Welcome to the 4th week of the 7 week NFL Mock Draft Special! Remember, tweet any questions and/or comments to me on Twitter @DowntownTMSNX
99. Cleveland Browns — OG from Arkansas — Sebastian Tretola — With Alex Mack leaving for Atlanta, the Browns need interior offensive line help. They have Cameron Erving but that’s not enough. Tretola has a lot of upside and is a grinder on the field. He makes mistakes so he needs to grow overall as a football player. However, he’s good in open space and will battle with anyone in the trenches.
100. Philadelphia Eagles (from Tennessee) — OLB from Wisconsin — Joe Schobert — With the team cutting DeMeco Ryans and trading away Kiko Alonso, the Eagles are going to need some linebacker depth. Schobert has tremendous upside and is a great player on tape. He could move inside but I think he’ll stay outside for the time being.
101. Dallas Cowboys — RB from Arkansas — Alex Collins — Jerry Jones was a Razorback which is the only reason to why Darren McFadden has a job. This will be no different. Collins didn’t run well at the combine and has run the ball a lot over the last couple of years. However, Collins could be a fit for the Cowboys as they need some help in the backfield.
102. San Diego Chargers — DT from Notre Dame — Sheldon Day — I think Day is a sleeper despite his big school status. Overall, he looks good on film and tested well. I would draft him in the 2nd round if I was a team effective in free agency and needed defensive line depth. The Chargers take him here because of losing Kendall Reyes to the Redskins. They need depth on their defensive line and Day is a solid addition to that defensive line.
103. Jacksonville Jaguars — OT from North Dakota State — Joe Haeg — The Jaguars will draft heavy, defensively. But they do need some offensive line depth. Haeg is a perfect fit for their system and has the potential of becoming a really good player at the next level. This is a perfect fit for him as he can spend the next couple of seasons, learning the game better and getting better as a pass blocker. I think he can fit into a starting guard position at the next level.
104. Baltimore Ravens — OLB from Utah State — Kyler Fackrell — Terrell Suggs isn’t getting any younger and Courtney Upshaw doesn’t seem like a player who’s going to return. Overall, the Ravens could use some depth at the OLB position. Fackrell is a good fit for a hybrid edge rusher role and could develop nicely in a few seasons.
105. San Francisco 49ers — CB from Alabama — Cyrus Jones — Last season, the 49ers were one of the worst ranked pass defenses in the NFL. They only had 9 interceptions and I struggle to think of one player in their secondary. Eric Reid comes to mind but that’s still not enough. They need depth and could look into a cornerback much sooner than the 4th round. However, with Jones on the board, they can’t pass him up.
106. Chicago Bears — OT from Western Michigan — Willie Beavers — I’m not as high on this kid as everyone else but he’s got some impressive tape. He played well against Shilique Calhoun during the Senior bowl and looks like he could turn into a quality starter at the next level. He does get beat with faster talent off the line and tends to lose his balance when extending for the block. Chicago could be an ideal destination for him as they still need some offensive line depth, primarily at left tackle.
107. Miami Dolphins — WR from Michigan State — Aaron Burbridge — Last year, the Dolphins took a former Michigan State receiver in Tony Lippett. They’ve since converted him to a defensive back and it could be a mistake as they’re thin at the receiver position, especially since Rishard Matthews signed with the Titans. Overall, Burbridge is a mid-round level pick who could become a consistent number two option for the Dolphins. Landry, Parker and now Burbridge seems to be an ideal trio for a young and quick group of receivers.
108. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — SS from West Virginia — Karl Joseph — Karl Joseph is potentially the most physical defensive back in the NFL draft and is only this far down the draft boards because of a knee injury. If everything checks out okay, he’ll move up the boards. Outside of the knee injury, Joseph doesn’t have great size to play the safety position.
109. New York Giants — ILB from Arizona — Scooby Wright III — The tape from Wright matches what you would see from a 3-4 jack linebacker (the weak inside linebacker). He could also match more of an outside linebacker than anything else because of the 3-3-5 defense that Arizona runs. Wright isn’t an athlete but he’s a football player. He plays hard and is relentless in the open-field. He can produce big plays whenever healthy and could become a turnover machine for the Giants. They’re thin at linebacker and Wright could provide immediate help.
110. Los Angeles Rams — CB from Minnesota — Eric Murray – Eric Murray isn’t a ball hawk by any means with only two career interceptions but he can force fumbles and break up passes. He’s a physical player who can help ease the pain for the Rams secondary now that Janoris Jenkins is gone.
111. Detroit Lions — ILB from Temple — Tyler Matakevich — Something you can’t teach is hard work and leadership. Tyler Matakevich a.k.a Mat, has all that and more. He’s the hardest worker on the football field and is extremely productive. He plays with extreme fire and passion and it shows on every play. He’s had over 400 tackles in his four seasons at temple and led the nation for linebackers with five interceptions. He could become the starting middle linebacker that the Lions desperately need.
112. New Orleans Saints —RB from Indiana — Jordan Howard — The Saints cannot trust CJ Spiller as their back-up running back. He’s injury prone and will be lucky to play in all 16 games. The Saints could bring in Jordan Howard who is an explosive, one-cut running back. He’d compliment Mark Ingram nicely.
113. Tennessee Titans (from Philadelphia) — DE from Illinois — Jihad Ward — Jihad Ward isn’t the fastest player on the football field by any means and it’s disappointing because Ward has a really athletic build. He also struggles with block recognition and will tend to get caught at the line of scrimmage. But he does provide some defensive line depth something the Titans are in desperate need of.
114. Oakland Raiders — DT from Nebraska — Maliek Collins — Maliek Collins could be higher on my board but he’s not an every down player and will only be a specific-scheme player. He also isn’t as versatile as you’d like to see out of an interior defensive lineman and struggles with that initial burst off the line. He is a powerful player and did test well at the combine so the mid-rounds do look promising for him.
115. Atlanta Falcons — FS from Maryland — Sean Davis — An impressive athlete who is an incredible tackler. Davis had over 300 tackles in just 50 career games to go with five forced fumbles in 2015. He could draw Kam Chancellor comparisons but I don’t think he’ll provide an immediate spark to a defense like Chancellor can. Davis is a former cornerback and can play anywhere on the field. He should be a name you get used to hearing for the Falcons.
116. Indianapolis Colts — OG from Missouri — Connor McGovern — Connor McGobern is a very versatile offensive lineman who can play both tackle spots and both interior guard spots. McGovern could be considered a steal at this point in the draft and will help the Colts develop a better run game with Ezekiel Elliot as their first round pick.
117. Buffalo Bills — DT from Texas — Hassan Ridgeway — Despite adding depth at the defensive end position the Bills do need some help at defensive tackle. Ridgeway is a big bodied tackle who will become a scheme fit for Rex Ryan. He could fit nicely as a run stopper for the Bills defense.
118. New York Jets — SS from Southern Utah — Miles Killebrew — Hybrid safety who has seen action at the linebacker position over his time at Southern Utah. He’s been a four-year starter and productive one at that. Killebrew has tallied over 240 tackles over the last two seasons and is being compared to Shaq Thompson. He’ll be an interesting fit for the Jets, especially with Todd Bowles as his coach.
119. Detroit Lions (Mock Trade with Houston) — OT from Ole Miss — Fahn Cooper — There might not be a more raw player in the draft than Cooper. He’s played at three different programs over the last four years and has been all over the offensive line. He’s predicted to become a guard but he’s spent the draft process doing right tackle drills. I think that’s where you will find him on the field but you won’t see him out there for at least another year. He’s got a lot to work on with his game from reacting late to blitzes and stunts to his poor hand placement.
120. Washington Redskins — RB from Alabama — Kenyan Drake — Alfred Morris has signed with the Cowboys which leaves Washington with Matt Jones. He looks like he can carry the load for most of the games but they’re going to need a quality backup. Kenyan Drake is a special player who hasn’t gotten much of a chance to show what he can really do at Alabama. He’s been buried behind great players but would get a great chance in Washington.
121. Minnesota Vikings — WR from Georgia — Malcolm Mitchell — There’s absolutely no way that Malcolm Mitchell is sitting here in the fourth round. Teams will value him in the mid second round to early third round and he should be long gone. He’s moving up my board very quickly and that’s because of his combination of size and athletic ability. He tested great at the combine but will need to improve at his route-running. I think he’s going to become very good at the next level but for safety sake I’ll have him going 121 overall to the Vikings.
122. Cincinnati Bengals — OLB from LSU — Deion Jones — After the suspension of Vontaze Burfict, the Bengals will need some depth to their linebacker position. Jones has been a quality player for LSU. He’s a bit undersized weighing in under 230 pounds but he’s a hard worker and fits nicely in coverage packages.
123. Pittsburgh Steelers — RB from UCLA — Paul Perkins — DeAngelo Williams isn’t getting any younger and Le’Veon Bell isn’t a sure thing after his injury. Overall, the Steelers need more depth at the running back position and Paul Perkins will become a great asset for them. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and is an explosive runner when the ball is in his hands.
124. Seattle Seahawks — CB from LSU — Rashard Robinson — Only 18 career games are under the college resume of Robinson. However, he tested well at the combine and played extremely well as a true freshman. Robinson in Seattle would lead to him being able to sit behind guys like Jeremy Lane and Richard Sherman. He’s tenacious, lengthy and would be a perfect fit for what Pete Carroll looks for in a defensive back.
125. Green Bay Packers — CB from Samford — James Bradberry — The Packers don’t take every big name player in the draft and usually go with the developmental guy. Bradberry normally played on one side of the field and was strong in zone coverage. He struggled at the Senior Bowl but he did test well at the combine. He’s got good size at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds and should find time on the field after Casey Heyward left in free agency.
126. Kansas City Chiefs — OG from Baylor — Spencer Drango — Drango is a terrific player who was a left tackle for the Baylor Bears over the last four years. He’s slated to move inside at the next level but that shouldn’t stop his production. He had 48 knock-downs in 12 games for the Bears this year and won Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year for the second straight season. His combine numbers fit well for being a starting left guard at the next level and Drango is starting to get Zack Martin comparisons.
127. New England Patriots — DE from Utah — Jason Fanaika — After trading away Chandler Jones, the Patriots do have an additional second round pick for this years draft so it will be interesting what they draft with that pick (two weeks ago I had the Cardinals take DE from Penn State — Carl Nassib). Hours after moving Jones, the Patriots signed a deal with defensive end, Chris Long. He will be a starter on this defense but the Patriots will search for depth. Fanaika is one of those Belichick guys, at least when you watch him on field. He’s not the biggest guy or tallest guy but he’s got work ethic. He’s got an 830 pound squat and 495 pound bench press. He also looks comfortable as a hybrid edge rusher as he’s been able to tally up over 20 tackles for loss and nine sacks the past two seasons. He looks to be prepared for the next level and the Patriots could be the team for him.
128. Arizona Cardinals — TE from East Carolina — Bryce Williams — Bryce Williams is more of a pass catcher than a blocker. He can lineup anywhere on the field and is being compared to Jordan Cameron. Williams won’t be an instant playmaker but he should become a red-zone option for the Cardinals over the next few seasons.
129. Carolina Panthers — FS from Clemson — T.J. Green — T.J. Green is a really fast kid but with only one year of tape. He’s not a sure tackler and doesn’t always make a play on the ball. He missed 17 tackles this past season and dropped a lot of interceptions which could be attributed to him thinking end zone before hauling in the INT. His stock is on the rise after a 4.34 time in the 40 yard dash so he looks to be a sure thing on special teams for the return game. But for the safety position, he’s going to need a few seasons to figure it out.
130. Baltimore Ravens (from Denver) — QB from Stanford — Kevin Hogan — The QB debacle that happened in Baltimore, can’t happen again. Hogan reminds me of a Connor Shaw from South Carolina but plays smarter. Hogan doesn’t take a lot of risks when throwing the ball but takes a beating when he runs with the ball. He fits the eye test with good measurements and ran a pro style offense for David Shaw. He won’t be expected to start right away but if things don’t pan out with Joe Flacco in the future (for whatever reason) they can begin to groom Hogan into the starter they want.
Compensatory Selections
131. Green Bay Packers — WR from Oregon — Bralon Addison — Addison didn’t test well at the combine and is really small but shifty on tape. The Packers like the core of receivers they have but I wouldn’t be surprised if they added one in the draft. Addison is the best receiver on the board and could become an asset for the team on special teams.
132. Baltimore Ravens — CB from Southeastern Louisana — Harlan Miller — The Ravens are going to need as much secondary help as they can find. I have them adding a cornerback in the second round but they still need more depth. Miller is a value pick who is still developing. He’s got more mechanic issues than anything. He needs to get better at deciding when to stop the run or the pass but if he can get things right, he plays well.
133. San Francisco 49ers — OLB from Notre Dame — Jaylon Smith — Wait, what? I forgot he was still on the board, as I’ve wiped him off pretty much everything. However, Smith will get drafted. It’s just a matter of where? The 49ers have taken a risk on a guy with a knee injury before and I could see them doing it again. Chip Kelly is known to take risks and Smith could become a great talent, if healthy.
134. Baltimore Ravens — SS from Clemson — Jayron Kearse — Kearse is a hard hitting safety who looks like a tree in the secondary. He’s 6-foot-4 and looks like a defensive end out there. He has good range and ball skills to develop into a good safety. One thing that hurts him, is that not many safeties are as big as him. It’ll be hard to believe that he can develop but after releasing Will Hill, the Ravens need secondary help.
135. Dallas Cowboys — ILB from Stanford — Blake Martinez — Many scouts are unsure of what scheme Martinez will fit. He’s not big enough to fit a 3-4 but isn’t strong enough to fit a 4-3 so it’s tough to decide. He was a team captain for Stanford and led the Pac-12 in tackles last year. He’ll be one of those under the radar kids who makes us remember how good he is. He also reminds me of a former Pac-12 standout in Brian Cushing.
136. Denver Broncos — TE from Western Kentucky — Tyler Higbee — The Broncos aren’t thin at the tight end position but they’re not young at the position either. Higbee is more of a depth and value selection than anything. He’s still evolving his game before he can be considered a “threat”. He’s added over 60 pounds but there’s belief that’s the reason he’s been injury prone over the last few seasons. However, he produced well in a pass-heavy offense at Western Kentucky and that shows promise for what the Broncos need.
137. Green Bay Packers — RB from Notre Dame — C.J. Prosise — I really like the tape I’ve seen from Prosise. He went from playing defense to being the starting running back for the Fighting Irish. He’s got some durability concerns but overall, he runs hard and has learned the position quickly. He ran well at the combine which showed some promise and reminds me of current Packers running back James Starks. The Prosise and Starks combination could work out well if Eddie Lacy starts the season overweight again and hits the bench.
138. Cleveland Browns — OG from Michigan — Graham Glasgow — After losing Alex Mack to the Falcons, the Browns are going to need as much offensive line depth as possible. More so at the interior position than anything. Glasgow has seen time at the guard positions and the center position. He created buzz for himself after an impressive week during the Senior Bowl.
139. Buffalo Bills — RB from Florida — Kelvin Taylor — In case things go poorly for LeSean McCoy and the nightclub incident, the Bills will be prepared for having a backup to Karlos Williams. Taylor is the son of Fred Taylor and runs similar to his father. He might not be as good but Taylor gives a strong effort on every run and makes the lateral cuts you’d like to see out of a running back. This will allow the Bills to do what they did better than anyone in the NFL last year and that’s run the football.
