NFL Mock Draft 2.0 – All 7 Rounds

Round 7

216.) Texans: G Kadeem Edwards, Tennessee St (6’4, 309)  – Long armed guard who helped his stock at the Senior Bowl, but didn’t show much athleticism at the combine. Will give the Texans some interior line depth in the short-term and has starter potential if he can improve his technique.

217.) Redskins: ILB Khari Fortt, California (6’2, 246) – Better athlete than football player at this point, but has a very good speed / strength ratio and could eventually become a solid 3-4 ILB or 4-3 WILL. The Redskins re-signed ILBs Perry Riley and Darryl Sharpton, but they could use some depth. Fortt should be a solid special teams player while he improves his technique at linebacker.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

218.) Browns: WR Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest (5’10, 191) – Classic slot receiver with good hands, surprising strength and elusiveness on underneath routes. Campanero could give the Browns what they thought they were getting when they signed Devone Bess.

219.) Raiders: CB Bene Benwikere, San Jose St (5’11, 195) – Good cover guy with solid instincts and ball skills, but a liability against the run and can be dominated physically by bigger receivers. Benwikere can contribute in sub packages off the bat, but it will probably take a season or two before he is ready for anything more than that.

220.) Falcons: QB Jeff Matthews, Cornell (6’4, 223) – Tall, cerebral QB who has a similar skill-set to Matt Ryan. Matthews has ideal size, a big arm, he’s accurate, and has good leadership potential (3-time captain). The main problems are that he’s a statue in the pocket and hasn’t played against anything close to NFL competition coming from the Ivy league.

221.) Buccaneers: G Kevin Danser, Stanford (6’5, 312) – Good size, decent lateral movement and a mean streak. There were times on tape that I liked him more than linemate David Yankey (2nd round pick). The Bucs need as much depth at guard as they can get in case Nicks can’t recover as planned or they have another staff infection outbreak.

222.) Jaguars: TE Colt Lyerla, Oregon (6’5, 250) – Troubled tight-end who left Oregon during the season for “personal reasons” and then got arrested for cocaine possession. Lyerla has legitimate first round talent, but concern about his maturity and off-field problems could keep him out of the draft all together. Without much talent at TE on the roster it might make sense to take to take a risk on the talented Lyerla. If he can get his head on straight he could be an All-Pro. If not he could be out of the league in a year or two. It’s a big gamble, but that’s what the 7th round is for. Lyerla impressed physically at the combine finishing near the top in every workout except the bench, but most rumors about his interviews were negative.

223.) Vikings: WR Ryan Grant, Tulane (6’0, 199) – Might have the best hands in the draft, but choked at the combine dropping multiple passes in the receiver drills. Grant doesn’t have great speed or athleticism, but he’s strong and can catch anything near him. His combine performance dropped his stock a round or two but I still think he will be a solid possession receiver in the NFL.

224.) Bills: OLB Denicos Allen, Michigan St (5’11, 220) –  If Allen were a few inches taller and 10-15 pounds heavier he’d be a day 2 pick. He’s a heck of a football player. Allen is very fast for an LB (4.5ish), has great instincts, and is a sure tackler despite his small frame. He’s also a violent blitzer and good in coverage. Allen is never going to get any taller, but he’s about the same size as former Broncos LB Wesley Woodyard (6’0, 230) who has been an excellent weak side linebacker. Allen would make an ideal back-up for Kiko Alonzo at WLB in the Bills new 4-3 scheme and will be a demon on special teams.

225.) Giants: S Sean Parker, Washington (5’10, 193) – The Giants lost strong safety Ryan Mundy to the Bears in the off-season and grab a depth replacement in Parker. He’s undersized but strong in run support and has had some highlight reel hits during his college career. His height limits his coverage ability but he has good hands if he can get to the ball (11 Ints last 3 seasons). Parker should be a solid gunner on special teams and could surprise on defense if given the chance.

226.) Rams: DE Zach Moore, Concordia (6’5, 269) – Small school prospect with great physical tools, but raw technique. Moore has an intriguing combination of size, agility and strength but would be making a big jump up in competition from DII Concordia University. Moore had 33 sacks in 33 games in his college career and flashed natural pass rush ability while being a solid run stopper. Moore needs a lot of technique work and needs to get stronger, but has more upside than most of the D-lineman taken on day 3 of the draft. The Rams upgraded their DT depth with the signing of Alex Carrington and now they get some depth at DE.

227.) Lions: K Chris Boswell, Rice (6’2, 185) – David Akers was a disaster for the Lions last year. He had the 3rd lowest accuracy on field goal attempts despite the fact that the Lions play indoors and he was perfect on his 50 yard+ kicks (3-3). Akers also lost kick-off duties to punter Sam Martin. It’s time for a change and the Lions grab the #1 kicker in the draft in Boswell. Boswell has a big leg, he made 13 field goals of over 50 yards and three of those were over 55 yards.

228.) Titans: RB Damien Williams, Oklahoma (5’11, 222) – Had the best “Speed Score” at the combine and that should be enough to get Williams drafted since their has been some positive correlation between the Football Outsiders stat and NFL success. Williams doesn’t have the vision to be a between the tackles runner, but he is dangerous outside and has flashy moves in space. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield and would be a nice complement to Shonne Green.

229.) Cowboys: WR Cody Latimore, Indiana (6’2, 215) – Fits the WR profile (6’2, 200) that the Cowboys target in drafts. Big receiver who was productive as a junior (72, 1096, 9) but probably should have stayed in school one more year to improve the finer points of his game. Lattimer has good (not great) speed and has shown great hands at times but also drops some easy ones. His route-running needs work.

230.) Steelers: RB Storm Johnson, UCF 6’0, 209) – Good size, agility, toughness, vision, hands… Underrated back whose main flaw is that he’s a little slow (4.6). He also needs work as a pass blocker, but Johnson could be a very productive NFL back if he ends up in the right scheme. Johnson gives the Steelers a backup for Bell with more upside (and better durability) then Isaac Redmond.

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231.) Cowboys: RB James Wilder Jr, Florida St (6’3, 232) – His slow 40-time (4.86) might have dropped him to the 7th round, but he’s one of the best short yardage backs available. Wilder doesn’t have long speed, but he has a good initial burst, fullback size, and he aggressively seeks out contact at the second level. Will give the Cowboys a viable short-yardage back to lessen the wear and tear on Demarco Murray.

232.) Colts: OLB Devon Kennard, USC (6’3, 249) – USC team captain in 2013 who led the team with 8 sacks. Kinnard could develop into a solid pass rusher at OLB in the Colts scheme.

233.) Jets: FB JC Copeland, LSU (5’11, 285) – Massive FB who dominated the NFLPA Bowl as a blocker and short yardage back (2 TDs). Copeland needs to lose a little weight and get quicker to the hole, but his big personality and devastating run blocking will make him a Rex Ryan favorite right away. Copeland lost 14 pounds between the NFLPA bowl and the combine, so he is off to a good start. He could eventually develop into an Ironhead Heyward type ball carrier.

234.) Dolphins: DT Jay Bromley, Syracuse (6’3, 307) – Quick, disruptive DT who had 9 sacks his senior year. After watching tape on Bromley, I think he could go a little higher than this. He needs to get stronger, but has an explosive first step and the versatility to play the 3 or 5 technique which will increase his value.

235.) Raiders: G Ryan Groy. Wisconsin (6’5, 325) – The Raiders grab some interior O-line depth here with Groy. He’s a massive guard with good power, but limited mobility. Groy could eventually become a road-grading run blocker, but will probably always be a liability in pass pro.

236.) Packers: OLB Tyler Starr, South Dakota (6’4, 249) – Athletic small school prospect who had 27 sacks over the course of his career and is an interesting pass rush prospect. He will give Clay Matthews and AJ Hawk competition for the girliest hair style on the Packers.

237.) Eagles: DE Josh Mauro, Stanford (6’6, 276) – Not the most explosive DE in the draft, but has good size and strength to hold up against the run and the Eagles need some youth on the D-line. Mauro is high-effort player and at worst will provide reliable depth.

238.) Chiefs: WR Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma (5’9, 165) – One of the quickest receivers in the draft who plays tougher than his 165 pounds. Saunders would give the Chiefs a dangerous slot receiver and return man to replace McCluster who left in free agency (Titans).

239.) Bengals: RB Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky (5’10, 225) – There are fullbacks in the league faster than BJGE so it’s about time the Bengals start looking for a replacement. They could do a lot worse than Andrews who has led the NCAA in all-purpose yards two seasons in a row. He’s had some issues holding on to the ball and his 4.81 40-time is the reason he’s still available at this point in the draft. On film he is a hammer and would be a good complement to the speedy Gio Bernard.

240.) Chargers: WR Damien Copeland, Louisville (5’11, 184) – Elite short-area quickness, Copeland had the best 3-cone time at the combine (6.53) by a full tenth of a second and had the 2nd best 20-yard shuttle & 60-yard shuttle times behind only Brandin Cooks. He has good hands and the ideal skill-set for a slot receiver, but is very thin so durability is a concern.

241.) 49ers:  WR L’Damien Washington, Missouri (6’4, 205) – The Niners need a deep threat to go with possession receivers Boldin & Crabtree and that is what Washington does best. He has a big frame with long arms and excellent straight-line speed. I don’t see Washington ever being much more than a deep threat, but he could provide a similar impact as Kenny Britt did for the Saints in 2013.

242.) 49ers: DE Michael Sam, Missouri  (6’1, 260) – Roger Goodell narrowly avoids a PR nightmare with Sam finally getting drafted. The Niners have more picks than any other team in the draft and won’t be impacted too much if one of their four 7th round picks doesn’t pan out. I’m not saying that it won’t, Sam put up great numbers at Missouri and was the SEC co-defensive payer of the year, so he has talent. His draft stock has taken a big hit in the off-season due to his combine workouts and the position drills at the Senior Bowl. Sam had the 2nd lowest bench reps, 4th lowest vertical leap, a bottom ten cone drill time and finished in the bottom half of the other workouts. His poor workouts combined with his struggles at the Senior Bowl in the linebacker drills doesn’t bode well for his chances to succeed at the NFL level. Off the field, San Francisco has a thriving gay community and it would be a good PR move for the Niners to draft him, but he’s going to have an uphill battle to make an impact on the field.

243.) 49ers: NT Zach Kerr, Delaware (6’1, 326) – Athletic for his size with a good burst off the line. Kerr plays a little too soft for the NT position, but he has talent and is a good developmental DT prospect. 

244.) Patriots: S Brock Vereen, Minnesota (6’0, 199) – His impressive performance at the combine earned him a spot in the draft. Vereen had the 2nd fastest 40-time (4.47) and the most bench reps (25) of all the safeties. Vereen has good coverage skills but could be a liability against the run at the next level. It won’t be from lack of effort though, Vereen is a hard-nosed, max-effort player who should excel on special teams even if he never makes an impact as a safety. Brock joins his brother Shane on the Pats.

245.) 49ers: T Cornelius Lucas, Kansas St (6’8, 329) – Massive developmental prospect with surprising athleticism for his size. Lucas shows a knack for understanding blocking angles, but needs a lot of work on the rest of his technique. He is too much of a waist bender and will get roasted against good NFL DEs unless he can learn to bend at the knees. Combine doctors discovered a stress fracture in his foot so he wasn’t allowed to work out and is out another two months so may not have time for his pro day.

246.) Broncos: S Ty Zimmerman, Kansas St (6’1, 204) – Just average speed and strength, but great instincts. Zimmerman was KSU’s starting free safety for three seasons and totaled 13 INTs. Zimmerman excels in coverage with good ball skills and reliable hands, but is not the best tackler. I think he has good enough football instincts to become a starter, but worst case he could contribute in sub packages and on special teams.

247.) Seahawks: QB Conner Shaw, South Carolina (6’0, 206): I’m not a huge fan, but I’ve seen multiple sources say that the Seahawks coaches love this kid. He’s small for a QB and has a weak arm, but scouts rave about his intangibles, leadership skills, and intelligence. All I know is that when I watch the tape, it doesn’t look like Shaw has NFL skills to me. I’ve been wrong before, I thought Cade McNoun showed flashes of greatness in college.

Compensatory picks

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

248.) Cowboys: QB Bryn Renner, North Carolina (6’3, 228) – Accurate passer with good touch, timing, and poise in the pocket, but below average mobility. Renner’s arm strength is a question after a shoulder injury late in 2013. It was just adequate pre-injury, so if he lost any of it he’s in trouble. Romo isn’t going anywhere for a while, but I hear Kyle Orton might be so the Cowboys could use a 3rd QB.

249.) Rams: S Daniel Sorenson, BYU (6’1, 205) – Elite agility and change of direction skills. Sorenson had the fastest 3-cone, 20 yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle times at the combine and it wasn’t even close. His 3-cone was .43 faster than the closest guy and his 60-yard shuttle was almost a full second faster than the next guy. Tough, hard-worker who lacks top-end speed or size so he will struggle a bit in coverage but is a sound tackler. Sorenson could be a solid back-up who should be able to play in a pinch and could be a stand-out on special teams.

250.) Rams: C Corey Linsley, Ohio St (6’3, 296) – Very strong (36 reps) phone booth blocker who excels in run blocking but struggles in pass pro. Profiles as a backup for now, but with improved pass pro could push for a starting position in a year or two.

251.) Cowboys: DT Eathyn Manumaleuna (6’2, 296) – Good strength and a solid run stopper inside. Cowboys need depth inside with DT Melton coming off an ACL injury and DT Jernigan a rookie that had stamina issues in college.

252.) Bengals: CB Brandon Dixon, NW Missouri St (5’11, 203) –  Physical corner with good size / speed (4.41) ratio, but will need a year or two to develop coming out of DII. Dixon made enough of a positive impression at the combine to get drafted and the Bengals can afford to stash him for a year while they work on his technique.

253.) Falcons: S Alden Darby, Arizona St (5’10, 197) – Undersized, but versatile safety who could play either safety spot if needed. The Falcons cut last year’s starting free safety Thomas DeCoud, so they could use some depth at the position. Darby played strong safety in college, but played free safety at the Shrine game and had two interceptions. I saw quite a few of Darby’s games living a few blocks from ASU’s stadium and he was one of my favorite players on the defense. He always seemed to be in the right place and made a lot of big plays thorughout the season. He’s small, but effective.

254.) Cowboys: OLB Jonathon Brown, Illinois (6’0, 238) – Some depth at the Will backer in case Sean Lee gets hurt (again). Brown was very productive at Illinois but had a disappointing combine and is below average athletically compared to most NFL linebackers.

255.) Falcons: ILB Avery Williamson, Kentucky (6’1, 246) – Smart, leader on defense who was very productive in college but might not have the athleticism to make it at MLB in the NFL. Worst case, Williamson could provide depth while contributing on special teams.

256.) Texans: WR Cody Hoffman, BYU (6’4, 223) – Might remind Texan fans of Kevin Walter due to his similar skill set. Hoffman has great size though isn’t strong enough to use it effectively yet. His best assets are his long arms and great hands, he can catch anything close. He’ll need to get stronger to beat press coverage, but once he does could have a nice career as an outside possession receiver and red zone weapon.

Thanks for making it through my mock draft 2.0. Thanks as well to NFL.com, Draftbreakdown, CBS Sports, Walter Football, Optimum Scouting, DraftExaminer, WiththeFirstPick and of course YouTube for scouting reports and video clips to fill the gaps on players that I didn’t have enough info on.