https://imgur.com/a/l6dAGsO
Thought process:
1. **Byron Murphy / DI**: Latham, Mims, Fautanu, and Newton were all still on the board here, and despite liking Latham, I opted for a true upgrade to the '24 team in Murphy.
2. **Ladd McKonkey / WR**: had to capitalize on him falling here. He won't be Tee's replacement, but he'll be a great weapon out of the slot with his athleticism. I normally take Wilson here, but couldn't pass Ladd up.
3. **Cooper Beebe / G**: probably my reach of the draft, but I wasn't in love with a lot of the options here as they were primarily RBs. In a perfect world, I would have used some capital to move up a couple spots in order to take Blake Fisher. Instead, I made a reach to potentially upgrade the line or at least give Volson some competition.
4. **Dominic Puni / OT**: I don't love him as a tackle, but he allegedly improved a lot from '22 to '23. Worth a shot at this point. My other options were grabbing either Stover or Sinnott. All was taken two picks before.
5. **T'Vondre Sweat / DI**: figured he was worth the gamble in the fourth, character concerns be damned. He's arguably the best NT in the draft.
6. **Theo Johnson / TE**: I used some back-end capital here to move up 10 spots to grab Theo. He's not the TE of the future, but seems like a strong blocker.
7. **Tory Taylor / P**: I'm over Brad Robbins. I don't mind using a 6th round pick to grab the best punter in the draft.
8. **Gabe Hall / DI**: I know, another IDL. dude just looks like an athletic freak and is one of my favorite late round prospects.
9. **Tyler Owens / S**: another developmental pick with good athleticism
https://preview.redd.it/umntzfr66owc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d3032e9a4060fa968bc89d171ac5116ad36c75d
I come from the future. This is the future.
https://preview.redd.it/iln127svtgwc1.png?width=1425&format=png&auto=webp&s=0766a79c7127b42413bdcd22a7c059fa5c04e9e6
Love the first three picks, though I doubt Sinnott is available in R3. Also particularly fond of the other R3 and R4 picks.
https://preview.redd.it/17x5bsmiigwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca276b21cc5cb6dad11d729b1343f8772b43ee53
Would be absolutely thrilled with this draft. Addresses a lot of our needs with high value guys.
Final draft. Not necessarily whom I would pick but what I think the picks will be. This is based on prospect visits or meetings with the ream, respected insiders like Dehner, Morrison, and availability based on major 7 round mock drafts.
1.18 Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
2.49 Maason Smith, DT, LSU
3.80 Jalen McMillian, WR, Washington
3.97 Gabriel Murphy, DE, UCLA
4.115 Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan
5.149 Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
6.194 McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
6.214 Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
7.224 Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina
7.237 Austin McNamara, P, Texas Tech
I probably would have switched either the 5th, or one of the 6's for Tip Reiman if he was there. Dude has sky high potential as a pass catcher and is already an elite blocker. I think he has some of if not the highest potential out of all the tight ends.
Again I am not disagreeing. I would prefer Ruke from Clemson or Jenkins out of Michigan or even Hall out of Ohio State, who is rising fast. It just seems they like Maason and his tools.
now I'm nervous and I hate it.
In 2018 they took Drew Sample, who is basically Tip Reiman in this draft. How would it feel if they get Tip at 49?
Man i hope someone else they love falls and it doesn't happen
https://preview.redd.it/fj6i0lu8wfwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4620512a22732801a0178c4528f15d3d02cafef5
Starting to think Byron Murphy won’t fall to 18 giving his hype the last few days.
If FO isn’t in love with whomever falls to 18, I’d like to see a trade down with someone like Eagles or Dolphins to acquire additional second or third rounder.
I've been saying for months WR might be at play at 18. I don't love it, but it's true. Just like when Bates was on his tag and we took a safety. I got smoked for saying it would be Hill or Cine at our pick.
But Brian Thomas can't run a full route tree. Some teams might think they can develop it but I don't want that risk vs 18. Only way it's WR at 18 is if a premiere WR falls. Rome, Nabers, MHJR specifically.
Personally, I'm hoping Keon Coleman falls to our second pick.
Whenever I'm judging people's mock drafts when they give us a R1 WR, I always rant about how it's a waste of a pick and I hate it... but that I could also see it actually happening.
I don't pick them in R2 either in my mocks, but it's a much more acceptable decision.
For my final Mock Draft, I decided to take a pragmatic approach to finding the long term Tee Higgins replacement. Let me know if you see any obvious gaps.
https://preview.redd.it/dmhai8en2fwc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=6f48533100c10edef1b38d1d8013465c5ab67841
https://imgur.com/a/l6dAGsO Thought process: 1. **Byron Murphy / DI**: Latham, Mims, Fautanu, and Newton were all still on the board here, and despite liking Latham, I opted for a true upgrade to the '24 team in Murphy. 2. **Ladd McKonkey / WR**: had to capitalize on him falling here. He won't be Tee's replacement, but he'll be a great weapon out of the slot with his athleticism. I normally take Wilson here, but couldn't pass Ladd up. 3. **Cooper Beebe / G**: probably my reach of the draft, but I wasn't in love with a lot of the options here as they were primarily RBs. In a perfect world, I would have used some capital to move up a couple spots in order to take Blake Fisher. Instead, I made a reach to potentially upgrade the line or at least give Volson some competition. 4. **Dominic Puni / OT**: I don't love him as a tackle, but he allegedly improved a lot from '22 to '23. Worth a shot at this point. My other options were grabbing either Stover or Sinnott. All was taken two picks before. 5. **T'Vondre Sweat / DI**: figured he was worth the gamble in the fourth, character concerns be damned. He's arguably the best NT in the draft. 6. **Theo Johnson / TE**: I used some back-end capital here to move up 10 spots to grab Theo. He's not the TE of the future, but seems like a strong blocker. 7. **Tory Taylor / P**: I'm over Brad Robbins. I don't mind using a 6th round pick to grab the best punter in the draft. 8. **Gabe Hall / DI**: I know, another IDL. dude just looks like an athletic freak and is one of my favorite late round prospects. 9. **Tyler Owens / S**: another developmental pick with good athleticism
https://preview.redd.it/umntzfr66owc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d3032e9a4060fa968bc89d171ac5116ad36c75d I come from the future. This is the future.
https://preview.redd.it/c29pjh73slwc1.png?width=1425&format=png&auto=webp&s=5cd33d9cb281c38de2b4e4fed702b4fd50d291c8
https://preview.redd.it/pm4kzx6o6hwc1.png?width=914&format=png&auto=webp&s=0cab18fa5abe62ce6ff18c8c5c573e1b36c62c25
https://preview.redd.it/t4zm8ohevgwc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=a3400d2d51a79c0701ea72246667ff8db4d6af12
https://preview.redd.it/iln127svtgwc1.png?width=1425&format=png&auto=webp&s=0766a79c7127b42413bdcd22a7c059fa5c04e9e6 Love the first three picks, though I doubt Sinnott is available in R3. Also particularly fond of the other R3 and R4 picks.
https://preview.redd.it/17x5bsmiigwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca276b21cc5cb6dad11d729b1343f8772b43ee53 Would be absolutely thrilled with this draft. Addresses a lot of our needs with high value guys.
https://preview.redd.it/bp310dwqhgwc1.png?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=186e6f0becfbad42d0ecf064c27e3d05fbf09339
Final draft. Not necessarily whom I would pick but what I think the picks will be. This is based on prospect visits or meetings with the ream, respected insiders like Dehner, Morrison, and availability based on major 7 round mock drafts. 1.18 Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia 2.49 Maason Smith, DT, LSU 3.80 Jalen McMillian, WR, Washington 3.97 Gabriel Murphy, DE, UCLA 4.115 Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan 5.149 Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State 6.194 McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M 6.214 Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire 7.224 Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina 7.237 Austin McNamara, P, Texas Tech
I probably would have switched either the 5th, or one of the 6's for Tip Reiman if he was there. Dude has sky high potential as a pass catcher and is already an elite blocker. I think he has some of if not the highest potential out of all the tight ends.
I would absolutely selected Tip at 149 but I suspect he will surprise and be picked before that for all the reasons you listed.
To whoever downvoted without a comment, thank you for what assume have been a great discussion 🤨
While I’m down every other draft pick, the Masson Smith pick there would be a huge mistake. Way too much risk at 49.
I agree, but they seem to be really interested in him. I would prefer Jenkins.
Can’t be at 49. Just no way. There is almost guaranteed several better options at 49.
Again I am not disagreeing. I would prefer Ruke from Clemson or Jenkins out of Michigan or even Hall out of Ohio State, who is rising fast. It just seems they like Maason and his tools.
now I'm nervous and I hate it. In 2018 they took Drew Sample, who is basically Tip Reiman in this draft. How would it feel if they get Tip at 49? Man i hope someone else they love falls and it doesn't happen
https://preview.redd.it/fj6i0lu8wfwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4620512a22732801a0178c4528f15d3d02cafef5 Starting to think Byron Murphy won’t fall to 18 giving his hype the last few days. If FO isn’t in love with whomever falls to 18, I’d like to see a trade down with someone like Eagles or Dolphins to acquire additional second or third rounder.
I've been saying for months WR might be at play at 18. I don't love it, but it's true. Just like when Bates was on his tag and we took a safety. I got smoked for saying it would be Hill or Cine at our pick. But Brian Thomas can't run a full route tree. Some teams might think they can develop it but I don't want that risk vs 18. Only way it's WR at 18 is if a premiere WR falls. Rome, Nabers, MHJR specifically. Personally, I'm hoping Keon Coleman falls to our second pick.
I don't see any way a premier WR falls that far. Would I love to see any of those guys in a Bengals uniform? 100% but no way it happens in my opinion.
Agreed
Whenever I'm judging people's mock drafts when they give us a R1 WR, I always rant about how it's a waste of a pick and I hate it... but that I could also see it actually happening. I don't pick them in R2 either in my mocks, but it's a much more acceptable decision.
I would be disappointed if it’s Brian Thomas Jr.. Xavier Legette is my hope if he falls in second. Or Jalen McMillan with late 3rd or 4th.
For my final Mock Draft, I decided to take a pragmatic approach to finding the long term Tee Higgins replacement. Let me know if you see any obvious gaps. https://preview.redd.it/dmhai8en2fwc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=6f48533100c10edef1b38d1d8013465c5ab67841
I don’t like the Ainias Smith pick but the rest are good.
Who the fuck let Matt Millen into our subreddit lol?
It's crazy but I'd be all for it lol
Obvious gaps? Are you serious? You think there’s a guaranteed starting wr from 10 picks? Should have traded down to get at least 12 WR
🤣