Do some of these pundits intentionally over rate out talent

These mean nothing a year ahead of time. Too many variables change. You could simply print a list of 5* players expected to declare, randomize the order, and come out with a better guess. In the month or 2 before the draft it's a fun way to get to know the players and guess who might be on your team.

I believe in conspiracies, but I don't believe this one. More likely caused by a combination of over-exuberance and lust for hits/money.

Fournette, Adams, White: Nailed it

Dupre: Has first round talent, but had his worst year at a bad time. He really should have come back.

Neal: never had first round measurables, this was an atrocious inclusion in the mock and a lot of people questioned it at the time.

Pocic: Went in the 2nd round, so close enough

Godchaux: again, doesn't have first round measurables and had good, not great production.

Looks like Godchaux and Neal were the only bad inclusions, there was very little chance of those guys ever being picked in the first round.

Sure Les needed to be fired, but the myth that our team was loaded to the max is just that a myth that many like yourself bought into.

Just this week the talking heads were telling us how we'd have a record number drafted.

Neal, Godchaux, and Dupre never were close to first rounders; yet all we heard was how many first rounders we would have. Total joke.

I think they do overrate our talent, but I don't think it is intentional and certainly not for some kind of hokey conspiracy against our team or coaching staff.

the press is always looking for a story and some of what the grab onto is, by its nature, speculative. we usually have some damn good players, so they grab onto a few that seem like a good bet and pump them up in the media for something interesting to talk about.

The source you cited, for a lack of better words, blows

Their 2013 mock draft had Barkley going #1 overall and Tyler Wilson going #3 overall. The reason I remember this they had 3 tigers in the top 12.

quote:

---

#1 Cleveland Browns: Matt Barkley, QB, USC The Browns are a disaster. Mike Holmgren probably won't be back next year, so the new regime will look to distance itself from Brandon Weeden, a move made by possible because of the new CBA. Weeden was much better at Cincinnati, but that can be attributed to Trent Richardson's presence. The point is that if the Browns are drafting No. 1 overall, Weeden didn't prove himself to be a capable starter in this league. In that case, the Browns would certainly look to draft Matt Barkley The only issue is whether Barkley would actually agree to play for Cleveland, a la John Elway and Eli Manning. I guess it all depends on what sort of impression the new owner makes on the USC quarterback.

---

quote:

---

#3 Oakland Raiders: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas The Raiders are a mess right now, and part of the problem is Carson Palmer, who simply lacks the arm strength to be successful in this league. If Oakland continues to lose and ends up with a top-three pick, there is no doubt that it'll take a quarterback. In fact, the Raiders may have to move up to No. 2 to ensure that they can obtain Tyler Wilson, much like the Redskins and Browns did last year with Robert Griffin and Trent Richardson, respectively.

---

Not a legit site

Their site's top 12 picks were
#1 Matt Barkley, QB, USC went #98
#2 Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU went #6
#3 Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas went #112
#4 Johnathan Hankins, NT, Ohio State went #49
#5 Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia went #17
#6 Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah went #14
#7 Keenan Allen, WR, California went #76
#8 Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia went #39
#9 Robert Woods, WR, USC went #41
#10 Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU went #95
#11 Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee undrafted
#12 Eric Reid, S, LSU went #18

He's very stupid

I'm now dumber for having read your post.

Pundits hate LSU!