INDIANAPOLIS --- Last week, PhiladelphiaEagles.com asked me to participate in their NFL Beat Reporter Mock Draft podcast. I thought it was a great idea.
The exercise was simple. 31 other reporters and me made the pick in this mock draft for the respective team they cover. The results were interesting, to say the least (didn't expect Shelton or Gregory to fall as far as they did). To watch/listen to the entire Mock Draft Extravaganza podcast, click here.
Here were the results:
Team
Selection
1. Tampa Bay
QB Jameis Winston
2. Tennessee
QB Marcus Mariota
3.Jacksonville
DL Leonard Williams
4. Oakland
WR Amari Cooper
5. Washington
EDGE Dante Fowler, Jr.
6. NY Jets
WR Kevin White
7. Chicago
EDGE Vic Beasley
8. Atlanta
EDGE Bud Dupree
9. NY Giants
OL Ereck Flowers
10. St. Louis
OL Brandon Scherff
11. Minnesota
CB Trae Waynes
12. Cleveland
WR Devante Parker
13. N. Orleans
EDGE Shane Ray
14. Miami
T/G La'El Collins
15. SF
WR Dorial Green-Beckham
16. Houston
CB Jalen Collins
17. San Diego
RB Todd Gurley
18. KC
WR Jaelen Strong
19. Cleveland
DL Malcolm Brown
20. PHL
OL T.J. Clemmings
21. Cincinnati
S Landon Collins
22. Pittsburgh
CB Marcus Peters
23. Detroit
DT Danny Shelton
24. Arizona
CB Byron Jones
25. Carolina
OT Cedric Ogbuehi
26. Baltimore
EDGE Randy Gregory
27. Dallas
CB Kevin Johnson
28. Denver
TE Maxx Williams
29. COLTS
DT Eddie Goldman
30. Green Bay
ILB Paul Dawson
31. N. Orleans
WR Phillip Dorsett
32. NE
DL Arik Armstead
My Pick: DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State (6'4", 336 pounds): There were three players I considered with the 29th pick in this mock draft: Goldman, Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, and Oregon DL Arik Armstead. I ranked them: 1. Goldman, 2. Armstead, 3. Gordon.
Choosing between Goldman and Armstead was difficult. Many mock drafts have Armstead going as high as 15th in the first round to San Francisco. Ultimately, I felt like Goldman was a good combination of the need for a run-stuffer on the D-Line and one of the best players available. Armstead is 6'7", 295 pounds, but after discussing the options with Colts.com Beat Writer Kevin Bowen, we both agreed on Goldman.
The fine gentlemen at PhiladelphiaEagles.com thought Armstead was the pick. Armstead has a high ceiling but not much consistent game tape from Oregon. Ultimately, Goldman's ability to clog up the middle in the run game just seemed too obvious to pass on for Armstead or Gordon, who I do believe is a legitimate first round RB.
The podcast also thought Stanford OT Andrus Peat would have been a better choice than Goldman. I completely disagree. If Gosder Cherilus was in danger of missing the start of training camp, perhaps I'd agree. Ryan Grigson said he'll be ready in June, at least a month before camp in Anderson. Combine that with re-signing Joe Reitz and signing Todd Herremans, and defensive line made more sense to me with this mock draft pick, considering there are now 10 offensive linemen on the roster with starting experience.
Is Goldman a lock to be a good player? No. His weakness is his pass rush, but as an interior defensive lineman, his primary duty will be to stop the run. He's a great fit for a 3-4 defense. I'm also pretty sure I've heard stopping the run is a priority for the Colts defense.
The mock drafts are complete. FINALLY, it's time for the real thing. We'll see you Thursday night from the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for full NFL Draft coverage on Colts.com.
