Post Combine Mock Draft

[bleachedwheat]

R1 P19 LB Leighton Vander Esch- killed the combine will start day one
R2 P50 OG Braden Smith- He also balled out at the combine, could start day one
R3 P81 FS Jessie Bates lll- If he stayed in school another year he would have went rd 1, has good range
R4 P116 WR Allen Lazard- Had the best numbers for the tall wide outs, good at tracking and high pointing
R4 P137 DT Folorunso Fatukasi- Has great size and strength, put up very good combine #'s anchor 1 tech
R5 P171 OT Joseph Noteboom- He can't jump but his agility drills were great and he was 2nd in bench
R5 P173 RB Justin Jackson- Had one of the best all around days at the combine, can be third down back
R6 P193 QB Riley Ferguson- JJ said he wants four for camp, this guy can throw the deep ball unlike Dak
R6 P208 WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling- speed kills, he definitely has it finally get a guy to stretch the field
R7 P236 LB Devante Downs- Critically under rated because of injury last year, he was a dominant force on defense for the Golden Bears and would have been Pac-12 defensive player of the year if not for the injury. My pet cat

This would fill almost every hole on the roster, the first three picks would start day 1 and everyone else besides Noteboom and Ferguson would see the field, unless there were an injury; they still add good depth.
No need to draft a TE until Witten Retires next year, CB depth already looks good especially if you hold onto Scandrick for one more year. You really don't gain much by cutting him.

 

[ThatJerryKid]

Hate it

 

[cowboyec]

Notebooms tape sucks....Id rather have Orlando Brown...his combine sucked but his tape is awesome.

 

[Techsass]

A lot of names I'm not familiar with, but I don't follow college football.

 

[Avery]

I don’t think we have room for two rookie receivers not will we draft a back. Think we need to go after a second LB earlier.

 

[Mr_437]

Combine is still going...best day is tomorrow.

 

[Ky31]

Nope!!

 

[marchetta]

Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise St

TALENT
ROUND 2

STRENGTHS
Leighton reminds me a lot of Patriots Dont’a Hightower. He’s big and tall and is an overall excellent athletic player who can play more than one position in your defensive front seven. He has improved in every game this season working and defending the middle of the field in both run and pass defenses. He is smart and takes what he learns in practice on to the field and into the game. He shows leadership qualities through his play on the field. He has improved in his recognition and tackling this season along with understanding to take better angles. Leighton shows on film the athleticism to cover those big tight ends down the field and those long arms and legs to sit on their hip of a receiver and still recover and knock the ball down. He has the size and athletic talent that is unique and has the potential to be a playmaker defensive player for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Leighton may remind me of Dont’a Hightower but his is not close to being the polished player that Dont’a was when he came out in the draft. Leighton needs to improve his upper body strength dramatically to be able to tackle and fight and shed those big more athletic guards in the NFL. Leighton’s impact position at the next level will be as an outside linebacker in a 3/4 defense and that will require him to learn much better pass rush moves and techniques that he currently has no knowledge of. Nevertheless Leighton will be attractive to all 32 teams because he has shown the ability to play more than one position and learn quickly.

BOTTOM LINE
There is a lot of athletic talent in a big body that I would think that most teams will struggle to pass on in the 1st round. Nevertheless, if Leighton is put on the field too early, he will struggle. He needs to be in a good strength and conditioning program to gain upper- body strength required for the next level. If he is moved to the outside he needs to learn better pass rush moves to become a complete player along with learning how to shed blocks better to make tackles. He has the talent, but he lacks the strength and techniques right now and teams that want to select him early in this draft will have to be patient and give him time. That being said, Leighton is the type of athletic player that can be used and impact in specialty defenses and situations and that alone could make teams want to select him early in this draft.

- Drew Boylhart (The Huddle Report) [Paraphrased]

 

[waving monkey]

The first round isnt my favorite choice. I think your guy Leighton Vander Esch is a 2nd round player.
Love the effort keep em coming

 

[bleachedwheat]

I try not to live in imaginationland like a bunch of these mocks, I make it as realistic as possible. I realize people want an awesome draft we should get Derwin James at 19 and Payne at 50 how about Vander Esch at 81 it's all ludicrous. The Steelers have already said Vander Esch isn't falling past them in the first and the Packers are interested in him too; if he falls into round two I will be very surprised. He may not be everyone's cup of tea though. If I had to change the pick in the first I would go Payne and then go LB in the fourth, Fred Warner if he is still there.

Thanks for the feedback though kidz.

 

[cowboyec]

Jesse Bates in the 3rd would be awesome.

I like LVE...dont know about 19...but I like the player.

 

[bleachedwheat]

I don’t think we have room for two rookie receivers not will we draft a back. Think we need to go after a second LB earlier.

I agree with that premise but I do expect them to sign a veteran FA LB to go along with the rookies. They need a little leadership at the inside LB position so that's why I did it this way. If I'm way off on that then yeah bring on another LB in the 4th. They will take a RB in this draft, a developmental back. Right now only 2 on the roster and Smith is on the last year of his deal.

 

[bpfred]

R1 P19 LB Leighton Vander Esch- killed the combine will start day one
R2 P50 OG Braden Smith- He also balled out at the combine, could start day one
R3 P81 FS Jessie Bates lll- If he stayed in school another year he would have went rd 1, has good range
R4 P116 WR Allen Lazard- Had the best numbers for the tall wide outs, good at tracking and high pointing
R4 P137 DT Folorunso Fatukasi- Has great size and strength, put up very good combine #'s anchor 1 tech
R5 P171 OT Joseph Noteboom- He can't jump but his agility drills were great and he was 2nd in bench
R5 P173 RB Justin Jackson- Had one of the best all around days at the combine, can be third down back
R6 P193 QB Riley Ferguson- JJ said he wants four for camp, this guy can throw the deep ball unlike Dak
R6 P208 WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling- speed kills, he definitely has it finally get a guy to stretch the field
R7 P236 LB Devante Downs- Critically under rated because of injury last year, he was a dominant force on defense for the Golden Bears and would have been Pac-12 defensive player of the year if not for the injury. My pet cat

This would fill almost every hole on the roster, the first three picks would start day 1 and everyone else besides Noteboom and Ferguson would see the field, unless there were an injury; they still add good depth.
No need to draft a TE until Witten Retires next year, CB depth already looks good especially if you hold onto Scandrick for one more year. You really don't gain much by cutting him.

I can only comment on about half the players. Vander Esch has a chance to be really good. That's not a bad pick. There are players I would prefer more, if available, but I don't have a problem with the player there.

Braden Smith tested really well at the combine, but again there are players I would prefer if they are available at 50. Billy Price could slide to 50 with his pec injury, and Isiah Wynn could possibly slide to 50 with his torn labrum. I like both of those players better, as well as Austin Corbett, than Braden Smith. I like Braden Smith, but like the other 3 better. It's possible none of the three will be there, or maybe one will. I don't have a problem with Smith, plus he looks like he might be agile enough to slide out to tackle.

I really like Allen Lazard. I personally like him more than most, having him 2nd among the big receivers, behind St. Brown. I agree with everything you wrote about him.

Noteboom has some traits that make you think he could develop into a player. That's a solid pick.

I like Jackson, and agree with your description.

I also liked what I've seen of Valdes-Scantling. He has a chance...

 

[Chuck 54]

The first round isnt my favorite choice. I think your guy Leighton Vander Esch is a 2nd round player.
Love the effort keep em coming

and where's he going to start? ahead of whom?

 

[bleachedwheat]

and where's he going to start? ahead of whom?

Jaylon Smith is moving to SAM LB so Leighton would be the Mike and Lee would stay at Will. If Lee got injured Leighton would be his back up at will and Jaylon would slide back over to Mike.

 

[waving monkey]

I try not to live in imaginationland like a bunch of these mocks, I make it as realistic as possible. I realize people want an awesome draft we should get Derwin James at 19 and Payne at 50 how about Vander Esch at 81 it's all ludicrous. The Steelers have already said Vander Esch isn't falling past them in the first and the Packers are interested in him too; if he falls into round two I will be very surprised. He may not be everyone's cup of tea though. If I had to change the pick in the first I would go Payne and then go LB in the fourth, Fred Warner if he is still there.

Thanks for the feedback though kidz.

I didn't see VEsch's combine till after I replied to your post. Your probably right.