Mock Draft Monday 3/31 '25
Big Rings
Big Rings
- Final Four Preview
- Jets Mock Draft
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Drake and Future’s Big Rings. It’s the 2nd track off of What A Time To Be Alive.
Does the NCAA even give out Championship rings? I would think in the NIL Era, they do. No way they even let the players take home the net strings back in the day.
On to the sports….
Final Four Preview
San Antonio | Saturday Night, April 5 | CBS
The Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers are longstanding SEC rivals. The basketball programs have been playing each other since 1927, with Auburn holding a slight head-to-head record of 90-84 over Florida. The Gators last reached the Final Four in 2014 and have won 2 National Championships. The Tigers last reached the Final Four in 2019 and are looking for their first National Championship. This year, Florida defeated the Tigers in February during the SEC regular season.
Down 71-61 with about 5 minutes and change to go, Walter Clayton Jr. led the Gators on a comeback. From the 5:24 mark in the 2nd half, Clayton Jr. closed the game with…
- A 3-point make (71-64 at 5:24)
- A layup (73-66 at 3:35)
- An assist to Thomas Haugh's 3-pointer (75-69 at 2:50)
- Another to Thomas Haugh’s 3-pointer (75-72 at 2:27)
- A 3-point make (75-75 at 1:47)
- Another 3-point make (78-75 at 0:59)
- Hit 2 free throws (82-77 at 0:10)
The star Gator guard accounted for 19 points (scoring 13, assisting on 6) of Florida’s points in crunch time. On the day, Clayton Jr. finished with a team-high 30 points. Florida also received major contributions from Thomas Haugh off the bench. The sophomore forward tied his career-high with 20 points as he drilled 4-pointers while coming down with 11 rebounds. In Florida’s regular-season win over Auburn, Clayton Jr. scored 19 with 9 assists, while Haugh put up 16 points with 9 rebounds. The Gators will likely need another big-time effort out of both and could use a bounce back game from either G Will Richard or F Alex Condon, who’ve both had a quiet NCAA Tournament thus far.
The Auburn Tigers dealt with a little adversity in the Elite 8. For about a few minutes in the 2nd half, it was believed Johni Broome was done for the rest of the tournament. The star forward and Player of the Year candidate appeared to have a gruesome leg injury, as well as an elbow, after he awkwardly fell trying to contest a shot. Broome had his own mini Willis Reed moment as he not only returned to the Auburn bench but drilled a 3-pointer on his first possession back. The senior forward finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds as he collected his 21st double-double this season. Auburn also got a bit of help off the bench as freshman guard from Jersey City, Tahaad Pettiford, chipped in with 10 points and 3 assists. Florida Gators HC Todd Golden was an assistant under Bruce Pearl at Auburn in 2014, so these coaches have a bit of history. While Johni Broome may win the Player of the Year, I’d trust Walter Clayton Jr. to close out a close game.
Pick: Florida (-2.5 Gators)
The Houston Cougars and Duke Blue Devils have only played each other once - last March in the Sweet 16. Duke knocked out Houston in a 54-51 nail-biter. The Cougars last reached the Final Four in 2021 and have never won a National Championship. The Blue Devils last reached the Final Four in 2022 and have won 5 National Championships.
The Houston Cougars advanced to the Final Four after allowing just 15 1st half points in their Elite 8 win over Tennessee. The Volunteers tried to put up a fight in the 2nd half, but ultimately, there was a lid over the basket as Houston’s defense held the Vols to just 17.2% shooting from deep. The shooting was so bad that Tennessee missed their first 14 3-point attempts and didn’t hit their first until 38 seconds left in the 1st half. By then, Houston was already up double-digits, which was the margin from start to finish. After recovering from flu-like symptoms in the Sweet 16, LJ Cryer led the Cougars in scoring with 17 points. Houston also got 16 points out of Emmanuel Sharp, who hit 4 3s. Houston’s defense can be absolutely terrifying; the only concern against them is how they will perform offensively. The Cougars only shot 4 free throw attempts in their victory over the Vols and will need to be more aggressive offensively against Duke.
With all their offensive firepower that gets a ton of hype, fittingly, Duke’s defense was what led them to their Elite 8 win over ‘Bama. One game after ‘Bama shot the lights out to a new March Madness record of 25 3-point makes, the Blue Devils held the Tide to just 25% from deep. Cooper Flagg set the tone for the Blue Devils out the gate as he knocked down a 3-pointer on the first shot of the game, and Duke held the league from then on. Freshman Flagg finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds as his wingman Kon Knueppel led in scoring with 21. Houston will try to grind this Final Four matchup into an ugly defensive grudge match and has the experience to do so; however, this Duke team runs an effective enough half-court offense to advance.
Pick: Duke (-4.5)
This week’s NFL Mock Draft features a 7 Round Mock of the New York Jets…
- All things even, preferably, the Jets would take an offensive talent in Round 1, but in this situation, Mason Graham is too good to pass up on. During the past 2 seasons, the 2-time All-American has totaled 54 tackles, 9 sacks, 63 QB pressures, 16 QB Hits, and 38 QB Hurries from Michigan’s interior. Adding Graham next to Quinnen Williams would change the defensive line position group from an area of weakness to strength.
- Donovan Jackson in the 2nd Round would be a nice addition to the Jets offensive line. He spent most of his time with the Buckeyes as an Offensive Guard; however, last season, in a pinch, he slid over to Left Tackle after Ohio State lost a couple of starters. While Jackson’s expected to play Guard in the NFL, the Jets could make things work by moving Alijah Vera-Tucker over to Right Tackle. AVT has 2 years of experience at RT, and the move should set up plenty of holes in their running game along the right side.
- Using a 3rd Round pick on Jalen Milroe would be well worth the gamble. As a dual-threat QB, Milroe should fit in with the Jets’ new offensive scheme, which will likely emphasize QB mobility with Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor. Milroe may not be ready to play right away in the NFL, but learning the position with a 15-year veteran like Taylor in the QB room would make a ton of sense. The ‘Bama QB flashed greatness at times, along with some flaws that’ll be killer in the NFL. With his 4.37 40-time, Milroe has similar straight-line speed of Lamar Jackson. While he doesn’t have Jackson’s elusiveness or throwing accuracy, he may actually have better arm strength. Jalen Milroe has plenty of potential and tools to be an NFL QB, but there will likely be some expected rough patches in his development. The Jets QB room is a fit.
- At 6’4” with a 4.48 40-time, Savion Williams has the size and speed to be an NFL wideout. The only question is, can he develop into a WR that plays RB like Deebo Samuel, or is he more just an RB that plays WR like Cordarrelle Patterson? Williams and last year’s 3rd Round Pick, Malachi Corley, may have redundant skillsets, but the Jets could really use just 1 of the 2 to develop into an effective big-play threat that doesn’t need much volume of touches.
- After 4 seasons with Tennessee, Tyler Baron transferred to Miami in ‘24 and had himself a career year. The 5th year senior had career-highs with 10 sacks, 48 QB Pressures, 10 QB Hits, and 28 QB Hurries. Despite having a plus pass-rush package as a defender off the edge, Baron isn’t great in the run game, which may have him fall to a Day 3 Pick.
- Hollin Pierce is a local product from Trenton, New Jersey, and a 4-year starter for the Rutgers Scarlett Knights. At 6’8” and 341 lbs., Pierce has the size traits that can’t be taught. He has experience at both tackle positions and could develop into a valuable swing tackle.
- In the 6th Round, Thomas Fidone II adds some much-needed depth to the Jets’ Tight End group. Fidone II is more of a traditional TE, who lined up inline for most of his snaps at Nebraska. A willing run-blocker, Fidone II also caught 36 passes for 373 receiving yards in ‘24. With Jeremy Ruckert yet to develop into a starter, Fidone II could compete for starting reps, but may be better suited long-term as a TE2.
With the Jets’ very last pick of the ‘25 NFL Draft, Aaron Glenn selects his old teammates’ son to play safety. Not only were Aaron Glenn and Ray Mickens teammates from 1996 to 2001, but the pair of CBs also played together at Texas A&M. When RJ Mickens asked at the NFL Combine about the possibility of playing for Glenn, the Clemson safety said, "It'd be really cool to play for the Jets. Just knowing that [my dad] played there, that city is a great city. Great fanbase and it's a great organization. I was just so excited to see Coach Glenn get that job. It's huge for him and his family. We kind of grew up with their family and my dad obviously played with him. So that's just a great relationship. He is a really genuine person. He's a great role model, a great leader, a great man and he's really special. He is going to do great things there." Mickens was a 4-year starter in the backend of the Clemson defense. He can play both in the box and as a free safety deep. Scouts had questioned whether he has enough top-end speed to play in the NFL, to which Mickens answered by running a 4.49 40-time. Mickens would be an excellent 6th Round selection and a cool late-round story as his father playing with the Jets for nearly a decade.
