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1st official mock draft, 2018. Pre film and college all-star games
Round 1 ) I'd prefer ILB Roquan Smith, but he'll likely be gone by our pick, so I'll go with Reshann Evans. We need a three down ILB who can tackle, limit runs, and play pass defense. Evans has excelled in all three areas.
Notes from Walter Football:
Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 231.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
1/13/18: In 2017, Evans totaled 66 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up. The senior possesses an impressive skill set with size, speed and physicality. He did well rushing off the edge for Alabama in 2017.
9/1/17: Evans was a backup in 2014 and 2015 before rotating onto the field during the 2016 season. As a junior, he totaled 53 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two passes broken up and one forced fumble. Evans has the athletic upside to grow.
Round 2 ) Safety, Deshon Elliot. Mitchell is garbage and needs to be replaced. Elliot had six interceptions; nine passes defensed, three forced fumbles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns last season. The more I read about him, the better I like him! If he runs well, a possible first round guy to consider.
Walter Football notes:
Texas
Height: 6-2. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
1/6/18: Elliott enjoyed a breakout 2017 season and was one of the nation's leaders in interceptions with six. The junior also had 63 tackles and three passes broken up. After announcing he would enter the 2018 NFL Draft, Elliott sat out Texas' bowl game.
Elliott has NFL size with good instincts. He fits as a free safety for the pro game, and sources have told me that they've given him a second-day grade. They say that Elliott lacks elite athletic ability and speed to be a first-round pick, but he makes plays in coverage and is a willing participant against the run. It would have been hard for Elliott to duplicate his production if he had returned for his senior year, so it was in his interest to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft - like he did.
Round 3. Linebacker / nickel back Jerome Baker. Our team speed is terrible at ILB. Williams is slow. Spence way too small, and Dirty red too small and slow. Baker is a blazing fast LB. Fast enough to prevent running QB's from ripping the defense, and productive in coverage. Baker also has upside as a pass rusher and has the makings of a special teams star.
Walter Football notes:
Jerome Baker*, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
1/13/18: In 2017, Baker totaled 72 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up. He didn't validate some of the preseason media hype with his play in 2017, but he displayed some potential in pass coverage, which is an in-demand trait among linebackers in the NFL.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
Rounds 4-7
Round 5A) ( san Fran's pick ) BPA DT/NT. Hargrave, stock way down
Round 5B ) RB. Conner might not be durable enough.
Round 5C comp pick for losing Timmons ) OT With Hubbard gone, we need a developmental type.
Round 6 ) BPA P. Berry isn't very good. We can upgrade here. A decent punting class
Round 7 ) KR/Speed WR. A bit of a luxury pick, but a need and this is round 7
Round 1 ) I'd prefer ILB Roquan Smith, but he'll likely be gone by our pick, so I'll go with Reshann Evans. We need a three down ILB who can tackle, limit runs, and play pass defense. Evans has excelled in all three areas.
Notes from Walter Football:
Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 231.
Projected 40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
1/13/18: In 2017, Evans totaled 66 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up. The senior possesses an impressive skill set with size, speed and physicality. He did well rushing off the edge for Alabama in 2017.
9/1/17: Evans was a backup in 2014 and 2015 before rotating onto the field during the 2016 season. As a junior, he totaled 53 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, two passes broken up and one forced fumble. Evans has the athletic upside to grow.
Round 2 ) Safety, Deshon Elliot. Mitchell is garbage and needs to be replaced. Elliot had six interceptions; nine passes defensed, three forced fumbles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns last season. The more I read about him, the better I like him! If he runs well, a possible first round guy to consider.
Walter Football notes:
Texas
Height: 6-2. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
1/6/18: Elliott enjoyed a breakout 2017 season and was one of the nation's leaders in interceptions with six. The junior also had 63 tackles and three passes broken up. After announcing he would enter the 2018 NFL Draft, Elliott sat out Texas' bowl game.
Elliott has NFL size with good instincts. He fits as a free safety for the pro game, and sources have told me that they've given him a second-day grade. They say that Elliott lacks elite athletic ability and speed to be a first-round pick, but he makes plays in coverage and is a willing participant against the run. It would have been hard for Elliott to duplicate his production if he had returned for his senior year, so it was in his interest to declare for the 2018 NFL Draft - like he did.
Round 3. Linebacker / nickel back Jerome Baker. Our team speed is terrible at ILB. Williams is slow. Spence way too small, and Dirty red too small and slow. Baker is a blazing fast LB. Fast enough to prevent running QB's from ripping the defense, and productive in coverage. Baker also has upside as a pass rusher and has the makings of a special teams star.
Walter Football notes:
Jerome Baker*, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
1/13/18: In 2017, Baker totaled 72 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up. He didn't validate some of the preseason media hype with his play in 2017, but he displayed some potential in pass coverage, which is an in-demand trait among linebackers in the NFL.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
Rounds 4-7
Round 5A) ( san Fran's pick ) BPA DT/NT. Hargrave, stock way down
Round 5B ) RB. Conner might not be durable enough.
Round 5C comp pick for losing Timmons ) OT With Hubbard gone, we need a developmental type.
Round 6 ) BPA P. Berry isn't very good. We can upgrade here. A decent punting class
Round 7 ) KR/Speed WR. A bit of a luxury pick, but a need and this is round 7
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