1) #25...Michael Johnson DE/OLB GT. What he brings to the table is a nice frame and terrific measurables, he could remain 266 and play OLB, he could add 20 pds and play DE. 2)#44.. DJ Moore Vanderbilt The Cb crop is "good" this year, meaning there are several players that are very similar, if Sean Smith or D Butler were available here, they would also be worth the pick, we need a Cb who can at least cover the slot Wr at first. 3) #56..Darry Beckwith...a long time starter on some complicated LSU defenses, he has nice size, speed, and production, and he would be a great replacement for Akin Ayodele at ILB, that position is semi forgotten in our Defense, but is ripe for replacement, Crowder can't blitz, and Akin A really can't either..so why not draft a younger replacement for Akin who perhaps could blitz up the middle? 4) #89..Jaron Gilbert, we need a DE who has the tools to not only stop the run, but also to get after the Qb and disrupt in the backfield, Gilbert can do that for us in rotation, he would be an intriguing replacement for Vonnie Holiday for us. 5) Sherrod Martin Troy, small school Db who can play either Safety or Cb, he would make a fine competitior for the Dime or Nickel Coverage packages. 7) Devin Moore, a 190 pd rb from Wyoming, he runs 4.3's and can return kicks, at the least he could push for playing time on special teams. 7) Sammie Lee Hill Stillman, nice measurables, raw techinique, but the sort of player Parcel's would take late and turn into a fine NT for a decade. 7) Johnny Knox Wr Abilene Christian, small school Wr with nice measurables.
I would love the regime to draft Johnson, the sky is the limit for him indeed. Just needs to be more motivated. Also like Beckwith and almost had him on my own Phins mock.
I think a few of the guys won't be there. I don't see Sherrod Martin being in round five, more like three or early four. Jarron Gilbert is still an early second rounder in my opinion and as mentioned here before, DJ Moore might not get past 37. I know Michael Johnson is talked about a lot right now at the combine, pro day to the club level here and while he does have great measurables, he's also a great risk. Incredible talent, yes but a great risk IMO. I think that regardless of what position he plays, he is going to have to put on weight. At 266 lbs, he's getting washed out by receivers and 'backs. I saw him get absolutely cleared out of a lane by Demetrius Byrd I believe it was. He also disappears and that's well known. Puts up an incredible performance and then the next week you won't even realize he's playing.
About the only way Gilbert makes it to round 4 is to be arrested............ twice between now and the draft. A lot of teams looking for an needing 3 - 4 DE.
Mostly true Alen, that is one of the issues with taking "name" guys early, the first day it's difficult to predict or even have a feel for who is going to come off the board and when. Interestingly, if Gilbert isn't there, Sen'drick Marks is falling, he managed 16 reps at his Pro Day. As for Martin, one never knows, there are a couple of small college players who are similar to him. And there will be a Cb available at #44, who that will be is hard to say, suffice it to say the Pats may have removed themselves from the early Db derby with signing Springs and Bodden. Johnson is an enigma, he could go much earlier, he could slide back a bit, but if he's there, we will take him. He just could do too much for us to let him go by. BTW, we could also take a player like Sidbury if Gilbert is unavailable.
He's still a good player, regardless of what school he attended. I agree that there will be a CB available, I just don't know if it will be DJ Moore - the player you have in your mock and the one I was referring to. Coyie Frances could be available and I don't have any problem with that. I still think that the Patriots may select a DB early. Springs isn't a young guy anymore. Bodden has a one year deal but I do think he will have success there and who knows if they re-sign him or not. They let Asante Samuel walk because of contract demands and if Bodden has success there, he could be in the same boat. I actually wouldn't be a bit surprised if we passed on him if he was available at the twenty-fifth selection. If you have him and Clint Sintim sitting there, I'd have a hard time passing up Sintim. Or even if Sean Smith is sitting there at 25, I may take him instead of Johnson.
I'd love to have Sintim at #25, but I don't think he will still be there, he may go to Atlanta or to the Pats, we are more then likely left with prospects like Johnson or Maybin or maybe even English. Maybin is interesting, if one of our Front Office types likes him we could end up with him, he has nice potential, not as large as Johnson just from a filling out perspective. I've written that he could be a headache, but if Parcel's takes him, then a Head Coach will have cover to try and develop him. I've seen small college guys passed on fairly often Alen, last year Bryan Johnston was the small school prospect of the day and he went off the board late. A guy like Domonique Johnson could be there for example. And I would love to have Sidbury in the 4th, do you like him there or do you feel he will be gone by the 120's or whenever we have a shot?
With Michael Johnson's reported quick forty at the Georgia Tech pro day, there's probably a good chance he goes earlier than our pick and possibly knocking Sintim to us. Sintim could be a Patriot come April though, as you note. I would say that Maybin's ceiling is pretty high. Just my opinion but I would say its pretty darn high. We've all seen small school players get passed on. It happens every year. However, my point was that he won't get knocked if there's another player who is just as good as him playing at a smaller school. If anything, he may have an advantage because he played at a tougher conference. I like Sidbury a lot as well and I'd love to see the management select him in the fourth round. I think he should be in the fourth round.
