Mel Kiper Jr. released his mock draft 3.0 today and he has quite the mix at the top. Johnny Manziel is not his No. 1 pick anymore (surprise!) and isn’t even the first quarterback off the board. Kiper has good fits and he has bad fits, but lets look at the best of both.
Kiper's Mock: 3.0 (Need ESPN Insider to View)
Good Fits:
Houston Texans select Buffalo OLB Khalil Mack: The average person will think that Kiper and the Texans are crazy to take Mack over Jadeveon Clowney, but this makes a lot of sense. Clowney isn't a pure 3-4 player like the Texans run. Clowney would be able to adapt, but wouldn’t be the “legendary” player the media thinks he will be in Houston. Mack on the other hand, would be an incredible 3-4 OLB. Great fit in the Texans scheme and he is great prospect. I’m happy Kiper made this change.
NFL Draft Team Preview: Denver Broncos
NFL Draft Team Preview: Seattle Seahawks
Cleveland Browns select UCF QB Blake Bortles: Bortles is the first QB off the board and that seems to be the way the tides are moving right now. Bortles has the size and attribute that people look for in a QB. The Browns were the team I thought would take Manziel, but Bortles makes more sense. Bortles will love having Josh Gordon to throw to.
New York Giants select UNC TE Eric Ebron: The Giants have interest in TE Jermichael Finley, but he hasn't visited them yet. I like Ebron to New York because he would be the presence the team has missed since Jeremy Shockey and maybe even Mark Bavaro before him. Ebron can be the next big thing at TE and rival Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. The Giants are a team that can bring that out in him.
Kansas City Chiefs select USC WR Marqise Lee: Lee has dropped off a bit from a year ago, when he was coveted and lock to be the first receiver off the board. Lee is great value here for a Chiefs team starving for a number one receiver. Lee would plug in as Alex Smith's favorite target and may ever give Dwayne Bowe and Donnie Avery a boost.
Manziel Already Highest Paid 2014 Rookie?
Bad Fits:
Minnesota Vikings select Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel: The more I look at the draft the more I see that Manziel might have a tough time on draft day. He isn’t the size you want in a QB and the teams drafting towards the top are moving toward a more conventional pocket passer scheme as opposed to Manziel’s game. Manziel is a QB that likes his legs and Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner demands that his QB’s have roots and only leave the pocket in extreme cases. Manziel isn’t that guy.
Carolina Panthers select Alabama OT Cyrus Kouandjio: Its not the position that alarms me here, but more Kouandjio in the first round. The Panthers desperately need lineman in the draft. Jordan Gross is retired along with many of his Panthers teammates. I like Kouandjio to the Panthers, but after his failed physical at the combine due to having an “arthritic knee” he isn’t a first-round pick. Dr. James Andrews and Kouandjio say there is nothing wrong with the knee but the combine doctors stand by their assessment. If there is even a question of arthritis in a OT’s knee he drops out of the first round. I like Virginia’s Morgan Moses here and Kouandjio in the 2nd or even 3rd round.
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