Finally, DRAFT DAY Let's discuss 1st Round here. This thread was originally started at Draft Forum but I moved this to Main Page. It will stay at the main page and will eventually be moved to Draft Forum.
I've seen a few mocks today that have us taking an EDGE at 15 (Van Ness & Myles Murphy specifically). I know most of us have our hearts set on OT at 15 but if the top 3 OTs are gone (Skoronski, Johnson, and Jones) and JSN is gone too, taking a swing at EDGE might not be a terrible idea. Myles Murphy, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams, JFM, & Bryce Huff?
I doubt Van Ness will be there at 15. There are teams that love that guy. I think it will be OL or the Pitt DT
Who is the Pitt DT? I will murder myself if we pick a DT with the 15th. I can live with an Edge guy but no DT please. OL, WR or Edge.
I'm not a big fan of Calijah Kancey at 15. If we trade back? Possibly. Depends on how far back we move.
Calijah Kancey undersized but quick for a DT. Drawing unfair comparisons to Aaron Donald since they both went to Pitt and were undersized but I think he’s still a nice player https://www.nfl.com/prospects/calijah-kancey/32004b41-4e04-6143-5a2e-df476a2bfc64
Calijah Kancey. Slightly undersized DT (6'1" 281lbs) but had a 92.4 pass-rush grade on PFF last season for Pitt. Phenomenal athlete for the DT position but is in the 1%tile for arm length among all DT prospects (abnormally short arms for his position). Here's his MockDraftable profile.
Okay thanks guys. Don't want another DT honestly. If top 3 OT's are gone and JSN is gone. Hopefully we trade back.
I could go for Brian Branch or JMS. Both really smart football players. Branch isn't the most physically talented but he is a playmaker and has crazy instincts. JMS is growing on me fast, he's an excellent pull blocker and he navigates traffic really well, hands blocks off and disengages fluidly and he takes really smart angles to the next block. I really want a long term center. If Skoronski is there it is a no-brainer, same with Jalen Carter
My hope is JD goes throwback on us to the '06 draft. Top OT at 15 and then JMS/Tippman/Wypler/Avila at 43. Brick/Mangold 2.0.
My ideal draft would be blue chip OT round one, and then maybe a second tier DT is available in round 2, perhaps with the trade up. But if a top C is available, I would take him too, I just don't know if that guy can be better than CMG now. Also, we might still sign Ben Jones: CMG basically signed for back-up money. Now, speaking of OT in round one, there are two guys who I think are slam dunk blue chip players: Paris and Skoronsky. Broderick Jones is next tier behind them, and then everyone else at a lower tier - starting end first. My concern is that moving from 13 to 15 may cost us these blue chip tackles. I really hope I am wrong. But say is Sko is gone early, and then NE takes Paris at 14, there will be a lot of cursing out of JD on my end.
Mazi Smith or Keeanu Benton would be my preference if they go IDL at 43. Mazi has been getting a lot of late-1st buzz lately so he may be off the board by 43. There's still some decent IDL options left in the FA pool though. Shelby Harris, Michael Brockers, & Al Woods are all guys that can still be signed and give us an immediate upgrade/depth at IDL. That's why I would prefer to target OL with our first 2 picks or just offense with our first two picks (OL/OL or WR/OL).
Another word on OT: I see Darnell Wright name mentioned a lot as a blue chip tackle akin Paris, Skoronkiy, etc... I don't believe that to be true as far as prospect. People compare him to Wirfs because both played RT in final season. Wirfs was one of the best rated tackles in the country in his final College year. He slid a little bit because he was playing RT. Wright was no where near that highly rated. He did have some good performances against top players, but overall wasn't great. Inconsistent, poor movement for zone (which we play), and he was not a 1st round pick before the sr Bowl. He just wasn't one of top college tackles Here is what made him a 1st round player: https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/football/darnell-wright-earns-reeses-senior-bowl-honors But keep in mind, In Sr Bowl he goes against lower rated player. Still, it is a good accomplishment, and I would take him end of round one in spite of so so College tape at RT, but it is a reach at 15, where ideally we want to get a player that is higher rated, like Paris Johnson for example.
