That Guy's Mock Offseason 3.0

[That Guy]

This is not a dream-style mock.  I'm trying to design an offseason I see as realistic, and I want to know how people would feel if this fell into place.  I'll hand it to NewColtsFan; most of my previous picks have jumped up the boards and are no longer viable options at my previous placement.

 

Cuts:

Arthur Jones

Hugh Thornton

 

Re-Sign (in order of priority):

Jack Doyle (done)

Robert Turbin

Darius Butler (since Adams won't be brought back)

Akeem Ayers

 

We have PLENTY of money for free agents, but I don't see us getting a long list of big names.  I see us being outbid more often than nabbing the players we want, but Ballard doesn't want to pay anyone an amount that would bring resentment into the locker room.  This drops Zeitler off my board, it drops Bouye off my board, and it drops Poe off my board.

 

Priority Free Agent Targets:

 

Logan Ryan - CB

Great fit for our scheme and a large need.  An outside CB that is great in run support and can stuff WRs.  Patriots have more cap space than we do, but they also have a lot more priorities above Ryan.

 

I have us looking into but missing on Zach Brown, Kevin Zeitler, Nick Perry, AJ Bouye, Dontari Poe, and TJ Lang

 

Second Tier Free Agent Targets:

 

Chris Baker - NT

Starting to see the end of his prime, but he probably has at least one more contract's worth of great play in him.

Lorenzo Alexander - OLB

Great locker room personality.  Not young, but I think he fits what Ballard is looking for in a free agent: hungry, respected, right price.

 

I have us looking into but missing on Jonathan Hankins, Lawrence Timmons, and Larry Warford

 

Third Tier Free Agent Targets:

John Simon - OLB

Player who could turn into a decent starter.  We would need to create as much competition as possible.  I've wanted this player since early February.

DJ Hayden - CB

Give Pagano a chance to coach up a player in his area of expertise.

Shane Lechler - P

Older but still one of the better punters in the league.  If we miss out here, pick up the best punter as an undrafted free agent.

Chance Warmack - RG

We pair Ryan Kelly with another Alabama lineman.  We now have a line coach who can maximize the talent we give him, and I think this would be the best bargain for our free agency.

 

Going into the draft, we have our offensive line set with enough potential (though not yet developed as talent).  We still have a glaring need for playmakers on ALL levels of our defense, and we could still use fresh legs at running back.  That being said, I think our roster has enough pieces to allow us to take a BPA approach.  The draft is LOADED with talent leaking into the third and fourth rounds, so I would love to maximize every chance to trade back and gain mid-round picks.  I would look to especially load our linebacker depth and snag a value corner.

 

Round One - Rueben Foster - ILB Alabama

Could fall to us with recent surgery and combine spat.  Would be a GREAT pick for us if he fell that far.  I'm pretty sure he's the reason we contacted the Bengals about moving up in the draft.  Don't be surprised if we take him at 9 instead of 15.  If he's not here, my script would be: Solomon Thomas, Taco Charlton, Marshon Lattimore, Derek Barnett, Dalvin Cook, Trade Back for more picks and nab Haason Reddick.

 

Round Two - Malik McDowell - DT Michigan St

Has fallen recently; not because of his own wrong-doings, but simply because other players have been rising.  This man has the potential to be great, and I'm seeing mocks have him taken in the middle-late second round.  This would be our second steal of the draft.  If he's not here, my script would be: Zach Cunningham, Corderea Tankersley, TJ Watt, Trade Back for more picks and nab Jordan Willis.

 

Round Three - Tarell Basham - OLB Ohio

Here's where things get interesting.  We can't go without nabbing a pass rusher in this draft and expect to improve in 2017.  Basham and Willis were the two rushers I've wanted since the beginning, and I reach for one here (Willis is probably long gone).  They're both climbing up boards, and they'd both be great fits for our system.  If he's not here, my script would be: Jordan Willis, Carl Lawson, Dawuane Smoot, Jourdan Lewis, Quincy Wilson.

 

Round Four A - Kendell Beckwith - ILB LSU

When he gets healthy, he'll be a better version of what Morrison can do for our defense.  This is the round where I think most of my favorite prospects will be taken.  Out of this round, I would want two of the following: Beckwith, Wayne Gallman, Alex Anzalone, Tarell Basham (if he falls here), Chidobe Awuzie, Jarron Jones, Eddie Vanderdoes, Isaac Asiata, Jordan Morgan.  

 

Round Four B - Wayne Gallman - RB Clemson

I'm expecting a few good RBs to fall, and Gallman would make a great committee back with Turbin.  His slow 40 time could easily drop him here or even to our fifth, but his tape makes him a steal at this position.  Great value for a productive runner.  (I do NOT have Joe Mixon on my draft board)

 

Round Five - Avery Moss - OLB Youngstown St

This round is between CB, OLB, and RG for me.  We take the best available at those positions (unless one of my fourth round crushes falls; then we nab him).  I think the run on CBs runs them dry in the fourth, and I think OLB is a greater need than RG at this point.

 

Round Six - Shaquill Griffin - CB Central Florida

Has what Pagano needs in a CB: good press, decent ball skills, good run support, decent speed.  Would need to be coached a little more in technique, but he'd be a solid player for the sixth round.  Other prospects to look at would be Ben Boulware, Tashaun Bower, and Pita Taumoepenu.

 

Depth Chart:

 

QB - Luck / Tolzien

RB - Gore / Turbin / Gallman / Ferguson

WR - Hilton / Moncreif / Dorsett / Rogers

TE - Doyle / Allen / Swoope

LT - Castonzo / Haeg

LG - Mewhort / Good

C - Kelly / Blythe

RG - Warmack / Harrison

RT - Clark / Haeg

 

DE - Anderson / Langford

NT - Baker / Perry / Kerr

DT - McDowell / Ridgeway / McGill

OLB - Alexander / Basham / Moss

ILB - E. Jackson / Beckwith

ILB - Foster / Morrison

OLB - Simon / Ayers

CB - Davis / Hayden / Melvin

CB - Ryan / Robinson / Griffin

SS - Geathers / Farley

FS - Green / Butler

 

This settles our offensive line and sets them up to grow together; this gives us a powerful and deep defensive line; this gives us a young ILB core that can change our defense; this gives us a pass rush that is better than last year (but still admittedly needs work); this gives us a great CB tandem (and a deep CB roster); and this allows our two young safeties to grow into their strong suits (Geathers near the line with Green ranging over the top).  With our CBs locking down the outside, we could get creative with Jackson, Geathers, Green, and Butler.  If you prefer a "dream-style" mock, you can swap out Warmack for Zeitler.  We have the money.

[MPStack]

Hugh Thorton is a FA.

[Defjamz26]

We've got another 4th round pick. We just dealt Allen lol

[That Guy]

6 minutes ago, MPStack said:

Hugh Thorton is a FA.

I thought his contract extended since he was placed on IR so early.  If that's the case, just simply pass on re-signing him.

 

Thanks!

[throwing BBZ]

2 hours ago, That Guy said:

I thought his contract extended since he was placed on IR so early.  If that's the case, just simply pass on re-signing him.

 

Thanks!

 

And you will be glad to know Ayers is under contract for peanuts.
 I got spanked with missing this one recently myself. 
  http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts/akeem-ayers-7758/