By Walter Cherepinsky –
@walterfootball
Feb. 18, 2014
If you missed the 50,000 or so tweets regarding Mike Mayock’s conference call Tuesday afternoon, here are some of the important things he had to say regarding the 2014 NFL Draft:
Khalil Mack runs like a safety. Explodes off the edge. One of elite edge guys in draft. I’ve yet to find a hole in his game. Top-five talent.
This is the deepest and best draft class he’s seen in 10 years.
“You can find different ‘flavors’ of running backs in the second round on. Dolphins have to hope one of those flavors is ‘good.'”
You can go three or four rounds deep this year and get a starting offensive tackle.
Mike Mayock prefers Brandon Thomas at tackle (as opposed to guard.) And Mayock projects him late 2nd round.
Nevada OT Joel Bitonio is a likely second round pick.
“My favorite nickel CB in the draft is Jason Verrett from TCU. He’s ideal for the slot. Quick-footed, tough.”
Mike Mayock said on first viewing Johnny Manziel looked like a combination of Fran Tarkenton and Doug Flutie.
Mayock on Manziel: He doesn’t like being confined. The more he was in the pocket, the more frustrated he got.
Johnny Manziel has the arm strength, ability, passion. Top-10, maybe Top 5 pick. “I believe in the kid.”
He really likes Washington running back Bishop Sankey. He wants to see Bishop Sankey catch the football in Indy. Didn’t see enough of it on tape.
�Dennard and Fuller, the two corners, I think they�re awesome but my concern with both of them is long speed.”
“Eric Ebron to me is a top 10 pick, and in today�s NFL he might even go in the top 10 just because of what he brings to the table.”
Kent State RB Dri Archer is among prospects he’s most interested in seeing perform at combine.
Ra’Shede Hageman will be a guy to watch at the Combine.Said he has “freak ability” and interested to see how he runs.
Jake Matthews safest pick in the draft.
“Taylor Lewan is a little top heavy, but he�s got a nasty finish. I think he�s very similar to Fisher and Joeckel from last year.” Mayock says Lewan is worthy of a top 10 pick. But he’s got him No. 3 on his tackle board.
Mike Mayock on Kony Ealy: “He’s not quite as athletic as Aldon Smith, but he’s a little more physical, better against the run. A 4-3 end.”
“Chris Borland is one of my two or three favorite players in the draft. He could be the Kiko Alonso of this year’s group.”
Mayock on Jared Abbrederis: Understands routes better than most receivers. Needs to get stronger. 3-4th round.
“Calvin Pryor is a bigger Bob Sanders.” Mayock says Pryor is more of a box safety while HaHa Clinton-Dix is a “complete” safety.
Mayock believes Sammy Watkins will be the only top-10 WR taken. Mayock said he’d have trouble taking Lee or Evans top 10 in this draft, but both should go top 20.
Mike Mayock said Blake Bortles is the most undeveloped among top-three QB selections.
“I think all three could fit (Bortles, Manziel, Bridgewater) the Browns depending how they feel about each individual.”
Mayock thinks Darqueze Dennard and Justin Gilbert will be gone when the Bengals are on the clock.
“I think Kyle Fuller is a first-round talent and a first-round lock with sub-4.5 40.”
“Amaro would be logical at 29. So would Hageman. I think the other top guys (at DL/TE) will be gone.” (Mayock on the Patriots’ pick)
Michael Sam is a “tweener” and that’s why people are having a hard time evaluating him for the NFL.
Mike Mayock says Michael Sam likely a third-round to fifth-round projection. “Tight-hipped, don’t think he can play linebacker.”
Mike Mayock on Jadeveon Clowney: “I know he’s got the physical makeup to be the best player in the draft.” More upside than Mario Williams.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Jets pick multiple WR this year. You can’t go wrong with Marqise Lee of Mike Evans.” (Mayock on the Jets’ pick)
“Quarterback they believe in makes most sense. They do have so many needs. Just need good football players.” (Mayock on the Raiders’ pick)
Mayock said Khalil Mack can play in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, and that if a 4-3 team takes him they have to free him up as a rusher, too.
Mayock is concerned about Jadeveon Clowney’s “mental makeup…. Is he just going to be happy to be a millionaire?”
“They need an edge guy. If Mack was sitting there, he & OT would be of interest to me. They need a new-age TE.” (Mayock on the Buccaneers’ pick)
Mike Mayock said Teddy Bridgewater is the most ready because of the offense he played in. Reads whole field, throws to all levels of field.
Mayock said he likes Tajh Boyd in the mid to late rounds. Calls him a playmaker. Needs time to develop.
Mike Mayock said he thinks South Carolina CB Victor Hampton has second round talent but may not go that early.
Mike Mayock said Utah CB Keith McGill has the ability to be a second or third round pick but needs to be more consistent.
Scott Crichton is a “poor man’s Chris Long.”
Mike Mayock says he’d be surprised if Eric Ebron is still there for Ravens’ first-round pick.
“Taylor Lewan might make it to No. 12. If he does, the Giants should jump all over him.” Mayock says not to count out a receiver for the Giants.
“Zack Martin, Cyrus Kouandjio, David Yankey makes sense at No. 27 for Saints right now.”
Darqueze Dennard is a top-15 pick. “My favorite corner in draft.”
Derek Carr fits into the end of the first round.
A.J. McCarron is a second-round pick.
“Timmy Jernigan can step in and be special early.”
Without injury, still don’t think Zach Mettenberger is first- or second-rounder. Not a guy who can start from Day One.
“Sammy Watkins has the toughness. He blocks people. He’s got an attitude like he wants to be the best player there is.”
Seantrel Henderson one of biggest boom-or-bust guys in draft. … Probably a fourth-round pick this year.
Mike Mayock on Bruce Ellington: “He reminds me a little bit of a bigger Ace Sanders. And I really liked Ace Sanders.”
Mike Mayock said he wouldn’t be surprised if Notre Dame DL Stephon Tuitt goes anywhere from pick No. 25 to pick No. 50.
If the Texans trade down from No. 1, they may be willing to move down farther than usual because of quality of draft.
If a quarterback the Jaguars love isn’t there, both Clowney and Mack make sense at No. 3.
“One of my favorite players in draft is LSU’s Jarvis Landry. Reminds me a little bit of Hines Ward.”
“Jimmie Ward is one of my favorite safeties in this draft. I don’t see him getting out of the second round.”
Colt Lyerla a first- or second-round talent. Would guess, because of character concerns, he’ll get picked on third day of draft.
Cyrus Kouandjio up and down last season. Had bad Sugar Bowl. Meetings with teams at the Combine will be important for him.
Dominique Easley went from top-25 pick to third- or fourth-round pick after second ACL injury.
If Carlos Hyde goes in first round, won’t surprise me. With the running back position being devalued, he probably goes in second.
“Trent Murphy reminds me a little bit of Mike Vrabel.”
Sammy Watkins would make sense for Browns at No. 4 if they waited on a quarterback. Carr could be option at No. 26.
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