Scanning the NFL Mock Drafts | Flip Flops at QB and OT

Scanning the NFL Mock Drafts | Flip Flops at QB and OT

With the deadline for Underclassmen approaching fast and the NFL Season ending soon as well, the NFL Mock Draft world is lighting up.  Many fantasy football sites have turned their focus toward selection day and some NFL Draft sites that have been hibernating are starting to stir.  Let’s scan over some of the mock drafts and see what we have this week…

Looking over the Mock Drafts at our NFL Mock Draft Database, we seem to notice a common occurrence.   Some mock drafters can’t seem to make up their mind as to who is the better OT and QB to be the first taken at those positions.  Matt Stafford and Sam Bradford are often swapped for the Lions at the number one pick when the Mocks are updated. 

The same thing has been apparent with Michael Oher and Andre Smith at the OT position.  Three of those four names are listed in the Top Three of a large percentage of the mock drafts we have listed.  Is the talent that close at the top?

Unfortunately,  my inner Encyclopedia Brown kicks in sometimes, making me  think that there are different motives.  Many Mock Drafts are fed hits by Mock Draft Databases.  These sites with the Databases often update and list by the date that the mocks have updated, moving the new to the top, sending more traffic their way. 

I have no issue with it when the mocker has a legit reason for making a move…which 99% of them do, I’m sure.  It’s when they move two players at the same position (like mentioned above), slap a new “Updated” date on it but have not bothered to update the NFL Draft order in the later half of the mock that raises the stink eye.

With that said, how close do you think the races are at these positions?  Do you feel either Matt Stafford or Sam Bradford are a step ahead of the other?  How about the OT’s?  Will Michael Oher overtake Andre Smith, who dominated the top OT position in most Mock Drafts not long ago?  Will the Lions have “their guy” or will they just negotiate with all these guys (if they keep the pick)?

Elsewhere…we can expect a wave of updates coming next week as the deadline for Underclassmen to declare arrives on January 15th.  Things will get fun then.  We will know all but the last two names on the NFL Draft order this weekend as well.

One of those guys that we will know soon which direction he is going is Mark Sanchez, QB at USC.  There are a few straggling mocks that still list him up in the Top Three.

Running Backs are fun to talk about too, huh?  Seriously, a lot of the time those that put their focus on the NFL Draft are filling a hole left by fantasy football, right?  Fantasy Football Xtreme lays out the top three RB’s falling like this…

17. Jets- Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
19. Bucs- Shonn Greene, Iowa
21. Cardinals-Chris Wells, Ohio State

All bundled together within a couple picks in the second half of the first round is when they have them starting to fall.  I have to say, even being an Iowa fan, I’m surprised to see Greene above Wells here.  Not because of the talent as much as the name.  Good for you FFX!

Brian Orakpo or Michael Johnson?  These are the two Defensive Ends that are showing up the highest.  Have you noticed how many top prospects there are with the name Michael?

That’s it for this week’s Scanning the Mocks.  Next week we will know who is in and who is out for the Underclassmen.  Keep up on who is declaring and other NFL Draft stuffness at NFL Draft Hub.