Jay Glazer's 1st round Mock Draft

[Jay Glazer]

I'm going to be going thru each pick and giving a small breakdown of what I expect each team to do. I should have the 1st round done in the next couple days.

[Jay Glazer]

1.1
West Virginia has a difficult decision to make at 1.1. Outside last years 1st round pick WR Perrotta they have no offensive weapons to throw to and it showed with franchise QB Burgess struggling significantly in his rookie season. WR Briggs would instantly provide a nice deep threat for QB Burgess but Briggs has his own short comings. West Virginia could go with DE O'Donnell who is the safest pick in the draft. He has nice size and elite combine scores.

The pick: West Virginia selects DE Mickey O'Donnell Michigan State

Update: After trying to reach out to the West Virginia GM we found out that prior GM Arizing isn't running the ship so i'll be updating my mock

CPU teams don't often take gambles and West Virginia gets a stud DE

1.2

Chicago has to be excited about how the draft is going to play out. Chicago has a glaring need at QB and while Don Barrett didn't set the world on fire at the combine he's still has franchise QB talent. There's no way West Virginia picks a QB and Barrett probably won't motivate someone to move up to pick him so Chicago can stay at 1.2 and get the missing piece to their offense. If for some reason Chicago isn't sold on Barrett I could see them picking CB Porter. Porter is another can't miss prospect but I have a hard time seeing Chicago passing on Barrett.

The pick: Chicago selects QB Don Barrett Virginia Military.

Barrett has a pretty impressive sense rush bar given his very average agility score. Although unlikely he holds his bars it's possible.

1.3

Montreal will hope that the first two picks off the board are not QB and WR. Montreal has tons of talent on the defensive side of the ball but needs help at QB and WR. I would think Montreal's first choice would be to trade down from this spot but they'll probably have a hard time finding takers. Montreal will take a look at QB Grant but ultimately he'd be a major reach with the talent on the board. Montreal doesn't have an elite CB so Mike Porter makes the most sense here. After updating the 1.1 pick Montreal is excited to see WR Briggs still on the broad.

The pick: Montreal selects WR Mark Briggs Penn State.

Briggs does have elite big play ability and those types of WR are very hard to acquire.


1.4

Right about now the Louisiana warroom is celebrating that DE dropped to them at 1.4. Louisiana is in need of a QB but they'll probably give 3 yr QB Rivera one more season before moving on. DE O'Donnell is the #1 player on the board and should be the clear choice for Louisiana. Update: O'Donnell is now going 1.1 so Louisiana is getting the next best defensive player in CB Mike Porter.

The Pick: Louisiana selects CB Mike Porter Michigan.

My guess is that Porter's Bump and Run bar is masked and he's probably a high 80's low 90's rated CB.

1.5

Little Rock has already picked WR's at 1.1 and 1.6 along with 1.16 on a QB so their probably looking for help on the defensive side. Little Rock has nothing more than undrafted free agent talent at DT so L.C. Manning could easily get the call here. If LR warroom has concerns about his size WLB Scott Murray could also have his name called.

The Pick: Little Rock selects WLB Scott Murray Southern California

A do it all LB is always a welcome addition to a 3-4 defense. Murray and last year 1st round Joseph should make for a crazy blitzing tandom.

1.6 Last year Oakland looked on the defensive side of the board first and probably will have no problem picking FS Shelton at 1.6. Shelton has elite speed and size and could easily get picked before 1.6 Oakland needs help on offense but it's hard to see Oakland picking TE Wilburn with last year 1st round pick TE Horne on the roster. RB Tietsworth might be get consideration but again his very average combine scores should scare some people away.

The Pick: Oakland selects FS Adam Shelton Texas.

Shelton is one of the leagues fastest players and in football speed kills.

[Jay Glazer]

Updated the first couple picks knowing that 1.1 will probably be a CPU pick

[JesterBlaze]

Very pumped to see a new IFL media presence!!

[Matt]

awesome news!

[Argot]

Had those first two picks in my mock as well. I went CB Porter to Montreal instead with the #3, but I tend to undervalue WR compared to most GM's...which is probably why I never WIN!!!!

[BuddaKINGII]

Nice!

[Jay Glazer]

We had a chance to speak with Montreal GM Chris Rex and he shared some thoughts on the what Montreal was thinking with their 1.3 pick.

"Of course this has to be a barren offensive class this year, since i'm pikcing so high" I agree that it's a weak QB, RB WR class and should make for an interesting 1st round. Chris also said "First of all, as always, BOTH my first round picks are available for trade! Much as I love dissecting the draft, I love trading even more"

My sources within the Montreal orginzation say that WR, LB and CB are high on their priority list. It's a pretty deep LB and CB class so I'm sticking with my prediction that WR Mark Briggs ends up in Montreal.

[Matt]

bonne chance!

[Jay Glazer]

1.7

Dakota enters the draft with very little holes on the roster so I expect the BPA strategy from the Dakota warroom. Last year the Spirit added a great outside weapon in WR Calvin Lyle, I think it's safe to say franchise QB Montemayor is going to be pushing hard for another weapon. There's no WR worth another top 10 pick so TE Wilburn seems like a very logical choice. He's an elite TE and will provide another viable threat in the passing game.

The Pick: Dakota select TE Cory Wilburn Ohio State

1.7 is high for a TE but Wilburn is very deserving of this pick.


1.8

Portland has one of the leagues all time great QB's in Karl Bauer who's entering the twilight of his career. It seems logical that Portland would try to give Bauer one last shot and add a RB to help take some pressure off the passing game. RB Tietsworth doesn't have game breaking speed but he'll be a very productive RB and can also contribute in the passing game.

The Pick: Portland selects RB Roy Tietsworth Arizona State

It's a little hard to see a RB going this high without impressive static bars but there's no player left on the board that would provide an immediate offensive impact like RB Tietsworth.

[Jay Glazer]

We had a chance to speak with Little Rock GM zbuckley and asked him if Little Rock was committed to the 3-4 defense and does the signing of free agent gem Donovan Punzel take them out of the running for a DT.

"Yeah we're going to stay with the 3-4 defense so it's hard to see us grabbing a DT this high."

My sources say the Little Rock warroom is looking at LB, along with the game changing TE. I'm going to update the mock draft now that it's seems very unlikely LR will be picking a DT

[Matt]

with the past few drafts LRK has had, they might even just go BPA.

[Jay Glazer]

1.9

It's difficult to run a 3-4 defense without and LB playmakers so I expect Hartford to go in that direction. Phil Fordyce is a little undersized but that shouldn't stop him from being an elite LB at the NFL level. I could easily see them going with SLB Justin Cole as well but I'd be very surprised if it's not a LB here.

The Pick: Hartford selects LB Phil Fordyce Iowa

Fordyce might not be the best LB in the class but he's the most developed and should make an immediate impact.

1.10

Initially I thought Lansing might be looking at RB but they're already got two former 2nd rounders and a 3rd rounder on the roster so maybe not. They only have 3 DT on the roster and none of should be starting. JC Manning seems like a good fit here, he's not only a great run stopper but should also add some inside pass rush.

The Pick: Lansing selects DT J,C. Manning Rutgers

Manning isn't an elite talent but still the best DT in the class and red agility scores are always nice.

1.11

After landing the franchise QB Chicago has some flexibility with the pick. I'm guessing they grab the last elite LB who should be a monster WLB. Chicago desperately needs help on the Oline but I think they'll be better served addressing that late and grabbing the game changing LB Justin Cole.

The Pick: Chicago selects LB Justin Cole Nebraska

Cole's 40 time is off the chart and should be a pass rushing monster.

1.12

If there was ever a team in need of a deep WR class it would be Carolina. Franchise QB Wesley May has been very average in his career but it's hard to blame him because of the talent he's dealing with. I see WR Jessie Penny coming off the board here and he'll step in and become Carolina's #1 WR from the moment he signs his contract.

The Pick: Carolina selects WR Jessie Penny Iowa State

Penny isn't never going to be mentioned with the leagues elite WR but with a great QB throwing him the ball he should be a very productive WR.

[Jay Glazer]

I've spoken with Hartford GM Kkiley and here's what he said was their strategy going into the draft. "We have a need pretty much everywhere. My biggest need is QB. Mine is old and was hurt last year. Unless there is a franchise QB, which I'm sure there isn't at 1.9, I'll just take BPA."

I can't argue with his assessment. I don't think Hartford will view any of the 2nd tier QB's as franchise talents so I still see them picking an LB

[Jay Glazer]

Lansing GM jley said Lansing hasn't fiinalized their big board so the orginization is still debating which way to go. "Currently, he definitely have some holes on our team. We would absolutely love to snap up a top tier WR or TE to help Bryant Bruce spread the wealth. There has been a glaring hole at RB and we will also look at the options there. A balanced attack is what we want on offense. I don't think we would use our 1.10 pick to beef up the interior lines, but crazier things have happened."

I could see Lansing going RB, their past early picks haven't really provided production. RB Wolf might be a great fit. A 6-1 229 lb HB with game changing speed.