[AsthmaField]

Originally Posted by alpha

Someone's obviously confused.

Spears is the best 3-4 end in this draft, but isn't worth the #11 pick if he's playing in a 4-3 base. And Burnett is a solid 4-3 OLB, but woefully undersized to play OLB in a 3-4. Either one of these picks on their own would be great, but not both. They are not complimentary players, IMHO.

And the mock's author went on to claim, "Parcells likes Linebackers that have size and Burnett fills that bill and this pick fills a need as well." Since when did 235 lb LBs qualify as "LBs with size?" That's below avg for a 4-3 OLB, and not even close to the avg 3-4 OLB that weighs in on avg closer to 260.

I doubt very much Terrence Murphy lasts 'til #63 either.

Other than that this mock looks great.

That's the problem I saw immediately:

Spears: Ideal 3-4 DE or very average 4-3 DE.
Burnett: 4-3 OLB... something we never use first round picks on... we get them later (Coakley, Godfrey, Edwards, Myles, Norton, etc.)

So that would be idiotic to draft a DE who is average in a 4-3 and then take a LB that would only be able to play a 4-3.

Now Merriman and Spears... or Spears and Pollack... or Spears and Ware... that makes more sense for a 3-4.

Or:

Burnett and E. James... or Burnett and Merriman... those picks work for a 4-3 and make a little sense.