Since everybody else is doing one, heeeeeeere's TIGER'S!

[tiger7_88]

The one Mock Draft that everyone has been waiting for, of course.  ;)

1 (24) - OG Will Hernandez, UTEP

Road grader.  Natural position in college was at LG, so he's plug-and-play.  As much as a fan as I was (and am) of the White Buffalo and as well as he played during his time here, Hernandez has all the tools to be BETTER.  HUGE (6-2/348) and athletic.

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/will-hernandez?id=32462018-0002-5598-2873-8029092a1ebf

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Four-year starter at left guard and the most highly-decorated offensive linemen in UTEP history. Hernandez possesses a rare combination of power, balance, and athletic ability. He is a plus run blocker with the anchor and footwork to handle himself in pass protection as well. Though he lacks height and length teams would like, it shouldn't hurt his stock much. Hernandez did nothing but help his cause at the Combine and he has a great shot of going in the first round and becoming a Pro-Bowl caliber guard.

2 (55) - WR D.J. Chark, LSU

Speed to burn, something desperately needed in our WR corps.  Chark might have iffy hands, but the kind of speed he displays opens up the style of offense that our head coach likes to run (just ask Ted Ginn).

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/d.j.-chark?id=32462018-0002-5599-1512-af2ae612016b

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Tall and fast, Chark is a linear route-runner who may need a limited route tree, but who has the potential to back safeties off the line of scrimmage. Chark will be coveted by play-action passing attacks looking to win with chunk plays down the field, but he'll need to improve his ball skills to take advantage of all that speed. Chark could struggle early on against press coverage, but he has the ability to become a solid WR2.

3 (85) - CB Anthony Averett, Alabama 

This is a guy with solid technique, performs all the required skills of a cornerback proficiently, but doesn't "stand out" and isn't flashy.  With top speed and athleticism, he just needs to continue to learn to use both of those assets more.  Can definitely be an immediate stand-out on special teams.

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/anthony-averett?id=32462018-0002-5599-0863-265c14125a65

 

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Strengths

• Plays with excellent reactive athleticism
• Twitchy and sticky in man coverage with loose hips and easy feet
• Smooth opening and sprinting

Weaknesses

• Doesn't have great length
• Could use more weight on his frame and improved play strength
• Ball production is much too light for his athletic ability and man cover quickness

 

3 (88) - WR Daesean Hamilton, Penn State

Yes, I doubled up on wide receiver.  Lets have some goddam competition for WR positions this year and have enough quality talent in camp to make it DIFFICULT to make the team at WR. NO wide receiver on the Panthers squad should feel any job security going into the 2018 season.  Let's add Chark and Hamilton and let'em all battle it out.  If the competition comes out too close to call, the veterans like Smith ($5 million) and Shephard ($2.85 million) can be cut to create cap space for roster adjustments after other teams cut players from their roster (safeties anyone?).  

Hamilton has great size.  Precise route runner.  Probably best suited to play in the slot, but his skill at route running doesn't restrict him to the slot position.  GREAT character guy and was a coach-on-the-field at Penn State.

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/daesean-hamilton?id=32462018-0002-5600-196a-1006c37c4e42

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Four-year starter and one of the team leaders who helped to turn Penn State's fortunes around. Big slot who lacks shiftiness from the slot, but is able to uncover with disciplined, consistent routes. Much like his athletic ability, his production was solid, but nothing special. While his size is a bonus for teams who like big-bodies in the slot, how he runs and tests could go a long way into if and when he gets drafted. He could land on the back end of the roster, but it needs to be the right team.

5 (161) - LB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt

Carolina needs to add some depth at the LB position.  Burks is a guy who played safety early in his college career then gained weight and played inside and outside at the LB position his last years.  Yet another guy with extremely high athleticism (oddly enough, I like to draft those types of players).  Carolina coaches can draft this kid then decide where they want to play him, inside or outside.  Another kid with the athleticism and smarts to be a special-teams standout immediately.

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/oren-burks?id=32462018-0002-5601-419e-39862d10c2d8

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In any other decade, Burks' lack of familiarity for any position for more than a year would force him into the "tweener" stack and he would be on his way. In today's game filled with hybrid players and sub-packages, Burks' background could make him more valuable. He needs to play with more consistency in diagnosing and tackling, but his athleticism, cover talent, and ability on special teams make him a developmental prospect with decent upside.

6 (197) - S Tray Matthews, Auburn

Yeah, so sue me for picking an Auburn guy here, but in the 6th round Matthews has great value.  Need I mention athleticism again?  Wasn't invited to the Combine, but his Pro Day workout put his speed in the 4.5 range, 22 reps on the bench, vertical 35 1/2, broad jump over 10 feet, and has excellent size (6-0/213).  His freshman year he was at UGA and was dismissed from the team for double-dipping his football scholly stipend checks (i.e. depositing them electronically and then going out and physically cashing them).  He transferred to Auburn, sat out a year, and didn't ever show another sign of trouble and developed into the excellent 2017 Auburn defense's team leader.  Need I mention special teams again?

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tray-matthews?id=32462018-0002-5600-936c-c87a78072585

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Matthews has good size and has proven to be fairly effective in his duties in run support. Matthews was kicked out of Georgia during his freshman season year double dipping into scholarship stipends, but scouts say he has matured and grown at Auburn. He looks a little tight in his man coverage responsibilities despite his impressive athletic testing. Matthews' size, leadership and toughness give him a chance to compete for a combo safety role in the league.

7 (234) - RB Ito Smith, Southern Miss

Ron Rivera loves him some Fozzy Whitaker.  With Ito Smith, we have a younger, faster, and cheaper Fozzy Whitaker.  At 5-9/200, he's never going to be an every-down back, but running between the tackles was never a problem for him in college and Smith is an *outstanding* receiver out of the backfield. Oh, and he also returned kick-off's in college (so bye again Fozzy).  He definitely fits a certain mold that seems to fit into the Norv Turner profile.

There is no NFL.com profile on Smith, but this Rotoworld profile has the following summary:

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/137277/ito-smith

 

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Southern Miss RB Ito Smith ran the 40-yard dash in the range of 4.45 seconds and 4.54 seconds during Thursday's pro day.

Per Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline, Smith surprised scouts on-hand with those sprints -- the expectation was that he would run slower. The 5-foot-9, 201-pounder added to his testing resume a 37.5-inch vertical jump and 22 reps on the bench press. These results are impressive, but wait, there's more. Pauline notes that Smith "looked good in drills, especially catching the ball, and ran terrific routes." He met with the Patriots and Dolphins this week and earlier went through a private workout with the Tennessee Titans. According to Pauline, the Panthers have shown heavy interest in Smith. We liked the Southern Miss product as a sneaky upside option for Day 3 and Thursday's results very much reinforce that view. Smith profiles as a third-down back in the pro ranks

 

 

7 (242) - QB J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

So, yeah, Barrett is no Cam Newton, but he absolutely can fit into a "Newton" mold if you take a little license to broaden the definition (Barrett is 6-1/220).  Unquestioned team leader for the excellent Ohio State squad for 3 years.  Has a lively NFL arm, good speed, and good legs.  Could benefit from the coaching of a guy like Norv Turner.  Don't waste money on signing another washed-up NFL backup or re-signing Derek Anderson (if Cam Newton goes down in 2018 there ain't no existing back-up in the league that can save us anyway), just draft this guy and start working with him.

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/j.t.-barrett?id=32462018-0002-5598-738a-431b11ba5ae0

NFL.com post-combine analysis:

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Dual-threat quarterback who has benefitted from playing with NFL talent around him all four years. Barrett is a natural leader with the ability to hurt defenses with his feet or with his arm on any given play, but he needs to improve his ball placement and approach in attacking coverage. Barrett's character, competitiveness, and ability in short-yardage situations give him a shot to compete for a roster spot as a package-based quarterback while he continues to try and improve as a passer.

 

[ColumbusCounty]

Switch out that Hamilton pick with another Safety like Jordan Whitehead ...and Ito Smith with Martez Carter (small school but will be a MONSTER imo) and this would actually be a helluva draft. 

[WOW!!]

I will never get behind picking a guard in the 1st round.. Call it a old opinion but I agree with positional value .. And guards don't touch the ball or effect the game as much as other positions.  Plus it isn't a hard position to transition to out of college.. You usually get guards later and they can be solid .. Or draft a OT who doesn't pan out as Tackles and become good guards.  Jmo

[OneBadCat]

While I appreciate the idea of drafting two WR to guarantee talent at the position I think one of those picks could have filled a need. The way things look right now, safety has to be one of the first 3 selections.

[tiger7_88]

31 minutes ago, ColumbusCounty said:

Switch out that Hamilton pick with another Safety like Jordan Whitehead

I actually had Whitehead at one of those 3rd round picks for a while, but I felt that was over-drafting him for positional purposes and a bit of a reach.

But you're right in that bigger numbers at that position in camp, like the logic I explained about the WR position, would be a benefit to creating competition and letting the cream rise to the top.

Edit: But I looooooooooooooooove Ito Smith, so I'm keeping him instead of your guy. ;)

[bewonee]

Hamilton is more than likely 2nd-3rd, and we do not need speed in our WR corps. If anything we need less.

[ColumbusCounty]

7 minutes ago, WOW!! said:

I will never get behind picking a guard in the 1st round.. Call it a old opinion but I agree with positional value .. And guards don't touch the ball or effect the game as much as other positions.  Plus it isn't a hard position to transition to out of college.. You usually get guards later and they can be solid .. Or draft a OT who doesn't pan out as Tackles and become good guards.  Jmo

I can see where your coming from but then again they may not touch the ball but they protect and advance the running/passing games. Not a sexy pick by any means but just look at how many runs Norwell sprung open last season. Also, QB's hate pressure up the middle and if Cam can't step up in the pocket there goes that Norv vertical attack. IMO, only way I wouldn't take a G high (this year) would be if we actually played Moton at G. With Kalil on the left skating backwards, Kalil in the middle questionable with the neck, and Amini waiting in the wings... the 3/5 of our line could fall apart pretty quickly. Norwell helped out Kalil alot more than people think and that dude we got from Vikings is not the answer. 

[ColumbusCounty]

9 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

I actually had Whitehead at one of those 3rd round picks for a while, but I felt that was over-drafting him for positional purposes and a bit of a reach.

But you're right in that bigger numbers at that position in camp, like the logic I explained about the WR position, would be a benefit to creating competition and letting the cream rise to the top.

Edit: But I looooooooooooooooove Ito Smith, so I'm keeping him instead of your guy. ;)

lol I like Ito, but Ito ain't Martez though. I had that same feeling about David Johnson whichever year he was drafted... but you never know. I will say they are VERY similar IMO and I wouldn't be upset with Ito Smith if he was the pick.  

[ColumbusCounty]

23 minutes ago, WOW!! said:

I will never get behind picking a guard in the 1st round.. Call it a old opinion but I agree with positional value .. And guards don't touch the ball or effect the game as much as other positions.  Plus it isn't a hard position to transition to out of college.. You usually get guards later and they can be solid .. Or draft a OT who doesn't pan out as Tackles and become good guards.  Jmo

You know... I wouldn't be mad at Orlando Brown now that I think about it. Combine numbers were horrrrible but he could possibly transition to G if he didn't pan out at T. 

[WOW!!]

9 minutes ago, ColumbusCounty said:

I can see where your coming from but then again they may not touch the ball but they protect and advance the running/passing games. Not a sexy pick by any means but just look at how many runs Norwell sprung open last season. Also, QB's hate pressure up the middle and if Cam can't step up in the pocket there goes that Norv vertical attack. IMO, only way I wouldn't take a G high (this year) would be if we actually played Moton at G. With Kalil on the left skating backwards, Kalil in the middle questionable with the neck, and Amini waiting in the wings... the 3/5 of our line could fall apart pretty quickly. Norwell helped out Kalil alot more than people think and that dude we got from Vikings is not the answer. 

Norwell was undrafted.. We've for the most part have always had a solid run game and always had later round guards. . Plus without Cam running  our running game wasn't that good with 2 all pro guards... Jmo you can find guards later in the draft who can have the same impact as long as the oline has gelled together.. Save the 1st few rounds for impact position..

[WOW!!]

8 minutes ago, ColumbusCounty said:

You know... I wouldn't be mad at Orlando Brown now that I think about it. Combine numbers were horrrrible but he could possibly transition to G if he didn't pan out at T. 

That's my point.. A OT that falls in the draft can be turned into a good guard... 

[tiger7_88]

Sometimes you have special players at positions that, if they fall to you, you take them... even at offensive guard.

Four years ago the Cowboys already had a Pro Bowl-level offensive line, but Zack Martin fell to them at pick 16 of the 1st round and they picked him anyway.  Four years, 4 Pro Bowls, and 4 All-Pros later, they haven't regretted it.

And, yes, sometimes it turns out you picked a Chance Warmack or a Laken Tomlinson.  But, out of the 10 guards drafted in the 1st round over the previous 10 NFL drafts, seven of the 10 have turned out to be immediate or consistent starters, and 4 of those 7 (Mike Iupati, David DeCastro, Kyle Long, Zack Martin) have been multi-Pro Bowl'ers/All Pros.

[Carolina Cajun]

Love the Barrett pick.  I said the other day, he can absolutely be our backup and fill the joe webb Swiss army knife role.  His size prevents him from being cam, but his legs allow us to keep some zone read as a threat.

[WOW!!]

36 minutes ago, tiger7_88 said:

Sometimes you have special players at positions that, if they fall to you, you take them... even at offensive guard.

Four years ago the Cowboys already had a Pro Bowl-level offensive line, but Zack Martin fell to them at pick 16 of the 1st round and they picked him anyway.  Four years, 4 Pro Bowls, and 4 All-Pros later, they haven't regretted it.

And, yes, sometimes it turns out you picked a Chance Warmack or a Laken Tomlinson.  But, out of the 10 guards drafted in the 1st round over the previous 10 NFL drafts, seven of the 10 have turned out to be immediate or consistent starters, and 4 of those 7 (Mike Iupati, David DeCastro, Kyle Long, Zack Martin) have been multi-Pro Bowl'ers/All Pros.

And they still only made the playoffs 1 season with those guards.. And it didn't looks so great without the super rb behind them... Again all pro guards are nice to have when the luxury is there but not essential.. Plus history has shown again and again you can get and develop All pro guards from later picks.. Last you have a lot of potential competition for Norwell spot already on the roster.. I'm sorry I just don't put a high priority on guards especially with the fact this team seem to be able to develop guards.. When our RBs had 2 1,000 yard seasons we had Piggy, and Warton and neither 1 were pro bowlers...