January 19, 2018
On Thursday this week, the original "draftnik," ESPN's Mel Kiper, published his first mock draft of the offseason. I can say with a high level of certainty that it will be very, very wrong. Mock drafts are what they are – a good way to learn a little something about the top prospects who will be selected in or around the first round of the draft. If you're looking for accuracy, forget it.
This isn't to goof on Kiper – OK, maybe a tiny bit – but as we did last year, let's take a look at who your team would have drafted if Kiper were 100 percent accurate on his mock drafts since 2010:
Kiper: LB Navorro Bowman, OT Gabe Carimi, LB Luke Kuechly, CB Dee Milliner, WR Kelvin Benjamin, CB Marcus Peters, DT Robert Nkemdiche, CB Quincy Wilson.
Actual: DE Brandon Graham, OG Danny Watkins, DT Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, OLB Marcus Smith, WR Nelson Agholor, QB Carson Wentz, DE Derek Barnett.
Kiper: OT Bruce Campbell, CB Prince Amukamara, OG David DeCastro, OG Jonathan Cooper, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, DT Jordan Phillips, DT DeForest Buckner, CB Sidney Jones.
Actual: WR Dez Bryant, OT Tyron Smith, CB Morris Claiborne, C Travis Frederick, OG Zack Martin, DB Byron Jones, RB Ezekiel Elliott, DE Taco Charlton.
Kiper: QB Sam Bradford, QB Cam Newton, CB Morris Claiborne, DE Randy Gregory, CB Mackensie Alexander, S Malik Hooker.
Actual: OT Trent Williams, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, QB Robert Griffin III, OG Brandon Scherff, WR Josh Doctson, DT Jonathan Allen.
Kiper: DE Carlos Dunlap, C Mike Pouncey, OT Zebrie Sanders, DE Sam Montgomery, LB C.J. Mosley, OG Brandon Scherff, LB Myles Jack, OT Ryan Ramczyk.
Actual: DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Prince Amukamara, RB David Wilson, OT Justin Pugh, WR Odell Beckham, OT Ereck Flowers, CB Eli Apple, TE Evan Engram.
Kiper: CB Aaron Williams, WR Michael Floyd, TE Tyler Eifert, DT Timmy Jernigan, S Landon Collins, LB Reggie Ragland, DT Jonathan Allen.
Actual: OT Gabe Carimi, DE Shea McClellin, OG Kyle Long, CB Kyle Fuller, WR Kevin White, DE Leonard Floyd, QB Mitchell Trubisky.
Kiper: DT Gerald McCoy, DE Akeem Ayers, LB Zach Brown, LB Jarvis Jones, CB Justin Gilbert, DT Malcom Brown, DT Jarran Reed, OLB Tim Williams.
Actual: DT Ndamukong Suh, RB Jahvid Best, DT Nick Fairley, OT Riley Reiff, DE Ezekiel Ansah, TE, Eric Ebron, OG Laken Tomlinson, OT Taylor Decker, LB Jarrad Davis.
Kiper: S Taylor Mays, DT Christian Ballard, LB Whitney Mercilus, TE Zach Ertz, S Calvin Pryor, DT Eddie Goldman, DT Austin Johnson, RB Christian McCaffrey.
Actual: OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Derek Sherrod, LB Nick Perry, DE Datone Jones, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Damarious Randall, DT Kenny Clark.
Kiper: CB Patrick Robinson, OT Nate Solder, OT Matt Kalil, WR Terrance Williams, QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR DeVante Parker, WR Josh Doctson.
Actual: QB Christian Ponder, OT Matt Kalil, S Harrison Smith, DT Sharrif Floyd, CB Xavier Rhodes, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, OLB Anthony Barr, QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB Trae Waynes, WR Laquon Treadwell.
Kiper: S Eric Berry, LB Ryan Kerrigan, RB Trent Richardson, LB Alec Ogletree, LB Khalil Mack, QB Jameis Winston, CB Vernon Hargreaves, DE Taco Charlton, Buccaneers.
Actual: DT Gerald McCoy, DE Adrian Clayborn, S Mark Barron, RB Doug Martin, WR Mike Evans, QB Jameis Winston, CB Vernon Hargreaves, TE O.J. Howard.
Kiper: LB Sergio Kindle, WR Torrey Smith, DE Margus Hunt, LB Anthony Barr, DE Dante Fowler Jr, DE Kevin Dodd, DE Derek Barnett.
Actual: LB Sean Weatherspoon, WR Julio Jones, CB Desmond Trufant, OT Jake Matthews, DE Vic Beasley, S Keanu Neal, DE Takkarist McKinley.
Kiper: DT Nick Fairley, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, DT Sheldon Richardson, WR Brandin Cooks, OT Andrus Peat, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, RB Leonard Fournette.
Actual: QB Cam Newton, LB Luke Kuechly, DT Star Lotulelei, WR Kelvin Benjamin, LB Shaq Thompson, DT Vernon Butler, RB Christian McCaffrey.
Kiper: DT Jared Odrick, LB Justin Houston, DT Johnathan Hankins, OT Antonio Richardson, DE Vic Beasley, DT A'Shawn Robinson, LB Reuben Foster.
Actual: CB Patrick Robinson, DE Cameron Jordan, RB Mark Ingram, S Kenny Vaccaro, WR Brandin Cooks, OT Andrus Peat, LB Stephone Anthony, DT Sheldon Rankins, CB Marshon Lattimore, OT Ryan Ramczyk.
Kiper: OT Trent Williams, S Earl Thomas, DE Robert Quinn, WR Alshon Jeffery, DT Sharrif Floyd, WR Odell Beckham Jr, WR Kevin White, WR Laquon Treadwell, QB Mitchell Trubisky.
Actual: OT Anthony Davis, OG Mike Iupati, LB Aldon Smith, WR A.J. Jenkins, S Eric Reid, S Jimmie Ward, DE Arik Armstead, DE DeForest Buckner, DE Solomon Thomas, LB Reuben Foster.
Kiper: DT Dan Williams, QB Blaine Gabbert, OT Jonathan Martin, OG Chance Warmack, OG Zack Martin, RB Melvin Gordon, OLB Leonard Floyd, CB Teez Tabor.
Actual: DT Dan Williams, CB Patrick Peterson, WR Michael Floyd, OG Jonathan Cooper, LB Deone Bucannon, OT D.J. Humphries, DT Robert Nkemdiche, LB Haason Reddick.
Kiper: DT Ndamukong Suh, WR Julio Jones, WR Justin Blackmon, S Kenny Vaccaro, OT DJ Fluker, OT Jake Matthews, WR Mike Evans, OG TJ Clemmings, QB Paxton Lynch.
Actual: QB Sam Bradford, DE Robert Quinn, DT Michael Brockers, WR Tavon Austin, OT Greg Robinson, DT Aaron Donald, RB Todd Gurley, QB Jared Goff.
Kiper: DE Derrick Morgan, RB C.J. Spiller, QB Ryan Mallett, RB Melvin Ingram, DT John Jenkins, WR Allen Robinson, WR Devin Smith, CB Eli Apple, CB Cordrea Tankersley.
Actual: OT Russell Okung, OG James Carpenter, DE Bruce Irvin, OG Germain Ifedi.
Kiper: QB Jimmy Clausen, DT Marcell Dareus, LB Courtney Upshaw, LB Manti Te'o, OT Greg Robinson, DT Jonathan Allen, QB Deshaun Watson.
Actual: RB C.J. Spiller, DT Marcell Dareus, CB Stephon Gilmore, QB E.J. Manuel, WR Sammy Watkins, DE Shaq Lawson, CB Tre'Davious White.
Kiper: LB Rolando McClain, RB Mark Ingram, OT Riley Reiff, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, OT Cyrus Kouandjio, LB Shaq Thompson, DE Shaq Lawson, LB Jarrad Davis.
Actual: DE Jared Odrick, C Mike Pouncey, QB Ryan Tannehill, DE Dion Jordan, OT Ja'Wuan James, WR DeVante Parker, OT Laremy Tunsil, DE Charles Harris.
Kiper: WR Golden Tate, DT Muhammad Wilkerson, S Mark Barron, LB Barkevious Mingo, WR Marqise Lee, OLB Shane Ray, LB Jaylon Smith, CB Marshon Lattimore.
Actual: CB Kyle Wilson, DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Quinton Coples, CB Dee Milliner, DE Sheldon Richardson, S Calvin Pryor, DE Leonard Williams, LB Darron Lee, S Jamal Adams.
Kiper: LB Ricky Sapp, DE J.J. Watt, RB Mikel LeShoure, DT Michael Brockers, DE Andre Branch, WR DeAndre Hopkins, TE Jace Amaro, OG A.J. Cann, vacated pick (caught cheating), TE O.J. Howard.
Actual: S Devin McCourty, OT Nate Solder, DT Dominique Easley, DT Malcom Brown, vacated pick (caught cheating, again).
Kiper: TE Aaron Hernandez, DE Da'Quon Bowers, CB Alfonzo Dennard, RB Lamar Miller, RB Montee Ball, CB Darqueze Dennard, DE Bud Dupree, WR Will Fuller, DE Solomon Thomas.
Actual: TE Jermaine Gresham, WR A.J. Green, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, TE Tyler Eifert, CB Darqueze Dennard, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, CB William Jackson, WR John Ross.
Kiper: CB Joe Haden, WR A.J. Green, QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright, DE Bjoern Werner, QB Blake Bortles, RB Carlos Hyde, DT Danny Shelton, OT Ereck Flowers, QB Jared Goff, DE Myles Garrett, RB Dalvin Cook.
Actual: CB Joe Haden, DT Phillip Taylor, RB Trent Richardson, QB Brandon Weeden, OLB Barkevious Mingo, CB Justin Gilbert, QB Johnny Manziel, DT Danny Shelton, OT Cameron Erving, WR Corey Coleman, DE Myles Garrett, S Jabrill Peppers, TE David Njoku.
Kiper: TE Jermaine Gresham, CB Brandon Harris, LB Vontaze Burfict, LB Kevin Minter, TE Eric Ebron, WR Devin Funchess, OT Ronnie Stanley, S Jabrill Peppers.
Actual: CB Jimmy Smith, S Matt Elam, LB C.J. Mosley, WR Brashad Perriman, OT Ronnie Stanley, CB Marlon Humphrey.
Kiper: OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Tyron Smith, DT Dontari Poe, DE Ezekiel Ansah, DT Louis Nix III, CB Kevin Johnson, CB Kendall Fuller, OLB Charles Harris.
Actual: C Maurkice Pouncey, DE Cameron Heyward, OG David DeCastro, OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Ryan Shazier, OLB Bud Dupree, CB Artie Burns, OLB T.J. Watt.
Kiper: DE Brandon Graham, OT Anthony Castonzo, QB Andrew Luck, OT Menelik Watson, WR Jaelen Strong, OT Taylor Decker, OLB Takkarist McKinley.
Actual: DE Jerry Hughes, OT Anthony Castonzo, QB Andrew Luck, DE Bjoern Werner, WR Phillip Dorsett, C Ryan Kelly, S Malik Hooker.
Kiper: DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Adrian Clayborn, DE Quinton Coples, DE Damontre Moore, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DT Leonard Williams, CB Jalen Ramsey, S Jamal Adams.
Actual: DT Tyson Alualu, QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Justin Blackmon, OT Luke Joeckel, QB Blake Bortles, LB Dante Fowler, CB Jalen Ramsey, RB Leonard Fournette.
Kiper: DT Brian Price, OLB Aldon Smith, WR Mohamed Sanu, WR Keenan Allen, QB Johnny Manziel, CB Trae Waynes, QB Carson Wentz, S Budda Baker.
Actual: CB Kareem Jackson, DE J.J. Watt, LB Whitney Mercilus, WR DeAndre Hopkins, DE Jadeveon Clowney, CB Kevin Johnson, WR Will Fuller, QB Deshaun Watson.
Kiper: DE Everson Griffen, LB Von Miller, LB Nick Perry, DE Dion Jordan, OT Taylor Lewan, QB Marcus Mariota, DE Joey Bosa, WR Mike Williams, CB Marlon Humphrey.
Actual: DE Derrick Morgan, QB Jake Locker, WR Kendall Wright, OG Chance Warmack, OT Taylor Lewan, QB Marcus Mariota, Jack Conklin, WR Corey Davis, CB Adoree Jackson.
Kiper: WR Dez Bryant, CB Patrick Peterson, DT Fletcher Cox, CB Xavier Rhodes, DE Scott Crichton, LB Benardrick McKinney, RB Ezekiel Elliott, OT Garrett Bolles.
Actual: WR Demaryius Thomas, QB Tim Tebow, OLB Von Miller, DT Sylvester Williams, CB Bradley Roby, DE Shane Ray, QB Paxton Lynch, OT Garrett Bolles.
Kiper: RB Jonathan Dwyer, DE Cameron Jordan, OT Cordy Glenn, OT Eric Fisher, CB Bradley Roby, DE Arik Armstead, OT Laremy Tunsil, OT Cam Robinson.
Actual: RB Ryan Mathews, DE Corey Liuget, LB Melvin Ingram, OT D.J. Fluker, CB Jason Verrett, RB Melvin Gordon, DE Joey Bosa, WR Mike Williams.
Kiper: OT Russell Okung, DT Stephen Paea, DT Devon Still, OT Luke Joeckel, DE Stephen Tuitt, Dorial Green-Beckham, DT Kenny Clark, WR Corey Davis.
Actual: S Eric Berry, WR Jonathan Baldwin, NT Dontari Poe, OT Eric Fisher, DE Dee Ford, CB Marcus Peters, QB Patrick Mahomes.
Kiper: OT Anthony Davis, DT Star Lotulelei, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Amari Cooper, OT Jack Conklin, DT Malik McDowell.
Actual: LB Rolando McClain, CB D.J. Hayden , OLB Khalil Mack, WR Amari Cooper, S Karl Joseph, CB Gareon Conley.
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