WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
In this mock I use our early picks to address issues on offense and our later picks to address depth issues on defense. This offense needs upgrades and that's why I use our impact picks (rounds 1-3) on that side of the ball. However, if we want our defense to maintain it's elite status then we must make sure and keep it well stocked.
1) Patrick Mahomes - QB, Texas Tech (6-2, 230)
- Let's not beat around the bush. QB play is a huge issue and has been the one thing that has held us back from taking the next step as a franchise. It needs to be addressed. Personally, I'm not a fan of this QB class. The top guys all have major warts or are total projects, but I'm still taking a shot. You can't hit a home run if you don't swing the bat. Physically, Mahomes is a tremendous prospect. He has the arm, the frame, and elite mobility. The issues are on the development side. He's a total product of spread offenses in high school and college and has zero experience running a pro offense. He's never taken snaps under center or learned timing on drop steps. We don't know definitively if he can translate his skills into an offense that isn't built off the one-read or run principle. Short story...he's a project. High potential, dynamic, etc. but still a project. If this were the move, you're still looking at a Savage/Osweiler battle going into training camp with Mahomes getting the training wheels taken off at some point during the season.
2) Roderick Johnson - OT, Florida State (6-6, 310)
- Johnson is a bit of an enigma. He sandwiches stellar play with occasional gaffes. He's a very good run blocker, but is inconsistent in pass protection. He has great length and power but, despite his plus athleticism, he can struggle with speed on the edge as he tends to get sloppy with his footwork and hand placement. He will have some growing pains adjusting to the speed at the pro level, but I do see him as an immediate upgrade over Newton/Clark. I think he's a RT immediately with the potential to develop as a LT as his technical issues get worked out. Very similar to Alabama OT Cam Robinson, just not as refined and technically sound.
3) Elijah Hood - RB, North Carolina (6-0, 225)
- It's time to stop messing around. If we're going to be a power running team then it's time to acquire a power runner. Blue and Grimes are both decent runners between the tackles but with this O-Line we need more than decent. Hood is a cannon ball coming downhill who will blow through arm tackles and can hit the extra gear once he finds space at the second level. He has very impressive open field speed for a power runner. In 3 years at UNC, he ran for 2,580 yards (6.0 ypc) and 29 TD's despite playing in a 3-man platoon and only starting two seasons. The best thing about Hood (besides the talent) is the lack of tread on his tires. He comes in with just over 400 career carries while other juniors like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook are coming in with 600+.
4) Tarell Basham - EDGE, Ohio (6-4, 260)
- I really like our pass rush, but there are injury concerns with both Watt and Clowney and not much depth behind Mercilus. Not to mention John Simon is going to be a Free Agent. We need to make sure we are still stocked with pass rushers because that has been the driving force behind this defense reaching elite status. Basham is an impact player off the edge who collected 38.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks over his college career. He lacks elite athleticism but is a fierce pass rusher and is solid against the run. Kind of a poor man's Khalil Mack.
5) Steven Taylor - LB, Houston (6-1, 225)
- As the Divisional game against New England highlighted, we really need a LB who can cover and play in space. Taylor is a sideline-to-sideline missile that just makes plays. Whether those plays are in coverage, on the edge, or at the line of scrimmage it doesn't matter. He just finds the ball. Granted, he's not big enough to be a three-down player in our defense, but he would be extremely useful in Nickel packages and on special teams. I advocated for Jatavis Brown last year as a Space-Backer and I'm doing the same with Taylor this year. We need a LB who can make plays in the open field.
6) Treyvon Hester - DL, Toledo (6-3, 295)
- Hester is a gap-shooting DT much like Christian Covington. As a 4-year starter in college, he recorded 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He's also proven the ability to hold up to double teams, which is obviously important in a 3-man front. With Vince Wilfork and Antonio Smith likely gone there will be a need up front for depth. Much like Covington, I think Hester is a mid-round talent who will fall a bit after missing a large portion of the pre-draft process due to post-season surgery. However, that's not a concern for me. The talent is obvious on film.
7) Dante Barnett - SS, Kansas State (6-1, 195)
- Barnett had a stellar first 3 years before a shoulder injury ended his senior season in the opening game. However, he got a medical redshirt and came back for a 5th year. He showed some ball-hawk ability before the injury but had some struggles in coverage this year. That, combined with his slight build, has led to a lack of hype for a guy who was considered a mid-round prospect 2 years ago. With that said, I love the guy. He's very aggressive in run support and is a great open field tackler. Very scrappy when matched up with TE's in coverage. The kid is just a warrior. Despite not quite regaining his previous form this year, he shared the team Defensive MVP award with All-American Jordan Willis because of his outstanding leadership. He may not check all the boxes but no 7th round pick ever does. What he does provide is intangibles and you can't teach that. If he were to continue to knock the rust off and regain his pre-injury form he would be an absolute steal.
1) Patrick Mahomes - QB, Texas Tech (6-2, 230)
- Let's not beat around the bush. QB play is a huge issue and has been the one thing that has held us back from taking the next step as a franchise. It needs to be addressed. Personally, I'm not a fan of this QB class. The top guys all have major warts or are total projects, but I'm still taking a shot. You can't hit a home run if you don't swing the bat. Physically, Mahomes is a tremendous prospect. He has the arm, the frame, and elite mobility. The issues are on the development side. He's a total product of spread offenses in high school and college and has zero experience running a pro offense. He's never taken snaps under center or learned timing on drop steps. We don't know definitively if he can translate his skills into an offense that isn't built off the one-read or run principle. Short story...he's a project. High potential, dynamic, etc. but still a project. If this were the move, you're still looking at a Savage/Osweiler battle going into training camp with Mahomes getting the training wheels taken off at some point during the season.
2) Roderick Johnson - OT, Florida State (6-6, 310)
- Johnson is a bit of an enigma. He sandwiches stellar play with occasional gaffes. He's a very good run blocker, but is inconsistent in pass protection. He has great length and power but, despite his plus athleticism, he can struggle with speed on the edge as he tends to get sloppy with his footwork and hand placement. He will have some growing pains adjusting to the speed at the pro level, but I do see him as an immediate upgrade over Newton/Clark. I think he's a RT immediately with the potential to develop as a LT as his technical issues get worked out. Very similar to Alabama OT Cam Robinson, just not as refined and technically sound.
3) Elijah Hood - RB, North Carolina (6-0, 225)
- It's time to stop messing around. If we're going to be a power running team then it's time to acquire a power runner. Blue and Grimes are both decent runners between the tackles but with this O-Line we need more than decent. Hood is a cannon ball coming downhill who will blow through arm tackles and can hit the extra gear once he finds space at the second level. He has very impressive open field speed for a power runner. In 3 years at UNC, he ran for 2,580 yards (6.0 ypc) and 29 TD's despite playing in a 3-man platoon and only starting two seasons. The best thing about Hood (besides the talent) is the lack of tread on his tires. He comes in with just over 400 career carries while other juniors like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook are coming in with 600+.
4) Tarell Basham - EDGE, Ohio (6-4, 260)
- I really like our pass rush, but there are injury concerns with both Watt and Clowney and not much depth behind Mercilus. Not to mention John Simon is going to be a Free Agent. We need to make sure we are still stocked with pass rushers because that has been the driving force behind this defense reaching elite status. Basham is an impact player off the edge who collected 38.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks over his college career. He lacks elite athleticism but is a fierce pass rusher and is solid against the run. Kind of a poor man's Khalil Mack.
5) Steven Taylor - LB, Houston (6-1, 225)
- As the Divisional game against New England highlighted, we really need a LB who can cover and play in space. Taylor is a sideline-to-sideline missile that just makes plays. Whether those plays are in coverage, on the edge, or at the line of scrimmage it doesn't matter. He just finds the ball. Granted, he's not big enough to be a three-down player in our defense, but he would be extremely useful in Nickel packages and on special teams. I advocated for Jatavis Brown last year as a Space-Backer and I'm doing the same with Taylor this year. We need a LB who can make plays in the open field.
6) Treyvon Hester - DL, Toledo (6-3, 295)
- Hester is a gap-shooting DT much like Christian Covington. As a 4-year starter in college, he recorded 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He's also proven the ability to hold up to double teams, which is obviously important in a 3-man front. With Vince Wilfork and Antonio Smith likely gone there will be a need up front for depth. Much like Covington, I think Hester is a mid-round talent who will fall a bit after missing a large portion of the pre-draft process due to post-season surgery. However, that's not a concern for me. The talent is obvious on film.
7) Dante Barnett - SS, Kansas State (6-1, 195)
- Barnett had a stellar first 3 years before a shoulder injury ended his senior season in the opening game. However, he got a medical redshirt and came back for a 5th year. He showed some ball-hawk ability before the injury but had some struggles in coverage this year. That, combined with his slight build, has led to a lack of hype for a guy who was considered a mid-round prospect 2 years ago. With that said, I love the guy. He's very aggressive in run support and is a great open field tackler. Very scrappy when matched up with TE's in coverage. The kid is just a warrior. Despite not quite regaining his previous form this year, he shared the team Defensive MVP award with All-American Jordan Willis because of his outstanding leadership. He may not check all the boxes but no 7th round pick ever does. What he does provide is intangibles and you can't teach that. If he were to continue to knock the rust off and regain his pre-injury form he would be an absolute steal.
Last edited:
