It's mid-week, that means it's time to mock draft!
Here is last week's edition.
Now onto the new one
Version four began well, with three potentially immediate-impact players on the board at 14, DeVonta Smith, OT Sam Cosmi Texas & OT Christian Darrisaw Va Tech. A trio of Thielen, Jefferson & Smith would be about as dynamic a trio as any in the league. But if Cousins doesn't have time to read the field and make the throws then even the 98 corp wouldn't be able to reach their full potential. It's no secret that guard is much more of a need but adding talent to the top 5 is a must so after flipping a coin Darrisaw became the selection. I know, it's a very scientific approach.
The good fortune continued when 78 came around. Potentially a shorter Justin Jefferson, Amari Rodgers was another receiver that was considered. WR was once again superseded by the line though. I once again faced a coin-flip decision, which I consider to be a positive. This time the coin came in the form of the fact that the OL has proven it's shallowness while the DL should get better through the re-addition of players already on the payroll. That doesn't mean the team should stand pat but was enough for me to go OL/OL out of the chute. So another Ohio Stater came into the fold, Josh Myers.
With one pick to go the DT that I was considering at 78 was still available but the projection sent him to Cleveland at 89. Stefanski struck again. That opened the door for five targets, two CBs, a safety, an alternate DT and a TE. A legitimate case for all of them could be made but I narrowed it down to S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida St. or DT Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA. With the future of the safety position more in-question than it's been for a long time, that was deemed the most pressing need of the four positions and ties go to need.
With the exception of tight-end all the same positions remained high on the board at 119. The other change I made was shuffling safety to the bottom of the grouping. The Bayou's Tyler Shelvin projects as a nose-tackle and that's the lesser of the DT needs. So the decision came down to CBs Olaijah Griffin (USC) & Benjamin St-Juste (MN) and DT Marvin Wilson (FSU). With the next pick six away I opted for the one option to improve the DL, knowing that there was a good chance at least one of the two would last through that gap.
That was precisely how it played out, with the local kid landing in Eagan.
With 134 receiver Seth Williams was once again in my cross-hairs but the option to invest into the d-line again shifted my pick to Darius Stills from West Virginia. He's a raw player but has been lauded for his intensity and that may be enough for him to become another diamond under Andre Patterson.
I remain resolute that when next months event unfolds, a QB needs to be taken in the third or fourth round. The picks didn't line up for that to happen this time, with the final pick of the fourth round up next, but that is where reality needs to diverge from fantasy.
When 143 rolled up Williams was still available and made for an easy pick. But again, quarterback needs to be addressed by this point.
Beyond that void, the good-fortune of the fantasy draft continued. Four of the top six players are considered ends while the other two are safeties. With the uncertainty surrounding Danielle Hunter & DJ Wonnum it was too good of an opportunity to not invest at that position. Considering the track-record going back to the Everson Griffen pick, if the Purple found themselves in the same spot I'm confident they would come away with the best guy. Absent all of their resources I went with the guy who is the mold of those two - Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh.
The opportunity to double-down presented itself at 172 and that's precisely what I did in selecting Jonathan Cooper, Ohio State.
I did consider taking another bite of the WR apple but was paid-off yet again when 201 came up. Seven of the top eight players on the board were wideouts. With that many options the deciding factor would need be the ability to takeover the return duties. In this case I went with Whop Philyor, Indiana, as the hope of competence on the other end of punts and kicks.
The depth of options remained true when 222 came around but instead of a third WR I opted for Zimmer's dearest position. One-time Iowa CB Manny Rugamba had a down 2020 but before that had been very productive. As another draft & develop player he could be a SOD in the future.
With the last pick I would have preferred to add another OL but as with quarterback earlier, there wasn't a synergy of that position and that pick. So instead I flipped to the defensive line and added someone who could develop as either a reserve end or tackle, Tarron Jackson - Coastal Carolina.
Playing fantasy is never going to be 100% smooth but there were more great situations during this one than I expected. Some names are starting to be consistently in the mix so it may just be a matter of how the team views those guys late next month.
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