ESPN+ Kiper Mock Draft 2.0
Throwing this up here for some discussion. Mel has Gary going 4 to the Raiders and Bush 30th to the Pack.
Odd note as he has Lions going with the TE from Iowa Hockenson at 8 overall....was he really that good? Even if he ends up being a high end TE would doubt he would have more game impact than a disruptive pass rusher on the DL or a corner like Greedy.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
Gary will test well but his tape is lacking and he’s gonna take a few years to make an impact but he should pan out.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
Gary will start from day one in the league.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
Whoever drafts him will likely slide him inside to his more natural three-tech and he will wreck interior linemen so long as his shoulder holds out.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
I actually am not as certain of this. I think he will be a DE in the league, the only question will be if a 3-4 or 4-3 team drafts him. I mean, he could move inside, I just don’t think it’s as inevitable as most seem to think. He’s still very long and athletic, and can be a versatile edge guy.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
Part of Gary's appeal is that he can play both so he gives a lot of versatility to any defense. I think his long term best position is probably 3-tech, but he can still be imposing if a normally 4-3 team, tries out 3-4 to mess with an offense.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
Agreed.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
I think you'll see him float around a bit between end and 3-tech depending on the situation. He can hold up pretty well against a double but also has enough athleticism to get some pass rush even if he's not great at it. One big then is that he is capable of playing the run, which will help even as the league continues to be pass-first. If he winds up on the Raiders, that's a really solid, young defensive line they've got there.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
It’d be so fun to watch him and Mo play together again.
February 18th, 2019 at 3:16 PM ^
This one has Gary to the Lions so hopefully his agency works out better (Bleacher Report):
(Also has Bush not drafted in 1st round)
February 18th, 2019 at 7:31 PM ^
I (coincidentally) had a Raiders hat in high school right before NWA popularized them. If both Gary and Hurst are on the Raiders, I may have to get another one.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:00 AM ^
You were that guy in the 80’s with a Raiders hat? Cool, cool.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
I said impactful, hes gonna get exposed as he has very few moves he'll struggle in the 1st year but he'll get there.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Exactly! Only reason Gary wasn’t better than Nick Bosa is because Greg Mattison is an idiot.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
No it's not.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^
Seen Gary and Bush both going to the Raiders in a few mocks. I’d have to become a Raiders fan if they started Bush, Gary, and Hurst in their front seven. That’s nasty.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
What would be more "Lions" than to pick a TE most have never heard of at #8?
February 18th, 2019 at 12:20 PM ^
(Insert name of a WR here)
February 18th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
Now that they actually NEED a WR, they won't take one.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Ebron worked out well right?
February 18th, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^
For the Colts this past year, yes
February 18th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
Ebron worked out almost as well as Pettigrew.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:52 AM ^
Picking a TE at #8 would be completely dopey, even if everyone had heard of them. No TE is worth that high a pick.
So the Lions will almost certainly do it.
February 18th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
lions gonna draft their third first round tight end in last decade, what could possibly go wrong smh
February 18th, 2019 at 2:01 PM ^
And if the Lions don't draft Hockenson - he'll become the new Gronk.
That's just the way the Motown Kitties roll...
February 18th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Haskins will be a backup in the AAF within two years.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
Did you wake up from a coma? Or have you repressed 62-39?
February 18th, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^
No, neither. I think he is going to have real accuracy issues against NFL defenses with the speed they have. Not to mention, all Osu qbs suck in the NFL. If I’m an NFL GM, I’d take a hard pass on him.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^
The issue with your "all OSU QBs suck in the NFL" is that Haskins is completely different than all those OSU QBs we've seen. He's actually a prolific passer. OSU QBs haven't ever been drafted this high before.
February 18th, 2019 at 4:48 PM ^
Hmmm, in terms of your first sentence I think you could say that about any QB coming out of college is going to have some type of learning curve in that regard. I guess we'll see .
February 19th, 2019 at 11:36 AM ^
I fully believe Haskins will flop in the NFL. He's was a system QB at osu who had incredible success dumping the ball off underneath the D and letting his elite athletes do all the work for much of Haskins stats. He will need more clean time in the pocket than what he will get. His arm strength is sufficient but above average at best for NFL standards and his accuracy is below average.
He beat us by throwing wide open drags and throwing punts in the vicinity of Brandon Watson. He beat PSU by throwing screens and dumps and hoping he's athletes were good enough to get all the yards on their own, and they were against PSUs prevent D. He will be a bust in the NFL.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
Shea will be an All Pro. Haskins will never start a game in the NFL.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^
What makes you think that?
February 18th, 2019 at 1:05 PM ^
Biased homeristic hatred
February 19th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^
Because Shea has had top notch NFL coaching from Jim. Haskins will have no clue what he’s doing. Shea was ranked higher by PFF.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
A TE at 8 would be a big mistake. An offense can function fine with an average/less than average TE. A defense cannot function without adequate pass rush and crappy corner play. Lions need their first couple picks to be defense, defense, and more defense. Maybe look for a TE/WR in round 3 or 4.
If the Lions' top option is drafted before them, I would prefer they move back and stockpile picks.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^
Especially in a league that is current de-valuating them. The meta is more receivers and spread type concepts... As much as I like the Iowa TE, blocking from the TE position isn't valued highly. As such, I think he could fall to the back of round one or even fall into round 2.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:44 PM ^
Move back and stockpile picks is the fan's mantra.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:15 PM ^
NO MORE TIGHT ENDS IN THE TOP-10, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!!!
February 18th, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
I pray that the Giants don't draft Haskins, he's not worth that high a pick.
February 18th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Totally agree. He has a good arm. No doubt. But OSU’s system is not a pro-style system, so at best you are projecting how he will adopt to a more -NFL-like game. Also, unlike at OSU, he won’t be on a team that has many times more talent than the defense he is lining up across from.
February 18th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Totally agree. He has a good arm. No doubt. But OSU’s system is not a pro-style system, so at best you are projecting how he will adopt to a more -NFL-like game. Also, unlike at OSU, he won’t be on a team that has many times more talent than the defense he is lining up across from.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:22 PM ^
Lions will trade down for Sweat.
February 18th, 2019 at 6:10 PM ^
February 18th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
February 18th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^
Ugh. Not you again.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^
Gary and Hurst in the middle of the Raiders defense would be good.
February 18th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
Please Bob, for the love of God, DO NOT DRAFT A TE IN THE FIRST ROUND!! Learn from MIllen and Mayhew. It's an idiotic move. Get a damn pass rusher or anybody that'll impact the game and make plays.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
Bush doesn't make it past the Steelers at 20. They need a MLB to replace Shazier. He'd fit perfectly.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
Tough to say what the Steelers will do now that they’re losing Bell and Brown at the same time. They may have to go offense.