GIF Mock Draft
25- San Diego Chargers- TCU CB Jason Verrett
The run on corners continues as San Diego picks up one of the most tenacious players in Jason Verrett. Despite his smaller stature—Verrett is 5’10 and under 180 pounds—Verrett proved himself last season when TCU moved from the Mountain West Conference to the Big 12. And with San Diego playing Peyton Manning at least twice a season it would be wise to invest in a slot corner to mirror Wes Welker.
26- Cleveland Browns- WR Indiana Cody Latimer
This pick comes from the Trent Richardson trade that somehow looks like a steal for the Browns despite giving up on the former 3rd overall pick only 16 months after drafting him.
After grabbing Johnny Manziel with the 4th pick the Browns get him another target to compliment Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron. A late riser Latimer has an extremely high ceiling due to his impressive combination of size and speed. Still he represents a risk as he played at Indiana and hasn’t play in any big games under pressure.
27- New Orleans Saints- Auburn DE/OLB Dee Ford
With all of the corners gone, Rob Ryan grabs himself a perfect pass rusher to bring the heat off the edge of his 3-4 defense. Ford’s game is built around his explosive speed and despite his smaller frame he dominated the Senior Bowl which raised his stock enough to merit a 1st round pick.
28- Carolina Panthers- USC WR Marquiss Lee
The current Panthers wide receiver corps is Tarraves King, Jerricho Cotchery, Marvin McNutt and Tiquan Underwood so it safe to say if one of the 1st round wide outs drops to 28 they will be ecstatic. Lee was predicted to be a top 10 pick prior to last season but a combination of injuries and poor quarterback play at USC limited his opportunities to shine and his stock slipped accordingly. At this point in the draft Lee is a steal with his game changing speed and big play potential, two things the Panthers lacked last season.
29- TRADE Houston Texans – UCF QB Blake Bortles
Once the front runner for the 1st pick, Bortles slide will trigger the Texans to trade up from the start of the 2nd round to secure their franchise quarterback. With his prototypical size and arm strength Bortles looks the part of an NFL quarterback but his poor mechanics and relative inexperience raises serious worries. But new Head Coach Bill O’Brien is a known quarterback guru and will take on the project of converting Bortles’ potential into production.
30- San Francisco 49ers- Florida State WR Kelvin Benjamin
With their earlier selection of Darqueze Dennard the 49ers are free to fill their second biggest need, wide receiver. Benjamin represent the biggest boom or bust receiver in this draft with his incredible size—6’5 and 240 pounds—and single year of production. Still, the 49ers can let Benjamin sit and learn behind fellow Seminole Anquan Boldin and hope Benjamin can pick up a thing or two about how to maximize his massive frame.
31- Denver Broncos- Missouri DE Kony Ealy
The Broncos made their presence felt in free agency as they picked up Aqib Talib, Emmanuel Sanders and DeMarcus Ware. Now they look towards the future with Kony Ealy a talented versatile defensive linemen that will excel as an inside pass rusher.
32- TRADE Jacksonville Jaguars- Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater
After a poor Pro Day Teddy Bridgewater’s stock went into free fall. Once considered the odds on favorite for the number 1 pick, Bridgewater’s small frame and lack of elite arm talent has caused teams to overreact to his performances in shorts and a tee shirt while disregarding his body of work at Louisville.
A quick glance at his game tape reveals a polished quarterback that has the ability to toggle through his progressions, make checks at the line of scrimmage and hit receivers in stride with accurate throws, or things that actually matter when the pads are on. It is safe to say I am very high on Bridgewater and the Jags would be getting an absolute steal picking up the most NFL ready quarterback in the draft at pick 32.