10 minutes ago, mattwill said:

If you approach it that way, and I don’t disagree with your description at all, then every Draft is different and unique in its details. So saying the draft is changed by NIL is just the current year broad brush stroke description of what happens every year.

NIL represents a fundamental shift for the draft, as does the portal. It will never be what it was.

Michael Lewis.

2 hours ago, mattwill said:

@FranklinFldEBUpper please continue with your countdown to the Draft with player numbers. @NYEagle’s compliant is flat out annoying.

Is that what he's doing? How are player names a countdown?

30 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

So what pick, position, direction, etc would straight up piss you off for the Eagles. Considering they pick at 32 and this is a weird draft where people are expecting a lot of big surprises in round 1 there isn't much that would piss me off in round 1. I think standing pat at 32 and taking Hairston or Amos would piss me off. There are are FAR bigger needs than CB and I don't think their value at 32 is so good you can't pass them up. It would be one thing if Barron somehow fell to 32 and I would be all for that, but not Hairston or Amos. I also think having Quinyon and Cooper up for big contracts one year and then possibly another young corner the following year is asking for trouble as you can only commit so much cap space to one position in a short span like that and paying three corners big time money is something no team can afford to do.

On the flip side, what would be pleasantly surprising for you that would have you jumping up and down and screaming LFG? I would say drafting Malaki Starks or Mason Taylor at 32. I don't see them drafting a S or TE that early but I think they are two of the biggest needs on the team and these are two players that I really like in this draft.

QB

RB

TE

WR

Those 4 would piss me off

The average improvement each top 10 position makes for their team over their rookie contract (Howie has this thing all figured out):

10 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I know most of you don’t venture out of this thread so I’ll ask here too

Is the board slow for anyone else?

YES! Glad to know it’s not only me.

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

Who are the players you think Howie would move up for? And how far?

I'll say: Jalon Walker, Walter Nolen, Mykel Williams, Mason Graham(if he miraculously falls), Kelvin Banks Jr.

How far... no idea. Probably mid 20's.

1 hour ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

I was also thinking about what happens if Jacksonville takes Jeanty or Mcmillan or Johnson, and Graham is still there at 10, at 11, at 12. Suddenly it’s not to unrealistic a tradeup

Regarding both Graham and Nolen, one of the factors that I believe needs to be considered is the player opportunities after them. For me the quality of those alternatives makes waiting, like they did last year with Q, with both Graham and Nolen. On the other hand I have been convinced both Walker and Williams are a step above the Edge alternatives that a modest trade up for one of those two does make sense.

6 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

Is that what he's doing? How are player names a countdown?

The numerical countdown is their jersey numbers

12 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

NIL represents a fundamental shift for the draft, as does the portal. It will never be what it was.

Agreed "for the Draft” but not "in the Draft” which was the original proposition (as I heard it).

26 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Tight end. Because at 32 you're getting the 3rd or 4th best TE in the draft class, and a position that has a high bust rate. Would be terrible roster building IMO.

I agree. Unless you are going up for Warren or Loveland, I don't see the value in selecting a TE in the 1st. Taylor is a good player but he is not a 1st round talent.

A guy that would piss off the board, Grey Zabel, might end up being a good pick. The ability to backup every OL position. I see him as a plus starter at OG and a swing tackle. Of course, that would mean that Stoutland signed off on him.

11 minutes ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

Michael Lewis.

Are you not able to post the images of the jerseys?

The random names confused me. I initially thought you were posting players you wanted in the draft

19 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

I know most of you don’t venture out of this thread so I’ll ask here too

Is the board slow for anyone else?

Yes for me.

17 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

Are you not able to post the images of the jerseys?

The random names confused me. I initially thought you were posting players you wanted in the draft

I have almost no computer skills, so no, I have no clue how to do that.

Wilbert Montgomery!!!!

15 hours ago, Know Life said:

It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about the draft. I stopped watching college football after my uncle died of cancer (he converted me into an Ohio State fan when I lived with him in Columbus while I was homeless), so maybe that’s why it’s difficult for me—I know nothing about these kids. I should get back into it, though, because I miss the excitement.

14 hours ago, ToastJenkins said:

NIL has ruined it

12 minutes ago, mattwill said:

Agreed "for the Draft” but not "in the Draft” which was the original proposition (as I heard it).

The top two quoted posts are the origin of my involvement in the conversation. And I interpretted it as being about the "process" of the Draft, rather than the "product" of the Draft. The Product is really only enjoyable for many if they actually know these players, understand their strengths/weaknesses, and have watched them in the build up to the Draft - that's how I interpretted @Know Life 's post. While, the "Product" is very much the same but, the enjoyment is very different, and seemingly lacking.

As an analogy, consider a farmer who spends months raising a pig, growing corn, beans, whatever else... and then comes Easter dinner and the pig is served with the side dishes, etc. that through the sweat of his brow he grew. The dinner will be enjoyed very differently by the farmer than his city slicker cousin that he invites to dinner. The product is the same, but they won't enjoy the meal in the same way at all. Then consider the following Easter where the city slicker cousin invites the farmer to his place for Easter dinner. And while the elements of the meal might be very much in line and even be 'identical' dishes made following the same family recipes, but they won't be enjoyed the same way by the farmer if he didn't play a role in the raising of that food. For the farmer, the process is part of the enjoyment of the product. And for many fans, the process of studying these players and all that goes with that plays a huge role in the enjoyment of Draft Weekend. BUT, with the changes to the NCAA, a lot of people have pulled back and their enjoyment is waning, as seemingly echoed by @Know Life though maybe for a different reason.

For anyone that likes The Ringer. Interesting rankings. Stewart is their top EDGE (Walker is ahead but he's listed as an LB) and Harmon their top DT.

https://nfldraft.theringer.com/

3 minutes ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

I have almost no computer skills, so no, I have no clue how to do that.

Multiple ways. You can save the image and just upload it through the "choose files.." at the bottom left of the text editor

You can also just google the image and right click them and copy and then paste in here. Or do a drag and drop

7 minutes ago, FranklinFldEBUpper said:

I have almost no computer skills, so no, I have no clue how to do that.

Right click on the image you want to post here. Left click on "copy image”.

Right click on here. Left click on "paste”.

Wonder what team will actually have Hunter play both sides. It's a bad idea IMO

Yes @Mike030270, I’m noticing the slow response times here now.

1 hour ago, mattwill said:

Good point. However, isn’t staying longer in college resulting in players who are more experienced and also more physically mature?

I don’t follow college football closely enough to speculate on whether schemes have become less complex, but that intuitively seems like a bit of a reach.

With that said, those are changes to the college game and to individual player profiles, but how does that change the NFL Draft? It chugs along just the same as it always has chugged along since they shortened it to 7 rounds.

Experienced is ambiguous term. There is going to be some exceptions, but the NCAA is turning into a mercenaries game. Urban Meyer popularized the bring in athletes to fit a simplistic scheme where athletes can beat up boys. The days of developing and cultivating talent are fast coming to an end. Michigan, ND and Alabama were probably the last 3 big boy schools to stick out the cultivate and develop culture. The only thing this new culture helps is the Cam Wards of College Football…small school or JuCo transfers that were overlooked in High School.

Long term, the trickle down effect I think will affect the NFL drastically. Scouting & player development becomes exponentially more important than it already was in the NFL.

As I see it, the NIL and transfer portals may ruin college football for some, but the draft is an NFL event. Not a college football event.

Those things happening in college football have ripple effects on the draft, but the draft will always be great. And you dont have to follow college football to be a huge draft nerd.

7 minutes ago, Mike030270 said:

Wonder what team will actually have Hunter play both sides. It's a bad idea IMO

Every team outside of maybe the Pats in the top 10 is dumb enough to do that.

add:

Cowboys

Cards

Steelers

11 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

The top two quoted posts are the origin of my involvement in the conversation. And I interpretted it as being about the "process" of the Draft, rather than the "product" of the Draft. The Product is really only enjoyable for many if they actually know these players, understand their strengths/weaknesses, and have watched them in the build up to the Draft - that's how I interpretted @Know Life 's post. While, the "Product" is very much the same but, the enjoyment is very different, and seemingly lacking.

As an analogy, consider a farmer who spends months raising a pig, growing corn, beans, whatever else... and then comes Easter dinner and the pig is served with the side dishes, etc. that through the sweat of his brow he grew. The dinner will be enjoyed very differently by the farmer than his city slicker cousin that he invites to dinner. The product is the same, but they won't enjoy the meal in the same way at all. Then consider the following Easter where the city slicker cousin invites the farmer to his place for Easter dinner. And while the elements of the meal might be very much in line and even be 'identical' dishes made following the same family recipes, but they won't be enjoyed the same way by the farmer if he didn't play a role in the raising of that food. For the farmer, the process is part of the enjoyment of the product. And for many fans, the process of studying these players and all that goes with that plays a huge role in the enjoyment of Draft Weekend. BUT, with the changes to the NCAA, a lot of people have pulled back and their enjoyment is waning, as seemingly echoed by @Know Life though maybe for a different reason.

That makes a lot of sense, and represents a different reading of @Know Life’s comment than I had. I was clearly biased in my take because I have always found "the filling” of the Draft pastry to be different from year to year. But your assessment eliminates my bias and probably is closer to what @Know Life and @ToastJenkins were thinking. Good conversation.

With that cleared up, I do think the discussion of the Draft over the past two months has been both broader and deeper and more active than in recent years. That may again be my bias speaking. What is the sense of the Blog on that take of mine?

3 hours ago, mattwill said:

Add Cobee Bryant to your list. Given the number of picks we have, Howie selecting two from that list would be a pleasant development

Yeah you could add him as well. I’d love to get Hancock with a trade up in the 4th and Frazier with one of our 4 fifth round picks.

Figure Hancock can challenge from day one with Ringo, but he’s also versatile enough to be the primary backup at both boundary and nickel corner.

Frazier to me is the most intriguing developmental prospect at CB. He’s got everything physically and is an excellent tackler.

Get those two in here and I think we can let Ringo walk and still have excellent depth by the time that happens.