Final Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Two
With the amount of time until the NFL Draft kicks off now a matter of hours instead of weeks you can feel the excitement in the air anytime you talk with a football fan. That excitement is multiplied many times over if the fan happens to be an avid dynasty player like all of you. There are few times more exciting! A lot has happened since the combine back in February. There have been pro days, news reports, further evaluation and of course the hype train.
In order to help give you an idea of what all of this has done, I’m back with 11 other writers to bring you another mock draft. This is not meant to be a rookie ADP (Scott Fish has that covered for you) but rather a more detailed look at how our knowledgeable writers view each and every one of the picks. At this point the only piece of the puzzle remaining is the all-important landing spot for all of these players. Some will undoubtedly shoot up draft boards while others will tumble down. Here is one last look without that last piece of the puzzle. Keep in mind, we all have our favorites who we like more than most right now, so there will be some disagreement on where a player should have gone, but that is part of the fun!
If you’re unfamiliar with how our mock drafts work, here is the quick rundown. Our rules for the mock draft are as follows:
- Standard PPR scoring with normal lineup requirements
- Draft order is randomly generated and no trades are allowed
- Draft the best player available without any consideration for team need or previous players drafted
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, and that’s perfectly okay. There is no group think here at DLF and sometimes we get widely different opinions on players. I’ll be the first to admit that we, and especially me, will get a few of these players wrong, especially at this early stage in the process.
If you missed the first round, you can take a look at it here.
As a whole, I’m very impressed with the value the second round provides this year. It is a testament to the depth of this year’s class. Of course several of these players will fall into the third after landing in terrible situations, but a few could also vault into the first. It is time to take a look.
2.01 – David Johnson, RB Northern Iowa
Ghost’s thoughts: Love his skillset and although I have other players ranked higher, the value here won’t be around for the next turn so I had to grab him. Johnson has excellent vision and can see a whole host of opportunities that no one can even see when the tape is slowed down, much less at the full speed he sees it. Many times those opportunities will require him to plant and make immediate cuts to take advantage of them, something he is able to do quite well. Johnson can go from a full sprint to planting and moving laterally in the span of one or two steps, an amazing feat.
My thoughts: I was a little shocked to see Johnson go with this pick given some of the other names still available at this point in time. Johnson has the size NFL teams look for in a running back, but he unfortunately doesn’t play like that size suggests. He goes down much too easily for a 225 pound running back. He has all of the measurable, but I don’t see them when I watch him on the field. The opinions are all over the board on him, but I feel the early second round is a bit too soon.
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2.02 – Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska
Scott’s thoughts: I love Abdullah’s game. He has great lateral agility and short area quickness. Combine showed his strengths as a runner, finished RB4 in bench, RB1 vertical, RB1 broad jump, RB1 shuttle and RB1 3 cone). That speaks to his game and it translates very well to the NFL of today. Great character too. I’ll gladly take him at 2.02.
My thoughts: I’ve definitely soured on Abdullah over the last few months. He lacks the size to be a full time running back in the NFL, and he has major ball security issues. He is an explosive athlete though and by all accounts a great person. The problem is he is lacking in the pass protection department. His skill set and size profiles him as a third down back and change of pace option, but if he can’t pass protect I don’t know what his role will be in the NFL. I would love to be wrong about him though, because he is dynamic with the ball in his hands.
2.03 – Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana
Jeff’s thoughts: I was one of VERY few amateur scouts who was very high on Tevin Coleman in 2014. In fact, I was hard pressed to find other mainstream coverage as I watched and followed Coleman put together a significant campaign. While he doesn’t possess elite vision and certainly not pile-moving leg drive, Coleman does possess a speed dynamic that is impossible to miss. Capable hands out of the backfield and good size provide for a high ceiling as he acclimates to the NFL, gets much stronger in the lower body and learns how to read his blocking for interior gap runs. I had Coleman as the RB3 as Melvin Gordon was breaking out and demoted him to RB4 behind Jay Ajayi as I watched more film on both backs. Even as I write this, I favor Ajayi’s power and vision over Coleman’s speed, but only if his knees are healthy – something we may not ever know (at least until it’s too late). As it stands, it’s Ajayi at 3A and Coleman at 3B for me at this juncture. A selection of Tevin Coleman here at 2.03 is impossible to pass up.
My thoughts: I almost took Coleman at the 1.10 pick, and if this were a real draft I probably would have taken him there. In other words, I think getting him at 2.03 is great value. As a graduate of Indiana University, I tend to pay a little more attention to their sports programs than most. Coleman burst onto the scene in 2013 with a touchdown in every game and 7.3 yards per carry. Unfortunately he missed the end of the season with an ankle sprain. He picked right up where he left off and then some in 2014. What people sometimes fail to realize is Coleman rushed for over 2000 yards with one of the worst passing games in all of college football last year (Indiana was 122nd). In fact, Coleman had more rushing yards than the team had passing. Everyone knew he was their entire offense and they still couldn’t stop him. His size and speed will make him a weapon in the NFL.
2.04 – Mike Davis, RB South Carolina
Doug’s thoughts: I love Davis’ versatility. He has very good hands, is flexed out on occasion and even plays some out of the wildcat. He’s a good enough blocker that he should see plenty of snaps on offense as a rookie. I know some are concerned about his weight gain and speed, but I see a productive player that good things happen when the ball is in his hands.
My thoughts: Seeing Davis come off the board was another surprise for me with a few of the players who are sliding in this mock. If this is the Mike Davis we saw in 2013, I’m on board with this pick. Unfortunately, there seemed to be quite a bit of regression in 2014. Most concerning about this regression is it seemed to be centered around his desire to play the game. He gained some weight, not the good kind either, and just didn’t seem like the same guy. He went down way too easily and just didn’t have the passion you want. It doesn’t matter how much talent you have, if you don’t want to be the best you’re not going to make it very far in whatever profession you are choosing.
2.05 – Devin Funchess, WR Michigan
Nathan’s thoughts: His risk is baked into his price at this pick. High risk/high reward player, but in the mid-2nd, that risk in minimal and well worth it. He won’t get passed this spot in any of my real drafts.
My thoughts: I’m definitely not a fan of Funchess but I was a little shocked to see him fall to the middle of the second round. My biggest issues with Funchess center around the idea of him wanting to play receiver. He doesn’t have the athleticism nor the hands to be an outside receiver. I think he needs to add 20 pounds of muscle and transition to the tight end position. If he does, he’ll be a mismatch for most NFL defenses and could actually be a TE1 for your fantasy team. If he’s staying as a wide receiver, I don’t think he’ll be much more than a role player.
2.06 – Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
Brian’s thoughts: I don’t normally take a quarterback this early in drafts. I feel that Winston is a safer pick than Mariota. I like his football IQ although I would love to know that he has matured off the field. If the Bucs select him first overall, he has some solid value with current pass catching options in Tampa Bay.
My thoughts: I’ve been in the Winston over Mariota camp since the beginning of the process. If he can take care of the off the field issues, he has the talent to be a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. He comes from a pro system and has an NFL arm in terms of strength and talent. He has a few footwork issues to iron out as well as some minor mechanics issues, but if he didn’t have the off the off the field issues there would be discussion of taking him in the middle of the first in rookie drafts. He’s that talented.
2.07 – Sammie Coates, WR Auburn
Dan’s thoughts: The middle of the second round is a great place to take a chance on a boom-or-bust prospect like Coates. Although he isn’t nearly as physical as you’d expect considering his size (6’-1”, 212 pounds) and his drops while at Auburn were maddening, he also possesses nice speed (4.43) and an impressive vertical (41 inches). Coates has flashed the ability to make big plays as a possession receiver and a deep threat. A rising star with massive upside, he needs to improve his consistency to reach his high end WR2 potential at the next level.
My thoughts: I’ve seen Coates go in the late first round in a lot of mock drafts, so this is great value in the middle of the second. Coates is going to be a very interesting player to watch develop. He’s a deep threat with impressive athleticism who struggles to catch the ball. He also has some problems tracking the deep ball, which is a major issue if you are a deep threat. He lacks those instincts you want in a receiver. I’m not sure if he can improve his flaws, but if he can, he’s going to be a major steal for an NFL team and your fantasy squad if he’s going in the middle of the second round.
2.08 – Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota
Eric’s thoughts: Prior to the Combine he was going off the board in the late first round. In my opinion too much was made of his performance there, and I think he’ll still be an early pick in the draft. Especially given the dearth of talent at the position this year, Williams has great value in the late middle of the second round.
My thoughts: If you need a tight end or play in a tight end premium league, there is really only one option in this year’s draft class. A lot has been made about the 2015 tight end class being very subpar, both in depth and in terms of talent. If we combined last year’s group with this year’s, Eric Ebron still would have been the top tight end in my opinion, but Williams would probably be the top tight end in the next tier. Williams still has a way to go since he is young and was underutilized in Minnesota. He won’t do much as a rookie or maybe even as a second year tight end, but give him some time to mature and he could be a lock for TE1 numbers every year.
2.09 – Devin Smith, WR Ohio State
Eric’s thoughts: I live in Ohio so I had to see this guy on my TV every weekend. The comparison is probably lazy but he reminds me so much of TY Hilton. He’s another guy whose talent isn’t as big of a factor as a landing spot. He would be an absolute perfect lid lifter for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Pairing him with Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen would be nasty.
My thoughts: When a guy produces a 4.42 second time in the 40 yard dash and it is labeled as a disappointment, it says an awful lot about his play on the field. Smith might be the best deep threat in this year’s draft class. He is a little bit on the smaller side, but he has a knack for making huge plays. How big? He averaged 28.2 yards per reception last year! I didn’t look it up, but that needs to be pretty close to a record for any receiver over 30 receptions. He needs to work on his route tree to be more than just a deep threat, but I think that will come with time. If he lands with a strong armed quarterback he could be an inconsistent WR3 as soon as this year. He’s a great middle to late second round pick.
2.10 – David Cobb, RB Minnesota
My thoughts: Cobb is easily the best running back to come out of Minnesota since the Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney combo a decade ago, and he might even be better than the latter of the two. Cobb isn’t very flashy, but he is a no-nonsense, hardnosed runner. He has good balance, a great build and powers through a lot of tackles. He is also very efficient, rarely wasting a movement or missing an open lane.
The issue for Cobb is his athletic ability. He isn’t nearly as gifted as a lot of the other running backs in this draft class. While his straight line speed is better than what he ran at the combine (he pulled a muscle during his run), he isn’t fast and will get caught from behind at time in the NFL. His lateral speed is also lacking, which might make him more of a between the tackles runner in the NFL. He does have some ability to catch the ball and showed improvement as a pass protector, but he does have a way to go with both of those skills. His landing spot will be critical, but he could be a solid RB2 in the NFL.
2.11 – Stefon Diggs, WR Maryland
Jeff’s thoughts: Following a disappointing but not disastrous combine, Diggs performed much better at his pro day. He alleviated concerns about his quickness by posting much improved shuttle times that would have ranked among the combine’s best at his position. With good quicks, hands, and an ability to create in space, Diggs profiles as a potential very good slot WR capable of trashing linebackers and safties. The issues would come if he was drafted to be an outside receiver, as his limited size and physicality will likely cause struggles against NFL corners. For me, Diggs ultimate value will be fairly dependent on where he ends up being drafted. On the right roster, in the right role, he could very well be a top-20 PPR WR.
My thoughts: After being one of the most highly sought after players in the nation coming out of high school, Diggs never lived up to the hype in college. While he did flash from time to time, he often showed a lack of determination and heart while playing. This included mental lapses, quitting on routes, not fighting for the ball, and numerous other issues. In the NFL, when there are so many talented players, heart counts a lot for me and Diggs is lacking. That’s a major red flag for me. From a talent perspective, like Jeff I think he is a slot receiver, which makes him very dependent on the system he is in. If it is a high volume passing attack, he could be a solid WR3, but the motivation is still concerning.
2.12 – Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
George’s thoughts: I have gone on record (assuming Twitter is “on record”) as saying that Mariota has top five quarterback upside. That is based on my assessment of a player who has shown extreme accuracy (68%) despite an adjusted yards per attempt (11.5) that is among the highest in the last 60 years. Add in his insane athleticism (his 6.87 three cone was faster than Kevin White) and you have a player who will provide the rushing yards that create a safe floor. The concerns are centered around a college offense that didn’t require Mariota to make complicated reads and a tendency to run when his primary option was covered. At the end of the second round, there is little risk in a guy that has all the tools but needs a year of sitting behind a veteran to develop. I also hear he is delicious as a Subway sandwich.
My thoughts: I think Mariota’s eventual ceiling and how quickly he will reach it all depends on where he ends up. He definitely has talent and his character couldn’t be any better. However, I think there will be some growing pains as he adjusts to an NFL style offense as well as NFL style defenses. If he somehow ends up with Chip Kelly, I think George is right about Mariota having top five upside at the position. Anywhere else, I don’t have him quite that high given how many other good quarterbacks there are in the NFL. Though I do think he will be successful at the next level.
That concludes our look at the second round. What about the second round surprises you? Our third and final round will be out in the next few days with some of our favorite fliers and players to watch during the draft.
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- 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
