If I were to hop in a Delorean with a properly adjusted flux capacitor and set my travels to the distant past of 2013, people wouldn’t believe the current state of the NFC West. Think of how hard it would be to explain to Seattle fans that in 2016 Marshawn Lynch would be retired and even more surprisingly that the team might be better off without him, or to 49ers fans that the then god-like coach Harbaugh would have been run out of town only two years later and in 2016 – after a year coached by a long lost Van Gundy brother who farts in press conferences – that their franchise would be run by another former college football guru, Chip Kelly. How about trying to convince Cardinals fans that their star player in 2016 would be Carson Palmer, who in 2013 was all but left for dead as a washed-up quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. Or worst of all, trying to talk St. Louis fans off the top of the Gateway Arch, as I broke the news to them about the Rams surprising move to LA in January of 2016.
This exercise in an utterly impossible scenario of “what if?” really puts into perspective how much can change in only a couple of years. In essence what I am trying to convey is the importance of the draft. Veterans, coaches, and even cities may come and go, but what remains most important of all is the foundational pieces to the puzzle. At the end of this month, all teams in this often hotly contested division have the opportunity to change their not-so-distant future with just one home run pick in the draft. Just like Seattle did with Russell Wilson in 2012, like the Cardinals did with David Johnson in 2015, like the Rams did with Aaron Donald in 2014, and like the 49ers did in 2016 with (WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS) Jared Goff??
Arizona Cardinals
2015 Record: 13-3
2016 Draft Picks: 29, 92, 128, 167, 170, 205
Despite coming off of a 13-3 season, it may be surprising to many that the Cardinals are actually in a tricky situation come draft day at the end of this month. First and foremost, they are trying to finally get over the hump and into the Super Bowl – somewhere they haven’t been since 2008 when Kurt Warner was calling the signals from under center. Considering this, an impact player would be an obvious choice for the Cardinals when they select at No. 29 overall. Having said this, however, current quarterback Carson Palmer isn’t getting any younger. Drafting Paxton Lynch, quarterback out of Memphis – while it wouldn’t be an instant impact pick – would give the Cardinals a young and talented quarterback to develop behind the ever-aging Carson Palmer.
With the way my theoretical draft board is playing out so far, this scenario doesn’t seem as likely. I firmly believe that they will try to trade out of the selection in hopes of getting back into the second and maybe adding a couple of extra selections along the way. In the spirit of sticking to a traditional mock draft however, I will spare fans the projected copout draft trade and give the Cardinals a cornerback – Kendall Fuller out of Virginia Tech. I see Arizona choosing an impact corner instead of the future QB investment because of their desire to win now. Fuller would come in and upgrade their gaping DB void from day one, while giving Arizona a much more complete defensive look.
As for his tape, Fuller is an adequately built corner with fluid hips, quick feet, and natural instincts for the position. He time and again displayed incredible playmaking ability on tape, as he amassed eight interceptions and 25 pass deflections in only a little over two seasons of college ball. Here’s an example of his natural coverage skills, as he stretches out and makes an incredibly athletic deflection while preventing an otherwise surefire touchdown.
In Fuller, the Cards would possess a perfect compliment to Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary, as his relaxed zone coverage preference contrasts their aggressive press play in a unique way.
Not picking again until late in the third round, the Cardinals really need to hit their first rounder out of the park. In Fuller – while many might see it as a reach pick – the Cardinals will instantly fill a desperate need. The only concerns I have for him is the current health of his knee in which he blew up only three games into the 2015 season. The belief is that he will check out as good to go come training camp, so Fuller shouldn’t be as risky of a selection as draft pundits are making him out to be.
Also in play for the Cards on draft weekend will be a guard, a center, interior defensive line, linebacker, and the aforementioned developmental quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams
2015 Record: 7-9
2016 Draft Picks: 15, 43, 45, 76, 110, 190
While this division has been run by the Cardinals and Seahawks for the past couple of seasons, and the 49ers only a couple of years before that, the Rams – oft forgotten – have actually been a very competitive team for a while now, featuring one of the stingiest defenses in the conference, and now one of the most feared running games in the league. The deficiency separating them from being a solid team as opposed to a good one is their lack of a vertical attack. Ideally, they would like to bring in a young stud signal caller with the 15th overall pick in order to usher in a new era in their new home of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, my current mock draft doesn’t have any worthy quarterback falling to them there, so instead I expect the Rams to shore up the other end of the vertical exchange – wide receiver.
In Laquon Treadwell – an ultra-physical receiver out of Ole Miss – the Rams would be getting the most talented wideout in the draft. Many are trying to knock him right now for his slow 40-time at the Ole Miss Pro Day, but anyone with eyes and an ability to check out some YouTube videos of him would have expected a 40 from Treadwell no faster than the high 4.5’s. You draft Treadwell based off of what he does in the game. He’s not a burner by any means, but with his unparalleled physicality, underrated route running, strong hands, and excellent natural body positioning, he has the tools to develop into a Dez Bryant type of player. Here’s an example of his physical nature against defensive backs, who at least at the college level, didn’t look to be any match for his overwhelming upper and lower body strength. On this play he also displays his flair for the spectacular catch.
Luckily for the Rams, their elite draft selections do not end at No. 15 overall, as they also possess two second round picks only two spots apart from each other, and a third rounder with No. 76 overall. I firmly believe that with one of their second rounders they need to take a quarterback. Potential prospects in play here include Paxton Lynch of Memphis, Connor Cook of Michigan State, and Christian Hackenberg of Penn State.
Other draft needs for Los Angeles list in the following order: inside linebacker to fill the void left by James Laurinaitis, interior defensive line depth to fill the void left by Nick Fairley, an interior offensive lineman, a cornerback, and potentially a second wide receiver even if they take one in Treadwell in the first round.
San Francisco 49ers
2015 Record: 5-11
2016 Draft Picks: 7, 37, 68, 105, 133, 142, 145, 174, 178, 207, 211, 213
Especially after the news this weekend that the Colin Kaepernick to Denver trade is all but a done deal, the 49ers are in need of a quarterback now more than ever. Luckily, in just a few weeks, they will have an opportunity to select arguably the best signal caller in the draft with their 7th overall pick in the first round.
Jared Goff out of Cal was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country in 2015. He enters the NFL with an incredibly high IQ, lightning quick release, precision accuracy, and some of the best pocket footwork I have ever seen from a young quarterback. Personally, in this pick I believe that the 49ers are getting the next Tony Romo. Sure, we have a lot to learn about his intangibles, but his willingness to take chances at any cost seems incredibly reminiscent of the Cowboys quarterback. Also like Romo, Goff has one of the quickest releases possible. It’s not quite as quick as Romo’s but it’s more than quick enough to be a weapon at the next level. In terms of pocket presence, the two are very similar as well. Goff has been known to use Romo’s patented blind rush spin move with effectiveness; just look at the uncanny resemblance…
While it is unlikely that Goff becomes a Pro Bowler right away, he’s pretty close to a finished product aside from his slight frame. He should immediately upgrade this struggling 49ers offense, especially considering his excellent fit in coach Chip Kelly’s high tempo scheme.
As for the Niners other selections, they are in the market for offensive playmakers. They could use a complimentary running back, a couple of explosive wide receivers, and maybe even a tight end. With No. 37 overall, expect them to target wide receivers Tyler Boyd out of Pittsburgh, Sterling Shepard of Oklahoma, and even Pharaoh Cooper of South Carolina. They might give Ohio State’s Braxton Miller a look in the third, while running back can be addressed in any of the subsequent rounds. A third or fourth round inside linebacker seems very plausible, while an interior offensive lineman will be targeted somewhere further down the board.
Seattle Seahawks
2015 Record: 10-6
2016 Draft Picks: 26, 56, 90, 97, 124, 171, 215, 225, 247
While Seattle really began to click in the second half of the 2015 season, they still weren’t as dominant as they once were defensively. They seemed to really miss Byron Maxwell playing across from Richard Sherman on the outside, and would be best served using their first round selection on another lengthy, physical corner.
William Jackson III out of Houston slightly falls here in my mock draft, while the Seahawks couldn’t theoretically turn their card in any sooner. He’s tall, long, physical, and smooth. He’s got excellent ball skills, and never seems to shy away from a fight – a true Legion of Boom player at heart. On this play, Jackson shows his natural cover instincts and his well-polished ability to track the ball in the air rather than just playing the man.
If this scenario were to play out, it would be remembered as likely the steal of the draft. Jackson has the potential to be a true shutdown corner for years to come, and while lined up across from Sherman – already considered one of the best corners in the league – quarterbacks would have no where to throw the ball.
Following the first round, Seattle likely turns their attention to the offensive side of the ball, most specifically the offensive line, as they could use several upgrades along that front. In the second round, tackles Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M and Shone Coleman of Auburn will be in play, while third round guards Landon Turner of UNC, Connor McGovern of Missouri, and Spencer Drango of Baylor are legitimate options as well.
*** Check back in on Wednesday for the AFC West draft breakdown ***