2016 NFL Mock Draft Round 2 | 49-64
Round 2 | 49-64:
49) Buffalo Bills – Cardale Jones QB, Ohio St. 6’5" 253 lbs
Sources say the Bills are enamored with Jones & they need some more competition at QB. E.J. Manuel has been a bust & Tyrod Taylor is OK but not the long time answer. Jones is a pocket passer with a cannon attached to his right shoulder. Is very hard to sack mainly due to his size. Was unbeaten at Ohio St. & led them to National Championship in 2015. Needs to go over his progressions better & make better decisions with the ball.
50) Atlanta Falcons – Hunter Henry TE, Arkansas 6’5" 250 lbs
The Falcons finally find a replacement for the great Tony Gonzalez. Has been an integral part of the Razorbacks offense last 2 seasons. Can really run the seam or the sideline for a score. Is a decent blocker but needs better coaching there. Has good hands & is tough to bring down when he gets up to speed.
51) New York Jets – Kyler Flackrell OLB/ER, Utah St. 6’5" 245 lbs
Sources say the Jets regime was infatuated with Flackrell at both the senior bowl & the combine & have met with him more than once. Is a fast & athletic OLB who has a knack for getting to the QB. Plus the Jets need an ER who can get into the back field & create havoc & cause turnovers. Focused & solid player who could be a big surprise for the NFL. Plays with a big motor all game.
52) Houston Texans – Nick Martin C, Notre Dame 6’4" 301 lbs
The Texans released Ben Jones this off season so a replacement is needed. 3 year starter in South Bend. Solid in both pass protection & opening running lanes for rush game. Smart player who could have a long career with the Texans.
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53) Washington Redskins – Andrew Billings DT/NT, Baylor 6′ 311 lbs
Billings is a very talented defensive lineman. Super quick off the snap to penetrate between OL & get into QB’s face where he can cause havoc & turnovers. Has the wheels to run down RB’s from the back side. Strong at the point of attack & hard to move. Slides a little from coming in a little under his listed measurements at combine. If he pans out big he could be the steal of the 2nd round.
54) Minnesota Vikings – Su’a Cravens SS/OLB, USC 6’1" 226 lbs
The Vikings have a need at both positions so kill 2 birds with one stone. Was moved from SS to OLB in 2015 & responded with a very good season. He would give them an all PAC-12 LB team. I think he’ll surface as a SS at the next level & pair well with all pro S Harrison roaming the back end of the Vikes defense. HC Zimmer’s type of player.
55) Cincinnati Bengals – Adolphus Washington DT/DE, Ohio St. 6’3" 297 lbs
The Bengals need some new blood on the interior of their DL. Has had some off field issues or would go earlier but that hasn’t wavered the Bengals in the past if they want the player. Has had 2 outstanding years for the Buckeyes in 2015 & 2014. Seems to always be in the opponents back field & led the Buckeyes in tackles behind the line of scrimmage last 2 seasons.
56) Seattle Seahawks – Vadal Alexander G/OT, LSU 6’5" 326 lbs
The Hawks need to start reloading the right side of their OL. He’s a mammoth offensive lineman who opens up massive running lanes for the rush game & is good in pass protection too. Has been a 4 year starter in Baton Rouge. Played ROT in 2012, then G in 2013 & 2014 then back to ROT in 2015 so is a well rounded OL prospect with some big size.
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57) Green Bay Packers – Austin Hooper TE, Stanford 6’3" 254 lbs
The Packs GM Ted Thompson is always looking for a TE that can produce yards & points. Hooper has good moves & strong hands. Can run both the seam & sideline for big gainers & td’s. Another smart player coming out of a NFL styled offense ready to contribute right away.
58) Pittsburgh Steelers – Austin Johnson DT/NT, Penn St. 6’4" 314 lbs
The Steelers need some new talent in the middle of their DL & select a player from the neighborhood. Johnson was under the radar when the 2015 season started but by mid season the word was out as opponents were having all kinds of trouble containing him. Is strong versus the run & has the power & strength to collapse pocket & put pressure on QB. He’s just starting to tap into his potential which good coaching will do & he has a mountain of upside to develop.
59) Kansas City Chiefs – Christian Hackenberg QB, Penn St. 6’4" 228 lbs
The Chiefs QB Alex Smith is 31 years old & still has a few good years left in the tank but the Chiefs need to be thinking about his replacement. HC Andy Reid is a good QB guru. Hack had an up & down career in Happy Valley. Highly recruited out of high school & landed with then HC Bill O’Brien & was the Big 10 freshman of the year. Then O’Brien leaves for the NFL & the Texans & in comes new HC James Franklin & his college spread offense & it clearly wasn’t Hacks style. Looked sharp & had a good workout at the combine. This is when QB’s start moving up draft boards as we edge closer to the draft 4/28.
60) New England Patriots – Jonathan Bullard DE/DT, Florida 6’3" 285 lbs
Bullard had a great 2015 season for the Gators. Was Mr. Consistency & steady every game all year long. Athletic, quick & strong defensive lineman who can create havoc in opponents back field on a every game basis. Plus the Patriots have showed a preference for drafting Florida players over the years.
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61) New England Patriots (from az) – Jaylon Smith OLB/ILB, Notre Dame 6’2" 235 lbs
If it wasn’t for his bowl game knee injury Smith would have been a top 10 pick. His recent medical recheck wasn’t that good of news & he could miss the entire 2016 season. But the Pats are strong enough team to let him rest & sit out the season. When healthy he’s a sideline to sideline LB who just piles up the tackles as the game wears on. Smart, athletic,quick & physical LB who is always around the football. If he bounces back to his pre injury capabilities this will be the steal of the entire draft. The rich get richer.
62) Carolina Panthers – Bronson Kaufusi DE, BYU 6’6" 285 lbs
The Panthers need a new DE who can get constant pressure on QB. Has very strong arms & legs to push OL out of the way on his way to back field. Had good senior bowl & was solid in the field drills at the combine to increase his draft stock. Very good athlete who played on the Cougars hoops team also. Plus BYU athletes are very clean & don’t have any habits.
63) Denver Broncos – Dak Prescott QB, Mississippi St. 6’2" 226 lbs
Prescott has had 2 good seasons in Starkville. But the Broncos fell for him at the senior bowl practices & game. Where he led his team to victory & was voted MVP. Followed that up with a solid combine. He also interviewed very well at both events. Smart player with a high football IQ. Had a recent NO-NO being busted for a dui less than a month before the draft. I don’t think that will cause boss man John Elway to go in another direction. If he likes him he’ll draft him & work out any potential problems later. He needs a new QB to develop.