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This draft will be more fascinating than most, especially after the first 7-8 picks. There are tons of guys who could go anywhere from like 10-35, so every mock will be more wrong than usual. I'm sure this will be no exception. I'm including some light trading. The Titans make good on their desire to move back up, the Browns continue to move down and hoard picks.

For the second year in a row, I will be looking into possible selections using a draft strategy I refer to as "mob drafting." This is not meant as an actual projection of picks, but as an analysis of a recent trend in drafting that I believe is being used by many teams in the NFL, yet has been largely been ignored. Many believe draft strategy is a choice between addressing areas of weakness or taking the best player available. With a mob draft pick, teams intentionally draft players at an area of strength. In this age of rookie contracts, salary caps, and constant injuries, it is increasingly difficult to stay elite at something (rushing the passer, maintaining a great secondary, etc) both within a season and from year to year. Mob drafting looks at a team's "needs" in a different way than just adding to an area of weakness. It provides teams with injury security, flexibility, affordability, and contract leverage. By solidifying an area of strength (think the Jets D-line or the Cowboys O-line in recent years), teams hope that one positional unit's immense talent and depth can help lift the rest of the team. Examples of this type of drafting from recent years are abundant - Leonard Williams, Bud Dupree, Cam Erving, Zack Martin, Aaron Donald, and Dee Ford just to name a few. Considering the success of the strategy thus far, one has to think it will become more and more prevalent. This mock imagines a "mob draft" pick for each team and discusses why it could help. 2nd half of the draft will be posted at a later date.

My pre-draft edits - probably my last. I'll relent on mocking Parker in the top half of the draft, but not without some controversy to it. Trying to keep things interesting. Todd Gurley to the Bears? It's not as crazy as it sounds. A run on skill players early, including the 2 RB's, followed by a run on CB's later on. Some unexpected trades, which are really the only ones that ever happen. Not as much love for the edge rushers as everyone expects.

This is not meant as an actual mock, but as an analysis of a recent trend in drafting and free agency that has largely been ignored. I call it "mobbing" a position, a term I use for when teams intentionally draft or sign players for an area of strength, as opposed to addressing an area of weakness or taking the best player available. The goals of mob drafting are flexibility, injury security, continuity via rookie contracts, and the hope that one positional unit's immense talent and depth can help lift the rest of the team. Examples from last year are abundant - Zack Martin, Aaron Donald, Brandon Cooks, Dee Ford, just to name a few. Considering the success of the strategy thus far, one has to think it will be more prevalent this year. This mock imagines a "mob draft" pick for each team and discusses why it could help. I'm not focusing as much on the player as I am the positions to be addressed, but some consideration has been given to the players as well.