Mayock’s Top RB Is…
February 15th, 2017
Updates position rankings.
The NFL draft guru is hard at work this time of the year.
And yesterday, Mike Mayock of NFL Network offered up his top five players at each position in April’s NFL draft.
As Mayock sees it, the top running back in the country is one Dalvin Cook from Florida State.
Unless something truly weird happens or some folks are spooked by Cook’s fumbles, brushes with the law and shoulder issues, it’s difficult for Joe to see Cook drop to No. 19 and be available for the Bucs. Possible, not probable.
That doesn’t mean Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, who has shown in previous drafts to be a bold mover and shaker, wouldn’t trade up to grab Cook.
Hey, if Licht has the stones to trade up into the second round for a kicker…
February 15th, 2017 at 5:39 am
PLEASE let’s not trade up. If we trade into the top 10 it would cost a fortune. We need all of the draft picks we can get. Lots of holes to fill on this roster.
February 15th, 2017 at 5:47 am
Only 1 of the mock drafts I’ve seen so far (Daniel Jeremiah) has the Bucs drafting a RB (Kamara). Of course, both Fournette & Cook were gone by our #19 pick. What’s interesting is that both Bucky Brooks & Lance Zierlein had the Bucs picking DLine (Derek Barnett/Malik McDowell) at #19 … while Cook was still on the board. Several other mocks have shown the same thing. Reality IMO is that, at this point, with FA looming & the combine still ahead, nothing’s written in stone & everything is subject to change. Still, looking at Mayock’s top 5 (Cook, Fournette, McCaffrey, Kamara, Mixon) I’d love to see the Bucs draft any of the 5 of them. Not necessarily with our first pick however (still can’t see Kamara or Mixon going as 1st rnd picks, and maybe not McCaffrey either).
February 15th, 2017 at 6:01 am
Quit feeding this lolol
Zero way licht trades up for a RB, when he has so many other positions to prioritize ahead of that position.
Especially when he just gambled on Martin and it looks to of been a fumble and Koetter loves what he has in Rodgers, Sims, and even Barber. Sure they will address the position but it won’t be by wasting a first round pick on a it.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:01 am
Its no surprise Cook is the #1 RB. I just want to point something out about the trades Licht has made in the past couple drafts.
When we traded back into the 2nd round for Marpet in 2015, it was an even trade. The Colts gave up their 2nd and 4th, we gave up our 3rd and 4th. 2 for 2 so we didnt lose any picks.
When we traded back into the 2nd round for Aguyo in 2016, we traded the extra pick we got from trading back in round 1. So we still had the same amount of picks we started the day with.
You can make the case that Licht trades up to get what he wants, but you can also say he doesnt trade away extra picks and if you want to move up in round 1, you gotta trade away extra picks. That does mean something.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:19 am
I like the kid from Texas D’onta Foreman. Dude has chip on his shoulder and put up some numbers for the longhorns.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:22 am
What’s the point of getting Cook if our oline can’t open holes?I say get a WR or unless they ate truly sold on him trade up to 12th pick. Anything higher will require too much.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:25 am
I think we go with Kareem Hunt
February 15th, 2017 at 7:33 am
There are too many good RB’s in this draft class to trade up for one. Fournette and Cook might be the 2 best…and will almost certainly be gone by pick 19…but you’ve still got some great runners like Foreman, McCaffrey, Kamara, Samuel….even the kid from Toledo….it just doesn’t make sense to give away draft picks when there are so many other good choices available.
I’d say draft OJ Howard or Davis if they are there at 19, then get one of the others I mentioned above in round 2. That would give young Jameis 2 more viable weapons, and really help our offense.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:42 am
I knew that months ago, that’s why I don’t even entertain discussions of drafting Cook at 19 because he won’t be there.
February 15th, 2017 at 7:55 am
Can people really not see rb is not one of our top concerns. We need to open up the field get a receiver or Oj in the first. Add a rb later I swear y’all wanna turn us into the 2016 Rams SMH.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:03 am
“if licht had the stones” for a kicker… you mean the stupidity to move up for a kicker. There were 32 kickers in the nfl and he was the worst but the dumber aspect is of those 32 kickers only 2 earned a 2nd contract from the team that drafted them.
In week 17 for one of the few times in my life, I was pulling for the panthers only for the #14 draft spot so we could get cook. I a gator, but he is going to be great and change his teams offense like zeke and d freeman did. Just going to be too hard to get from 19 to say about 11 to draft him.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:05 am
@914.. o line not that bad and can be made really good with just one or two additions in free agency. Also, the are a pretty good run blocking line, just struggle in pass protect. Also, part of Cooks greatness is catching the ball out of the backfield.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:13 am
Historically in mock draft boards QB’s climb and RB’s fall in the draft!!!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:25 am
I’m thinking Licht learned his lesson from KickerGate. He’s a student of the game and still has things to learn, and I believe he took advantage of this and learned indeed!!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:25 am
The Falcons drafted TWO late round RB’s!!
Why would we ever spend a first round pick on a RB???
Absurd!!!
Sign RAY RICE!!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Marlon Mack.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:40 am
“Hey, if Licht has the stones to trade up into the second round for a kicker…”
…then he is clearly an idiot!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:42 am
AGAIN…..all draft picks are a crap shoot…but the odds increase dramatically in our favor in the 1st and 2nd rounds.
I do not get the rigid opinions of an RB not being worth a 1st round pick.
The ONE pick Chucky got right was Cadillac Williams. Chucky wanted some explosiveness on offense and he got it. Chucky didn’t just spend a first rounder, he spent the number FIVE pick in the draft! Offenseive rookie of the year and then Carolina blew out his knee in year two. Cadillac at sub 4.5 speed was fast like Dalvin…Chucky who coached the Senior bowl reportedly took Cadillac out early so nobody else would lust for him as much as Chucky and still spent a #5 on him.
I completely understand those here who are lusting for more DL strength…or building a real wall on the OL and wantingt hose early picks more than they want an RB….but for those of us who want an NFL RB…picking one in the first round is perfectly logical. If taking an RB in the first round was so stupid why would the REST OF THE LEAGUE be lining up for Dalvin and Fournette…or Zeke last year?
RB is like any other position. If you want the best you gotta pay for it. For those comfortable with Quizz and Barber and ??? who want more DL help…I hear you…just disagree but only mildly. I shall say this though…if we draft a freaking DE at 19 and it’s another Daquan Bowers or Adrian Slowborn…or Gaines Adams (may he RIP) I’m going to be totally disgusted.
Bottom line…I want Dalvin at the right price…but I won’t be crushed if we don’t get him…unless he’s on the board at 19 and we pass….then I’ll be beyond peoed…but if he goes earlier and Licht chooses not to spend the draft capital to move up I’m OK…Just got to get the RIGHT player or I’m even leaning towards trying for the right deal to trade down and increase our picks as long as they’re in the top three rounds. By rounds 5-7 you can almost get the same rate of success out of your UDFA’s…as in Brate!
February 15th, 2017 at 8:46 am
F#ck Ray Rice….anyone who hits a woman like that shoukd be banned for life. No room for that crap.
February 15th, 2017 at 8:48 am
No way he is there at 19….I would crap my pants
February 15th, 2017 at 9:41 am
@JoeyPoppems thats a point that I’ve made a few times now. Yes Licht is game to trade, but typically sets up the trade to where we don’t lose much, if anything.
February 15th, 2017 at 9:45 am
Smart guy that Mayock..
February 15th, 2017 at 9:50 am
I would not be heart broken if we took a running back in round one. I don’t think it would be the best option, but I’m learning to trust Jason Licht in the drafts.
And that includes his choice of a kicker last year.
Way I see it, is Aguayo is not a bust until he proves it. I gave him last year for being a rookie, because sometimes players need an adjustment period. This year? If he is still on the team (I think he will be) then I want steady improvement from week to week.
As to Round One?
Defensive End, Right Tackle or Center.
February 15th, 2017 at 9:52 am
@Stpete
“For those comfortable with Quizz and Barber and ??? who want more DL help…I hear you…just disagree but only mildly. I shall say this though…if we draft a freaking DE at 19 and it’s another Daquan Bowers or Adrian Slowborn…or Gaines Adams (may he RIP) I’m going to be totally disgusted.”
Who on here that is against Cook ever say they would rather stick with Quizz and Barber? Not taking a RB round 1 doesnt mean the position cant get upgraded. And about your comment of a potential DE bust, what hapoens if Cook ends up like Trent Richardson or Reggie Bush? I know everyone who is pro Cook like yourself and Nosbos and many others like to think he will be the greatest thing since sliced bread but no prospect is proven in the league until they actually play. NOBODY!!!!
February 15th, 2017 at 9:54 am
Chucky screwed the bucs by drafting cadillac and not aaron rodgers….cadillac is another 1st round RB that doesnt lead team to a championship…blount, james white, dion lewis, freeman and coleman….not 1 first rounder…bucs need OL…..and jason gump earns the choclates by wasting 2nd roubnd pick on K
February 15th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Cook is the best RB by a good margin in my opinion, but I highly doubt we have a shot at drafting him.
If we can trade our first and third to move up a few selections and get him I would be good with it, but there is too much 2nd round depth in this draft to give up our 2nd round selection.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:05 am
“Chucky screwed the bucs by drafting cadillac and not aaron rodgers”
Truth.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:12 am
I’m good if we do or don’t draft Dalvin at 19, but I have to agree with Bucnut2, please do not trade up.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:14 am
“brushes with the law?” He was found not guilty after it became unbelievably clear that the woman was lying about being hit by anyone (much less Dalvin, who was trying to pacify the situation).
Beyond that his only brush was the infamous BB gun fight (oh God NOOOOOOO!!!) and a fine for not sheltering his dogs (which he deserved).
This is “spooking” teams?—yeah, not buying it….
February 15th, 2017 at 10:33 am
Correct Realist.
That’s why I won’t say that it’s out of the question Cook falls.
February 15th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Bonzai… we will always disagree about Aguayo.
This time is no different.
I want to see GREAT improvement on DAY 1 not week to week at this point. He’s a kicker for ef’s sake.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:03 am
teacherman777
you might want change your handle to shortbus777 if you are going to keep bringing up Ray Rice who has not played in 3 years and flat out STUNK the two years prior so basically Rice has NOT done anything in 5 years how does that help a young playoff contender get better… If you are going to take a guy who punches girls you take the younger one with the better punch.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:07 am
Sign Latavius Murray, Dontari Poe, Tony Jefferson. Draft Corey Davis! Resign Akeem Spence, Mcdougald and VJAX (mentor/emergency). Problem solved. Murray, Rodgers and Simms would look great together
February 15th, 2017 at 11:09 am
Why would anyone pick a RB in the 1st. Thats just silly and wastful.
February 15th, 2017 at 11:59 am
We should have learned our lessons of drafting RBs in the 1st round. Ricky Bell played 60 games for us. Bo Jackson 0 games played. Warrick Dunn played 91 games. Cadillac Williams played 70 games for us. Doug Martin played 57 games for us.
February 15th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Tmax- so in other words, Mixon right?
February 15th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
You don’t draft a running back in the first round anymore. Get a WR…
February 15th, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Lunchbox
I”d take Mixon all day. What he did was wrong and indefensible that being said he does not deserve a death sentence for his mistakes. Obviously the team will read him the riot act and have contract language to protect itself but hey give me a guy with a troubled past with upside over another failed feel good story or long shot injury prone vet.
February 15th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Again, too much else to upgrade with our first round pick history says RB can be found in later rounds. Hell, what happen with the last 1st round RB we got? lol
February 15th, 2017 at 1:34 pm
The off-season is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long!
February 15th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
^^^^^DING DING DING^^^^^ Thank you God for NCAA BB! GO HEELS!
February 15th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Tmax, well said.
February 15th, 2017 at 3:04 pm
Kevin Says:
February 15th, 2017 at 8:46 am
F#ck Ray Rice….anyone who hits a woman like that shoukd be banned for life. No room for that crap.
so that means no to dalvin cook too…..that means hell no to joe mixon….#DRAFTDONTEFOREMAN!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
February 15th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
If Dalvin Cook is still on the board at #19 – then its a no brainer to draft him IMO. But he won’t be there at 19 or anywhere close to 19 so why even talk about it??
And again – for the “I wouldn’t mind trading up for him” crowd – I will once again list what it would cost us to move up as per the draft trade chart that every NFL GM uses as a guideline:
#19 pick + 4th and 7th round picks = trade up to #17
#19 pick + 3rd round pick = trade up to #15
#19 pick + 2nd round pick = trade up to # 11
Will Cook be available at #11? Maybe. My pre-combine opinion though, is that if Carolina does not take him at #8 then the Bengals will draft Cook at #9. He might even go sooner if he dazzles at the combine and pro day. My guess is that if you want Cook bad – then you probably have to get up to #7 to ensure you get him. That costs a LOT.
#19 pick + 2rd, 3rd and 4th round picks = trade up to #7
or
#19 pick + 1st round pick (2018) + 3rd-4th round pick = trade up to #7
February 15th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
WR in 1st and mixon on day 3 , TE/DE 2nd
February 15th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
I love this stuff with Dalvin.
Some fans say. Any team that drafts a RB in the first round would be an idiot.
Then other fans say Dalvin Cook will be long gone before 19.
Those 2 groups of fans need to get in a room and haggle it out.
Which is it?
February 15th, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Give me “Big Play” Marlon Mack in the 3rd or 4th.
February 15th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
He will not be there at 10, let alone 19. And the writer should know better–one brush with the law–a frame job by the girl friend of an Auburn baller.
February 15th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Exactly 87. Which is it? A waste to pick an RB in the first but two of them won’t even be available by 19?
February 16th, 2017 at 1:35 am
I doubt the bucs will spend a first round pick on a running back. Way to much depth in this years draft class. I prefer marlon Mack or Joe mixon. Bucs should go with
1st round oj Howard
2nd round Demarcus walker
3rd round joe mixion
4th round kd cannon
Sign Pierre garçon and online depth in free agency