2017 NFL Mock Draft
1. Cleveland – Myles Garrett DE Garrett's feats of athleticism coupled with his good build will make this pick a lock regardless of whether or not Warren Sapp thinks he's lazy.
2. San Francisco – Solomon Thomas DE There are some people that are as excited about this pick as the one before it.
3. Chicago – Malik Hooker S We actually have no idea who this will be, and it almost certainly won't be a safety, but our head was spinning. What do you get the team that needs everything?
4. Jacksonville – Leonard Fournette RB In an ideal situation, this would be a strong offensive lineman draft class, but it's not so the Jags put the cart before the horse and draft an elite RB.
5. Tennessee – John Ross WR You can't teach speed. That's why Ross goes here.
6. New York Jets – Mitchell Trubisky QB Trubisky seems like the kind of eventual bust the Jets are fond of selecting.
7. San Diego – O.J. Howard TE Gates is getting old. Let him spend his twilight teaching the new kid how to become a Pro Bowl tight end.
8. Carolina – Dalvin Cook RB They need a RB and the best one is gone, but Cook's a heck of a consolation prize and could end up being the best of the bunch.
9. Cincinnati – Jonathan Allen DL We have him falling further than most people due to shoulder concerns, but what if you paired him with that Bengals interior line? Interesting…
10. Buffalo – Jamal Adams S Poor Jamal Adams… in this draft he'll be spending some cold months in snowy Buffalo as their box safety.
11. New Orleans – Mike Williams WR Now that Colston is gone, the ageless Drew Brees needs a big body with jumping ability to throw the ball to.
12. Cleveland – Deshone Kizer QB There has been talk about him being the best QB, but the same can be said of the top 3 QBs available.
13. Arizona – Deshaun Watson QB Carson Palmer and his top receiving threat are both over the hill. Time for a new man under center.
14. Philadelphia – Corey Davis WR Kinda' sounds like an Eagle doesn't he?
15. Indianapolis – Reuben Foster LB Despite his issues at the combine, the Colts need a guy like this.
16. Baltimore – David Njoku TE The top 2 TEs could be really good. Baltimore would do well to grab Njoku if he's here.
17. Washington – Cam Robinson OT With a guy that slings the ball around for 5,000 yards a year, you've got to protect him.
18. Tennessee – Charles Harris OLB Honestly, no idea who Charles Harris is, but a lot of people seem to like him in this spot. Congratulations, Charles.
19. Tampa Bay – Christian McCaffrey RB With the top 2 RBs off the board early, teams scramble to get the last “sure thing” and take McCaffrey.
20. Denver – Ryan Ramczyk OT This guy has tremendous talent and technique. Just kidding, never heard of him. Hope he's good though.
21. Detroit – Taco Charlton DE Saw this guy play in person and love everything about him, plus the marketing opportunities are endless. Good thing his parents didn't name him “Me gusta comida Mexicana”.
22. Miami – Forrest Lamp OG The highest rated guard from the lowly Western Kentucky Hilltoppers goes to the Dolphins.
23. New York Giants – Garett Bolles OT Congratulations to the Giants for drafting this far in the draft. Your reward… this guy.
24. Oakland – Haason Reddick LB – Oakland's putting together quite a little team. It would be nice to pair this guy with Mack for a sack attack that puts QBs on their back.
25. Houston – Patrick Mahomes QB – The Texans haven't had a QB since Matt Schaub. They need one.
26. Seattle – Tre'Davious White CB – The Seahawks have never been an offense first kind of team. Looks like the defense will continue to get good players here.
27. Kansas City – Chidobe Awuzie CB – The real reason we slotted him here is because his name reminded us of Tamba Hali and decided they need another guy with a cool name.
28. Dallas – Quincy Wilson CB – Could this be the year the Cowboys take a decent cover corner?
29. Green Bay – T.J. Watt OLB – If Watt added some weight to his frame, he may be worthy to wield Mjolnir….. we mean worthy of the name Watt.
30. Pittsburgh – Jarrad Davis LB – No Lawrence Timmons means the Steelers begin rebuilding at linebacker.
31. Atlanta – Adoree' Jackson CB – The Bellville, IL native goes to the Falcons who have historically loved athletic corners.
32. New Orleans – Takkarist McKinley DE – Not sure he'll fall this far, but the Saints would have to be stoked. Teach the guy some technique and he's off to the races!
Jacksonville Tourism?
Jacksonville may not be perceived as the most touristic city in Florida. It doesn’t have the appeal of giant theme parks or the pull of the well-known Keys, but therein lies the potential. Jacksonville is less crowded than many of the ‘hot spots’ in Florida. When people road-trip to Florida, Jacksonville is potentially the first Florida city they drive through, but this city is more than just a pit-stop on the way to theme parks. Jacksonville has so many unique traits that other cities in the United States cannot boast.
I have fallen in love with this city over the past few years and I have no desire to leave anytime soon. One of the most prominent things that attracts me to Jacksonville is the food. Jacksonville has so many great local restaurants. When my friend vacationed here we were able to try a new place every night. We were never bored; there is something in this city for everyone.
There is so much potential for Jacksonville to grow and attract more people. Jacksonville is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although they may not have the greatest record, they can soon boast that their stadium has the two largest end zone score boards in the world. The reputation of the team has only increased since Shahid Khan has purchased the team. The Players Championship also takes place in Jacksonville. Many people come to see the championship, but there is no reason why they shouldn’t stay for the city.
Jacksonville has beautiful beaches that don’t get overly crowded. It is within driving distance of St. Augustine, the oldest city in America, as well as Cape Canaveral, where people can explore the history of space exploration. On top of that, Jacksonville boasts a zoo, several museums, various concert venues, many sports teams, beautiful parks and golf courses, and numerous festivals.
If Jacksonville increases awareness of all the exciting things happening in this city, there is no reason Jacksonville can’t become a top destination for Florida tourists.
A Splash Of Color
We just wrapped up the second in a series of 9 artists completing their artwork on designated portions of the automobile. That means 7 more local artists will be given the opportunity to render absolutely anything they would like on a mobile canvas. During next year's One Spark, the car will be raffled off and the artists' work will be showcased to the masses, with all proceeds being split evenly among the 9 artists. If you haven't seen the artists in action, I would encourage you to come out to Art Walk next time and experience the live music, crowds, and libations surrounding this evolving piece of modern art. The artists have a limited amount of time to finish their work, so it's very fast-paced and exciting to see things take shape right in front of your eyes. The event happens right in front of Mad Men Marketing on 111 E. Bay St. in downtown Jacksonville at what has been collectively dubbed “The Elbow”.
Turning Weakness To Strength
It's a point of frustration for many that I wanted to address with the city. After speaking with a representative from the department, it's a point of frustration for them too from a budgetary standpoint. Do not abandon hope though. There are plans in the works to implement more parking meters that read credit/debit cards (there are currently approximately 500 in the downtown area with more planned) as well as something that many of us have probably never thought about, paying via cell phone. High occupancy parking garages are getting the bulk of the attention prior to expansion on Bay Street toward the stadium, but there are plans next year for steady expansion concerning all aspects of parking.
I hope this alleviates some of the concern for the downtown faithful who roll the dice with tow trucks and parking tickets from time to time. I would like to thank Jack Shad for responding to me so quickly when I reached out to him, as well as encouraging me to bring any ideas his way. I'm thankful that we have someone filling the role that is completely open to ideas from the public. I implore all of those who read this blog not to let such an invitation go to waste.
Mad Men NFL Mock Draft Part 1 of 4
1. Kansas City- Luke Joeckel (OT- Texas A&M) This pick is all but locked up, considering the Chief's other tackle is being shopped (most recently to the Dolphins for a 2nd round pick). Joeckel is the real deal and will be on the Chiefs for years to come.
2. Jacksonville- Eric Fisher (OT- Central Michigan) This isn't the sexy pick that everyone may want, BUT it WOULD give us two very good bookend tackles that would rival any tandem in the league. Don't forget, perennial Pro-Bowler, Joe Staley also came from Central Michigan. Recently the Jags GM stated that one of the two players they want will be available here, so I was thinking of identical positions. A lot of people have Dion Jordan here because of the coach's defensive background and desire to incorporate speed at every position, but the hint given earlier in the week rules this out because I don't see the Chiefs drafting Ziggy Ansah.
3. Oakland- Geno Smith (QB- West Virginia) Oakland would have to be excited if Geno Smith made it past the Jags. They have had very little to be happy about at the QB position for quite some time, and this should be the year they crawl out of re-building mode.
4. Philadelphia- Dion Jordan (DE- Oregon) This would be a surprise to some, but Chip Kelly loves speed and endurance. Jordan could play the rush linebacker position or defensive end, plus it would re-unite him with his former coach.
5. Detroit- Dee Milliner (CB- Alabama) Detroit needs to bolster its defense. Not long ago, Cleveland us the #5 pick to draft a guy named Joe Haden. While Milliner isn't the ball hawk that Haden is, he's a very instinctive corner and can tackle better.
6. Cleveland- Jarvis Jones (OLB- Georgia) Jones was a monster for the Bulldogs despite a diagnosis of spinal stenosis that ended Michael Irvin's career early. If his production is anything like it was in college, Jones would be a steal even at #6. Able to play rush linebacker and defensive end. A lot of mock drafts have the Browns trading this pick.
7. Arizona- Ezekiel Ansah (DE- BYU) I really wanted to put Bjoern Werner here, but I believe that Ansah's upside will be too much to overlook. He will need to add some muscle to his frame without losing any quickness, but his endurance from his history in soccer, makes him an every down possibility as a defensive end or rush linebacker.
8. Buffalo- E.J. Manuel (QB- Florida State) I don't like this pick, but I think it's likely that it will happen. All of the remaining QBs have too many questions regarding injury and consistency. Manuel has prototypical size, above average speed and quickness, and a quick release. He is also coming into the NFL during a time that we've seen the success of mobile spread option QBs, and everyone wants to replicate that. With all those positives about Manuel, he needs to improve his ability to make quick decisions, his work ethic, and his ability to read defenses. This is a high-risk/ high-reward pick that could pay dividends, but it will depend on the work that he puts in at the next level.