It's time to talk about the the latest buzz for the Purple and get into the flow of mock draft SZN!
While pre-combine steam is about as valuable as it is tangible the Wolverine has become a fashionable name to associate with the Purple at pick 11. Much of the conversations that followed has focused on him taking a similar path to the field as Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers & Jordan Love, to name a few. There's precisely zero wrong with that if the results can be even at second-half-of-this-past-season J. Love level.
For him to not be the starter early in his first season would also require the addition of a veteran signal-caller. Commonly that has been Kirk Cousins via an extension of two or three years. If the team goes that way then I'll grudgingly get on board but it would take away a significant amount of the advantage that comes from having a rookie quarterback.
Alternatively, I would rather them do a two-year deal with someone closer to the veteran minimum who could operate K.O.'s offense until McCarthy proved he is ready to step in.
He wouldn't sell jersey's or get the Lakes Country excited but I think Andy Dalton could capable serve as the Alex Smith to J.J.. That would take a trade with Carolina which does muddy the waters but if he was willing to take a one-year extension to his current deal it would be worth exploring. Even if he wasn't interested in that it would still be looking into.
The other very-veteran option that could do well in the role is more en vogue following his renaissance in Cleveland - Joe Flacco. Even with what he showed for the Dog Pound he may be able to be had for less than the Red Rifle.
Point is, it doesn't have to be Kirk Cousins or bust in concert with the selection of J.J. McCarthy for the quarterback position in 2024.
But there is another aspect to the possibility that hasn't gotten enough mention - McCarthy got some of the best coaching there is since his first day in Ann Arbor. Yes, Harbaugh's tenure was marred by scandal but that doesn't mean he failed to impart the utmost to the snap-taker in preparation for his ascension to the highest level. Because of the offense that was run by Michigan we don't know if McCarthy has the ability to execute in a pass-first offense like K.O.'s but there is little doubt that he is not the most prepared to make the leap of all the quarterbacks in this draft class.
And the upcoming workouts may provide the answer to that behemoth question.
But what about the whole of the draft?
Here comes the mockery
In the first mock draft the team received three offers for the 11th pick.
Detroit came in with 29, 61, 73 and Philly's fourth in 2025
Tampa wanted it and 228 for 26, 57 & 2025's first
and LA-R offered 19, 52 & it's third next April.
Maybe Kwesi would be able to spin some gold from any of those but with eight of the first 10 selections being tabbed as offensive I opted to forego trading this time. UCLA edge Laiatu Latu & DT Jer'Zhan Newton (Illinois) were the top-rated defenders, with McCarthy right after them. It's tantalizing to think what Flores could do with a top-flight talent added to his scheme but free agency may well provide the infusion of talent that he deserves so I opted to follow the steam and select the national champion.
At 42 Philly offered 50 and a third next year while it was the 54th and a three from Cleveland. With DTs Byron Murphy (Texas) & Leonard Taylor (Miami) on the board, as well as Minnesota Safety Tyler Nubin there was the chance to get a second first-round-caliber player so moving down was again avoided. Whichever one Flores thinks could work better is the one I would go with but without that insight I opted for the chance at a perfect Hurricane.
At 109 Cincy came in with a swap of 109 & 228 for 116 & 175. A couple counters to include future selections by Team Burrow were rejected before accepting the trade.
The top of the draft board at 116 had three cornerbacks who may be able to bolster the defense - Johnny Dixon (Penn. St.), Khyree Jackson (Oregon) & Cam Hart (Notre Dame) along with LB Jaylan Ford (Texas). The dividing point was the dearth of options for the middle of the defense.
While none of the corners slid to 130 in their stead was Florida State TE Jaheim Bell who could help fill the void of the Norseman as he recovers from his late-season injury.
156 brought options for competition to Lewis Cine and Alexander Mattison as well as another J. Jefferson from LSU, DT Jordan Jefferson. It's anti-analytical but just because he sounds like a classic Bond villain I went with Malik Mustapha, S (Wake Forest).
The offensive line has finally become decently stable but instead of just rolling the dice that that will remain the case next season I looked for the best possible addition when 166 came up. In this iteration that was Miami guard Javion Cohen.
With two picks remaining Indianapolis came through with 193 & 213 for 175. I unsuccessfully tried to squeeze a 2025 into the package before opting to accept.
With the 179th it came down to Ohio State's Tommy Eichenberg (LB) and Clemson's Xavier Thomas (Edge) before settling on the Buckeye.
As a possible next Ivan Pace, Colorado State edge Mohamed Kamara was identified for the 193rd.
The defense-heavy drafted concluded at 213 with one more addition for Flores, Willie Drew CB (Virginia State).
It's just a first run through the process but would provide options for the present and future of the organization as they continue to reform from the Spielman era.