Ok this is my second attempt at this. I will include my V1 picks as well for compare and contrast.
| Pick No. | Team | Expected Pick (Version 1) | Expected Pick (Version 2) |
| 1 | HOU | Blake Bortles, QB, UCF | Blake Bortles, QB, UCF |
| 2 | STL | Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M |
| 3 | JAX | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville | Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina |
| 4 | CLE | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M | Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville |
| 5 | OAK | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson | Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M |
| 6 | ATL | Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn |
| 7 | TB | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina | Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina |
| 8 | MIN | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State | Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State |
| 9 | BUF | Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo | Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo |
| 10 | DET | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State | Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State |
| 11 | TEN | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan |
| 12 | NYG | Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA |
| 13 | STL | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M | Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson |
| 14 | CHI | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama |
| 15 | PIT | Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama |
| 16 | DAL | Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh |
| 17 | BAL | Marqise Lee, WR, USC | Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M |
| 18 | NYJ | Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State | Marqise Lee, WR, USC |
| 19 | MIA | Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame |
| 20 | AZ | Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame | C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama |
| 21 | GB | C.J. Mosley, ILB, Alabama | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State |
| 22 | PHI | Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh | Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri |
| 23 | KC | Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU | Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU |
| 24 | CIN | Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State |
| 25 | SD | Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State | Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech |
| 26 | CLE | Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State |
| 27 | NO | Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame | Dee Ford, DE, Auburn |
| 28 | CAR | Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State | David Yankey, OG, Stanford |
| 29 | NE | Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech | Louis Nix III, DT, Notre Dame |
| 30 | SF | Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State | Jimmie Ward, SS, Northern Illinois |
| 31 | DEN | Jason Verrett, CB, TCU | Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame |
| 32 | SEA | David Yankey, OG, Stanford | Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech |
So a few movements up and down the list highlighted by:
- Jake Matthews (6 to 2)
- Greg Robinson (12 to 6)
- Sammy Watkins (5 to 13)
- Aaron Donald (22 to 16)
- Kony Ealy (11 to 22)
Matthews and Robinson seem like they could be almost interchangeable although I still see Matthews being selected first. I was always wary to put Watkins in the top 5 and moving him out felt right. As did Ealy’s drop as I never really saw him as an almost-top-10 pick despite the fact many mock drafts had him there. A few players dropped out of the first round, most notably Kelvin Benjamin falling from 18. I have a feeling now that receivers won’t be in demand as much as I thought they were in my V1. As for the top five, Clowney, Bridgewater, and Manziel each drop one spot as Matthews moves in as the #2 pick to the Rams. So a few major changes but nothing big as I still see Bortles going first overall to the Texans. It would take something major to change my opinion on that.
In other news, Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer are the new #1 broadcast team for the SEC Network. We all knew Musburger was going there but Palmer is a bit of a surprise. Now the question will be who will take over as the #1 ESPN/ABC broadcast crew and does Heather Cox join Musburger and Palmer at the SECN? My guess is Cox does move over, but since Rece Davis is still doing Thursday nights with the Bachelor and POLLACK-SMASH, it opens the door for someone else to be the #1 crew with Kirk Herbstreit. I figured it would have been Joe Tessitore but he will be with Tim Tebow, also on the SEC Network. I think we will see one of Brad Nessler, Sean McDonough, or Chris Fowler coming out of the GameDay booth to call it, although part of me hopes they go a different direcion and go with Carter Blackburn, who is fantastic on Friday nights with Danny Kanell and Allison WIlliams. Speaking of Williams, I would consider her a frontrunner for #1 sideline reporter along with Maria Taylor and Holly Rowe. Again, going with someone a little younger and newer may be the way to go here so don’t be surprised if Shannon Spake gets the call. Should be interesting over the next month or two as the dominoes start to fall with the Musburger/Palmer announcement.
V-3 Mock Draft to come sometime in April, although again I think there will be very few changes although I should try and highlight possible trades that could happen inside the first round. Schedules are pretty much finalized so mapping out the broadcast season (at this way-too-early point) is possible. Obviously things change based on team performances but at the very least, the most important games can be looked at.
Update: Of course, as soon as I do this article, not even 24 hours later it is announced that Chris Fowler will take over the Saturday night play-by-play responsibilities for ESPN. Sometimes I just need to be patient.
Bossman's Blog 