So Much For That
February 20th, 2019
Alabama OL Jonah Williams.
Because of death and misguided TV executives, helmet hair Mel Kiper of BSPN is, by default, the top draftnik in the land.
(Had Rick Gosselin, formerly of the Dallas Morning News, kept his NFL gig — he’s retired — he have been elevated to the top draftnik status. His mock drafts were uncannily accurate; they were Mayockian.)
Alas, Joel Buchsbaum died several years ago, Mike Mayock took a gig with Chucky (in part because TV suits would not hire him to work live games as an analyst) and Gosselin retired. So we are left with Kiper and Daniel Jeremiah.
Some people think Joe hates Kiper, which is untrue. What Joe hates is that Kiper seemingly has a weekly mock draft which in Joe’s eyes is not just trolling, but irresponsible. But Joe does love to listen to Kiper. He does his homework.
This week, jet-flyin’, kiss–stealin‘, data-analyzin’, Bucs-film-studyin’, limousine-ridin’ Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times interviewed Kiper and let’s just say Kiper really let down a bunch of Bucs fans (Joe is not among this group).
In short, those who want to run off Donovan Smith and draft this Jonah Williams from Alabama have it backwards. Williams, Kiper said, can’t play left tackle, documents Bassinger.
“When you look at Jonah Williams, is he going to be a right tackle? He’s not going to be a left tackle, but a right tackle/guard/center. That’s why I put him a 18, not in the top 10, because I think he’s an interior guy now.”
So the way Kiper sounds, if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafts Williams at No. 5, Team Glazer may order a field sobriety test. Wouldn’t that be a pickle if Licht lets Smith get away and the guy he picks to replace him can’t even play left tackle?
Besides, it’s not as if Arians wants a rookie left tackle.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:13 am
Count me in as one fan that does not want to run off Donovan Smith. IMO there are many other positions we need to upgrade more than LT.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:16 am
Trade down twice and get him……we need more than one on the Oline….time to start investing.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:19 am
If they end up trading down, I’d be fine taking him in the middle 1st round to upgrade right guard or to replace Dotson at some point.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:20 am
He was schooled against Clemson…very overrated
February 20th, 2019 at 8:33 am
If your employer asks you to do a weekly mock draft and pays you millions of dollars a year to do it (or whatever he makes )?
I would do it. I would do one everyone day for that scratch. Just saying. Don’t know why you put that in him. He has espn site /app that you have to pay for so he has to do something year round.
It’s funny how he is only right tackle now. He played left and most experts have him rated highest tackle.
But yes. Kiper is all over the board. I usually don’t listen to his rankings
Mayock was the guy.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:40 am
I’ve never thought he was a Top 10 talent
………..he’s definitely middle of the 1st round talent
February 20th, 2019 at 8:43 am
Yes overrated. I prefer Taylor and about 5 other Olinemen before him.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:45 am
Why wouldn’t networks hire Mayock for live games?
February 20th, 2019 at 8:48 am
I’m more worried about the Guard position. We need Chris Lindstrom in the 2nd round to get this running game going. He is a mauler.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:50 am
We need a guard. Give me Chris Lindstrom in the 2nd round to get this running game going.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:52 am
5 teams need QB badly in the top 15
3 of those teams in top 10
Giants at 6
Jags at 7
Broncos at 10 ( Flacco is one year bridge gap )
Dolphins at 11
Redskins at 15
Some say Foles to jags is done deal. So We still have 4 other teams to trade back.
If the big 3 are not there (Williams , Allen and bosa). Trade back and get extra pick or two.
February 20th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Plus klinsgbury really wants Murray bad and has said so in past.
He fits coaches offensive scheme perfectly just like Mahomes at Texas tech
RPO system.
They could say adios Rosen and hello Murray.
February 20th, 2019 at 9:04 am
And don’t forget about Raiders and Bengals Bengals in top 15 too
Not sure Gruden likes Carr
THe whole city of Cincinnati doesn t care for Dalton
February 20th, 2019 at 9:05 am
darin
i agree….i think j.taylor is the best OL in the draft….he can play LT,RT,LG,or RG…..
i also like tytus howard and chuma edoga in the mid rounds…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
February 20th, 2019 at 9:26 am
Networks don’t like analysts getting too technical. They have research that demonstrates overly-technical talk chases viewers away (Joes had a long talk with an NFL Network suit about this).
Though Joe loved listening to him, Mayock for a lot of TV suits was way too technical for their tastes.
February 20th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Agreed on Lindstrom…His father played for the Bucs too!
February 20th, 2019 at 9:43 am
Bucs are not drafting Jonah Williams… and no way at 5.
February 20th, 2019 at 9:52 am
Big tide fan here and
I think he is a 2nd rounder
February 20th, 2019 at 10:03 am
I don’t even know what the debate is about at this point. The pick is a no brainer. The Bucs are selecting a stud MLB from LSU named Devin White to lead their new 3-4 under attack. I think they are looking for a right guard because Cappa may be more of a RT or LT than they originally thought. They have a lot lineman imo and may get Iupati out of free agency as well.
February 20th, 2019 at 10:23 am
^ No offense, Jason, but I just can’t imagine the Bucs taking a LB (of all positions) as their first pick.
You could be right, and I have seen how excited several people are about Devin White, here on JBF.
But a LB first would really surprise me.
February 20th, 2019 at 10:29 am
Mike Mayock was no longer as accurate as he used to be anyway. Last few years, he has been as far off base as everyone else.
February 20th, 2019 at 10:58 am
If that linebacker is compared to ray Lewis and Patrick Willis.
The next Luke Keukly …then he is worth 1st pick.
The middle linebacker is the most important position on 3-4 scheme. Bowles wants that alpha to lead new team. White is that player.
Put on devin white you tube where he blitzes up the middle. He could push the limits for sacks
February 20th, 2019 at 11:02 am
Agree strongly with 813 and Kefromnc!! I’d love to get Jawaan Taylor or Chris Lindstrom. I doubt we can or would get both.
February 20th, 2019 at 11:10 am
Jonah reminds me of Jack Conklin out of Michigan State, who now plays RT for the Titans. I’d take Jonah because he has top-tier feet, is a technician, a mauler in the run-game, and if he moved to RG, he would be at a Pro Bowl-level immediately!! I can see a scenario in which we don’t take an Olineman until the 3rd rd (Tytus Howard, Conor McGovern) if we sign one in Free Agency. In that case our 1st 2 picks could be for Bowles to play with.
February 20th, 2019 at 11:15 am
Thanks for the feedback about Mayock Joe.
February 20th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Jason & Bird,
I am definitely sold, guys.
Devin White sounds intriguing as hell.
February 20th, 2019 at 11:41 am
I’ve read his comparison is Brandon Schreff OG for Redskins.
Either way he isn’t Quenton Nelson – the only OG that was a no brainer top 10 selection.
In general OL is hard to evaluate. Some here think we desperately need a new LT, new RG, and new RT.
If you listen to the Broncos – they literally need 5 new starters. For other teams its about the same. Unfortunately there just isn’t that much talent to go around. Most teams have a weak marginal starter at multiple spots on their lines at least.
Per my eye test and per most grading sites I’ve read, the Bucs were average in pass pro and very bad at run blocking. In general the run blocking under Koetter seemed poor outside of one year where he basically ran the f*ck out of the ball.
I think we need to add at least one legit starter at RG, and competition for RT assuming Smith stays. We should add at least one OL body from the top 2 rounds.
LT-Smith – avg LT
LG-Marpet – above avg / pro bowl potential
C-Jensen – above avg / pro bowl potential
RG-FA or draft pick in top 2 rounds or both
RT-FA or draft pick in top 2 rounds or both
I think OG is the most important position for an OL upgrade this year. Just dump Benecoch/Evan Smith and get 2 new guys in and let just 1 of them start and establish themselves.
We still have Alex Cappa – a relatively high investment and super raw prospect from last year at a position that supposedly takes 2-4 years to develop.
Wester/Liedke didn’t really seem to embaress when given time either. But we can’t start Benecoch at RG again lol
February 20th, 2019 at 11:41 am
^^^
His YouTube is 🔥
February 20th, 2019 at 11:58 am
I starting to warm up to LB White pick. “Of all positions” Was kinda what I was thinking too. But the Bucs have LVD and a bunch of special team guys healthy and under contract. I don’t see how they get Kwon signed when he’s firm at 10-12 million per. I love Kwon but he’s not a 10-12 M/Y guy. He maybe at some point. It sure sounds like Beckwith playing days are over. I hope not but you can’t count on any maybe or hopes.
The Bucs also need more Lbers to play Bowles system.
D. White, if the big 3 are gone is going to be the BPA at a position of need. Licht can probably get away with trading down a few spots and picking another 2nd and still get White. The Bucs can draft trench guys the rest of the entire draft.
February 20th, 2019 at 12:30 pm
It does not matter, most of the mocks I’ve seen have us taking a RB with our first pick. I don’t think that’ll happen either. But who knows?
February 20th, 2019 at 3:02 pm
You draft this kid, start him at RT, let Dotson go. Franchise Smith this year, and see if he earns a long term deal. If he does, great, that means both tackle spots will have good players.
February 20th, 2019 at 4:09 pm
Mike Mayock was a great color guy on TV broadcasts, why exactly was he taken off the air?
February 20th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Ok, so Joe… honestly man… you wrote all last year how you’d never take a Guard top 10, despite Nelson being an amazing prospect. Now, you are trying to argue that a RT may not be worth a top 10. This is laughable to me. Monsters on the OL is what this team needs. Yes, also at RT, and at G. So if there’s a top notch RT, take him 5. If there’s a top notch Guard, take him in the 2nd after that. Solidify the OL. If the weakest link is Donovan Smith playing on a franchise tag, thats a win.
February 20th, 2019 at 9:10 pm
You draft Devin White and don’t think twice. Arguably the best player in this draft. Instantly upgrades this defense in a big way (much like Derwin James would have).
February 21st, 2019 at 12:02 am
Look at Dallad fee years ago they took the best center out of Arkansas in the first round. Everyone lost It and said no one take a center in the first round it not worth it gave Dallas bad grade for that draft. He been one of the best center from the start. Even the next few years after other teams have draft center in tgebfirst round. If you can Get a dominant player at any position you do. Oakland taking a taking a kicker in the first round 17 years ago pan out for them. If it work out the GM is a Genius if it does not the GM should get fired.