Deep Dive Mock Draft 1.0: Pre-Combine Edition

Deep analysis for each pick with scouting notes, film, and more.

(Photo - Getty)

Welp, it’s time. I have knocked out plenty of Saturday Prospect Spotlight articles throughout the year and some speed mocks for Newsletters, but the time has come to do a thorough Mock Draft Deep Dive for you guys. We will call this version 1.0 and get it slotted in right before the combine and before we get those super valuable RAS scores from the testing.

The combine is the best. I have gone a few times over the years and it is just football nirvana. Agents, general managers, coaches, players, all of it. Everywhere. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to go next week due to my life’s chaos right now but I am prepared to be right by the television to consume it all and keep you guys updated. Things will change about prospect perception in the next two weeks but for now we trust the tape most and try to fit players into profiles I think will interest the Browns.

Before we get started, though, I want to walk you through how I will do these. I don’t like ignoring simulators because then I am just picking whoever I want in perceived slots but I also don’t want to be held down by those same simulators when I can’t always make trades or react in real-time the way I would like. So, my working process here is using one of these websites (we use PFF today) and then slot up to five picks before the pick I am making to grab a prospect. It keeps ranges fair but also lets me share with you who fits best inside that range. We will get different results as the simulators switch.

We lead off today with a massive trade. This is what it would take for me to allow the Raiders to move up and get their guy. We have heard many conflicting reports on the Browns’ desire to select one of the top two quarterbacks so in this hypothetical we will move out of the slot but pick 6 is as far as I am willing to move while still getting a haul.

This is likely more than the Raiders want to pay, or will pay, but the evaluation chart was more than happy to accept it. Even if the Browns have to send back a pick close to 100, you could make this deal. It’s a haul. The Raiders would need clarity that the Browns are not interested in Shedeur Sanders, the Giants are going to select him if he lands in their lap, and the scenario would call for the Titans to end up selecting Cam Ward. That is how this above plays out in real-time.

We take the deal with the Raiders hoping Abdul Carter falls past New England and and Jacksonville but we also have a few nice backup plans. Trust me, we take swings at quarterback as well in this one.

Let’s pour a brew together and do some drafting. Join me.

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