Post-Combine Rookie Mock Draft, Round Two
The whirlwind that is the NFL Combine has come and gone. We’ve let the dust settle a bit and all of us have had enough to reflect upon what we have learned. For many, the NFL combine is the first time we get to actually see the 2014 NFL class, which also means it’s a time when opinions about players can (and often do) change in drastic ways.
What makes it even more fun is we all look for different pieces of the puzzle when we look at the combine. Some look at body type and size, others look at the way a player is put together, a few of us are all about the numbers and data while there are still others who like to make note of the way a player moves or catches the ball. No matter what it is that impresses you the most, your opinions are probably different now than they were a month ago in the days leading up to the combine. For that reason, we bring you another edition in our series of DLF Team rookie mock drafts.
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. From time to time we will disagree on a player. I’ll be the first to admit that we, and especially me, will get a few of these players wrong. It happens! Keep in mind opinions about the players are very fluid and continuing to change as we do more analysis and more research.
Feel free to share your thoughts about any of the players. The next rookie mock will be held in late April and early May, just prior to the 2014 NFL Draft. If you want to take a look back at previous mock drafts, here are the links for you:
Pre-Combine Mock: Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3
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 – Charles Sims, RB West Virginia
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.01
Scott’s thoughts: I like Sims. He reminds me a bit of Matt Forte. He is an excellent receiver, has good size for the position and good speed as shown by his 4.48 second 40-yard dash. He does have small hands, but it didn’t stop him from catching 200+ passes in four years.
My thoughts: Sims is quickly turning into a DLF staff favorite with several of us leading the bandwagon right now. I think he definitely belongs in the top five running backs and is higher in my personal rankings than a few of the backs taken in the first round of this mock. The comparison we keep hearing is Matt Forte because Sims is so prolific in the passing game. As I’ve said before, he is a little bit smaller than Forte and goes down more easily, but his ability in the passing game definitely fits. He has a nice showing at the combine and I think his versatility will make him at least a top five running back by the time the draft rolls around.
2.02 – Donte Moncrief, WR Ole Miss
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.11
Brian’s thoughts: Moncrief is a little more raw than many of the players taken in round one, but his upside is significant and he has the body to be a true WR1 in the NFL. His 6’2” 221 lb. frame coupled with an official 4.40 forty yard dash (third among wide receivers), 39.5” vertical (fourth among wide receivers) and 132 inch broad jump (first among wide receivers) make him a physically gifted wide receiver. Moncreif has the ability to be special at the next level, but will need to be coached up. He is only going to be 21 at the start of the 2014 NFL season and has time to mature. He may end up in the late first round of rookie drafts in the right situation. I love his upside and I feel his best football is ahead of him.
My thoughts: A true size/speed freak at the wide receiver position, Moncrief has a lot of the key assets that can’t be taught to a wide receiver. The issue is he has almost none of the assets that can be taught. He is one of the rawest receivers in this class, but if he lands on a well-run team, especially one with an established veteran to show him the ropes, he could turn into a solid starter in a year or two. If you’re drafting Moncrief, you need to be very patient. He isn’t going to do much as a rookie and maybe not even as a second year player, but the raw talent is there.
2.03 – Kelvin Benjamin, WR FSU
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 1.09
Jeff H’s thoughts: I wasn’t necessarily planning on a second receiver early in the second round, instead believing one of the quarterbacks would fall. Well, the quarterbacks did fall, but Benjamin remained on the board. There is just no way he should be on the board at 2.03. Zero. In fact, Benjamin was firmly in the mix for my 1.03 selection. He’s a huge specimen at 6’5″, 240 lbs. He has 10 1/4″ hands. Many were scared off due to speed concerns but Benjamin posted a 4.61 forty. While he posted the slowest mark of any of my top 12 rookie receivers, his size and catch radius more than make up for this time, which is NOT historically bad. Receivers such as Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were in the 4.70 range, give or take. I expect Benjamin to be a late first round selection come May and if he slips to the bottom of your first round, don’t question it, just make the selection.
My thoughts: Like Jeff, I was surprised Benjamin slipped into the second round of this mock draft. For me, he rounds out the bottom of my second tier in this draft, which would put him as my ninth or tenth best player overall. He isn’t fast nor agile when compared to most receivers, but at his size you don’t need to be. Someone with his size is going to be used by an NFL team. I don’t know if I see a consistent starter when I look at Benjamin, but I do see someone who will have a role, be involved and be given a chance to grow. He has the size of Megatron, it is just too bad he doesn’t move like him.
2.04 – Bishop Sankey, RB Washington
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 1.11
Ken’s thoughts: In a draft full of question marks at the running back position, I actually like Sankey more than most. He’s not the fastest running back in this class, nor is he the best pass catcher, red zone threat, short yardage player or the most dynamic.
So, what gives?
To me, Sankey has one thing coaches are going to love in the NFL – toughness. On the season, Sankey averaged over 25 carries per game, dispelling the notion his size (5’10”, 200 lbs.) limits his ability to be a workhorse. In fact, he had three games last season with at least 24 carries and he averaged a healthy 190 rushing yards in those contests.
Sankey is no volume runner and should be a nice producer at the next level. He’s a complete player with few distinct strengths, but also no apparent weaknesses.
My thoughts: Throughout most of the draft process so far I’ve been a little higher on Sankey than most. Detractors of Sankey will point out he really doesn’t excel at much of anything. He is more of a jack of all trades kind of running back. He reminds me a bit of Le’Veon Bell or Zac Stacy in that regard. In the right situation, Sankey could be a very solid asset. I would actually rather have him over more highly regarded prospects like Carey or Seastrunk right now.
2.05 – Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.03
Derek’s thoughts: Even though the hype surrounding Bridgewater has died down a bit, I still believe he’ll end up being an important fantasy quarterback in the coming years. With all of my targets at receiver off the board and with a general disinterest in this class of running backs, I’ll take the best quarterback available.
My thoughts: The first quarterback goes off the board in the middle of the second round, which sounds about right in traditional one quarterback leagues. I also think it is right that Bridgewater is the first one drafted. Even with all of the media reports questioning the quality of the quarterbacks, I still think Bridgewater is the best of the bunch. He has the skill set you want and can run a team effectively. I don’t see a super high upside for him, but he’s the safest and a likely QB2 in fantasy leagues after a few years. Imagining a player with Eli Manning or Philip Rivers-type of production is a fair expectation.
2.06 – Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 1.12
Dan’s thoughts: Until a few weeks ago, Amaro was my top-ranked tight end. He’s athletic enough to play in the slot, runs very good routes and is excellent at making contested grabs. Many have mentioned his off the field history as a red flag, but from what I’ve read, it sounds like teenage mistakes. Although I moved Eric Ebron ahead of him in my rankings (I chose him in the first round), I’m thrilled to take him in the middle of round two.
My thoughts: Like Dan, I had Amaro first in my tight end rankings by a small margin and flip flopped him with Ebron after the combine. The gap between the two is very small, but I see them as different types of tight ends. As mentioned in round one, I picture Ebron as a Julius Thomas-type while Amaro is more of a Jason Witten or Owen Daniels-type of tight end. He’s more of the bigger body who uses positioning to defeat defenses. He is still athletic, it just isn’t on the same level as Ebron.
2.07 – Jeremy Hill, RB LSU
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.04
My thoughts: I expected Hill to go into the combine and light it up. Instead he went in and looked very average with a 4.66 second 40-yard dash and very underwhelming jumps. It was a big disappointment and given his character issues, it could be a major hit to his value. It will be interesting to see if he can improve on his numbers at his pro day. If he cannot, he’s going to fall further down my rankings.
Using hindsight, this was probably a bit too early for Hill given his performance at the combine, but this could be the start of the fourth tier in this draft with the first tier being the first two picks, the second bring the next six to eight, and the third tier running from the late first through the middle of the second round. The combine left more questions about Hill than answers.
2.08 – Isaiah Crowell, RB Alabama State
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 3.01
Jarrett’s thoughts: I was actually surprised he fell to me here, as I’ve seen this athletic freak go much higher as he seems to be widely regarded as most physically gifted running back in this class. Character concerns will push him down both in the NFL and rookie drafts, but he has all the makings of a high upside later pick.
My thoughts: Opinions on Crowell will be all over the board on draft day. The character concerns are one of the highest in the entire draft, but so is his raw talent. By the time the NFL draft rolls around, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Crowell being discussed as a late first round fantasy pick by some while others are viewing him as a third round pick. From a physical standpoint, he has what it takes outside of the passing game, where he wasn’t used. It isn’t clear if he can and just didn’t or if he actually can’t play a role in that aspect of the game. His effort is also questionable. If he can keep his nose clean and actually try, he is going to be a steal for NFL teams and fantasy owners alike.
2.09 – Tre Mason, RB Auburn
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 1.07
Ghost’s thoughts: His dad was in De La Soul, I mean come on! Who couldn’t select him? In all seriousness, Mason is very shifty and can work his way through holes very well. His size may limit his time on the field, but I have faith his production will make up for it.
My thoughts: This was quite the drop from his 1.07 selection in our pre-combine mock draft. I think it is a product of just how vast the opinions are on Mason. Some look at him and his solid production at Auburn and see a future starter in the NFL. Others look at his size and style and think he’s going to struggle at the next level. He showed nice explosiveness at the combine during the drills, but I’m still torn on him transitioning to the NFL. Earlier I compared him to a smaller Montee Ball without the passing game skills and I still think that fits.
2.10 – Devonta Freeman, RB Florida State
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.07
Jaron’s thoughts: A solid blocker with great ability as a pass catcher, at the very least Freeman should be an effective third-down running back in the NFL. I’m not expecting the Brian Westbrook comparison to necessarily come to fruition, but it gives us an idea on the type of his skill set he possesses. He could be part of a RBBC, but most running backs after the top tier will be. At the end of the second round, Freeman seems most likely to be trusted early on given his third-down abilities.
My thoughts: Honestly, I haven’t really spent a lot of time looking at Freeman. It isn’t because I’m lazy, it’s more because every time I look at him, I don’t really see anything of note. He just seems very ‘blah’ to me. He is a lot like Sankey in that he doesn’t excel at anything except Sankey does everything better than Freeman does. I expect Freeman to be a committee back for his career, maybe getting a shot at a starting role due to injury, but I don’t ever see him as more than a flex play in fantasy leagues. He’s likely to have a long career as the second back on a team.
2.11 – Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TE Washington
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 2.09
Jeff B’s thoughts: Despite the red flags which deservingly surround Seferian-Jenkins, I still believe he’s the best tight end prospect in this draft class. As they say, you can’t coach size, and ASJ (6′,6″, 270 pounds) has plenty of it and then some. He’s been hampered by an injury thus far in the draft evaluation process, but once he’s healthy, I expect he’ll test out very well. He might not have the athleticism or as high of a ceiling as Eric Ebron, but it’s very difficult to imagine a scenario where ASJ doesn’t become a very productive NFL and fantasy player.
My thoughts: Jeff is way higher on ASJ than I am. He is a very distant third in my tight end rankings behind the top two players. The foot isn’t a major concern for me from a long term perspective. I’m much more concerned about his desire and effort to be a top player in the NFL. He has the physical tools, but I don’t know if he has the mental maturity or the drive to push himself to develop the skills he needs. I think it is actually fairly likely he could bust just because he doesn’t want to put in the effort. He could also turn into another Brandon Pettigrew where the physical talents are there, but very average drive limits the upside.
2.12 – Jarvis Landry, WR LSU
Pre-Combine Mock Draft Selection: 3.04
Jeff M’s thoughts: Following a disastrous combine (4.77 (!), 40), I likely took Landry earlier than I should have. But because I wasn’t so sure he’d be there at the end of the third, I went for it. Bad 40 time aside, Landry is perhaps the most polished receiver in this class. He is a great route runner with very good hand, plus run blocking ability and shows an aggressive fearlessness over the middle and in the red zone. Landry’s ceiling isn’t super high, but the floor isn’t very low. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race.
My thoughts: Landry has good size and is a very polished receiver in terms of route running and catching the ball, but the combine showed some glaring holes in his resume. Landry just isn’t physically on par with other NFL receivers. He is slow just about any way that you slice it from straight line speed to getting in and out of his breaks, to just about anything else. I think his ceiling might be as depth on an NFL team as someone who could possibly be the third or fourth receiver, but that might be about it.
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
