NFL Mock Draft 3.0 – All 7 Rounds
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Round 6
177.) Texans: LB Howard Jones, Shepard (6’2, 235) – Made some money at the combine by running the 3rd best 40-time (4.6), having the best vertical (40.5″), the 2nd best broad jump, and the 5th best 3-cone time of all the defensive linemen at the combine. Jones was a pass rushing terror at Shepard (DII), is the NCAA active leader in sacks (62.5) and he proved he has NFL athleticism at the combine. He’s too small to be a defensive end but is plenty fast and fluid enough to play OLB in a 3-4. He’s not going to be much of a coverage linebacker, but Jones should be able to get to the QB at the NFL level.
178.) Redskins: G Brandon Linder, Miami (6’6, 311) – Smart player with good size, but he’s limited athletically. The Redskins got sub-par play from their guards last year; They filled one position through free agency (Luavoa) and Linder is polished enough to compete at the other one as a rookie.
179.) Jaguars: RB James White, Wisconsin (5’9, 204) – Part of RB rotation at Wisconsin, so he should have plenty of mileage left. White had a big week at the Senior Bowl showing great receiving skills, a powerful stiff-arm, and good pass blocking. White’s combine workouts were just mediocre, but his tape is solid and he’s one of the most well-rounded running back prospects in the draft. White’s skill as a receiver out of the backfield is a good complement to new running back Toby Gerhart’s power inside running. If White slips a little farther, I think the Bears would give White serious consideration with one of their 6th round picks. Both Trestman and Emery have stated that pass protection and the ability to catch out of the backfield are two important factors in a back-up running back and those are two of White’s strengths.
180.) Browns: S Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt (6’0, 207) – Instinctive coverage safety and leader in the secondary. Ladler showed a knack for big plays his senior year with 5 INTs and 5 forced fumbles. The Browns could use some competition for free safety Tashuan Gipson and Ladler should have a shot to contribute as a rookie. He’s a good football player, but his draft stock dropped due to his 4.7 40-time at the combine.
181.) Raiders: WR T.J. Jones, Notre Dame (6’0, 188) – The Raiders added some depth to their receiving core by signing James Jones in the off-season, but with no other consistent options they could use some more depth with upside at the position. Jones is a well-rounded receiver with excellent hands and good route-running ability. He had a good senior year despite shaky QB play and could blossom in a good offense (unfortunately he ended up on the Raiders).
182.) Falcons: Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky (6’1, 254) – One of my favorite players in the draft, Jackson is a throw-back MLB who is a big–time hitter and play-maker. He’s a step slow, but makes up for it with great instincts and is a good fit in the middle of the Falcons new 3-4 scheme. He’s going to struggle in coverage so might only be a 2-down linebacker but he could be an elite run-stopper by the end of his rookie year.
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183.) Bears: MLB Max Bullough, Michigan St (6’3, 249) – The Bears drafted their MLB of the future in the 2nd round last year, Jon Bostic, but are already discussing moving him to the outside due to his struggles shedding blocks. They need an MLB who can be a force against the run in the middle, the Bears interior D was a sieve last season. It’s been a tumultuous last few months for Bullough; He was suspended for MSU’s bowl game for undisclosed reasons and then showed up to Senior Bowl practices noticeably overweight. His draft stock was plummeting, but he stopped the slide at the combine with a better than expected 4.78 40-time and one of the best bench sets from the linebackers (30 reps). Bullough looked even better at his pro day with a 4.69 40-time and a fluid performance in the linebacker drills. I thought he would be limited to a 3-4 ILB, but 4.69 is plenty fast enough to play the middle in a 4-3. Bullough’s game tape is excellent, he was the leader of one of the best defenses in the country and is a force vs the run. He shows good timing and burst to stuff plays at the LOS and is a heavy hitter with better than expected range sideline to sideline. He struggles in coverage and is probably just a 2-down LB, but he can be a quality run-stuffer in base packages.
184.) Vikings: ILB Lamin Barrow, LSU (6’1, 230) – The Vikings current starter at MLB is Jasper Brinkley, so they could use some more talent at the position. Barrow is a great athlete who is still learning the linebacker position and is far from a finished product. Barrow needs work on his tackling and block shedding technique, but is an elite athlete with good speed who has starter potential down the road.
185.) Bills: DT Deandre Coleman, California (6’5, 314) – The Bills lost DT Alex Carrington in free agency, so they could use some replacement depth. Coleman wasn’t much of a pass rusher, but has the quickness to be one. Coleman has the ability to be more dominant than he was in college, so it could be a motor issue. He showed flashes of dominance at the Senior Bowl and could be a steal if a team can get him to play hard consistently. Coleman is already pretty good against the run, so worst case Coleman can provide good depth in the middle of the Bills D-line.
186.) Titans: T Justin Britt, Missouri (6’6, 315) – Good feet and athleticism. Britt doesn’t have quite the size or strength to play LT in the NFL, but could play RT or be an excellent guard prospect. The Titans need depth everywhere across the O-line.
187.) Giants: DE Ethan Westbrooks, W Texas A&M (6’3, 267) – Dominant rusher at the DII level (46.5 TFLs, 26.5 sacks in two seasons) who had 2 sacks in the Shrine game against much better competition then he was used to. Westbrooks has a quick first step and a myriad of polished pass rush moves. His workouts at the combine were mediocre which will hurt his draft stock, but he is an intriguing prospect who could go much higher due to his impressive game tape.
188.) Rams: G/C Russell Bodine, North Carolina (6’3, 310) – Bodine was the best interior lineman left on the board at this point, I have him graded as a 4th rounder so he may go way earlier than this. The Rams could use some interior line depth and they get some here with starter upside at guard or center. Bodine showed excellent strength at the combine with 42 reps of 225 and looked smooth in the position drills.
189.) Lions: SS Isaiah Lewis, Michigan St (5’10, 205) – The Lions just replaced Louis Delmas at strong safety with free agent signing James Ihedigbo, but could use some depth at the position. Lewis shares Delmas’ penchant for big hits, but the question is whether he can cover like the 2-time Pro Bowler Delmas. Lewis made a few nice plays in Senior Bowl practices but also got beat deep a couple of times putting a spotlight on his lack of top-end speed (4.60). Worst case, Lewis will be a big-hitter on special teams.
190.) Dolphins: TE Richard Rodgers, California (6’4, 257) – The Dolphins get a back-up for TE Charles Clay. Rodgers ran a disappointing 4.87 40 at the combine otherwise he would have gone a round or two higher. He looks faster than that on tape and has good enough hands and ball skills to be a weapon in the middle of the field. He’s not much of a blocker, so if he doesn’t develop into a receiver quickly, he won’t be in the league for long.
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
191.) Bears: RB Isaiah Crowell, Alabama St (5’11, 224) – Crowell might be the most talented running back in this year’s draft class. He was the SEC freshman of the year at Georgia in 2011 (850 yards, 5 touchdowns) before transferring to Alabama St and averaging just under 7 yards per carry over two seasons. So why is he available in the 6th round? Crowell was forced to leave Georgia after a felony gun charge (dropped), a failed drug test (marijuana), and also has a checkered medical history with no serious injuries but a few missed games. If having a gun in your car and smoking weed were deal-breakers, then most NFL teams wouldn’t be able to fill a 53-man roster. As Matt Forte’s back-up, Crowell would have a limited workload which negates the durability questions. Crowell has good size, vision, elite elusiveness, soft hands out of the backfield and the speed to break one once he reaches the second level. He wasn’t asked to block much at the college level so that is something the Bears will have to vet before drafting Crowell. There will be a few solid running backs available when the Bears make this pick, but only one with feature-back talent and that’s Crowell. Watch the tape below of every carry from Crowell’s 2nd college game against a South Carolina defense with 6 future NFL players including first rounders Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, and Stephon Gillmore and let me know if you disagree.
192.) Steelers: S Jonathon Dowling, Western Kentucky (6’3, 190) – A better athlete then you would normally find at WKU, Dowling started out at Florida before being dismissed for “authority issues”. Dowling has great size for a safety, good ball skills, and a knack for forcing turnovers (9 INTs, 8 forced fumbles in 2 seasons). He has an issue with missing tackles due to his penchant for head-hunting, but is a legit enforcer in the middle. Dowling has the talent of a 2nd or 3rd rounder with the only concern being his willingness to accept coaching, stemming from his incident with Florida coaches over 3 years ago. Worth a the gamble this late in the draft.
193.) Cowboys: G Spencer Long, Nebraska (6’5, 320) – Would have gone higher if not for an ACL injury late last season. Long, a former walk-on, is a two-time academic All-American who has been a solid run-blocker for the Huskers since he earned a starting spot in 2012. His pass blocking needs work, but it’s not hopeless.
194.) Ravens: WR Shaq Evans, UCLA (6’1, 213) – The Ravens need depth at receiver and Evans has the potential to be a solid possession receiver in the NFL. Evans has shown he can make the spectacular catch while at times he drops the easy ones due to concentration lapses. He has good size and is strong and tough enough to make it at the next level, but doesn’t have a ton of upside.
195.) Jets: CB Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma (6’0, 186) – Rex Ryan was pissed about missing out on the big corners in free agnecy, but finds a good one late in the draft. Colvin is a 2nd round talent who has dropped due to an ACL tear during Senior Bowl week. Colvin is doubtful to be ready in time for the 2014 season, but assuming full recovery, he has #1 corner potential. Colvin has the speed, athleticism, and aggressive nature of a shut-down CB and this pick could pay off handsomely for the Jets in 2015.
196.) Cardinals: CB Andre Hal, Vanderbilt (5’10, 188) – The Cards signed Antonio Cromartie in the off-season to man the #2 CB spot, but they still need some depth. Hal is an All-SEC corner who played well against the top receivers in the conference. He is smooth in coverage, but gets beat deep too often and is a non-factor against the run. Should be a solid 3rd-4th corner off the bat with the potential to develop into a solid #2.
197.) Packers: S Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (6’0, 210) – Borderline athleticism for an NFL player, but Sunseri makes up for it with great instincts. Sunseri is a sure tackler who is very aggressive against the run and is basically a coach on the field. I think he has enough intangibles to make up for his lack of athleticism and be an effective safety in the league. Sunseri and the Packers 1st round pick, Calvin Pryor, should team up at safety to upgrade a position that was a weak spot for the Packers last season.
198.) Patriots: DE/OLB Cassius Marsh, UCLA (6’4, 268) – Three year starter at UCLA who was versatile enough to play DE, DT, & OLB for the Bruins. Marsh is a max-effort player with a very quick first step and good speed and athleticism. Marsh should be able to contribute right away as a 3rd down pass rusher at OLB and with a little more strength could develop into a 3-down DE in the Pats 3-4. Marsh had one of the best 3-cone times at the combine and the Patriots value that drill more than most teams. 4 of the 6 defensive linemen with the top 3-cone times the last three years are on the Patriots roster.
199.) Bengals: OT Cameron Fleming, Stanford (6’6, 318) – Powerful run blocker who struggles in pass protection. Similar profile to Jordan Mills who the Bears drafted in the 5th round last year, except Fleming has longer arms and better overall size, but is missing Mills’ mean streak. Fleming projects as an interesting right tackle prospect who will probably take a year or two of development before he is ready for the starting lineup. The Bengals need a replacement for swing tackle Anthony Collins and Fleming could eventually fill that role.
200.) Chiefs: S Brock Vereen, Minnesota (5’11, 199) – The Chiefs starters at safety are solid, but they could use some depth. Vereen’s 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. He 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 whose best bet to see the field on defense might be at free safety. Wherever he ends up, Vereen should excel on special teams.
201.) Chargers: DT Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas St (6’1, 337) – Didn’t dominate as much as he should have in the Sun-Belt conference, but has the size and strength to be an NFL nose tackle. Carrethers is a good athlete for a man his size. He was tough against the run in college and showed some pass rush ability but not consistently. Good developmental prospect.
202.) Saints: S Jemea Thomas, Georgia Tech (5’10, 190) – Despite his small stature, Thomas is aggressive and a good hitter. He has good speed and plenty of range in coverage, the reason he is still available at this point has more to do with concerns about his size and durability than his talent.
203.) Colts: DT Jay Bromley, Syracuse (6’3, 307) – The Colts are thin at DT and they could use someone who can generate pressure up the middle. Bromley is a quick, disruptive DT who had 9 sacks his senior year. After watching tape on Bromley, I think he is underrated as a late round pick. 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.
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204.) Panthers: QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson (6’1, 222) – Salvaged his draft stock with a solid pro day. The Panthers have been looking for a mobile back-up for Cam Newton the last two years and Tajh could fill that role. His accuracy has been bad in workouts, but he’s always got it done on the field so could end up being a steal in the 6th round. I never understood Boyd’s “fat kid” nickname until I saw him in shorts at the combine. He’s pudgy and just doesn’t look like a football player, but when the pads are on and the Tigers needed a TD, Boyd came through more often than not and I could see him becoming a very good back-up QB in the league.
205.) 49ers: WR L’Damien Washington, Missouri (6’4, 205) – The 49ers need a deep threat that can take advantage of Kaepernick’s rocket arm. Washington 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.
206.) Patriots: C Tyler Larson, Utah St (6’4, 317) – Center was the weakest spot on the Pats line last year and they get a long-term replacement in Larson. He is a smart, durable center who moves very well for a 317 pounder. Three time 1st-team all-WAC. Lack of top competition in the WAC is a concern, but Larson had a strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl and the 2nd most bench reps at the combine (36). It might take a year or two, but Larson should eventually take over and have a decent career as a starting NFL center.
207.) Broncos: OLB Ronald Powell, Florida (6’3, 240) – Great athlete who was the #1 recruit coming out of high school (Rivals.com). Two ACL injuries derailed Powell’s college career, but he still moves very well for his size. Powell has good pass rush skills and if he passes team’s medical checks he could move up a few rounds. The Broncos could use some depth at OLB.
208.) Seahawks: DE Larry Webster, Bloomberg (6’6, 252) – The Seahawks have less needs than most teams and can afford to wait on a high upside DE like Webster. Any other year, a 6’6, 252 pound defensive end running a 4.58 40 at the combine would have been a big deal, but Webster was overshadowed by Jadeveon Clowney even though they are practically the same size and Clowney’s 40-time was only 5 hundredths of a second faster. Webster isn’t a household name, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of him. You don’t hear much about football players from tiny DII Bloomberg University. On top of that, Webster only played football for two years. He was a star basketball player for Bloomberg until his senior year when he decided to play football. Webster made an immediate impact with 26 sacks in two seasons. The lack of competition is a major strike against Webster, but he handled himself well at the Shrine game collecting a sack and more impressively pancaking an offensive tackle on a bull rush. I was impressed with his strength because Webster is built like a flag pole and will definitely need a year or two in an NFL strength program before he is ready to be a 3-down defensive end. Webster has ideal size for the position, an elite size/speed ratio, a quick first step, good closing speed, and natural pass rush instincts. He has the potential to develop into a double-digit sack guy off the edge which isn’t bad value in the 6th round. As a rookie he’s going to be a liability against the run, but I think he can contribute as a 3rd down pass rusher and wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up with a few sacks in 2014. Webster also played tight end in red zone packages at Bloomberg and some scouts think that might be his best position in the NFL. He certainly has the size and speed to make the transition, though we is way to thin to be an effective blocker at this point. Webster has a ton of potential at both position and a loaded team like the Seahawks can afford to wait on him.
Compensatory Picks
209.) Jets: OLB Prince Shembo, Notre Dame (6’2, 254) – Max effort linebacker with good strength, but very raw technique. Shembo had 17 QB hurries last season so there is some potential there. Some recent, fairly serious off-field allegations might scare most teams off, but Shembo has potential as a pass rusher so some team will probably give him a shot regardless.
210.) Jets: S Christian Bryant, Ohio St (5’9, 198) – Starting free safety Antonio Allen is better suited for a back up role, so the Jets should at least bring in some competition. Bryant is undersized and coming off a serious ankle injury, but when healthy he was a well-rounded safety who is good vs both the run and pass. He displayed great instincts, good closing speed, fluidity in coverage, and sound tackling technique. Bryant is an underrated safety prospect who could contribute right away in sub packages and move into the starting lineup soon.
211.) Texans: TE A.C. Leonard, Tennessee St (6’2, 252) – An off-field red-flag guy (battery), Leonard was a blue-chip recruit who started his career at Florida. He looks like it in shorts with a chiseled physique and obvious athleticism. His combine workouts backed it up; His 4.50 40-time led all tight ends, he tied Lyerla for the longest broad jump (128″), and had the 3rd highest vertical leap (34″). Leonard is an elite athlete, but also looked good in the positional drills showing fluid change of direction skills and soft hands. His production in college (34, 454, 5) didn’t match up with his physical skills, but I know nothing about the Tennessee St offense and whether the tight end was used at all. What I do know is that Leonard looked like an explosive “move” tight end prospect.
212.) Bengals: WR John Brown, Pitt St (5’10, 179) – Little guy with blazing speed (4.34) who put up prolific stats during his career at Pitt St (185 catches, 3380 yards, 32 TDs) and can return punts. Brown is a bit of an unknown since he played against inferior competition in college, but his speed and agility in the receiver drills were one of the biggest surprises of the combine. The Bengals lost Andrew Hawkins to the Browns in free agency and Brown has a similar skill set.
213.) Jets: RB De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon (5’9, 174) – The Jets signed Chris Johnson and have a couple of decent power backs in Ivory and Powell, but Thomas would give them a change of pace speed back and dangerous kick-returner. Thomas was very disappointing at the combine (4.50 40, 8 bench reps), but kept his draft hopes alive with a solid pro day (4.34).
214.) Rams: DT Shamar Stephen, Connecticut (6’5, 308) – Good size and very strong, Stephen was a solid run-stuffer in college and would give the Rams some insurance if Kendall Langford leaves in free agency next year.
215.) Steelers: DT Beau Allen, Wisconsin (6’2, 329) – The Steelers run defense hasn’t been the same since Casey Hampton’s prime. They need a 2-gap beast in the middle and Allen has potential to be a poor man’s version. Allen is a solid run-stopper with better than expected athleticism. He showed some ability to rush the passer with 6.5 sacks (combined) in his sophomore and junior seasons when the Badgers ran a 4-3 scheme, then moved to NT as a senior when they switched to a 3-4 and played well. He’s a late round prospect with limited upside, but should provide good interior depth with starter upside.