If Andrew Luck is healthy all year, Hilton should be fantastic. www.colts.com
This week I wanted to take everybody through a mock draft so you can see how your team changes based on what draft selection you have. For this draft, I selected out of the No. 7 spot and I took Alvin Kamara in the first round. I did this knowing that one of the elite WRs would be there when I drafted in the second round. When I’m drafting in the middle of the 1st round, I know that one of the RBs I love will be there.
In the 2nd round I took Packers WR Devante Adams and I really love this pick. I think he has a ton of upside this year with a hopefully healthy Aaron Rodgers, and Jordy Nelson now playing for the Raiders. Many might take AJ Green over Adams, but I think Green opened a can of quit late last year, and I think that could happen again because let’s face it, he plays for the Bengals.
Round 3 is a best player available situation for me, which most likely means I’ll take either the RB or WR I like the best. I went with TY Hilton and I’m very happy with this especially after Andrew Luck looked pretty good in the first preseason game. With Luck healthy, I have Hilton at the bottom of the elite WR group. This is a PPR league, so I like him better than a RB that doesn’t catch a lot of passes like Jordan Howard.
Round 4 brings me my second RB, and I was pleased to get Kenyan Drake. I think he’ll continue to catch a lot of passes in Miami, and he was terrific after the Dolphins traded Jay Ajayi to the Eagles. I know Frank Gore may take some touches away, but I’m okay with that. Plus, I was able to draft Gore with one of my last picks, so I have that backfield locked up.
Typically, I like to wait until the 9th round to grab a QB, but with Aaron Rodgers still available in the 5th, I had to take him. Now I have a stack with Rodgers and Devante Adams, and that’s scary for anyone playing me. I am very thin at TE after taking a QB this soon, so there are some negatives when you take a QB early.
The 6th round is where I take Chris Hogan in almost every mock draft I have done this season. I love his upside with Brady, especially with Julian Edelman out the first four weeks. He was on pace to have a big year until he busted up his shoulder last season.
If Delanie Walker is available in the 7th round, take him because it’s stealing. I wasn’t able to get him in this draft, so I added depth at WR. I didn’t want to reach for a TE just because I needed one, so I waited until the bitter end to grab my TEs. I took George Kittle (Round 11) and Hayden Hurst (Round 13) in the last few rounds before my defense and kicker. Kittle fell because of the shoulder injury, and I took Hurst as insurance. I rounded out my team by gobbling up Packers RBs Jamaal Williams (Round 8), Aaron Jones (Round 12), LeGarrette Blount (Round 10), and the aforementioned Frank Gore (Round 14). I really love the Blount pick because he looks like the starter heading into the season, and this is the best Lions O-line I can remember.
Finally, I was able to get Devin Funchess (Round 7) and Marqise Lee (Round 9) to round out my receiving core and I’m totally good with that. The only thing I would change is the Devin Funchess pick. That was picked on accident with auto draft. I’m not a big fan of his, but that’s okay. It’s just a mock. I expect to be starting Adams, Hilton, and Hogan so these guys are just depth anyway.
This is my first edition of Mock my mock and I’ll be drafting at the top of a mock draft for next week’s exercise. Pick number one or two, and all my mock drafts have been on ESPN. Be sure to check out my new show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5. We’re on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we’ll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.