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The 24th pick of the 2015 Big Blue View Community Mock Draft is in!
GM - CactusJack1984
Pick - Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
Explanation
I considered four positions here: pass rusher, running back, inside linebacker, or corner. With Gurley off the board at #23, I opted to go with Harold. It's been a meteoric rise up draft boards for him, but he's an excellent fit for Arizona's aggressive 3-4 and gives them the the athletic, disruptive player this defense needs to take the next step. It might be a bit earlier for him than some thought but I see him as a late day 1 or early day 2, so this is a case of need meets decent value. Ultimately, I also thought about Melvin Gordon, but this is a deep draft for RBs. There are also plenty of good ILBs and CBs to be had on days 2 and 3. Although DL isn’t a huge need, I also considered Arik Armstead as a value pick and ideal scheme fit.
Raptor's View
You can never have enough pass rushers, and Harold makes a nice replacement for Jon Abraham. Harold has somehow managed to be a big-time riser throughout the draft process but do so under the radar. Like Abraham, Harold has the athleticism to be a stand-up rusher, and enough size to put his hand in the dirt on nickel downs.
If the Cards can get Daryl Washington back from suspension this year, that defense should recover nicely, though how it will respond to losing Todd Bowles remains to be seen.
The Carolina Panthers are officially On The Clock!
The Picks So Far
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jameis Winston (QB, FSU) - Full Story
- Tennessee Titans - Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) - Full Story
- Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Williams (DL, USC) - Full Story
- Oakland Raiders - Amari Cooper (WR, Alabama) - Full Story
- Washington Redskins - Dante Fowler Jr. (DE/OLB, Florida) - Full Story
- New York Jets - Kevin White (WR, WVU) - Full Story
- Chicago Bears - Vic Beasley (OLB, Clemson) - Full Story
- Atlanta Falcons - Alvin "Bud" Dupree (DE/OLB, Kentucky) - Full Story
- New York Giants - DeVante Parker (WR, Louisville) - Full Story
- St. Louis Rams - Brandon Scherff (OL, Iowa) - Full Story
- Minnesota Vikings - Andrus Peat (OT, Stanford) - Full Story
- Cleveland Browns - Danny Shelton (DT, Washington) - Full Story
- New Orleans Saints - Randy Gregory (DE/OLB, Nebraska) - Full Story
- Miami Dolphins - Trae Waynes (CB, Michigan St.) - Full Story
- San Francisco 49ers - La'El Collins (OL, LSU) - Full Story
- Houston Texans - Shane Ray (OLB, Missouri) - Full Story
- San Diego Chargers - Ereck Flowers (OT, Miami) - Full Story
- Kansas City Chiefs - Cam Erving (OL, FSU) - Full Story
- Cleveland Browns - Marcus Peters (CB, Washington) - Full Story
- Philadelphia Eagles - Landon Collins (S, Alabama) - Full Story
- Cincinnati Bengals - Malcom Brown (DT, Texas) - Full Story
- Pittsburgh Steelers - Jalen Collins (CB, LSU) - Full Story
- Detroit Lions - Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia) - Full Story