What a fun night, unless of course you’re a Giants fan. Y’all just got Gettleman’d. It wasn’t a complete waste, check out Giant Superfan Ginger King’s Final Mock, he killed it! Nostradamus level shit right there. And if you were following along to the Big Red Sports Machine Draft Day Drinking Game, how could you not have fun?! Fireworks are sure to ensue tonight. Here’s my stab at the mayhem….
Final Analysis: Our final mock before the big event. There’s some late banter that Arizona will not take Murray, but I think they have to at this point, especially after the hype video they released last week for the upcoming season where Rosen was included. Unless Rosen has been in on the ruse this whole time, which would make this the Greatest. Smokescreen. Ever. It’s a good thing there will be no cameras on Rosen tonight, because it’s going to be awkward AF – I’m talking Aaron Rodgers green room awkward – once the Cardinals take Murray. Good luck trying to get a first for Rosen, Arizona.
One name that keeps rising is T.J. Hockenson, the do-it-all Tight End from Iowa. There’s rumors a few teams in the Top 10 are enamored with him, including Jacksonville, Detroit, and Buffalo. He would also make a ton of sense in Green Bay. If Detroit gets a little scared about Montez Sweat’s heart condition, they could pull a little bit of a shocker and grab T.J. at 8.
Speaking of Bills Mafia, I think they’re going to do something different for a change and not reach for a need position [cough, J.P. Losman, cough, E.J. Manuel, cough, Leodis McKelvin] and instead let talent be the driver. That would be Jonah Williams, whom I think is the best offensive lineman in the Draft, and also happens to fill a need for Buffalo. The Bills need to protect Josh Allen, on the field and on Twitter. Jonah can at least help with one of those things.
Regarding New York’s real team, I think the Giants will end tonight with a new quarterback on their roster, and I think that quarterback will be Daniel Jones or Josh Rosen. Ideally, the Giants would use both their first round picks on defense (which was and still is their biggest weakness), and then try to get back into the First Round and take Jones (or trade their second round pick for Rosen). But that may be too much of a gamble for the G-Men to take, especially with rumblings that teams ahead of them, like Washington, have Jones on their radar. The Giants would rush the podium if Ed Oliver is still there at 6. Aaron Donald 2.0.
Also, get ready for a bunch of trades tonight. I think there’s some teams that would love to drop back a few spots and collect some additional picks. Don’t be surprised if a team like Washington makes a move to the Top 10 to grab a qb, to get ahead of teams like Denver and Cincy that may be looking at signal callers.
Can’t make it to The Machine’s Draft Day Party? Well, that sucks for you. But have no fear…we got your back. “How can I make the Draft better?”, you ask yourself in amazement. By playing The Big Red Sports Machine’s Draft Day Drinking Game. It’s fun, it’s easy, guaranteed to impress the ladies, and you can play at home or at your favorite watering hole. Here are the rules:
1.Draft catchphrases. There are certain phrases you only hear during the Draft. Why? We don’t know, but we love them. For this reason alone, we give ESPN the slight lean over the NFL Network for your Draft Day coverage. That, and, Kiper. Duh, winning!
The following phrases are worth a shot of beer:
Raw talent
Off-the-field issues
Live arm
High motor
Straight line speed
Great Value/Upside
Dual threat
System quarterback
Pocket presence
Plays in the box (hey oh!)
Best player available
Intangibles or Measurables
War Room
New Regime
Edge Rusher
Gets to the Second Level
Quick feet
Plays in Space
New for 2019:
Silky hips
Thick frame
Backside protector (hey oh!)
2. Videos/references. Each of these are beer-finishing worthy:
Reference to Mel’s hair
Player on-stage photo-op with family/entourage of 15+
First shot of Drew Rosenhaus in his newest client’s living room
First player to cry when their name is called
Reference to when Tom Brady was drafted (we’ll also accept Brady’s Combine picture)
Reference to Aaron Rodgers draft day slide
Video of Brady Quinn in the green room
Video of Bill Tobin’s infamous “who the hell is Mel Kiper?” interview during the ’94 Draft
And this:
3. On the Clock Chug. When your team is on the clock, you have to finish a full beer before the pick is called. Note: if your team trades down, they’re on the clock twice, meaning two full beers. Cowboy up, it’s the Draft!
Basically, if it doesn’t look like this, you’re doing it wrong…..
Scouting Profile: Tyler Swart – QB, Missouri S&T Miners 6’4″, 260 lbs Great Lakes Valley Conference
2018 Stats: 212/331, 2,936 yards, 29 tds, 10 ints 2018 Record: 10-2 (Mineral Water Bowl Champions) Bowl Game Stats: 13/22, 212 yards, 4 tds, 0 ints, 1 rushing td School Records: Attempts, Completions, Completion %, Yards, and Touchdowns
Tyler Swart’s been chasing the dream of playing professional football for a long time. His family moved from New York to Texas (a/k/a the Mecca of High School Football) when Tyler was in high school in order to give him a better opportunity. And the move paid off. After a prolific career at Division II Missouri Science & Tech, where he set several school passing records, and which culminated in a convincing 51-16 win in the Mineral Water Bowl over Minnesota State-Moorhead, Tyler is keeping the dream alive, and working to get to the next level. But first, he faces his biggest challenge yet: an interview with the Big Red Sports Machine. We fired up the Big Red Sports Machine conference call to talk with Tyler about his career and what lies ahead.
Tyler, congrats on an
amazing collegiate career. Talk to us a
little about your journey.
Thank you. I loved
it, and wouldn’t change a thing. I felt
that, me personally and as a team, we fought through a lot of adversity. When I first came to Missouri S&T, the
coach that originally recruited me left, and a new coaching staff came in. I had to work to gain their trust and
confidence, which was an unexpected challenge for me and my teammates. But I enjoyed every minute of it.
What made you pick
Missouri S&T?
I had offers from a few schools, some DI and DII programs, but my other passion besides football is engineering, specifically petroleum engineering, and I wanted to find a school that could further both my playing and academic needs, and Missouri S&T was the perfect fit.
Who would you say
your game compares to at the pro level?
Probably Big Ben. He’s a big guy, but has shown himself to be mobile when needed, very durable and dependable. I’m kind of built like him—my teammates call me Big Swart—and I’ve watched a lot of tape of him and tried to model my game after him, everything from his footwork to his arm mechanics.
What are you up to
now?
Well, I graduated this past December (with a BA in Petroleum
Engineering, minor in Geology), and since then I’m still in Missouri, working
out with the team and helping to prepare myself and other teammates to get a
shot at the next level.
What’s been the
interest level so far?
I was invited to an NFL pro day in Kansas City back in March. That experience was incredible. This weekend, I’ll be at a pro day for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. There’s also some potential in the Arena League and in Europe.
Basically, you want
to keep that dream alive?
Absolutely. I would
love to play in the NFL, but really I just want any opportunity to play and
show that I can contribute at a professional level.
Best of luck to you
Tyler. If you ever want to make zero
dollars, you can come work for the Big Red Sports Machine.
[Laughs] Thanks, guys. But I think I’ll stick with football and
Petroleum Engineering.
Let’s go to the Tape:
We’ve watched some tape on Tyler, and are impressed. There are shades of Big Ben in his game. He’s got good pocket awareness, anticipates the rush, moves well, throws well on the run, and when he sets his feet and has time, can rocket the ball down the field. Tyler’s favorite throw is the 15-yard out, and it shows on film. Check out the highlights at 40 seconds and 1:50…those are pro level plays. Tyler’s challenge will be getting the opportunity. There are surprising number of DII players in the NFL…82 suited up last year, led by Malcolm Butler (West Alabama) and Adam Thielen (Minnesota State). Of the 82, though, 0 were quarterbacks. However, the Eagles just signed former DII (and AAF) quarterback Luis Perez last week, which, as Tyler noted, gives hope that the dream is still alive.
We’re inside 3 weeks!
Time to get excited. Also, it’s
time to fully open the kimono. Here’s our
complete Round 1.
Round 1
Team
Pick
1
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
QB
2
San Francisco 49ers
Nick Bosa (OSU)
DE
3
New York Jets
Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
DL
4
Oakland Raiders
Josh Allen (Kentucky)
EDGE
5
Tampa Bay Bucs
Devin White (LSU)
LB
6
New York Giants
Rashaan Gary (Michigan)
DE
7
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jawaan Taylor (Florida)
OL
8
Detroit Lions
Montez Sweat (Miss St.)
EDGE
9
Buffalo Bills
Andre Dillard (Wash St.)
OL
10
Denver Broncos
Drew Lock (Missouri)
DL
11
Cincinnati Bengals
Dwayne Haskins (Ohio St.)
QB
12
Green Bay Packers
Ed Oliver (Houston)
DL
13
Miami Dolphins
Clelin Ferrell (Clemson)
DL
14
Atlanta Falcons
Christian Wilkins (Clemson)
DL
15
Washington Redskins
Greedy Williams (LSU)
CB
16
Carolina Panthers
Jonah Williams (Alabama)
OL
17
New York Giants
Daniel Jones (Duke)
QB
18
Minnesota Vikings
Cody Ford (Oklahoma)
OL
19
Tennessee Titans
TJ Hockenson (Iowa)
TE
20
Pittsburgh Steelers
D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)
WR
21
Seattle Seahawks
Byron Murphy (Washington)
CB
22
Baltimore Ravens
Devin Bush (Michigan)
LB
23
Houston Texans
Chris Lindstrom (Boston College)
OL
24
Oakland Raiders
Dexter Lawrence (Clemson)
DL
25
Philadelphia Eagles
Josh Jacobs (Alabama)
RB
26
Indianapolis Colts
Brian Burns (FSU)
EDGE
27
Oakland Raiders
Deandre Baker (Georgia)
CB
28
L.A. Chargers
Rock Ya-Sin (Temple)
CB
29
Kansas City Chiefs
Parrish Campbell (Ohio St.)
WR
30
Green Bay Packers
AJ Brown (Ole Miss)
WR
31
L.A. Rams
Jeffrey Simmons (Miss St.)
DL
32
New England Patriots
Noah Fant (Iowa)
TE
You work out, bro?
Instant Analysis: One of the hardest people to place in the draft is DK Metcalf. DK absolutely owned the Combine (4.3 40!, 27 reps at 225!) and he also owns a lot of muscles (see above). But does any fan base want him? Despite the monstrous Combine, the tape is inconsistent. Doesn’t create much separation, more straight line speed than football speed. Also, his 1.6% body fat, while impressive, seems too low, and could make him too prone to injury. Remember David Boston? Notwithstanding, someone’s taking him in the first round, and he could go as high as 9 to the Bills, or 22 to the Ravens. He makes a lot of sense to the Steelers at 19, who need to reload after losing their entire offense Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
Elsewhere, Oakland has 3 first
round picks, and they use all three to re-tool their defense. If they end up with Josh Allen, Dexter Lawrence
and Deandre Baker, they’ll get three instant starters, and with the signing of
Antonio Brown, trading Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper doesn’t look so crazy. It’s like Chucky has a plan.
And New England gets a happy ending at the end of the first with
Noah Fant, who will try to fill the Gronk void…until Gronk comes back
mid-season.
Mock Draft Szn! In less than 3 weeks this mock (and all of the others) will look sillier than Greg Schiano’s latest coaching stint with the Pats. Onto the (projected) madness…..
Round 1
Team
Player
1
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)
QB
2
San Francisco 49ers
Nick Bosa (OSU)
DE
3
New York Jets
Josh Allen (Kentucky)
Edge
4
Oakland Raiders
Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
DL
5
Tamp Bay Bucs
Devin White (LSU)
LB
6
New York Giants
Jawaan Taylor (Florida)
OL
7
Jacksonville Jaguars
T.J. Hockenson (Iowa)
TE
8
Detroit Lions
Ed Oliver (Houston)
DL
9
Buffalo Bills
Montez Sweat (Miss St)
Edge
10
Denver Broncos
Dwayne Haskins (OSU)
QB
11
Cincinnati Bengals
Rashan Gary (Michigan)
Edge
12
Green Bay Packers
Johan Willliams (Alabama)
OL
13
Miami Dolphins
Drew Lock (Missouri)
QB
14
Atlanta Falcons
Byron Murphy (Washington)
CB
15
Washington Redskins
Greedy Williams (LSU)
CB
16
Carolina Panthers
D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)
WR
17
New York Giants
Brian Burns (FSU)
Edge
Wait, so Kliff Kingsbury is calling the shots in Arizona now? The same Kliff Kingsbury that was fired by Texas Tech in November? The same Kliff Kingsbury whom was unable to turn college Patrick Mahomes into a household name?! You’re letting this douchebag call the shots? Good luck with that Arizona; we’ll be mocking you in the Top 5 for years to come.