Draft - Football Wiretap

Report: Roc Nation Meets With Brett Hundley's Reps

Oct 31, 2014 6:14 AM

Representatives of UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley reportedly met with Roc Nation Sports about the possibility of becoming his agent if he declares for the draft.

Hundley is a third-year sophomore and draft eligible.

Hundley is expected to be a first round pick.

Mike Huguenin/NFL.com

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Kiper: Jameis Winston Would Be No. 1 Overall Pick If Eligible

Nov 8, 2014 9:10 PM

Jameis Winston has had an excellent redshirt freshman season for Florida State and is coming off a signature performance against No. 3 Clemson in which he threw for 444 yards and four touchdowns.

Winston will clearly be a big factor in the Heisman Trophy chase and may even be a better NFL prospect than older quarterbacks such as Teddy Bridgewater and Marcus Mariota.

"If he was eligible he'd be the No. 1 pick," said Mel Kiper Jr. "We wouldn't be talking Bridgewater or Mariota. We'd be talking about Winston."

Mel Kiper/ESPN

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2013 NFL Mock Draft, Version 1.1

Nov 8, 2014 12:05 PM

By Jeff Risdon/RealGM

As version 1.0 wound up a nightmarish cluster of double picks and poor choices on my part, the initial mock draft is v1.1. Unlike Microsoft, I refuse to release products to the public that need immediate fixes. 

For those unfamiliar with how I do mock drafts, my goal is to project what I think might happen in May. These do not necessarily represent the choices I would make in the given situations, nor is it indicative of my personal player rankings. 

Round 1

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville--It’s hard to pass on a rare talent like Jadeveon Clowney, but the Jaguars have a bigger fish to fry at quarterback. Bridgewater could be very good right out of the gate. I still strongly believe Bridgewater and Clowney are locks as the top two picks, barring injuries. 

2. New York Giants: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina--Don’t let all the negativity directed at Clowney fool you; he remains the most complete pass rushing prospect since at least Bruce Smith. Should he wind up with the Giants, you can cue the Lawrence Taylor comparisons. 

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA--Adding an edge rusher with such incredible burst and closing speed would dramatically impact the Bucs’ young defense. Barr has a chance to be very special in the NFL as he continues to learn the nuances of playing defense. 

4. Minnesota Vikings: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon--He’s precocious and often shows it with rudimentary passing skills, but Mariota has sky-high potential and exceptional athleticism. The Vikings must end their ride on the plug-in QB carousel, though Matt Cassel would make a nice bridge until Mariota is ready to shine. 

5. Oakland Raiders: Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M--Terrelle Pryor has shown enough to merit a longer look at QB, and the best way to help him develop is to bolster the supporting cast. Mathews is a rock-solid technician with experience at both tackle positions playing in front of a similarly frantic QB for the Aggies. 

6. St. Louis Rams (from WAS): C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama--The booty for the RG3 trade is the most NFL-ready LB in the draft. Mosley is an instinctive thumper with better range than you’d think for a guy with his build. 

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M--A lot of people will project offensive line help here, but the Steelers have devoted so many draft resources to that gaping hole that I don’t believe they try again. They could certainly use youth on defense, but a legit No. 1 wideout with Evans’ size and speed is too tempting to bypass. 

8. Buffalo Bills: Antonio Richardson, T, Tennessee--“Tiny” is a prospect whose stock I believe will rise as the scouting process advances. He has the chance to be a very strong bookend tackle. The Bills continue to build a young offensive nucleus around EJ Manuel. A defensive end or linebacker would not surprise me for Buffalo. 

9. Atlanta Falcons: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo--The Mack of the MAC is one of the most natural pass rushers in this draft. He can win with speed or power, though I worry a bit that he’s a DE/OLB tweener. The Falcons desperately need pass rushing juice, and Mack can squeeze the quarterback. 

10. Cleveland Browns: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA--Cleveland has painted itself into the “we must take a QB” corner with the Trent Richardson trade and the underwhelming play of Brandon Weeden. Hundley bears some stylistic resemblance to current Browns backup Jason Campbell, but has a much higher ceiling. 

11. New York Jets: Sammy Watkins, WR, South Carolina--New York’s top priority much be to surround Geno Smith with more dynamic weapons. Watkins is a soft-handed speedster with game-breaking moves in the open field. They desperately need a safety too, but that will come later. 

12. Carolina Panthers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama--He might slide off the radar a bit while he’s suspended by Bama, but Ha Ha remains the top safety prospect in the draft. He has a playmaking knack and is seasoned in different coverage schemes. The Panthers have a bigger hole at safety than most folks realize.

13. Houston Texans: Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU--If he continues to play well, Mettenberger won’t be around for the Texans to select at this slot. When they get a new coach--and they will--the bizarre loyalty to Matt Schaub will end. Ironically, Mettenberer would be perfect for Gary Kubiak’s offense. 

14. Arizona Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio, T, Alabama--This is probably Kouandjio’s draft ceiling, as he has not impressed with his footwork or technique in 2013. There is still a lot of potential here, and the Cardinals remain desperate for offensive line talent. 

15. San Diego Chargers: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU--Verrett is a plucky playmaker with excellent instincts, and I like that he can play outside or inside in coverage. San Diego needs depth badly at corner, and Verrett is NFL-ready out of the box. 

16. St. Louis Rams: Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State--This is not their biggest need, but Shazier is such a perfect schematic fit for Jeff Fisher’s defense that it’s hard to see him bypassing such a talent. Shazier’s range and cover skills would allow them to keep their base personnel on the field against three wideout sets, mitigating their need for safety help. 

17. Philadelphia Eagles: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon--I hate when mock drafts get too convenient in matching players from a certain college to a NFL team with a coach or strong ties to said college. But in this case IEO (it’s much easier to type) is a great fit for primary need, and he happens to be a Duck recruited by Eagles coach Chip Kelly. Why not? 

18. Tennessee Titans: Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina--A rising talent with a great frame to present a big target, Ebron looks like a top tight end prospect. He and Delanie Walker would give the Titans a great 1-2 punch and the ability to go heavy on two tight end sets. That would be a fantastic red zone combo. 

19. Chicago Bears: Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame--Nix has gained some bad weight in 2013 and it shows in his play, but the lither ’12 version is easily the top DT prospect in this draft. His ability to shoot gaps and make impact plays is precisely what the Bears need up front. Put him with a healthy Henry Melton and that’s a potent front. 

20. Miami Dolphins: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor--Seastrunk is a big play waiting to happen, akin to Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy as my colleague at DetroitLionsDraft.com Darren Pagepoints out here. Adding him to the Dolphins provides a home run threat out of the backfield to help ease the pressure on Ryan Tannehill. Miami also desperately need a left tackle. 

21. Detroit Lions: Marqise Lee, WR, USC--Lee could very well be gone by this point, as polished route runners with his burst off the line typically go quickly. He is an absolute perfect fit to play opposite Calvin Johnson in Detroit’s pass-happy offense. I know it’s early, but I will be very surprised if the Lions do not take a wideout and a defensive tackle before the end of the third round.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State--Roby’s stock appears to be falling, the result of lackluster effort and downright awful play in recent games. Yet the Buckeye has proven in the past that he is instinctive and naturally sticky in coverage, and he likes to play aggressively. That Roby is a great fit for the Ravens, though the team must also prominently address wide receiver.

23. Dallas Cowboys: DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State--Dallas desperately needs to upgrade the defensive tackle spot, and Jones is an under-the-radar talent with excellent strength and great field awareness. He’s a great fit as the 3-technique in the new-look Cowboys 4-3 defense. 

24. Green Bay Packers: Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State--With James Jones hitting free agency and the WR depth chart thin for a team that uses three WR sets a lot, it makes sense for Green Bay to address the position. Robinson fits the Packers mentality and scheme, and he tends to play better in key situations. 

25. Cincinnati Bengals: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State--This pick is made under the premise that Andy Dalton once again lays a giant egg in the playoffs and the Bengals realize he cannot be the QB they need to get over the proverbial hump. Carr has arm strength that Dalton can only dream about, and his mental toughness is a plus too. 

26. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers--The online draft community has begun a “Free Brandon Coleman” movement, as Rutgers appears to have no idea what a talent they’ve got in the physical Coleman. If this organization saw fit to use a first round pick on AJ Jenkins, Coleman is a no-brainer to help fill their chasm at wideout. 

27. Cleveland Browns (from IND): Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin--The Browns use the pick they acquired for Trent Richardson on his replacement. Gordon is a smooth runner with gazelle-like open field ability akin to Cleveland native Robert Smith. He’s a better fit for the offense than Richardson.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Louchiez Purifoy, CB, Florida--The Chiefs defense would be even better with the talented Purifoy, an aggressive player with unflappable confidence. A quarterback like Tajh Boyd or Derek Carr, if they’re available, makes some sense. This is the range of picks where trades often happen. 

29. New Orleans Saints: Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU--With Rob Ryan’s nonstop attacking style of defense, having as many edge rushers as possible is a paramount virtue. Van Noy is a crafty rusher with good closing burst and a nose for the ball. 

30. New England Patriots: Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor--The player to whom I would most closely compare Richardson is current Patriot Logan Mankins. New England desperately needs competent guard play on the other side, and Richardson can fit the bill. As is their custom, expect the Patriots to move out of this spot. 

31. Seattle Seahawks: Gabe Jackson, G, Mississippi State--Jackson and Richardson are going to engender a lot of debate as to which is the better NFL prospect. My personal take is that you cannot go wrong with either talent. Seattle gets a needed boost of depth and pass protection with the big Bulldog. 

32. Denver Broncos: Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan--Another player not meeting the preseason hype, Lewan’s play-thru-the-whistle mentality and brute strength are still apt to tantalize NFL coaches. Keeping Peyton Manning safe and sound for as long as possible needs to be Denver’s top offseason strategy.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

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The Initial Top 103 For The 2014 NFL Draft

Oct 25, 2014 4:15 PM

By Jeff Risdon

I sat down to concoct an initial mock draft, but between arguing with myself over which teams would pick in which slots and trying to project need, I decided to first create my big board. This is based on hours of evaluation of games from both 2012 and 2013.

You might notice a few popular names missing, among them Aaron Lynch, Timmy Jernigan, Gabe Jackson and Jeff Matthews. That’s because I’m only including players who I have seen play at least twice overall and at least once this year. Those gaps will fill in as the season progresses. This is still a very fluid situation, as there is a lot of football to be played.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina--No, he’s not having as dynamic a season as what many expected. Yes, he’s still the best defensive prospect in memory with the complete physical package and a high level of technical proficiency too. He’s still No. 1, just not with a bullet anymore.

2. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville--Here’s why he’s the best QB and why I think he’ll be a star in the NFL: he’s a polished pocket passer who happens to be able to run well, a la Andrew Luck. I like Bridgewater better than Luck at the same point in their careers.

3. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon--This is the most speculative of the top 10 because Mariota still has two years of eligibility and is far from a finished product. He’s a more natural passer than RG3 at the same stage and just as electric with the ball in his hands as a runner. High risk but potentially a very high reward.

4. Anthony Barr, DE/OLB, UCLA--One of the traits scouts look for in pass rushers is the ablity to transform speed into power. Barr can do that very, very well. Could be the next Von Miller minus the off-field issues that mar the Broncos All-Pro.

5. Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State--Roby is a legit shutdown man coverage corner at a program that produces those as well as any in the country. Plays bigger than his listed size and bigger when the games really matter.

6. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo--Impact player with great violence to his hands, a very desirable and uncommon trait for a natural 3-4 OLB. Don’t let the small school detract from his obvious talent; if he played at Ohio State--whom he dominated--he’d be a Top-8 talent on every draft board.

7. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama--Mosley is the kind of do-it-all linebacker that is becoming rarer in this age of defensive specialization. Fits best as a strongside 4-3 OLB on a team with an attacking style, but can play either inside or out in a 3-4.

8. Jake Matthews, T, Texas A&M--Not quite the elite tackle prospect that we’ve seen in recent times, but his rock-solid technique and core strength are good enough to start and succeed right away in the NFL. Being from the most storied family in NFL history helps.

9. De’Anthony Thomas, OW, Oregon--OW means Offensive Weapon, and that’s exactly the right moniker for Thomas. He’s lightning quick but also fast, two traits which are not always found together, and he has exceptional field vision. He won’t be drafted this high, but he’s no less than Tavon Austin’s equal in terms of ability and quickness.

10. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA--The fastest-rising player I’ve seen this year, the redshirt sophomore should probably stick around another year and go No. 1 overall in 2015. I love how he improves every week.

11. Marqise Lee, WR, USC

12. Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State

13. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M. Rising quickly.

14. Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech. Spotlight: He is a physical dead ringer for a young Tony Gonzalez. Not quite as fast, but fast enough. If he keeps his head on straight he will live in Pro Bowls.

15. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

16. Colt Lyerla, TE/H-back. Oregon. Spotlight: He can line up all over the formation and is equally effective as a blocker and a seam-stretching receiver. Plays like Aaron Hernandez did in New England before he became a serial killer.

17. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

18. Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor

19. Brandon Coleman, WR, Rutgers

20. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor

21. Christian Jones, LB, Florida State

22. Dominique Easley, DE, Florida. Spotlight: He tore his ACL this week, which significantly lowers his status; I would have had him no lower than 7th.

23. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin. Spotlight: Just so I’ve got it in writing, I’ve been comparing Gordon to Robert Smith for three weeks now. Remember that when Mike Mayock and Todd McDraftnik use that comparison next spring.

24. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

25. Cyrus Kouandjio, T, Alabama. Falling quickly.

26. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas

27. Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame. Falling.

28. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU

29. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. Spotlight: For teams that favor physical press man covers, Dennard is the real deal. Far more instinctive in coverage than 2013 1st rounder Xavier Rhodes, though he has the same issue with holding too much.

30. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama

31. Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State. Rising.

32. Louichez Purifoy, CB, Florida

33. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. Spotlight: High risk/reward, as Ebron has all the physical attributes you can ask for, but doesn’t always put it all together functionally. A faster young Brandon Pettigrew, for Lions' fans.

34. Adrian Hubbard, LB, Alabama

35. Dion Bailey, S, USC

36. Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn. Rising.

37. Stephen Morris, QB, Miami FL

38. Cedric Ogbuehi, T, Texas A&M. Rising quickly.

39. Cameron Erving, T, Florida State

40. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington. Spotlight: He has failed to meet the preseason hype, as his ability to get separation is questionable and so is his blocking effort. Lots of room for movement in either direction here.

41. Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma

42. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida

43. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss

44. Seantrel Henderson, T, Miami FL. Falling.

45. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford

46. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon. Falling.

47. Antonio Richardson, T, Tennessee. Spotlight: At times he has looked like a surefire top 20 pick, but other times--notably vs. Florida--he was stiff and overmatched.

48. Anthony Steen, G, Alabama

49. Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina

50. Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State

51. Zach Metternberger, QB, LSU. Rising quickly.

52. CJ Barnett, S, Ohio State

53. La’El Collins, T, LSU. Falling.

54. Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech

55. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

56. Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas

57. Craig Loston, S, LSU. Spotlight: He’s not in the caliber of safeties expected from LSU, but Loston is a quick and instinctive player. He needs to clean up his pursuit angles, which are often ponderous.

58. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State

59. Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt

60. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State. Rising.

61. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

62. Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington

63. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame. Falling rapidly.

64. Andrew Jackson, LB, Western Kentucky

65. Taylor Lewan, T, Michigan. Spotlight: He continues to play his way down with every lethargic pass protection effort and uncoordinated lunge of a run block.

66. CJ Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa

67. Ahmad Dixon, S, Baylor. Rising.

68. Ka’Deem Carey, RB, Arizona

69. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee. Falling.

70. Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma

71. Kasen Williams, WR, Washington. Spotlight: Very physical wideout has some off-field flags, but his play resembles Anquan Boldin.

72. Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech

73. Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia. Rising.

74. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

75. James Wilder Jr., RB, Florida State

76. Gabe Ikard, C, Oklahoma

77. Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh. Rising.

78. Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State

79. Tim Flanders, RB, Sam Houston State. Spotlight: The rest of the nation caught on when he lit up Texas A&M for over 160 yards, including two long TDs. Very reminiscent of a slightly slower Gio Bernard, the 1st RB taken in 2013.

80. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska. Rising quickly.

81. Tre Boston, S, North Carolina

82. David Yankey, G, Stanford

83. Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State. Falling.

84. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State

85. Trey Millard, RB, Oklahoma. Spotlight: The Sooners use him as a fullback, but he’s a terrible blocker. His role in the NFL is as a power back with nifty feet and great hands.

86. Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State

87. Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford. Rising thanks to health.

88. Jack Mewhort, T, Ohio State

89. A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee

90. Bryan Stork, C, Florida State

91. Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson

92. Zack Martin, T/G, Notre Dame

93. Hronnis Grassu, C, Oregon. Falling.

94. David Fales, QB, San Jose State

95. Danny Shelton, DT, Washington. Spotlight: Underrated talent not afraid to do the dirty work, but also shows a nose for the ball. Has potential as a 3-4 NT.

96. DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State

97. Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

98. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

99. Damian Swann, CB, Georgia. Rising.

100. Sean Parker, S, Washington

101. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin

102. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

103. James Hurst, T, North Carolina. Spotlight: Playing his way down the draft board with slow feet and poor anticipation, one of the bigger disappointments thus far.

Jeff Risdon/RealGM

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