My All Star Teams 2016 edition

I did this a couple of years ago, I was bored one night and made up all star teams based on current NFL, NBA, and MLB teams.

NFL: 53 man roster
Offense:
QB: Tom Brady (NE), Aaron Rodgers (GB), Cam Newton (CAR), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
RB: Le'Veon Bell (PIT), Todd Gurley (STL), Adrian Peterson (MIN)
WR: Antonio Brown (PIT), Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG), Julio Jones (ATL), DeAndre Hopkins (HOU), DEZ Bryant (DAL)
TE: Rob Gronkowski (NE), Jordan Reed (WSH), Greg Olson (CAR), Travis Kelce (KC)
T: Joe Thomas (CLE), Tyron Smith (DAL), Lane Johnson (PHI), Trent Williams (WSH)
G: Zach Martin (DAL), Marshal Yanda (BAL), T.J. Lang (GB), Mike Iupati (Arizona)
C: Travis Frederick (DAL), Alex Mack (FA)

Defense:
DE: JJ Watt (HOU), Khalil Mack (OAK), Carlos Dunlap (CIN), Chandler Jones (NE)
DT: Aaron Donald (STL), Ndamukong Suh (MIA), Geno Atkins (CIN), Gerald McCoy (TB)
OLB: Von Miller (DEN), Justin Houston (KC), Jaime Collins (NE). Sean Lee (DAL)
ILB: Luke Kuechly (CAR), LaVonte David (TB), Bobby Wagner (SEA)
CB: Richard Sherman (SEA), Darrelle Revis (NYJ), Malcom Butler (NE), Patrick Peterson (ARZ)
S: Earl Thomas (SEA), Kam Chancellor (SEA) Tyrann Mathieu (ARZ), Eric Berry (KC)

Special Teams:
K: Stephen Gostowski (NE)
P: Johnny Hekker (STL)
KR: Tyler Lockett (SEA)
PR: Darren Sproles (PHI)





NBA
PG: Steph Curry (GS), Russell Westbrook (OKC), Damian Lillard (POR), Chris Paul (LAC)
SG: James Harden (HOU), Klay Thompson (GS)
SF: LeBron James (CLE), Kevin Durant (OKC), Kawhi Leonard (SA), Paul George (IND)
PF: Anthony Davis (NO), Draymond Green (GS), LaMarcus Aldridge (SA)
C: DeMarcus Cousins (SAC), Andre Drummond (DET)


MLB:
C: Buster Posey (SF), Yadier Molina (STL)
1B: Miguel Cabrera (DET), Paul Goldschmidt (ARI)
2B: Dee Gordon (MIA)
3B: Josh Donaldson (TOR), Kris Bryant (CHC), Nolan Arenado (COL), Manny Machado (BAL)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki (TOR), Carlos Correa (HOU)
OF: Bryce Harper (WSH), Mike Trout (LAA), Andrew McCutchen (PIT), Giancarlo Stanton (MIA)
SP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD), David Price (BOS), Madison Bumgarner (SF), Felix Hernandez (SEA), Max Scherzer (WSH)
RP: Aroldis Chapman (NYY), Dellin Betances (NYY), Craig Kimbrel (BOS), Trevor Rosenthal (STL), Andrew Miller (NYY)

Post Combine NFL 2016 Mock Draft

Round 1
1. Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil OT Ole Miss
2. Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz QB North Dakota St.
3. San Diego Chargers: Jalen Ramsey CB Florida St.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa DE Ohio St.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Jack LB UCLA
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley OT Notre Dame
7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest Buckner DE Oregon
8. Miami Dolphins: Vernon Hargreaves CB Florida
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Noah Spence DE Eastern Kentucky

10. New York Giants: Ezekiel Elliot RB Ohio St.
11. Chicago Bears: Darron Lee LB Ohio St.
12. New Orleans Saints: Shaq Lawson DE Clemson
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jack Conklin OT Michigan St.
14. Oakland Raiders: Mackenzie Alexander CB Clemson
15. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff QB California
16. Detroit Lions: Laquan Treadwell WR Ole Miss
17. Atlanta Falcons: Reggie Ragland LB Alabama

18. Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker OT Ohio State
19. Buffalo Bills: A'Shaun Robinson DT Alabama
20. New York Jets: Leonard Floyd OLB Georgia
21. Washington Redskins: Andrew Billings DT Baylor
22. Houston Texans: Paxton Lynch QB Memphis
23. Minnesota Vikings: Corey Coleman WR Baylor
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Doctson WR TCU
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple CB Ohio St.
26. Seattle Seahawks: Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville
27. Green Bay Packers: Kevin Dodd DE Clemson
28. Kansas City Cheifs: Robert Nkemdiche DT Ole Miss
29. Arizona Cardinals: Kamalei Correa OLB Boise St.
30. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Henry RB Alabama
31. Denver Broncos: Cody Whitehair OG Kansas St.

Notes:

I've heard the 49ers GM is very high on Connor Cook and is looking to get him in the 2nd round, so they take the best available player in Buckner. Goff could go here as well. 

With Jaylon Smith possibly having nerve damage in his surgically repaired knee, he drops out of my first round mock. A very unfortunate story for a great football player. 

Paxton Lynch apparently did very poorly in his interviews, so he falls a bit because of that. Houston could go with a wideout or defensive tackle and look to pick up Christian Hackenberg in the 2nd or 3rd round rather than take Lynch. 

If Doug Martin leaves in free agency, look for the Bucs to take Ezekiel Elliot at number 9 to fill his shoes. 

Many picks here are dependent on where Brock Osweiler ends up signing. Rams are a strong possibility as well as a return to Denver, and don't count out Houston as a destination. 

Mock Draft 1.0 Round 2

Round 2.
32. Cleveland Browns: Michael Thomas WR Ohio St.
33. Tennessee Titans: Emmanuel Ogbah DE Oklahoma St.
34. Dallas Cowboys: William Jackson III CB Houston
35. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Bullard DE Florida
36. Baltimore Ravens: Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
37. San Francisco 49ers: Connor Cook QB Michigan St.
38. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kelly C Alabama
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vonn Bell S Ohio St.
40. New York Giants: Darian Thompson S Boise St.
41. Chicago Bears: Jason Spriggs OT Indiana
42. Miami Dolphins: Shilique Calhoun DE Michigan St.
43. Los Angeles Rams: Germain Ifedi OT Texas A&M
44. Oakland Raiders: Su'a Cravens OLB/SS Southern Cal
45. Los Angeles Rams: Braxton Miller WR Ohio St.
46. Detroit Lions: Shoe Coleman OT Auburn
47. New Orleans Saints: Joshua Garnett OG Stanford
48. Indianapolis Colts: Jeremy Cash S Duke
49. Buffalo Bills: Joshua Perry LB Ohio St.
50. Atlanta Falcons: Hunter Henry TE Arkansas
51. New York Jets: Christian Hackenberg QB Penn St.
52. Houston Texans: Vernon Butler DT Louisiana Tech
53. Washington Redskins: Nick Martin C Notre Dame
54. Minnesota Vikings: Jihad Ward DE Illinois
55. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenny Clark DT UCLA
56. Seattle Seahawks: Pharo Cooper WR South Carolina
57. Green Bay Packers: Kentrell Brothers LB Missouri
58. Pittsburgh Steelers: Austin Hooper TE Stanford
59. Kansas City Cheifs: Deion Jones OLB LSU
60. New England Patriots: Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh
61. Arizona Cardinals: Jalen Mills CB LSU
62. Carolina Panthers: Sterling Shepherd WR Oklahoma
63. Denver Broncos: Jerald Hawkins OT LSU

Notes:

Went mostly based on team need and best available players for these picks. Free agency will have a huge impact on the draft and what holes teams need to fill. More changes and updates to come before Aprils draft.

2015 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

NFL Mock Draft 2015 Version 2.0

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston QB Florida State

2. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota QB Oregon

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Williams DE/DT Southern California

4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper WR Alabama 

5. Washington Redskins: Dante Fowler Jr. DE/OLD Florida

6. New York Jets: Vic Beasley DE Clemson
7. Chicago Bears: Kevin White WR West Virginia

8. Atlanta Falcons: Bud Dupree OLD Kentucky 

9. New York Giants: Brandon Schreff OL Iowa

10. St. Louis Rams: Trae Waynes CB Michigan State 

11. Minnesota Vikings: DaVante Parker WR Louisville

12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton DT Washington

13. New Orleans Saints: Shane Ray DE Missouri

14. Miami Dolphins: Breshad Perriman WR Central Florida

15. San Francisco 49ers: Arik Armstead DE Oregon

16. Houston Texans: Randy Gregory DE Nebraska
17. San Diego Chargers: Ereck Flower OT Miami
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Dorial Green Beckham WR Oklahoma
19. Cleveland Browns: Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Peters CB Washington
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrus Peat OT Stanford
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest
23. Detroit Lions: Malcom Brown DT Texas
24. Arizona Cardinals: Todd Gurley RB Georgia
25. Carolina Panthers: D.J. Humphries OT Florida
26. Baltimore Ravens: Devin Smith WR Ohio State
27. Dallas Cowboys: Melvin Gordon RB Wisconsin
28. Denver Broncos: T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
29. Indianapolis Colts: Landon Collins S Alabama
30. Green Bay Packers: Eric Kendricks LB UCLA
31. New Orleans Saints: Nelson Agholor WR Southern California
32. New England Patriots: Eddie Goldman DT Florida State


Key Notes:
1. I expect Marcus Mariota to be the second player selected in the draft. I do not expect the team that selects him to be the Titans. My best guess is the Chargers, followed by the Cleveland Browns and the new look Eagles. Chip Kelly clearly wants Mariota but doesn't have as much ammunition to go get him as Cleveland and San Diego do. If i see Phillip Rivers in a Titans jersey this fall I won't be surprised one bit.

2. I now have 2 running backs in the first round, Todd Gurley to the Cardinals and Melvin Gordon to the Cowboys. With Shane Ray's pot citation, i have him falling out of the first round, which raises Bud Dupree's stock and moves Byron Jones up, so the Cowboys are left to take Gordon as the best available player who fits their needs.

3. La'el Collins is out of the first round after news of this investigation into the death of his pregnant former girlfriend.
Let me know what you guys think. Tweet at me @NasDaddy23 or leave comments 

2015 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The first of hopefully many mock drafts prior to the 2015 NFL Draft starting April 30th. A few notes before reading this:

A. These picks are based on the idea that there will be no more trades prior to or during the draft.

B. These picks are based on the free agent moves and trades as of March 11th. 

C. I  fully expect this draft order to change prior to or during the draft.

Enjoy!

Winston will look to be the first QB
taken first overall since Andrew Luck
in 2012 by the Colts

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston QB Florida State

    The former Heisman winner is the consensus top pick. Off field issues won't sway the quarterback desperate Bucs from taking Winston. He's smart, has a gun for an arm, and is athletic enough to be one of the great young quarterbacks in the league and spark some excitement into the Tampa Bay franchise. Unlike Mariota, Winston is ready to step onto an NFL immediately. 

              

2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams DT USC

    I would put Mariota here, but it appears that the Titans have enough faith in second year quarterback and former LSU standout Zach Mettenberger, so with this pick they will take the best prospect not named Jameis Winston in Leonard Williams. To quick for interior linemen and to strong for tackles, the former USC standout will give the Titans a physical mismatch on the defensive line. 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr.  OLB Florida

    Fast, strong, quick, tenacious and versatile, Fowler is just what the 

Jaguars and former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley need

to improve their defense. The Gator star can get after the passer from

defensive end or outside linebacker, allowing the defense to use him in a 

variety of packages.

White was 6th in the NCAA in receiving
yards with 1447 in 2014

4. Oakland Raiders: Kevin White WR West Virginia

    This one is a toss up between two very gifted wide outs in White and Amari Cooper. I have both of them going to either the Raiders at four or the Rams at ten. I have White going first because of the Raiders history of picking guys based on combine numbers, where White was the stronger of the two. A team can't go wrong with either in my opinion, so here the Raiders get a great weapon for their young, possible franchise quarterback Derek Carr.  

5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory DE Nebraska

    Draws comparisons to Aldon Smith, (minus the off the field issues) Gregory has natural pass rushing abilities that the Redskins (and yes I said Redskins) could desperately use, especially since it appears they will be losing Brian Orakpo. 

    

Mariota accounted for 58 touchdowns
in his Heisman winning 2014
season

6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota QB Oregon

    Todd Bowles brings a new regime into New York, and that likely spells the end of Geno Smith. Mariota may need a year to develop, (unless he went to the Eagles) but has the physical attributes to be a very good, mobile quarterback. The media wants him, the fans want him, so the Jets will take the Heisman winning Oregon Duck (If Chip Kelly doesn't get him first).

Beasley had 33 sacks during his
time at Clemson

7. Chicago Bears: Vic Beasley DE/OLB Clemson

   After an extremely productive college career, scouts doubted Beasley due to his size. Well he apparently set out to prove them wrong, arriving at the combine at 246 pounds. Then he decided to absolutely crush all the events, running a 4.53 40 yard dash and banging out 35 reps on the bench press. So he's as fast a a wide receiver and as strong as a nose tackle. And oh yeah, he knows how to get after the quarterback. John Fox picks up a defensive play maker with the seventh pick in the draft.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Shane Ray DE Missouri

    The Falcons have the offense to compete in the league, but their defense leaves much to be desired. New head coach and former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will look to pick up a pass rusher, and the best available at this point will be Missouri's Shane Ray. 

9. New York Giants: Andrus Peat OT Stanford

    The Giants have weapons for Eli Manning to work with, now they need to continue to protect him. Peat is a big tackle with long arms and is quick off the snap, and has the potential to be very good for a long time.       

    

10. St. Louis Rams   Amari Cooper WR Alabama

Cooper caught 31 touchdowns
in 3 years

    The Rams now have a quarterback they can build around in Nick Foles, so the first thing they need to do is get him a big play wide out. Cooper is a steal at this spot, same with Kevin White if he falls to St. Louis instead. The Biletnikoff Award winner and consensus All American has excellent quickness and acceleration and gives Foles a great weapon moving forward. 

11. Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes CB Michigan State

    Vikings pick up a much needed boost for their secondary in Waynes, a fast and lengthy corner who has a lot of experience being out on an island in coverage. Needs to fill out a bit, but that will come with time. 

12. Cleveland Browns: Danny Shelton NT Washington

    Cleveland picks up the top true defensive tackle in the draft in Shelton, who can step in and sure up the middle of their defensive line. 

Peters had 3 picks in 8 games in 2014
before being dismissed from the Huskies

13. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Peters CB Washington

    Peters was dismissed from Washington in the middle of this season, which should give teams concern, but the Saints will look past those issues and take possibly the best defensive back in the draft. 

14. Miami Dolphins: DaVante Parker WR Louisville

    The Dolphins are a few weapons away from truly competing for the AFC East, so with this pick they pick up the third best pass catcher available out of Louisville. QB Ryan Tannehill needs a big year, so the Dolphins will help him out by selecting Parker. 

15. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Scherff OT Iowa

     The organization is in a state of implosion. Patrick Willis is retiring, Jim Harbaugh is gone, Colin Kaepernick trade rumors are out there, Frank Gore is out and Justin Smith is also likely to call it a career. On top of that, pro bowl guard Mike Iupati just signed with division rival Arizona. So to start this rebuild of sorts, the 49ers will take the likely guard prospect out of Iowa. He's big, strong and honestly frightens me, and will help sure up their offensive line. 

16. Houston Texans: Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State

Strong caught 157 balls
in 2 seasons at ASU

    With the recent release of Andre Johnson, the Texans should make is a priority to get another big wideout to go with DeAndre Hopkins. Strong may be a reach at 16, but with Brian Hoyer coming in to compete with Ryan Mallet, Bill Obrien should look to give who ever ends up his starter another weapon to work with. We have already seen that they can simply plug JJ Watt in at tight end. 

17. San Diego Chargers: Malcom Brown DT Texas

    The Chargers need to strengthen their defensive line, and after losing out on the Ndamukong Suh sweepstakes, they'll look to the jr. defensive tackle out of Texas to fill the hole. 

18. Kansas City Chiefs: La’el Collins OT LSU

    With the acquisition of Jeremy Maclin, the Chiefs will look to upgrade their offensive line to protect Alex Smith so he can focus on throwing to his new wide receiver. 

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo): Devin Smith WR Ohio State  

A big play threat, Smith averaged
28.2 yards per catch in 2014

    Its to soon to give up on Johnny Football, but whether he or Josh McCown is your game 1 starter, they are going to need weapons. Devin Smith was the best deep ball threat in college football, and helped the Buckeyes win the first College Football Playoff. Explosive speed and the hops to go get balls, he is a reach at this spot, but the Browns will feel more comfortable taking him rather than Dorial Green Beckham, as they attempt to clean up their locker room. 

   

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Dorial Green Beckham WR Oklahoma

    I don't understand how the Chip Kelly system works, and honestly i don't think anyone other than Chip does. But I know one thing, they are lacking wide receivers after losing Jeremy Maclin to free agency, so I believe they reach on Green Beckham, who has all the talent to be a top receiver, but a mountain of off field issues. 

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Landon Collins SS Alabama

    The top safety in the draft, Collins lead the Alabama defense (even-though his mother would have rather had him go to LSU) to the college football playoff. A great open field tackler who is solid in coverage, and likes to rip at the ball when making tackles, which is very often. 

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alvin Dupree DE Kentucky

    With James Harrison on his last legs and Jason Worilds retiring, the Steelers look for another young outside linebacker/defensive end like they did last year with Ryan Shazier. Dupree is a freakish athlete who knows how to get to the quarterback, and if he works out with James Harrison, he'll be as strong as he needs to be in no time.

23. Detroit Lions: Eddie Goldman DT Florida State

    With the loss of Suh and likely Nick Fairley, the Lions will try to form another great tackle combo of Goldman, the former top high school recruit, and Haloti Ngata. 

24. Arizona Cardinals: Arik Armstead DE Oregon

    A work in progress at defensive tackle, Armstead possess impressive athleticism for a man who is 6'7 and just shy of 300 pounds. The Cardinals take him to help improve their defense. 

25. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh

    Protect Cam Newton. Protect Cam Newton. PROTECT CAM NEWTON!!!!!!!! The Panthers take the best available linemen to help PROTECT CAM NEWTON!!!!

Gurley averaged an astounding
7.4 yards per carry in 2014

26. Baltimore Ravens: Carl Davis DT Iowa

    After trading Haloti Ngata to Detroit to clear cap space, the Ravens pick up his replacement in Davis, the big tackle out of Iowa.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Todd Gurley RB Georgia

    Looks like DeMarco Murray will be signing with the Eagles, so the Cowboys will look for a strong replacement for him in Todd Gurley,  who was the best running back in college football until eligibility issues and a torn ACL ended his season. 

28. Denver Broncos: Max Williams TE Minnesota

    Williams has the potential to be a ten year starter in the league, and with the recent loss of Julius Thomas to the Jaguars in free agency, The Broncos pick up a much needed tight end replacement as Peyton Manning attempts one last run at the Superbowl. 

29. Indianapolis Colts: Ereck Flowers OT Miami

    The Colts have picked up some new weapons this offseason in Andre Johnson and Frank Gore, so they use this pick to take the Jr out of Miami to help their offensive line protect Andrew Luck. 

30. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Phillips DT Oklahoma

    Packers fill a need at defensive tackle with the former Oklahoma Sooner Phillips. An explosive player with quick hands, Phillips has a lot of potential if he continues to improve his technique. 

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle): Shaq Thompson OLD Washington 

    Had Max Williams still been available, i would have him at this pick as a replacement for Jimmy Graham. But since the Broncos take him, the Saints will continue to sure up their defense with the pass rusher Thompson out of Washington. Thompson also saw time as a running back in college and could be a valuable playmaker to the Saints. 

Lead Wake Forest with 6 pass
breakups in 2014

32. New England Patriots: Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest 

    Losing Darrelle Revis hurts, and even if Brandon Browner comes back, the Pats secondary could use an upgrade at the cornerback position, and the Wake Forest product Johnson is the best available player at this point for the Patriots. 

2014 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

This is my first Mock Draft as we make our way toward May. Many things can change based on team needs, Senior Bowl performances, Pro Days, and Combine performances.

The former Heisman winner racked
up 93 touchdowns in 2 seasons

1. Houston Texans: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
Texans need a QB and a spark for this franchise. Bill O'Brien will make a splash and take the top play
maker in the draft in Johnny Football. He's the guy every Houston fan should want.





2. St. Louis Rams*: Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Thanks to the Redskins, the Rams get a chance to pick up a tackle who they can use to protect Sam Bradford, who the organization, and I, still believe in.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
Jaguars take the best player in the draft and someone they can build their defense around for years to come. May look at a QB such as Derek Carr or A.J. McCarron on day two of the draft.

4. Cleveland Browns: Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
Bridgewater may fall to the Vikings and Bortles could be taken here, but Teddy is probably the best QB prospect in the draft so the Browns take him hoping to find a franchise QB for whoever their new coach may be.

Watkins had 27 touchdown
catches in 3 seasons

5. Oakland Raiders: Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
Best wide receiver in the draft, the Raiders need a playmaker on offense. Their defense could use an upgrade as well, so they may take Clowney if he falls to them.






6. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr OLD UCLA
If not for Clowney, Barr would be the best defensive player this year. The Falcons get an automatic upgrade with him rushing the QB.


7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Robinson OT Auburn 
An upgrade at offensive line is needed for the Bucs, and Robinson is a big boy who behind Matthews is the second best lineman in the draft.

Last season Bortles threw for 3,581 yards
and 25 TD's

8. Minnesota Vikings: Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
Bold prediction. The Vikings will make a trade with the Texans for the number one pick in order to take Manziel. If not, they still need a QB so they will take Bortles, or Bridgewater if the Browns take Bortles.



9. Buffalo Bills: Taylor Lewan OT Michigan 
E.J. Manuel has shown he can be a player in the NFL, but he has also shown he's injury prone, so the Bills will take Lewan to sure up their offensive line to better protect their QB.

10. Detroit Lions: Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma St.
Looks to be the top corner prospect in the draft, Detroit needs a lot of upgrades after a dismal finish to their season, but upgrading the secondary should be a priority.

11. Tennessee Titans: C.J. Mosley LB Alabama 
Arguably the best linebacker in the draft, led Alabama's defense and will provide an upgrade for the rising Titans.

12. New York Giants: Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
Giving Eli more protection may help him throw less picks. Kouandjio could have gone higher but drops after some sub par performances against Auburn and Oklahoma.

Evans had 1,394 receiving yards and
caught 12 TD's in 2013

13. St. Louis Rams: Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
The Rams got Bradford some extra protection with Matthews, and now they will turn to his college teammate in Evans to give their QB  a big target to pair with Tavon Austin.




14. Chicago Bears: Timmy Jernigan DT Florida St.
Most versatile defensive lineman in the draft, the Bears need to upgrade their front seven and Jernigan can make an instant impact.

Denard had 4 picks in 2013

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St.
Winner of the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations top defensive back, gives the Steelers the strong corner their defense needs.





16. Baltimore Ravens: Marqise Lee WR Southern California
The Ravens need to give Joe Flacco and this offense another weapon and in Lee they get arguably the second best receiver in the draft. Injuries are only concern.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama
The worst defense in the league needs an upgrade in the secondary, so hopefully it works for them this time with Clinton-Dix.

18. New York Jets: Eric Ebron TE North Carolina
The Jets need to give Geno Smith a solid target, so they'll take the best tight end in the draft in Ebron.

19. Miami Dolphins: Zach Martin OT Notre Dame
Worst offensive line in football last season, the Fins will look to take the best available lineman with the 19th pick.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
After a good season where they were in a tough division with Seattle and San Fran, Bruce Arians will look to build his offense by upgrading the tight end position with Amaro.

21. Green Bay Packer: Khalil Mack LB Buffalo
The Packers have no depth at linebacker, and Mack is a solid backer who could go much earlier in the draft.

22. Philadelphia Eagles:  Louis Nix III DT Notre Dame
Philly will look to improve their front seven with the strong defensive tackle out of Notre Dame

Benjamin is a huge target
at 6'5 and caught 15
TD's in 2013

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida St. 
Alex Smith can be even better if the Chiefs give him weapons. Benjamin, coming off the BCS National Championship, is a big, strong and fast target who can jump.






24. Cincinnati Bengals: Ra'Shede Hageman DT Minnesota  
With Geno Atkins coming off a major injury, the Bengals will want to add some depth to the position.


25. San Diego Chargers: Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
Antonio Gates is getting older. Chargers give themselves depth and another weapon at the TE position.

26. Cleveland Browns**: Jordan Matthews WR Vanderbilt 
Browns get Bridgewater a weapon with their second pick they got in the Trent Richardson deal. Matthews gives them another solid receiver to pair with Josh Gordon.

The Ohio St. Linebacker had 6
sacks in 2013

27. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Shazier LB Ohio St. 
Saints add speed on the edge of their defense in the All American linebacker Shazier.



28. Carolina Panthers: Carlos Hyde RB Ohio St.
Due to injuries and aging running backs in Carolina, the Panthers add Hyde who is an absolute bruiser who can run between the tackles well.

The 6'6 linebacker had 15
sacks for the Cardinals last season

29. New England Patriots: Trent Murphy DE/LB Stanford 
A versatile big guy who could play linebacker or defensive end, he anchored a great defense at Stanford and gives the Pats an upgrade on defense.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
49ers add depth to an already top notch defense with Tuitt, who could soon take the place of an aging Justin Smith.

31. Denver Broncos: Calvin Pryor S Louisville
Broncos get an improvement in their secondary with the free safety out of Louisville.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU
Pete Carroll gets Russell Wilson another weapon on the outside that makes Seattle's offense even more dangerous.


*From Washington Redskins
** From Indianapolis Colts


Players to watch for: 
Derek Carr QB Fresno St,  Allen Robinson WR Penn St,  Brandin Cooks WR Oregon St, Jarvis Landry WR LSU, Kony Elay DE Missouri, Scott Crichton DE Oregon St, David Yankey OG Stanford, Bradley Roby CB Ohio St, Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh

Santa's Coming in May. Gifts NFL Teams will find in the Draft

There are 9 Reindeer, so for this article I'm going to find a gift for 9 struggling NFL teams. These gifts will all come from the same store, the 2014 NFL Draft.

Bridgewater was Big East Offensive Rookie
of the year in 2011 and Offensive Player
of the year in 2012

1. The Houston Texans: Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville
Houston needs a quarterback, desperately. The Matt Schaub era is over. So the Texans make the smart decision here and take the best available quarterback in the draft, who is also one of the best overall players available. This is of course assuming Bridgewater declares for the draft this year. There has been speculation that he may return to Louisville for his senior season.

Matthews was a 2 time
First Team All American Tackle

2. St. Louis Rams: Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Thanks to their trade with Washington last season that brought Robert Griffin to the Redskins, St. Louis gets the number two pick in this years draft, along with another first round pick. With this pick, they should take Jake Matthews, the 6'5 305 pound tackle out of Texas A&M. He is the best offensive lineman in the draft and the Rams need an upgrade to their line, so this is a no brainer for the Rams. They may look to take another former Aggie in wide receiver Mike Evans later in the first round, in order to give quarterback Sam Bradford another weapon to pair with rookie receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin.


3. Oakland Raiders: Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

Clowney has 24 career sacks
a South Carolina

This pick is a toss up for the Raiders. They need a quarterback, badly. But Clowney is the best available player in the draft and could have easily gone number one overall in last years draft. He's that good. He's an athletic freak at 6'6 270 pounds. His issues at South Carolina this year along with the needs of the Texans and Rams are why he will likely be available at number three. The Raiders can either take a risk and take a quarterback such as Blake Bortles out of Central Florida or Brett Hundley out of UCLA, or they can take a sure thing in Clowney, who will give their defense an instant upgrade, especially considering the fact that they face Peyton Manning and Phillip Rivers twice a year. They need a guy who can get after the quarterback.

Hundley passed for 22 touchdowns
and ran for 9 more in 2013

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brett Hundley QB UCLA
Blaine Gabbert is absolutely awful and Chad Henne is not the long term answer at quarterback for the Jaguars. So with the number four pick, the Jags will take a big, mobile quarterback in Brett Hundley. Whether Hundley comes out for the draft is another question, but we're going to assume he is right now. He can throw and run, and having MJD behind him at running back and last years second overall pick Luke Joekel at tackle coming back, Hundley seems like a good fit for the QB desperate Jaguars.


5. Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Barr OLD UCLA

Barr had 10 sacks for the
Bruins in 2013

Unlike just about every other team in the top 10, the Falcons don't have an issue at quarterback. They have Matt Ryan, and Julio Jones and Roddy White at receiver. So why did they struggle? Defense. The offense didn't do well either, but defense is what the Falcons must address in the draft, and they will do so by drafting arguably the best defensive player in the draft in linebacker Anthony Barr out of UCLA. Yes back to back UCLA picks. Great size at 6'4 248 pounds and quick, Barr is just what the struggling Atlanta defense needs rushing off the edge.


6. Cleveland Browns: Derek Carr QB Fresno St.

Carr's interceptions have gone
down each year he has been a
starter. 

Sorry Brandon Weeden but your time in Cleveland is over. The fans have spoken and they are angry, as usual. The Browns have had bad luck drafting quarterbacks in the past, so why not try again. Carr will get more buz around him as the Senior Bowl comes around, but this kid can throw. He threw for 4,866 yards this season with 48 touchdowns and just 7 picks on 605 passes attempted. He also completed 70% of his passes. Those are ridiculous stats. Fresno St. runs a vertical offense, so imagine Carr throwing down the sidelines to Josh Gordon. If I'm a Cleveland fan, while I'm still skeptical, I'm pretty excited about Carr at the same time. Until next time, stay angry Cleveland!


7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Lewan OT Michigan

Lewan is a 2 time First Team
All American Tackle

Mike Glennon has done enough to keep his job for now. So the Bucs will look to upgrade their offensive line with the best lineman in the Big Ten in Taylor Lewan out of Michigan. The two time Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, the 6'8 315 pound tackle will be a big boost to a struggling Tampa offensive line and will hopefully help Glennon and second year running back Doug Martin improve.






8. Minnesota Vikings: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

Manziel improved his Passer Rating
by 15 points last season and was
a Heisman finalist for the 2nd year
in a row.

And finally, this is where my boy Johnny Football comes off the board. Hopefully he decides to stay in college for another year, where i think he can improve his draft stock, win another Heisman, and then be a number one overall pick, but lets assume he comes out. The Vikings need to give Adrian Peterson a quarterback. And with Johnny's improved poise as a passer, along with his ability to scramble and run, is the perfect fit. Not only will he help them on the field, but he will make them one of the most talked about teams in the league, which I feel would be good for the Vikings. Johnny wants to get paid and the Vikes look like the team to pay him. #HeilManziel





9. Buffalo Bills: Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama

Kouandjio was named a finalist for
the Outland Trophy in 2013

The Bills got their quarterback last year by taking former Florida St. quarterback E.J. Manuel 16th overall. This year they, like the Bucs and Rams, will look to upgrade their offensive line. At this point in the draft, the best available tackle will be Alabama junior Cyrus Kouandjio. A 6'6 310 pound two year starter, Kouandjio comes out of lineman facotry Alabama and should be a big boost to the Bills offensive line and should provide good protection for the possibly injury prone Manuel.







Most of these picks are based on these underclassmen declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft. Some may decide to return to school next year. One major theme of this years draft, like most years, is where and how many quarterbacks will go in the first round.

As always, let me know what you guys think.
NasDaddy

The State of the Sox: Reviewing and Gradingthe Red Sox Offseason

It's great to be back folks! College life has kept me busy but now I'm home on break and have all the time in the world to share my sports knowledge and opinions! i know some of you are glad to hear that, but a lot of you are just waiting to tear me a new one. To that, I say bring it on!

Coming off a World Series Championship, the Boston Red Sox have gone from the hunters to the hunted. Every move they make will be heavily scrutinized, so here we go.

Signing A.J. Pierzynski: C+

Saltalamachia signed a 3 year deal with
the Miami Marlins worth $21 million. 

Pierzynski turned down
other offers to come to
Boston.

After letting Jarrod Saltalamachia go in free agency, the Red Sox had a need for another catcher to pair with veteran David Ross. They decided to go the veteran route, and signed A.J. Pierzynski, a 36 year old catcher coming off a one year deal with the Texas Rangers in which he batted .272 with 70 RBI's in 134 games, to a one year deal worth $8.25 million. He brings with him a veteran presence and an attitude, but with the leadership in the Sox locker room that shouldn't be a problem. I love the fact that he turned down more money to have a chance to win a championship, that gets you points in my book immediately. Personally i don't mind the move, Pierzynski's a good player and should fill the void left by Salty, but i believe the Sox could have stayed in house for this move. Some people may have forgotten about him, but Sox prospect Ryan Lavarnway has the potential to be a solid starting catcher in the major leagues. Lavarnway is widely known as a great defensive catcher who batted .299 in 25 games for the Sox last year, playing only every 5 or so games, a struggle for a catcher who is used to playing everyday. He hit .295 for two straight seasons at Pawtucket. I think the Sox should have given him a chance at the starting job. Playing everyday, I believe Lavarnway could be one of the better offensive catchers in the game. But for now it looks like Pierzynski will be the starter backed up by David Ross, who the Sox would like to get about 50-60 games out of, with Lavarnway likely being the 3rd guy and possibly trade bait later in the year.

Resigning Mike Napoli: A

Napoli will make $16 million
after hitting .259 with 23 HR's and
92 RBI's

Anyone who knows me knows this, I am not a fan of Mike Napoli. He strikes out way to often, and personally I think he has one of the worst swings in baseball. He just looks like a caveman swinging a club. I also believe he is overpaid, but that can be said for most MLB players to be completely honest (how's that $27.5 million to A-Rod going Yankees?). Never the less, Napoli, along with his outstanding beard, was a fan favorite in Boston and was essential to winning the World Series, so resigning him was a must for the Red Sox. Thanks to his clutch postseason performance, Nap earned himself a two year deal worth $32 million ($16 per year), which makes him the highest paid player on the Red Sox roster going into the 2014 season. I think there are players more deserving of that title, Pedrioa, Ortiz, or Lester to name a few, but once again it was a necessity to bring him back, mainly to provide protection for David Ortiz in the lineup. 92 RBI's and 23 home runs are huge for this team, but i would like to see his .259 batting average come up and his 187 strikeouts come down. Nap was also exceptional defensively at first base last season, which is very pleasing considering it was his first full season at the position. He is a hot and cold hitter, and you never know when he'll get hot, but he is an important piece if this team hopes to win back to back rings. So I guess i have to say it, it's great to have you back Mike,try not to piss me off so much this year.

Letting Jacoby Ellsbury go and waiting on Stephen Drew: B

Ellsbury's contract has an option for
an 8th year. 

If Drew were to come back,
he would likely start at
shortstop for the Sox

This is a money situation. The Sox and general manager Ben Cherington made the right decision letting Jacoby Ellsbury go. Obviously right now he is one of the best overall players in the game and is worth $20+ million a year. That's why the Yankees, as only the Yankees do, gave him a seven year deal worth $153 million. That will help them right now, as Jacoby is still in his prime, but Ellsbury is 30 years old. Within four years of this deal he will no longer be the same player he is now, and the Yankees will have a sub par player on their roster making over $20 million. The Sox meanwhile can go out and make a move on veterans who will help them win now without binding themselves financially years down the road. The downside is that you lose a great player right now. As for Stephen Drew, after giving him the qualifying offer of $14.5 million for one year as free agency began, it appears that he and the Red Sox will be going their separate ways. This could be good or bad for the Sox. By not bringing him back, you save at least $15 million that he would likely command, and you open the door for top prospect Xander Bogarts to take over at shortstop next season. If you do bring him back, he would play short and Bogarts would likely play third base, which may be the better option rather than Will Middlebrooks playing third with Xander at short.  Either way the left side of the infield will be a question. But either way in both the Ellsbury and Drew situation, the Red Sox have been smart with their money.



Bullpen Additions: A

Mujica is coming off a year where
he had a 2.78 ERA for the
St. Louis Cardinals

A good bullpen gets better as the Red Sox picked up relievers Edward Mujica and Burke Badenhop. Badenhop was aquired in a trade with the Brewers for a minor leaguer and Mujica signed a two year deal worth $9.5 million. Badenhop is very effective against right handed batters, while Mujica has closing experience, which will come in handy if Koji Uehara ever struggles or deals with injury. Cherington made two solid moves here to solidify an already effective bullpen.

With Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran off the
market, Choo looks to be the next
big name outfielder to cash in. 

So far the defending champs have had a very effective offseason. They have improved areas where they were strong and solidified first base and catcher. I would like to see them go after another outfielder, possibly Shin Soo Choo, to replace Ellsbury in the outfield. I do not believe that prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. is ready to takeover center field yet. I believe Shane Victorino should play center, with Daniel Nave in either left or right, and Johnny Gomes or a free agent addition in the other outfield spot.

Let me know what you guys think.
NasDaddy
@NasDaddy23

Aaron Hernandez: A Life Wasted

You can take the athlete out of the hood but you can't always take the hood out of the athlete.

Photo of Aaron Hernandez in 2009
while at the University of Florida

The story of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is simply pathetic. The 23 year old kid had all the talent in the world, a $40 million contract, fame, a great on field situation, national endorsements, a fiance and an 8 month old daughter, and he threw it all away when he executed his "friend," 27 year old Odin Loyd.

Hernandez being escorted out of his
home by North Attleborough Police

There are a couple of things that really bother me about this whole case. First of all, it baffles me how Hernandez could be so stupid as to murder his friend a mile away from his home, leave shell casings in the  rental car, then return the car with the shell casings in it. This isn't stupidity, this is arrogance. The kid has grown up thinking he's untouchable because he's a Latin king (according to a caller on 9.37 FM) and a thug who likes to carry around guns. He shot Loyd and figured his boys would take the rap for him or the cops won't come after him. Guess what pal, no ones going to jail for you. You're an adult and have to pay the price for your decisions.

Tweet by Adam Schefter

Another thing about this that bothers me is that this may just be the tip of the iceberg. It has been reported that Hernandez may be connected to a double homicide in Boston around July 2012. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Boston PD located a car identified in the homicide last year and it appears it was rented at that point by Aaron Hernandez. The guys already getting a life sentence. If he's convicted of this then he may never see the light of day again. Lets not forget he also is being sued for shooting his buddy in the face a few months ago. The s**t has hit the fan for him.


Finally it just disgusts me how he fooled everyone. He fooled Urban Meyer, Bill Belichick, Robert Craft, everyone. These guys took a chance on him. They drafted him when no one else would. They gave him $40 million. And he didn't care. He just wanted to be a tough gang member.

 He made us all think he was a changed kid. We were cool with the fact that he smoked a little weed in college, but he managed to hide his gun loving thug life from us, which we would never have accepted. He said he the Patriot and Belichick way changed him, well that was a load of crap. Congratulations Aaron, you went from an adored famous athlete to a low life piece of garbage we all wish we never had drafted.

NFL Draft: Winners and Losers, and the Jets

Winners:
St. Louis Rams
Picks:
R1: 8. Tavon Austin WR West Virginia, 30. Alec Ogletree ILB Georgia
R3: 71. T.J. McDonald S Southern California, 92. Stedman Bailey WR West Virginia
R4: 113. Barrett Jones C Alabama
R5: 149. Brandon McGee CB Miami, 160. Zachary Stacy RB Vanderbilt

Austin(1) and Bailey(3) give QB Sam
Bradford the weapons he needs.

Last season the Rams had one of the worst offences in the league, mainly due to the fact that QB Sam Bradford had no legitimate weapons around him other than WR Danny Amendola, who signed with the Patriots this off season. In order to address this issue, they went out and got arguably the most explosive receiver and play maker in the draft in Tavon Austin. The kids fast as hell and should have an immediate impact catching passes and returning kicks and punts. The Rams also added his college teammate Stedman Bailey, who was one of the best receivers in the history of West Virginia football, and was a big reason QB Geno Smith put up such large numbers last year. Bradford now has weapons around him who he can get the ball to. They also added one of the best defensive players in this draft in Alec Ogletree, the linebacker out of Georgia. I was surprised he fell to them at 30th overall, but that may be due to his DUI he got back in February. Him and James Laurinaitis should form a great linebacker duo for Jeff Fishers defense, and T.J. McDonald is a nice pickup from USC who should make an impact at the safety position. Barrett Jones lead Alabama's offensive line to multiple championships, and should be a solid, starting center in the league. The Rams are slowly improving and are about a year or two away from contending for a playoff spot.

Minnesota Vikings
Picks:
R1: 23. Sharrif Floyd DT Florida, 25. Xavier Rhodes CB Florida St, 29. Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee
R4: 120. Gerald Hodges OLD Penn State
R5: 155. Jeff Locke P UCLA
R6: 196. Jeff Baca OG UCLA
R7: 213. Michael Mauti ILB Penn State, 214. Travis Bond OG UNC, 229. Everett Dawkins DT Florida St.

Floyd is a run stopper who is a
steal for the Vikes. 

The Vikings needed a defensive tackle, a defensive back, and a wide receiver. They got one of each in the first round, and all three are solid picks. Patterson gives them the wide out they need after trading Percy Harvin to the Seahawks earlier this offseason. Rhodes can come in and start for a team that was the 9th worst in pass defence last season. Floyd was a steal for them at 23. He was predicted to be the first tackle off the board, as high as Oakland at number 3. He can come in and be a solid replacement for Kevin Williams. The Vikings are winners because they got 3 solid players for 3 different positions.

San Diego Chargers
Picks:
R1. 11. D.J. Flucker OT Alabama
R2: 38. Manti Teo ILB Notre Dame
R3: 76. Keenan Allen WR California
R5: 145. Steve Williams CB California
R6: 179. Tourek Williams DE Florida International
R7: 221. Brad Sorensen QB Southern Utah

Phillip Rivers should be safe in the
pocket for years with Flucker.

The Chargers had three guys with first round talent fall to them in the top three rounds. Flucker gives them a solid tackle who will help protect Phillip Rivers for years to come. Teo's stock dropped because of the Alabama game(and maybe a little due to the catfish scandal) but he's still going to be a solid NFL linebacker, and will be  good replacement for Takeo Spikes, who was cut by the team. Allen was at one point considered one of if not the best receiver in this draft, so he is a good value as a 3rd rounder and gives Rivers another weapon on the outside.

Losers:

New York Jets
Picks:
R1: 9. Dee Milliner CB Alabama, 13. Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri
R2: 39. Geno Smith QB West Virginia
R3: 72. Brian Winters OG Kent State
R5: 141. Oday Aboushi OG Virginia
R6: 178. William Campbell OG Michigan
R7: 215. Tommy Bohanon FB Wake Forest

Milliner could be one of
the best corners in the
league within a few years. 

The Jets didn't have that bad a draft. Picking up Smith in the second round is good for them. He was the best player available and they need to try to move on from the Mark Sanchez era. Taking Milliner with the 9th pick was great for them. He was the best cornerback in the draft and will be a great replacement for Darrelle Revis. It's picking Sheldon Richardson at 13 that i have a problem with. He is a good defensive tackle and I thought he would go around 13, 14 , or 15, but I don't understand why the Jets took him. The Jets have solid tackles already on their roster, so drafting Richardson wasn't essential. And my main problem with this pick is that they lack offensive weapons, and Tyler Eifert, a match up nightmare and probably the best tight end in the draft was available.  Whoever is their quarterback next year, whether Smith or Sanchez(if he's still on the team) will need weapons and they have none. That's my problem with the Jets draft, they really didn't help their offence. Smith may be an upgrade from Sanchez, but its likely that he, and most of the QB's in this draft, will be average at best. Not a horrible draft by the Jets and new GM John Idzik, but it could have been a lot better.

Buffalo Bills
Picks:
R1: 16. E.J. Manuel QB Florida St.
R2: 41. Robert Woods WR Southern California, 46. Kiko Alonso ILB Oregon
R3: 78. Marquise Goodwin WR Texas
R4: 105. Duke Williams S Nevada
R5: 143. Johnathan  Meeks S Clemson
R6: 177. Dustin Hopkins PK Florida St.
R7: 222. Chris Gragg TE Arkansas

Manuel would be better off sitting
on the bench for a season or two,
but may not have that luxury. 

I love almost everything the Bills did this draft. Adding two good receivers in Woods and Goodwin, and safeties in Williams and Meeks. Kiko Alonso is a fast cover linebacker who i loved watching play at Oregon.   And Hopkins will e a great NFL kicker. But picking Manuel in the first round at 16 was a bad decision by the Bills. No quarterback in this draft deserved to in the first round. I have no doubt in my mind that they could have gotten him in either the 2nd or 3rd round on day two. They had a chance to the best player available such as Eifert, linebacker Jarvis Jones, or offensive tackle Justin Pugh to sure up their line. With Kevin Kolb coming to Buffalo this season, Manuel may get a chance to sit and learn, which is what would be best for him, but considering Kolb's last few seasons in Arizona, E.J. may be tossed into the starting job early and is likely to struggle. Maunel has potential to be a very good QB, but the Bills took him to early and missed out on some immediate, game changing players.