2018 Draft Recap/Grades

[Balls2TheWalls]

For those that are furious we didn't get Derwin James:

Kenny Vaccaro and Eric Reid are out there for practically the league minimum.

Reid not being on an NFL roster is not a money decision. Unfortunately, I don't foresee the NFL budging on his stances. Great player that is hurt by being an advocate for his people.

[raws]

I can't roast Cleveland for taking Mayfield. I think he's gonna be awesome. But I can laugh at them over their thought process. All the intangible stuff as it relates to Rosen and Darnold is hilarious. Seriously WTF was that Rosen ****?

Also think Ward was the right pick over Chubb.

Teams who needed a QB this year were in a tough spot. To be frank, I don't think any of the QBs available were great choices. I think Rosen is probably the best "prospect", but the criticisms of him were basically that he doesn't like football. That's a dangerous spot for any GM and, adding in the injury concerns, it'd be tough to stake your future in him. If you miss on that pick, you get fired. As much as I hate to say it, I think Elway nailed it this year by kicking the QB problem down the road and getting arguably the best player in the draft.

[ReasonablySober]

I can't roast Cleveland for taking Mayfield. I think he's gonna be awesome. But I can laugh at them over their thought process. All the intangible stuff as it relates to Rosen and Darnold is hilarious. Seriously WTF was that Rosen ****?

Also think Ward was the right pick over Chubb.

Teams who needed a QB this year were in a tough spot. To be frank, I don't think any of the QBs available were great choices. I think Rosen is probably the best "prospect", but the criticisms of him were basically that he doesn't like football. That's a dangerous spot for any GM and, adding in the injury concerns, it'd be tough to stake your future in him. If you miss on that pick, you get fired. As much as I hate to say it, I think Elway nailed it this year by kicking the QB problem down the road and getting arguably the best player in the draft.

I think with Rosen they took a guy who came from some money, had other interests outside of football, and extrapolated it to mean he doesn't love football. I think it's pretty absurd when you consider how much work has to go into being the #1 high school prospect and a prolific QB so early in college. I think it's absolutely insane. The intangible stuff cited by meatheads by Highsmith is laughable.

As for Elway, I never really understood why they were in the market for a QB in the first place. They landed the QB for the 2nd best team in the NFC last year. Dude was damn near the MVP.

[BUCKnation]

Yeah, I liked them picking Rosen, but totally forgot about them throwing big money at Keenum. Kind of a weird move, but it's only a 2 year deal.

[Balls2TheWalls]

That is not how I've taken any analysis of Rosen. I've taken it to mean that he's a turd. I haven't seen a single person talk about him being a leader, a person people like being around, or a person who makes other players around him better. Everyone said he could make the throws, a lot of people have come out and said he isn't the kind of person you want to have be the face of your franchise.

[wichmae]

Ive actaully interpreted it as a little bit of both sides. I think some teams also saw injury flags too. IMO Rosen was my favorite QB this class. I think he ban make all the throws and has the pocket awareness of an NFL QB right now. Darnold I think has low IQ reaction throws and doesnt anticipate well. Allen is all physical traits with mediocre production on a small school level and I cant stand Baker Mayfield. He just never sees portions of the field. He seems way too erratic. Love me some Josh Rosen and I think he landed in the perfect spot for him to be successful.

[jakecronus8]

Still a little bothered that we drafted a punter and a damn long snapper.

I don't care that we had a ton of picks. Draft two athletic pass rushers as a shot in the dark before you invest in specialists (particularly since we have a good punter in Vogel). Not major but just so darn silly.

[UWM_Brew_Buck]

Still a little bothered that we drafted a punter and a damn long snapper.

I don't care that we had a ton of picks. Draft two athletic pass rushers as a shot in the dark before you invest in specialists (particularly since we have a good punter in Vogel). Not major but just so darn silly.

I can see the argument for both sides but when you are contenders like the Packers and you have a chance to get two guys on your roster that will stick around for a while vs a shot in a dark I don't mind it. I am not a fan of drafting a punter in the 5th but if they feel that Vogel can't hold the kicks that is a major concern. Long snapper's are normally just a guy but we apparently had a hard time finding one and I have no problem using a 7th to lock in to the guy we want.

[IrishRainbow]

Would I love the cake, icing, sprinkles, ice cream, etc. ? Obviously. Full disclaimer: I'm a Tim Thomas sucker for potential so the NFL draft usually should be glistening with silver linings but for some reason NFL just doesn't equate that way for me. This year though, I'm buying just about everything off the shelf. Including the punter and LS. If GB thinks that it got low(er) risk, high % upgrade, locked in at a couple positions at the cost(s) of a 5th and 7th? Count me in. I'm confident that the % difference chance of Vogel/Scott becoming elite at that position is far and away greater than taking that lower grade edge and having him and the last edge/rush end roster spot battle it out and expecting even marginal impact in a single game much less a seasons worth. To a far lessor extent LS but we're also talking 7th rounder. I think the CB value/need and talent in Rd 1,2 is simply too much to even warrant explanation. I'm not sold on Burks, but I see some tools there, not sure I'm trading up necessarily for those tools, but again, their guy on their board most likely close to closing out that tier, so whatever. The glut of WR? I'm not sure it works, but I like it...I'd like it more if someone could emerge that could take the top off the defense, but the quick 40s should suggest that,even without maybe the top end speed, that maybe on the augmented plays these guys can create quick separation over the top? My hopes are, like others', that the WR draft trio sorts itself out like last year's RBs did...although hopefully it sorts out quicker. Looney/Madison? Sure. Highlights are just that. A lot of disparity in opines for these two, but it's late round meat, of they provide anything more than GameDay insurance...bonus. Can Donnerson even jump out of a pool? If not, he's not long for this league.

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[Profound23]

If the worst thing about our draft is we took a punter in the 5th and LS in the 7th then we are sitting pretty. Remember that we weren't the first team to take a punter and Oakland took one right after us. If we really thought Scott was the man for the job but waited until later and the Raiders snatch him up to become their next probowl special teams player we feel dumb.

Also, based on this info alone I think we get a very high grade.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/04/saints-paid-an-unusually-big-price-to-draft-marcus-davenport/

And giving up two first-round picks for the 14th overall pick is unheard of: According to ESPN, it was the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that a team gave away two first-round draft picks to acquire a pick outside the Top 12.

A brand new GM just fleeced one team for more value than ever done before, then traded a 3rd to move practically back up where he originally was.

[ReasonablySober]

If the worst thing about our draft is we took a punter in the 5th and LS in the 7th then we are sitting pretty. Remember that we weren't the first team to take a punter and Oakland took one right after us. If we really thought Scott was the man for the job but waited until later and the Raiders snatch him up to become their next probowl special teams player we feel dumb.

Also, based on this info alone I think we get a very high grade.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/04/saints-paid-an-unusually-big-price-to-draft-marcus-davenport/

And giving up two first-round picks for the 14th overall pick is unheard of: According to ESPN, it was the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that a team gave away two first-round draft picks to acquire a pick outside the Top 12.

A brand new GM just fleeced one team for more value than ever done before, then traded a 3rd to move practically back up where he originally was.

That's what would drive me absolutely insane if I were a Saints fan.

[Profound23]

If the worst thing about our draft is we took a punter in the 5th and LS in the 7th then we are sitting pretty. Remember that we weren't the first team to take a punter and Oakland took one right after us. If we really thought Scott was the man for the job but waited until later and the Raiders snatch him up to become their next probowl special teams player we feel dumb.

Also, based on this info alone I think we get a very high grade.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/04/saints-paid-an-unusually-big-price-to-draft-marcus-davenport/

And giving up two first-round picks for the 14th overall pick is unheard of: According to ESPN, it was the first time since the AFL-NFL merger that a team gave away two first-round draft picks to acquire a pick outside the Top 12.

A brand new GM just fleeced one team for more value than ever done before, then traded a 3rd to move practically back up where he originally was.

That's what would drive me absolutely insane if I were a Saints fan.

Agreed, it's literally the opposite of Draft Day.