My NCAA Bracket sucks so I decided to make a mock

[Manning1887]

If you are reading this, your bracket is better than mine. Next year I am flipping a coin on all the 5-8 seed games, and I will pick against Duke early.

 

My fervent hope is that the Colts trade down. As much as I would love to accumulate a couple extra picks in 2015, the most likely scenario is to trade back into the early 3rd and pick up a 4th. The most likely trade partner is the Jets. The Jets have been aggressive in free agency, and I heard a rumor they are looking to pick up Desean Jackson. My ideal trade is pick 59 in exchange for 80, 110, and 111. (To put this trade into context, last year the Saints traded two fourth round picks to move up into the latter part of the 3rd round to take John Jenkins. In 2012, the Bucs traded an early fourth round pick to move up from the early 3rd round into the late 2nd to take Lavonte David.)

 

 

Pick 80: Pierre Desir, CB Lindenwood  6'1" 200 lbs

This is my bias pick. I think Desir could become a great corner in the NFL. He reminds me a lot of Trumaine Johnson from the Rams, who I feel is an underrated corner. Good sized corner with great length. The great thing about drafting Desir is that you could give him a year to learn the game. He doesn't need to be thrust into the lineup with Davis, Toler, and Butler. When Toler eventually gets hurt, he could battle with Gordy for the nickel/dime role. http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/pierre-desir?id=2543811

 

Pick 90: Antone Exum, CB/S Virginia Tech 6'0 210 lbs

Played both corner and safety at Virginia Tech so he provides some versatility. Coming off injury. I like him better than some of the other names I have seen, particularly Dion Bailey (no offense).

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/antone-exum?id=2543680

 

Pick 110: Justin Ellis DT Louisiana Tech 6'1" 330 lbs

I am having a tough time gauging where Ellis will go in the draft. I have seen some mocks where he is gone in the 3rd round, and I have seen others where he is in the 5th round. I have seen on ESPN and a couple other places that we were supposedly looking at nose tackles. We inquired into Paul Soliai before he signed with Atlanta. We may look for a NT earlier, but at this point Ellis seems to be the best available. Unlikely he makes it out of the 4th round

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/justin-ellis?id=2543812

 

Pick 111: Trai Turner OG LSU 6'3" 310 lbs

Turner's stock is apparently rising according to Bleacher Report. Apparently Grigson is fine with Costa and Holmes fighting it out for the starting center spot. Donald Thomas should have one guard spot by default. I would love for Thornton to face some competition for, likely, the right guard spot. Turner is athletic, running a 4.93 forty at the combine. My understanding is that we like our lineman to pull so Turner fits the bill. He is young as well, only 21 years old, take that how you want.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/trai-turner?id=2543606

 

Pick 154: Andrew Jackson LB Western Kentucky 6'1" 254 lbs

Jackson seems to be a fairly popular pick on a lot of mock drafts I have seen. It makes sense for the Colts to draft an inside linebacker as we need depth. Bleacher Report stated recently we are "hell-bent on drafting a linebacker in this year's draft." (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1998931-breaking-down-the-most-important-pro-days-for-the-indianapolis-colts/page/7)

 

Pick 187: Walt Aikens CB Liberty 6'0" 200 lbs

When you get into the 5th-7th round, in my opinion, the best philosophy is to take the best player available. Aikens could be the best player available in the 6th round. He was not invited to the combine, but he had a solid pro-day running in the high 4.4's. He has good size.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/walt-aikens?id=2543724

 

Pick 209: Howard Jones DE Shepherd 6'2" 235 lbs

Meet this year's Ty Powell. Division II player who has a great combine that brings some attention to him. He ran a 4.60 forty at the combine. Hopefully he could contribute on special teams while he adjusts to the pro game and puts on weight. Likely practice squad guy. Not sure you can do much better in the 7th than drafting a guy with promise.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/howard-jones?id=2543645

 

 

In conclusion, I just wanted to point out how many Indiana players are having an impact on this year's tournament. The latest is Anthony White Jr from Mercer, who I believe went to Pike High School in Indy. I just love seeing all this Indiana talent leave the state. Think there is a correlation between talent leaving and no Indiana school in the tournament?  [ ok, I feel better, rant over ]

 

 

[MTC]

Best title ever. 

[PrincetonTiger]

Best title ever.

Ditto

Not a bad mock

[kjyb]

definitely Pierre desire i likey