Pre Free Agency Mock Draft

by TheOneFromNone | 1 year ago | 0 Comments

Hello Red Zone.

I just finished up my playoff scenarios. Sorry I didn’t post it until week 16, but WAY too many teams were still in.  So, let’s go to my other favorite thing. The draft.  I didn’t do it my normal way this year. But, when looking over the draft order, I noticed that in the top 15, 6 of the picks came from trades, including the Bears, who are a super bowl favorite CURRENTLY projected to pick #2. So, what I thought I’d do this time is try something different. I’m going to give my normal stuff (other than Madden projected picks this time) but I’m also going to analyze the trade in which that pick finally arrived there. This should be fun

 

1.       Detriot Lions

·             Team Needs: QB, RE, LOLB, WR?

·             My Projected Pick: QB – Alex LeClair

·             Thoughts:  While this draft is VERY CB heavy, and one of the best prospects I’ve seen at CB is sitting in this draft, the Lions don’t need that CB.  But, Alex LeClair he looks like the best QB prospect I’ve personally seen in Madden.  The Lions passing on LeClair would be a travesty. 

2.       Seattle Seahawks

·             Team Needs: QB?, LE, LOLB?, LG, C

·             My Projected Pick: CB – Joey Gray

·             Thoughts: I looked over the roster.  I don’t think the Seahawks need a corner, but that would make me a hypocrite, telling the Seahawks not to draft a CB because they don’t need him.  The fact is, Gray is that guy.  He’s the best player in the draft and we all know it. 

3.       Chicago Bears (via trade)

·             Team Needs: DT, LOLB

·             My Projected Pick: LOLB – Alan Goodrich

·             Thoughts on the trade: 

              Bears send:  HB Roschon Johnson  (79 OA)

              2025 3^rd (Leon Hill, Safety – Chargers) (79 OA)

              2025 5^th (Jeremy Sally, Guard – Broncos) (69 OA)

              2025 7^th (Mark Dillard, Kicker – Raven (now in FA)) (68 OA)

              2026 4^th (Traded, but I cannot track it atm)

              Saints Send:

              2027 1st (#3 OA)

First thing’s first with this trade… It was before I joined, so I don’t know the motivation behind sending Johnson in any trade for a 1^st round pick.  The picks turned out to be not that good, save for Hill who looks like he’s going to be a startable safety, but not an elite safety.  So, the Bears didn’t lose out on any potential players that were taken.  On the other side, the Saints traded all those picks they got in the trade, so it’s very hard to make a real value.  I think if they had a redo, Bears do this every single time while the Saints probably don’t redo this trade.

·             Thoughts:  I’m not even sure the Bears take the OLB here. Maybe they trade out and build more assets.  They don’t need anything this early in the draft to help the team make the next step.  I’m sure they are *thinking* of trading out.  But, maybe they get greedy and take a CB here.

4.       Washington Commanders

·             Team Needs: QB, RE, LOLB, CB?, WR?

·             My Projected Pick: QB – Phil Woods

·             Thoughts:  The legend of Woods continues.  Last season we had the biggest how the fuck surgence in Mike Wood in LV.   Unfortunately, Grandsomething left without saying a word and the rise of Wood ended.  Phil Woods, no relation, looks like he might be the guy.  We watched the last game of the season with Howell and it was not easy to watch.   It’s not the easy pick to make, but the right pick.

5.       Houston Texans

·             Team Needs: LOLB, ROLB?, CB, TE, RG, RT

·             My Projected Pick: - CB – Donvan Bartow

·             Thoughts: Texans were just ready to rebuild during the season.  They will be mentioned again in this shortly.  They could address some aging players on the line, but I think they’ll get another CB, currently projected as a top 5 pick. 

6.       New England Patriots

·             Team Needs: QB?, HB, CB?, S?, WR, LT

·             My Projected Pick: WR – Timmy Wilkinson

·             Thoughts: Is the Price right in NE?  Are they going to pursue potential FA Will Levis as the rumors suggest?  Will they draft K.C. Clark, QB?  I think they stick with Price and give him a weapon to throw to.  Side note:  The Patriots drafted #6 last season, too.  Will we see a continuation with the new HC?

7.      Minnesota Vikings (via trade)

·             Team Needs: LE, LOLB, TE

·             My Projected Pick: ROLB – J.P. Durant

·             Thoughts on the trade:

              Vikings send:
              2026 1^st (Stevie Sampson – TE ) (80 OA)

              Packers send:

              2026 1^st (Troy Hopkins – CB) (87 OA)

              2026 2^nd (Mike Hanna – LG) (77 OA)

              2026 3^rd (Brian Tarrant – LG) (73 OA)

              2027 1^st

Going into the 2026 draft, the packers reached out the Dolphins.  The Dolphins were locked in at taking JD Benedict #1, so they passed on this trade offer.  But, when hearing that they were going to trade it #2, the Dolphins told the Packers this was a huge mistake.  They warned not only is he not worth going that high, but he wasn’t even the best TE on the board.  Both statements were true.  The Packers rookie had 19 catches, 3 of which were for TDs. McBride played 921 snaps compared to Sampsons 472. This was one of the worse draft trades I’ve ever seen.  Vikings drafted a great corner and have their first this season. 

·             Thoughts:  A team that doesn’t need to draft this high. I’m not saying my pick is right, but just one of the many options.

8.       Houston Texans (via trade)

·             Team Needs: LOLB, ROLB?, CB, TE, RG, RT

·             My Projected Pick: RT – Robert Hartwig

·             Thoughts on the trade:

              Texans send:

              QB CJ Stroud (93 OA)

 

              Broncos send:

              1^st (I’m assuming this was sent to the 49ers so they can draft Curran?)

              2027 1^st

              QB Desmond Ridder (78 OA)

              WR Marvin Mims (87 OA)

 

This is the 1^st trade I don’t hate.  I understand the need of getting a QB, we watched in cycles a team having an elite QB, trading them just because they wanted the fresh new toy.  That being said, Stroud looks like he panned out.  I’m not sure of all the assets the Texans got from trading that 1^st away, as it isn’t apart of this trade. But, Ridder is no longer on the team, got a top 10 pick and Mims is looking like he’s going to be a top threat for the rest of the cycle.  I think both teams LIKELY do this trade over (assuming Stroud doesn’t get suspended this season like he actually did.)

·             Thoughts:  Texans got the CB they wanted earlier, now they look to solidify their Oline with the 1^st OL taken in the draft. 

 

9.       Dallas Cowboys (via trade)

·             Team Needs: LE, LOLB, ROLB, FS, SS,

·             My Projected Pick: SS – Glenn Knox

·             Thoughts on the trade:

              Cardinals send: 

              ROLB Zaven Collins (82 OA)

              2027 1^st

              Cowboys send:

              2026 1^st (Bobby Day – ROLB) (79 OA)

This trade was an interesting trade going back.  Cardinals choose now over future.  Day looks like next season he might be a starting to grow, so worth the price.  Collins looks like he disappeared in the defense this season.  I think the Cardinals do this trade again, while the Cowboys would have to reconsider, but not farfetched to redo it.

·             Thoughts: Cowboys are needing a safety, and the Knox is ready to start day one. No brainer

 

10.       Baltimore Ravens (via trade)

·             Team Needs: LE, LOLB, ROLB, CB?, WR, RT

·             My Projected Pick: CB – Jay Crawford

·             Thoughts on the trade:

              Ravens Send: 

              2025 1^st (Alex Hail – CB) (88 OA)

              Eagles Send:

              2025 1^st (Sheldon Downing – RE) (90 OA)

              2026 1^st (Aaron Boykin – LT) (74 OA)

              2026 2^nd (Louis Shelton – RG) (76 OA)

              2027 1^st

This is turning out to be an even trade overall.  The CB has progressed well with the Eagles, but still a normal dev.  The Ravens hit a very good pick on Downing and Boykin and Shelton may but stars in the future.  I think Raven easily say yes to this trade again.  I think the Eagles wouldn’t send that last 1^st round pick if they had a redo, but ultimately would still do this trade again.

·             Thoughts: The Ravens were going hard for Gray, but getting Crawford at 10 just lets all the chips fall to himm

11.       Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade)

·             Team Needs: C

·             My Projected Pick: RE – Henry Dillon

·             Thoughts on the trade: 

              Jets send:

              2026 1^st (Keegan Miller – CB) (81 OA)

              2026 2^nd (DeVante Raymond – LE) (77 OA)

              2027 1^st

              2027 2^nd

              Jaguars send:

              2025 1^st (Damien Weston – RG) (79 OA)

This trade was a head scratcher.  It looked like the Jets won the battle, to lose the war.  Giving up 4 picks in the 1^st two rounds for an OL just seems like it a crazy idea in the 1^st place.  When you look at that the Jaguars got some good players in the 1^st year one can only imagine it’ll be easy to repeat.  100 % think the Jets would not do this trade again.  The Jaguars couldn’t accept this trade fast enough if offered again.

·             Thoughts: I 100 % believe I’m completely wrong on this pick.  But, this is just a BPA pick, as he’s the next BPA after the QBs that stay on the board.

12.       Baltimore Ravens (via trade)

·             Team Needs:  LE, LOLB, ROLB, WR, RT

·             My Projected Pick: WR – Terrelle McMichael

·             Thoughts on the trade: 

              Steelers send:

              2027 1^st

              2027 4^th

             

              Ravens send:

              WR DeVonta Smith (93 OA)

Ravens were looking to move to a younger team. My only problem with this trade on the Ravens side of it, Smith is making $1.08 million this year.  Such a steal of cap space.   Steelers made this trade for a playoff push but didn’t make the playoffs and RFox is out of the league for the cycle.  It does suck for the next Steelers owner, but I don’t blame RFox for making the trade IF he was actually planning on staying around.

·             Thoughts:  Right now, in Baltimore, it’s the Flowers show. And he gave him his flowers, having on of the most % of receptions by 1 player on a team.  Giving up Smith, I think they’ll look at WR

13.       Baltimore Ravens

·             Team Needs: LE, LOLB, ROLB, CB?, RT

·             My Projected Pick: LT – Cam Bender

·             Thoughts: I think the Ravens will look for a pass rusher here, but if no one is left taking this early, they’ll to replace Staley, as the line isn’t as what the Ravens want them to be.

14.       Cincinnati Bengals

·             Team Needs: LOLB, SS, C

·             My Projected Pick: FS – Charles Chaney

·             Thoughts: Alan Goodrich would be an idea to look at here and take him early than projected rounds, but the safer pick is one of the safeties.  I’ll start with Chaney.

15.       Las Vegas Raiders

·             Team Needs: CB?, FS, SS, LT, RT

·             My Projected Pick: LT – Bruce Kelley

·             Thoughts: The Raiders went the whole offseason with out any FAs. Then the draft was some good hits, but the OL  still fully never got solved. I’m not sure if the new Raiders values OL, but its still a MAJOR need here.

16.       New York Giants

·             Team Needs: HB?, DT, ROLB

·             My Projected Pick: DT – Mike Thompson

·             Thoughts: Giants continually build in the draft. They have LOADS of young talent.  So, They are not hurting.  It’ll be interesting to see where they go here.

17.       Miami Dolphins

·             Team Needs: HB?, RE, DT, CB?, SS, LG?, C

·             My Projected Pick: RG – Sammy Holland

·             Thoughts: I’ll have to reconsider what I’m doing at this pick when we get there.

18.       Tampa Bay Buccaneers

·             Team Needs: DT?, WR

·             My Projected Pick: WR – Jamal Clark

·             Thoughts: I didn’t think I’d see a top 18 pick from the Buccaneers this cycle.  We have a new Bucs and they have the luxury of having one of the best teams in the league.  Right now, they need a WR.  Who knows what’ll happen later.