NFL Mock Draft 2.0 – All 7 Rounds

Round 2

33.) Texans: LB Kyle Van Noy, BYU (6’3, 243) – Van Noy can do it all at the OLB position. He’s more of a finesse guy than some teams like, but you can’t argue with the results (24 sacks, 54 TFLs over last 3 seasons). Van Noy is unique in that he excels in both coverage and rushing the passer. He should be an instant upgrade over either Mercilus or Reed at OLB.

34.) Redskins: WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida St (6’5, 240) – He’s 240 pounds with 4% body fat. That’s unreal. Benjamin has an elite size/speed ratio, though there is some concern about his hands and change of direction ability. His route-running needs work, but Benjamin has the physical tools to be unstoppable eventually and should be a dangerous deep threat right away. The Redskins need some size at the position and a deep threat and Benjamin gives them both with the upside for more.

35.) Browns: RB Carlos Hyde, Ohio St (6’0, 230) – Rumor has it the Browns are looking for a workhorse back and that is what Hyde brings to the table. He’s a tough-runner with surprising burst and wiggle for a guy his size.

36.) Raiders: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois (6’2, 219) – The Raiders get their QB of the future in Garoppolo. I don’t think even they are stupid enough to consider Schaub their long-term answer at QB and should be looking for an upgrade for 2015 and beyond. Garappolo doesn’t have the biggest arm, but his quick release and sound decision-making should make him a solid pro and an upgrade over what the Raiders currently have at the position.

37.) Falcons: OT Cyrus Kouandijo, Alabama (6’7, 322) – A lot has been made of his disappointing combine and failed medicals due to an arthritic knee, but when you watch his game tape he is a borderline dominant left tackle against top competition in the SEC. None other than Dr. James Andrews has said his medicals are fine and his knee is normal for a man of his size. Kouandjio is very mobile for his size with a good kick slide and despite some inconsistent play last year, has the tools to be a dominant tackle down the road.

38.) Buccaneers: DE Scott Crighton, Oregon St (6’3, 273) – The Bucs finished 23rd in the league in sacks last year. The signings of DE Michael Johnson and DT Clinton McDonald will help, but Lovie Smith’s zone scheme needs a pass rush from the defensive line. Crighton can line up across from Johnson on passing downs and use his impressive burst to  generate pressure off the edge. His pass rush technique needs some work but he has the physical tools to be a force.

39.) Jaguars: QB Zach Mettenberger, LSU (6’5, 224): Mettenberger has good size and a cannon arm, but showed inconsistent accuracy at the college level and he’s not very mobile. With a year or two of grooming, he could end up being a very good NFL QB, but will need a solid line in front of him because he struggles to escape pressure.

40.) Vikings: CB Bradley Roby, Ohio St (5’11, 194): The Vikings added CB Captain Munnerlyn in free agency but also lost CB Chris Cook (49ers) so they could use some depth. Roby would be a great developmental pick for the Vikings. He has prototypical physical traits for the position, has shown a willingness to hit in the run game, and just needs some coaching on his technique. Roby was destroyed by Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis in their match-up last year and it really exposed Roby’s poor technique. All his issues are fixable though and he could develop into a pro bowl caliber CB with the right situation and coaching.

41. ) Bills: T Morgan Moses, Virginia (6’6, 314) – The Bills need a RT and Moses can fill that role now and possibly move over to LT in a year or two with a little experience and coaching.

42.) Titans: DT DeQuan Jones, Penn St (6’4, 322) – Jones struggled with weight issues early in his college career, but trimmed down before his senior year and showed more explosion and consistency last season. He’s not much of a pass rusher, but he’s holds the point of attack well and can be an asset against the run. Jones’ best fit is as a 3-4 NT which is exactly what the Titans need after switching to a 3-4 next season. They singed NT Al Woods in free agency, but he is better suited as a backup.

43.) Giants: TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington (6’5, 262) – TE Brandon Myers was a bust last year and is already gone (TB). Sefarian-Jenkins is a good blocker with surprising agility for a man his size and excellent hands. He’s not a deep threat, but can be a reliable (and huge) target on short to mid range routes and is tough to bring down once he has the ball in his hands.

44.) Rams: CB LaMarcus Joyner, Florida St (5’8, 184) – He’s going to be one of the shortest players in the NFL, but Joyner can play. He’s a fierce hitter despite his small stature, has great speed, and his instincts are so good that he is always around the ball. Joyner is probably too small to cover outside the hash marks, but he can play either safety spot and could be an outstanding slot corner. The Rams just released slot corner Cortland Finnegan, so Joyner can slide into that spot right away and contribute as a rookie. Joyner will also help out on kick & punt returns if Tavon Austin can’t handle the job.

45.) Lions: CB Marcus Roberson, Florida (6’0, 191) – Roberson had a bad combine and didn’t do much better at his pro day, but the tape doesn’t lie. He was one of the best cover guys in the country last season and has the potential to be a lock-down corner. Roberson is a non-factor against the run, but should improve the Lions pass defense in a division with two of the NFL’s best offenses.

46.) Steelers: WR Allen Robinson, Penn St (6’2, 220) – Rumor has it that the Steelers have promised Roethlisberger a big receiver and they get one with Robinson. Not only does he have great size, but he has excellent hands and enough acceleration and quickness to get open consistently. Robinson has good strength and is a load to bring down after the catch. His stock has dropped due to a slow 40 at the combine (4.6), but he is a steal in round 2. Robinson should develop into an excellent possession receiver with good YAC potential. 

47.) Cowboys: DE Stephon Tuiit, Notre Dame (6’5, 304) – The Cowboys defense is a mess and they don’t have enough cap space available to fix it. They addressed the DT position in round 1 with Jernigan and they get him some help on the edge with Tuitt. His 2013 season was a disappointment, but he was recovering from a sports hernia. In 2012 he was a beast and would have been a top 15 pick if he could have entered the draft. Tuitt has prototype size for a DE, impressive strength, and polished pass rush moves. He could be a steal this late in the draft.

48.) Ravens: T Antonio Richardson, Tennessee (6’6, 336) – Massive tackle prospect with surprisingly light feet for his size. “Tiny” struggled in pass pro as a left tackle, but he could step in for Michael Oher on the right side and could become a force quickly.

49.) Jets: G Xavier G Su’a-Filo, UCLA (6’4, 307) – Like most of their offense, the Jets guard play was bad last season. They need to do a better job protecting the QB and opening some holes in the running game. Su’a-Filo showed fluid mobility at the combine, has good strength and has very few flaws on tape. He’s already 23, so should be ready to play immediately.

50.) Dolphins: T Jack Mewhort, Ohio St (6’6, 309) – Another strong, versatile O-lineman who played everywhere but center during his stint at OSU. Mewhort showed well at the Senior Bowl, solidifying his 2nd round grade. By all reports, he’s a good guy off the field as well, which is important to the Dolphins after the Martin / Incognito debacle.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

51.) Bears: MLB Chris Borland, Wisconsin (5’11, 248) – The Bears have a storied tradition at middle linebacker and they have a chance to continue it if they draft Chris Borland. He would be a lock for the first round if he were a few inches taller, but he’s shorter than ideal for the position. His lack of height will hurt him covering taller tight ends, but that’s really his only flaw. Borland might have the best instincts I’ve ever seen at the college level. He ran a 4.7 40 at his pro day, so his speed is only average, but his elite instincts allow him to play a tenth or two faster on the field. If Borland can get there, he’s going to make the tackle. He’s a big hitter with 14 forced fumbles in his college career, has a knack for making big plays when needed, he is solid in zone coverage and more importantly he is leader on the field. Borland would bring toughness and grit to a defense that didn’t have either last season. Bear coaches are already discussing moving last year’s 2nd round pick Jon Bostic to OLB and DJ Williams is just a stop-gap solution. The Bears need an MLB and Borland is the best one to enter the league since Luke Kuechly.

52.) Cardinals: CB Bashuad Breeland, Clemson (5’11, 197) – Might have had a shot at the first round if he stayed at Clemson for another year of seasoning. Breeland has good size and speed, but only started for one season and is a bit raw. He did show pro-level athleticism and was a play-maker for Clemson (4 INTs, 10 pass breakups, 3rd team all-ACC). The talent is there to be developed and Breeland could become a lock-down corner in 2-3 years.

53.) Packers: OLB Trent Murphy, Stanford (6’5, 250) – There are rumors all over the place about the Packers targeting Murphy in round 2. It makes sense, the Packers need edge rushers and that’s what Murphy does best (15 sacks in 2013). He gets surprisingly low to the ground coming off the edge despite his height, has a myriad of sneaky pass rush moves, and is a max-effort type of player. Bear fans are going to hate him.

54.) Eagles: S Deone Bucannon., Washington St (6’1, 211): I’m a big fan and might have had him as the Bears 2nd round pick if they hadn’t signed SS Ryan Mundy in free agency. Bucannon has been shooting up draft boards since the Senior Bowl and for good reason. He’s one of the biggest hitters in college football and has excellent range in coverage. Bucannon misses his fair share of tackles since he is always going for the big hit, but that can be coached out and it’s really the only flaw in his game. Bucannon and free agent signing Malcolm Jenkins could give the Eagles a much better safety combo than the disastrous Nate Allen / Patrick Chung combo last season.

56.) 49ers: WR Davonte Adams, Fresno St (6’1, 212) – Re-signing Boldin solidified the Niners starting receivers, but they have no depth. Adams just knows how to get open. In two seasons at Fresno St, Adams caught a ridiculous 233 passes for 3,031 yards and 38 touchdowns. Those are Tecmo Bowl numbers, but somewhat inflated by the Fresno St’s spread offense and weak competition. Even taking those negative factors into account, it’s still pretty darn impressive. Adams has good size, reliable hands, and uses his body well to block out defenders. He runs well after the catch with the ability to make people miss and break tackles if they don’t. His straight-line speed was considered a flaw, but after a 4.56 40 at the combine it’s hard to find anything to complain about. I wouldn’t be surprised if Adams snuck into the first round.

57.) Chargers: CB Keith McGill, Utah (6’3, 211) – The tallest corner in this year’s draft, McGill helped his stock at the Senior Bowl and again at the combine. He showed surprising fluidity in drop-backs, better coverage ability than expected, and ran a 4.51 at the combine. McGill is an intriguing prospect, but not without warts. He missed as many games as he started in his two years at Utah and does not have good hands. I saw him drop one against ASU that hit him square in the numbers. McGill only had 1 pick in two years as a starter. In his defense, McGill did have a pick at the Senior Bowl so maybe there is hope for his hands after all. The Chargers signed 6-2 corner Derek Cox last off-season and he was a bust, so they try again with another tall corner in McGill.

58.) Saints: WR Jarvis Landry LSU (5’11, 205) – His 4.7 40-time was the biggest disappointment at the combine. On tape he looks like a 4.5 guy, maybe 4.6 at worst. He’s clearly not a burner, but he’s very strong, knows how to get open, and has great hands. He’s also a willing blocker in the run game and would give Brees a reliable option opposite Colston. Landry’s bad 40 time will drop him to late 2nd – early 3rd round range and whoever drafts him will get a steal. He reminds me of a mini Anquan Boldin.

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

59.) Colts: SS Jimmy Ward, Northern Illinois (5’11, 193) – Ward isn’t flashy but is a sound tackler and is so good in coverage that he could fill in at CB if needed. He should be able to replace Antoine Bethea in the starting lineup as a rookie. Solid value late in the 2nd.

60.) Panthers: OT Joel Bitonio, Nevada (6’4, 302): After LT Jordan Gross’ surprise retirement, the Panthers have a hole on the left side of their offensive line. Bitonio had a great Senior Bowl and then showed surprising athleticism and speed at the combine with a sub-5 40-time and top five results in the 3-cone, broad jump, short shuttle, and vertical leap. Bitonio’s game tape is solid, specifically his performance against 1st round prospect Anthony Barr who he held without a sack in their match-up. Bitonio is shorter than ideal for a LT, but he is a half-inch taller than former LT Jordan Gross, so it may not be an issue for Carolina.

61.) 49ers: CB Pierre Desir, Lindenwood (6’1, 198) – Desir is making a huge jump up in competition from tiny Lindenwood college, but showed he could handle it at the Senior Bowl and then ran well at the combine (4.59) for a guy his size. There is a lot of potential here, Desir has great size, arm length and ball skills. The 49ers lost both starting corners from last year’s team (Rogers, Brown), so Desir would be a welcome addition.

62.) Patriots: TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech (6’5, 265) – He’s a perfect fit for the Aaron Hernandez role in the Pats offense, so they may take him in round 1 and not risk losing him in round 2. Amaro had a disappointing combine so he may drop this far, though he did look better at his pro day. Knowing Belichick’s penchant for trading down I think they will either move back from 30 or up from 62 to secure Amaro’s services.

63.) Broncos: G David Yankey, Stanford (6’6, 315) – The Broncos lost starting guard Zane Beadles to free agency, but find a replacement in Yankey. His speed was disappointing at the combine (5.48), but has great size, position versatility, intelligence and was a team captain at Stanford. Guards don’t need to run very far in the Broncos zone blocking scheme anyway. Yankey is a good value pick this late in the 2nd round and could contribute immediately for the Broncos.

64.) Seahawks: T Ja’Wuan James, Tennessee (6’5, 311) – The Seahawks lost starting right tackle Breno Giacomini in free agency, but probably would be looking for a replacement even if he stayed. James would have been a LT at most colleges, but with Antonio Richardson entrenched there, James got a lot of experience playing on the right side which is beneficial since that is probably his best fit in the NFL. James is a powerful run blocker with good feet and surprising quickness for his size. His technique needs some work, but it’s close enough to NFL ready that he should be able to start at RT from day 1.