Early 2013 Rookie Draft: Round Two
It’s February – that means Valentine’s day, cold temperatures, and the start of “Rookie Fever.” With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, all die-hard fans are turning their eyes towards the combine and the 2013 crop of rookies.
In order to share some of our thoughts and give you a few names to watch as the combine and pro days unfold, we put together a 12 person rookie only mock draft. Keep in mind this is just a super early take on the current draft class. Personal rankings will change drastically as the combine, pro days, and the 2013 NFL Draft unfold. Landing spots will undoubtedly have major influence on several of these players and will help solidify rankings. Until then, things are very fluid. There will be names not listed that could end up being first round rookie picks if everyone goes right for them or names in the first round that go undrafted if everything falls apart.
For this mock draft, we assumed it was a standard scoring PPR league with normal lineup requirements, meaning no IDP, super flex, or 2 quarterback leagues. Trades were not allowed. Draft order was randomly assigned and each drafter was asked to make a brief comment about why they made the pick they did. I’ll follow up each pick with some brief thoughts of my own. I’m not a draft expert, and like many of you, my rookie analysis is just beginning. I’m just sharing my thoughts so you get two opinions on each pick. In cases of disagreement, I’ll be the first to admit that I might be the one who is wrong.
Let’s continue the show!
The first round was posted previously. Here is round two:
2.01 –Tavon Austin, WR West Virginia
Mark’s thoughts: At only 5’9 and 175 lbs., he is decidedly undersized. However, he is an incredibly dynamic athlete who reeled in 114 catches for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He is a bit of a wild card, but has the potential to be PPR gold out of the slot if he lands in a good spot (Houston?). As a quick side note, having the first pick in the mock I tried to picture myself in rebuild mode. With that said, I was really hoping one of the two tight ends would fall to me. I feel they are the two players with the best chance to be difference makers at their positions in the NFL.
My thoughts: I have a few concerns about Austin. Size is obviously one of them as Mark pointed out. He is extremely quick, fast, and runs pretty good routes, but the hands are also concern to me. I’m not sure if he is just getting ahead of himself and thinking about the run after the catch, if he is losing focus in the middle of the game, or if it is something else, but he had some pretty bad drops or near drops in the games I watched. Of course those concerns are why he is still here in the second round.
2.02 – Stedman Bailey, WR West Virginia
Coleman’s thoughts: Bailey defied logic in 2012 by catching 25 touchdowns despite being only 5’10” and 195 pounds. He has great technique, not relying on his athleticism to make plays. His route running skills and great hands will make his NFL transition easier.
My thoughts: This was the second major curveball in my opinion. Bailey isn’t in my personal top ten WRs at this point in time, so I’m surprised he is the seventh WR off the board in our mock. The production this year was definitely top shelf from Bailey, but I actually have concerns about his transition to the NFL. At this point, I don’t really see him as excelling in any area of the game, which makes me think he is going to get lost in the shuffle at the next level.
2.03 – Joseph Randle, RB Oklahoma State
Jaron’s thoughts: At OSU, he’s drawn comparisons to Thurman Thomas. High praise I doubt he will live up to, particularly because it’s tough to envision him getting enough carries as he won’t be an every-down back. However, his skills as a pass-catcher and blocker will put him in the game (especially on key downs). He’ll earn the trust of his quarterback quickly. Filling a Darren Sproles-like role makes him a better value in PPR leagues.
My thoughts: I like Randle, but like Jaron said, his upside if probably capped as a passing down specialist. He lacks the power, leg drive and balance to succeed between the tackles and after contact. That said, he could excel in a role where he is paired up with a bigger power back like Mikel Leshoure in Detroit.
2.04 – Matt Barkley, QB USC
Jeff B’s thoughts: I did it. I pulled a Shanahan with this pick. This was purely a value pick because the running backs (Lattimore, Ball) and the receivers (Woods, Austin) I thought might be available were gone. Too many NFL teams need a quarterback like Barkley who can come in and start from day one, so he’ll get the opportunity right off the bat – that’s going to help my team a lot more than the other skill position players who were still available and likely won’t make a fantasy impact for a few years.
My thoughts: I talked about my thoughts on the quarterbacks in this draft with the Geno Smith pick. I just can’t get behind taking a quarterback with both first and second round picks on the same team. In a 12 team league, quarterbacks who aren’t elite have almost no trade value. This team would now have whoever was the 2012 starter, Smith and Barkley on the roster. Just because they are NFL starters doesn’t make them worth anything in fantasy anytime soon, just like Ryan Tannehill. I just don’t see how this is a value pick. Jeff and I will just need to agree to disagree.
2.05 –Terrance Williams, WR Baylor
Jon’s thoughts: I was very surprised he was available at 2.05. He has a great size/speed combination, and in my opinion was the most impressive receiver at The Senior Bowl. I think he could have gone in first round of NFL draft last year if Kendall Wright wasn’t a teammate of his at Baylor. He beat out fellow teammate Josh Gordon while both were on team. Williams is the real deal and if he lands in the right spot has a legit shot at solid WR2 production.
My thoughts: I actually briefly considered Williams at my 1.11 pick. I like the height, speed and skill set. However, when I watch him, I see someone who is a little bit young. What I mean by that is that he needs to add some bulk to his frame to handle the more physical corners in the NFL. He also needs to improve his work ethic, focus and make sure he is giving constant effort on every play. I love the upside, though.
2.06 – Quinton Patton, WR Louisiana Tech
Ryan’s thoughts: For dynasty owners, wide receiver is easily the deepest position this year. With some big names like Keenan Allen likely to be taken near the top of the first round, there will be some gems available late in the first round and even into the second and third round of rookie drafts. Patton is an explosive wide receiver who runs great routes and could go as early as the first round of the NFL draft. In the mid-second of a PPR league dynasty draft, he’s a steal.
My thoughts: In the middle of the second round, I really like this pick. He has some of the best hands of this year’s group. The downside is that outside of his hands, he just doesn’t jump off the page to me in any other area. He’s very good, but not great in any area. With that said if he can perfect his route running, I can envision him as being a very successful complementary receiver on an NFL team.
2.07 – Johnathan Franklin, RB UCLA
Andy’s thoughts: The rich keep on getting richer as I have him as my third ranked running back and to get him at the 2.07 is huge value. Franklin has impressive vision, and uses his speed/agility well. He is a great fit for a zone blocking team, so they can take advantage of his cutback moves and his steady balance. He has decent hands, but needs to work on his core strength and pass blocking.
My thoughts: Andy is way further along in the rookie evaluation process than I am, so he could easily be dead on with this one. I don’t have Franklin in my top five backs right now. He needs a fair amount of work in the passing game and he seems to lack the power to run between the tackles. The combination of those two things makes me a little concerned about where he’s going to find a role.
2.08 – Cierre Wood, RB Notre Dame
Eric’s thoughts: I really like Cierre Wood’s pro prospects as part of a committee attack. With speed to kill and a hard running style, Wood can also catch passes out of the backfield. I would love to see him end up in a place like Atlanta or Pittsburgh.
My thoughts: I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of Cierre Wood. Part of it is that he was a complete non-factor in the BCS championship game, though to be fair, so was the whole Notre Dame team. I just don’t see anything special in him. I also don’t really agree that he has a hard running style. He seems to shy away from contact when he can and goes down a little too easily. He isn’t in my top ten RBs at this point.
2.09 – Da’rick Rodgers, WR Tennessee Tech
Tim’s thoughts: This one surprised me. I don’t expect Rodgers will drop to the 2.09 in any rookie draft. He will show well at the Combine. And I expect he will run in the 4.4s. He is explosive. Of course he’s got the off-field issues.
My thoughts: I would be surprised to see Rodgers last until the end of the second round in most rookie drafts as well. He has a tough, physical style that should make him a great possession receiver. The off the field issues need to be considered as well. When you throw in the other issues, he reminds me a bit of a Mike Williams of Tampa Bay mixed with an Anquan Boldin.
2.10 – Aaron Dobson, WR Marshall
Doug’s thoughts: I like big, physical receivers, and Dobson definitely fits the bill. He has a basketball physique, is a smooth route runner, is able to shield off defenders with his body and has a great set of hands. He’s a great value this late in the second round.
My thoughts: Dobson definitely has the ability and the desire, but I think he’s going to need a fair amount of polish to succeed in the NFL. He’s raw, but in a few years he could end up being one of the best receivers to come out of this draft if everything goes just right for him. He’ll need to end up on a team with a strong veteran to show him the ropes.
2.11 – Mike Gillislee, RB Florida
My thoughts: Once again, we are back to my pick, so I like it. It was very much a toss up at this point in the draft. Pretty much all the receivers I have in my first few tiers are gone, so that left me looking to the running backs. I considered Le’veon Ball, Andre Ellington and Jawan Jamison at this point, but ultimately went with Gillislee.
I liked how he developed his senior year. Rushing for 4.7 YPC in the SEC gets my attention. He showcased good speed, agility and power in the games I saw. He also showed very well in the passing game. I think he could have the potential to end up as a three down back in the league, which was the tie breaker for me.
2.12 – Markus Wheaton, WR Oregon State
Jeff H’s thoughts: He has flown under the radar for much of 2012, playing in the shadow of the Oregon Ducks. Wheaton followed up his 73 reception 2011 campaign with 91 receptions and 11 TDs in 2012. His listed 4.45 40 time is likely a bit high and he’s a monster in space. He’s thinly built but should add 10-15 pounds in the NFL to play close to 200 pounds. Wheaton has game breaking ability in an offense with an established WR1.
My thoughts: Wheaton is an interesting prospect and well worth the flier with the last pick in the second round. With his size, he isn’t going to win many one-on-one physical battles when it comes to press coverage or fighting for position. He does have very good hands and is fearless in traffic, making him a guy to watch working out of the slot.
We will repeat this exercise a few more times this Spring for our Premium Subscribers to help give more insight on how the major events, like the combine, are shaping our opinions on rookie draft positions.
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Three - April 28, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Two - April 26, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round One - April 25, 2021
