The Ruthless Plan 1.0

[Steel Maniac]

Now that we know what we got in return for AB, it's about time to do a 2.0, eh?

My initial plan had us trading multiple picks in order to obtain a starting CB (Xavier Rhodes) to play opposite Haden, but we have since signed Steven Nelson to fill that role.

The signing of Donte Moncrief helps to alleviate the loss of AB somewhat, but we could still add another WR on day two of the draft, since this draft seems particularly deep at WR in rounds 2 & 3, plus we've had success adding wideouts on day two of the draft in the past.

Our biggest hole right now is at ILB, so I'm going to make a bold move to go up and get the best possible solution. Buffalo appeared to be willing to move down from #9 to #20 when we were discussing a possible AB trade, so maybe they would still be willing to drop down those 11 spots in exchange for some of our extra draft capital...they have many needs to fill, after all If Devin White is available at #9, I'd offer them both of the picks we got from Oakland in the AB trade (3.66 and 5.141) plus our 3rd round pick in 2020 as well. We could get the guy that we really need to solidify our defense as a whole and that would still leave us with 8 total picks this year (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 7).

Trade 1.20, 3.66, 5.141, and a 2020 3rd to BUF for 1.9

1.9 ILB Devin White 6'1" 240 LSU
2.52 WR Kelvin Harmon 6'3" 215 NC State
3.83 OLB Chase Winovich 6'3" 255 Michigan
4.122 TE Josh Oliver 6'5" 250 San Jose State
6.175 FS Marquis Blair 6'2" 195 Utah
6.192 RB Travis Homer 5'11" 195 Miami
6.207 OG Hjalte Froholdt 6'5" 315 Arkansas
7.219 DE Armon Watts 6'5" 298 Arkansas

I like that draft.

[RuthlessBurgher]

My Mock Draft 2.0 included the big trade up into the top 10 to get Devin White, and I recently added another trade option to my sig that including a trade-up for another 1st round pick if both TE T.J. Hockenson and ILB Devin Bush were still on the board at #20 and we were torn between whether to pick in the true BPA with Hock or to fill our biggest need on defense with Bush (I guess I should consider that to be Mock Draft 2.5).

Trade 2.52, 3.66, 3.83, & 5.141 to SEA for 1.21 & 4.124

1.20 TE T.J. Hockenson
1.21 ILB Devin Bush
4.122 OLB Christian Miller
4.124 WR David Sills
6.175 FS Marquis Blair
6.192 RB Travis Homer
6.207 OG Hjalte Froholdt
7.219 DE Armon Watts

All of my mocks so far have included trade ups, because I don't think that we use all 10 of the picks that we have at the present time. But I suppose that I should also do at least one mock that just has us using our picks as they are currently configured without any trading. In this version, I make the infuriating decision (to most on this board) use my top picks on offensive skill positions rather than defense, but then I reverse course to use the next 5 mid-round picks to load up with 3 LB's and 2 DB's, including doubling down at ILB early on day three since I did not take one during the first two days of the draft. Here goes Mock Draft 3.0 Without Any Trades...

1.20 TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
2.52 WR Kelvin Harmon, N.C. State
3.66 OLB Chase Winovich, Michigan
3.83 S Amani Hooker, Iowa
4.122 ILB David Long Jr., West Virginia
5.141 CB Isaiah Johnson, Houston
6.175 ILB Bobby Okereke, Stanford
6.192 RB Travis Homer, Miami
6.207 OG Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
7.219 DE Armon Watts, Arkansas

[steelz09]

I’m terrified of Colbert taking a cornerback/ safety in the first round.

I'm terrified of them drafting another safety.

I'm not terrified of them drafting a CB. Well, I kinda am.... I think we need a stud CB but we suck at evaluating DBs.

If only our head coach's "speciality" was the secondary. Oh wait... Nevermind.

[Steel Maniac]

If only our head coach's "speciality" was the secondary. Oh wait... Nevermind.

He should be fired alone just for misrepresenting himself on his resume. Lol

[steeler_george]

Ruth, you know I love both scenarios in getting Hockenson. ( I think TE is our biggest weakness now)

Colbert did a great job in signing free agents this year.
Moncrief should excel with Ben. He isn't AB, but he will make some big plays for us. I think our WR core is solid, above average as it is right now.
Yes, we still are a weak at ILB this year, but I feel more confident with Barron on board. Also the addition of Nelson, to solidify the outside should help out the front 7.

Ruth how do you feel about this with your plan A: if we trade up again, into the 3rd, by trading one of those 4s and a future 3rd ( or some combo) take Winovich / Hooker/ in the 3rd.

1a) Hockenson
1b) Bush
3) Winovich/Hooker
4) Boykin

Even if we leave the draft with less than 5 picks I think we are good.

[hawaiiansteel]

1a) Hockenson
1b) Bush
3) Winovich/Hooker
4) Boykin

sorry, please explain again how we would be able to draft both Hockenson and Bush in the first round?

[MeetJoeGreene]

That is an excellent ruthless plan

[steeler_george]

sorry, please explain again how we would be able to draft both Hockenson and Bush in the first round?

Aloha! Follow the thread it's Ruth's "plan A" to trade up with Seattle if Hockenson and Bush are still there at 20 and 21

[RuthlessBurgher]

That is an excellent ruthless plan

Ha ha...Thanks MJG.

I just made the adjustment replacing Kelvin Harmon with Hakeem Butler as my 2nd round WR in my current mock, and then just noticed that I'd be getting 3 of my first 4 picks from the state of Iowa now.

That's such a large investment in a major corn-producing state that I'm almost contemplating going to a car dealership later to test drive a FlexFuel vehicle that runs on ethanol fuel.

[RuthlessBurgher]

NFLDraftScout is finally back online, and I trust that site to give me somewhat reasonable expectations regarding where guys tend to come off the board. A few of the guys I had in my current sig mock I had apparently underrated by a few rounds at least (for instance, I suggested targeting CB Isaiah Johnson in round 5, but NFLDraftScout has a round 2-3 grade on him right now, and I suggested targeting RB Travis Homer in round 6, but NFLDraftScout has a round 3-4 grade on him right now). Therefore, I'm going to make an adjustment. Plus, I get to add a second David Long to my mock, which is always fun (the WVU LB and the Michigan CB with the same name). Plus, it's always fun to type Beau Benzschawel. Here's my latest mock:

1.20 TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa 6-5 251
2.52 ILB Mack Wilson, Alabama 6-1 240
3.66 OLB Chase Winovich, Michigan 6-3 256
3.83 WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa St. 6-5 227
4.122 ILB David Long, West Virginia 5-11 227
5.141 RB Miles Sanders, Penn St. 5-11 211
6.175 FS Marquis Blair, Utah 6-1 195
6.192 OG Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin 6-6 309
6.207 CB David Long, Michigan 5-11 196
7.219 DE Albert Huggins, Clemson, 6-3 305

[steeler_george]

NFLDraftScout is finally back online, and I trust that site to give me somewhat reasonable expectations regarding where guys tend to come off the board. A few of the guys I had in my current sig mock I had apparently underrated by a few rounds at least (for instance, I suggested targeting CB Isaiah Johnson in round 5, but NFLDraftScout has a round 2-3 grade on him right now, and I suggested targeting RB Travis Homer in round 6, but NFLDraftScout has a round 3-4 grade on him right now). Therefore, I'm going to make an adjustment. Plus, I get to add a second David Long to my mock, which is always fun (the WVU LB and the Michigan CB with the same name). Plus, it's always fun to type Beau Benzschawel. Here's my latest mock:

1.20 TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa 6-5 251
2.52 ILB Mack Wilson, Alabama 6-1 240
3.66 OLB Chase Winovich, Michigan 6-3 256
3.83 WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa St. 6-5 227
4.122 ILB David Long, West Virginia 5-11 227
5.141 RB Miles Sanders, Penn St. 5-11 211
6.175 FS Marquis Blair, Utah 6-1 195
6.192 OG Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin 6-6 309
6.207 CB David Long, Michigan 5-11 196
7.219 DE Albert Huggins, Clemson, 6-3 305

I am loving Hockenson there at 1.20 and 3.66Winovich, but I am sort of turned off or questioning Wilson. Not that I am an expert, but keep reading reports how he is bad tackler, and at times slow to process, ect. He doesn't sound like we would be upgrading ILB now, where as there are a few rawer players available in the later rounds ( Pratt, Tre Lemar). I am starting to think we will go for a safety in round 2, there seems to be good talent there. ( I kmow just like last year, we failed to grab an ILB so took another way to sure up our interior .)

[RuthlessBurgher]

I am loving Hockenson there at 1.20 and 3.66Winovich, but I am sort of turned off or questioning Wilson. Not that I am an expert, but keep reading reports how he is bad tackler, and at times slow to process, ect. He doesn't sound like we would be upgrading ILB now, where as there are a few rawer players available in the later rounds ( Pratt, Tre Lemar). I am starting to think we will go for a safety in round 2, there seems to be good talent there. ( I kmow just like last year, we failed to grab an ILB so took another way to sure up our interior .)

I wasn't in love with Mack Wilson when there was talk of taking him in round 1...I don't think he's enough of a difference maker for that (I think he would be overdrafted at #20). But he's solid enough in all aspects to be a value pick at a position of need if he falls down to #52. It probably won't happen...I could see him most likely coming off the board in the high-30's to mid-40's. I don't see him being a dynamic player like Shazier was, worthy of so high of a pick. I see him more in the mold of fellow Tide backer C.J. Mosley...solid at all aspects of the position without being particularly dominant at any aspect.

Pratt is interesting a former safety turned LB like Mark Barron. He could be a solid option for us in round 3. I'm looking at WVU's David Long in round 4 to play that type of role, developing under the tutelage of Barron for a few seasons while being a ST demon in the mean time.

I'm not a fan of Tre Lamar. He's strictly a 2-down LB, and we don't need any more of those types. He's more an old school LB type who could struggle in today's NFL. Too stiff for me.

There are several safeties who could be intriguing with our day two picks...Dionte Thompson, Taylor Rapp, Amani Hooker, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Johnathan Abram, Nassir Adderley, Juan Thornhill...some intriguing names for sure, and you can never have enough talented DB's.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I haven't done a full first round mock yet, so here goes.

I'll project 3 trades.

The first involves Arizona, because they'll need to unload Josh Rosen if they take Kyler Murray first overall. Multiple teams could be interested, including the Giants, Denver, Miami, Washington, etc., although those teams would likely only be willing to part with a day two pick since they all are picking somewhat early in round 1. The Cards certainly won't be able to recoup nearly what they invested to move up to get Rosen last year, but maybe they could get creative in order to get a 1st rounder back for him. New England traded away Garoppolo and don't have a young QB as an heir apparent to Brady, so they might be willing to part with the 32nd overall pick for Rosen and, say, Arizona's 3rd round pick. In this scenario, New England would no longer have a first round pick, but they could have their potential QB of the future and have two 2nd round picks and now four 3rd round picks in a draft with a great deal of quality depth in those 2 rounds.

Arizona gets: 1.32
New England gets: Josh Rosen and 3.65

The second trade involves the Giants leapfrogging the Raiders into the top 3 for QB Dwayne Haskins. Pat Mahomes backed up Alex Smith as a rookie, and Haskins and Eli could have the same type of learning relationship for one season as well. The Jets don't have a 2nd round pick after trading it last year in their move up for Darnold. The two Meadowlands teams could get together to switch spots from #6 to #3 in exchange for the Giant's 2nd and 4th round picks in this draft. The Giants get their QB of the future and still keep their other first round pick they got in the OBJ trade (maybe use that pick to get another athletic freak wideout), and the Jets recoup a 2nd round pick plus a 4th rounder and should still be able to get a top notch edge rusher at #6 overall.

Giants get: 1.3
Jets get: 1.6, 2.37, & 4.108

My last trade involves our Steelers bold move up into the top 10 for Devin White. Buffalo seemed to be willing to swap spots with us in round 1 during the AB trade talks, so maybe they'd be willing to make that move down in exchange for the two picks that we ultimately got from Oakland in the AB trade, plus another 3rd rounder in 2020 as well (since we apparently are still expected to receive a 3rd round comp for Bell next year, we can afford to trade our regular 3rd round pick in 2020 now to get a truly impactful defensive stud). Buffalo could really use help along the o-line, and if they took one at #9, it might be a slight reach, but they should still be able to land a very solid o-lineman at #20 while adding picks both this year and next to fill a few of their many needs.

Pittsburgh gets: 1.9
Buffalo gets: 1.20, 3.66, 5.141, & a 3rd rounder in 2020

On to the picks:

1. ARZ QB Kyler Murray
2. SF EDGE Nick Bosa
3. NYG QB Dwayne Haskins
4. OAK DT Quinnen Williams
5. TB EDGE Josh Allen
6. NYJ EDGE Montez Sweat
7. JAX OT Jawaan Taylor
8. DET EDGE Rashan Gary
9. PIT LB Devin White
10. DEN QB Drew Lock
11. CIN TE Noah Fant
12. GB EDGE Clelin Ferrell
13. MIA DT Ed Oliver
14. ATL DT Christian Wilkins
15. WAS QB Daniel Jones
16. CAR OT Jonah Williams
17. NYG WR D.K. Metcalf
18. MIN OT Andre Dillard
19. TEN TE T.J. Hockenson
20. BUF OT Cody Ford
21. SEA CB Greedy Williams
22. BAL LB Devin Bush
23. HOU CB Byron Murphy
24. OAK EDGE Brian Burns
25. PHI RB Josh Jacobs
26. IND CB DeAndre Baker
27. OAK WR Marquise Brown
28. LAC DT Dexter Lawrence
29. KC WR A.J. Brown
30. GB TE Irv Smith
31. LAR DT Jeffrey Simmons
32. ARZ WR N'Keal Harry

[steeler_george]

I haven't done a full first round mock yet, so here goes.

I'll project 3 trades.

The first involves Arizona, because they'll need to unload Josh Rosen if they take Kyler Murray first overall. Multiple teams could be interested, including the Giants, Denver, Miami, Washington, etc., although those teams would likely only be willing to part with a day two pick since they all are picking somewhat early in round 1. The Cards certainly won't be able to recoup nearly what they invested to move up to get Rosen last year, but maybe they could get creative in order to get a 1st rounder back for him. New England traded away Garoppolo and don't have a young QB as an heir apparent to Brady, so they might be willing to part with the 32nd overall pick for Rosen and, say, Arizona's 3rd round pick. In this scenario, New England would no longer have a first round pick, but they could have their potential QB of the future and have two 2nd round picks and now four 3rd round picks in a draft with a great deal of quality depth in those 2 rounds.

Arizona gets: 1.32
New England gets: Josh Rosen and 3.65

The second trade involves the Giants leapfrogging the Raiders into the top 3 for QB Dwayne Haskins. Pat Mahomes backed up Alex Smith as a rookie, and Haskins and Eli could have the same type of learning relationship for one season as well. The Jets don't have a 2nd round pick after trading it last year in their move up for Darnold. The two Meadowlands teams could get together to switch spots from #6 to #3 in exchange for the Giant's 2nd and 4th round picks in this draft. The Giants get their QB of the future and still keep their other first round pick they got in the OBJ trade (maybe use that pick to get another athletic freak wideout), and the Jets recoup a 2nd round pick plus a 4th rounder and should still be able to get a top notch edge rusher at #6 overall.

Giants get: 1.3
Jets get: 1.6, 2.37, & 4.108

My last trade involves our Steelers bold move up into the top 10 for Devin White. Buffalo seemed to be willing to swap spots with us in round 1 during the AB trade talks, so maybe they'd be willing to make that move down in exchange for the two picks that we ultimately got from Oakland in the AB trade, plus another 3rd rounder in 2020 as well (since we apparently are still expected to receive a 3rd round comp for Bell next year, we can afford to trade our regular 3rd round pick in 2020 now to get a truly impactful defensive stud). Buffalo could really use help along the o-line, and if they took one at #9, it might be a slight reach, but they should still be able to land a very solid o-lineman at #20 while adding picks both this year and next to fill a few of their many needs.

Pittsburgh gets: 1.9
Buffalo gets: 1.20, 3.66, 5.141, & a 3rd rounder in 2020

On to the picks:

1. ARZ QB Kyler Murray
2. SF EDGE Nick Bosa
3. NYG QB Dwayne Haskins
4. OAK DT Quinnen Williams
5. TB EDGE Josh Allen
6. NYJ EDGE Montez Sweat
7. JAX OT Jawaan Taylor
8. DET EDGE Rashan Gary
9. PIT LB Devin White
10. DEN QB Drew Lock
11. CIN TE Noah Fant
12. GB EDGE Clelin Ferrell
13. MIA DT Ed Oliver
14. ATL DT Christian Wilkins
15. WAS QB Daniel Jones
16. CAR OT Jonah Williams
17. NYG WR D.K. Metcalf
18. MIN OT Andre Dillard
19. TEN TE T.J. Hockenson
20. BUF OT Cody Ford
21. SEA CB Greedy Williams
22. BAL LB Devin Bush
23. HOU CB Byron Murphy
24. OAK EDGE Brian Burns
25. PHI RB Josh Jacobs
26. IND CB DeAndre Baker
27. OAK WR Marquise Brown
28. LAC DT Dexter Lawrence
29. KC WR A.J. Brown
30. GB TE Irv Smith
31. LAR DT Jeffrey Simmons
32. ARZ WR N'Keal Harry

IF we were able to pull that off I would go nuts, BUT seeing you mock Bush at 22 and then Burns at 24!

I think I would prefer to draft Bush and then trade up for Burns.

[hawaiiansteel]

Somewhat Realistic but I'm getting more than a 2nd round pick from the Niners - I want their 2nd and their 5th.

you'll take Oakland's 3rd and 5th and learn to like it