By: Marques Eversoll
For at least another day, it’s mock draft season. And then Thursday night, it’s draft time. No more overanalyzing 40 times, bench press numbers, height, weight and speed. No more opportunities for prospects to find trouble – or become a “late riser.” (Eye roll.)
In all seriousness, I enjoy everything about the pre-draft process. I’m 100% a complete draft nerd who won’t be remotely offended if you label me as such. Nor will I care if—and when—my mock draft falls on its face like my bracket for last month’s NCAA Tournament.
This is my mock draft. It’s not what will happen, it’s what could happen. My projected trades make sense (to me), my picks make sense (to me). But this is the draft, so it won’t happen. Either way, it’s going to be a lot of fun because I’m of the belief that the first day of the NFL Draft is the best day of the year.
It’ll be a long wait for Packers fans on Thursday night, unless Ted Thompson trades up. With the picks starting around 7:00 PM, the Packers likely won’t pick until 10:30 or 11:00. Don’t quote me on that. And if my prediction comes to fruition, the wait will get even longer. As in, about 24 hours longer …
*UPDATE: With the uncertainty surrounding the La’el Collins situation, I’ve dropped him out of the first round. The affected projections are noted with an asterisk. (4/30 10:30 AM)
First Round
1. Buccaneers – QB Jameis Winston – Florida State
2. Browns – QB Marcus Mariota – Oregon (From Titans)
3. Jaguars – OLB Dante Fowler Jr. – Florida
4. Raiders – DT Leonard Williams – USC
5. Redskins – WR Amari Cooper – Alabama
6. Jets – WR Kevin White – West Virginia
7. Bears – OLB Vic Beasley – Clemson
8. Rams – OT Brandon Scherff – Iowa (From Falcons)
9. Giants – OT Andrus Peat – Stanford
10. Falcons – RB Todd Gurley – Georgia (From Rams)
11. Vikings – CB Trae Waynes – Minnesota
12. Titans – DT Danny Shelton – Washington (From Browns)
13. Saints – DE/OLB Bud Dupree – Kentucky
14. Dolphins – CB Kevin Johnson – Wake Forest
15. 49ers – DE Arik Armstead – Oregon
16. Texans – WR DaVante Parker – Louisville
17. Chargers – RB Melvin Gordon – Wisconsin
18. Chiefs – WR Nelson Agholor – USC
19. Titans – WR Breshad Perriman – UCF (From Browns)
20. Eagles – S Damarious Randall – Arizona State
21. Bengals – WR Dorial Green-Beckham – Missouri
22. Steelers – OLB Randy Gregory – Nebraska
23. Lions – OT Ereck Flowers – Miami, FL*
24. Cardinals – DT Malcom Brown – Texas
25. Panthers – OT D.J. Humphries – Florida*
26. Ravens – WR Phillip Dorsett – Miami, FL
27. Cowboys – LB Eric Kendricks – UCLA
28. Broncos – C Cameron Erving – Florida State
29. Colts – S Landon Collins – Alabama
30. Falcons – CB Marcus Peters – Washington (From Packers)
It always seems like the Falcons just forget about the defense. After trading down a couple spots and grabbing local kid Todd Gurley with their first pick to boost their running game, Atlanta moves back into the first round to get a potential shutdown corner to pair with fellow Washington product Desmond Trufant.
Once upon a time, the Falcons’ secondary was laughably atrocious. But a cornerback group of Trufant, Peters and Robert Alford could be one of the best units in the league in the next couple years. And with a couple corner-needy teams picking at the end of the first round, and the top of the second, this move would make sense for the Falcons. Meanwhile, the Packers have a long list of prospects of interest available. They can afford to move back, stack picks, and still end up with someone that will contribute as a rookie.
(Packers trade 1st-round (30), 4th-round (129) to the Falcons for 2nd-round (42), 3rd-round (73)**
**According to the Draft Trade Chart, the Packers win the trade 705-663. Which is not followed with 100% accuracy. If two teams agree to a deal, two teams agree to a deal.)
31. Saints – WR Jaelen Strong – Arizona State
32. Patriots – CB Byron Jones – UConn
Second Round
33. Titans – OT Jake Fisher – Oregon
34. Buccaneers – OG Laken Tomlinson – Duke*
35. Raiders – WR Devin Smith – Ohio State
36. Jaguars – CB Jalen Collins – LSU
37. Jets – OLB Shane Ray – Missouri
38. Redskins – OLB Eli Harold – Virginia
39. Bears – DT Eddie Goldman – Florida State
40. Giants – TE Maxx Williams – Minnesota
41. Rams – LB Benardrick McKinney – Mississippi State
42. Packers – LB Denzel Perryman – Miami, FL (From Falcons)
Barrington-Perryman 2015 sounds like a Presidential ticket. For the Green party. (I’m still not done with that one. Sorry.) Third-year linebacker Sam Barrington has made it clear that he is a fan of former Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman. During the combine, Barrington called Perryman a “baller” on Twitter, and went on to say he’s not worried about Perryman’s 40-yard dash time.
“40 times don’t dictate whether you can play ball or not. If you can play you can play,” tweeted Barrington on February 22.
Sam is exactly right. The draft has gotten crazy – crazy to the point that we overthink things. On paper, there are better, more athletic linebackers than Perryman. On paper, Perryman is “only” 5-11 236 and ran a subpar 4.78 in the 40. On paper, he looks like strictly a two-down linebacker.
But football is not played on paper; it’s not played in tights. On the football field, Perryman makes plays. He lives in the opposing backfield. The same guy labeled “too small” (at 236) takes on linemen 100 pounds heavier than himself – and wins those battles. Just like Barrington said – If you can play, you can play. Perryman can play, and could step in as a starter from Day 1.
By the way, Barrington isn’t the only Packer that likes Perryman. According to Brian Carriveau at 247Sports, citing Tony Pauline of TFY Draft Insider — (both of whom we’ve had on SportsLine, and you can check it out on Podcast online) — Packers senior personnel director Alonzo Highsmith is “pushing” for Perryman at the end of the first round. Perhaps they’re able to move back, and still get their guy.
Barrington and Perryman inside. Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers outside. I only have two thumbs, and that group gets both thumbs up.
62. Packers – CB Quinten Rollins – Miami, OH
How about that? The Packers put a check mark next to each of their two biggest needs – linebacker and cornerback – with their first two picks. One from each of the two Miami schools.
Rollins, a four-year starter on the basketball team at Miami, opted to play football with a semester of eligibility remaining. How’d that go for him? Not bad, considering he was named the 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the year, and was first-team All-MAC.
Rollins joins Demetri Goodson—the Gonzaga point guard turned Baylor cornerback—and gives the Packers the league’s best secondary on the hardwood. He’s still relatively raw, having only played one year of college football, but that could be looked at as a positive. To make (another) basketball comparison, it’s like a foreign guy vs. a homegrown guy. If Frank Kaminsky were from France, he might be a Top 5 pick because of the unknown factor.
At 5-11 195, Rollins has a thick build and can play multiple positions. Per NFL.com, an AFC defensive backs coach said Rollins is a 2nd-round safety or a 4th-round cornerback. Either way, he’d be a great value for the Packers at 62, giving them yet another versatile defensive back.
73. Packers – WR/TE Devin Funchess – Michigan (From Falcons)
This would not be an indictment of Richard Rodgers. There’s a role on this team for Richard Rodgers, but there’s a void on this team from Jermichael Finley that has yet to be filled – and Devin Funchess is the answer.
Every year, there are a couple guys that I believe will be drafted too late. Whether it’s because he’s a small-school kid, or a guy runs a slow 40 time, there are always good football players that fall down the draft board for one reason or another. Funchess ran a 4.70 at the Combine, then got it down to a 4.5 at his Pro Day.
Negatives? He’s had issues with drops. He ran a slow 40 time at the Combine. Some don’t think he was worthy of wearing No. 1 at Michigan. He’s a tight end/wide receiver tweener. Positives? He’s a really good football player. He’s 6-4, 230 pounds. He is 20 years old. He has limitless potential.
The Packers have bigger needs than an offensive playmaker, but if the league’s top scoring offense from a year ago can become even more explosive simply by spending a third-round pick on a playmaker, do it. Funchess – in my eyes – is a first-round talent who will be drafted too late. I’d take him in the first 40 picks.
94. Packers – OLB Markus Golden – Missouri
Missouri has been churning out the edge rushers in recent years from Aldon Smith to Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, now to Shane Ray and Markus Golden. I think the Packers’ outside linebacker conversation is an interesting one.
This week, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported the Packers do not plan on picking up Nick Perry’s fifth-year option. You have Clay Matthews on a hefty contract, but will he be inside or outside or both? You have Julius Peppers, but he’s 35 years old. You have Jayrone Elliot, but what is he?
There are a lot of question marks at the position, and for that reason, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Packers used their first pick on an edge rusher. If they’re comfortable with Shane Ray or Randy Gregory, and either player falls into their lap at 30, perhaps they roll the dice. In my opinion, they’d be better off moving out of that spot and taking the best player available with a later pick.
Golden isn’t a great prospect and his ceiling may be limited, but he could contribute immediately on special teams, and he gives the Packers a nice project to develop for life-after-Peppers, or perhaps even life-with-Peppers. One thing is for sure: As long as Matthews and Peppers are in Green Bay, it’s a great opportunity for a young pass rusher to come in and learn through osmosis.
Marques Eversoll is on-air on SportsLine every weekday afternoon from 4:00-6:00 PM on The Fan, and he hosts the Saturday Morning Showcase every weekend 8:00-10:00 AM. Follow him on Twitter @MarquesEversoll.
