Mock draft 2.0 takeaways

By: Josh Frey-Sam

One of the fun things about the post-free agency mock draft is it always feels like I’m learning each team’s roster all over again.

With all my research on each team, it takes a few hours for me to get through a draft in total.

I know that’s a long time, but I try to be thorough so I can deliver what I believe is the most realistic mock possible.

I will have two more official mocks before draft night, but in between I will also toy around with some other ideas on how I think things could shake out (I have one scenario where Abdul Carter falls to the Jaguars at fifth overall).

For now, let’s talk about Frey-Sam 2.0 and some takeaways that I had.

Positional breakdown: 3 QB, 3 RB, 4 WR, 2 TE, 2 IOL, 3 OT, 3 IDL, 5 EDGE, 2 LB, 4 CB, 1 S

CLE passes on a QB: Keep in mind the Browns pick at 33rd overall (first pick of the second round). If my mock extended to the second round, you would have seen Louisville QB Tyler Shough selected there (check out my breakdown on Shough if you haven’t already).

Tetairoa McMillan slides (even further): It wasn’t long ago that Tet was viewed as a consensus top-10 pick. He’s not bad all of a sudden, it’s more that the view on him has changed. I think it’s a combination of others having good springs and his tape showing that there’s a bit more to be desired. One thing is the lack of separation he generates. He’s not the fastest guy and he relies on his big frame to be the difference. Sometimes that can work, but less so in the NFL. He has a lot of tools to be a big-time weapon and potentially a team’s No. 1, but it’s a bit much to be worth of a top 10.

Loveland: I have Colston Loveland going 18 to the Seahawks, but, seriously, he could go top 15. I mean it when I say he’s going to have an immediate impact in the NFL. He absolutely should be on your fantasy radar already. And who knows, maybe he’s the top TE taken when it’s all said and done.

Trades: I only had one — the Saints trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart at 24th overall (formerly the Vikings pick) — but there will likely be more on draft night. The reason it’s tougher to predict trades that don’t involve QBs is because we just have no idea how each team ranks these players. For example, I say IOL Grey Zabel will be highly coveted on draft night. I have him going at 12, but maybe the teams in that range view him differently. If he slides for some reason, I absolutely could see a team trade-up for him.

Three QBs: Call me crazy but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a world in which a team is absolutely in love with Tyler Shough and they trade back into the first round to get him. Would Clevland potentially jump back in to ensure they leave this draft with a QB if they do, in fact, take Adbul Carter at 2nd overall?

Favourite pick: Omarion Hampton to the Broncos. The fit is perfect, and it really feels like Hampton could be similar to what Saquon Barkley was to the Eagles a season ago— that piece to the puzzle that really unlocks the offence.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh