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Let me first say that I am a fan of this draft. I know there will probably be many who would have made other picks at specific spots ... but the value and timing was good on every pick in my opinion ... and I expect there to be fierce competition come August.
2) Gerald Everett after a trade down ... This, if anyone remembers, was literally my second option after drafting Engram at 37. Everett had pretty close to first round talent and was really only dinged by competition level. He's smart and can be the slot bowling ball. It's a needed part of the offense and there were only 3 real top end options. We got one.
3) Cooper Kupp. Every time someone speaks of a poor 40 time someone else mentions Jerry Rice or Anquan Boldin. Both likely hall of famers. Because the tenacity with which they play the game and their commitment to their craft made them more than just football players, it made them technicians. As a small school kid, he came into the Senior Bowl and dominated against a really solid class of CBs. He was slower than them, and it didn't matter. I'm a huge fan of this pick.
3) John Johnson S ... I think there were quite a few scratching their heads here ... especially with Jourdan Lewis going next. Johnson is 6-0 208 with the feet and hips of a CB ... and we are a year away from having decisions to make on Mo and Joyner IIRC. He's likely our starter at the position going forward into the next era.
4) Josh Reynolds WR ... Again, I had him ranked much higher than most, and he was one of my favorite players in the draft, because he's skinny and plays fearlessly. The catches he made at Senior Bowl practice against stiff competition wowed me multiple times, and that's after I was already a fan and expected him to succeed. The odds of Kupp and Reynolds being our 1 and 2 going forward are actually really high. I bet we keep 6 WRs ... but they will have to work for it.
Reynolds in the 4th was on most of my mocks ...
4) Ebukam ... 3-4 OLB with great measurables and bend to groom behind two starters and to play special teams ... count me in. This is the spot where you take your flier on an athletic kid.
The 5th round was hard for me watching a lot of players come off the board.
6) Tanzel Smart. Some liked him as a 2nd or 3rd round option. He's depth for now but he has been a productive player playjng a LOT of snaps for many years.
6) Sam Rogers. Okay, I guess if you want a FB, this is the guy. I liked him much better than the FSU kid.
7) Ejuan Price ... another one of my targets and one of my favorite underdog players. I had him labeled as a top 3 round pick until I saw his height. And I couldn't get past it. Still had him with a 4th or fifth round grade ... he is non stop motor and has a rather large amount of pash rush savvy. He's a football player.
Justin Davis is my top UDFA. He's a solid backup that has size and speed and experience.
Penton is a great nickel ... plays angry.
Dravorious Wright I think will surprise people, overshadowed by Josh Jones at NC state ...
Johnny Mundt had to deal with weird QB and scheme stuff at Oregon or he would have been valued higher.
Eldrenkamp I had graded in the mid to late rounds ...
Thoughts and comments welcome.
2) Gerald Everett after a trade down ... This, if anyone remembers, was literally my second option after drafting Engram at 37. Everett had pretty close to first round talent and was really only dinged by competition level. He's smart and can be the slot bowling ball. It's a needed part of the offense and there were only 3 real top end options. We got one.
3) Cooper Kupp. Every time someone speaks of a poor 40 time someone else mentions Jerry Rice or Anquan Boldin. Both likely hall of famers. Because the tenacity with which they play the game and their commitment to their craft made them more than just football players, it made them technicians. As a small school kid, he came into the Senior Bowl and dominated against a really solid class of CBs. He was slower than them, and it didn't matter. I'm a huge fan of this pick.
3) John Johnson S ... I think there were quite a few scratching their heads here ... especially with Jourdan Lewis going next. Johnson is 6-0 208 with the feet and hips of a CB ... and we are a year away from having decisions to make on Mo and Joyner IIRC. He's likely our starter at the position going forward into the next era.
4) Josh Reynolds WR ... Again, I had him ranked much higher than most, and he was one of my favorite players in the draft, because he's skinny and plays fearlessly. The catches he made at Senior Bowl practice against stiff competition wowed me multiple times, and that's after I was already a fan and expected him to succeed. The odds of Kupp and Reynolds being our 1 and 2 going forward are actually really high. I bet we keep 6 WRs ... but they will have to work for it.
Reynolds in the 4th was on most of my mocks ...
4) Ebukam ... 3-4 OLB with great measurables and bend to groom behind two starters and to play special teams ... count me in. This is the spot where you take your flier on an athletic kid.
The 5th round was hard for me watching a lot of players come off the board.
6) Tanzel Smart. Some liked him as a 2nd or 3rd round option. He's depth for now but he has been a productive player playjng a LOT of snaps for many years.
6) Sam Rogers. Okay, I guess if you want a FB, this is the guy. I liked him much better than the FSU kid.
7) Ejuan Price ... another one of my targets and one of my favorite underdog players. I had him labeled as a top 3 round pick until I saw his height. And I couldn't get past it. Still had him with a 4th or fifth round grade ... he is non stop motor and has a rather large amount of pash rush savvy. He's a football player.
Justin Davis is my top UDFA. He's a solid backup that has size and speed and experience.
Penton is a great nickel ... plays angry.
Dravorious Wright I think will surprise people, overshadowed by Josh Jones at NC state ...
Johnny Mundt had to deal with weird QB and scheme stuff at Oregon or he would have been valued higher.
Eldrenkamp I had graded in the mid to late rounds ...
Thoughts and comments welcome.
