11 - Mekhi Becton - OT - Louisville
48 - Cesar Ruiz - IOL - Michigan
68 - Marlon Davidson - EDGE - Auburn
79 - Chase Claypool - WR - Notre Dame
120 - Anthony McFarland - RB - Maryland
158 - Quintez Cephus - WR - Wisconsin
191 - Levonta Taylor - CB - Florida State
211 - Jeff Thomas - WR - Miami (FL)
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Fortified the offensive line with Mekhi Becton and Cesar Ruiz. This is how you help Sam Darnold. Protect him and let him elevate the skill talent around him. It's time for him to start doing that.
The talent at wideout in the third round was there but I saw some guys on the board that I really valued as mid-to-late rounders. Claypool is a player that the Jets are heavily interested in. He is a mismatch for most corners and can line up all over the place. We need a true possession receiver. Cephus has a massive character red flag with the 2018 suspension but the case was dropped. Jeff Thomas is a serious sleeper. He has great deep speed and he's undervalued because he always played with awful QBs.
Marlon Davidson and Amik Robertson are my favorite defensive players in the draft. I chose the EDGE rusher in Davidson over Robertson.
McFarland is a great compliment to Le'Veon Bell and a scheme fit. He is a homerun hitter.
Levonta Taylor is someone that never lived up to the hype but there's lots of talent to work with.
Very nice top to bottom; like your insights and your general take on things draft-wise and otherwise and would sign up for this mock in a minute. A few comments/questions if I may.
- Is Ruiz still around at 48? If not and Cushenberry was still on the board would you grab him or look at some other OL or other (e.g. BPA) position?
- Davidson on the edge at 280 lbs. plus? I remember you saying he kicked Andrew Thomas' derriere (just thinking of the Sheldon Richardson at edge experiment). If (just saying 'if') FSU's Cam Akers were somehow still available in the 3rd, thoughts?
- Claypool: solid pick (and his 40 time in the combine was a nice eye-opener). McFarland: HR hitter indeed. Cephus: underrated high value (was thinking of Juwaan Jennings TN as another good value/potential pick).
- Levonta Taylor: 1st round talent; is his back injury behind him?
- Jeff Thomas: another huge talent/red flags. Guy was kicked off by Mark Richt, was going to go home to the Illini, returned to UM when Manny Diaz became HC (however Diaz ended up suspending him as well). His combine didn't help either. Anyway, if his head's screwed on, big time talent and a potential steal in (imho) a smaller ODB package.
