Shawn's Totally Homer Final Mock

[Captain Lemming]

You are probably right about Kessler but I think he is a guy who could be a solid #2 clock manager type. Now, if the Steelers wanted to take a real chance here I would love to see them try to develop Cardele Jones-QB OSU. Jones has his issues, is crazy raw. But, let me say from a measurable perspective he is the strongest QB in the draft. From day 1 he has the strongest arm in the NFL...guy can throw 60-70 yard bombs, and is near impossible to bring down. Did you see him punish Alabama running the ball? It was so funny watching him run over top guys and them not wanting to tackle him. He is a classic high risk/high reward guy. I would compare him to a mix of Cutler and Culpepper. Takes too many chances, doesn't always see the field but has enough arm to get away with throws no one else can make. He is as tough as Culpepper was to bring down. I think if you groom him for 2-3 seasons behind Ben you could have a quality NFL starter.

Should have had him in your mock Shawn.
Would have taken that shameless "homerism" to the next level!!!

BTW I too thought about Jones at about the 4th as a possible long term project to replace Ben. It kind of is a perfect fit. Raw, but learning from a QB with similar tools. Frankly, I think it is so perfect that the only thing that prevents it is if he is gone which I think is likely despite the high risk factor. Potential upside makes an early third round pick very possible in my opinion

[Shawn]

Also, if we are able to get a CB/S/DT with our top 3 picks, I think our brass would look long and hard at Cardale Jones if he's still available at 4.123. He's a longer term project, but we still have Ben for several more years and he's built like Ben, so that would be a heck of a mentor for him to learn from.

This would make me very excited.

[Slapstick]

Another good thing with drafting Apple and Bell:

If effective communication is a problem in our secondary, why not take guys who have been communicating on field already?

[RuthlessBurgher]

It's easy to make a totally home Buckeye mock draft when they have 5 guys who will likely come off the board tonight (Elliott, Bosa, Decker, Lee, and Apple) and another 8 who have a chance to come off the board tomorrow (Bell, Thomas, Miller, Perry, Vannett, Jones, Washington, and Powell).

[feltdizz]

Just move the Steelers to Columbus, OH and be done with it

[Shawn]

Should have had him in your mock Shawn.
Would have taken that shameless "homerism" to the next level!!!

(BTW I too thought about Jones at about the 4th as a possible long term project to replace Ben. It kind of is a perfect fit. Raw, but learning from a QB with similar tools).

Yes, indeed. Not sure why I bulked.

[Slapstick]

Just move the Steelers to Columbus, OH and be done with it

I was thinking more along the lines of a shuttle bus, to ferry players from Columbus directly to Pittsburgh....

[Oviedo]

I'm a Buckeyes fan, but I believe Apple is the wrong fit for our style of D. Playing in space in is not Apple's game. I bet Colbert passes if Apple is still there.

I agree and said before. He is a physical, Big 10 corner and that doesn't translate to the NFL where you can't sniff on the WRs without the risk of an interference call. Look how Gilbert has struggled in Cleveland. My fear is Apple would be the same. Get a good zone cover corner, or two, in Rounds 2-4. Get someone who can put the QB on his back in Round 1.

[Shawn]

Another good thing with drafting Apple and Bell:

If effective communication is a problem in our secondary, why not take guys who have been communicating on field already?

I think it's ideal. Two guys who have played together, who have won big games together.

[Iron City Inc.]

In my best Mel Kiper voice "Shawn Shawn Shawn how do you not get Powell in there somehow?" Tyvis would make a nice late rounder and a FS who could back up Mitchell. Don't get me wrong I think Bell is a solid safety and I could see him as either a FS or SS. I start Bell in the box and let him walk out to slot coverage where he is rock solid.
If it broke the way Shawn has laid it out I'd sign up for it all day.