MLB Unwanted Squad 2019

It’s April, we are 2.5 weeks into the season, and there’s still two big-name players who are unsigned (Dallas Kuechel and Craig Kimbrel) and enough other players to form a squad. I’m not saying we could create a squad of unwanted free agents that would make the playoffs, but there’s a chance they could compete a little. Let’s put this squad in Jackson, MS because there’s a lot of of minor league baseball in the deep south – but on the major league level, there is a Bermuda Triangle of nothing between St. Louis (Cardinals), Houston (Astros), and Atlanta (Braves). As for a team name, let’s go with the Jackalopes – because obviously this team will be as real as a Jackalope (which is very real!). Moving on, here’s your 2019 Jackson Jackalopes:

C – A.J. Ellis

Not a great start to a team when the first player listed has moved on to a front office position (with the Padres). He has played about 60 games each year for the past four years (he only played in 51 with the Marlins in 2017). In his 11-year career, Ellis has a .239 batting average while being an incredibly solid defensive catcher.

1B – Chris Carter

Yikes. The next player in the lineup is a guy who spent 2018 in the Minnesota Twins farm system. The other option was Pedro Alvarez, but Carter has had more career success and is only a couple years separated from a 2016 season in Milwaukee where he blasted 41 homers. The career batting average of .217 is not inspiring, but he has also hit 158 homers.

2B – Brandon Phillips

Phillips had a long career with the Cincinnati Reds that saw him make 3 All-Star squads, receive votes for MVP twice, and 4 Gold Gloves. Since finishing 2016 with the Reds, he has spent time with the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox. His career numbers feature a .275 batting average, 211 homers, 209 stolen bases, as well as 951 RBIs. During his career, he has never racked up less than 50 RBIs while playing a full season and he would need just 49 more RBIs to hit the 1,000 RBI milestone.

3B – David Wright

There were some younger options available on the market, but letting Wright have one last opportunity to end his career on a good note seemed more in the Jackalope spirit. Wright possesses a career average of .296 with 970 RBIs and 1,777 hits. The 7-time All-Star who finished with MVP votes in 6 seasons (4 of those he finished top-10) will bring a lot of experience and leadership to this team. The downside is that he is old and has battled major injuries on the back-end of his career, so he is mostly here to put fans in the stands and mentor younger players – such as…

3B – Dante Bichette Jr.

Yes, the son of 4-time MLB All-Star Dante Bichette Sr. and the brother of Toronto Blue Jays #2 prospect SS Bo Bichette. Dante Jr. was selected, in the first round, by the New York Yankees back in 2011. He has yet to see major league action, so the Jackalopes would be giving the 26-year old rookie his MLB debut. Most recently, Bichette Jr. spent 2018 with the St. Paul Saints in 2018 where he recorded a .310 average with 120 hits and 52 RBIs in 99 games.

SS – José Reyes

Despite having a disastrous 2018 with the New York Mets, Reyes has stated he is still actively trying to get back into the league. The Mets all-time leader in triples and stolen bases (would also be all-time leader in stolen bases of active players once the Jackalopes make him an active player again) would potentially provide a spark to the otherwise meh offense. Granted, this is assuming he can bounce back from 2018, but it’s worth a shot.

LF – Denard Span

Span is actually kinda decent. He split 2018 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. For his career, he has finished in the top-20 of the MVP race once (2014 with the Washington Nationals), a batting average of .281, 1,498 hits, and 490 RBIs – so he should reach the 1,500 hit and 500 RBI milestones within his first month in Jackson.

CF – Austin Jackson

After finishing 2nd in the Rookie of the Year race in 2010, Jackson spent the better part of 5 total seasons with the Detroit Tigers (spent 100 games with them in 2014 before being shipped to Seattle in a 3-team trade that brought David Price to Detroit, from Tampa). He brings in a career average of .273 along with 1,145 hits and 381 RBIs.

RF – José Bautista

Joey Bats coming to Jackson brings some pop to the plate. He brings 1,496 career hits (he and Span can fight to see who hits the 1,500 milestone first), 344 HRs, 975 RBIs (meaning him, Phillips, and Wright can fight for the first to hit 1,000), and a batting average of .247 for his career. He has four top-10 MVP finishes (two of the top-5), 6 All-Star selections, 3 silver sluggers, and 2 AL HR titles (2010 and 2011). Watch out for some bat-flips in Jackson, even though he is 38 years old.

Ace – Dallas Kuechel

Currently, Kuechel could sign with any team and slide right into their rotation. I don’t believe there is a single rotation that is 5-deep with pitchers better than Kuechel. There’s even some teams where he could take over as the ace in the rotation – I’m looking at you, Baltimore (Andrew Cashner – 5.28 ERA in 2019 and 5.29 ERA in 2018), Miami (José Ureña – 0-3 record with a 9.22 ERA in 2019), and the Los Angeles Angels (Tyler Skaggs – 4.38 career ERA with a 22-32 record). Kuechel has a career ERA of 3.66 with a 76-63 record and 945 strikeouts. Kuechel would be a surefire candidate for the 1,000 K club by the end of May with the Jackalopes.

SP2 – Bartolo Colón

Bringing Big Sexy onto the roster puts fans in the seats and the Jackalopes in the history books. Coming in with a career ERA of 4.12, a 247-188 record, 2,535 strikeouts, and one HR, Bartolo is a legendary pitcher. Even as a player who will turn 46 on May 24th, he has shown he still has some gas left in the tank. Just last season, Bartolo was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Houston ace Justin Verlander. Bartolo won this duel by carrying a no-hitter into the 8th inning and then the Rangers finished it up in the 10th inning to secure the W over the Astros. Bartolo has definitely shown signs of aging since he won the Cy Young in 2005. However, he finished 6th in the Cy Young race in 2013 (his fourth time receiving votes) and was named an All-Star in 2016 while playing for the New York Mets. In all likelihood, Bartolo would end up being a couple slots lower in this rotation after the All-Star break – but he would still bring a veteran presence and wouldn’t be the worst option for the Jackalopes rotation.

SP3 – James Shields

Shields definitely struggled in Chicago, and that explains why he is still available for Jackson to pick him up. He comes in with a career ERA of 4.01, a 145-139 record, and 2,234 strikeouts. Shields has finished with Cy Young votes in two seasons (2011 and 2013), most notably in 2013 when he finished in 3rd place.

SP4 – Yovani Gallardo

Gallardo comes in with a career ERA of 4.06, a 121-101 record, and 1,584 strikeouts. The problem is, he has yet to post a sub-5.4 ERA since 2015 (when he had a 3.42 ERA). However, it is also noteworthy that he has a career batting average of .201 with 12 HRs and 42 RBIs. Actually, he has homered at least once in every year he has played for an NL club – aside from 2014 (his final season in Milwaukee) and 2018 (no plate appearances in 2.1 innings pitched for the Cincinnati Reds).

SP5 – Doug Fister

Fister comes in with a losing record (83-92) but a decent ERA (3.72) for his career, along with 970 strikeouts. He and Kuechel would almost certainly hit the 1,000 K mark in the first half of the season. Despite a sub-4 career ERA, Fister has not recorded a sub-4 ERA since 2014 (2.41 ERA). Fister would be a solid option for last in the rotation – and solid is all you can ask for from this spot in the rotation of a team of rejects.

RP – A.J. Ramos

Ramos comes in with a 3.07 ERA, 99 saves (milestone alert!), and 426 strikeouts. It is likely that Ramos would get his chance to record that 100th save, but not many more after that – as he would not be the club’s closer (you’ll see why in a second if you somehow don’t know who it is yet). He wouldn’t be asked to do too much with his spot in the bullpen – so there isn’t really a chance to screw it up. He should be solid as a reliever for the Jackalopes – not great, but solid.

RP – Bud Norris

As of today, Bud’s potential deal with the Washington Nationals fell through which means he is still available to sign with the Jackson Jackalopes. Norris brings in a career ERA of 4.45 with 1,153 strikeouts and 47 saves. There’s a slim chance he reaches 50 saves, but pretty unlikely. Like Ramos, he would be a reliever but not a closer. Solid, but not great.

RP – Matt Belisle

I despise the fact that Belisle is one of the “better” options for this bullpen. He was atrocious for the Minnesota Twins last year (9.13 ERA while appearing in 25 games). However, he does have a career ERA of 4.32, 711 strikeouts, and posted a 1.76 ERA with the Nationals in 2016. But still, he has 14 career saves in 48 opportunities (yes, that is an absolutely cringe-worthy save percentage of 29.2%). Basically, the less Belisle pitches the better the Jackalopes will be. However, they can use him to eat up some innings and keep the better arms fresh when his pitching won’t change the outcome of the game.

CP – Craig Kimbrel

Kimbrel will obviously be one of the best players on this roster. He comes in with a career ERA of 1.91, 868 strikeouts, a 31-19 record, and 333 saves (14th all-time and 1st among active pitchers). He has received MVP votes three times (finished 8th in 2012), Cy Young votes five times (top-10 each time, and top-5 in 2012 and 2013), been named to the All-Star team 7 times, and has lead his league in saves 4 times (2011-14) and has been in the top-10 in saves the past 8 seasons (2011-18) and only one of those years was not a top-5 finish (finished 8th in saves in 2016). With a career save percentage of 90.7%, Kimbrel will be elite in Jackson.

2019 AL Central Predictions

The 2019 baseball season is fast approaching. Players have reported to various locations in the southern portion of the United States and have started Spring Training. Minnesotans watch with jealousy as the fans in the south get to watch baseball with warm weather, while the temperatures up north are still hovering around zero. However, baseball is just over a month away in Minneapolis and several other MLB cities. A new season means new opportunities, new teams rising, new players rising up from the minors, and new locations for some of the biggest names in baseball. I started this article on the heels of Manny Machado agreeing to a 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres for $300 million, and players like Bryce Harper are presumably heading to their new teams soon. With that being said, here is a glimpse at what I think the American League Central will look like in 2019:

 

Minnesota Twins (162-0. Kidding. 91-71)

A big key to the Twins claiming the division will be pitching, headlined by their Ace, José Berríos. In 2017, when the Twins made the Wild Card game, Berríos had an up-and-down year but he emerged as the future of the franchise. In 2018, Berríos emerged as an All-Star pitcher. In 2019, I see Berríos as a dark-horse candidate for the Cy Young Award. Also boosting the 2019 rotation is the return of former-Yankee Michael Pineda, who the Twins signed to a 2-year deal prior to the 2018 season (which Pineda sat out most of while recovering from Tommy-John surgery). Pineda is a big dude, listed at 6′ 7″ and 260 pounds (he is the tallest and heaviest pitcher the Twins have on their Spring Training roster) and he is a flamethrower when it comes to pitching. Let’s also not forget that Jake Odorizzi had his moments this past season, especially against the Yankees, and that Kyle Gibson is the winning-est pitcher in Target Field history.

Other contributions to the Twins becoming a division-winner will be the return of Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Both Buxton and Sano played key roles in the 2017 Wild Card berth, but rarely played in 2018 due to injury. In that 2017 season, Buxton received the gold glove award and Sano was selected for the Home Run Derby. Another returning player is catcher Jason Castro who missed the 2018 season due to injury.

In addition to those players returning, the Twins made some under-the-radar acquisitions via free agency that could be key contributors. Possibly the biggest signing they made was 2B Jonathan Schoop. Schoop was an MVP-candidate in 2017 but struggled in 2018 due to injury and being traded, assuming he doesn’t get injured again, Schoop could be a huge steal. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz is another free agent signing poised to help the Twins in a big way, as his bat will likely be sending lots of Minnesota kids home with souvenir home run balls this season.

 

Cleveland Indians (86-76)

Many people have the Indians picked to win the Central again, I just don’t see it. With Kluber/Carrasco/Bauer having been on the trading block this past off-season, I would not be surprised if they sell one or more of those pitchers off around all-star break if the Twins are looking good. It might be time for Cleveland to start thinking about the future, despite sending their #1 prospect, catcher Francisco Mejia, to the San Diego Padres for bullpen help last year.

 

Chicago White Sox (74-88)

Had they got Machado, I could see the Central being a 3-way race. Another reason I don’t see the White Sox being a threat yet is that their top pitching prospect, Michael Kopech, is out the entire year while he recovers from Tommy-John surgery. The White Sox have a darn good young group, it will just take a little time and maybe a big free agent signing (Bryce Harper?) before they thrust themselves into the division title conversation.

 

Kansas City Royals (64-98)

Picking up Billy Hamilton via free agency makes this team fun to watch, but does not make them anywhere close to being a division contender. The rise of Adalberto Mondesi (formerly Raul Mondesi Jr.) will be a fun journey to watch as well. However, as a whole, this team is going to be painful to watch. They will flirt with 100 losses, but I think they will just barely avoid that mark.

 

Detroit Tigers (57-105)

This team does not look good. They will almost certainly break 100 losses this season. OF Nicholas Castellanos has already been listed on several trade-deadline lists as a player to see where he goes, and I think any other player that emerges in Detroit (spoiler alert – there won’t be too many players that do this season) will also end up playing for an actual contender by August.

 

Arena Football: Duluth, MN

While I was up in Duluth this past weekend, I was looking at AMSOIL Arena (home of the University of Minnesota – Duluth’s men’s and women’s hockey teams) and realized it would make a great venue for an Arena Football team. I have always enjoyed designing hypothetical football teams in my head, on paper, and on Madden (back when they let you be creative instead of choosing from a set list of options). There’s not really a whole lot else to say, so here is what an AFL team in Duluth would look like if I was asked to design it:

Venue: AMSOIL Arena – Duluth, MN

From what I’ve read and heard, if you want to establish a professional sports team (or really any type of business) you have to capitalize on the rich history of the area. For Minnesota, that would be the lakes – after all, this is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. For Duluth specifically, it’s Lake Superior and the city’s history as a harbor town. With the AMSOIL Arena location, it is right down by the shore of the lake and you can see the iconic lift-bridge in the background. AMSOIL Arena is a good selection for the home of this yet-to-be-named Minnesota AFL team because the facilities already are built and in a prime location with accessible parking.

Team Name: The Duluth Light

Could go with the obvious Northern Minnesota team name of ‘Lumberjacks’, but Duluth and Superior (WI) already shared an indoor football team with that name and they played the 1998 and 1999 season in the Indoor Football League with a combined record of 3-23. So they weren’t quite as bad as the Cleveland Browns of 2016 and 2017, but that’s not really something to be proud of. So rather than try to rebuild that failed legacy, I decided it was time to start a new one. The ‘Lakers’ were briefly in contention for the name, as a not-so-subtle jab at the Los Angeles Lakers who didn’t think to change their name when they left the land of lakes. As was the ‘Miners’ due to Northern Minnesota’s rich iron range, but that would be sure to draw protesters if a team was promoting an industry that receives so much criticism. Due to the legend of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox named Babe, I thought about using that but the ‘Bunyans’ doesn’t sound like a good team name and the ‘Babes’ sounds like it belongs in the LFL not the AFL. Ultimately, I decided to base the team’s name on the plethora of lighthouses in the area used to safely guide ships to harbor. To simply name them the ‘Lighthouses’ would be too clunky. So I opted to go with a much more vague name that can still have an easily explainable origin and be spun in many different ways for promotional purposes.

Team Colors: Gunmetal Gray, White, and Navy Blue

   

The team name references the light from the lighthouses, so the colors could have gone with a white and red or another lighthouse color scheme – but I decided I wanted to focus more on the dark and stormy waters for the team’s colors.

Team Logo:

 

First of all, I’m just going to acknowledge the fact that I drew these logos (and the jerseys in the next section) with colored pencils, no sharpener, and limited artistic ability and time – so bear with me. The first logo would be the primary logo. It features the navy blue ‘D’ for Duluth and has a silver lightburst/compass behind it with the state of Minnesota as the centerpiece. The lightburst element of the logo represents the light from the lighthouses and the compass element of it represents the process of guiding a ship through Lake Superior using both compasses and lighthouses. The second logo would be a secondary and endzone logo. It features the team name with the ‘I’ acting as a lighthouse shining bright. The tops of the letters that appear to be inside the beam of light are gray to differentiate from the golden-yellow beam of light and the lower half of the letters that are the team’s navy blue.

Team Uniforms:

 

These two uniforms are the colored versions of the Light uniforms. The left uniform is a gray base (helmet, jersey, and pants) that features a white and blue stripe on both shoulders and the pants, a navy blue color, navy numbers, and ‘DULUTH’ written across the chest in navy. The helmet features a block navy blue ‘D’ that is the same on all the variations, this gray helmet has a navy blue facemask and a white/navy stripe down the top of the helmet. The uniform on the right has a navy blue jersey with two-toned silver/gray stripes on the shoulders and torso with white numbering and gray pants. This helmet is a silver/white two-tone helmet featuring the block ‘D’ and the Michigan/Delaware stripes on top.

 

These two uniforms are the two white versions of the uniform. The uniform on the left pays tribute to Minnesota’s deeply rooted hockey culture/history by utilizing the navy blue hockey-style captain’s patch (for captains only, of course) and a simple white/navy color scheme with the white jersey and navy shoulder stripes, collar, and numbering with navy pants. The helmet is a gray helmet with the Michigan/Delaware stripes and the block ‘D’ all in navy blue with a gray facemask. The uniform on the right is a whiteout uniform and is my favorite of the four I designed. The white jersey and pants feature a connected silver stripe that is accented with navy blue on the shoulders of the jersey. The jersey has the team name written across the chest in silver and the numbering is silver with a navy blue accent to make it pop out on the white jersey. The helmet is really what completes this look, it is a pure white helmet with a navy blue facemask and the block ‘D’ featuring the lightburst/compass in silver.

Head Coach: P.J. Fleck

Who better to lead a team based on rich nautical history than the man who created the motto “Row the Boat”? Fleck would bring the energy needed to be exciting and competitive in the Arena Football world. Fleck and family wouldn’t even have to leave the state since he already is the head coach of the University of Minnesota Gophers football team. Fleck also has the professional playing experience to be able to relate to the level and type of players an Arena team is made up of – Fleck made it onto the San Francisco 49ers roster as an undersized receiver who outworked everybody.

Roster:

QB1: Johnny Manziel

Is there really any better choice for a QB of an AFL team? Money Manziel can create just as much hype and excitement as Coach Fleck. As for Manziel’s partying problem; it seems like he’s genuinely maturing this time, if anyone can motivate someone to shape up it’s PJ Fleck, and it’s the AFL so it doesn’t really matter. Bottom line is, Johnny Football got his nicknames for a reason, he can make magic happen on the field – and that’s what I want my QB1 to do in the arena.

QB2: Darron Thomas

Darron Thomas is a guy who most people have likely forgotten about by now. He was a phenomenal dual-threat quarterback for the Oregon Ducks and helped lead them to a Rose Bowl victory and a BCS National Championship Game (narrowly losing to Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers). Since then, Thomas has bounced between the Canadian Football League and various leagues in the US. Thomas was fun to watch at Oregon, and he will make for a solid backup to Manziel – since both are dual-threats.

RB1: Eddie Lacy

 

Lacy had a good but brief time with the Green Bay Packers, but then his weight became a concern. Lacy is currently a free agent and will have a hard time finding a roster spot since the NFL prefers smaller and faster running backs over bruisers like Lacy. If Lacy were born 10-20 years earlier, he would have been one of the best in the league because of his size and powerful running style – but he’s stuck in an era where his kind is extinct. While the AFL typically favors smaller players with high stamina, we have seen Jared Lorenzen (the hefty lefty) succeed in an indoor football league as a quarterback despite having worse weight concerns than Lacy. Lacy would be the bulldozer in the offense.

RB2: LaMichael James

Since it’s already been determined that Lacy will be the bulldozer, it makes sense for the second RB to be a shifty and speedy running back. James played with the backup QB, Darron Thomas, in college and was a huge part of Oregon’s success in the early 2010’s. James earned numerous honors and records before he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. James was rarely used and wasn’t properly utilized. James did play in a Super Bowl, in very limited action. He then tried to catch on with the Miami Dolphins but that never worked out. Even though it’s been a few years, I think James would be an excellent signing for the Duluth Light.

WR1: Dez Bryant

The AFL would benefit so much from Dez Bryant coming to the league. He would sell out AMSOIL Arena and any other venue the Light play in. His skill is unbelievable, but so is his ego – which is perfect for the arena. Bryant is still a free agent, so anything is possible. One thing is for sure though, if Dez came to Duluth, there’d be lots of X’s being thrown in the air.

WR2: Jeremy Maclin

Maclin is another talented receiver who has yet to sign with a team. Maclin doesn’t have the same issues as Dez, he just isn’t as good and is aging. Maclin has the ability to turn quick passes into big plays, which is perfect for the arena.

WR3: Dwayne Harris

Technically, signing Harris gives the Duluth Light another former NFL Pro-Bowler. Granted, Harris made it as a returner, but those return skills can be utilized on kick returns and short passes in the arena. Harris would be electric coming out of the slot spot for the Light and could very well lead the team in yards.

WR4: Eric Decker

Decker has fallen off the NFL radar fast, despite being with the Titans last year. Decker has aged real quick and will be lucky to get one more chance in the NFL. Decker is a Minnesota-native who went to the University of Minnesota, so this would be a fun homecoming for Decker and the Light.

OL: Luke Joeckel

Joeckel was originally the second overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft when the Jaguars selected him. After Jacksonville wrote him off as a bust, he ended up with the Seattle Seahawks and didn’t clear the bust label. While he looks like a bust in the NFL and is still a free agent, he was still once considered good enough to be the second best player in a draft class – so maybe he could succeed in a complete life reset where he joins a new team in a new state in a completely different league, aka welcome to the Duluth Light.

OL: Greg Robinson

Very similar story to Luke Joeckel. Former 2nd overall pick. Labelled a bust. Still a player with great size and potentially untapped skill. Duluth could have two big name linemen turn their career around and draw NFL attention to the roster.

OL: Jahri Evans

Unlike Joeckel and Robinson, Evans is not battling a bust label. However, Evans is battling with time as he is coming towards the end of his career. Evans would be a good mentor for Joeckel and Robinson, while still giving Duluth a couple years as a solid player.

DL: Karter Schult

Schult is a beast of a pass-rusher. He was the top FCS defender during his last year at Northern Iowa. He had some pre-season success with the Cleveland Browns. He also stood out at this year’s Spring League. Schult would be a great player to have in Duluth.

Update: Karter Schult signed with the Carolina Panthers on 5/14.

DL: Courtney Upshaw

Upshaw is a talented pass-rusher who is currently a free agent. He already won a Super Bowl ring when he was with the Baltimore Ravens (against LaMichael James and the 49ers) and forced a fumble in that game (it was James who fumbled), he also made it back to the Super Bowl with the Atlanta Falcons and sacked Tom Brady despite ultimately missing out on his second ring.

DL: Johnny Jolly

With the other two defensive linemen being more athletic pass-rushers, I decided it was time to bring back a big defensive lineman who can eat up space. Jolly played a few years with the Packers before getting into legal trouble, but did come back to the NFL a few years later and played one more year with the Packers. Jolly is still only 35 years old, so it’s not unreasonable for him to still play a year or two for Duluth.

OLB: Aldon Smith

Yes, legal issues would be a huge concern with signing Smith. But what about the upside? Smith was one of the best when it came to putting pressure on a quarterback and taking the QB down. He’s still relatively young too. With Smith, Schult, and Upshaw on the team, offenses will struggle to find their rhythm going against Duluth.

MLB1: Korey Toomer

Toomer is on his 6th team since he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Toomer has been okay-at-best throughout his career, but is coming off one of his best years yet, with the Los Angeles Chargers – and now he is with the San Francisco 49ers. Toomer has not really emerged yet, so I have him at MLB1 because I’m hoping he can peak late in Duluth.

MLB2: Navarro Bowman

Bowman has been a 4-time all-pro during his 8-year career (he’s only played 7 years, due to an injury). Both Bowman and Toomer are 29 years old. The only reason I have Bowman behind Toomer is because it would appear that Bowman has already peaked, but maybe Bowman’s aging decline will still be better than Toomer’s peak. Regardless, both middle linebackers should be solid – or at least one or the other should be.

OLB: Shea McClellin

McClellin, like Aldon Smith, is a pass-rusher. Because this team is so loaded at pass-rusher, I went with three corners to account for the passing game. McClellin was a first round pick out of Boise State as a defensive lineman. However, he was eventually converted into an outside linebacker/pass-rusher which is where I have him playing despite this leaving pass coverage as a major vulnerability in the linebacker corp. The goal is that the top-notch pass-rush will allow the defensive secondary to handle any passes.

CB: Delvin Breaux

Breaux knows how this works. He spent his time in the Gridiron Developmental Football League, Arena Football League, and Canadian Football League before getting a contract with the New Orleans Saints. Breaux recorded 3 interceptions in his three seasons with the Saints.

CB: Bashaud Breeland

Due to a failed physical with the Panthers, Breeland is still on the market. In his four seasons with Washington, Breeland has recorded 8 interceptions and forced 7 fumbles. Breeland may not be part of the top tier of cornerbacks in the NFL, but the receivers in the Arena Football League are not exactly the best in the world (for the most part).

CB: Deiondre’ Hall

Hall is a promising young corner who has played part of one season and been on the IR the second season of his career. Entering the third year of his career, Hall’s future looks bright with the Chicago Bears. But the chance to bring him to Duluth could take him from being a good NFL player to being a legendary AFL player.

FS: Tre Boston

Over the past four years, Boston has recorded 187 tackles and 8 interceptions. Five of those eight interceptions came last season when he started 15 games for the Chargers. Boston has been decent, but not excellent. Boston will for sure be on an NFL roster for 2018, but he could become a star in the Arena.

SS: Kenny Vaccaro

In the past five years, Vaccaro has recorded the same number of interceptions (8) as Tre Boston did in the past four. However, Vaccaro has also recorded 4 forced fumbles and 7.5 sacks. Vaccaro’s hard-hitting style would fit well on the smaller field of the Arena.

K: Blair Walsh

Just like Eric Decker, Walsh presents a fun Minnesota-homecoming. While Decker brings back fun memories of his time as a Golden Gopher, Walsh will get his chance at redemption for a single missed field goal in a clutch situation followed by a shaken season of mediocrity. As a rookie, Walsh was 10/10 on attempts of 50+ yards, was 3 points shy of the NFL rookie record for points in a season, tied the NFL rookie record for field goals, beat Green Bay in week 17 on a field goal to make the playoffs, and was named to the Pro Bowl – all as a rookie. The following year, he broke the NFL record for consecutive makes of 50+ yards with his 12th in a row versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in London. In 2015, his third year, Walsh had back-to-back weeks where he kicked a game-winner (vs. the Bears in week 8 and vs. the Rams in OT in week 9), went 5/5 on field goals twice, and led the league in field goals. The only bad part about 2015 came when Seattle came to Minnesota and he missed an “easy” game-winner in the playoffs. While missing a clutch kick like that always puts the blame on the kicker, what Minnesota fans like to forget so easily is that they lost that game 10-9 and Walsh was the only player to score for the Vikings – so should he really get all the blame for not being able to completely put a team on his back? Regardless, Walsh’s next few years were mediocre. However, this does not negate the fact that he; has a career percentage of 82.4% on field goals, has an even one dozen Vikings records, has an even half dozen NFL records, and was the only rookie named to the 2012 NFL All-Pro team. Love him or hate him, Blair Walsh is one of the better kickers the league has seen recently – the stats don’t lie. I would be glad to have him as my kicker in Duluth.

 

2019 Mock Draft: Philadelphia Eagles

Coming into the 2018 season as the defending champions, FanSpeak (the free mock draft tool I use) projects the Eagles will repeat. I personally don’t believe that will happen, but I can’t change the draft order on the mock tool. The Eagles will almost certainly be a strong team and return to the playoffs, but the NFC has too many good teams (Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, LA Rams, and Minnesota Vikings) for them to return to the Super Bowl this year. Unless the Eagles make a major trade or have players go down with major injuries, they shouldn’t have a whole lot of needs going into the 2019 Draft aside from the offensive line.

Round 1 Pick 32: Deebo Samuel, WR (S. Carolina)

Samuel would join fellow South Carolina-alum Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor (from the “other” USC – Southern California) to give Carson Wentz an explosive group of wide receivers to throw to. The Eagles receivers should be just fine this year with the additions of Mike Wallace and Markus Wheaton, but they don’t offer a long-term option for the Eagles – whereas Samuel can become Wentz’s top receiver for a long time.

Round 2 Pick 14: Trey Adams, OT (Washington)

As I mentioned earlier, offensive line is the only real need for the Eagles. So why take a receiver in the first round instead of a tackle to replace the aging Jason Peters? Because receivers like Deebo aren’t always available that late in the first round and because they have this pick in the mid-second round. Trey Adams would have the opportunity to learn underneath Lane Johnson and Jason Peters, two of the best tackles in the game, for a year or so before being put in the starting lineup.

Round 2 Pick 32: Ross Pierschbacher, OG (Alabama)

The Eagles already grabbed an offensive tackle earlier in this second round, but they also need some help at guard. Despite being selected later, Pierschbacher could actually be starting sooner than Trey Adams simply because they are weaker on their interior than they are at tackle.

Round 3 Pick 32: David Moa, EDGE (Boise St.)

Moa, a 6′ 3″ pass rusher, could provide an immediate impact for the Eagles as a situational pass-rusher. The top rushers the Eagles currently have are Michael Bennett, Chris Long, and Brandon Graham – all of those guys are already 30 or older. The Eagles also have youngster Derek Barnett and rookie Josh Sweat from Florida State to rush the quarterback. Drafting Moa would greatly lessen the impending loss of Bennett/Long/Graham and help the Eagles build up a much younger group of pass-rushers.

Round 4 Pick 32: Grant Newsome, OT (Michigan)

As mentioned earlier, elite tackle Jason Peters is nearing the end of his career. Even though I have the Eagles selecting Washington’s Trey Adams, the Eagles need to add another tackle still. Newsome would be given the opportunity to learn under Peters/Lane Johnson and compete with Adams to be Peters’ replacement.

Round 4 Pick 38: L.J. Scott, RB (Michigan St.)

Being a student at the University of Minnesota and an avid football fan, I had the unfortunate privilege of standing in the rain for two hours before the game even started (due to a lightning delay) and then rain throughout the whole game in which L.J. ran for the most yards a Michigan State RB has run for since Le’Veon Bell. On top of those 194 yards, Scott put up a pair of TDs in what was a blowout until Minnesota switched quarterbacks and Demry Croft nearly led a comeback for the Gophers. Scott has yet to break 1,000 rushing yards in a season, but he does have 2,591 rushing yards and 25 TDs on the ground in his career to go along with 308 receiving yards and a pair of receiving TDs. Aside from Jay Ajayi, the Eagles don’t really have a guy to consistently run well. Scott would give them an option on the ground, especially if Ajayi continues to face injury struggles.

Round 5 Pick 32: Rodney Smith, RB (Minnesota)

Unlike Scott, Smith likely won’t be drafted with a feature-back role in mind. Smith reminds me a lot of Indiana’s Tevin Coleman who is now with the Atlanta Falcons. Smith would be drafted as a multi-use running back to be the replacement for Darren Sproles. Somewhat surprisingly, Sproles is back for the 2018 season. In his prime, Sproles was dangerous as a returner, speedy runner, and a receiver out of the backfield. That description of Sproles is also very fitting for Rodney Smith, which is why he makes perfect sense for the Eagles right here.

Round 6 Pick 32: Sam Beal, CB (W. Michigan)

Despite having only two career interceptions, the 6′ 1″ corner is reported to potentially be the next great Western Michigan player to make it into the NFL. If that is the case, he might not be available this low in the draft. But he was available, so I picked him up for the Eagles because you can never have too many corners – even if you have to stash them on the practice squad for a year.

Round 6 Pick 34: Jordan Jones, LB (Kentucky)

The Eagles have some good linebackers already, but they need more. Jordan Jones would give the Eagles some depth, as well as a potential future starter. The Eagles are relatively young at linebacker, so Jones would have to work hard to earn a spot on the roster – but he would certainly have a good chance.

Round 7 Pick 21: Elkanah Dillon, TE (Oregon)

After playing for the University of Southern Florida, Dillon recently announced he would be going to the University of Oregon for 2018 as a graduate transfer. With his 6′ 5″ and 255 pound body, he has the size to succeed at the next level. Oregon coach Willie Taggart was Dillon’s head coach at USF in 2015 when Dillon set the school’s single-game receiving yard record for the tight end spot. Perhaps Taggart can help Dillon convert his potential and size into a marketable product for NFL teams. The Eagles already have Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, so Dillon would only be a depth player as well as a potential red zone target in three tight end sets.

 

2019 Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars

Yes, I’m aware that a lot will change between now and April 25th of 2019… But that’s what makes this fun. Again, the mock draft tool I used is FanSpeak.com because it is the best free mock draft site I have found. FanSpeak projects the Jaguars will be picking 28th, which I think is very likely seeing as that means another deep post-season run for this talented team.

Round 1 Pick 28: Andrew Wingard, S (Wyoming)

This is my third team mock draft for 2019 and the University of Wyoming has players being selected in all three of them. This is with good reason too, not just because I started playing football while living in Wyoming and watching the Cowboys play on Saturdays. This past year, all eyes were on Josh Allen, this year those eyes should be focused on the defense that led the nation in takeaways. Many scouts rank Wingard as one of the top safeties in the draft and as a first or second round talent. The Jaguars already have lock-down corners, but an elite safety to pair with fellow Wyoming-grad Tashaun Gipson (who I got to watch in-person against Colorado St. years ago) would boost Jacksonville’s no-fly zone on defense. Jacksonville already snagged Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison in the 2018 draft and Barry Church has been solid – but Church is getting older and Wingard is better than Harrison.

Round 2 Pick 28: Will Grier, QB (W. Virginia)

It’s no secret that fans are disgruntled with the hot-and-cold quarterbacking from Blake Bortles. Many fans were somewhat surprised when the Jaguars only moves at QB were to acquire former Browns-backup Cody Kessler and draft Nebraska QB Tanner Lee – none of which are currently capable of even competing with Bortles in training camp. Drafting Grier in the second round would either light a fire under Bortles butt or give Jacksonville their guy to replace Bortles. Either result would be a huge improvement to a roster that made it to the AFC Championship (and was robbed of a Super Bowl appearance by the refs) with the unreliable quarterbacking.

Round 3 Pick 28: T.J. Edwards, LB (Wisconsin)

With the retirement of Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville made an attempt to add to their linebacking corp in the 2018 draft, but I don’t think they found anyone who will last long. Edwards would give them a solid linebacker who could step in and make an impact almost instantly. He might have his struggles adjusting to the NFL as a rookie, but that’s not uncommon.

Round 4 Pick 28: Deandre Baker, CB (Georgia)

With the quarterback and linebacker spots having already been addressed in this draft, there really aren’t any holes left that need filled on this Jaguars roster. Selecting Baker here is purely a depth move. He’s a solid corner, but he just won’t break the starting lineup in Jacksonville unless a couple guys go down.

Round 5 Pick 28: Rodney Smith, RB (Minnesota)

Going into the 2017 college season, I read an ESPN article stating that the Gophers had the top RB-duo in the Big Ten and one of the best in the nation. Since I currently attend the University of Minnesota, I attended all but two home games and watched all but one of their games all season. What I saw was not just a top RB-duo, I witnessed one of the most complete rushing attacks I’ve seen. The previously mentioned duo of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks was dynamic, but the Gophers also had bruising back Kobe McCrary who recently was invited to the Minnesota Vikings rookie mini-camp as well as dual-threat QB Demry Croft (who has since transferred to Tennessee St.). That rushing attack accounted for over 400 yards versus Nebraska in 2017. With Croft and McCrary gone, the focus of the Gophers rushing game was supposed to be on that same duo of Smith and Brooks that was rated top in the conference going into the year; but Smith will have to do it without Brooks this year as he suffered a leg injury during spring football workouts. Smith is an electric back who can return kicks and make big plays out of the backfield with his speed and agility. The Jaguars already have powerful running back Leonard Fournette who will remain the feature back for several years, but Smith could step in and be a Tevin Coleman-esque running back.

Round 6 Pick 28: Brandon Knight, OT (Indiana)

Like Deandre Baker, Knight would likely be used as a depth player. Unlike Baker, Knight would actually have a chance to break into the starting lineup. The Jaguars have a bunch of solid linemen, but a rookie who impresses could find himself in a position where he gets to start. Knight would not have an easy road to starting for the reigning AFC South champs, but he would have a chance.

Round 7 Pick 14: Tariq Cole, OT (Rutgers)

According to Pro Football Focus, Tariq is the top offensive tackle in the Big Ten – they have him ranked at a 96.9 in pass blocking efficiency (Brandon Knight who I have going 6th round received a 96.8). Everything I said about Brandon Knight holds true for Tariq Cole; he would be drafted for depth but would have a fair shot at becoming a starter.

Spring League Roster Breakdown: North Squad

QB: Mitchell Leidner (University of Minnesota)

As a transfer student at the University of Minnesota, I never had the privilege (?) of watching Leidner on the field in maroon and gold (although I did watch many games on television). Although, I did see him in his single game of NFL action – a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins in which he went 14/19 with 129 yards (that’s completing 73.7% of his passes for those who care about that but don’t want to do the math) and a passer rating of 91.8. Those stats aren’t that bad, and he looked mobile and was able to buy time in the pocket. However, that was all that happened in his NFL career thus far. If Leidner can demonstrate similar accuracy and mobility, he could have a solid career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) or the Arena Football League (AFL). At best, I see Leidner being a career backup in the NFL – but his inconsistency he demonstrated in his collegiate days might prevent an NFL team from being willing to keep him around long enough to prove himself as a backup. I like the way Leidner plays, but he needs to show he can do it every day for him to become a starter at any professional level.

The North Squad also has Princeton-graduate Quinn Epperly at the quarterback position. Epperly already signed a contract with the British Colombia Lions in the CFL in September of 2017. Perhaps Leidner should spend some time with Epperly, as accuracy is something Epperly exceeds at. He has the FCS completion-streak record from a game against Cornell in which he completed all 29 of his passing attempts. Epperly finished his collegiate career with a 62% completion rate (much better than Leidner’s career percentage of 56.4%). Both quarterbacks also demonstrated the ability to run in college – 1,343 yards and 38 touchdowns for Epperly and 1,495 yards with 33 touchdowns for Leidner.

RB: David Cobb (University of Minnesota)

Now here’s a Gopher who has seen some regular-season action in the NFL. Cobb ran for 146 yards and a touchdown during seven games in the 2015 season with the Tennessee Titans. During his collegiate career, Cobb racked up 3,235 yards from the line of scrimmage with 20 touchdowns – which ultimately lead to the Titans taking him in the 5th round of the NFL Draft. At this point, Cobb’s best shot is probably the CFL or to make his way onto a preseason NFL roster and then shine and earn a depth spot on an NFL team. Perhaps Cobb can eventually make it as a third-down back in the NFL, but he needs to focus on getting into a preseason game before that’s an option.

The North Squad also has former-Villanova running back Kevin Monangai who put up 1,000 yard seasons for Villanova in 2012 and 2014. Monangai has spent minimal time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings on their practice squads. Fellow North Squad running back John DiStefano is likely on his last chance to prove he can be an Arena or Canadian league backup. DiStefano played for Division-III Montclair State University and ran for 1,774 yards in his career (1,257 of those came in his final year) with 18 touchdowns (12 in his final year). The other running back on the roster is former Penn State player Brandon Johnson, who didn’t even really play much running back in college – he was primarily a special teams player who got 4 carries (total, for his whole collegiate career) his senior season for 23 yards and a long of 14.

DL: Karter Schult (Northern Iowa)

The defensive end out of Northern Iowa was a part of the 2017 Cleveland Browns team that went undefeated in the preseason. During Schult’s senior season at Northern Iowa, he led all of Division I with 17 sacks – he also won both conference and FCS defensive player of the year. During his brief time on the active roster, Schult racked up 11 tackles through four preseason games and then put up 1.5 sacks in the preseason finale versus the Chicago Bears.

In my opinion, Schult is just in need of a little more practice to get caught up with the speed of NFL football and he could have a solid career. He won’t be setting any more sack records, but he could put together a decent 5-year stretch as a pass rusher if he can land with a team in need of his services.

 

 

NFL Mock Draft 2018: NFC East

Since the NFL season is over, and the draft order has been set, now feels like a good time to start transitioning into the early stages of mock drafting. Keep in mind, this is post-Senior Bowl, but we still haven’t seen combine numbers or pro day numbers yet – so this is still too early for these picks to be incredibly accurate. However, there is plenty of information out there to start making educated mock drafts based on prospects in-game performances as well as the needs of the NFL teams. In order to come up with a somewhat accurate mock draft, I am using fanspeak.com’s free mock draft tool with the most up-to-date draft boards. I am drafting for each team individually in separate mock draft’s and fanspeak’s AI system drafts for the other 31 teams – so there might be some repeat picks. This time, the focus will be on the division with the only two teams to beat the Brady and Belichick era Patriots in the Super Bowl – and that is the NFC East, home of the Eagles and Giants:

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1 Pick 19: Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa)

Round 2 Pick 18: Steven Richardson, DL (Minnesota)

Round 3 Pick 17: Kyzir White, S (West Virginia)

Round 4 Pick 16: Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina)

Round 4 Pick 36: Will Clapp, G (Louisiana State)

Round 4 Pick 37: Jack Cichy, LB (Wisconsin)

Round 5 Pick 35: Joseph Noteboom, OT (Texas Christian)

Round 5 Pick 37: Nic Shimonek, QB (Texas Tech)

Round 6 Pick 19: Javon Rolland-Jones, EDGE (Arkansas State)

Round 7 Pick 18: Devron Davis, CB (Texas – San Antonio)

ANALYSIS:

With this draft, we are assuming that the Commissioner doesn’t try to come after Ezekiel Elliott again for something that a court of law already said he didn’t do – so no running backs were selected. With their first three picks, I have the Cowboys making some big pick-ups on the defensive side of the ball. Josh Jackson, Steven Richardson, and Kyzir White could potentially all be starters on the Dallas defense. With the fourth round addition of tight end Hayden Hurst, I have the Cowboys recognizing they need to prepare for life after Jason Witten. The rest of the offensive picks in this mock are merely for depth purposes – because we already know Dallas has a really good offensive line and Dak Prescott is not being replaced by Nic Shimonek. Defensively, Jack Cichy could also be a contributor at the linebacker position if Sean Lee’s injury struggles continue, while Javon Rolland-Jones and Devron Davis are likely just additional depth to the defensive unit. Although, I could see Rolland-Jones maybe emerging as a situational pass rusher.

New York Giants

Round 1 Pick 2: Sam Darnold, QB (Southern California)

Round 2 Pick 2: Sony Michel, RB (Georgia)

Round 3 Pick 2: Billy Price, OG (Ohio State)

Round 4 Pick 2: Hercules Mata’afa, EDGE (Washington State)

Round 4 Pick 35: Mike Hughes, CB (Central Florida)

Round 5 Pick 2: Rashaad Penny, RB (San Diego State)

Round 6 Pick 2: James Daniels, C (Iowa)

ANALYSIS:

With the selection of Sam Darnold at #2 overall, the Giants now have the ability to move on from Eli Manning whenever they need to. Darnold could learn under Manning for anywhere between just preseason to the whole 2018 season before stepping in as the new quarterback of the Giants. In the second and fifth rounds, I have the Giants taking a shot at Sony Michel and Rashaad Penny to give Manning/Darnold a ground game to help them. The additions of Billy Price and James Daniels in the third and sixth rounds will also make life easier for the Giants’ offense, as their offensive line has been shaky in past years. Defensively, their two selections (Mata’afa and Hughes) could both potentially be starters in the first season.

Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1 Pick 32: Isaiah Wynn, OG (Georgia)

Round 4 Pick 31: Trevon Young, EDGE (Louisville)

Round 4 Pick 32: Bo Scarbrough, RB (Alabama)

Round 5 Pick 19: Brandon Parker, OT (North Carolina A&T)

Round 5 Pick 32: Kendal Vickers, DL (Tennessee)

Round 6 Pick 32: Wyatt Teller, OG (Virginia Tech)

ANALYSIS:

What do you get for the team who already has a Super Bowl ring this year? Well, whatever you can find with the draft picks they have – because there’s not a lot to work with. With their first round pick, they help protect Wentz with a potentially elite offensive guard. After that, it’s a bunch of players with potential. Trevon Young could jump in on defense as a situational pass rusher. Bo Scarbrough could be the second Alabama running back to take a job away from Jay Ajayi (where will the Eagles trade him?), as this already happened in Miami when they shipped him off so they could let Kenyan Drake have the backfield. Brandon Parker and Wyatt Teller could either be offensive line depth or maybe one of them could snag a starting spot on the line with fellow rookie Isaiah Wynn. And Kendal Vickers would give Philly even more depth on their defensive line.

Washington Redskins

Round 1 Pick 13: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

Round 2 Pick 12: Marcell Ateman, WR (Oklahoma State)

Round 4 Pick 13: Akrum Wadley, RB (Iowa)

Round 5 Pick 12: Levi Wallace, CB (Alabama)

Round 6 Pick 14: David Moa, DL (Boise State)

Round 7 Pick 13: Michael Dickson, P (Texas)

Round 7 Pick 23: Jamar Summers, S (Conneticut)

ANALYSIS: 

As much as I loved my first four picks for Dallas (Josh Jackson, Steven Richardson, Kyzir White, and Hayden Hurst), I think Washington could be in competition for the best draft class in the NFC East. Snagging Josh Allen with the 13th overall pick allows them to develop a quarterback under Alex Smith before they have to move on from an aging Smith who they just traded for (still a little confused about that deal). Marcell Ateman could be what they were hoping Terrelle Pryor would be this past year. Akrum Wadley gives them an exciting running back who can be used in their standard committee approach to the ground game. Levi Wallace and Jamar Summers are wild cards who could contribute to the defensive secondary. David Moa can add depth on the defensive line. And Michael Dickson still could be the second best pick they have in the draft. Dickson has the potential to be the next Marquette King, and that’s a steal if you can get an elite punter in the seventh round.

NFL Mock Draft 2018: NFC North

Since the NFL season is almost over, and the draft order has been set, now feels like a good time to start transitioning into the early stages of mock drafting. Keep in mind, this is post-Senior Bowl, but we still haven’t seen combine numbers or pro day numbers yet – so this is still too early for these picks to be incredibly accurate. However, there is plenty of information out there to start making educated mock drafts based on prospects in-game performances as well as the needs of the NFL teams. In order to come up with a somewhat accurate mock draft, I am using fanspeak.com’s free mock draft tool with the most up-to-date draft boards. I am drafting for each team individually in separate mock draft’s and fanspeak’s AI system drafts for the other 31 teams – so their might be some repeat picks. As a Packers fan, I am naturally drawn to starting with the NFC North:

Chicago Bears

Round 1 Pick 8: Calvin Ridley, WR (Alabama)

Round 2 Pick 7: Arden Key, EDGE (Louisiana State)

Round 4 Pick 5: Josey Jewell, LB (Iowa)

Round 4 Pick 15: Donte Jackson, CB (Louisiana State)

Round 5 Pick 8: D.J. Reed, CB (Kansas State)

Round 6 Pick 7: Shaquem Griffin, LB (Central Florida)

Round 7 Pick 6: Godwin Igwebuike, S (Northwestern)

ANALYSIS:

Taking Ridley with the 8th overall pick would fill a big need and would help second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky start to look like he was worth the fortune they gave up last year to select him. Going on to the second round, the Bears select an elite pass rusher – which is essential when you know you have to face Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Case Keenum (?). Without a third round pick, they move on to the fourth round, in which they select highly underrated linebacker Josey Jewell from Iowa before selecting cornerbacks in back-to-back rounds (again, essential to have given their divisional opponents). In the last two rounds, I have them sticking with defense in the form of a linebacker and safety. This will certainly not be the last time you see UCF’s Shaquem Griffin being selected – as I believe he is currently incredibly underrated due to him only having one hand.

Detroit Lions

Round 1 Pick 20: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

Round 2 Pick 19: Hercules Mata’afa, EDGE (Washington State)

Round 3 Pick 18: Nick Chubb, RB (Georgia)

Round 4 Pick 17: Troy Fumagalli, TE (Wisconsin)

Round 5 Pick 16: Tre’Quan Smith, WR (Central Florida)

ANALYSIS:

Were Josh Allen to slide to 20th overall, any team should consider taking him. Even a team like Detroit that seems set with Matthew Stafford for the next few years. Allen, while already the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft, would still benefit from a couple years of learning the NFL before being forced into a starting job – thus making Detroit a decent fit. The selection of Mata’afa is the only defensive selection, but he could make a big impact with their pass rush. Chubb could help the Lions by giving them an option to pound the ball on the ground, while Fumagalli and Smith could help open up their passing game even more. I would watch for Smith to rise in the actual draft once he gets a chance to showcase his skills at the upcoming NFL Combine.

Green Bay Packers

Round 1 Pick 14: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB (Alabama)

Round 2 Pick 13: Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma)

Round 3 Pick 12: Michael Dieter, OT (Wisconsin)

Round 3 Pick 38: Troy Fumagalli, TE (Wisconsin)

Round 4 Pick 14: Joshua Frazier, DL (Alabama)

Round 5 Pick 13: Josey Jewell, LB (Iowa)

Round 5 Pick 34: Larry Allen Jr., OG (Harvard)

Round 5 Pick 36: L.J. Scott, RB (Michigan State)

Round 5 Pick 38: Tyrone Crowder, OG (Clemson)

Round 6 Pick 12: Nick Linder, C (Miami – FL)

Round 7 Pick 14: Daurice Fountain, WR (Northern Iowa)

Round 7 Pick 21: Jordan Thomas, CB (Oklahoma)

ANALYSIS: 

The selection of Minkah Fitzpatrick in the first round would be a case of simply taking the best player available in the first round, which can be a risky strategy for a team that does have some big needs – but I feel like I addressed those quite well in the later rounds. The selection of Mayfield in the second round likely is a shock for many, including myself. Somehow he escaped the first round, so I eagerly snatched him with the Packers second round pick as he could develop and mature under Aaron Rodgers until his time to start came. Over the remaining rounds, I selected four offensive linemen to help address the major need of offensive line depth that has been a need of the Packers for years now. Fumagalli can step in with the current tight ends and stick around for a long time, while Michigan State running back L.J. Scott is just another late-round swing at an RB to see if they can find a stud. Jewell and Thomas represent highly underrated defensive talent that could help Mike Pettine structure the post-Capers defense. Northern Iowa receiver Daurice Fountain represents a deep-sleeper pick that could become a special teams stud with his speed – perhaps eventually getting reps in the slot receiver spot as Randall Cobb continues to get older.

 

Minnesota Vikings

Round 1 Pick 30: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

Round 2 Pick 30: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT (Western Michigan)

Round 3 Pick 30: Donte Jackson, CB (Louisiana State)

Round 5 Pick 30: Shaquem Griffin, LB (Central Florida)

Round 6 Pick 30: Jake Wieneke, WR (South Dakota State)

Round 6 Pick 37: Damon Webb, S (Ohio State)

Round 6 Pick 40: Jordan Akins, TE (Central Florida)

ANALYSIS:

Just like with the Lions mock draft, if Josh Allen is available outside of the top 10 – you snag him right away. The Vikings are currently searching for their long term answer at quarterback, and Josh Allen could be that guy (if he actually falls to the 30th pick). In the second round, I have them selecting an offensive tackle because that is a position of need and a position you can never have enough players at (just ask the Packers). In the third, fifth, and sixth rounds I have them selecting various defenders who could step in and contribute to an already strong defense. Note, Shaquem Griffin shows up for the second time in this mock draft series. Wieneke from SDSU provides the Vikings with another “local” player, they seem to like those. And lastly, selecting Akins could give the Vikings depth behind Kyle Rudolph.

 

College Football Invitational Tournament

While it wasn’t meant to be, the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) is often seen as a consolation tournament for teams who didn’t get into “March Madness.” I created a 16 team College Football Playoff bracket for the conference champions and other teams who have performed well, so I decided that I would create another bracket for teams who didn’t finish bowl-eligible. While the NIT may not want to be the consolation tournament for college basketball, the CFIT (College Football Invitational Tournament) is most certainly a consolation tournament for FBS football programs. To be eligible for this tournament, teams must have finished with an overall winning percentage equal to or below .500 for the 2017 college football season.

#1 Florida State vs. #16 Indiana

Indiana came very close to starting their season off with beating Ohio State, but they ultimately crumbled in the fourth quarter after leading at the end of the third quarter.  Florida State looked very promising going into this season until quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a knee injury way back on September 2nd.

Projected Winner: Florida State. It would be tempting to take the Hoosiers here, they certainly could win this game. However, I find it very hard to pick the Seminoles to lose with Derwin James on their roster – at least in the first round. Florida State takes this one 34-31 on a last minute field goal.

#2 Texas vs. #15 Tennessee

Looks like we’ve got the battle of the burnt orange. The only teams in this tournament (and the only teams in the FBS that I can think of) who wear burnt orange face off in the Sweet 16 – which is a shame because it’s a classic and underrated color for a college football uniform.

Projected Winner: Texas. There will be no Hail Mary play set to Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ for the Vols, as Texas controls the game in a 24-13 victory.

#3 Texas Tech vs. #14 New Mexico State

Texas Tech wide receiver Keke Coutee runs up field after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Texas Tech looked mediocre all year – which is what you would expect from a team in a consolation tournament. The reason they wound up with the #3 seed is merely because they play in the Big 12 and finished right at the .500 mark. New Mexico State also finished right at the .500 maximum mark, but they also were playing in the Sun Belt Conference. Both teams really have an equal shot at this one, and I have a hunch that this might be the only game these two play before one is eliminated in the Elite Eight.

Projected Winner: Texas Tech. They played against better competition throughout the season, plus Texas Tech beat Arizona State who beat New Mexico State. Both of those games with Arizona State were decided by a single score – so I’m guessing this would be close as the Red Raiders win 27-21.

#4 Purdue vs. #13 Florida

University of Florida Gators defensive back Duke Dawson intercepts a pass and returns it for a pick-six during the first half of the 2017 Advocare Classic at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas as the Florida Gators take on the Michigan Wolverines. September 2nd, 2017. Gator Country photo by David Bowie.

Purdue was actually borderline good this year, they kept some close games with some good teams. They lost by one score to Wisconsin and 10 points to Northwestern, as well as having some nice victories against Missouri and Iowa. Florida was awful, with the exception of a three game stretch in September when they beat Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Florida also beat UAB 36-7, but leading up to that they had lost 5 in a row. Granted, Florida was playing against SEC competition all year, but they still weren’t good.

Projected Winner: Purdue. Big Ten usually doesn’t beat SEC, but this is an exception. Purdue and their Brohm Bros coaching staff beats the Gators 37-12.

#5 Ole Miss vs. #12 Syracuse

Ole Miss got destroyed 66-3 by Alabama, but they did end the season with a 31-28 victory over Mississippi State. The highlight of Syracuse’s season was a 27-24 upset of Clemson, but that was one of only four wins the whole season.

Projected Winner: Ole Miss. Riding high off their victory over in-state rival and top-15 opponent Mississippi State, Ole Miss takes that momentum to squeak out another 31-28 victory – this time over Syracuse’s Orangemen.

#6 UCLA vs. #11 Virginia

UCLA went into this year with a top pro prospect at quarterback in Josh Rosen, but they still just went 6-6. The UCLA Bruins did come within five points of beating ranked Southern California in November. Virginia also went 6-6, but they did beat ranked Boise State in Idaho.

Projected Winner: Virginia. The Cavaliers had much more convincing wins throughout this season, and have beat a ranked opponent on the road. So this one goes to Virginia in a 40-36 victory.

#7 Minnesota vs. #10 Utah State

In P.J. Fleck’s first year at the helm for the Golden Gophers, they struggled with consistency. Both teams were either blowing teams out or getting blown out, their was no in-between for either team. Utah State’s biggest win was a 61-10 victory over a San Jose State team that won two games all year, and their biggest loss a 59-10 loss to Wisconsin.

Projected Winner: Minnesota. Rodney Smith will score 3 touchdowns in three different ways in this game – one rushing, one receiving, and one on a return. Smith was incredibly versatile for the Gophers this year, and that will help them overcome the Aggies 41-17.

#8 Duke vs. #9 California

Duke started out 4-0 before losing six straight, but then finished with two solid wins to finish at 6-6. The Blue Devils from Duke had a very strong 41-17 victory over ranked opponent Northwestern. California also started off hot going 3-0 before three straight and then finishing the season at 5-7.

Projected Winner: Duke. They started off hot, tapered off, but then ended up getting hot at the end of the season. I think Duke can keep rolling strong at least through this round. Duke wins this one 31-9.

 

Wake-Up Call: Players Who NEED to Play Well in the NFC North

Every team has their star players who are expected to put up numbers on a weekly basis and contribute to the success of their team. However, a handful of superstars does not make a full team. In order for a team to be successful, the non-super star players need to contribute. Looking forward to the 2017 NFL season, here are the players from each NFC North team that need to contribute for their team to be successful:

Chicago Bears – Mitchell Trubisky (QB)

Remember how I started off this article saying every team has their star players? Yeah, forget about that when talking about the current Chicago Bears. Aside from Jeremy Langford and Jordan Howard, the Chicago Bears do not have anything that really resembles NFL talent. After Chicago gave up everything to get Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft, they absolutely need him to play well in order to justify the move. Basically, Trubisky has to play well in order for the Bears to avoid replacing the Cleveland Browns as the worst team in the NFL.

Detroit Lions – T.J. Lang (OT)

After coming over from the Green Bay Packers, Lang will have to show he can still be a top-tier offensive lineman in order for the Lions to build off of this past year’s playoff appearance. Lang was solid for the Packers since he became a full-time starter in 2011. If he can help the Detroit Lions solidify their offensive line, they will be able to make a strong push for another playoff appearance.

Green Bay Packers – Damarious Randall (CB)

As a Green Bay Packers fan, it was rough watching our team at times last year. We had practice squad players making appearances in our defensive secondary and a defensive tackle getting some playing time on the offensive line during the playoffs. Granted, the Packers still knocked off the red-hot Dallas Cowboys and made it to the NFC Championship Game, but they could have gone farther had it not been for the aforementioned reasons. Because of this, those two position groups need the most work heading into the 2017 season. The addition of cornerback Kevin King in the NFL Draft will help give the secondary more pieces. This will take some of the pressure off of cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. Thanks to the reduction of pressure, Randall will be able to step up as the number one corner and greatly increase his interceptions – which gives the ball back to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers elite offense, thus leading to more points, wins, and a deeper playoff run (perhaps even ending with a Super Bowl ring).

Minnesota Vikings – Dalvin Cook (RB)

Prior to the 2017 NFL Draft, all eyes were on free agent signing Latavius Murray from the Oakland Raiders to be the new replacement for super star runningback Adrian Peterson who departed for the New Orleans Saints. However, the Vikings went out and drafted one of the most talented runningbacks in the NFL Draft – Florida State’s Dalvin Cook. Inevitably, Murray and Cook will share carries at first, but Cook’s success may dictate the future of the Vikings’ rushing attack. From what I’ve seen so far, the Vikings should be in very good hands with Cook as the ball-carrier. However, if Cook fails, the Vikings’ offense will be forced to be come one-dimensional and rely on Sam Bradford completing short passes – which ended up not leading the Vikings to the playoffs last year despite a hot start to the season.