As many of you know, every year, The NFL Network gets NFL players opinions as they assemble the top 100 players in the NFL. For fun, I decided to put together the top 100 NFL players in my opinion.

100. AJ Bouye CB Jacksonville Jaguars- Bouye is a player that burst on the scene last year for the Texans and for that was rewarded a big contract by the Jaguars (Surprise, Jaguars spending big money in free agency). He was better then the 100th best player in the NFL, but because he hasn’t done it for more then one year, he ranks 100th for now.

99. Demaryius Thomas WR Denver Broncos- He had a down year, mostly because of his QB play, but he is still a higher level player. 1,083 yards and 5 touchdowns are pretty solid numbers and he is still an electrifying player.

98. Kirk Cousins QB Washington Redskins- A player most think would be higher on this list. Yes, Kirk puts up huge numbers. But their is a catch. He has so many weapons and the offense he is in allows him to put up big numbers. I think he is a good starting quarterback, but to say he is elite is a huge stretch.

97. Jordan Hicks LB Philadelphia Eagles- A young linebacker, Hicks has been a stud ever since he became an Eagle out of Texas. He has tremendous range and can cover really well for a linebacker, showing he is a crucial part of the eagles defense for years to come.

96. Anthony Barr LB Vikings- A highly touted EDGE rusher out of UCLA, Barr has lived up to the hype. He has been a key on the Vikings D, as a guy who is very versatile, being able to cover and Rush the passer. He is another young piece on a very good defense.

95. Cameron Jordan DE Saints- Despite the saints defense being horrible, they still have a couple good players, the main one being Cameron Jordan. He is a guy who gets 12 sacks a year while also playing really well against the run. Overall, he is a very good player despite being on a horrible defense.

94. Taylor Lewan LT Tennessee Titans- Just a great athletic tackle who has a mean streak. He has been Mariota’s blindside, doing a great job at it, allowing only one sack. He also plays to the whistle and threw the whistle, making him a great player.

93. Cameron Wake EDGE Miami Dolphins- Old reliable, despite coming off a torn achilles and being 35, he still had 10+ sacks and still had that explosiveness off the edge he had in 2010.

92. Melvin Gordon RB LA Chargers- When he was a rookie, he struggled to get on the field. He struggled in Pass Pro, Fumbles, and catching out of the backfield. But cleaning those things up his sophomore year, he was a touchdown machine and explosive as hell, becoming one of the best young running backs.

91. Jordan Howard RB Chicago Bears- A breakout rookie, the 5th round pick was the only part of the bears that was a positive. He had 1,313 yards and 6 touchdowns while also being a workhorse. Great player.

49ers: I give their draft an A-. When you get two of my top 3 players in the draft, in Reuben Foster and Solomon Thomas, while also stealing picks from the bears, you must being doing something right. John Lynch may be a first year GM but he sure looked like he knew what he was doing.

 

Seahawks. I did not love their draft, as I gave them a C-. I like Malik McDowells potential and fit with the seahawks. But outside of that, they got 6 day 2 picks and basically wasted all of them on developmental guys, when they really needed difference makers as they have fallen off a little bit.

 

Rams: I give them a B+. I automatically love their draft because they got one of my draft crushes Cooper Kupp. Great hands, good route runner, and surpringly explosive after the catch. He and Jared Goff will become BFFS. Add in Gerald Everett and they did a good job at adding talent and helping the kid.

 

Cardinals: I absoultely loved their draft I give them an A. Adding a top 10 talent like Haason Reddick is exactly what there defense needed. Adding a play maker and a draft crush in Budda Baker who is just a really great football player. Then getting a 10 year starter in the 4th in Dorian Johnson to be their guard, overall they addressed needs and still went BPA.

 

Lions: I give them a B. I loved their first round pick in Jarrad Davis. He is one of my favorites, as he is a heck of an athlete and is a great leader. After that though, it was a bunch of eh. Really don’t like teez tabor, and the other notable pick of their draft was Brad Kaaya in the 6th.

Packers: I give them a B+. I really liked their draft. They just got a bunch of good players. Kevin King, Josh Jones, Montravius Adams, Vince Biegal, and Jamaal Williams all are solid picks and you take a step back and look at the entirety of the draft and I really liked it.

Bears: I gave them a D. Let me explain that I liked the Cohen and Shaheen picks. But Trubisky was my 45th player and he was taken 2nd. This reminds me of the Blake Bortles scenario last year. They also have up large amounts of picks to move up one spot with the 49ers, who weren’t taking a QB, so overall it was just a dumb draft.

Vikings: I give them a B. They had a solid draft. Love the pick of Dalvin Cook, one of my favorite players. Then they get Pat Elflein in the 2nd to secure the interior offensive line. Then in the 6th round, they get a steal and project with 6’7 athlete Bucky Hodges who fell due to his rawness.

NFC EAST

Giants: I give them a B. Their draft was okay. They got a lot of solid players, but no stars. Evan Engram is good, but a reach. Dalvin Tomlinson was solid, and they had good value in Davis Webb and Wayne Gallman but nothing special.

Eagles: I give them a B as well. Derek Barnett, an undersized un athletic productive pass rusher who probably won’t due much in the NFL while passing on Jonathan Allen, OJ Howard, and Malik Hooker. After that stacked up on Wide receiver and Cornerback with guys like Mack Hollins and Sidney Jones IV.

Cowboys: I give then an A-. They had a very good draft all around. They got Taco Charlton in the first, Chidobe Awuzie in the second, and Jourdan Lewis in the third, all top 50 players. Throw in Ryan Switzer, Xavier Woods, and Noah Brown and they had themselves a great draft.

Redskins: I give them an A. Jonathan Allen fell to them in the first, a top 5 player, then his teammate, a underrated pass rusher named Ryan Anderson. Then they picked up Fabien Moreau and Semaje Perine. Just a really good draft overall.

NFL MOCK DRAFT

1. Browns: Myles Garrett EDGE Texas A&M
2. 49ers: Jamal Adams S LSU
3. Bears: Solomon Thomas DE Stanford
4. Jaguars: Leonard Fornette RB LSU
5. Titans: Marshon Lattimore CB Ohio State
6. Jets: OJ Howard TE Alabama
7. Chargers: Malik Hooker S Ohio State
8. Panthers: Christian McCaffery RB Stanford
9. Bengals: Jonathan Allen DE Alabama
10. Bills: Deshaun Watson QB Clemson
11. Saints: Reuben Foster LB Alabama
12. Mitch Trubisky QB UNC
13. Cardinals: Pat Mahomes QB Texas Tech
14. Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama
15. Colts: Haason Reddick LB Temple
16. Ravens: Mike Williams WR Clemson
17. Redskins: Dalvin Cook RB FSU
18. Titans: Corey Davis WR Western Michigan
19. Bucs: Forrest Lamp G Western Kentucky
20. Broncos: Garrett Bolles OT Utah
21. Lions: Taco Charlton EDGE Michigan
22. Dolphins: Cam Robinson OT Alabama
23. Giants: David Njoku TE Miami
24. Raiders: Jarrad Davis LB Florida
25. Texans: Quincy Wilson CB Florida
26. Seahawks: Ryan Ramczyk OT Wisconsin
27. Chiefs: Tre’Davious White CB LSU
28. Cowboys: Kevin King CB Washington
29. Packers: Charles Harris EDGE Missouri
30. Steelers: Deshone Kiser QB Notre Dame
31. Falcons: Derek Barnett EDGE Tennessee
32. Saints: Tyus Bowser EDGE Houston

Positional Top 5

QB

1. Deshaun Watson
2. Mitch Trubisky
3. Deshone Kiser
4. Nathan Peterman
5. Pat Mahomes

 

RB

1. Leonard Fornette
2. Christian McCaffery
3. Joe Mixon
4. Dalvin Cook
5. Alvin Kamara

WR

1. Corey Davis
2. Cooper Kupp
3. Mike Williams
4. John Ross
5. Carlos Henderson

TE

1. David Njoku
2. OJ Howard
3. Evan Engram
4. Jordan Leggett
5. Bucky Hodges

OT

1. Cam Robinson
2. Garrett Bolles
3. Ryan Ramczyk
4. Taylor Moton
5. Antonio Garcia

G/C

1. Forrest Lamp
2. Dion Dawkins
3. Dan Feeney
4. Ethan Pocic
5. Pat Elflein

DL

1. Jonathan Allen
2. Malik McDowell
3. Demarcus Walker
4. Dalvin Tomlinson
5. Chris Wormley

EDGE

1. Myles Garrett
2. Solomon Thomas
3. Tak McKinley
4. Tyus Bowser
5. TJ Watt

LB

1. Reuben Foster
2. Haason Reddick
3. Jarrad Davis
4. Raekwon McMillan
5. Zach Cunningham

CB

1. Quincy Wilson
2. Marshon Lattimore
3. Sidney Jones
4. Gareon Conley
5. Jourdan Lewis

S

1. Malik Hooker
2. Jamal Adams
3. Budda Baker
4. Jabrill Peppers
5. Obi Melifonwu

OVERALL BIG BOARD IN LINK BELOW

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sLTOxrr6OftIP_IXlgQSkFAVWTncPK5wT0zytXPIhjg/edit#gid=0

 

1. Browns: Myles Garrett EDGE Texas A&M- Don’t overthink this one Cleveland. Reports came out on a split between Garrett and Trubisky. Please, just don’t. Garrett is a relentless pass rusher with a ridiculous first step. Strong, big, competitive. Don’t make the same mistake.
2. 49ers: Solomon Thomas DL- Love me some Solomon Thomas. He plays with a mean streak and is dominant against the run. He is the first guy off the ball every time and is a very strong dude, who also has the athletic upside. Reminds me of a bigger, more versatile Aaron Donald. With the mess of a roster that the 49ers have, just take best player available because they aren’t competing anyway.
3. Bears: Jamal Adams S- Bears need leaders and secondary help. They get both in Jamal Adams. He is great against the run, solid against the pass and is a great leader. He can step in immediately and be a game changer and a culture changer.
4. Jaguars: Leonard Fornette RB- Jaguars do not have a lot of holes, considering they usually just fill them in free agency. So go out and get an offensive game changer who can take pressure off the incompetent Blake Bortles.
5. Titans: Marshon Lattimore CB- The titans did sign Logan Ryan, but he isn’t a number one corner and they just released veteran starter Jason McCourtey. So yeah, they need a corner. Marshon Lattimore has size, length, speed, and ball skills. Just needs to keep those hamstrings healthy.
6. Jets: Mitch Trubisky QB- Reach, but its the jets and their QB’s are Christian Hackenburg and Bryce Petty. I’m not a Trubisky guy. He has the size, athleticism, arm strength, and accuracy but he has little experience, he doesn’t have the “it” factor and doesn’t have the leadership or mental makeup of a Watson that is required.
7. Chargers: Malik Hooker S: This guy is the best guy at doing one thing best. No one strength is better then Hooker’s instincts and ball skills. His range is ridiculous. Just need to work on tackling.
8. Panthers: Jonathan Allen DL- Panthers tend to take the best player available. Allen is just that. He has ferocious hands, great technique, and always just seems to be around the ball. Exceptionally smart player who will be a great player.
9. Bengals: Reuben Foster LB- Top 3 player in draft. Will slip a little bit because of position and Off field but on field he is a high motor hard hitter who has the athleticism to range from sideline to sideline.  Steal if bengals get him.
10. Bills: Corey Davis WR- Bills need someone opposite of Watkins. Corey Davis is exceptional after the catch, is advanced route runner, and has the size and hands. Complete package.
11. Saints: Gareon Conley CB- The other Ohio State corner will also being going off the board pretty early. He has the size length and speed and is a pretty solid in every box. Huge potential.
12. Browns: OJ Howard TE- Great player, underused at Alabama. Can block, has soft hands, great athlete, strong guy, and has great abilities after the catch. Also tour it up at the combine and senior bowl and played best in National Championship games.
13. Cardinals: Pat Mahomes QB- Reach of the draft. He is a guy who has great traits. Size, incredible, mind blowing arm strength, athleticism for days. But he has serious flaws. Decision Making, Lack of field vision, he hold onto the ball way to long, his mechanics are horrible which lead to inconsistent accuracy. Project with potential not worth first round pick.
14. Eagles: Christian McCaffery RB- Perfect fit for the eagles. Great quickness, vision, versatility, receiving skills, and return skills. Just a good football player who would be a security blanket for Wentz and a reliable running back.
15. Colts: Dalvin Cook RB- He is falling but thinks he surprises and goes early anyway. Incredible quickness, speed, vision, receiving skills. Has off field issues and fumbling issues. But he is a stud nevertheless.
16. Ravens: Mike Williams WR- Unbelievable catch radius and athleticism. Speed is questionable but he is just good at football. Would give Joe Flacco a number one receiver he needs.
17. Redskins: Haasan Reddick: Biggest riser in the draft. Can play linebacker with his athleticism but also flashes pass rush ability. Would give redskins a versatile piece on defense.
18. Titans: John Ross WR- Titans, blessed with another first round pick, will fill the other of their two needs. Wide receiver from Washington ran a 4.22 40 time but also has the hands and route running to be great.
19. Buccaneers: Forrest Lamp G- continue to protect the future in famous Jameis. Lamp will slide right into that oline as they look to make a playoff push. Love the fit.
20. Broncos: Garrett Bolles T- Broncos NEED a tackle and at this point Bolles is not a big reach. He is a little undersized but is an incredible athlete for his size and would be a tremendous pick.
21. Lions: Taco Charlton EDGE- Lions are desperate for an EDGE rusher opposite Anzah, so why not take the in-state player that reminds many of Anzah. He has all the tools, Size, length, and athleticism along with a nasty spin move. Would be a nice piece on defense.
22. Dolphins: David Njoku TE- Oh, what a steal this would be. Highest upside for a tight end in this draft. He is an athletic monster who is electrifying after the catch, giving Tannehill another weapon and Gase a guy he can build his offense around.
23. Giants: Ryan Ramczyk T- Not a big fan of his but he is pretty good at everything. The giants are desperate for a reliable tackle, the opposite of what Ereck Flowers has been so far in his young career.
24. Raiders: Alvin Kamara RB- Skittles or no Skittles, he is not a long term answer. Give them a playmaker from Tennessee with electrifying speed that shows in his YAC ability and his receiving ability.
25. Texans: Deshaun Watson QB- Biggest name in the draft, and my number one QB, has a lot to offer but some big flaws. He’s a winner, a leader, strong arm, athlete, poised, and clutch. But has struggles with accuracy, specifically deep ball, field vision, and ball security. Would be perfect QB for texans.
26. Seahawks: Kevin King CB- Kid from washington, he has the length, height, and speed that scouts drool over. His tape isn’t first round worthy, but corners stocks are made at the combine.
27. Chiefs: Marlon Humphrey CB- Since Mahomes is gone, getting a corner opposite Marcus Peters could be a smart move. Humphrey has size, length, speed and toughness you love but his ball skills when the ball is in the air really concerns me.
28. Cowboys: Quincy Wilson CB- A run of Corners here, I hate to do it but giving Wilson, my number one corner in the draft, to the Cowboys hurts but would be a great pick. Love everything about his game, would give Cowboys the corner he needs.
29. Packers: Charles Harris EDGE: Running backs and corners worthy being gone, pass rusher will be the pick here. Harris is a freak athlete with a nice motor but needs to get stronger. Great pick though.
30. Steelers: Deshone Kiser QB- Need a QB for the future. Don’t love Kiser and think he is falling, but scoop Kiser up at the end of the first round and get that fifth year on him.
31. Falcons: Derek Barnett EDGE: Need pass rush help even with Beasley. Barnett, a productive college player could be a nice pass rusher opposite Vic Beasley.
32. Saints: Jarrad Davis LB: Love this guy. Good athlete, productive guy, IQ and leadership off the charts. Would give the saints another young piece on their defense.

ROUND 2

33. Browns: Budda Baker S Washington

34. 49ers: Tak McKinkey EDGE UCLA

35. Jaguars: Chidobe Awuzie CB Colorado

36. Bears: Tre’Davious White CB LSU

37. Rams: Cooper Kupp WR Eastern Washington

38. Chargers: Davis Webb QB Cal

39. Jets: Cam Robinson OT Bama

40. Panthers: Adoree Jackson CB USC

41. Bengals: Jabrill Peppers S Michigan

42. Saints: Joe Mixon RB Oklahoma

43. Bills: Evan Engram TE Ole Miss

44. Cardinals: Zach Cunningham LB Vandy

45. Colts: Condrea Tankersly CB Clemson

46. Ravens: TJ Watt EDGE Wisconsin

47. Vikings: Dan Feeney G Indiana

48. Redskins: Malik Mcdowell DL Mich State

49. Bucs: Donta’ Foreman RB Texas

50. Broncos: Jordan Willis EDGE Kansas State

51. Browns: Roderick Johnson OT FSU

52. Lions: Zay Jones  WR East Carolina

53. Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan LB OSU

54. Giants: Caleb Brantley DL Florida

55. Raiders: Montravius Adams DL Auburn

56. Texans: Marcus Williams S Utah

57. Seahawks: Dion Dawkins G Temple

58. Chiefs: Fabien Moreau CB UCLA

59. Cowboys: Marcus Maye S Florida

60. Obi Melifonwu S UCONN

61. Steelers: Derek Rivers EDGE Youngstown State

62. Falcons: Dalvin Tomlinson DL Alabama

63. Panthers: Carlos Henderson WR Louisiana tech
ROUND 3

 

64. Browns: Sidney Jones CB Washington

65. 49ers: Nathan Peterman QB Pitt

66. Bears: Justin Evans S Texas A&M

67. Jaguars: Josh Jones S NC State

68. Rams: Taylor Moton OT Western Michigan

69. Jets: Ryan Anderson EDGE BAMA

70. Chargers: Chris Godwin WR Penn State

71. Patriots: Tim Williams EDGE BAMA

72. Bengals: Tyus Bowser EDGE Houston

73. Ravens: Cameron Sutton CB Tennessee

74. Bills: Tarell Basham EDGE Ohio

75. Saints: Adam Shaheen TE Ashland

76. Cardinals: Juju Smith-Schuster WR USC

77. Ravens: Kareem Hunt RB Toledo

78. Vikings: Curtis Samuel RB/WR OSU

79. Colts: Joe Mathis EDGE WASH

80. Redskins: Desmond King S Iowa

81. Broncos: Wayne Gallman RB Clemson

82.Titans: Gerald Everett TE South Alabama

83. Buccaneers: Tedric Thompson S Colorado

84. Lions: Corn Elder CB Miami

85. Vikings: Marlon Mack RB South Florida

86. Giants: Bucky Hodges TE Virginia Tech

87. Raiders: Anthony Walker LB North western

88.Texans: Pat Elflein G OSU

89. Seahawks: Antonio Garcia T Troy

90. Chiefs: Alex Anzalone LB Florida

91. Cowboys: Jake Butt TE Michigan

92. Packers: Dorian Johnson G Pitt

93. Steelers: Jordan Leggett TE Clemson

94. Falcons: Rasual Douglas CB West Virginia

95. Patriots: Ryan Switzer WR UNC

96. Dolphins: Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan

97. Panthers: Isaiah Ford WR Virginia tech

98. Eagles:Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado

99. Titans: Demarcus Walker EDGE FSU

100. Broncos: Larry Ogunjobi DL Charlotte 

101. Seahawks: Josh Reynolds WR Texas A&M

102. Saints: Joshua Dobbs QB Tennessee

103. Chiefs: Elijah Lee LB KState

104. Steelers: Teez Tabor CB Florida

105. Seahawks: Ethan Pocic C LSU

106. Jets: Dede Westbrook WR Oklahoma

1. Corey Davis WR Western Michigan: a wide receiver from western Michigan is the number one receiver? Yes he is. This is a guy that has a minimal amount of weaknesses. He has the size, speed and route running. He is electric after the catch and has soft natural hands. He also has the catch radius so his QB can miss and still complete the pass. Some weaknesses or things to be nervous about is the competition he faced and his strength. He tends to get pressed at the line and needs to get stronger. Overall, he is a complete receiver who will start from day one.

grade: 89   Round 1

2. Cooper kupp WR Eastern Washington: I am officially the captain of the Cooper kupp bandwagon. This guy is just so good.  He has very good size. He has good play speed and is pretty quick for his size. He has unbelievable hands. He never drops the ball. Like ever. He is also explosive after the catch. If you don’t believe me watch his game vs Oregon. He was unbelieveable. He is also a very reliable route runner and has an understanding for the entire route tree. He is also one of the most productive wide receivers in college football history. There are pretty big concerns though. Even though he plays fast, he ran a 4.6 at the combine. He also did not face the competition consistently throughout his career. Outside of that he is pretty clean. He is also one of the toughest players in the draft, fighting through injuries and not missing games. This guy is a stud.

Grade:88     Round 1

3. Mike Williams WR Clemson: The most well known receiver in the draft. There are some things I REALLY like abou Williams as a prospect. One is his size. He is a big dude legit size. He also has an unbelievable catch radius. He has the ability to make catches that make you rewind and look to see if your eyes saw correctly. He also is very good after the catch and has good speed for his big frame. His toughness and work ethic are positives. He came back from a neck injury that was life threatening and came back better as ever. But he has his concerns. First is his route running and ability to separate. He is an okay route runner, but he doesn’t get much separation. The reason he makes so many hard questions is because he never gets wide open. He isn’t the fastest guy or the quickest, and he has consistent concentration drops. The injury history and little injuries he constantly had, causes me to pause a bit. He can make incredible plays but he has holes in his game.

Grade: 87  round 1

4. John Ross WR Washington: Guy is a burner. He is a once in a generation type of Burner. Don’t believe me? He broke the record for 40 time at 4.22 while hurt. But he isn’t just fast in shorts and a tshirt, that speed translates. He makes fast guys look like they are stuck in the mud. He is equally as quick as fast. Guy is shifty. He also is a very good route runner and has the ability the separate. He has good hands but his lack of a catch radius limits him. His ability to come back from two torn ACL’s and still has the ability to run like that shows his toughness. But he has issues as do most prospects. First is his catch radius. Unless the pass is accurate, he isn’t a guy to go up and get it. He also lacks size. He has smaller height and is razor thin. He is a take the top off the defense finess player. He also has shown a lack of ability of separate at times and has some concentration drops. His injury history is the biggest issues. This guy seems to get hurt all the time and has torn his ACL twice. Overall we all know what he is. A Burner who has the ability to take the top off the defense at any play.

Grade: 86    Round 1

5. Carlos Henderson WR Louisiana tech: another guy who I really like. He has three things that remind me of Antonio brown. The first is his quickness. This guy is cat quick. He has soft reliable hands. But this guy is the best in the draft after the catch. He can make 6 guys miss easily. He is so fast and quick, just get the ball in his hands and let him fly. He has an underrated catch radius for his size. He is also a solid route runner and offers return ability. But he has some question marks. His size is a big issue. Like Ross, he  is undersized but is also very skinny. Who knows how he will hold up or if injuries will be a concern. Despite his quickness, his size makes it difficult for him to separate. He also has a smaller sample size and didn’t play high level competition.

Grade: 86    Round 2

6. Zay jones WR East Carolina: Highlu productive guy. Had the most catches in FBS history. He has things about his game I really love. First is his hands. Very reliable and rarely drops it. He is a savvy  route runner, knows how to get open. He also has long arms so he has a very big catch radius, allowing error for the QB and Still completing the pass. He being the leader for catches ever shows great intangibles and his work ethic is great. He also ran a 4.46 at the combine. He has some major concerns for me. Even though he ran a 4.46 he lacks burst and speed. It jumps at you immediately. He has a really difficult time with seperating from opponents. He is also not explosive after the catch, again showing is lack of explosiveness and speed.

Grade: 85    Round 2

7. Juju smith schuster WR USC: Guy had huge hype and had a down year. But he has potential to be really good. He has great size. He has natural hands and the length that helps him have a very wide catch radius. He is also explosive after the catch once the ball is in his hands. But his lack of speed and quickness, his lack of polish in the run game, his lack of seperation and lack of production scream boom or bust prospect.

Grade:84    Round 2

8. Dede Westbrook WR Oklahoma: he had a very productive career, heisman finalist worthy. He has GREAT hands and a GREAT catch radius. He also has great speed and quickness. He also is a very crisp route runner. But for all the strength he has, weaknesses come. He is injury prone, he has off the field issues, his size and strength are an issue, and he isn’t explosive after the catch despite his great speed.

Grade: 82      Round 2

9. Isaiah ford WR VTECH: this is a hard one because he doesn’t really have any strengths or weaknesses. He is just a pretty good player. He has solid size pretty good speed he’s a good route runner he has pretty good hands but has some drops. His catch radius and route running are his strengths. He needs to add strength, improve run after the catch, his speed is average and needs to be better, and his seperation has to improve.

Grade: 80       Round 3

At first, when you read this it doesn’t right. How can adding a top 5 player in the NBA for Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut be a mistake? Ill tell you why.  When adding Kevin Durant it seemed like a no brainer. But it took away the shots and chemistry and swagger and depth from a 73 win team that was one shot away from being back to back champs. They breezed through the regular season thus far. But then Durant got hurt, raising a lot of concerns. Steph was struggling and the warriors were losing their grasp on the number one seed…

But then they got it back. Steph has been the Steph we have grown to love over the years. Draymond and Klay are playing their best ball of the year and their bench players are finally getting shots and playing well. They are having fun again. Seeing how well they are playing, 9 straight wins by the way, brings up the question that fans asked before the year. Was it a mistake and why did they dismantle a 73 win team and add chemistry issues and a lack of depth. If they don’t win the title this year, I believe the Warriors would have made a mistake. If they win, none of this matters. But it’s just my eye, but their is a confidence and swagger that they have without Durant because they seem to all get involved and don’t have a question of whose the alphadog….

 

Should Cavs Fans be panicking?

Not panicking, but they should definitely be concerned. The concern is the lack of effort on  the defensive end. It feels like the Cavs are on cruise control until the playoffs, but their laziness might cost them a one seed and even more. They are assuming they can just turn on a switch and just play at a playoff level. But if they don’t snap out of their funk, they could be the first lebron led team since 2010 to not make the finals.

1.   1) Kansas vs 16) NC Central/UC Davis: Guards win in March. No one has better Guards then Kansas. National player of the year to be Frank Mason, Outside shooter Devonte Graham and top 5 pick Josh Jackson makes this team scary good. Good luck to whoever wins the play in game. Rock Chalk.
2. 2) Louisville vs 15) Jacksonville State: Not saying the upset is happening, but be aware. Jacksonville state (which is in Alabama not Florida) got hot and won their tourney. When teams do that, upsets tend to happen. Plus I’m not a louisville guy. Love their defense and length, but their offense becomes stagnant at times and they don’t have a true go to guy.
3. 3) Oregon vs 14) Iona: This game will be Iona. Iona plays an Outscore the opponent approach instead of playing defense. Oregon is more skilled, more disciplined, and more talented. Look for Iona to keep it close for a half and then Oregon pull away.
4.  4) Purdue vs 13) Vermont: Was thinking about an upset. But then it hit me. Purdue has two seven footers including Swanigan, an NBA first round pick. Vermont’s tallest starter is 6’8. Give me Purdue.
5. 5) Iowa State vs 12) Nevada: Nevada is the best 12 seed. They have two NBA Players. Too bad they have to play a red hot Iowa State team who is basically Nevada on steroids. Nevada might win but have to go with the cyclones here.
6. 6) Creighton vs 11) Rhode Island: Creighton was an elite eight caliber team until their heart and soul, Mo Watson went down with a torn ACL. Now they are a shell of the team they were. Rhode Island, on the other hand, is trending upward. Rhode Island will win and win with ease.
7. 7) Michigan vs 10) Oklahoma State: This was the hardest game for me to pick. Michigan is red hot. But I have been on Oklahoma State all year and just have a gut feeling about them. Both these teams can score with anyone. Both have stud point guards. At the end of the day, Michigan is coming off 4 games in 4 days and might be tired. Gut feeling here, Oklahoma State in a shootout.
8. 8) Miami vs 9) Michigan State: Hard to go against Tom Izzo, especially in March, but I have to pick Miami. They guard you man. Their guards are in your grill and will give Michigan State’s young guards fits. Miami in a defensive struggle.

ROUND OF 32

1. 1) Kansas vs 8) Miami: Miami is a tough matchup for Kansas. They are great defensively and have great guards. But I trust Frank Mason over whoever is on the Miami roster. Kansas cruises to the sweet 16.
2. 2) Louisville vs 10) Oklahoma State: Louisville is kind of the worst possible matchup for Oklahoma State. Ok State plays smaller and are full of shooters, while Louisville shuts down offenses and has length for days. Give me Louisville in a close game where they pull away late.
3. 3) Oregon vs 11) Rhode Island: I think the fatigue will set in against Oregon. They had to play extra games and give their all just to make the tourney. They got by Creighton, but Oregon is to skilled and good defensively and Dillion Brooks would give them fits. Oregon Advances.
4. 4)Purdue vs 5) Iowa state: Swanigan would give Iowa State nightmares, but what’s even more scary is potential mismatches. Plus, who is going to guard Monte Morris? Iowa State advances

SWEET 16

1. 1) Kansas vs 5) Iowa State: Split the season series, and Iowa State has given them troubles all year. Burton and Morris were unstoppable against them when they won at phog. But I keep going back to one thing. Guards win in March. It’s close, but Frank Mason beats out Morris. KU wins a squeaker and goes off to the Elite eight.
2. 2) Louisville vs 3) Oregon: This one is tough. If Boucher didn’t get hurt, this would be Oregon and I wouldn’t think twice. But the length and size would bother them. On the other hand, in March, I favor teams that have that go-to-guy. Donovan Mitchell is a great player don’t get me wrong, but he isn’t a guy you give the ball too and say “go get a bucket.” Oregon has that guy. Dillion Brooks is that guy. Oregon Advances.

ELITE EIGHT

1. 1) Kansas vs 3) Oregon: Great game between two greats teams. Mason. Brooks. Jackson. So many great players in this scenerio. But the thing is Kansas has a lottery pick. Oregon does not. When it is that close, small factors like that play a deciding factor. Kansas advances to the final four.

KANSAS

1. Villanova vs 16.  MT.ST.Marys/N.Orleans: This is not the year to pick against a 1 seed. Honestly, I can’t picture a year where a 1-seed falls to a 16 seed. It has never happened and probably never will. Plus, this nova team is veteran led and has a bunch of college stars. Experience, Skill, and toughness will have them blowing by to the second round.
2. Duke vs 15. Troy: Even though Duke is a two seed, they have a Michigan State type of feel from last year. Even though they are the two seed, they are the prohibited favorite. They just won the ACC tournament after beating Lousiville, UNC, and Notre Dame. With Kennard, Allen, and Tatum all playing their best at the right time, look for Duke to Swarm Troy.
3. Baylor vs 14 New Mexico St: The aggies of New mexico St could really give Baylor a fight. I’m not a big Baylor believer, as they have lost 5 of their last 7 and seemed to peak in November. When that happens, I get nervous. Not going to pick the upset but watch out for it.
4. Florida vs 13 East Tennessee st: Another upset that is very possible but I’m not going to pick it. I like Florida, even though they lost their shot blocker, because they are very balanced. Picking Florida, hesitantly.
5. Virginia vs UNC Wilmington: UPSET!!! UNC Wilmington pushed Duke to the end last year and are playing a Virginia team that I 1) Don’t trust because of late season struggles and 2) Play slow while UNC Wilmington are athletes who push the ball. Take UNC Wilmington.
6. SMU vs 11) USC/Providence: SMU has been criminally underrated and has won 16 straight games. Teams do not want to play them. Whoever wins the play in game, they will roll through them.
7. South Carolina vs 10) Marquette: Talk about opposites playing clashing. South Carolina is a defensive minded team that likes to grind out games while Marquette is a three point heavy, not much defensive type of game. Have a feeling about Marquette and have pretty much no confidence in SC.
8. Wisconsin vs 9) Virginia Tech: What a first round matchup. Wisconsin is a team, even through the struggles, that was criminally under-seeded. Virginia Tech has been tough all year and can shoot their way into and out of games. Experience and Post Magician Ethan Happ, along with clutch Guard Bronson Koenig will have Wisconsin grind out a close one.

ROUND OF 32

1. Villanova vs 8) Wisconsin: Tough Matchup for the defending champs. Nova has experience and great guard play, but a lack of depth and size is where they can be vulnerable. Ethan Happ would have a field day, but the experience and Josh hart would will their way past a dangerous Wisconsin team.
2. Duke vs 10) Marquette: Marquette has the shooting to stay with Duke for a half, but when it comes down the athletes and skill, Duke blows them out of the water. While Marquette can score, but how are they going to even remotely contain Tatum or Kennard. Duke wins by 10+
3. Baylor vs 6) SMU: A very good season for Baylor comes to an end. SMU has been consistent all year on offense and defense. Semi Ojeleye is a stud, and they play both offense and defense and have been trending up while Baylor has been trending down. Baylor also has weaker guard play and are careless with the ball. SMU Advances.
4. Florida vs 12 UNC Wilmington: This is my thing with upsets. After the first weekend, unless you were syracuse or Gonzaga last year where you are a big brand name who has played legit teams all year, they seem to lose after the first game. Give me Florida

SWEET 16

1. Villanova vs 4) Florida: Not a big Florida guy and it feels like they are getting here by default. It ends here, as Nova is on a whole other level in terms of offensive ability and they will simply outscore Florida.
2. Duke vs 6) SMU: SMU has had a spectacular year, considering they only have 7 scholarship players. But Duke has 7 MCDONALDS PLAYERS. Kennard will be a mismatch nightmare and win a close one.

ELITE EIGHT

1. Villanova vs 2) Duke: This one is really tough for me. It is the toughest choice in college basketball now. Do you go with the really good college team with experience and skill or the more talented athletic team. I have to lean towards the talent. Duke has a higher ceiling, and with how well Tatum and Kennard are playing, it seems like they are impossible to stop and will barely edge the reigning champs and represent the east in the Final Four

DUKE