I love doing mock drafts. People mock me, but if nothing else it's a great way to familiarize yourself with the players. You do enough of them and you see the trends and where and when they'll likely be available or gone.
Especially this season, without a combine, many fans have forgotten the dudes who opted out. They opted out, in part because they could! The biggest problem I run across with mocks is how wide-ranging the player evaluations are from website to website. Some sites allow for trades using algorithms that make sense, with others you're better off using a Madden game in franchise mode.
But often, the real draft plays out just like the mock version. For instance, last year the Falcons were looking at the eventual replacement for Alex Mack. In every mock I did, what we needed kept coming around in the third round. Lloyd Cushenberry from LSU (who I wanted) or Matt Hennessy from Temple. Our former GM, with his aversion to SEC linemen, went with Hennesy in the third round (pick 78). He battled for but didn't win the left guard spot and later started two games at center.
Conversely, Cushenberry, taken five picks later, started all 16 games for the Denver Broncos and earned NFL All-Rookie team honors. I'm not bagging on Hennessy, let's hope he becomes the mauler his scouting report said he is. Point is, as a Falcons fan it will interesting to see how new GM Terry Fontenot plays his cards.
Now sure we could do the standard mock draft... but I don't want chalk, I want some action!
For my mock draft let's assume the Texans come to their senses and give Deshaun Watson his freedom albeit only to land in another kind of purgatory known as the Jets. Even if the Jets send Darnold to Houston like the ugly lamps ya get stuck with buying a living room set at a furniture store... they will still want a QB and with the Jets 23rd pick in the trade they can address other needs later. And maybe Seattle really isn't big enough for Pete Carroll and Rusell Wilson's egos and Ciara signs off on a trade with da Bears. And just for fun how about Jerry Jones does something crazy?
How does that affect the Falcons? Let's watch...
1. JAGS: TREVOR LAWRENCE QB CLEMSON
2. TEXANS (FROM JETS IN WATSON TRADE): JUSTIN FIELDS, QB OHIO ST.
3. DOLPHINS: JAMAAR CHASE, WR LSU
4. COWBOYS (FROM FALCONS): KYLE PITTS, TE FLORIDA
5. BENGALS: PENEI SEWELL, OT OREGON
6. EAGLES: DEVONTA SMITH, WR BAMA
7. LIONS: JAYLEN WADDLE, WR BAMA
8. PANTHERS: ZACH WILSON, QB BYU
9. BRONCOS: MICAH PARSONS, LB PENN ST
10. FALCONS (FROM COWBOYS): TREY LANCE, QB NDST
11. GIANTS: RASHAWN SLATER, OT NW
12. PATRIOTS (FROM 49ERS): PATRICK SURTAIN, CB BAMA
13. CHARGERS: CHRISTIAN DARRISAW, OT VT
14. VIKINGS: KWITY PAYE, EDGE MICHIGAN
15. 49ERS (FROM PATRIOTS): MAC JONES, QB BAMA
16. CARDINALS: CALEB FARLEY, CB VT
17. RAIDERS: GREGORY ROUSSEAU, EDGE MIAMI
18. DOLPHINS: NAJEE HARRIS, RB BAMA
19. WASHINGTON: ALIJA VERA-TUCKER, OL USC
20. SEAHAWKS (FROM BEARS IN WILSON TRADE): JAYCEE HORN, CB SC
21. COLTS: AZEEZ OJULARI, OLB UGA
22. TITANS: JAELEN PHILLIPS, EDGE MIAMI
23. TEXANS (FROM JETS): JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, LB ND
24. STEELERS: JALEN MAYFIELD OT MICH
25. JAGS: TEVIN JENKINS, OL OKST
26. BROWNS: JAYSON OWEH, EDGE PENN ST
27. RAVENS: KADARIUS TONEY, WR UF
28. SAINTS: ZAVEN COLLINS, LB TULSA
29. PACKERS: CHRISTIAN BARMORE, DT BAMA
30. BILLS: TRAVIS ETIENNE, RB CLEMSON
31. CHIEFS: SAMUEL COSMI OT, TEXAS
32. BUCS: JAVONTE WILLIAMS, RB UNC