ESPNNY- Rich Cimini's NFL mock draft 1.0 -- First 9 picks

[Elias]

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/50076/rich-ciminis-nfl-mock-draft-1-0
This is the first, but certainly won't be the last, attempt to forecast the top of the April 30 draft. This is the abbreviated, New York-New York version.
Here it goes:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Comment: They'll regret it, but they're desperate for a quarterback.

2. Tennessee Titans -- Leonard Williams, DT, USC
Comment: I wouldn't be surprised if they trade the pick to a team that covets Marcus Mariota.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
Comment: Gus Bradley's defense needs an edge rusher in the worst way.

4. Oakland Raiders -- Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Comment: Derek Carr has a chance to be good, but he needs weapons.

5. Washington Redskins -- Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Comment: Colleague John Clayton is confident they will take Mariota. That's good enough for me.

6. New York Jets -- Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Comment: After addressing cornerback and wide receiver in March, Mike Maccagnan gets Todd Bowles the best available edge rusher. The Jets have a handful of good interior rushers and aging outside rushers, so the pick makes sense.

7. Chicago Bears -- Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Comment: There's a new sheriff in town. His name is John Fox, and his game is defense.

8. Atlanta Falcons -- Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
Comment: See Chicago, except replace Fox with Dan Quinn.

9. New York Giants -- Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa
Comment: A classic meat-and-potatoes pick for the Giants.

 

[Sarge]

It's plausible

 

[NYJDraftKing]

Intersting Skins taking Mariota?

 

[Mainejet]

That would be the worst possible scenario for the Jets. The ideal scenario would be for Mariota to be there at 6. Then the Jets can opt to take him if they believe in him, or they can entertain trade offers to get Mariota. Move down with extra picks, grab the guy from Baylor in the late 1st round, and pick up a wealth of extra talent through the draft.

 

[Old#15]

I really like Gregory; complete physical package and very smart. Tremendous length and speed, very fluid in his movements (check his combine drills tape) and deceptively strong. Is not a finished product, but potentially one of the best prospects in this draft. Having said all of that, an even better scenario for Jets would be a trade down for Browns' two first round picks. At #12 /19 you have your choice of best available OL (Scherf/Collins/Peat) and Edge (Dupree (at 12)). It really gives you some great options, particularly with #37 that you can use on QB (Petty?), RB (Gurley?) or WR (Smith?). Fun times indeed to be a Jet fan.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

Intersting Skins taking Mariota?

Nothing surprises me with Snyder and Co. I could see them taking Mariota and riding RG3 one more year to see what they've got.

Regarding Gregory, I don't like taking DE's and moving them to OLB in the NFL. Maybe im still scarred from the Gholston pick, but I want a player who played OLB to be drafted... to play OLB. His natural position. Otherwise, count me out.

 

[Old#15]

Nothing surprises me with Snyder and Co. I could see them taking Mariota and riding RG3 one more year to see what they've got.

Regarding Gregory, I don't like taking DE's and moving them to OLB in the NFL. Maybe im still scarred from the Gholston pick, but I want a player who played OLB to be drafted... to play OLB. His natural position. Otherwise, count me out.

Agree, but after watching Gregory's movement skills, I think he can make the transition.

 

[Jet Setter]

Shane Ray had a mediocre pro day as I expected. I think he'll drop as we move towards the draft date.

I think whoever wants Mariota is going up to 2 to get him. At the moment, SD has the best offering and I'm confident they are going to move Rivers to do it knowing he's not coming back after this season. This will change the entire board. The Jags are still going to get a pass rusher (probably local Fowler) after signing Odrick for the DLine interior and the Raiders absolutely covet Leonard Williams and they'll take him at 4. That just leaves the Redskins and I have to believe that either Danny Shelton or a pass rusher (possibly Randy Gregory) is their choice.
That could leave us with that big decision that was posed on one thread: Cooper or Beasley? I think it will come to that very decision. Although I'm not ruling out Dupree yet.

 

[Jet Setter]

Agree, but after watching Gregory's movement skills, I think he can make the transition.

Yes, I saw him move very fluidly at the combine. I think he'll easily transition into the 3-4 OLB. My only concern is his playing weight. Being 6-5, he loses a lot of leverage in addition to being so light - very high center of gravity. 235 is small for his frame. If he can add a minimum 15 pounds and keep it while not losing too much explosiveness, he'll be a terror. He has the moves and the closing speed. I'm just wary of him and if it were my choice, I'd take Beasley and Dupree over him and hope I didn't make a big mistake. Gregory has big talent. I can see him being another Aldon Smith.

 

[Jet Setter]

I really do not see the Redskins taking Marcus Mariota. Any interest they have in him is purely a smoke screen so team's ahead of them will trade up for him. Not saying it is impossible for them to take Mariota, but I think it is highly unlikely they will.

I like Randy Gregory. I admire his game and like how you are able to move him and he is able to get pressure and get to the quarterback. My only concern with Gregory is that he is undersized. However with our defense in place, I think Gregory would excel on our defense.

I wouldn't underestimate Clayton's report as I have friends who are Redskin fans and they vouch for the level of toxicity with RGIII and Gruden there. I think the chances are slim the Jets see Mariota available to pass on.

I think you make a good point in that Gregory might be somewhat protected on our dominant DLine. He looks great on the field at times. An odd thing I happened to notice is that the Vikings have shown very high interest in Gregory. They pick 11th. I'm not sure how they expect to see him but nonetheless, reports are that they have met with him often and covet him as no other prospect. They have Cordarelle Patterson to dangle in a trade up should they choose. Something to keep an eye on.

 

[Jet Setter]

I understand that but I also know that coaches and GM's like to blow smoke and build smoke screens. GM's are not going to tell teams ahead of time that they are selecting/have interest in X player a month before the draft. I think this is purely strategy to get more talented edge rushers to fall to them.

We discussed this a few weeks back. I'd agree with you if this came from a local beat reporter but it's Clayton. I don't think he's on the Redskin payroll so I'm buying it at face value and to me it's validated to a large degree from my skin fans. They all say RGIII's done there. They have zero faith in his turning it around.

Beyond that, you have a new GM on board with a 2nd year head coach who inherited this guy he benched last season. I think there's plenty of reason to buy into this but will they even get the chance? I doubt it. I think the action takes place with the Titans and Mariota is going to be a Charger.

 

[Johnny Unite Us]

The Redskins are bluffing, they aren't taking Mariota.

They're just trying to get someone to trade up so they can recoup a couple of the draft picks that they blew on RGIII.

I think someone will take the bait.

What do you think, if Mariota is sitting there at 5, do we trade up one spot and make sure we get him?

 

[Xmarco]

No...no trade up

 

[Sarge]

The Redskins are bluffing, they aren't taking Mariota.

Totally agree with this

 

[raideraholic]

Jmo As we get closer to the draft, the more I get the feeling the Raiders aren't going Wr with there first pick.( even though a number 1 Wr type will be sitting there). I think there is a very strong possibility they go with Leonard Williams( gets pass the Titans) , or one of the pass rushers.

The reason being as the Patriots and other teams have shown you don't need a number 1 type Wr to win. The pass rusher is a much more important piece to the puzzle , than the Wr . The raiders defense is able to add that pass rusher, and there defense is going to keep them in a lot of games. ( better chance to win more games in 2015-,have to win eight games.( anything less is a failure)

This is a very deep Wr class( probably won't get that number 1 type Wr) but they definitely can improve the position. If they address the defense with their first pick( did a lot in Fa to improve the defense), than you can expect them to concentrate on fixing the offense with the rest of their draft picks.

 

[AFA2017]

I don't see Mariota getting past the Titans at #2 . That's the spot where whoever wants Mariota will make there move.

 

[sg3]

That would be the worst possible scenario for the Jets. The ideal scenario would be for Mariota to be there at 6. Then the Jets can opt to take him if they believe in him, or they can entertain trade offers to get Mariota. Move down with extra picks, grab the guy from Baylor in the late 1st round, and pick up a wealth of extra talent through the draft.

The worstest possible scenario would be trading Mariota down at 6 and then selecting the biggest reach in history taking "the guy from Baylor" late in the first when he will probably be still sitting there when their third round pick is on the clock.

 

[cysporsche]

I still have a feeling that Chip Kelly is lurking around for his boy Mariota. I can't see his offense going forward with Sam Bradford @ QB. I think he made the Foles / Bradford trade, because Bradford brings more value in a trade. Keep an eye on Chip & the Eagles.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[OCCH]

I still have a feeling that Chip Kelly is lurking around for his boy Mariota. I can't see his offense going forward with Sam Bradford @ QB. I think he made the Foles / Bradford trade, because Bradford brings more value in a trade. Keep an eye on Chip & the Eagles.

Go Jets...Cyborg

Does Bradford bring more value than Foles + a 2nd? (which he'd still have if he never made the trade)

I'm not saying you're wrong, but losing that pick told me the trade was likely legit.

Having said that, I'd definitely be open to the thought of Bradford switching shades of green . . .

 

[Sarge]

If Mariota goes 2nd to someone, that opens up a ton of interesting scenarios for the Jets

Maybe

Jaguars - Williams DT
Oakland - Cooper WR (or White)
Redskins - Fowler DE
Jets - Gregory, Ray, Beasley, White (or Cooper)