Nate's 2nd Mock of 2024...

[CJD]

(04-21-2024, 01:05 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Here is my 2nd one and this one I used ProFootballNetwork and it seemed more realistic than MDD...

1st round - JC Latham OT Alabama: Mims and Fautanu were gone in this instance so I took the next best thing, very good pass protector
and once he gets his hands on you in the running game you are done. Trench King helps out the right side of the Bengals OL for the next
half a decade if not longer.

2nd round - Malachi Corley WR Western Kentucky: Speedster with strength at WR, a playmaker and looked like the best player on the field
against OSU last year when I watched him for the first time. Corley is great in yards after catch, has good hands, runs good routes and is
really hard to tackle as he played RB before. Offers Returner ability as well.

3rd round - Ben Sinnott TE Kansas State: Best overall TE in the Draft IMO, Sinnott can play TE, H-Back, Fullback and WR. Sinnott has a
diverse route tree, is hard to tackle, has great hands and is a very good blocker.

3rd round - Tanor Bortolini G/C Wisconsin: Our future Center after Ted, but instantly steps in at LG as a rookie and makes Volson good
depth. Can also play at RG in case Cappa goes down.

4th round - Braelon Allen RB Wisconsin: Big, mean, athletic, battering ram RB that takes our physicality to another level in the AFC North.

5th round - T'Vondre Sweat DT Texas: This is where I think Sweat will be available after the DWI and could give him a shot here. Instantly
helps us stop the run if he can stay clean.

6th round - Gabe Hall DT Baylor: Major steal here as another run stopper and insurance in case Sweat goes goofy.

6th round - George Holani RB/Returner Boise State: Another returner who can take it to the house, good receiver too.

7th round - Tory Taylor P Iowa: We need a Punter, about as good of one as there is in this Draft.

7th round - Xavier Thomas EDGE Clemson

This draft is amazing. 

I think a lot of Bengals fans have written off Latham as slow, but I think he has what it takes to be a day 1 starting RT if needed and he has the added possibility of playing LG if need be in his rookie year. Sinnott in the 3rd is a huge steal and I would be unable to resist Sweat or Hall in the 5th and 6th round, respectively. Bortolini is one of my favorite prospects on the inside in that late day 2, early day 3 range and Allen, while not my preferred big man RB, would complement our current running back room well.

I just have one itsy bitsy teeny objection...

I really don't like Corley in the 2nd.

It's not that I don't think he's a good player. But he requires a fair amount of projection to get to a productive player in the NFL, and I wouldn't be willing to spend a top 50 pick on him.

60% of his routes were hitches, slants, crossing, flats or screens and his route running, in general, leaves a lot to be desired. He had an average depth of target of just 6.1 yards past the LOS. His Yards after catch average was a ridiculous (and likely unsustainable) 8.5. His contested catch rate was just 22.2% and his tracking is not great on deep balls. 


He has decent bulk at 207 lbs and 5'11", but his speed, while acceptable, was nothing special at 4.56. He had an RAS of 7.76.


He is elite at breaking tackles and he seems to have great acceleration (although his 40 yard splits are also just good, not elite), but I wonder if he is more of a gadget player who excelled at abusing Conference USA players with no future in the NFL at Western Kentucky to get that extra 8.5 yards after the reception.


I think his ideal role in the NFL is as a slot receiver and gadget player who you manufacture catches for and I don't think he is likely to replace Higgins' production or role, which is what I'm looking for in a 2nd round WR prospect.


My favorite round 2 WR options are Keon Coleman, Troy Franklin, Ricky Pearsall and then any player that may fall like Adonai Mitchell or Ladd McConkey.


But that's just my preference. Dane Brugler has Corley as the 54th overall prospect, so you're right on the money according to his evaluation.