Good Afternoon IFL elite. I assume if you’re reading this you are still this then you are still paying attention. Nurse Nate will tell you I am the Mel Kiper of the IFL. I would like to clear the air on that. I have a day job and do mock draft for fun and to create content. I do challenge Nurse Nate to do a mock and see how much better he does.
The rules for this mock are simple. I used Pro Football Network to simulate a 7 round draft. I used those landing spots and based off what i know of the gm’s and what their team needs are. I also added in some mockery and fun. I hope you enjoy.
ROUND 1
#1 Indy Erik
Travis Etienne
Position: RB
School: Clemson
Etienne was mocked to the Bills with the 30th overall pick. This is not the ideal landing spot and probably lowers the trade value. Erik has a tough decision to make. He stated that this was his number 1 guy, so I think he stays pat and makes the pick as time is running down.
#2 Houston Dean
Najee Harris
Position: RB
School: Alabama
The Texans need reliable starters on a weekly basis on the offensive side of the ball. Harris was mocked to the Packers 31st overall. Aaron Jones is a free agent and if the Packers can draft Harris then Jones likely walks. I think the landing spot makes an ideal situation for this talented rookie.
#3 Las Vegas Craig
Micah Parsons
Position: RB
School: Alabama
The top two rb’s are off the board and Old Craig stated he’s not a fan of Wr’s this high in the draft. The next best player is Parsons who is a good tackler with the ablity to pressure off the edge. Luke stated he’s a Luke Kuechly mold with better pash rushing skills and Craig makes history by drafting the highest IDP to date in the IFL.
#4 Las Vegas Craig
Jaylen Waddle
Position: WR
School: Alabama
This is based off landing spots in the Pro Football Network mock draft. Waddle is the first WR off the board and lands in Philadelphia. He is a fast playmaker who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Philadelphia’s QB situation is one to watch here. This pick would have been a lot easier to make if the Eagles selected Ja’Marr Chase or Devonta Smith. Either way they need a big play receiver and Waddle is a big play waiting to happen.
#5 Buffalo Travis
Devonta Smith
Position: WR
School: Alabama
Smith put up Heisman worthy numbers and is mocked to the Browns. OBJ could be on his way out and Jarvis Landry is more of a possession receiver than a big play threat. Smith has a decent frame and is a dominating wr who runs good routes and can finish the tough catches in traffic.
#6 Houston Dean
Kyle Pitts
Position: TE
School: Florida
Chase was mocked to the Chargers and continues to slide in the IFL Rookie draft. Pitts is a field-stretcher and a dominant red zone player. Kyler Murray could use another weapon and this guy has the size, speed and athleticism to stretch the field and open more lanes for Murray to run freely.
#7 Indy Erik
Ja’Marr Chase
Position: WR
School: LSU
The slide finally ends for one of the most talented players in this draft. Landing spot (Chargers 9th overall) and sitting out a year probably helped him slide this far. I think Erik would be happy to get two of the top players in this draft.
#8 Cincy Danny
Kadarius Toney
Position: WR
School: Florida
Toney is one of the twitchiest players on film in a long time. Mocked to the Patriots in the second round and has a tremendous amount of potential. Danny likes to line up in the run and shoot and could use a playmaker like Toney who will be scary in the NFL.
#9 Cleveland Kyle
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Position: LB/S
School: Notre Dame
Kyle is Linebacker U and holding to that true form he selects a golden domer too high in the first round. JOK was selected by the Lions at 25 in the PFN mock draft. JOK is great in coverage and can play all over the field. He is more a Will or S than a stud ILB but Kyle will argue it differently.
#10 Buffalo Travis
Kenneth Gainwell
Position: RB
School: Memphis
Gainwell was mocked to the Ravens at 50 overall. Mark Ingram is probably not returning and JK Dobbins came on late. This is an interesting pick and again I think landing spot here hurt the player. I opted for this RB over Bateman because of landing spot. More on that later.
#11 Buffalo Travis
Zaven Collins
Position: LB
School: Tulsa
Collins is a hard-hitting linebacker who is decent in the passing game also. Travis could use another starter on defense and Zaven was mocked to the Pats in the first round. Opportunity, if there, should make this a solid pick.
#12 Houston Dean
Trevor Lawrence
Position: QB
School: Clemson
All the talk was could we see a QB taken in the top 5. I think it is still likely, but landing spots and team needs allow Trev to slip to the back of round 1. Lawrence has all the tools to be successful, but the Jags have squandered away a championship team in just a couple years. Stay tuned to the coaching carousel and see if this pick moves as the process plays out.
#13 Indy Erik
Kwity Paye
Position: Edge
School: Michigan
Kwity (prounounced Chittay) is a freaky pass rusher and since he was mocked to the Dolphins. The fins could help their secondary with an explosive pass rusher. The edge players hold less value at this time in the process since we don’t know what position MFL will label them. Either way, Erik already got two studs on offense and could use a bookend for Bosa.
#14 Pittsburgh Spencer
Dylan Moses
Position: LB
School: Alabama
Mocked to the Falcons at 36 bodes well for Moses. Spencer could possibly add a 4th 200 point or more LB to his roster and continue to win his division for the next couple years. Bateman could also be the selection, but again, landing spot helps him slide down further.
#15 Buffalo Travis
Terrace Marshall
Position: WR
School: LSU
I really wanted to pick Justin Fields for Travis here. Bridgewater and Daniel Jones are both mediocre at best and Kirk Cousins is a free agent, but Travis is not a risk taker and so he goes with the best WR available in the best landing spot. Marshall was selected by the Broncos at 78.
#16 Indy Erik
Nick Bolton
Position: LB
School: Missouri
Erik is quite the gambler and will gamble your money away while still raking in his cut. Here he gambles on a hard-hitting tackling machine. The Jags 47th overall selection does lack athleticism to be an every down backer, but that won’t stop Erik from making this selection.
ROUND 2
#17 Las Vegas Craig
Javonte Williams
Position: RB
School: North Carolina
Williams is a balanced runner who is also reliable in the passing game. Mocked to the Bengals at 67, he fits the Gio Bernard and Joe Mixon mold. I don’t like the muddled back field, but Old Craig loves his RB’s.
#18 Houston Dean
Brevin Jordan
Position: TE
School: Miami
Jordan was ranked higher than Pitts coming out of high school and was the top rated TE in 2018. The Texans need offensive talent and after being selected by the J-E-T-S 96th overall, this gives Justin Fields a security blanket with big play ability.
#19 Las Vegas Craig
Rashod Bateman
Position: WR
School: Minnesota
The slide finally ends for Bateman. The reason he fell is he landed with Minnesota at 14 overall. Minnesota still has Wheelin Dealin Theilan and rookie phenom Justin Jefferson. Bateman has been compared to Davante Adams and would give Kirk another weapon. The opportunities look grim for the first year or two and the reason he slid this far.
#20 Las Vegas Craig
Gregory Rousseau
Position: Edge
School: Miami
Old craig could use some help on the defensive line and was selected tenth to the Gmen. He is a long, powerful rusher who could easily outscore the rest of Craig’s dline next season.
#21 Buffalo Travis
Azeez Ojulari
Position: Edge
School: Georgia
Like Craig, Travis can use an edge/DE who can score at least 100 points. Von Miller is likely out the door saving the Broncos 18 million and with the 13th overall pick the draft capital is there. AO reminds scouts of Brian Burns.
#22 Houston Dean
Pat Freiermuth
Position: TE
School: Penn St.
The Cowboys need more weapons for Dak or his heir apparent. Sticking to the plan of needing offensive talent, the Texans continue to stockpile TE’s. Pat has been nicknamed “Baby Gronk” and talented enough to be successful at the next level. It’s possible this could be the best 12 personnel team in the IFL in the years to come.
#23 Pittsburgh Spencer
Justin Fields
Position: QB
School: Ohio St.
Wentz has not lived up to the hype and could be out in Philly, or at least sitting the bench as the highest paid backup. Fields is in an uphill battle if Gase remains the HC. Even though JF was mocked 2nd to the JETS, most reports have them taking Zach Wilson. Either way, the upside here could pay off, or Denver Dave will take him off taxi. Spencer could also trade back here.
#24 Cincy Danny
Zach Wilson
Position: QB
School: BYU
Wilson is more NFL ready than Justin Fields according to some scouts. Here he was mocked to Detroit at 11th overall. He might have to sit and wait a year, but Danny has not shown to be in any rush to make his team better. Baker Mayfield is the only other qb on his roster.
#25 Cleveland Kyle
Jaelan Phillips
Position: Edge
School: Miami
I am still not sure if Kyle is a Rams or Niners fan. Either way, he is Green Dot U and follows the Niners (55th overall) in selecting Phillips. I assume Kyle believes this is the next green dot wearing stud.
#26 Indy Erik
Chazz Surratt
Position: LB
School: North Carolina
Chazz is a former QB and has been one of the ACC’s best linebackers each of the last two seasons. Looks like Kyle missed again as Chazz was available one pick earlier. If Erik hits on half of his picks, he will have a scary team over the next 4-5 years.
#27 Cincy Danny
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Position: WR
School: USC
One of the most talented WR’s in this year’s draft lands and a good selection by Danny. Landing spot of Buffalo at 62 is the only reason he wasn’t selected higher. Josh Allen will love his speed, and this could be one of this year’s draft diamonds.
#28 Las Vegas Craig
Rondale Moore
Position: WR
School: Purdue
After being selected 74th overall by the Falcons in the PFN mock draft, Rondale’s value seemed to take a hit. He is a monster after the catch and could have some big weeks. Playing behind Julio and Ridley will likely mean he won’t have the week to week reliability Craig is looking for. It’s still hard to pass up a first-round talent this late in the draft.
#29 Indy Erik
Trevon Moehrig
Position: S
School: TCU
The Saints selected Trevon in the first round in the PFN mock. Marcus Williams is likely a cap casualty and Malcom Jenkins looks washed. This could be a day 1 starter as Erik continues to fill holes with rookies.
#30 Tennessee Jason
Chris Olave
Position: WR
School: Ohio St.
Jason went all in on winning this year. He still needs to find pieces to replace the offensive talent he will be losing in the offseason. Tennessee selected Olave in the first round. CD84 has come on finally, but Olave is a slot receiver who runs extremely crisp routes. And he has experience running the entire route tree at Ohio St. This could be a solid pick for Jason.
#31 Indy Erik
Kuony Deng
Position: LB
School: California
Erik continues to select the hard to find positions in free agency. Deng is a freak athlete that will be highly coveted in the NFL. Here he lands in Dallas at 76. He will be a 3 down linebacker and he can rush off the edge. Another solid pick for Erik.
#32 Indy Erik
Elijah Moore
Position: WR
School: Ole Miss
Tua needs more weapons and Elijah is a dynamic slot receiver who would bolster the Fins ability to score points in 2021. Erik runs to the podium and selects Elijah to end round 2.