May 5, 2014
From Taylor Vance, Austin, Texas
“Charlie I first “discovered” WalterFootball.com in the mid 2000 because it was one of the best mock draft websites available. I love everything that you guys do, however, i’ve noticed that the website seems to be getting more legit every year. You post about how you know a team is high on X player, or that teams are grading prospect X in round X. Why are teams comfortable telling you guys about their big boards? Don’t they want to hide their scouting reports?
Anyway, you guys are awesome regardless, best on the interwebs.”
Thanks for the message. I really appreciate the kind words.
Teams share with us that kind of information because of the relationships we’ve built with them. They help us out and we help them out with information as well, so it’s a give-and-take. Sometimes we can’t attribute information to sources, but still use it for projections in our mocks. That still helps us to know what direction teams are hoping to go with their picks. Some sources reveal more than others, and we’ve never burned a source, so they trust us. This year has been a banner year for me in developing new sources at a variety of teams. I know the reason is because the traffic on WalterFootball.com is phenomenal and teams value the information we put on the site. Walt and I both have had a number of teams ask us for our spreadsheets and other databases that we use to put our mocks together. So we help them and they help us. Thanks again for the compliments!
From Jorge, Down in Florida
“Hey I read through your website daily like four or five times a day. I’m a huge Vikings fan and really really want Blake Bortles I think he has major upside and despite not being a for sure thing like luck, he’s got the moxy and IT factor( won five games this past season in fourth quarter or OT). I’ve recently notice you have mocked with a trade up and also you spoke about in it the mailbag question as well as a draft rumor dedicated to the Vikings moving up.
I guess my question to you is if the Rams aren’t willing to trade that far back to 8th with Minnesota how likely can they trade with Jax, Cleveland or even Oakland( one of the those teams would take him right ???) also my other question is what percentage would you say the chances are Vikings trade up to grab blake. My questions don’t need to be posted just going nuts with looking for info more into this rumor and also with possible draft scenarios were we landed bortles.”
Thanks for the message and reading WalterFootball.com.
I think that the Raiders would be interested in moving down. Last year, Oakland moved down at a discount, so going from No. 5 to No. 8 could be done for maybe one of the Vikings’ third-round picks. I could see the Raiders going to No. 8 and targeting Mike Evans.
The Jaguars and Browns could consider moving down as well, but I think both of those teams will be targeting one of the four elite players in the 2014 NFL Draft (Clowney, Mack, Watkins, Robinson). I do think the Vikings will explore moving up for Bortles, but they could stay at No. 8 and see him fall to them. I think there is a good chance that the first seven teams could all pass on quarterbacks. I think the chances that Minnesota trades up for Bortles could be 40-50 percent.
I think the Vikings will take either Bortles or Derek Carr with their first-rounder.
From Tom Smith, Stamford, Connecticut
“I’m hoping the Jets land Odell Beckham in the first round, but I’m worried that a team will trade in front of the Jets. Do you think it would be a reach to trade up for Beckham?”
Unless the Jets moved into the top 10, I don’t think it would be a reach. I love Beckham and think he’s going to be a superb NFL receiver. He’ll stretch defenses vertically and provide a home-run hitter to his offense. While Beckham is a speed receiver, he isn’t undersized, so he can line up on the outside. I agree with you that Beckham would be a great fit for New York.
If the Jets really want him, I think they may have to move up to get him. I could see the Ravens taking Beckham at No. 17. The Jets could move up with the Steelers at No. 15, and it shouldn’t be expensive to do so. Pittsburgh is without its third-round pick, so the Steelers could use another pick. With two fourth-round picks, the Jets have the extra ammo to make a move. The Titans at No. 11 are another option as they are also without a third-round pick.
From twitter Ryan Petrynka, @RyanPetrynka
It’s probably minor and unrelated, but is it wise for Miami to draft another OT named Martin so soon?
I agree that it has a weird ring to it, but I don’t think the surname will make any difference to Miami. Zack Martin is in Dennis Hickey’s wheelhouse. Hickey is super strict when it comes to character. He dislikes players who are thuggish, regardless of if it being justified or not. Obviously, the Dolphins have to do some massive upgrades to their offensive line, and Martin is a great scheme fit for the zone-blocking scheme the Dolphins employ. Martin makes so sense for Miami on so many levels. My only reservation with mocking him to the Dolphins is him making it to their pick.
From twitter Alex Baker @AlexBaker19
Any teams you see reaching on Lynch, Lyerla, Crowell, or other character guy? For me, at least, Lyerla is 5th round value?”
I don’t see a team reaching on Aaron Lynch. He’s a disaster off the field and his play was disappointing for South Florida last year. I think he’s destined for the Tampa Bay Storm in the arena league, or maybe Canadian football. I think Isaiah Crowell probably goes undrafted, but is signed by a team and is brought to training camp to compete.
I think Lyerla has the best shot at getting drafted because he has a great athletic skill set. If Lyerla had focused, stayed out of trouble and worked hard in college, he could have been a first-round pick. I could see a team taking a chance on him in the late rounds, especially if they don’t believe he would chose to sign with them if he goes undrafted. I think the fifth round is the highest Lyerla could realistically hope to go.
From Davey McGill, Boston, Massachusetts
“Why don’t the Patriots trade Ryan Mallett to the Texans for their third-round pick?”
I was curious of the same thing a few months back, but after looking into it, Mallett was never really an option. Sources with the Patriots have told WalterFootball.com that Mallett is lazy. He’s happy to coast on the coattails of Tom Brady and cash his check for riding on the bench. The Texans gave Mallett some consideration because he has a good skill set, but their staff had a history with him and they lived with his lack of work ethic.
Some backup quarterbacks struggle to work hard in the NFL, because they don’t see the reason to prepare hard during the week since they don’t see the field on Sundays. However, professionals know that’s foolish. A young quarterback who wants to improve so he can be ready when he gets his opportunity should know better as well. Mallett hasn’t shown that he is that type of player. Thus, Houston wasn’t willing to give up a pick for him.
From Randy, Brandon, Florida
“I really want the Bucs to take Johnny Manziel. Any chance they trade up for him?”
Manziel is in play, but a trade up is slim to none. I had a report recently in the rumormill that Tampa Bay wasn’t interested in trading up, but would like to trade down. The source also said the Buccaneers would take Blake Bortles if he gets to their pick, but I honestly have some doubts about that. This time of year, you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Thus in my opinion and reading the tea leaves, I think that was on the money about the movement but could be smoke regarding Bortles.
I do think Johnny Manziel is in play for Tampa Bay. However, I think in their perfect world, the Bucs would like to trade down and take Derek Carr. If Tampa Bay got another pick in the Round 2-4 range, it would allow the organization to address wide receiver, guard, a pass-rusher or a second receiver to go with Carr.
With a new regime, the Buccaneers are harder to predict. Plus, a lot of the scouting staff and front office are worried about their job security under a new general manager. All that being said, I think Tampa Bay’s drafting is going to be massively improved under Lovie Smith and Jason Licht.
Once again send questions/comments via email [email protected] or on Twitter @draftcampbell.
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - April 21
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - March 23
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - Aug. 5
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - July 22
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - July 9
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - June 26
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - June 2
2014 NFL Draft Mailbag - May 16
NFL Picks - Nov. 17
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
