Here's the link: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2705493-2017-nfl-mock-draft-chris-simms-final-predictions. Lamp doesn't bring character concerns and brings value at 23rd overall. Close to them: Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer. And I am book smart. I know some will say that nobody is claiming he is 100% right. Thats what Im here to help this team do. HENDERSON, Nev.Just before noon on Thursday, hours before the start of the NFL Draft, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels popped into GM Dave Zieglers office for one last bit of strategy talk. But people have started taking his ranks as gospel, when they have errors just like any other analyst's rankings. We had them in the last six weeks. His thoughts on the 2018 NFL Draft quarterback class is a bit of a hot take. 9, Alabama's Jonathan Allen is just too good for the Bengals to pass up and makes too much sense. He's just too talented to ignore. There are too many questions about Perrimanregarding his health and what kind of player he can beand Steve Smith retired at the end of last year. Over the last three years, Simms has been pretty spot-on with his draft analysis. Alabama's Cam Robinson is a big, powerful tackle who I ultimately think fits better as an NFL guard. Ultimately, I think Allen's ceiling could be Aaron Donaldmaybe not quite as athletic, but with more power. Now, time to go work, son. As good as Howard is, Miami's David Njoku is my favorite tight end in this draft. There have been plenty of rumors recently about the Jaguars taking a quarterback, but I'm not basing this selection on rumor. This kid's a no-brainer. He could be a tone-setter and a difference-maker for years to come. And lets continue to keep a critical eye regarding all of the draft-eligible quarterbacks who could be chosen by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft later THIS MONTH. 5:33 p.m.: Ziegler on his cell, briefly. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Im not upset. Back in the Raiders draft room, after pick 19, Ziegler said, Josh, you wanna look at trades? On the board were four players with similar grades: Georgia defensive end Nolan Smith, Maryland corner Deonte Banks, Harrison the Oklahoma tackle, and Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders. Meanwhile, Reddick is one of the five most physically freakish players in this draft. He touts great length, can jam receivers at the line and has outstanding change-of-direction skills. Ultimately, though, Florida State's Dalvin Cook is too tasty to pass up. They can and will sling the ball deep. Yes, the Oakland Raiders secondary stunk last year, but here's one thing a lot of people don't realize: The Raiders finished dead last in the NFL in sacks last season with 25. In addition to news, Bleacher Nation publishes both rumor and opinion, as well as information reported by other sources. So no real drama. He and Ziegler slapped hands. The Raiders expect Wilson to be ready to play this season on schedule. There aren't many guys on planet Earth with the combination of size and speed that former Alabama tight end O.J. He would immediately make Washington's defense better. What I love about Jackson is how he saves touchdowns and scores touchdowns. Ramczyk doesn't have the anchor to handle speed and power edge-rushers as an elite tackle, but he can be one of the better guards in football. Philip Rivers is 35 years old and has 13 seasons under his belt. The choice wasnt up to Ziegler; other teams decided for him. And for the Texans, that bit of motivation will be a very good thing. Howard, like Garrett and Fournette, is a can't-miss guy. The Detroit Lions could go pass-rusher here if there's one they fancy on the board. I can use my feet. I'm not going to say he's the next Zack Martin, but he reminds me of him to a degree. He has an explosive first step, he has good bend around the edge, and he knows how to disengage from blockers. But nothing in this draft after Carolina was a sure thing. The phone went cold for a few minutes. These are the prospects in this year's draft I believe already belong on an NFL field. Quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Cody Kessler were traded to the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars respectively. The 2018 NFL Draft takes place from Apr. For what it's worth, I found a video simms did with Bleacher Report for 2017. In 2017, he ranked the 3 first round QBs in the exact order they were drafted (yes, with Trubisky first). 4 overall selections. I am not trying to be a jerk to the kid, but the skill set I see on the field doesnt relate to a cant-miss prospect. Trading the pick to Jacksonville potentially gets the team an extra second- or third-round selection. I still believe in Ereck Flowers as a left tacklehe just needs to work on his technique. The Raiders needed two teams post-Carolina to pick passers in the next five picks. Barnett can come in and complement Bud Dupree as a pass-rusher. Now, you got a fan base thats second to none. Fournette is also a special kind of physical. The Colts have talented receivers like T.Y. In all, the needy Raiders, trying to rebound from a few years of failed top picks, got two likely starters out of the draftWilson and Mayer. Former Texas A&M pass-rusher Myles Garrett is a once-in-every-few-years type of talent. Bleacher Nation is a private media site owned and operated by Betsperts, Inc., and it is not affiliated in any way with Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago White Sox, or the Chicago Blackhawks. It's a great evaluation. He can cover. Grant Cohn Mar 3, 2021 8:02 PM EST Chris Simms probably is. This is imply not true. Facts and . Last year, he had Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert as his top two prospects. For more from Simms, check out the video below: Luis Medina is a Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at@lcm1986. Chris had Trubisky going 5 in a trade up by the Browns, Mahomes at 10 to the Bills, Deshaun at 31 in a trade up by the Jags. Bleacher Nation is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. Allow yourself to view Mac Jones prospect status with clear thoughts, especially after he had a great formal meeting with the team. I think he's one of the easiest evaluations in the entire draft. If you're looking for someone who can break big plays and outrun NFL corners and safeties, Fournette's your guy. Dude, I am so excited youre a Raider. If the biggest risk is that he's a starting end for the next decade, he's a can't-miss prospect. He's going to control you and take you out of the play. KC would have given 31 and 217 (sixth round) for 38 and 70, a net on the points chart of minus-147. All based on film. Goosebumps, Ziegler said. Theyre gonna love you. I'd like to see him against NFL offensive linemen before labeling him a true difference-maker, but I have no question that he'll be a quality starter. Chris Simms' 2023 NFL Draft QB Rankings: C.J. I'm not going to rush to judgment on the Gareon Conley allegations. Green Bay needs that on its defense. In three years, well see if Ziegler picked right in the NFLs 88th draft. Chris reveals his Top 6 QBs of the 2021 class, find out more here. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that's why you'll probably find my mock draft different than others. On the field, Conley is a No. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I feel like Alabama's Jonathan Allen has become the forgotten man in this draft. His only real negative is that Alabama didn't use him much as a traditional tight end, especially this past season. Las Vegas is on the clock, tinny voice says. The glaring mistake is DJ at 6. But those who dont understand tape might want to go to other things and analyze other things. With LSU's Jamal Adams on the board, though, I think they'll wait until the second round. Regardless of what you think of him as a long term starter, he has more talent than Finley and Stidham. Can Thomas develop into a superstar? I love Ohio State's Malik HookerI think he could be an Ed Reed type if he hits his ceilinghowever, I can't give the "can't miss" seal of approval to a guy with 13 career starts. The deal got done and all parties notified, he said, with close to a minute left. As a prospect, he reminds me of Julius Peppers, Jadeveon Clowney or Jason Pierre-Pauland I think he's more physically gifted than all of them aside from perhaps Clowney. He's impressive.". The Panthers have a little bit of an NFL-college-hybrid offense with Newton at the helm. With his speed and athleticism, Jackson could have some success early in his career when left on an island in coverage. All of a sudden, New York's line is a strength. He can be a versatile defensive lineman who can clamp down against the run at end and then move inside against the pass and be a handful for opposing guards. Most recently, Simms had Justin Herbert (and not Tua Tagovailoa) as his QB2 in 2020. The Panthers can use McCaffrey as a traditional back, put him at slot receiver or place him in the backfield next to Stewartand it's going to drive opposing defensive coordinators nuts. He's phenomenal in the open field, and while he might not knock you out, you're going to go down when he gets to you. Did Fields Get Enough Help? Chris Simms spent eight seasons playing in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. He can be the much-needed shutdown corner the Saints have been looking for. We value the TAP test (a test in the pre-draft process that measures mental toughness, drive and composure under pressure), and Tyree got one of the highest grades on it, a Green plus-plus. While Njoku is a bit smaller than Howard at 6'4" and 246 pounds,his physicality and length more than make up for it as a blocker. Chris Simms' quarterback draft rankings are so bad they managed to get Kellen Mond trending (KELLEN MOND!) Hed had some discussions with Cards GM Monti Ossenfort about possibly moving from 12 to three. Texans: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech 3. Interestingly enough, I don't think this draft is heavy in top-end talent, but there is a wealth of depth and value to be had. But at the same time, I could feel it: C.J. Garrett blew his combine out of the water, then turned around and worked out at his pro day. Just express how excited youwhich I know you are.. By Coleman Bentley March 03, 2021 Share story Michael Reaves We've covered Chris. He has major hits in 2018 and 2020. Archived post. The teams draft board had been set with finality Wednesday, after three months of debate. Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie is one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks in this draft. This is the modern draft, where lips are no longer loose, where mock drafts are a mockery of reality. ), An hour after the round ended, McDaniels and Ziegler unwound in the draft room. You're probably drafting Baker to be a strong safety/nickelback. He's a quality run-stopper, and he's only scratching the surface of his potential as a pass-rusher. So the Saints need guys like Lattimore and Jones on their defense. Dont talk about timelines with your foot. I put my GM hat on with each pick and tried to find the pairing that made the most sense. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame 4. He isn't yet on a Rob Gronkowski level, but he could be coached up in the NFL. A lot of people havent played the sport, and I mean critics are gonna critique. In his office 20 minutes later, McDaniels waited to be connected to Wilson to converse. All of these things factor into the challenge of making a mock draft. Detroit up. Foster deserves to be in the conversation with guys like Bobby Wagner or Patrick Willis when they came out of college. 307 506 2,353 Chris Simms @CSimmsQB Here's a link to the Draft QB Rankings podcast with @FareedNBCS: open.spotify.com/episode/7ES4m7 YouTube will be up later today open.spotify.com 2023 Draft QB Rankings Yet, he also has the speed, range and athleticism to cover the Jason Wittens and the Zach Ertzs of the world. Number two overall pick in the NFL draft, man. We stood in a hallway just off the Texans locker room for 12 minutes and I asked him about what hes learned from the last three months. What's even better is that he can be that 10-sack guy at end or at linebacker. My point is, that he undoubtedly hit on the best 3 of the class, but his accuracy ranking within that top 3 is TBD. He's strong enough to shed blockers, and his ability to read and react in the run game is incredible. Domata Peko is gone and Michael Johnson (30) is getting up there in age. I do know the traits are there. The pre-draft process comes with waves of information that can seem overwhelming at times. He's worthy of such a comparison. You're not looking at him and saying, "This guy can do a lot of things, where can we put him where he'll be great?" At 4:43 p.m. Pacific Time, Ziegler was on his way into the draft room, a large square conference room on the third floor of the Raiders facility six miles west of the Vegas Strip. Kelly, Ziegler (cell phone to his ear at least half of the evening), McDaniels, Davis, left to right in front of the room, in swivel chairs, able to look ahead at trade possibilities or back at the state of the draft board. 1 selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Smart move by Ossenfort, choosing not to close a deal for the seventh pick and instead dealing for the sixthensuring that the Cards would get the tackle they wanted. Mahomes will have the luxury of sitting behind Tyrod Taylor for a year or so as he adapts to the pro game. Connor Roger's 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1. Then Ziegler47, in gray suit, black Oxford shirt, no tie, white and black sneakersentered the draft room, where 13 scouts, personnel people, one coach and one owner would plot the immediate future of Al Davis team. None of MLB, the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, the Cubs, the Bears, the Bulls, the White Sox, or the Blackhawks have endorsed, supported, directed, or participated in the creation of the content at this site, or in the creation of the site itself. HOUSTONTwo big stories here when I landed from Vegas: Theres no other way to put it: After picking C.J. QB - Josh Allen at 1 and Lamar Jackson at 4, Kyler Murray at 1 and Daniel Jones at 6 RB - Is all over the place. Ross can take the top off the defense, and he would complement Tennessee's system. But there wasnt much enthusiasm to deal after Banks and Harrison went off the board. Ohio State's Malik Hooker is your perfect version of the modern-day free safety. We needed three quarterbacks to go, and were so happy we got one of the four non-quarterbacks who were our top-rated guys on the board. Simms always ranks these guys as he sees them. Chris Simms' 2023 NFL Mock Draft 1. Chase at 1 and Waddle at 4. No surprise, all this mystery. Howard possesses. Chris Simms has gotten a lot of heat recently on social media for his weak evaluation of Ohio State star QB Justin Fields, who is likely to be a top 15 pick on Thursday. But the insinuation that he is 100% accurate is just patently false. With Trubisky and Mahomes both off the board, I don't think Bill O'Brien will be comfortable with a quarterback here, so Melifonwu is the pick. This is the draft. 26-28 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The Chargers defense would suddenly look pretty nasty with Joey Bosa on the front end and Adams on the back end. Six weeks ago, Anderson sent a letter to each team, saying Wilson has responded extremely well to surgery. We're talking about a 6'4", 272-pound defensive lineman with 4.64-second speed. Now, this is their chance to build something. Stroud will remember this pre-draft process. Elite athlete for his size, like Carson Wentz. This Zach Wilson is very very intriguing - I don't remember the last mock draft where he is not the #2 QB. how to make decaf tea taste better,