My third and final mock draft is revealed. There are several changes from my first two mock drafts so without further ado, he is my final mock draft. 1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC: The Browns dipped their toes in the water with Josh Allen but they take the safest quarterback in this draft in Darnold. 2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: Giants GM Dave Gettleman…
2018 NFL Draft: Team Needs Entering the Draft
As teams enter this weekend’s draft, they target specific players based on need. Not all teams target players based on need. Some teams, particularly in the first round will take the best player. Here are each team’s needs as we head into this weekend’s draft. NFC NFC East Dallas Cowboys CB, WR, OT, DT, DE New York Giants RB, OL, CB, WR, QB Philadelphia Eagles CB, TE, S, DT, OL…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Gronk Is Playing in 2018. Kisses and Makes Up with the Patriots
Rob Gronkowski announced on his Instagram account today that he will play in 2018. Gronkowski’s agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed that the all pro tight end is returning to the Patriots next season. Gronkowski’s announcement ends two months of speculation as to whether or not he was going to play next season. Gronkowski was non-committal and even seemed to mock the Patriots over the weekend at a promotional press conference. Something…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Predicting the Patriots Draft Picks
The Patriots have eight picks in this weekend’s draft. They own picks 23 and 31 in the first round. Picks 43 and 63 in the second round. Pick 95 in the third round. Picks 198 and 210 in the sixth round and pick 219 in the seventh round. The Patriots do not have picks in the fourth or fifth rounds unless they trade into those rounds. *This Patriots mock draft…
2018 NFL Draft: Scouting The Quarterbacks
The quarterbacks in this draft has been a source of discussion for the past two years. Teams that need quarterbacks have been looking to this draft with anticipation since 2016. Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson have been evaluated and dissected. Talent evaluators across the board have different opinions on all of them. They all have strengths but they also have their fair share of…
2018 NFL Draft: Scouting the Running Backs
The running back position is stacked in this draft. It has been the deepest this position has been in over ten years. Saquon Barkley heads the group. He is the best running back to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson in 2007. Barkley is a better prospect than Ezekiel Elliott was in 2015. I know it is hard to believe considering how good Elliott had been but Barkley is a…
Patriots Pulse Blog: Gronk’s Latest Act Is a Bad Look for the Patriots
Rob Gronkowski met with the media on Saturday in a motocross promotional press conference. Gronkowski was dressed as a motor cross driver and as usual he was goofy and starving for attention. Gronkowski was asked if he is planning on playing next season to which he responded “Uhh, maybe.” When asked what he would say to fans who are wondering if he is going to play next season, Gronkowski said…
2018 NFL Draft: Scouting the Wide Receivers
The wide receiver position is usually a position of strength in the draft. 25 receivers have gone in the first round since 2012. Six were drafted in 2015 alone. It would be shocking if more than two receivers were drafted in the first round of this draft. Here are top twenty receivers and some thoughts on the position. XNOJOE’s Top 20 Receivers 1. Calvin Ridley, Alabama, 6-1 190 2. Courtland…
2018 NFL Draft: Scouting the Tight Ends
The tight end position has evolved in the last ten years. Tight ends are no longer big, vertical targets that strictly line up next to the offensive tackle and run block first. Tight ends are athletes now. They are mixed and matched within personnel groupings and line up as split ends or in the slot. Tight ends are used to generate match ups now. The 2018 class has a handful…
Patriots Pulse Blog: The Patriots Cannot Give Up the Farm for Josh Rosen
The Patriots are rumored to be interested in UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. By all accounts the interest on the Patriots part is genuine. There is only one problem. Rosen is expected to be drafted within the first five picks. If the Patriots want to draft Rosen, they would have to jump into the top five. The Giants, Browns and Broncos would all be willing trade partners if the return was…