, and yeah, they already pay each of their guards loads of money, but that latter point is part of the problem. Carl Nicks can’t stay healthy and Davin Joseph isn’t what he used to be. Yankey could allow the Bucs to get rid of one of those contracts, or he could start at right tackle instead. He’s also the best player available.
  7. Jacksonville – Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State.
    T: Jackson brings the Jags closer to fielding a professional football team. He is the most pro-ready guard in this class and is an excellent pass protector. He’s always under control, and although he isn’t a mauler, he is a solid run blocker. He’ll fit in nicely next to Joeckel.
  8. Minnesota – Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State.
    M: Quick, name a Minnesota linebacker. Chad Greenway? He sucks. Telvin Smith is a big time play maker and he is great value here.
  9. Buffalo – Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Clemson.
    V: SJB made himself a lot of money at the Senior Bowl and especially the Combine. He’s not the greatest corner on tape but he holds his own. The upside is tremendous here and the Bills happen to need help in the secondary.
  10. Tennessee – Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU.
    N: Jake Locker, you’re on notice. And when Ken Whisenhunt discovers to his own satisfaction that you’re not accurate enough, Mettenberger will take over.
  11. New York Giants – Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State.
    T: The Giants have exactly one starting caliber corner on their roster. Rumor has it you need two, or dare I say even three, quality corners in today’s NFL. Roby has a ton of talent. He had an awesome combine, showing off his speed, ball skills, and quick feet. Giants fans should hope Roby’s debacle against Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis is a distant memory.
  12. St. Louis – LaMarcus Joyner, CB/S, Florida State.
    M: Joyner is small but versatile. Excellent ball skills. Could play safety or nickel corner. Will be a nice upgrade for the Rams secondary.
  13. Detroit – Jimmie Ward, S, Northern Illinois.
    V: Borderline elite coverage safety who isn’t far off from the top safety prospects. I wish he were slightly more aggressive in the run game: he tends to let others make the tackle when they can, as opposed to Calvin Pryor just trying to murder everyone. A healthy middle ground, if you will. Oh, and Louis Delmas has left the building. Ward didn’t do any drills at the combine due to a foot injury, and you know how the Lions love those 2nd round picks with some dings.
  14. Pittsburgh – Stephon Tuitt, DL, Notre Dame.
    N: They don’t have anyone except Cameron Heyward under contract up front next season. Tuitt seems like an ideal 3-4 DE.
  15. Dallas – Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State.
    T: If this draft was after the 2012 season, Sutton might be a top 20 pick. Unfortunately, Sutton got a little doughy around the middle last season and his play suffered. If he can cut some weight and regain his quickness of year’s past, perhaps the Cowboys will be able to field a defensive line next season.
  16. Baltimore – Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA.
    M: A real mauler that moves really well. Looked very good at the combine. He can also play RT, but he’ll help improve a struggling interior OL for Baltimore.
  17. New York Jets – Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin.
    V: Think Zach Thomas in terms of upside and playing style. Not even because he’s white either! Very stout, aggressive linebacker that makes plays from sideline to sideline. Rex Ryan would love him some Borland.
  18. Miami – Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU.
    N: Randy Starks and Paul Soliai are both free agents. Ferguson is the highest-rated player I have remaining and will allow the Dolphins to spend that money on other positions of need.
  19. Chicago – Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke.
    T: Who is Ross Cockrell? He was on the VAUNTED dook football team that has somehow become relevant. Duke puts a ton of pressure on their corners and Cockrell stood up incredibly well on an island against some stiff competition (Mike Evans included). He needs to get a bit stronger so that he’s not a liability in the run game, but he’s a smart player that should take Charles Tillman’s spot in the starting lineup.
  20. Arizona – Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee.
    M: He’s not fleet of foot, but he’s massive and has a clue how to pass block. The Cardinals have to look at offensive line in the first 2 rounds, and Richardson is the best available OL.
  21. Green Bay – Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada.
    V: Does not possess prototype size for a tackle but does have the speed and is likely to be able to play on the left side at some point. Bryan Bulaga is coming off injury with one year remaining on his contract. Bitonio can fix this issue in advance.
  22. Philadelphia – Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson.
    N: They’re doubling up on their secondary because their secondary stinks. Breeland doesn’t. He’s a solid all-around player at the position with good size and abilities.
  23. Cincinnati – Dominique Easley, DT, Florida.
    T: Easley is insanely explosive off the ball and would’ve surely been a 1st rounder if he didn’t tear his ACL early last season. Cincy has enough bodies at DT that they won’t need to rush Easley’s recovery.
  24. San Francisco – Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State.
    M: Didn’t have a good 40 time, but he has good numbers in the quickness and agility drills. He’s very quick for being a big receiver and it shows in his ability to get open.
  25. San Diego – Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama.
    V: Ridiculous athletic freak of a player who flashes incredibly high level of ability. Future multiple time pro bowler is not out of the question. The Chargers have failed miserably to address their pass rush – they were forced to sign Dwight Freeney for goodness sake – although to be fair injuries have derailed attempts.
  26. New Orleans – Paul Richardson, WR, Colorado.
    N: Great all-around receiver with good speed and technique. Knocks on his size are overstated– Marvin Harrison was skinny, too.
  27. Indianapolis Colts – Dakota Dozier, G/T, Furman.
    T: Perhaps instead of giving $7M/year to an average free agent, the Colts will spend a high pick on an offensive lineman. Dozier can play guard or tackle, maintains good pad level, and has great feet.
  28. Carolina – Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU.
    T: The Panthers need players that can catch footballs, preferably at a high level. Lucky for them, Landry is quite adept at catching footballs. Landry is unfortunately slow, but his ball skills and body control should make him a productive player.
  29. San Francisco – Philip Gaines, CB, Rice.
    V: Fastest man at the combine among defensive backs and the two tapes available on YouTube show him as incredibly fluid and intelligent. Makes one of the more impressive interceptions you’ll see against Louisiana Tech and blankets his side of the field against Marshall. Also he’s fast. I said that already.
  30. New England – Daquan Jones, DT, Penn State.
    N: Strong upfield penetrator. Should ease the pain of Vince Wilfork’s Achilles recovery.
  31. Denver – Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State.
    T: With Eric Decker leaving in free agency, Peyton is short a target to throw to. Enter Davante Adams, who reminds me of a poor man’s Dez Bryant. What he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for in competitiveness at the point of the catch.
  32. Seattle – Trai Turner, G, LSU.
    V: Only played one year; entered the draft following his redshirt sophomore season. Unusual move for someone with so few starts at this position, but the dude can play. He is extraordinarily strong; there are moments where he lapses in protection but not any more so than Su’a-Filo. The inexperience may scare some teams away, but the upside here is very nice.

Round 3

  1. Houston – A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama.
    V: All he does is #wins BCS titles, until that punk Chris Davis ruined his three peat and Heisman moment. Okay, but seriously, the kid has nice size, a good enough arm, etc, and I don’t believe this is much of a reach. Ideally you’d trade down and grab him in about 10 picks, but there are teams in between who could legitimately take him as well.
  2. Washington – Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin.
    T: Gritty. Coachable. Sneaky fast. Hard working. Loves to play football. Abbrederis is all of these things. Probably. Anyway, he has shown he can hang with elite competition, evidenced by his evisceration of Bradley Roby. Washington has questions at receiver behind Garcon.
  3. Oakland – Kelcy Quarles, DT, South Carolina.
    T: Oakland doesn’t need to worry about need in this draft, so they’ll grab the best player available in Quarles. A big body with a solid get off, Quarles is a versatile DL that needs to add some counter-moves. Once he does that, he’ll have a chance to be a starter in this league.
  4. Atlanta – Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton.
    T: Caraun Reid was routinely the best player on the field at Princeton and saw constant double teams. He’s a versatile player and he reminds me some of Aaron Donald. He has quite a few pass rush moves and can win with quickness or power.
  5. New York Jets – Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU.
    V: Good at about everything, great at nothing. He’ll be a useful starter. There’s decent pass rush ability here, occasionally quite good. Just a good football player.
  6. Jacksonville – Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State.
    T: Maurice Jones-Drew will be bolting this dumpster fire of a football team shortly, leaving a hole at RB. Hyde is a bruising downhill runner with decent wheels and some wiggle.
  7. Cleveland: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor.
    V: Cleveland doesn’t have anything going on at running back. Seastrunk is the most electrifying runner in the draft. “Quick twitch” as Mayock is fond of saying.
  8. Minnesota – Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood.
    T: Apparently Lindenwood is a real place. Desir had a great combine. He was explosive and fluid enough in the drills for a big guy. He should start across from Xavier Rhodes.
  9. Buffalo – Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech.
    V: EJ Manuel likes to make use of the middle of the field and Amaro specializes in this kind of thing. He doesn’t run away from defenders, he can get open – caught over 100 balls last year albeit in a gimmick type offense. Unclear about in-line blocking ability.
  10. New York Giants – Jack Mewhort, OT, Ohio State.
    T: The Giants will take any and all help along the OL. Mewhort is massive with decent but not great feet, making him best suited for RT. He’s a feisty guy with a great power in the run game.
  11. St. Louis – Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford.
    V: Rams need offensive linemen, plural. Fleming is a natural right tackle with great size.
  12. Detroit – Carl Bradford, DE, Arizona State.
    T: The Lions could stand to add some juice off of the edge. Bradford is quite athletic and has a great burst off the ball. He’s undersized and needs to be coached up, he has some upside here.
  13. San Francisco – Christian Jones, LB, Florida State.
    V: Kind of a Swiss army knife, Jones can play about anywhere at linebacker in a 3-4, although he may be best fit for a 4-3. In any case, he’s among the BPA here and the 49ers don’t have glaring needs. They just stack talent.
  14. Dallas – Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State.
    T: Shazier is an explosive LB that can fly around the field. He plays soft at times, so hopefully the ‘Boys can toughen him up.
  15. Baltimore – Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina.
    V: Joe Flacco has nobody to throw the ball to, poor Joe. Ellington is a major playmaker. Do not let his size fool you; the guy is tough as nails. Also, speed. Very intelligent player.
  16. New York Jets – Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois.
    T: JIMMEH should push the shaky Geno Smith. He needs to prove he can be accurate down the field and hold up under pressure. However, his quick release, accuracy on short-medium throws, as well as his footwork make for an intriguing prospect.
  17. Miami – Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State.
    V: Who knew there was football in North Dakota? He’s not the perfect player by any means but the Dolphins cannot keep passing on offensive line unless they want to make Mrs. Tannehill a widow. Surely Turner can find a place somewhere in the line.
  18. Chicago – Dion Bailey, S, USC.
    T: When’s the last time the Bears had a legit safety? 10 years ago? Perhaps Dion Bailey will remind them of the Mike Brown days. He’s a fluid athlete with good speed for a safety. He has good instincts and can drop down on the slot receiver.
  19. Cleveland – Keith McGill, CB, Utah.
    V: “He’s tall.” Go on. “He’s fast.” Go on. “Moved very well at the Combine.” Boxes are being checked, as the saying goes.
  20. Arizona – Cyrus Kouandijo, OT, Alabama.
    T: Once considered a top 15 pick, Kouandijo was revealed to have arthritic knees at the combine. He also lumbered around in drills and hurt his stock as much as possible. Still, aside from the Oklahoma game, his college tape is solid and he may even be an NFL left tackle. Even adding a tackle last round, the Cards are still a couple OL short.
  21. Green Bay – C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa.
    V: Wish there were more tape on him, looks excellent in the one that exists on YouTube. He’s the best blocker of the top tight ends and creates separation quite well.
  22. Philadelphia – Demarcus Lawrence, OLB, Boise State.
    T: Trent Cole is aging and Connor Barwin isn’t good. Lawrence was impressively fluid at the combine and should be able to transition well to OLB. He has great size and can add some weight. He’s got some juice to get to the QB.
  23. Kansas City – Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech.
    V: Andy Reid must draft a QB in the first 3 rounds, it is law. You may not have heard. Logan Thomas straight up destroys workouts. His arm talent is off the charts, and he can run too! He has a lot of work to do before becoming a useful NFL starter but he doesn’t need to play any time soon in Kansas City.
  24. Cincinnati – Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson.
    T: Why Bryant entered this year’s draft, I will never know. He is incredibly raw and might not contribute much his rookie year. Still, he’s 6’4”, has sub 4.4 speed, and can LEAP. Dare I say he compares to AJ Green. Perhaps Green can teach him to catch and run routes.
  25. San Diego – Mike Davis, WR, Texas.
    V: I love Davis’ ability to get behind the defense. He’s not lacking in height either. Needs to work on his short game. I feel that he’s the perfect type player opposite Keenan Allen.
  26. Indianapolis – Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas.
    T: Does Indy have an NFL caliber OL yet? Probably not. But hey we’re two steps closer with Swanson and Dozier.
  27. New Orleans – Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami-FL.
    V: Henderson was the #1 overall prospect in the country out of high school and looks the part. Key word is “looks.” In his time at Miami he never came close to realizing his potential. The guy is a mammoth. When he ran the 40 I nearly leaped out of my seat. Freak, freak, freak. Now teach him how to play.
  28. Carolina – Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas.
    T: The Panthers may be able to slap Greg Hardy with a franchise tag, but they probably won’t be able to keep him past this year. If you judge by his Senior Bowl, Smith is awesome. If you judge by his college tape, he is ordinary.
  29. New England – Tre Mason, RB, Auburn.
    V: Surely the Patriots are not bringing Blount back. I’m not so sure Belichick is happy with Ridley. My best guess is no. Mason is essentially Ridley with more potential. It’s unclear how much he can provide as a receiver or in pass pro (I told you, Stevan Ridley!) but anyone who saw Auburn knows he’s an impactful runner.
  30. San Francisco – Tre Boston, SS, North Carolina.
    T: With Donte Whitner probably leaving, the Niners have a hole next to Eric Reid, unless of course they plan to trot out Craig Dahl. Boston is a sure tackler with good size and speed. He’ll need to learn to read and react quicker; he’s got some upside if he does.
  31. Denver – Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida.
    V: DRC is out the door presumably. Champ is… I don’t know? All I know is Denver needs corners. Purifoy disappointed at the combine in terms of “everyone figured he’d be much faster,” and he doesn’t look great on tape. Nevertheless, there are some quality tools buried in there somewhere.
  32. Minnesota – Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas.
    T: Jeffcoat performed better than expected at the Combine. He’s an explosive player, but for some reason he reacts late to the snap count. If he can get some Ritalin, he’ll be a nice value here.

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