If I may piggyback again

Quote
alyoshamucci
I've finished with all my grading and I'm waking up earlier so I have extra time to spend honing some draft thoughts ...

I feel like I'm getting to know them better as far as what they prioritize so I have some calls to make and maybe a few questions.

One note I want to make is something they said about interviews ... it's only if they need to "know more" ... some prospects are as shown.

The biggest area for me has been the first 3 picks. How do we maximize them.

The way I've been seeing it play out in my head now for a few weeks is Edge, WR, CB ... with Edge and WR fighting for the first spot based on who drops.

The biggest change I've seen lately is the possible drops of Hyatt and Johnston. If one of those guys is there AND McDonald is there I could see the brass choosing the weapon WR. If they aren't and McDonald is, I think we don't trade down. If none are there we trade down and take whoever we like at Edge (could be any one of about 8 guys in the next tier). The dropoff at WR is noticeable and has about a 30 player gap for me.
It's not CB, because players 5-15 all grade similarly.

For me that's pick 1. I am in full agreement here. I just don't see an OL, unless they have finally decided to fix the OL situation. But nothing is pointing to that right now. I will say if Branch somehow gets within firing range (late late 20s or 30, 31) I can see a trade up for him. I am fully expecting a trade down at this point. TE could also be tempting, but its such a deep class, the board is going to have to fall just right for that to happen. I could see a trade down or multiple trade downs and going after LaPorta. I do not see IDL, QB, RB, S as options. Its EDGE, CB, WR, OL with an outside shot of TE in the 2nd.

Picks 2 and three end up being WR or edge, whichever we don't get at 36, and a CB. Again, I agree. With the caveat that RB is very much in play here as well as a TE that could slide.

Could we end up with a trade down here, as well? Sure.
If we trade our first down it's less likely, but still very possible depending on what everyone else is doing.

So ... 4 players at each position.

CB for me is a definite, and likely the first 3rd rounder. My order of preference, not necessarily how it shakes out. I'm also going to note that in a normal year each of these guys would be being considered for a first round pick. My guess is two are there for us just based on the #s.
Rush Strongly agree, I'm not sure we've ever both agreed so closely on a prospect. Its pretty cool.
Phillips Absolutely agree as well.
Brents Agree with him as well. He might be the Rams first choice in the 3rd round CBs
Stevenson Disagree, I like him more in press man, my 4th would be Riley Moss, I know it might be a round early, but he is legit.
I'm going to note that we met with Trice ... but this is too high for him. Yeah too high. Agree.

If we don't go WR, which I believe is the more likely scenario with our first ...
Rashee Rice I really like him, no idea why no one else does.
Cedric Tillman Love him as well, does he actually make the 2nd, i dinged him 1 round for medicals, but I'm guessing the Rams had him in house for a more thorough exam by their doctors.
Marvin Mims I like Mims, but I'd grab Tyler Scott
Andrei Iosevas (by most accounts this would be a reach, but I firmly disagree) I can see him as 3rd round pick. I'd trade back in the 3rd and add more picks and grab him though.
These players all have had weird years ... and are all very different players. In my opinion only one will be gone by 69 and likely 1 more by 77.

If somehow we end up with Hyatt or Johnston with our first pick ... edge players would be ...
Derrick Hall Absolute HR pick in the 3rd, has really grown on me the last couple of months
Byron Young Another HR pick here, hard to go wrong with either.
*******
Yaya Diaby I'm not as high on him as you, but I'll defer to you on this one. I have no issues with him. Dylan Horton would be my fourth edge.
Andre Carter (He will need a year before he can go every down) I still like him in the 3rd, but he does need more time.
My bet is the top 2 would need to be taken at the beginning of round 3 while we could take the others at 77 or after a trade down.

That is my "beginning of the draft" Three players at premium positions of high value.
The big miss I will likely have here is RB. So
Charbonnet
Abanikanda
Kendre Miller even
Might be chosen over a WR. Which I'm fine with. As a note I don't believe there is any way Gibbs gets out of round 1. And those guys honestly may all be gone.
Those 3 would be my targets. I also don't see Gibbs getting out of the 2nd. I guess it all depends on when Robinson goes.

The rest of the draft gets interesting. Most of it is gravy. there's good talent and we have a lot of picks.

I think we want to come out with another CB and another edge. Agreed (is this getting boring yet? lol )
I think we like our starting safeties.
I think our O line is set for starters (in the eyes of the brass) Yeah, it'll be developmental or depth picks later
I think we've been eyeballing MANY players we expect will go undrafted (Tyler Beach Wis, Grant Gibson, NCst) Yeah, small school kids like Okada from Mont. State and the like.
I don't think we draft kicker or punter. Nor do I.
I think we don't want to draft a QB, but might take Tune. I think the Rams go hard on Tune. He is really picking up steam with the media. So are they hearing stuff from FOs? Phil Simms was on with Kirwin and Jim Miller today and raved about him. Kirwin and Miller love him as well. I think he goes way higher than everyone expects.
Good news for the last two is the USFL and XFL have given us some extra tape on guys with pro experience.
I believe we might go after Brodrick Martin at nose ... agreed.
I believe if we go WR early rather than RB we take a high value player down here. Should be GREAT value. there will be a 4th round rated RB or 2 that slide to later day 3. Always happens. Be ready to pounce.
LB and Safety down here, also great value. I also agree. Esp with Safety.
I think we will only draft a TE if one slides further than expected. We will go after an undrafted TE or 2 (If Gindorff doesn't get drafted I expect him in Horns, Ben Sims is another, Ezeike also) I am a huge fan of TE in this class so this is hard. But I do like next year's class also. Rams know NDSU guys (Brayden Thomas last year) so Gindorff makes sense. As does John Stephens Jr.


I know that the desire for a better O line is serious. I know. I don't like this year's crop that much. Lots of maybes. I'd rather them take some late and mold them for a year and load up on premium positions. And next year I'm purchasing a permanent left tackle ... period. If they don't grab one early, Im waiting until the end of the draft to get any. The middle of the draft is my personal abyss for OL.

Top 2 rounds I'll put out Tuesday. Only 79 players this year. cannot wait

Of course 1 more thing ...

Other teams make a lot of mistakes. There could be top end value in the 5th.