I always like to do a mock draft with trades and this year I think there's a possibility one could actually happen. Therefore I'll go bat shit crazy with a couple trade downs to acquire more picks. Trade #1: Send 1.6 plus Sheldon Richardson to Nawlins for 1.11 and 1.32 plus conditional 2018 4th if he gets resigned (or franchised), otherwise a 2018 #6. Trade #2: Send 1.11 to Tampa for 1.19 & 2.18 Trade #3: Send Calvin Pryor to Colts for 5th round pick (5.14) Players ratings and selections based on grades and rankings listed on NFL.com. Team needs were determined to be, in order of priority, CB, OT, S, LB, WR, C, RB 1.19 (from Tampa): Jabrill Peppers, Football player/SS, MICHIGAN I thought about trading this pick again as its a perfect trade back option for someone looking to get a QB with a 5th year option. However, in a trade back scenario I love the thought of getting Peppers who can help the team win in so many ways. I wasn't sold on his ability to play safety until I saw the SB Nation breakdown of Peppers showing how he was used at Michigan. If you haven't watched it I suggest you do, it may change your mind as well. After this pick we trade Pryor for a 5th round pick. 1.32 (from Nawlins): Gareon Conley, CB, OHIO ST Conley has good length at 6' with 33" arms and he was a top performer in the 3-cone at 6.68s to go along with his 4.44 40. He isn't as hyped as his teammate Lattimore but he has a lot more experience and a higher floor imo. He will help fix the secondary as one of the best cover corners in the draft and he doesn't come with the injury history. His NFL.com comparison is Aquib Talib. 2.7: Garett Bolles, OT, UTAH I see him in a lot of mocks going in the 1st round but I don't see it. He only played 1 year at Utah after 2 years of JC and a mormon mission (he is 25). The scouting reports say he has the best feet of any tackle in the draft and good hand punch. I can see him as our LT for the next 6 years or so. I love the clip below that shows him playing through the whistle (or more). 2.18 (from Tampa): Chris Godwin, WR, PENN ST Godwin is moving up draft boards after an impressive Combine and Pro Day showed some impressive athleticism. I say let's join him up with Hack and see what they got. I also considered JuJu here but in the end I liked Godwin's mix of production and athleticism better. Plus the Hack connection. 3.6: Marcus Williams, FS, UTAH I wanted to get Josh Jones NCSt but I don't think he will be available here. The next FS in this range comes down to Williams and Justin Evans TA&M. I went with Williams because I think he's a true deep FS whereas Evans is more of a combo S. I like Williams ability to diagnose a play and react. He has some warts but I think he can pair with Peppers and Conley to completely rebuild our secondary. 3.43 (Compensatory): Jake Butt, TE, MICHIGAN This is a good value pick getting an injured Butt who likely would have gone higher had he not been injured. He is a pretty complete TE with strong hands and decent blocking ability, although at this point he's probably a better receiver than blocker. He is a willing blocker and will improve at the next level. He can work his way into being a safety blanket for our young QBs. 5.6: Brian Hill, RB, WYOMING I'm trying to find our version of Jordan Howard, a big "slow" RB taken in the 5th round who makes an instant impact. Hill isn't going to wow you with his speed or ability to cut on a dime, but he finds a lane and barrels through it with good burst. He isn't afraid of contact and runs with good pad level for a back of his size. I loved this statement about him: "Angry on every run. Doesn’t go down easily and always seems to fall forward even when he’s stopped in the backfield." 5.14 (from Colts): Michael Roberts, TE, TOLEDO Huge TE (6'4" 270lbs) who is a traditional inline TE with strong run blocking. Per PFF: "High-effort run blocker — fifth-highest average run-blocking grade per snap over the last three years in the 2017 TE draft class." Not a high volume receiver but very reliable when targeted using his huge wingspan (33" arms) and strong hands (11.5"). He'll be a great compliment to Jake Butt and create a formidable RZ pair. 6.7: John Toth, C, KENTUCKY Toth was a 4 year starter in the SEC and overcomes athletic limitations with toughness. He was the top graded interior lineman during SR Bowl practices and again during the game. He may not start right away but he will eventually be our starting C. This pick has Macc written all over it. 7.6: Jalen Robinette, WR, AIR FORCE He is a very large man at 6'3" 220lbs from a run first offense. He made the most of his limited opportunities and showed the ability to make contested catches. There's a very good chance he's taken earlier than this but there's also a chance he's available here given his lack of athleticism and route tree. I like how he extends his arms and catches with his hands (10 7/8" hands). Also his 3-cone time of 6.77s is really good for dude his size.
You had me at 10 picks before you took anybody, effectively 8 for this year with Richardson and Pryor exiting but 9 overall with the conditional next year. I think we might do better than a 5th for Pryor. Maybe up to a 3rd or so for the right team looking for an in the box SS.
I like the trade downs and most of your picks, but Jabrill Peppers? Seriously? I'm sorry, but that is just awful imo. He doesn't have a position and is strictly a luxury pick for a team that is already set. That is probably THE worst pick the Jets could possibly make. I'd take two more 3-4 DTs/DEs over Peppers. SMH
I stopped reading after Peppers and Conley lol. I just don't like Peppers and what are the Jets gonna do with him. We have too many holes to fill and this is creating one more.
Concerning Peppers, he does have a role, and he's not a tweener. He's a SS. He also can play nickel CB, but this is more schematic advantage than his full time job. He is the same weight as Jamal Adams, but slightly shorter. He's arguably more athletically gifted and a bigger hitter, but also somewhat more difficult to evaluate because of how Michigan used him. The way I see it, if the Jets took Peppers, it's because they are replacing Pryor. I don't really buy the argument that he doesn't have a position. Sent from my KIW-L24 using Tapatalk
Peppers is a perfect fit for a team who blitz's. He would become a slot CB 40% of the plays because of our blitz packages
Agreed. This is also very useful against teams like the Patriots that like to run the hurry up offense. Instead of getting caught with your pants down trying to make a package substitution, Peppers allows the Jets the freedom to keep personnel on the field yet still shift alignment. He'd actually be a great fit for what Bowles wants defensively. Sent from my KIW-L24 using Tapatalk
If the Jets could utilize him, I think he's a great player, and a difference-maker and the more of them you have, the better.
Peppers is the kind of player I'd hate to see on the Pats but that I know the Jets could not turn into a big player. He's a project unless you just identify his best position and stick him there and there is no way the Jets would manage to do that. Based on what I saw out of him I'd either put him at SS or Nickel and have him return punts. There's a real chance he could grow into an outside corner but his speed is a bit of an issue and he'd be wasted in anything but a press man scheme.
I don't see Peppers ever playing corner on the outside. I think one of the skills he has that makes him exceptional is short area burst and change of direction. He'd be great in a blitzing defense (like the Jets) because he'd allow the defense to mask their intentions. He has the requisite speed and agility to cover a slot WR while the defense screams in. But at the same time, if he lines up over the slot he doesn't even need to cover that guy. He could blitz out of the nickel or shade off into a disguised coverage. He's not a pure safety like Adams and for that reason I think he'll go after. But I think he offers a lot of schematic benefits to the right team. Sent from my KIW-L24 using Tapatalk
I stopped reading after the 1st trade down. No way that happens without the Jets receiving more picks.
I really don't want the Jets to entertain him in the 1st round but I'd be very happy if he fell through to the 2nd. Lots of talent there and then on top of that intangibles and that's where intangibles are valuable when they come attached to lots of talent in the first place.
Teams are starting to use the pure value charts also not just the JJ charts. For a rebuilding team if the choice is no trade down or a pure value trade down the latter is often more appealing. It can go wrong also, but having more tickets in the lottery is generally the better choice.
I'm with you to an extent. I don't think Peppers will get anywhere near the second round... In my eyes he's a first rounder for certain. That being said, I'd only entertain the thought of drafting him in a trade down scenario. The other player I seem to value more than others on this board, Christian McCaffrey, is another player people aren't sure is going top 15 or early 2nd round. Personally I think Peppers and McCaffrey are both solid first rounders, but given a choice between the two I'm taking McCaffrey every day of the week. And if we trade down we'll have other interesting options at OL, EDGE, and CB. Hell, even Mahomes if the Jets believe he has special talent and a good likelihood of realizing that talent. Sent from my KIW-L24 using Tapatalk
