Cheers, Chris Burke, we appreciate you:
Mock Draft 6.0: @ChrisBurke_SI goes three rounds and 96 picks deep as all NFL eyes turn to the draft https://t.co/KufVkDjxVg pic.twitter.com/yH9V7dCtZs
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 9, 2017
First Round
24. Budda Baker, S, Washington
From Chris…
Essentially, he’d be the replacement for veteran Reggie Nelson, who has one year and no guaranteed money left on his contract. A Baker–Karl Joseph combo at safety would cover all sorts of ground, with Baker often patrolling deep as Joseph walked up near the line.
Take: I’ve already written (and glowed) about Budda earlier this #szn. Burke and I are on the same page, it would appear, as my thinking is that Budda’s going to serve as the instant-upgrade and replacement for an aging Reggie Nelson. Many are concerned with Baker’s build, but he’s able to come downhill effortlessly and plays bigger than what he’s listed at. He’s a ridiculous athlete, so his range and ability in the deep-half of the secondary should take some of the stress out of Sunday’s. I’d be thrilled with Budda at 24, we just have to hope he lasts that long.
You can hit my report for all the on-field GIF’s. Off the field, character-wise, the young man remains golden as well:
Budda Baker is a quarterfinalist for the @LottIMPACTrophy, which honors CFB's defensive best in character and performance. #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/FsDNYM5IBf
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 10, 2016
Second Round
56. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
Chris notes…
Conley is another Ohio State cornerback who really gets up in receivers’ grills when he’s thrown into man coverage.
Take: It’s been the motto all season, and will carry on strong throughout this offseason: Oakland needs to get better in the secondary (that’s me being polite once more). Ideally, Reggie McKenzie will tack on two corners through (both) free agency and the draft. Adding Conley in the second round would be a heck of a start. I’ve seen first round grades associated with Gareon Conley for the most part, so I’m loving the value at 56 overall. While he may not have the athletic upside of teammate (and potential first round pick) Marshon Lattimore, Conley’s still got the build at 6’1″, 195 and plays with better overall technique.
Mr. Lance Zierlein compares Conley to Aqib Talib. Below is his take, and bottom line:
Press-corner with experience at both cornerback spots and an ability to fit into a variety of coverage techniques. He plays with good top-end speed and has the ball skills to challenge and defend passes on any level. He can step in right away in zone coverage, but could struggle to match patterns from a pedal. He will likely be targeted by teams seeking long cornerbacks who can crowd and trail receivers down the field. He has the talent to become an early starter, but he must improve in run support.
Some early heat from November:
Ohio St. CB Gareon Conley is already a top 15 player in the 2017 draft despite being a junior, sources tell @nfldraftscout pic.twitter.com/TLnZNXdV0X
— Bleacher Report NFL (@BR_NFL) November 7, 2016
The praise appears to be warranted:
This is pretty much perfect textbook coverage from Gareon Conley. He ran his route for him. @NFL scouts must be salivating. #ConleyIsland 🔒 pic.twitter.com/oUaMQGzvGw
— Mekka Don (@MekkaDonMusic) October 17, 2016
Third Round
88. Taywan Taylor, WR, Western Kentucky
Take: Absolutely love this pick. Taylor’s the (slot) receiver Oakland deserves. Most folks glance at this roster, notice both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, and scoff at the idea of adding another wide receiver, let alone in the first four rounds. The reality is that Cooper disappeared far too often (he’s still a special talent, a proficient route runner, and not a player I’m concerned about, but this is a fact), while Crabtree led the league in dropped passes with 9. Continuing to add talent around Derek Carr should still be a priority.
The one knock that we’ll continue to read is regarding Taywan’s hands, as he appears to be more of a body catcher. Here’s our pal Lance again, who compares Taylor to Stefon Diggs:
Slot-only receiver with the athleticism and separation quickness to win on the NFL level. Benefited statistically from Western Kentucky’s scheme, but that offense benefited from Taylor’s ability to get open and his explosiveness in the open field. High floor with the potential to be an above-average slot receiver in an offense that recognizes his flexibility.
For whatever it’s worth, the connection was made down in Mobile:
Western Kentucky WR Taywan Taylor barely made it off the escalator before Bucs and Raiders grabbed him for meetings.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 23, 2017
More Zierlein on Taylor:
Taywan Taylor, the people's wideout. pic.twitter.com/L0IBKArL8W
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) November 22, 2016
Posey (not as many followers are Zierlein) with some thoughts:
Taywan Taylor had more than 3 yards pic.twitter.com/W3hmVwCvwJ
— KP 🏁 (@KP_Show) January 20, 2017
At the end of the day, he’s out here just making it work:
https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/798627015083626497
https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/798618088807665664
Catch me on Twitter: @StillRyanFive
I think Crabtree had nine drops against Buffalo or just seemed like it. What good is a receiver if he can’t catch, (see Roberts). It’s like having an OL who can’t block. Holmes needs more PT and the new coordinator needs to put the TE in the game plan and also find ways to utilize Cooper better. Agreed, we need a #3 receiver. Also, don’t break the bank on Murray. Not a huge fan. Good year for DB’s, so works well for us.