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2015 RCF Mock Draft - End of Round 3

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With the 85th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Doran Grant, Cornerback, THE Ohio State University.

GRADE
5.45
doran-grant-ncaa-football-national-championship-ohio-state-vs-oregon.jpg

Doran Grant (CB)
HT: 5'10" WT: 200LBS.

POSITION: CB

SCHOOL: Ohio St.

ARM LENGTH: 30 1/4"

HANDS: 9 3/8"


Overview
2014: First-team All-Big Ten. Started all 15 games. 2013: Started all 14 games. 2012: Played in all 12 games, making one start vs UAB. 2011: Played in all 13 games.


Pro Day Results

Vertical jump: 35 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches
Three-cone drill: 4.18 seconds
20-yard short shuttle: 7.04 seconds


COMBINE STATS
  • 40 YARD DASH: 4.44 SEC
  • BENCH PRESS: 21 REPS
  • VERTICAL JUMP: 33.0 INCH
  • BROAD JUMP: 116.0 INCH
  • 20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.33 SEC

ANALYSIS
Strengths
Bends with adequate base in press and able to delay inexperienced receivers with his hands. Has adequate acceleration to the throw, slapping and ripping at hands and arms during catch. Intelligent on field. Rarely fooled by route concepts. Zone aware and maintains leverage. Senses screens and flies in looking for work. Active in run support and won't miss many once he's there. Aggressively chops down running backs.

Weaknesses
Small to play outside. Can be overpowered by big receivers. Feet and hips can get clunky when asked to open and run out of press. Lacking speed to stick with true vertical threats. Must improve feel and contact with wide receivers on crossers. Allows too much separation when forced to chase across field. Upright, tight backpedal, stalling at the top when transitioning forward.

Draft Projection
Round 3

Bottom Line
Boundary corner with press responsibilities in college but might lack the necessary size to play outside and athleticism to star in a primarily man-based scheme in the pros. Grant plays the ball well and is smart, with a willingness to tackle. Could be headed to the slot with a more zone-based defense.

Next up is @AZ_
 
The Arizona Cardinals select:

Jay Ajayi - RB - Boise State University

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OVERVIEW
Only player in FBS history with 1,800 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in a single season. Tied for second in school history with 50 career rushing touchdowns. Set school records in rushing yards and touchdowns. In 2014, named third-team AP All-American and first-team All-Mountain West. In 2013, named first-team All-Mountain West. Played in 11 games in 2012 averaging 6.68 yards per rush. Was a redshirt in 2011. In high school, named second-team All-State rushing for over 2,000 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior. Tore ACL during his 2011 redshirt season. Arrested in 2011 for stealing sweatpants and struggled to get out of coach's doghouse. Born in England.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

Good size and great feet. Former soccer player with sudden feet. Able to string together multiple moves at a time. Varies speeds as a runner and can call on second gear when he sees daylight. Hips and feet always in sync thanks to soccer background. Shows enough wiggle to make defenders miss and can create and improvise if creases aren't offering much. Runs with wide base and generates leg drive to push. Plays with bend and bursts through the hole with low pad level. Reliable yards-after-contact back. Accelerates into contact on second level. True weapon out of backfield with adequate hands and good feel for maximizing each catch in space. Twists and turns and fights to fall forward. Asked to be physical, downhill runner between tackles and he obliged. Shows good blitz recognition. Showed mental toughness and character, coming back from deep in the doghouse for October 2011 arrest.

WEAKNESSES

Gets too cute at times looking to sift laterally from gap to gap as he approaches line of scrimmage. Needs to run with more urgency to perimeter. Can get out-flanked when opportunity to turn corner was previously available. Average feel through the hole. Runs into defenders he should be able to avoid. Heavy workload in 2014 with 398 total touches (28.4 per game). Ball-security concerns with 11 fumbles over last 597 carries. Pass-protection technique needs improvement. Tore his ACL in 2011. Was arrested for stealing sweatpants in 2011 and faced long road of severe punishment from then-coach Chris Petersen.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Round 2

SOURCES TELL US

"Of all the backs in this draft, Ajayi might be my favorite because he can do everything you want from a back and you don't have to find a complementary back to pick up the slack for him in any one area." -- AFC scout in charge of grading running backs "I think he's just a stick mover. I don't see anything special about him. I wouldn't take him any earlier than the 3rd." - NFC East scout

NFL COMPARISON

Mikel LeShoure

BOTTOM LINE

Ajayi's running style and body type are very similar to LeShoure's coming out of college, but LeShoure didn't have the football character to make it in the league. Ajayi features an improving stiff arm and physicality that has become his calling card. Ajayi has the ability to play all three downs while mashing in short yardage and near the goal line. Scouts have been quietly circling Ajayi as a second-tier running back who offers good value on the second day of the draft.


@TheLand1287 up next.
 
Is he drinking pickle juice?!? @AZ_
 
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Vlasick should be on this dude like Skittles was on Marshawn Lynch.

Jay Pickles takes it in for six!
 
There are a lot of fake mock draft GMs who are gonna lose their jobs for passing on Ajayi. Great value pick on the third best back in the draft.
 
Yep, my bad, looked at the person after me next pick.

@Bonnern is up.
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers select:

Markus Gordon, defensive end from Missouri University

GRADE
5.42

Markus Golden (DE)
HT: 6'2" WT: 260LBS.
POSITION: DE
SCHOOL: Missouri
ARM LENGTH: 31 1/8"
HANDS: 10 1/2"

Overview
2014: Second-team All-SEC. Started 13 games. 2013: Played in all 14 games as the primary backup to Michael Sam. 2012: Played in all 12 games. Served primarily on special teams. 2011 (at Hutchinson Community College): Redshirted. 2010 (at Hutchinson CC): Second-team KJCCC All-Conference. Started all 12 games at linebacker.

Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 4.74 and 4.76 seconds
Vertical jump: 28 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 2 inches
Short shuttle: 4.57 seconds
3-cone: 7.38 seconds
Bench: 17 reps of 225 pounds
COMBINE STATS
40 YARD DASH: 4.90 SEC


Strengths
Plays with toughness and is a fighter. Turns effort switch on and it stays on. Can set and hold the edge against the run. Stays alive in pursuit and has extended motor down the field. Holds his ground at the point of attack. Shows good awareness and locates the ball quickly. Has strength in his hands. Heavy tackler.

Weaknesses
Plodding, straight-line player. Lacks average get-off after the snap. Limited tackle range -- has to have the play near him. Doesn't use hands to shed and win often enough. Mostly a bull-rusher. Effort pass rusher who doesn't have a pet pass-rush move. Stiff and must gear down to change direction. Lacks closing burst to finish off his pass rushes. Doesn't seriously threaten outside shoulder of right tackle very often.

Draft Projection
Round 4

Sources Tell Us
"He plays hard and he's very tough, but where is the productivity? Usually with big effort guys we have to sift through big production numbers and figure out how much of it is translatable. With Golden, there just isn't as much production as you expect. I had a higher grade on him last year." -- AFC national scout

Bottom Line
Golden is a square-number pass rusher, meaning there isn't much twist, turn and torque to his game. He comes off the ball with a purpose, but scouts don't see the explosive traits they want from a pass rusher. Golden is primarily an effort and pursuit player with special-teams potential, but he doesn't fill up a stat sheet.
 
With the 88th pick in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Marcus Hardison, DT, Arizona State.

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Grade: 5.57

Analysis
Strengths
Consistently times snap, and has the quick twitch to turn this trait into a quick penetration and win from inside. Has good arm length. Understands how to keep blockers away from his frame as pass rusher and brings force behind his hands. Rarely square as a pass rusher, using shoulder and hip turn to get skinny and turn corner. Good hand fighter. Comes out of stance with low pad level and looks to capture an edge against the run. Puts something behind his tackles. Showed rapid improvement from midpoint of season all the way through Senior Bowl week.

Weaknesses
Natural defensive end who is still learning new position and vantage point. Inconsistent knee bend at contact as interior rusher, causing pad level to rise and knocking him off balance. Lacks strength in lower body and gets pushed around by plus run blockers when asked to hold the point. Gets redirected a little too easily at times when stunting. Fires off ball with head low and doesn't see cut blocks coming. Leans into run blockers rather than
bringing hips and feet with him.

Sources Tell Us
"Really, really quick for a big man. If you would have told me in October that he would end up with all that production and showing out at Senior Bowl practices, I would have thought you were crazy. It just started click for him." -- NFC area scout

NFL Comparison
Henry Melton

Bottom Line
A defensive end turned three-technique in a 4-3 defense with outstanding initial quickness off the snap and the hands and feet to be a disruptive, upfield player against plodding guards. Hardison needs more muscle in his lower body and is unlikely to fit defensive schemes looking for stack-and-shed interior defenders. Hardison has starting potential and might be able to come in as a situational pass rusher early on.

Reason for Pick
The Lions interior defensive line took a big hit this offseason with the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. The Lions brought in Haloti Ngata to help fill the void, but they are still facing depth issues along the interior of their line.

Hardison played DE for most of his college career and showed good pass rush skills. He moved to DT and continued to thrive. He possesses tremendous strength and agility for a guy his size, but he has a long way to go in learning the proper way to play DT. He can overpursue at times and his motivation has been questioned.

Hardison is a boom or bust prospect, but having Ngata there to help groom him could be fortuitous. Two years ago, the Lions took another boom/bust defensive lineman in Ziggy Ansah, and he has developed well. I think the Lions would be willing to take a calculated risk on a player like Hardison, as well.

@MGMT and the Carolina Panthers are on the clock.
 
MGMT asked me to step in and make the Panthers pick:

Ty Sambrailo - OT - Colorado State
 
With the 90th pick in the RCF Mock Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select...
Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (FL)

8aOFaYB.jpg



Strengths


Takes the top off the defense and throws it in the trash. Elite explosiveness. Gets to top speed quickly and is a seamless glider on crossing routes, leaving man-to-man defenses in his wake. Can work outside and from the slot. Elevates and attacks contested catches. Outstanding body control and can adjust to the ball in mid-air. Mind-boggling big-play production with half of his catches going for 25-plus yards in 2014. More than just a vertical-only receiver and has the blazing feet and stop-start to beat zone coverage for big plays.

Weaknesses

Had partial tear of MCL in 2013. Still raw in his routes, relying on pure speed. Inconsistent with his hand placement to catch and lets the ball get on top of him. Small frame and will have to withstand hits over the middle as a slot receiver.

NFL Comparison

T.Y. Hilton

Bottom Line

Dorsett is an ascending prospect who has averaged more than 25 yards per catch since 2012. He can challenge teams vertically inside or outside and he has home-run potential after the catch as a slot receiver. With smaller wide receivers like T.Y. Hilton and Antonio Brown proving that small and fast can win in the NFL, Dorsett should be coveted by more than one team and has the potential to turn into a star in the NFL.

My Logic


I was entirely prepared to go DB but I just don't know that there's a lot of value there at this slot given the DBs left. I expected Dorsett to go a while ago and didn't think he'd still be on the board in the late 3rd so taking a page from Ozzie's draft playbook, I'm going with my BPA. Even after drafting DGB, the Ravens could still use more help at WR, especially given that Steve Smith probably has no more than 1-2 years left. Dorsett can easily operate out of the slot until Smith retires and then potentially move outside in a year or two. Dorsett has true elite home run speed and quickness which fits fantastically with Joe Flacco's arm and Baltimore's deep passing offense and even without elite size, he should be a dynamic playmaker right away.

The Dallas Cowboys and @Phills14 are now on the clock.
 
Last edited:
Phills wanted me to drop-in for this pick.

With the 91st pick of the RCF Mock Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select...

Jeff Heuerman, TE, The Ohio State University

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Jeff-Heuerman.jpg


OVERVIEW
Started every game for the Buckeyes in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, selected second-team All-Big Ten and was honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2013. Posted a 5-catch, 116-yard, one-touchdown game against Purdue in 2013. Played in every game in 2012 with nine starts and caught his first touchdown against Nebraska. In 2011, enrolled early for spring practices and played in 10 games. Decorated high school hockey player as a youth and into high school. His father, Paul, played basketball at Michigan and his brother, Mike, played tight end at Notre Dame. Avid outdoorsman who once caught a 200-pound Tarpon.


PRO DAY RESULTS

40-yard dash: 4.8 and 4.83 seconds
Vertical jump: 34 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Has athletic traits for the position. Solid straight-line speed after the catch. Can threaten the seams vertically. Has a plus vertical leap and high-point ability as a pass-catcher. Good body control to adjust to off-target throws. Shows his numbers to quarterback. Comes from athletic family. Team captain and leader in weight room.

WEAKNESSES
Has weight-room strength, but it doesn't translate at the point of attack. Rounds off routes. Struggles to get separation at the top of the route. Lacks functional core strength. Can be rag-dolled in pass protection. Gets redirected into his routes. Struggles to win the edge as a run blocker. Limited college production.

DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 4 or 5

SOURCES TELL US
"Don't grade him off of 2014 tape, grade him off of 2013. He was able to show who he can be more in the 2013 offense." - NFL tight ends coach

NFL COMPARISON
Rob Housler

BOTTOM LINE
Heuerman's production fell off in 2014 after dealing with a foot injury and quarterback change. He is a vertical pass-catching tight end who can be moved all over the formation. Scouts seem to be unusually intrigued and excited about Heuerman's NFL potential.

Why Heuerman: There isn't a need today at TE but Jason Witten is 32 years old and going into his 13th year. It's time to address the position for when Witten is gone. Heuerman was used as a blocking TE mostly last year but he has the ability to get down the field. He will still have to develop some but with Witten still on board, I love this pick for Dallas. The Cowboys can take their time and develop Heuerman the right way without forcing him onto the field.
 
With the 92nd pick, the Minnesota Vikings select:


Rashad Greene, WR, Florida St.

Rashad+Greene+Oklahoma+State+v+Florida+State+a-REnuaxZXKl.jpg


Why:
The Vikings made Greg Jennings, the best route runner on the team, a cap casualty after they made a trade for Mike Wallace and his gaudy contract. Jennings ability to run properly timed routes and get open was a key component in the growth of Teddy Throwsevelt over the course of his rookie year. The Vikings now have an opportunity to take one of the more advanced route runners in the draft, a WR quality heavily desired by teams with young QBs. Greene now rounds out a very interesting and potentially explosive wide receiver core with Wallace, Charles Johnson (thanks again, Browns), Cordarrelle Patterson, and Jarius Wright, to go along with what is going to be a very pissed off Adrian Peterson, Kyle Rudolph, impressive 2014 draftee Jerick McKinnon, and a line that is returning its starting RG and RT after missing most of last season due to injuries. Teddy Bridgewater now has some toys to play with and grow with.

Combine Results:
Height: 5'11
Weight: 182 lbs
Arms: 31 5/8"
Hands: 9"
40 yard: 4.53 seconds
Vertical: 36.5"
3 cone: 6.88 seconds

Strengths: Has the ability to play outside and from the slot and did so in college. Creates leverage with his routes. Plus concentration over the middle and near sidelines. Can get on top of off coverage quickly. Aware of boundaries and usually makes pro catch with two feet down. Silky athlete. Hits accelerator out of breaks, creating separation. Has long speed to make defender pay on missed tackles. Has some elusiveness after the catch. Shows subtle usage of hands to help him get open. Adjusts to poor throws. No wasted motion in his routes. Scouts love his "quiet competitiveness."

Weaknesses: Thin frame. Play strength needs improvement. Not very competitive blocking. Has to get better at using body to shield defender from the ball. Allows cornerbacks to break back on the ball rather than run through him. Hand size and hand strength might be an issue. Had 7 drops his junior year. Must improve at selling all aspects of the routes. Will give routes away -- especially on intermediate throws. Scouts say he makes himself "too small" as a target. Can be outmuscled.

With that, @dkbldev and the
Colts are on the clock...
 

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