Todd McShay 7-round mock draft

by David Fucillo on Apr 17, 2007 10:46 AM PDT in NFL Draft

Proving that he is a man who loves his job, Todd McShay has rolled out a 7-round mock draft (Mr. Irrelevant: Clifton Dawson (RB) from Harvard to the Lions.

It's insider protected so I'll just post the 49ers picks here for discussion.

1.11 - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan

2.42 - Tim Crowder, DE, Texas

3.76 - Jacoby Jones, WR, Lane

3.97 - Ryan Harris, OT, Notre Dame

4.104 - (This HAS to be for Braekneck!) Michael Bush, RB, Louisville

4.110 - John Wendling, S, Wyoming

4.124 - H.B. Blades, ILB, Pittsburgh

4.135 - Aaron Rouse, S, Virginia Tech

5.147 - Clark Harris, TE, Rutgers

6.186 - Yamon Figurs, WR/RS, Kansas State

Thoughts? If this was presented to me Sunday evening I'd be rather pleased. It addresses various needs and presents some quality sleepers down the road. I wonder if we go D-line back to back, but it's not something I would be opposed to and of course I certainly have no problem taking Michael Bush in the 4th round.

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Not bad.

I think I would pass on Wendling in the 4th and more than likely Clark Harris in the 5th. There should be many better options that early in the 5th round. But overall, I don't think this is a bad draft at all.

I like Kiper's mock a lot better, though Bush in the 4th would be wonderful. DraftTek has the 49ers taking Bush in with their first pick in the 4th as well. I can't believe that teams would pass on him all the way through the 3rd... just because of a broken bone. There are plenty of teams that need a running back (like Buffalo, who has also taken a risk on injury-riddled McGahee) that should value his services. I still think he's worthy of an early third rounder.

Crowder is an interestiong prospect for the second round (I think it's a reach). All of the reports I've read on him make him sound like a run-stuffer, but can also drop back in coverage. He's not really good at rushing the QB. I guess that would make him a nice compliment to Banta-Cain.

by sfgfan on Apr 17, 2007 11:04 AM PDT reply actions

Initial thoughts

Why Tim Crowder? He's undersized for a 3-4 DE, and he's almost too big really to move to OLB I think. I'd much rather see Sears, Rice, Kalil, Ugoh, or Harris taken in that spot.
I'd rather see DeOssie than Blades in the 4th round.
Why two safeties in round 4? I'm not sold that we need to draft one safety this year, but we certainly don't need two of them. I'd say stick with Wendling, as I don't like anybody between 110 and 124. Instead of Rouse at 135 I'd go with DL Jay Alford.
I'm not sure we need a TE, but I don't see much else I like in round 5 so I'm ok with that pick. I love the Yamon Figurs pick in round 6, he could be a very good kick and punt returner for us.

All in all, not a bad mock. I like the picks of Harris, Bush, Figurs quite a bit, it just seems there are some picks that don't really seem necessary for the team.

by gatling on Apr 17, 2007 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

Professionals?

I put a way better mock draft together myself back when we were discussing them. Jacoby Jones falls a lot further than 3.76. And why would we take 2 safties and/or a TE? I'm not a huge fan of this mock but it does have us landing Bush so I'll give it thumb's 45 degrees from the horizontal.

by methodrampage on Apr 17, 2007 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

SBN Mock UPDATE

Jaguars, Tim Crowder (DE, Texas)
Bengals, Jon Beason (LB, Miami)
Titans, Josh Wilson (CB, Maryland)
Giants, Eric Wright (CB, UNLV)
Rams, Craig Davis (WR, LSU)
Cowboys, Steve Smith (WR, USC)
Chiefs, Doug Free (OT, N. Illinois)
Seahawks, On the Clock (Although it doesn't seem like they know it.)

These picks haven't been updated on the Lions SBN page, but each team's respective sites have already made posts on their pick.

by sfgfan on Apr 17, 2007 4:17 PM PDT reply actions

Seahawks

I believe Shrug is traveling today (or maybe it was yesterday) and was gonna be out of touch for a day or two. I'd expect a pick to be forthcoming.

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by David Fucillo on Apr 17, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I remember reading that...

... but I was under the impression John Morgan was taking over for him. I guess I was wrong to assume that. Hopefully three rounds get done before the draft.

by sfgfan on Apr 17, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Need Willis

There is a difference in wanting a player and needng one. There is no doubt in my mind that we need willis. Think about it who is the leader on that defense. BY is a quiet leader but he is on his way out. Branch is not a leader reports on him that he is lazy. Clements goes about his business and just does his job. Who Else?
That first round pick has to go Willis. He is more than just a linebacker. He is tough,hardworking, atheletic, and will become our leader for years to come.
So drafting Branch who is a load may make sense but not drafting Willis could make it very difficult to become the defense Nolan wants.
This will be my Dream Draft.

P.Willis LB
S.Rice WR
Turk McBride DT
Ryan Harris OT
Michael Bush RB
Z.Deossie LB
A. Rouse S
B. Atkins DE
Court. Brown CB
Y. Figurs WR/RET.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 7:25 AM PDT reply actions

I like Willis.

This is especially true if I had to chose between him and Branch. This is all well known here.

Your mock is pretty nice, but I have a few questions...

Why McBride in the third and not Soliai? McBride is obviously too small to be an NT, so you mush be considering him for a DE position (but even then he is on the smaller side). From what I've read of him, he isn't really strong, and he doesn't play like he is either. He gets pushed back fairly easily, and has trouble holding the point.

Baraka Atkins, DE or OLB? If you're considering McBride as a DE, then what is Atkins for? He supposedly has the quickness to play OLB, but I've seen mention of his work ethic lacking. That's a pretty big obstacle if you're switching positions.

I'm intrigued by the Courtney Brown selection in the 5th. The guy sounds like he has all the physical tools. I definately wouldn't complain if he was taken there.

Overall a pretty good draft. I'm just curious to know where you see the above mentioned DE's fit into the scheme of things.

by sfgfan on Apr 18, 2007 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Rationale

I looked at McBride as a guy who could possible slide to the nose. He is about 275 right now but he has a frame to play about 285-290. But Solai would be a nice fit as well.
I looked at Atkins as a DE he has the speed to stand up but he has the size to play end. We now could very unpredictable in our pressure.
I think the advantage of playing the 3-4 defense is the confusion it causes to blocking schemes and if we had DE running 4.6 40s... we can really mix up our drops and pressure.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions

McBride

285-290 is the weight of an average DE in the 3-4, not the NT. We'd be talking 310 plus, which is a big jump for McBride to make.

by gatling on Apr 18, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Patriots Nose Tackle

When Wilfork went down with the Patriots Mike Wright step in and did a great job at nose tackle. 6'4 295. But I do agree that Solia will probably be a better nose tackle.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Ok

Wright may have been able to fill in for a short while, but the lightest starting NT's I can find are Kelly Gregg of Baltimore and Jason Ferguson of Dallas, both at 310. Ted Washington is over 360, Wilfork 325, Jamal Williams 348, and Casey Hampton at 325. With Sopoaga and Franklin both in at 320, it's possible we could go with a lighter guy, but my guess is if we draft a NT it would be for a starting job eventually.

by gatling on Apr 18, 2007 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Nose Tackle

You better believe that if we spend a first day pick on NT we are looking for him to start. how much confidence you guys have in Solia from Utah. I mean that program is not known for dominating fronts. And can we get away with a kid that like [I may be a HOMER but] but Ant Johnson from Mississippi State who we probably can get late or you feel that the drop off is significant enough to get a NT in that 3rd.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Soliai

Both sfgfan and I are interested in Soliai at #97, both in the mock here and in real life. I think he'd be a good value there and a good fit. I like Antonio Johnson, but I look at him as more of a DE in the 3-4, he's a guy I mentioned at #135 in the WR thread when we discussed Kiper's latest mock. Johnson seems like a guy who could play DE and then some NT in a pinch, making him valuable for his versatility.

by gatling on Apr 18, 2007 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Trade up

Seems like I am beating a dead horse but I feel with the amount of picks we have we can move into late 1st and nab Justin Harrell from Tennesse. He is a beast. But don't know if I want to part ways with any picks right now. WE have to come out of this draft with ILB, WR, DT, and DE. That is mandatory. Smith is not the answer at ILB neither is Ulbrich. Of course I love Slaughter House [southern Miss grad] but he was hurt last year. you know we need pass rush and we need to be stout up the middle. Lelie I am not sold on but hey he may turn into our Alvin Harper in Turners Offense we need a Michael Irving. OHH you can only imagine how saying that sickens me. I HATE THE COWBOYS.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Re:

I've been extermely open in my opinion against trading up. Theres just so much depth in our positions of "need" that trading up doesn't really seem to make much sense. To move into the first, the 49ers would probably have to give up their 3rd rounder in addition to their 2nd.

If you consider that the team can land Sidney Rice and Paul Soliai (or an OLB) with those two picks, giving the two of them up for Harrell just doesn't seem to be worth it. This is especially true if Willis or Carriker was the pick in the first round.

With the lack of "big" interior defensive linemen, I've seen Soliai's stock rated anywhere between the beginning of the third through the middle of the 4th. I would love to take him at #97. To be on the safe side, I wouldn't even be opposed to taking him at #76.

Brandon Siler, H.B. Blades, DeOssie are solid options for ILB between the 3rd and 4th rounds (assuming Willis wasn't taken in the 1st). Quincy Black and Tim Shaw in the 3rd to 4th round are also options I like at OLB.

by sfgfan on Apr 18, 2007 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions

good draft

make your
76. OT Marten
change your
110. to Soliai

Take Gattis with your compensatory third rounder bc Gattis is a FS which is more needed than Rouse who will probably play SS (or OLB Everett)

then take Paul williams with your Rouse pick

i like your draft though

by Qbgetter13 on Apr 18, 2007 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

New Mock

What about this y'all(country I know)
11. willis ILB
42 rice WR
76 martin RT
97 soliai NT
104 bush RB
110 rouse S
124 atkins DE
135 c.brown CB
147 figures wr/ret
186 thomas DT
I know thomas has some character issues but he is someone that has 1st round grades and can come in and fight for a spot.

rouse is my guy he big he has ball skills and he can play.
Martin come and give us depth at the tackle position

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on Apr 18, 2007 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Soliai

Physically, he's a stud. He's huge (6'4", 344), but he's supposedly athletic for a big guy. He's quicker than he is fast. He's strong and powerful, allowing him to hold his position against two blockers. Physically he has a ton of potential.

He is considered somewhat raw, though. He was a JC transfer as an all-american guard, and started his career with Utah as a guard. So he's really only had just over a year of defensive line play.

Even if he is raw and lacks real technique, his size (and stout-ness, if thats a word) is what the 49ers should really be after. A guy that big, he just needs to learn to play low and hold his ground when two guys are on him. He could probably free up the LBs and help stuff the run pretty easily right off the bat.

by sfgfan on Apr 18, 2007 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

ILB/NT Combo

If we could snag Willis and Soliai (with #97) that would be my ideal ILB/NT combo for this draft, relatively speaking of course as I realize we might be able to get a more consistant NT using a higher pick. But value wise I don't think it gets much better than Willis and Soliai.

Soliai is a poor man's Branch, as far as the whole boom or bust thing goes. Soliai has the potential to be dominate but represents a much better value in the late 3rd round than Branch does in the 1st.

Willis in the 1st with Bush and Soliai in the 3rd and you can take whoever you want with that 2nd pick and I'd be a very happy Niner fan.

by methodrampage on Apr 18, 2007 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Which comes first?

Bush or Soliai? Obviously both have fluctuating stock values. As we've seen in the past few weeks, Bush could realistically be taken anywhere between the 2nd and the 4th, and be considered a "steal". Soliai's size and potential are placing him anywhere between the 3rd and the middle of the 4th.

If Willis was taken in the first, who do you take with #76? I'm quite torn here. Soliai plays the more "useful" position presently, but Bush plays the (potentially) more dynamic position (backing up Gore). Both have the potential to become solid contributors to this team.

by sfgfan on Apr 18, 2007 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Tough call

But I'd take Bush at #76. Soliai might have a better chance of sliding to #97 but I also think that if we can pick up a decent DE, like McBean, later in the draft we can address NT at a later point (maybe next year). I just look at the team and as currently constructed if Gore doesn't play the Niners don't win. If you add Bush that doesn't necessarily hold true, however if you take Soliai and Gore doesn't play the Niners still lose.

by methodrampage on Apr 18, 2007 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions