Pre-Draft Trades
Trade 1:
LA Gets: 1, 113, & 177 Grade: D
TEN Gets: 15, 43, 45, 76, 2017 1st,
& 2017 3rd Grade: A
Trade 2:
PHI Gets: 2 & 2017 4th Grade: D
CLE Gets: 8, 77, 100, 2017 1st, &
2018 2nd Grade: A
1. Los Angeles Rams (From LAR): Jared Goff, QB,
California Grade: C
2. Philadelphia Eagles (From CLE): Carson Wentz,
QB, North Dakota State Grade: D
Here’s what I’ll
say about the first two picks. 1) I like Goff, but I don’t think he’s a start
right away and I don’t think he has superstar upside. 2) Wentz was my third
rated quarterback and a ways behind Goff. 3) I get why both teams did this. If
you think a QB is a franchise guy and you have a chance to trade up for them
you should absolutely do it. That will not stop me from saying you made a
mistake.
3. San Diego Chargers: Joey Bosa, Edge,
Ohio State Grade: B
4. Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott,
RB, Ohio State Grade: B+
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey,
CB, Florida State Grade: A+
Rounding out the
top five, the Jaguars got the best player in the draft with the 5th
pick and little hassle. Great Pick. Bosa was the surprise early, even with the
Tunsil news trickling in. I’m not sure that I like the fit with the defense,
but you get one of the best players in the draft and I can’t knock you too
much. Dallas got there Buckeye, and behind a line that got Darren McFadden to
1,000 yards and 4.6 yards per rush Elliott could be a nasty weapon for the
Cowboys. Overall not lot of muss or fuss in from picks 3-5.
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley,
OT, Notre Dame Grade: B-
7. San Francisco 49ers: DeForest
Buckner, Int, Oregon Grade: A
Trade 3:
TEN Gets: 8 & 176 Grade: D+
CLE Gets: 15, 76 & 2017 2nd Grade: A
8. Tennessee Titans (From CLE, From PHI, From MIA): Jack Conklin,
OT, Michigan State Grade: C-
Trade 4:
CHI Gets: 9 Grade:
C-
TB Gets: 11 & 106 Grade: A
9. Chicago Bears (From TB): Leonard Floyd,
Edge, Georgia Grade: C
10. New York Giants: Eli Apple, CB,
Ohio State Grade: C
Picks 6-10 saw
the intrigue of Tunsil’s fall, two trades and a couple early WTF picks. Stanley
wasn’t too surprising considering Baltimore’s track record and the leaking of
big board info on Stanley being ahead of Tunsil. Still think it was stupid to
pass, but Stanley is worth a first and at least we know the GM has a head on
his shoulders. San Fran made no mistake either getting a very good 5-tech in
Buckner who should slot into that system very easily. This is where the good
decisions started to fade a bit. Conklin is a reach for a late 1st
round talent with Tunsil still on the board. I’m not the biggest Conklin fan,
but the trade gave up too much, ruined the 1st pick good will and
was a pick for a right tackle instead of the best player at the position.
Chicago gave up too much to move up to get a player they had clearly locked
onto, but again with Tunsil out there and a chance to vastly improve that
offensive line, I just don’t quite get it. Eli Apple is a good player, a
borderline first rounder and quite a reach here. I’ll stay away from the should
have traded down clichés, but with Hargraves III still there I’d have like the
higher rated player on my board more.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (From CHI): Vernon
Hargraves, CB, Florida Grade: A
12. New Orleans Saints: Sheldon Rankins,
Int, Louisville Grade: A
13. Miami Dolphins: Laremy Tunsil,
OT, Ole Miss Grade: A+
14. Oakland Raiders: Karl Joseph, S,
West Virginia Grade: B+
15. Cleveland Browns (From TEN, From LAR): Corey Coleman, WR,
Baylor Grade: B-
Here’s where
everything went quiet and teams made reasonable choices. Tampa moved to 11 and
got the corner they wanted in Hargraves. New Orleans were the first team to
return to what we thought would happen by taking Rankins. Miami got an immensely
talent, maybe immature, maybe being black-mailed 21 year old. Oakland surprised
us by taking Joseph, but in a way that was wonderful and makes the core of that
defense immensely talented and intriguing. And Cleveland after acquiring a boat
load of draft capital (2/8/176/2017 4th for 15/76/77/100/2017 1st/2017
2nd/2018 2nd) I mean that’s impressive and a way to
rebuild a team that has massive holes. Coleman isn’t bad either. Not my
favorite receiver in the draft, but he was still tied for 3rd among
my receivers and brings multiple dimensions to that team they were lacking.
16. Detroit Lions: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Grade: C
17. Atlanta Falcons: Keanu Neal, S,
Florida Grade: B-
18. Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly, C,
Alabama Grade: A
19. Buffalo Bills: Shaq Lawson,
Edge, Clemson Grade: A
20. New York Jets: Darron Lee,
OBLB, Ohio State Grade: A
Though there were
no trades in this five it started with another head scratcher. Decker much like
Conklin in that good but at least here they didn’t pass up Conklin for him,
didn’t give away draft picks to get him, and didn’t take him in the top ten of
the draft. Neal, isn’t a favorite, but Atlanta gets a hard hitting safety to
play over the top of some talented young corners and behind what hopefully will
shape into a pass rush around Vic Beasley. Ryan Kelly was the best interior lineman
in the draft and a wonderful step in the right direction to protecting Andrew
Luck. Now for some pass rush help on the other side and Grigson might be
learning a thing or two about being a GM. Lawson to the Bills is a great fit
and far too low for my second rated Edge defender. Darron Lee is polarizing but
I think going at 20, and landing with a very promising young Jets defense he’s
going to be able to play to his strengths behind a very good set of hog
mollies.
Trade 5:
HOU Gets: 21 Grade:
C+
WAS Gets: 22 & 2017 6th Grade: B+
21. Houston
Texans (From WAS): Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Grade: C-
22. Washington Redskins (From HOU): Josh Doctson,
WR, TCU Grade: A
23. Minnesota Vikings: Laquon
Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Grade: A
24. Cincinnati Bengals: William Jackson
III, CB, Houston Grade: A
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns, CB,
Miami (FL) Grade: C
The trades begin
again and this time it’s weird. Houston moves up one spot to grab Fuller to
protect against, someone else apparently picking him. Washington picks a pick
later gets the best receiver in the draft and a 6th round pick for
their troubles. Minnesota leaves with a very nice concellation prize in
Treadwell. Can’t argue too much with getting the second best receiver with the
fourth receiver off the board. Cincinnati was a bit put out by all of this, but
they get William Jackson III, a favorite of mine, at 24 which should set the
secondary up nicely for the future. What to say about Pittsburgh and Artie
Burns except they certainly knew who they wanted with the 25th pick
and they turned that card in quickly.
Trade 6:
DEN Gets: 26 Grade:
C
SEA Gets: 31 & 94 Grade: A
26. Denver Broncos (From SEA): Paxton Lynch,
QB, Memphis Grade: B-
27. Green Bay Packers: Kenny Clark, NT,
UCLA Grade: B+
Trade 7:
SF Gets: 28 Grade: D+
KC Gets: 37, 105, & 178 Grade: A
28. San Francisco 49ers (From KC): Joshua Garnett,
OG, Stanford Grade: C+
29. Arizona Cardinals: Robert
Nkemdiche, Int, Ole Miss Grade: A
30. Carolina Panthers: Vernon Butler,
Int, Louisiana Tech Grade: A
31. Seattle Seahawks (From DEN): Germain Ifedi,
OT, Texas A&M Grade: C
The last six
picks were interesting if only to see if Myles Jack was going to be taken. He
wasn’t. His medicals must be scary. There were two trades. Denver giving up a 3rd
to get up for Paxton Lynch. A move I don’t mind, because he fits Kubiak well. A
third is a bunch to give up so Seattle made out like banshees. As did KC who
moved back but got a lot of draft capital in a deep draft. Green Bay Got Kenny
Clark, a favorite of mine and a good fit who was probably taken four DTs too
early. San Fran got Josh Garnett a pick I like, but the cost is too damn high.
Arizona is going to get a steal in Nkemdiche who should be able to play all
three positions and drop into coverage from time to time. And no, I’m not
worried about character. The rich get richer with the Panthers picking up
Vernon Butler. A player who burst out at the Senior Bowl, who will get a high
class education in front four player from his peers in Carolina. Finally, the
Seahawks picked Germain Ifedi, a player who looks the part but never lived up
to the hype at A&M. I may change my mind tomorrow about Ifedi’s grade, but
tonight I’m extremely meh on the pick despite the need at the position.
Thank you for
reading. I will have a round 2 & 3 mock up tomorrow hopefully early
afternoon, and also a best players available list.
No comments:
Post a Comment