May 24, 2013

NFL Mock Draft: Julio Jones at Sixth Overall?

April 6, 2011 by 35 Comments

It’s already being characterized as being unpredictable as ever, but the 2011 NFL Draft continues to be one of the more anticipated events of the upcoming spring. 

Whether by fans looking to see who shows up despite union wishes or others hoping their team lands a top prize, this year’s three-day event should be full of unknowns. 

Case in point, the mock draft released today by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr who has the Browns selecting a wide receiver – a position widely considered to be “of need.”  The only issue, said wide receiver (typically a high-risk position at the top end of drafts) is the second of his kind to be taken in the top six as Kiper has Tom Heckert and Mike Holmgren going with the sure-handed Julio Jones out of Alabama.

Per Kiper:

There are a lot of Browns fans probably hoping that Green falls to this spot, but if Jones is the one available, he’s an outstanding consolation prize. His size and speed combination is the best in the draft at the position, and his development as a wideout over the past year shows a determination and work ethic that will be loved by the coaching staff. The Browns need a true No. 1 at wide receiver, and if healthy, Jones can be that guy. A gifted athlete, he blocks as hard as he runs routes. Great when healthy, still really good when battling through pain.

The aforementioned Green is slated to go two selections earlier to the Cincinnati Bengals.  Many fans have claimed their appreciation for the 6-foot-2-inch Jones’ skill set, but the consensus was – at least prior to this mock – that he would be better suited being selected toward the middle of the first round.  One month prior, Kiper had Jones going 10th overall to the Washington Redskins.  His partner in crime, Todd McShay, agreed. 

This time around, McShay keeps Jones at 10 but has the Browns selecting North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn. The next WR taken after Jones in both drafts? Leonard Hankerson at 47th overall to St. Louis.

For those that are curious, both Kiper and McShay have the Browns passing on LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson who is selected one pick later by San Francisco.  McShay labeled said pick as “hitting the jackpot.”

Related Posts

Zemanta
Filed Under: Browns Tagged With: , , ,
  • BisonDeleSightings

    If Peterson is available at #6 and the Browns pass on him, I would be very disappointed. However, I do think Julio Jones will be every bit as good as AJ Green.

  • http://www.60bpm.com/ Robbie

    I wasn’t aware that “sure-handed” was a label that Julio Jones was attributed with. I could have sworn that his hands were a question. If Green and Peterson were both taken before the Browns pick and the latter was NOT the case, I wouldn’t be too upset with the pick. I do not want the Browns to take another WR that high if there’s so much as a sniff of the player having a history of drops. If they’re gonna pick a WR at #6, he should have Kellen Winslow Jr. hands.

  • stin4u

    If there is no Peterson then take Green, if there is no Green then take Jones. Outside of that if they’re all gone take the best DE available. Done and Done.

  • Connor

    Bison thankyou!

    Mel and Todd both have Peterson going to 49ers. That’s stupid, Browns office already said they will take hard look at Peterson if there. Peterson, Haden, Brown, Ward and draft Carter in 3rd would be best secondary giving Browns a better Dline with depth in rounds 2-5. I’m fine with Jones if Peterson and Green are gone, no Dline this early. Peterson is of course my favorite.

  • Harv 21

    1) will be really surprised if Browns don’t go defense in the first round, even if Green is on the board. Just doesn’t seem like a Heckert thing to do.

    2) never underestimate Mike Brown’s inclination to go “talented but troubled” in the draft. I suspect Cincy will swing for the fences and grab Cam Newton. Which would be great for the Browns.

  • TSR3000

    I get excited picturing a number of these guys in a Browns uniform. For once, I trust the front office to make the right pick.

  • Connor

    Peterson is best, would make us have best secondary, also draft Carter in 3rd.

  • Hh

    1. Peterson
    2. Hankerson

    Get another 2nd

    2. Sheard
    3. Carter
    4. Casey
    5. Romeus
    6. Green
    6. Wilson

  • mgbode

    @Harv – Maclin was a 1st round pick.

    @Bison – “If Peterson is available at #6 and the Browns pass on him, I would be very disappointed”

    I agree with that sentiment wholly.

    ——————-

    It’s looking like the 2QBs, Dareus, Von, and either Green or Peterson will be gone by our selection. Why wouldn’t we select either Green/Peterson would be beyond me. If both are gone, then we take our highest rated DE in a draft that is rich with DEs.

    Bowers knee sure is throwing a monkey wrench in things though.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    “I suspect Cincy will swing for the fences and grab Cam Newton”

    He’s first overall in both mocks.

  • mgbode

    @Scott – how hard would you laugh if they announced the following…

    “And with the 4th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the Cincinatti Bengals select Ryan Mallett”

    (to be more realistic i’m hoping he’s their 2nd round pick)

  • dwhit110

    @8 they should have Ryan Leaf out there to shake his hand instead of the commish if that happens.

  • http://twitter.com/Bbo13 B-bo

    D-line or Peterson. WR this high just scares me too much.

  • Garry Owen

    I’d like to suggest Alex Henery with the #6 pick . . .

  • Ike

    Jones is the guy I’ve thought the Browns should take all along, and I’ve never wavered. I personally believe we need a WR more than anything and Jones brings a kind of physicality to the position that would serve him well in the AFC North. It’s also a type of physicality I don’t see in AJ Green.

  • Connor

    How is taking Green a risk(B-Bo)

    I also like Henry at 6

    But it has to be Peterson.

  • Gren

    Julio Jones is exactly who I want to see the Browns pick. Otherwise, I will be just as happy, he’s just my hope. Peterson and Haden would be a dream combo yes but, it’s a role that has a #1 pick in it, let’s fill our other needs with #1′s.

  • Jonathan

    I highly doubt at this point that the Browns pass on Peterson for Jones, probably not Quinn either, this front office loves BPA and Peterson is BPA for the whole draft, let alone pick #6.

    Also, McShay and Kiper had Jones going #10 overall to the Redskins, not the Cowboys.

  • Foghorn Leghorn

    Peterson and then one of the DEs please. I dont want the receiver right now. First, MoMass and Robo are finally in their “supposed” coming-out-3rd-year so they may be better than expected. Second, we can address WR through free agency if we have to. Third, we need to build the D. We play in the AFC North- it is a MUST.

  • bobby

    As much as the browns “need” a WR, elite WRs and elite teams are very often not in the same category. Look at Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Larry Fitz. 3 of the arguably best WRs in the game. None were in the playoffs.

    If Peterson is passed it should only be for a “sure thing” on the DL. I think if a scenario arises where Dareus is available then they take him. If not its Peterson. If they are both gone, then I would say Bowers or Quinn.

  • Scotty

    @mgbode – Well where is Andrew Luck supposed to get drafted? Maybe they could take him.

  • Ike

    @Bobby: You’re always going to find bad teams with good WRs; it’s also worth noting that Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald both had a revolving door at the respective QB positions. Also keep in mind that the Green Bay Packers had, without question, the best WR corps in the NFL last year.

  • bobby

    @Ike- Sure they may be the best all round, but is that a product of a great QB? Peyton Manning has made no name players into fantasy studs. I think a great QB makes the WRs better. Having a good OC doesnt hurt, and the WCO definitely helps also. Not saying we dont need a WR, but I dont know if we need one that high.

  • abaker177

    Remember last season when Joe Haden was a “reach” and should’ve gone in the middle of the first round? In Holmgren (and Heckert) we trust.

  • JNeids

    How many more mock drafts before Kiper and McShay have covered every possible outcome of the actual draft, and can then claim to have correctly predicted every pick in one of their mocks?

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    @Jonathan – thank you. corrected.

    @mgbode, scotty – Luck should be their pick; will depend on his pro day, I hear.

  • MattyFos

    @bobby-
    Driver and Jennings are studs at WR. As long as they are playing with a QB who can get the ball to them they will make catches and YAC.
    Jermichael Finley (injured) is a stud at TE. He is an athletic freak and will be a great TE if he can stay healthy.

    GB receiving corp 10x > Indianapolis receiving corp.

  • Harv 21

    @Scott: “He’s first overall in both mocks.”

    Vas is das “both”? Aren’t there hundreds of mocks? Usually the #1 pick is the one universally known in advance but I don’t check until just before the end of Silly Season and mildly surprised it’s supposed to be Newton given his bust potential.

  • bobby

    I am not blown away by GB WRs. Looking at the top 40 in stats, Greg Jennings is the only Pack on the list (Yards, TDs, Rec, targets… anything big I missed?). Looking at fantasy numbers (which basically ranks stats for WR) there is no other Packer in the to 40 WRs. James Jones (rank 47, points 90) had more points then Donald Driver (74 points). To be fair, the Colts had Reggie Wayne at 9 with 162 and Garcon at 31 with 109. Austin Collie has better stats to Driver and he was hurt half the season!

    Now, everyone listed above is still better then what the browns did. But all that shows a QB is more important then WR. Cincy had 2 of the best WRs in TO and ocho and look at them. I am not saying I dont like Green, but dang lets look at the numbers before saying Green or Jones over anyone else. This pick needs to be a home run like Haden was. If we are going to get out of the basement its gotta be a sure thing. I would say Peterson is a sure thing. I would bet Dareus is a sure thing. Can you say the same to Green or Jones? No.

  • eldaveablo

    I just don’t understand why people would consider Jones at #6. He has a history of dropped balls and missing games sue to injury.

    I don’t care how good his combine numbers are. And what good is being “tough” if you miss games due to injury?

    Way too much of a bust factor. Go D-Line, Peterson, or Green.

  • mgbode

    BUT JONES CAN BLOCK!!!

    (I agree with you)

  • http://waitingfornextyear.com BAJ22

    Julio Jones scouting report – listed below – says the following:

    “One minor red flag is a propensity for dropped passes”

    That is a big red flag in my book. IMHO you can’t be a top 10 pick in the NFL with average hands in college.

    http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2744

  • mgbode

    @BAJ22 – tell that to Braylon Edwards :)

    to be fair, Julio didn’t seem to drop as many passes last season. he is still not someone I want to draft.

  • saggy

    Peterson.

  • Dave

    Avoid Julio Jones like the plague! If Peterson falls take him, if not take a DE not named Quinn. Jones was inconsistent with his pass catching, which was the same knock Braylon Edwards had coming out of college. Let’s not repeat that story again.