Rookie Mock Draft – Round Two
The college bowl season is complete, Florida State has broken the SEC’s reign for at least one year, and top college players across the country have turned their gaze towards the NFL’s draft process. Fantasy owners are going through a similar process with fantasy football leagues entering the offseason and we all turn our collective gaze towards the same process and the fresh new rookies who are participating in it.
This mock draft kicks off a full season of staff rookie mock drafts just for our premium subscribers! This is the first of eight three round mock drafts we as a staff will provide for you. We will have mock drafts staggered throughout the offseason with rookie only mock drafts prior to the combine, just after the combine, prior to the draft, just after the draft, June, July and August. In addition to all of those, we will also toss in a few rookie only mock drafts with some alternate setups for those of you who play in leagues outside of the PPR leagues that are now the norm.
Here is a quick refresher on the guidelines given to our drafters before each mock begins:
1) Standard PPR scoring with normal lineup requirements
2) Draft order is randomly generated and no trades are allowed
3) Draft the best player available without any consideration for team need
Once the mock is complete, each drafter was asked to provide some comments about the player they drafted. In order to provide a second perspective on each selection, I will also provide some comments on each of the choices. I’ll be the first to admit that we, and especially me, will get a few of these players wrong. This is especially true at this point in the year when the vast majority of us are just beginning our 2014 rookie evaluations.
The players in this mock, especially in the third round, are players that have caught our eye early in the process. There will be many changes as time goes on, both players shooting up and falling off our draft boards. A perfect example from last year is Le’Veon Bell. He wasn’t drafted in the first of our initial mock draft last year but was a top four pick in our later mock drafts.
We continue with the middle round of our draft. You’re going to recognize a lot of the names near the top of this list because at the current point in time this draft seems to be one of the deeper ones in recent memory. Of course that is destined to change as time goes on just because it always does when talented players go to terrible situations, but there is the promise of great value this year through the middle of the second round.
2.01 – Carlos Hyde, RB Ohio St.
Andy’s thoughts: I have him in my top five rookies so getting him as the 13th pick overall is just silly. He runs with power, possesses good vision, uses good balance, and is a three down back. Many scouts are comparing him to Le’Veon Bell, but I think he would rather run over someone than around them.
My thoughts: The fact that Hyde is still available just goes to show the depth of the current draft class at this point in time. We are still in my third tier of rookies at this point. Like Andy, I have Hyde pretty high on my running back list and I’m surprised that he was the fifth running back drafted. Hyde is the only one of the top five that actually has traditional size for a running back. Combine that size with above average speed and quickness as well as pass blocking skills and you have someone that will see the field early and often.
2.02 – Eric Ebron, TE North Carolina
Jeff H’s thoughts: Andy Miley sniped all my players with each pick in this three round draft. Granted that Watkins would be going first overall, however. I was hoping Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde was going to fall to me here. At 2.02, though, I’m happy to land Ebron out of North Carolina. Ebron wasn’t ultra productive for N.C., notching only eight total touchdowns in three seasons. He did secure 62 receptions for 973 yards in 2013. But he’s better than his stats will show. He’s a very athletic and fluid athlete who can climb the ladder to high-point the football. He can make the spectacular catch and follow it up with a blatant drop but in a league where athletic tight ends are flourishing, he’s too good to let slip much beyond this selection.
My thoughts: Of the big three tight ends, Ebron might have the most upside of them. He is superior to them from an athletic stand point, but he is also significantly lighter and a few inches shorter. Ebron’s game centers around his ability to not only get free from defenders with his speed and quickness but to go up and get the ball with exceptional leaping ability. He does need to work on his focus a bit and be more consistent. In some ways he is in the mold of Aaron Hernandez, without the off the field issues.
2.03 – Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Washington
Jeff B’s thoughts: There were about six different players I considered taking with this pick – which makes me think the top of second round will be the sweet spot in rookie drafts this year – but ultimately I decided to go with the top tight end on my draft board in Austin Seferian-Jenkins. There are some red flags, specifically in regards to a DUI he got in the off-season that earned him a suspension from the team, but if there’s a player in this draft class that has earned the title of “physical specimen”, it’s him. At 6’-6” and about 270 pounds, he’s going to really impress NFL GMs at the combine and if he gets drafted into a system that will utilize his size, speed, and hands, we could be looking at a Rob Gronkowski clone.
My thoughts: Known as ASJ for short, he is the biggest of the top tight ends and definitely the best traditional tight end when it comes to playing in line and blocking. His size combined with hands and athleticism make the comparison to Gronkowski reasonable. There are multiple red flags as Jeff mentioned. The off the field mistakes are one of them. His effort and dedication have also been questioned by some at various points in time. While we still saw glimpses of his talent this past year he didn’t look like the same player all the time. If his motor runs hot and cold in the pros, he’s more likely to emulate Jermichael Finley than Gronkowski.
2.04 – Odell Beckham Jr, WR LSU
Brian’s thoughts: Odell Beckham Jr a versatile and talented wide receiver. His dad is a former LSU running back and his mom was a track start at LSU. He was a top six wide receiver on my board due to his agility and athleticism. Beckham Jr. earned the Paul Hornung award for the nation’s most versatile player. He finished with 2,222 all-purpose yards this season which is third in SEC history behind only Randall Cobb (2,396) and Darren McFadden (2,310). Beckham Jr is a great hands catcher and great speed (4.45) that allows him to create separation. At 6’0 and 192 lbs. he does not have ideal size for the position, but makes up for it with his route running and speed. Beckham Jr also finished the season with 1,100+ receiving yards and eight touchdowns
My thoughts: If you like big receivers, Beckham isn’t for you. That doesn’t mean he can’t be successful. His size fits fairly well with players like Antonio Brown and Randall Cobb. He is also a dynamic playmaker. From a wide receiver stand point he has some things he needs to work on, which means he is likely to start his NFL career as a return man who slowly sees his role in the passing game expand. The team that he lands on will determine just how long it will be before he sees the field. Patience will be a huge deal with him from a fantasy owner stand point.
2.05 – Jeremy Hill, RB LSU
My thoughts: This pick might have a few of you scratching your head, but if you haven’t heard about Jeremy Hill you need to go take a look. At 6’1” and 220 pounds, he is a big, powerful runner that can also play in the passing game. He has surprising speed and quickness for a player of his size with enough power to break a tackle and enough wiggle to make a defender miss. He could be the running back that suddenly jumps into the national spotlight after the combine much like Christine Michael did last year.
Unfortunately for Hill, his resume isn’t all roses. He isn’t the most consistent of players when it comes to effort. There were games where the first hit would bring him down almost every time. Then there would be games where it would take nearly the whole opposing team to get him on the ground. There are also some red flags in terms of character after he was suspended at the start of the 2013 season. He needs to be on your radar at this point though.
2.06 – Blake Bortles, QB UCF
Tim’s thoughts: Could end up as the first QB off the board in the NFL draft, and will likely be a top-10 pick. That means he needs to be owned in all dynasty leagues. He has a powerful arm and a Big Ben type frame. There’s a decent chance Bortles is a week one starter in the NFL.
My thoughts: Opinions on the big four quarterbacks in this draft are all over the place. There are definitely a lot of teams that need quarterbacks, but the value of those quarterbacks in fantasy will be very dependent on which team drafts them. As far as Bortles goes, he has the best size of the big four quarterbacks and a monster arm. He was also very accurate this past year, but he was playing against unproven competition for large parts of the season. He is also good with his legs. I would say the best comparison might be a more accurate version of Jake Locker.
2.07 – Davante Adams, WR Fresno St.
Ryan’s thoughts: I was shocked when Fresno State wide receiver Davante Adams fell out of the first round and even more surprised when he lasted to me at 2.07. Adams is a big bodied target and is still young, just turning twenty-one years old. What he lacks in speed, Adams makes up for in his route running and ability to make the tough catch. I think by the time most rookie drafts start, Adams will be a first round pick.
My thoughts: Sometimes when you have a very good college quarterback and a very good college receiver it is a little tough to tell which one is making the other better. That is the way I feel with Fresno St this year. I get the sinking feeling one of either Adams or Derek Carr are just average, but I can’t figure out which one. The combine could help with that, but we might end up guessing. When I look at Adams, I see a bigger Stedman Bailey. With the little bits of Adams that I have seen, I feel like the second round is the right place for him. There’s just a lot of solid talent in this draft.
2.08 – Charles Sims, RB West Virginia
Ghost’s thoughts: I honestly love this pick more than just about any in this draft. Sims is being tragically, TRAGICALLY undervalued thus far and could be on the tongues of many draftniks in the very near future as one of the top running back prospects in this draft. I would have taken him at the 1.08 pick but I honestly thought he had already been selected, imagine my surprise! Sims is everything you want out of a running back, he’s got good size, he’s quick, he’s a great receiver out of the backfield and he can pass block. In short he’s very polished and could step in and start on most NFL teams on day one. He’s a true PPR running back who could be a bell cow and rack up the points. Being able to get him with the twentieth pick is incredible and I couldn’t be happier.
My thoughts: I’m sure by now you’re starting to notice a trend in our writers. They are all surprised their guy is still available. Part of this is the depth of this draft class while the other part is the wide range of opinions on a lot of prospects right now. Sims is drawing a lot of comparisons to Matt Forte right now because Sims is so prolific in the passing game. He is a little bit smaller than Forte, but his ability in the passing game definitely fits. Playing in the fast paced spread offense of West Virginia makes looking at his productivity a little difficult. He’s a player I’m definitely watching at the combine and through the draft process and the other player I considered at my 2.05 pick.
2.09 – Devonta Freeman, RB Florida St.
Mark’s thoughts: Freeman is another one of the few players I’ve actually watched a lot of. I came into the season more interested in his backfield partner, James Wilder Jr, but Freeman proved to be the more consistent back this season. He’s built low to the ground and delivers a hit with every carry. He’s not the shiftiest or the fastest running back in the draft, but has enough wiggle to be successful in the NFL. Like many rookies, landing spot will be crucial.
My thoughts: In this draft at this time I see one elite prospect, two near elite prospects, and then another 12-15 very good prospects. After those 15-18 players, the talent level seems to fall off the proverbial cliff. The middle to late second right seems to be right about where that is going to happen right now. All of the players from here on have question marks of one kind or another. When it comes to Freeman, he is very polished in pass protection for a college player and runs well between the tackles. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to be the most dynamic athlete though that might just be because of who was on the field around him. The rest of his teammates could make almost anyone look slow.
2.10 – Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
Karl’s thoughts: Manziel is the true wildcard in the NFL draft. Many have him pegged as a top five pick, while countless others don’t believe he’s worth a first round pick. I believe he has maturity issues, but more importantly he has many flaws on the field. He does have a competitive spirit and brings plenty of fan appeal. While that doesn’t translate much to your fantasy team, it will get him plenty of opportunity. At 2.10 he seems like a bargain. While I’m not much of a believer in his abilities, I’m all for taking high upside guys late in the second round.
My thoughts: There really isn’t much I can tell you about Manziel you don’t already know. He’s one of if not the highest profile player in this draft because of the confidence (cockiness?) and charisma (arrogance?) he possesses. Opinions are all over the board on him and no one will be able to tell you what he’ll end up becoming. He might be the biggest wildcard at the quarterback position since Tim Tebow. Someone will gamble big on Manziel at the NFL level. I’m not willing to gamble on him until about this point in fantasy drafts regardless of where he gets drafted.
2.11 – Donte Moncrief, WR Ole Miss
Dan’s thoughts: I only watched Moncrief play once, but I was impressed. He caught six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl in what turned out to be his last game for Ole Miss. After a standout season as a sophomore, he hauled in 59 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns in 2013 before deciding to forego his senior season with the Rebels. I’m not sure if this is where he’ll end up being taken in rookie drafts, but I feel good about selecting him here in January and look forward to watching more of him in the coming months.
My thoughts: At 6’3” and 225 pounds, Moncrief is a big bodied receiver. Unfortunately for him, his draft stock fell throughout his junior season as he didn’t take the next step and might have even taken a step backwards from his sophomore year. He has excellent speed and quickness for his size, but he isn’t very polished in the finer arts of playing the wide receiver position. He was inconsistent this year and also struggled anytime he was asked to run a route that took him away from the sideline. He’s likely to get a lot of press at the combine due to his size and speed, but the more interesting part will be how he looks running the routes since he didn’t do much of that at Ole Miss.
2.12 – Paul Richardson, WR Colorado
Scott’s thoughts: Size is again an issue. Richardson is 6 ft 1 inch, and 170 lbs. He also suffered an ACL injury that wiped out his 2012 season. Still, Richardson is a play-maker. He had at least one 50+ yard reception in half his games last season. Plus, he made a beautiful one-handed catch against Oregon that showed off his hands. I’m not sure he will translate to the NFL, but at 2.12, I’ll take a shot on his upside in a pass-happy NFL.
My thoughts: If you like quick twitch, explosive athletes, then you need to keep an eye on Richardson. He can fly with the ball in his hands. The best part is that he might not have been back to top form this past season. The problem is that with his current build I find it pretty difficult to think he’s going to play receiver in the NFL. He would get utterly destroyed by NFL corners. Unless he can bulk up a bit without losing speed, I think he is destined to be a star returner but nothing else.
That’s it for round two! The third and final round, where we see a lot of our favorite fliers to keep an eye on, will be coming up tomorrow.
- 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
