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My first draft with FA considerations.

M

mussop

Hall of Fame
My draft with FA considerations.

Its well known that we are up against the cap and won’t be able to go after any high dollar FA’s. This is how I would approach the upcoming offseason. I believe to an extent this is how Smithiak will approach it also. Look at last year. Did anyone see us letting go of Breisal and Cave man? Mario? All in the same offseason? It has sbeen said we model ourselves after NE and what does NE do every year. Let their over valued FA’s walk and replace them in the draft with young versatile players. Then they use the money saved to get FA’s they covet.

This mock is based on that premise.


1 Kawann Short, DT, Purdue A Smith insurance and Cody replacement.
Why, we already have A Smith and he played well this year? He is over 30 and he is a FA after next year. His eventual replacement needs to be found now.

How this helps the team.

It adds another high quality Dlineman that specializes in penetration to add to the rotation up front. He is versatile enough to play all three positions. He played all over the line at Purdue. He could start in place of Cody right off the bat IMO. At worst you now have solid depth off the bench to relieve Mitchell and a getting older Smith.

2 Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford C Barwin replacement

How this would help the team.

First off it will save us from having to spend too much money on Barwin. Money we can spend elsewhere.

Why? We already have Mercilous, Reed, Brahman and Barwin. Barwin didn’t have a great year but will still likely get a high dollar offer on the open market. Pass rushers are a premium in todays NFL. Especially young ones in their prime. You can never have enough good pass rushes.
How this helps the team. Obviously it gives us another good young pass rusher to add into the mix but it also gives us a smart player that could move easily move inside so he also adds versatility.

3 Robert Lester, S, Alabama R Quin replacement

This will save us from having to spend too much money on Quin. Money we can spend elsewhere. He is the most likely of our FA’s to receive an offer that we won’t want to match.

How this helps the team.

Lester has started the last 4 years at Alabama facing the best the SEC has had to offer and came out looking pretty. He could have been a first round pick had he came out last year. Lucky for us that his numbers were down this year and it’s a deep draft at safety. He has all the right intangibles to replace Quin without any drop off in production. Actually he is probably better at attacking the ball.

3 Shayne Skov, ILB/OLB, Stanford

Why an ILB so early? Thought Chase Thomas could move inside? Well that doesn’t help the depth at ILB so I’m getting another Quality inside guy. The way Cushing plays his career could be over or his season ended at any play. Young solid depth is a must.

How this helps the team. Skov is very good at blitzing on the inside, intelligent, well coached and solid in coverage which will allow us to blitz Cushing more. His frame will allow him to easily put on 10 or 15 more pounds which will make him a complete player very soon. He will contribute right away.

4 Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

Why so late on the OL?

Because what good is it going to do to draft an OL early in this draft? Are you going to start him next year? You really want to start a rookie again? I know the right side of the line didn’t play up to the standard of the guys the year before. Did Breisal and Wisnton play up top that standard in their first year? This OL scheme takes time to learn. The guys we have now will be the starters next year it wont be another rookie you can book that.

How this helps the team.

Watson is young and inexperienced. He is a project which is the only reason a guy with his physical abilities is available this late in the draft. He is a straight up beast with amazing agility for a guy his size. He looks like D Brown body wise. Give this guy a couple of years and he could be a monster. Maybe with good coaching he can replace Newton or move inside and take over after Smiths contract expires.

5 Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia Cody insurance
Why a big guy? Because we could use some sand in our pants on goal line and third and short situations. It’s a fifth round pick that could end up turning into something special. At worst he could be used in special situations.

5 Brandon Kaufman WR Eastern Washington

He’s a two-time FCS All-American. The 6-4, 215-pound Kaufman is coming off a remarkable season in which he caught 93 passes for 1,850 yards and 16 TDs.
Watch this link
and this one link

A young protégé for Andre Johnson with good size

6 Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

I know people are going to say no way he last this long. I say he will be lucky to go here. He really wasn’t that great at CB. He is getting drafted here simply for his return abilities. He’s a specialist with a checkered past. I would put him through an intense interview before I would even draft him here. For the sake of my mock he convinced me that his past is just that and he wants to play football more than anything else in the world.

7 Lucas Reed, TE, New Mexico

Brooks Reed’s little big brother. We could use another TE with good size and athleticism and he has good blood lines.

7 Zach Line, FB, Southern Methodist James Casey replacement/insurance

If Casey gets an offer hes not worth then Oh well. Line is going to have to add some bulk and power to be a true fullback in the NFL but should be a better lead blocker right now than Casey. He is one of the most productive running fullbacks to come out in some time. Line ran for 1,224 yards (5.9 average) and 17 touchdowns as junior last year. He ran for 1,494 yards with an average of 6.1 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns in 2010, also catching 17 passes for 163 yards.

And for you badboy

Line runs with power and has a style similar to Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the 2010 NFL Draft.


I hate that I couldn't fit Zac Dysert in here somewhere. I have been wanting him for the last two years. I just don't see Kubiak drafting a QB in this draft. There is alot of talent but they ALL have too big of question marks against them. I really want Dysert though. Im afraid after the offseason gets going and people start looking at him he is going to move way up the draft out of our reach.
 
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Left out that with all the money we save by not resigning Barwin, Cody and Quin we can now go after a just below elite FA. Maybe a Mike Wallace (PIT) or Brian Hartline (MIA) or Danny Amendola (STL) or Jared Cook (TEN)
 
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I don't see us letting Quin go. He has been soild for us the past 3 years. If we are in the 3rd round and Margus Hunt hasn't been picked up yet, we should 100% go get him. He is a FREAK.
 
AJ-80 said:
I don't see us letting Quin go. He has been soild for us the past 3 years. If we are in the 3rd round and Margus Hunt hasn't been picked up yet, we should 100% go get him. He is a FREAK.
Click to expand...

Did you see us letting Mario or Breisal or Winston go last year? We may not have a choice. He is the most likely out of all our FA's to get a big offer. Look good teams have to let good guys go sometimes to keep the salary cap situation workable.

Hunt is a freak! there are freaks in every draft. That doesn't always translate in the NFL. He is very very raw. Most of his big plays came against poor competition. beerlover fell in love with him after their bowl game. But like I told him, He was going up against a true freshman in that game.

I wouldn't draft him before the 4th or 5th round. Thats with our picks. of course my opinion might change about him after I see him compete with better competition at the combine.
 
Love the Lester pick dislike mathieau unless your planning on making him a bob sanders type safety. Dude can't cover man to man and that's mostly what we play. His checkered past is just the icing on the "no" cake for me.
 
Rey said:
Love the Lester pick dislike mathieau unless your planning on making him a bob sanders type safety. Dude can't cover man to man and that's mostly what we play. His checkered past is just the icing on the "no" cake for me.
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"I know people are going to say no way he last this long. I say he will be lucky to go here. He really wasn’t that great at CB. He is getting drafted here simply for his return abilities. He’s a specialist with a checkered past. I would put him through an intense interview before I would even draft him here. For the sake of my mock he convinced me that his past is just that and he wants to play football more than anything else in the world. "
 
I don't know where Mathieu's head is. But he was more than just a returner. Mathieu was one of the best defenders in the SEC. He would be an excellent nickel CB.
 
Lucky said:
I don't know where Mathieu's head is. But he was more than just a returner. Mathieu was one of the best defenders in the SEC. He would be an excellent nickel CB.
Click to expand...

Not really. Alot of people just assumed that because he made so many highlight reel plays. link
 
I like alot of the players you've chosen but your draft is very heavy on the defensive side of the ball. With the very serious injury to Posey and he most likely not playing next season I'd sure like to see a better WR taken and way earlier than 5b. I also like Watson in the 4th but would like to see high quality OG in the 3rd, I think we'll need 2 O-line picks in the first 5 rounds. And HELL NO to Mathieu, he's undersized, been out of football to long, and a drug dealer. You guys that keep picking Mathieu in your mocks are drafting a memory of what he used to be hoping that he might be that play maker again. Rick Smith said last year the Texans would forgive and pick a player with 1 discretion on his record but not a player with repeated discretions for the same offense. Mathieu failed 3 drug tests to get kicked off the LSU team and then got arrested for being a drug dealer, that's 4 discretions for the same thing, drugs.
 
I like Chase Thomas alot. His verisitility allows wade to bring pressure from different spots. Thomas and Cushing in the middle with both guys having pass rush ability is a great thing to have defensively. I would like them to get a wr in the 1st two rds. Between allen,wiliams,hunter,patterson,watkins,or rodgers, they should be able to get a guy who can be an eventual #1 wr.
 
leebigeztx said:
I like Chase Thomas alot. His verisitility allows wade to bring pressure from different spots. Thomas and Cushing in the middle with both guys having pass rush ability is a great thing to have defensively. I would like them to get a wr in the 1st two rds. Between allen,wiliams,hunter,patterson,watkins,or rodgers, they should be able to get a guy who can be an eventual #1 wr.
Click to expand...

I agree on Thomas that guy is just a good football player. I like his versatility as well. I also like Skov as well.
 
mussop said:
My draft with FA considerations.

Its well known that we are up against the cap and won’t be able to go after any high dollar FA’s. This is how I would approach the upcoming offseason. I believe to an extent this is how Smithiak will approach it also. Look at last year. Did anyone see us letting go of Breisal and Cave man? Mario? All in the same offseason? It has sbeen said we model ourselves after NE and what does NE do every year. Let their over valued FA’s walk and replace them in the draft with young versatile players. Then they use the money saved to get FA’s they covet.

This mock is based on that premise.


1 Kawann Short, DT, Purdue A Smith insurance and Cody replacement.
Why, we already have A Smith and he played well this year? He is over 30 and he is a FA after next year. His eventual replacement needs to be found now.

How this helps the team.

It adds another high quality Dlineman that specializes in penetration to add to the rotation up front. He is versatile enough to play all three positions. He played all over the line at Purdue. He could start in place of Cody right off the bat IMO. At worst you now have solid depth off the bench to relieve Mitchell and a getting older Smith.

2 Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford C Barwin replacement

How this would help the team.

First off it will save us from having to spend too much money on Barwin. Money we can spend elsewhere.

Why? We already have Mercilous, Reed, Brahman and Barwin. Barwin didn’t have a great year but will still likely get a high dollar offer on the open market. Pass rushers are a premium in todays NFL. Especially young ones in their prime. You can never have enough good pass rushes.
How this helps the team. Obviously it gives us another good young pass rusher to add into the mix but it also gives us a smart player that could move easily move inside so he also adds versatility.

3 Robert Lester, S, Alabama R Quin replacement

This will save us from having to spend too much money on Quin. Money we can spend elsewhere. He is the most likely of our FA’s to receive an offer that we won’t want to match.

How this helps the team.

Lester has started the last 4 years at Alabama facing the best the SEC has had to offer and came out looking pretty. He could have been a first round pick had he came out last year. Lucky for us that his numbers were down this year and it’s a deep draft at safety. He has all the right intangibles to replace Quin without any drop off in production. Actually he is probably better at attacking the ball.

3 Shayne Skov, ILB/OLB, Stanford

Why an ILB so early? Thought Chase Thomas could move inside? Well that doesn’t help the depth at ILB so I’m getting another Quality inside guy. The way Cushing plays his career could be over or his season ended at any play. Young solid depth is a must.

How this helps the team. Skov is very good at blitzing on the inside, intelligent, well coached and solid in coverage which will allow us to blitz Cushing more. His frame will allow him to easily put on 10 or 15 more pounds which will make him a complete player very soon. He will contribute right away.

4 Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

Why so late on the OL?

Because what good is it going to do to draft an OL early in this draft? Are you going to start him next year? You really want to start a rookie again? I know the right side of the line didn’t play up to the standard of the guys the year before. Did Breisal and Wisnton play up top that standard in their first year? This OL scheme takes time to learn. The guys we have now will be the starters next year it wont be another rookie you can book that.

How this helps the team.

Watson is young and inexperienced. He is a project which is the only reason a guy with his physical abilities is available this late in the draft. He is a straight up beast with amazing agility for a guy his size. He looks like D Brown body wise. Give this guy a couple of years and he could be a monster. Maybe with good coaching he can replace Newton or move inside and take over after Smiths contract expires.

5 Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia Cody insurance
Why a big guy? Because we could use some sand in our pants on goal line and third and short situations. It’s a fifth round pick that could end up turning into something special. At worst he could be used in special situations.

5 Brandon Kaufman WR Eastern Washington

He’s a two-time FCS All-American. The 6-4, 215-pound Kaufman is coming off a remarkable season in which he caught 93 passes for 1,850 yards and 16 TDs.
Watch this link
and this one link

A young protégé for Andre Johnson with good size

6 Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

I know people are going to say no way he last this long. I say he will be lucky to go here. He really wasn’t that great at CB. He is getting drafted here simply for his return abilities. He’s a specialist with a checkered past. I would put him through an intense interview before I would even draft him here. For the sake of my mock he convinced me that his past is just that and he wants to play football more than anything else in the world.

7 Lucas Reed, TE, New Mexico

Brooks Reed’s little big brother. We could use another TE with good size and athleticism and he has good blood lines.

7 Zach Line, FB, Southern Methodist James Casey replacement/insurance

If Casey gets an offer hes not worth then Oh well. Line is going to have to add some bulk and power to be a true fullback in the NFL but should be a better lead blocker right now than Casey. He is one of the most productive running fullbacks to come out in some time. Line ran for 1,224 yards (5.9 average) and 17 touchdowns as junior last year. He ran for 1,494 yards with an average of 6.1 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns in 2010, also catching 17 passes for 163 yards.

And for you badboy

Line runs with power and has a style similar to Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the 2010 NFL Draft.


I hate that I couldn't fit Zac Dysert in here somewhere. I have been wanting him for the last two years. I just don't see Kubiak drafting a QB in this draft. There is alot of talent but they ALL have too big of question marks against them. I really want Dysert though. Im afraid after the offseason gets going and people start looking at him he is going to move way up the draft out of our reach.
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I like your first 5 quite a bit. I'd bring back Quin. I think he'll keep getting better as he gains experience. We definitely need a new 3rd S as I don't want Keo or Demps to ever see the field again.
 
beastly mock. gotta choose Texans keeping either Barwin or Quin. even a good chance both resign? how would this impact your mock?
 
I like most of the players you have listed .... and wouldnt mind them taken in the slot you have them at .... but I dont like the finished product. The defense will be improved .... but not enough to shut teams out on a weekly basis to counter for that anemic offense.


The offense needs an infusion of youth and speed ... Not taking an offensive player before the tail end of the 4th round .... tho I think you got the position right at OT .... isnt going to improve the offense any.
While Posey was coming along the past few games , I dont think we can count on him at all going forward with the AT tear.

While I like Brandon Kaufman I just dont see him making a real impact as a rookie , much like Martin and Posey this past season.

I realize you expect to grab a WR via FA .... but with the cap issues and 20+ FA's of their own , I just dont think its reasonable to expect .... but I could be wrong.


Lastly , while Tyrann Mathieu is a hell of an athlete , I wouldnt touch that cat as an UDFA.
 
leebigeztx said:
I like Chase Thomas alot. His verisitility allows wade to bring pressure from different spots. Thomas and Cushing in the middle with both guys having pass rush ability is a great thing to have defensively. I would like them to get a wr in the 1st two rds. Between allen,wiliams,hunter,patterson,watkins,or rodgers, they should be able to get a guy who can be an eventual #1 wr.
Click to expand...

I like alot of the top WRs too. I just don't see any of them making that much difference with Schaub at QB. WRs don't usually make a huge impact the first year anyway.

I see us covering our asses against FA exits and high dollar demands. By doing that we don't have to worry about having positions that are left without quality fill ins. This also allows us to move on from these players without drop off and save a lot of money that could be used for a young veteran FA at a true need position. I think this is the strategy you will see us use from now on.
 
Lucky said:
I don't know where Mathieu's head is. But he was more than just a returner. Mathieu was one of the best defenders in the SEC. He would be an excellent nickel CB.
Click to expand...

No he wasn't. Did you watch him play? Dudes coverage is suspect at best.

He was good blitzing and ok in zone coverage, but he would not be an excellent nickel for us.

I can see safety. Maybe the third safety role that wade likes to use. But he'd get eaten alive in the slot.
 
mussop said:
"I know people are going to say no way he last this long. I say he will be lucky to go here. He really wasn’t that great at CB. He is getting drafted here simply for his return abilities. He’s a specialist with a checkered past. I would put him through an intense interview before I would even draft him here. For the sake of my mock he convinced me that his past is just that and he wants to play football more than anything else in the world. "
Click to expand...

I really can't say being so far away from him. But just from afar he looks irresponsible.

But if the texans talked to him and trusted him he'd be a dynamite returner. And maybe eventually he could work into a role on defense.
 
beerlover said:
beastly mock. gotta choose Texans keeping either Barwin or Quin. even a good chance both resign? how would this impact your mock?
Click to expand...

Good question. I just do t see us paying him what he could get on the open market. Factor in that this is a deep safety class and I see Quin playing elsewhere next year. Not saying I don't want him.

Pretty much the same for Barwin. I think his price is going to be to high. Someone will pay him because of what he did last year because he is still young and a very good athlete.

Unless either will take less to play here than they can get on the open market they are gone IMO.
 
otisbean said:
I like your first 5 quite a bit. I'd bring back Quin. I think he'll keep getting better as he gains experience. We definitely need a new 3rd S as I don't want Keo or Demps to ever see the field again.
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I agree 100%. Even if we resign Quin we need to find another decent safety. This is a good year for safeties too.
 
WolverineFan said:
Skov isn't going pro. Returning to Stanford for another year FWIW.
Click to expand...

What would draftniks think about letting Quin walk, using that $$$$ to sign a WR like Wallace and drafting a 2 new S in the 3rd rd. This draft is deep in S and Wallace/jennings has proven to be far more valuable than Quin has been.
 
steelbtexan said:
What would draftniks think about letting Quin walk, using that $$$$ to sign a WR like Wallace and drafting a 2 new S in the 3rd rd. This draft is deep in S and Wallace/jennings has proven to be far more valuable than Quin has been.
Click to expand...

You could I suppose but if they did might consider upgrading talent with a 1st or 2nd then add another developmental cb/s later.
 
Wolf6151 said:
I like alot of the players you've chosen but your draft is very heavy on the defensive side of the ball. With the very serious injury to Posey and he most likely not playing next season I'd sure like to see a better WR taken and way earlier than 5b. I also like Watson in the 4th but would like to see high quality OG in the 3rd, I think we'll need 2 O-line picks in the first 5 rounds. And HELL NO to Mathieu, he's undersized, been out of football to long, and a drug dealer. You guys that keep picking Mathieu in your mocks are drafting a memory of what he used to be hoping that he might be that play maker again. Rick Smith said last year the Texans would forgive and pick a player with 1 discretion on his record but not a player with repeated discretions for the same offense. Mathieu failed 3 drug tests to get kicked off the LSU team and then got arrested for being a drug dealer, that's 4 discretions for the same thing, drugs.
Click to expand...
OFFENSE
We have 5 Offensive players who are upcoming FA's. The only one who starts is Casey at FB. The others are Forsett, Butler, Caldwell and Ryan Harris. Fullback isn't the hardest position to fill and remember we still have Clutts. You can pick up good ones late in the draft. Round 7 Zach Line, FB, Southern Methodist James Casey replacement/insurance

Forsett played well but he may want to go somewhere where he can get more carries. Easily replaced on the cheap in FA or late in the draft if he want's too much. Foster and Tate mean the RB position is in good shape.

Butler and Harris who both play T most likely are gone. Neither can stay healthy and are not deserving of a roster spot. That leaves Newton, Brown as the starters with only Gardner (RFA) backing them up. So I would say T is a priority but how much? We already have our two starters. We need a quality swing T.

Caldwell is the only G on the list. Should we lose him. We still have Brandon Brooks (rookie) who should only get better. Wade Smith, a veteran who is locked in at LG. Ben Jones another promising rookie and Cody White another Rookie. I don’t see us adding another Rookie G unless Wade Smith is a surprise cut.

As far as adding skill players to the offense.

You can only utilize so many weapons on offense with a QB like Schaub. He already has three of the best at three different positions. How many do you need when he doesn’t even go past his second read option? I just don’t see a rookie WR coming in and having any real impact with Schaub at QB. Now if you want to add upgrade TE I could see that. We all saw what kind of an impact Graham had when he wasn’t in the game. We run a lot of two TE sets and OD takes a beating and is getting up there in age.

So we have a FB (Casey)that may be gone but most likely not. Easily replaced. One G (Caldwell) that isn’t a starter anymore most likely leaving. Depth easily replaced. One OT (Butler) that couldn’t stay healthy and is gone forsure. Quality Depth needed. One OT (Harris) who never really was on the team is likely gone. Depth easily replaced. One third string RB. Depth Easily replaced.

Our offense scored 26 PPG/ 8TH - 372 YPG/7TH - 239 PASS YPG/11TH 132 RUSH YPG/8TH. That’s the offense is a nutshell. I hate using stats but these clearly show our offense as a whole is not bad. I’m not sure how much better it could be with added weapons as long as Schaub is our QB.

He is who he is. The best thing we could do to help him is to improve the running game. That should improve with the right side gaining experience and jelling together. Adding another rookie to the starting mix isn’t going to help IMO and I would bet that is Kubiaks opinion as well.


DEFENSE
We have 13 defensive players who are upcoming FA's. We’ll go with 12 since I don’t know who Keyaron Fox even is.

NT Shaun Cody UFA
He isn't a run stuffer and he doesn’t add anything as a pass rusher. He doesn’t even push the pocket back. He can and should be replaced. Imagine how good Watt could be with someone that could draw some attention away from him playing next to him. SCARY!!!!

OLB Connor Barwin UFA
Barwin suffered from a lack of interior rush. (CODY) He is still young and had a very good year last year. Young athletic pass rushers with solid resumes aren’t cheap on the FA market. The money it would take to sign him can be used to improve another spot. We have Reed, Brahman and Mercilous which is a solid rotation and a another young prospect can be added via the draft.

OLB Jesse Nading UFA
Doesn’t really fit in and most likely gone.

ILB Tim Dobbins UFA
Dobbins is a special teams captain and short-yardage LB. I can see him being brought back specifically for those purposes. That is the extent of his worth.

ILB Bradie James UFA
Do I really need to say anything here. I will anyway. He is horrible!!!!! Goodbye!!!!!

ILB Barrett Ruud UFA
We brought him in off the street and he looked ok as a pass rusher but took poor angles and allowed huge running lanes for opposing RB’s. He also got burned in pass coverage A LOT. Bye bye!

CB Alan Ball UFA
Ball is a very good special teamer and decent player. Could be replaced but should be cheap and most likely returns for cheap.

CB Brice McCain UFA
I think the lack of pass rush hurt his game more than anyone else's. Asking CB’s to cover slot WR’s man to man for more than few seconds in today’s NFL is asking for failure. Bring him back and improve the pass rush and this defense is right back where it was last year. Top 5!!

CB Stanford Routt UFA
Brought in because of injuries. Won’t be back.

S Quintin Demps UFA
See Bbrady James.

S Glover Quin UFA
How good is Quin really? Is he worth the kind of money he’s likely to get offered in FA? I would say we need to draft a quality safety even if we are going to resign him. There is no quality depth at all at safety. Imaging if Manning or Quin went down for an extended amount of time. This is a deep draft at safety and we need to get one whether we resign Quin or not. Cinci has 50 million dollars to spend in FA and its said that they want a S. Something to keep and eye on.

So I would say that makes 2 starters that we need to replace with another starter.
Cody and Bradie James.
And 1 starter that we need to replace with either a quality backup or starter.
Quin
And 1 starter who we need to replace with at least a prospect for depth.
Barwin
 
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steelbtexan said:
What would draftniks think about letting Quin walk, using that $$$$ to sign a WR like Wallace and drafting a 2 new S in the 3rd rd. This draft is deep in S and Wallace/jennings has proven to be far more valuable than Quin has been.
Click to expand...

Not WR or Wallace in particular but that is what my mock is about. Replacing our FA's that are going to cost us too much with draft choices appropriately and using the money in FA to upgrade the overall depth.
 
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WolverineFan said:
Skov isn't going pro. Returning to Stanford for another year FWIW.
Click to expand...

In that case

My draft with FA considerations.

Its well known that we are up against the cap and won’t be able to go after any high dollar FA’s. This is how I would approach the upcoming offseason. I believe to an extent this is how Smithiak will approach it also. Look at last year. Did anyone see us letting go of Breisal and Cave man? Mario? All in the same offseason? It has sbeen said we model ourselves after NE and what does NE do every year. Let their over valued FA’s walk and replace them in the draft with young versatile players. Then they use the money saved to get FA’s they covet.

This mock is based on that premise.


1 Kawann Short, DT, Purdue A Smith insurance and Cody replacement.
Why, we already have A Smith and he played well this year? He is over 30 and he is a FA after next year. His eventual replacement needs to be found now.

How this helps the team.

It adds another high quality Dlineman that specializes in penetration to add to the rotation up front. He is versatile enough to play all three positions. He played all over the line at Purdue. He could start in place of Cody right off the bat IMO. At worst you now have solid depth off the bench to relieve Mitchell and a getting older Smith.

2 Chase Thomas, LB, Stanford C Barwin replacement

How this would help the team.

First off it will save us from having to spend too much money on Barwin. Money we can spend elsewhere.

Why? We already have Mercilous, Reed, Brahman and Barwin. Barwin didn’t have a great year but will still likely get a high dollar offer on the open market. Pass rushers are a premium in todays NFL. Especially young ones in their prime. You can never have enough good pass rushes.
How this helps the team. Obviously it gives us another good young pass rusher to add into the mix but it also gives us a smart player that could move easily move inside so he also adds versatility.

3 Robert Lester, S, Alabama R Quin replacement

This will save us from having to spend too much money on Quin. Money we can spend elsewhere. He is the most likely of our FA’s to receive an offer that we won’t want to match.

How this helps the team.

Lester has started the last 4 years at Alabama facing the best the SEC has had to offer and came out looking pretty. He could have been a first round pick had he came out last year. Lucky for us that his numbers were down this year and it’s a deep draft at safety. He has all the right intangibles to replace Quin without any drop off in production. Actually he is probably better at attacking the ball.

3 Zac Dysert QB

4 Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

Why so late on the OL?

Because what good is it going to do to draft an OL early in this draft? Are you going to start him next year? You really want to start a rookie again? I know the right side of the line didn’t play up to the standard of the guys the year before. Did Breisal and Wisnton play up top that standard in their first year? This OL scheme takes time to learn. The guys we have now will be the starters next year it wont be another rookie you can book that.

How this helps the team.

Watson is young and inexperienced. He is a project which is the only reason a guy with his physical abilities is available this late in the draft. He is a straight up beast with amazing agility for a guy his size. He looks like D Brown body wise. Give this guy a couple of years and he could be a monster. Maybe with good coaching he can replace Newton or move inside and take over after Smiths contract expires.

5 Kwame Geathers, NT, Georgia Cody insurance
Why a big guy? Because we could use some sand in our pants on goal line and third and short situations. It’s a fifth round pick that could end up turning into something special. At worst he could be used in special situations.

5 Brandon Kaufman WR Eastern Washington

He’s a two-time FCS All-American. The 6-4, 215-pound Kaufman is coming off a remarkable season in which he caught 93 passes for 1,850 yards and 16 TDs.
Watch this link
and this one link

A young protégé for Andre Johnson with good size

6 Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

I know people are going to say no way he last this long. I say he will be lucky to go here. He really wasn’t that great at CB. He is getting drafted here simply for his return abilities. He’s a specialist with a checkered past. I would put him through an intense interview before I would even draft him here. For the sake of my mock he convinced me that his past is just that and he wants to play football more than anything else in the world.

7 Lucas Reed, TE, New Mexico

Brooks Reed’s little big brother. We could use another TE with good size and athleticism and he has good blood lines.

7 Zach Line, FB, Southern Methodist James Casey replacement/insurance

If Casey gets an offer hes not worth then Oh well. Line is going to have to add some bulk and power to be a true fullback in the NFL but should be a better lead blocker right now than Casey. He is one of the most productive running fullbacks to come out in some time. Line ran for 1,224 yards (5.9 average) and 17 touchdowns as junior last year. He ran for 1,494 yards with an average of 6.1 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns in 2010, also catching 17 passes for 163 yards.

And for you badboy

Line runs with power and has a style similar to Stanford's Toby Gerhart in the 2010 NFL Draft.


I hate that I couldn't fit Zac Dysert in here somewhere. I have been wanting him for the last two years. I just don't see Kubiak drafting a QB in this draft. There is alot of talent but they ALL have too big of question marks against them. I really want Dysert though. Im afraid after the offseason gets going and people start looking at him he is going to move way up the draft out of our reach.
 
You were getting on me about an ILB. You don't even have one in your draft at all. And you have two nose tackles? And you got one me about picking n OLB so early and you took one a round later than me.
 
At least 4 decent-good players on the list.

Don't know enough of some others on it, so I was hesitant to comment.
 
panamamyers said:
You were getting on me about an ILB. You don't even have one in your draft at all. And you have two nose tackles? And you got one me about picking n OLB so early and you took one a round later than me.
Click to expand...

Whoa there fella. I wasn't getting on you. I was just debating your strategy. That's what these forums are for. It would be boring as hell here if everyone just agreed about everything. Don't get your feelings hurt.

If you read my mock I like Thomas because he can play inside or out. I think he can start inside right away and he's versitile enough to play outside when needed.

One of the NT's ( short ) is Smiths eventual replacement at DE. Right now our front seven is very thin. Smith, Watt, Cushing, Reed, Barwin, are the only starters that are noteworthy. Smith has a huge contract and is on the wrong side of 30. Cushing is coming off a major injury. Barwin IMO is gone via FA. This area has to be upgraded.

Pretty much no matter who you put at WR isn't going to make much of an impact. In fact all you are doing by adding more offensive weapons around schaub is putting more pressure on him to win games.
 
No urgency to get a #2 WR.... We have been putting it off for 3-4 years and some still are apathetic at the idea of Shaub having more weapons to throw to. Other than Kevin freakin' Walter. Hell, it might help our offense, who knows???
 
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