Yeah, I know! I already did a final mock!

But we all know the likelihood of Howie staying put at #23 is slim to none. In the last couple of years he’s traded up multiple times to get his guy. From Smitty to Davis to Carter to Campbell. He even traded up for Dillard. Only times he stayed put in the first was when he overdrafted Reagor and got lucky with Mitchell and Nolan Smith.

Especially in a mediocre draft that lacks blue chip prospects you’d probably want one. I don’t think he’ll trade up say 10-12 spots, it’s simply not worth that in a draft like this but if one of them gets passed say the Buccaneers at #15 It wouldn’t surprise me if he makes a move.

My guess is that a couple of prospects are in that tier 1 for him. In no specific order I believe it to be Vega Ioane, Monroe Freeling, Kenyon Sadiq and maybe a receiver like Jordan Tyson or Omar Cooper Jr.

So in this scenario Kaleb Proctor was off the board at #17 for the Detroit Lions (who they’re rumored to be in love with) and Dan Campbell and Co. believe their next tackle on their board will also be available in that early to mid 20’s range (Blake Miller).

Howie’s on the phone and offers No.23 and 68 for #17 and #118 and Detroit gladly accept the offer.

Draft;

1 Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon;

If Howie trades up it’ll likely be for a difference maker

2 R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma;

Not the height/weight prospect we’re having them taking but they did brought him in for a visit so there is some level of interest.

3 Brian Parker II, OC, Duke;

Another guy they brought in for a visit. Can play multiple spots on the line.

4 Louis Moore,S, Indiana;

Safety fourth

4 Markel Bell, OT, Miami;

Huge OT who can watch and learn behind LJ for a year

4 De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss;

Top 30 visit with height and speed

5 Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo;

CB depth

6 Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson.

Developmental QB

I would be very disappointed if this is what Howie does. Aside from Parker and Bell I'm not excited. I really hope they'd do some of your previous offerings.

Just for the heck of it here's each players standings on the average of the 7 evaluations I chart -

Sadiq - drafted 17 rating 18

R Mason Thomas - drafted 54 rated 42

Parker - drafted 98 rated 99

Moore - drafted 114 rated 152

Bell- drafted 118 rated 142

Stribling - drafted 137 rated 128

Fuller - drafted 178 rated drafted 225

Klubnik - drafted 197 rated 172

Do you reallythnk they'll be taking a CB and no LB

22 minutes ago, Rob331 said:

I would be very disappointed if this is what Howie does. Aside from Parker and Bell I'm not excited. I really hope they'd do some of your previous offerings.

Just for the heck of it here's each players standings on the average of the 7 evaluations I chart -

Sadiq - drafted 17 rating 18

R Mason Thomas - drafted 54 rated 42

Parker - drafted 98 rated 99

Moore - drafted 114 rated 152

Bell- drafted 118 rated 142

Stribling - drafted 137 rated 128

Fuller - drafted 178 rated drafted 225

Klubnik - drafted 197 rated 172

Do you reallythnk they'll be taking a CB and no LB

I don’t think he’ll stick and pick.

The last couple of mocks I did were based on top 30 visits and interest. I never do a mock what I’d do or want them to do, always what I think Howie could do.

Would I be happy with this?! Not necessarily but I’d not be mad at all cause I like about all those players. I can’t say there’s a prospect we could realistically get who would really excite me.

Would Tyson, Cooper Jr., Ioane, Iheanachor, Freeling, Faulk, Fano, Proctor move the needle?! Good prospects but not in the vein of Jalen Carter, DeVonta Smith, Quinyon Mitchell… at least not yet…

Thursday is right around the corner... I agree Ray, it's tough because we're trying to get in Howie's head and the scouts with what they

look for for or prefer. I too would not be happy with this but I see what you're saying. I do like Stribling and apparently according to the "experts"

he's moving up the board. Thanks for another one to run around our brains.

37 minutes ago, Breeze 44 said:

Thursday is right around the corner... I agree Ray, it's tough because we're trying to get in Howie's head and the scouts with what they

look for for or prefer. I too would not be happy with this but I see what you're saying. I do like Stribling and apparently according to the "experts"

he's moving up the board. Thanks for another one to run around our brains.

I personally like the more traditional TE but in this class Sadiq is a unicorn, one of the special prospects.

I can’t see Howie giving up a ton for a guard like Ioane, maybe just moving up a couple of spots. Is there that much difference between Freeling in that 16-22 range and Iheanachor or Miller at #23?! Not in my book but he might think Freeling is that much better. But Sadiq? Yeah, I can see him trading up for that kind of prospect.

Personally I’d be fine with Iheanachor or Miller at #23.

But for some reason I have the feeling he wants a special player like Tyson or Sadiq. And you can also put Cooper Jr. in the conversation (although I don’t think he’s special).

They’ve done so much homework on offensive linemen that I believe they’re comfortable taking another position in the first and address OL later in the draft.

If they take Sadiq they basically swapped AJ and Dotson for Wick, Hollywood Brown and Sadiq and likely feel good about that.

2 hours ago, Ray75 said:

The last couple of mocks I did were based on top 30 visits and interest. I never do a mock what I’d do or want them to do, always what I think Howie could do.

It's an interesting contrast, between our approaches. You have focus on the 30 visits and give them weight while trying to get into Howie's head. I focus more on what he said which is he'll select based on the board. Somethimes that coincides witht he 30 visits and other times it doesn't. Of course I have my own board which I've described to you, and God knows if it has any resemblance at all to Howie's.

10 minutes ago, Rob331 said:

It's an interesting contrast, between our approaches. You have focus on the 30 visits and give them weight while trying to get into Howie's head. I focus more on what he said which is he'll select based on the board. Somethimes that coincides witht he 30 visits and other times it doesn't. Of course I have my own board which I've described to you, and God knows if it has any resemblance at all to Howie's.

Here is what I usually do. I first evaluate their needs, after that I start with the draft class and create tiers, I always keep in mind what they’re usually looking for (traits, body type, character, work ethic, smarts, in love with the game etc), tendencies, with Howie you always have to read between the lines (he’s so cryptical) and last but not least I use X to get a feel which positions they’re looking into and prospects they’re talking to and presumably have interest in. It starts at the Shrine and Senior Bowl, the standouts, the interviews etc. If they meet up again at the combine, they either have more questions or really like the kid and want comformation.

I use a ton of simulators but most of the time I don’t agree with their rankings. The PFSN one comes closest to my board so I use that one the most.

I might love a player but sometimes I just know he’s not their type and/or a great fit.

Keeping an eye on the top 30 visits is very important. They hardly take a guy in the first they haven’t brought in.

That’s why I believe Iheanachor is sitting high on their board. The kid checks all of their boxes.

First round prospects who’ve visited the Eagles; Vega Ioane, Kenyan Sadiq, Kadyn Proctor, Omar Cooper Jr., Caleb Lomu and Max Iheanachor but there are only 19 reported. The other 11 we have to guess. They also brought in Malaki Lawrence who you could argue is a late first/early second type of prospect.

But I do think Howie might be tempted to move up if a "special” player starts to slip. otherwise I believe they’re comfortable taking Iheanachor at #23.