If Facebook fan groups controlled their team’s draft night war rooms, who would they pick?
Every time I post a mock draft in an NFL team’s Facebook group, it gets blasted and, well, “mocked.”
So, I wanted to see what a draft would look like if the team’s Facebook fan groups were drafting for their team. Each day, I held a poll in the groups of every team picking inside the top-10 and whichever player had the most votes was their pick.
#1. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The “Arizona Cardinals Zone” group was given the option to vote for Nick Bosa, Kyler Murray, Quinnen Williams, or another player. Bosa won with 48 votes.
Bosa has been projected as the top defensive prospect in a defensive-heavy draft. He has shown the ability to play against the run and is even more impressive against the pass. He has a wide range of pass rush maneuvers with the ability to win with his speed or his power. Despite that, a concern surrounding his game is that Bosa is coming off a core muscle injury that had him miss most of the 2018-19 season with Ohio State.
#2. San Fransisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
The “49ers FANS FOR LIFE” fan group was given the option to vote for Quinnen Williams, Josh Allen, Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, or other. Williams won with 53 votes.
Williams is the top interior defensive lineman in the draft. He is super quick off the ball with the ability to shoot the gaps while opposing offensive lineman are still trying to get in his set. He has an extensive skill set that spans from his pass rush to his counter abilities. The downside for Williams is his experience. Over at Alabama, he was only a starter for a year-and-a-half.
#3. New York Jets: Josh Allen, DE, Kentucky
The “NY JETS FAN CLUB” fan group was given the option to vote for Josh Allen, Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, Brian Burns, or other. Josh Allen won with 51 votes.
Allen provides a superior burst off the ball along with a great bend and great length that provides an exciting foundation to become a high impact player. He was a three-year starter at Kentucky who was always able to produce. He blew up his senior season with 17 sacks.
#4. Oakland Raiders: Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
The “Oakland Raiders Nation Fans” group was given the option to vote for Brian Burns, Kyler Murray, D.K. Metcalf, or Rashan Gary. Gary won with 36 votes.
Gary is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft this year. He has shown glimpses of pure domination in games. He can play any position along the defensive line but he needs to be able to keep his motor running throughout every game.
#5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, LB, LSU
The “Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fans” fan group was given the option to vote for Devin White, Brian Burns, Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, or other. White won with 173 votes.
White is the top linebacker in this year’s draft. He has great speed and can play sideline to sideline. He plays extremely well against the pass in the zone or in man coverage. Along with that, he can fill in the gaps to effectively stop the run. He is a little undersized for a middle linebacker but his tape shows he plays bigger than his size.
#6. New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The “New York Giants Zone” fan group was given the option to vote for Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Ed Oliver, Montez Sweat, Jawaan Taylor, or other. Haskins won with 50 votes.
Haskins is one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft. He has a build that makes him able to stand tall in the pocket and wait that extra second to make a play. He has a strong arm and can make all the throws needed to give a franchise the best chance to win. Over at Ohio State, Haskins did have some accuracy concerns on intermediate routes over the middle.
#7. Jacksonville Jaguars: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
The “True Jaguars Fans Zone” fan group was given the option to vote for Kyler Murray, Montez Sweat, Jawaan Taylor, T.J. Hockenson, or other. Hockenson won with 63 votes.
Hockenson is the top-rated tight end in the draft. He is a complete player at the tight end position and has extremely efficient hands. In addition to that, he is also an excellent blocker. In his pass routes, he is able to position himself in windows over the middle and can run right past safeties. If anything, Hockenson does need to work on building muscle mass, but he has an athletic frame.
#8 Detroit Lions: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
The “Detriot Lions Fan HQ” fan group was given the option to vote for D.K. Metcalf, Noah Fant, Jawaan Taylor, Montez Sweat, and Ed Oliver. Sweat won with 39 votes.
Sweat is a player many people can project into a high-end pass rusher. He has excellent size, speed, and length. Sweat is a player that has repeatedly grown his stock by going to the Senior Bowl and exceeding expectations in his drills at the combine. He needs to play with a higher motor and improve his strength.
#9. Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
The “BUFFALO BILLS FANS ONLY” fan group was given the option to vote for Ed Oliver, Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, Noah Fant, and Brian Burns. Oliver won with 220 votes.
Oliver’s athletic ability is beyond rare, but his ability to add and maintain mass could be critical for his future success. Although he creates early advantages, he must prevent NFL size from swallowing him. His lack of size and length creates challenges for not only his ability at the next level but his overall draft stock.
#10. Denver Broncos: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
The “Denver Broncos” fan group was given the option to vote for Kyler Murray, Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, Noah Fant, or Brian Burns. Murray won with 231 votes.
Murray is like a complex burgundy as he has the ability to stand in the pocket or make throws on the run. He shows above average accuracy and touch on his passes. He’ll need to prove he can recognize an opposing defense’s disguised coverage and that he can work on-time from the pocket.
