17. Oakland Raiders - DE Victor Adenyaju - 6’4” 284 lbs - 23 years old
(91 SPD—77 STR—42 AWR—79 AGI—82 ACC—55 TAK)
Oakland can go a number a ways as there are many long term holes on the roster currently. Adenyaju is the best player available with his elite speed, and if 91 holds, he’d be the fastest in the league safely. Did I mention he is 284 lbs? That’s something I want to see. His awareness is terrible and his tackling lacking, but at the very least he should create havoc at times in the backfield, as many lineman will have trouble on passing downs.
18. Seattle Seahawks - DE Jeremey Mincey - 6’4” 280 lbs - 23 years old
(87 SPD—70 STR—50 AWR—78 AGI—84 ACC—65 TAK)
Back to back defensive ends and 3 out of last five picks were from the position so I guess you can officially say there’s a run on them. Mincey is another big body at 6’4” with rare athletic traits. He fits the Seahawks mold can immediately make the pass rush better, complimenting well their two interior studs on the defensive front. The ceiling for him multiple Pro Bowls and the floor is higher than his awareness and tackling would suggest.
19. Kansas City Chiefs - CB Jimmy Williams - 6’2” 216 lbs - 22 years old
(92 SPD—53 AWR—87 AGI—89 ACC—50 CTH—60 TAK)
Williams is very similar to another 1st round cornerback, current starter Charles Tillman. He’s got good speed but will stand to benefit greatly from the early progression boosts for cornerbacks. After a couple of training camps, he can end up among the better corners in the league. Being only 22 certainly helps. This is the kind of player than can go much earlier if the private workout is good.
20. Arizona Cardinals - DT Gabe Watson - 6’3” 338 lbs - 23 years old
(80 SPD—94 STR—50 AWR—67 AGI—70 ACC—61 TAK)
It was difficult to mock anyone here and I didn’t find a player worthy that fit a particular mold. Watson may have incredibly low awareness, but having 80 SPD at 338 lbs is unheard of. He can line up inside and out, and play well in either. He has the strength to shed block once he puts his competition on skates. Arizona could use some help on the front 4 and Watson is that with the potential to be much more.
21. St. Louis Rams - HB DeAngelo Williams - 5’9” 207 lbs - 23 years old
(96 SPD—76 STR—64 AWR—94 AGI—90 ACC—81 CAR—75 BTK)
Marshall Faulk is slower than some defensive ends in the league so I think it’s time to draft his successor, and while former 7th rounder ReShard Lee is a good complimentary back, he is not an RB1. Williams needs a little seasoning but he has elite speed and starting awareness. He can play a little in the slot if need be as well. He can end up with 99 SPD in a short amount of time, and thus far in this league speed backs have had a good measure of success. A cornerback is also a strong possibility here.
22. Detroit Lions - MLB Gerris Wilkinson - 6’3” 231 lbs - 23 years old
(86 SPD—85 STR—48 AWR—92 AGI—88 ACC—75 TAK)
In a defense that utilizes multiple fronts, Wilkinson can step in at MLB2 in 34 packages. While he lacks awareness, he can be used as a very effective blitzer early on as he develops into the eventual replacement for Pro-Bowler Chris Claiborne. Not the cleanest prospect but one that can give immediate value to a playoff contender.
23. Green Bay Packers - DE Brent Hawkins - 6’2” 250 lbs - 23 years old
(87 SPD—77 STR—51 AWR—76 AGI—76 ACC—55 TAK)
Kabeer Gbaja-Kiamila was dealt to the Eagles, leaving a huge hole at left end. Hawkins has the tools to be a an upper echelon pass rusher in the league with time and a little patience, though from day one he will still be able to put up good sack and tackle for loss numbers. If the private workout makes him faster, he can go much earlier.
24. Indianapolis Colts - MLB AJ Hawk 6’1” 240lbs - 22 years old
(82 SPD—82 STR—51 AWR—77 AGI—85 ACC—71 TAK
You never know what a team who nearly gifts Manning away will do, so I had to resort to a homer pick. Hawk is decent, and with a good skew he can be really good, but I personally wouldn’t go there in this spot. Spoon has been productive surprise but Hawk provides more upside and a longer career.
25. Baltimore Ravens - OLB Tim McGarigle - 6’0” 240 lbs - 23 years old
(89 SPD—82 STR—52 AWR—80 AGI—80 ACC—69 TAK)
He’s not ideal with his lack of awareness and tackling ability, but he sure is fast, and that counts for a lot. McGarigle could potentially have 90+ SPD that can help rack up the stats to progress a lot early on. At the very least he can help limit big plays plus add the occasional backfield disruption on blitzes but the ceiling looks much higher than that with a little investment.
26. New England Patriots - CB Tim Jennings 5’9” 185lbs - 23 years old
(94 SPD—72 STR—60 AWR—97 AGI—95 ACC—59 CTH—62 TAK)
This is probably one of Will’s doing. I definitely won’t forget the glass class, so a tiny corner elite everywhere else is one of the tricks of this draft. Jennings I’m betting skews up, and then it’s a matter of how much can teams overlook the tiny frame. If it pans out this way, we will learn a little bit about the importance of height at the position, like with a certain 6’6” converted corner on the opposite end of the spectrum. If his AWR goes up too, it looks like a good pick.
27. Kansa City Chiefs - DE Charles Bennet 6’4” 254 lbs - 23 years old
(86 SPD—81 STR—46 AWR—75 AGI—74 ACC—61 TAK)
The Chiefs dealt for Ty Warren to start at left end for them, and adding Bennett will help a pass rush even further from the gate. He’s got elite speed and good strength but his rawness will have him drop some. I could also see this private workout going pretty poorly and making him a day 3 prospect.
28. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Brad Butler - 6’7” 315 lbs - 23 years old
(64 SPD—89 STR—59 AWR—56 AGI—72 ACC—89 PBK—86 RBK)
The Chiefs could use some talent in the tackle room so Butler it is. He can eventually progress into a solid right tackle but he is better suited early on for the easier left tackle slot until he can get his game up just a smidge. Or, get grit your teeth and bare the inevitable growing paints at right tackle.
29 Green Bay Packers - SS Donte Whitner - 5’11” 208lbs - 21 years old
(88 SPD—70 STR—55 AWR—92 AGI—91 ACC—69 CTH—77 TAK)
Whitner looks to be among the safer picks in the draft, even if he isn’t sexy, mostly due to his height. He’s got pretty solid speed, plus CTH and TAK, and he’s only 21. The Packers are rebuilding/retooling, and by the time Ragone is ready to carry the team, Whitner should be hitting his stride in his development.
30. Denver Broncos - CB Will Blackmon - 6’0” 212 lbs- 22 years old
(86 SPD—65 AWR—85 AGI—85 ACC—60 CTH—66 TAK)
Was it Pac-Man who went early with high awareness last season? I believe so, and I’m counting on Blackmon to skew up just a little if not a lot to justify this pick. Broncos could use a little youth in the cornerback room and Blackmon could be a good prospect to dump some training camps into so his athleticism matches the elite awareness.
31. New England Patriots - OLB Chris Gocong 6’2” 263 lbs - 23 years old
(86 SPD—72 STR—53 AWR—78 AGI—83 ACC—80 TAK)
The Patriots ultimately made the smart move and kept Brady around as they realized quarterbacks like this don’t grow on trees. Not that they were going to even look at some offensive lineman with 40s awareness in the compensation back anyway, but I digress. Gocong is a 34 linebacker with good speed and tackling ability. He provides a long term upgrade for the Pats at the position and can contribute right away if necessary. He’s a decent prospect to invest in if you wish to have him as a defensive end.
32. Kansas City Chiefs- TE Garret Mills - 6’1” 235 lbs - 23 years old
(92 SPD—72 STR—48 AWR—73 AGI—74 ACC—78 CTH
I see you Will. I see the things you’re doing. Lewis is another bittersweet prospect with his 6’1” frame but with tremendous speed. Kind of reminds me of that tiny guy who played TE for the SFL Raiders. If he speeds stay the same or go up, he could be a weapon Leftwich can take advantage even at WR3 or WR4. With 90+ speed at tight end, you might want to try getting creative with it.
