Official 2024 Draft Thread

And zone drops.

McDuffie's lack of speed in a Cover-1 would be even more exposed. Preston likely would remain a bit of an Elephant rather than a traditional DE and they could use someone with a bit of mobility behind him. It would also allow more blitz variety with a guy who can drop well from that spot.

They still need two safeties, likely still interchangeable as to not be too predictable.

They probably need a LB relatively early. Maybe someone line Javon Solomon from Troy to back up Preston and a Edefuan Ulofoshio from Washington or Ty'Ron Harper from Missouri for the other LB spot. Those guys can probably be had Round 3 or a bit later, leaving early picks for DBs/O-line.

Quay seems like an aberration, so I'm not sure they'd use a top pick on a Jeremiah Trotter Jr, for example.

@Herschel posted:

Tried a different exercise this evening. Focus on this one is all about protecting Jordan Love. Jenkins or Tom would likely end up at Center, and replaces Dillon with Allen and adds Blake Watson as a rotational pass catcher.

What is the significance of the little blue circles?

That means the reaction to the draft is like Viagra, it gives you a stiffy.

@Timmy! posted:

What is the significance of the little blue circles?

Those are trades. The algorithm had JJMcCarthy still on the board, so I used the extra picks and moved back up a bit for Suamataia when he was still there.

@Herschel posted:

Those are trades. The algorithm had JJMcCarthy still on the board, so I used the extra picks and moved back up a bit for Suamataia when he was still there.

That makes better sense than my guess. Thanks for the clarification, and the work. I thought it meant they were available online to chat.

I thought it meant he could re-do the pick if he didn't like it

@Timmy! posted:

What is the significance of the little blue circles?

A trade.

Different from dark circles. That's just lack of sleep.

This year could be be one of the most interesting drafts in recent memory.
In addition to teams that have an immediate need at QB, there are teams who are in a 'transitional phase'; they may have a QB that can play in 2024, but will need a replacement by the following year.
It would be ideal for them to take a QB this year, and develop him before becoming the starter, but so many will thrust them into that role immediately, and will sink or swim with the results.

While doing a disservice to the player, coaches and team.

Most of the press I've seen post-regular season about the OL has centered on Walker and Tom and how much they have both improved and look like steals.

What I haven't read much about is Jenkins.  He was the budding superstar the last couple years as an elite G that could play well all over the line.  He had the injury but did he return to form this year or did he regress a bit? 

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/...son-quinyon-mitchell

Linked article covers several topics from The Senior Bowl, but the one I found interesting was the comments on kids staying in school because of NIL $$

NIL Is Changing This Draft

This season, the NFL will welcome fewer young players than ever. Just five years ago, 136 underclassmen declared for the draft. This year there are 58. There are two main reasons for this: name, image, and likeness rules that allow players to sign endorsement deals and get paid while in college, and the transfer portal, which makes it easier for players to change teams.

A few years ago, players who expected to go in the fourth round might have declared for the draft because they needed the money or didn’t have a way to improve their draft stock. Now those players can be paid to stay in school and/or transfer to a better opportunity to showcase their skills.

Colleges have long treated athletes like unpaid employees, and now the athletes are treating schools like businesses. And now these business decisions are having an impact on the NFL draft.

Players like Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka, both of whom were projected to be picked within the first two rounds of this draft, decided to return to school for their senior seasons after dealing with injuries in 2023. Now that players can be paid, priorities can change. Being the senior starting running back at Ohio State is probably a lot more fun than being a rookie backup running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars."

As more juniors go back to school, the later rounds get watered down. Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, said that the depth in the back half of their projected seven-round 2024 draft class got “wiped out.”

“If I’ve got day three picks, I’m trading and moving around,” Nagy said.
I’m moving up in those first four rounds for sure. It’s not just our board [that got wiped out]. I’ve spoken to teams in the league. They got wiped out as well.
So I think you’re going to see a lot of movement of teams, either trying to move up in the first four rounds or trying to move out and get picks for next year.”

Money changes everything. While I agree that college athletes should get some of the pie, the fact that their earning potential is unlimited is just goofy. It's not so much that they are shorting the NFL -- it can stand the hit -- but those guys are also sucking up scholarship money that could go to other kids coming along.  They get five years of eligibility, plus we all know how loose it can be for a sixth year for "injury" or other things, and they have to take six credit hours to remain eligible, so they can be part-time students. And with them staying, high school kids are now stuck without a place to go as more athlete-students remain in college for the NIL money.

Give them money, but let's be reasonable.

I think they should get paid but this whole new chapter of college sports is way too Wild West for me.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg1meK-IgOM

@Satori posted:

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/...son-quinyon-mitchell

Linked article covers several topics from The Senior Bowl, but the one I found interesting was the comments on kids staying in school because of NIL $$

Players like Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka, both of whom were projected to be picked within the first two rounds of this draft, decided to return to school for their senior seasons after dealing with injuries in 2023. Now that players can be paid, priorities can change. Being the senior starting running back at Ohio State is probably a lot more fun than being a rookie backup running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars."

As more juniors go back to school, the later rounds get watered down. Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, said that the depth in the back half of their projected seven-round 2024 draft class got “wiped out.”

“If I’ve got day three picks, I’m trading and moving around,” Nagy said.
I’m moving up in those first four rounds for sure. It’s not just our board [that got wiped out].

The plus side for Nagy is more guys staying means more good seniors to invite to the Senior Bowl. Maybe it's recency bias, but this year's practices and game probably will feature more overall talent, especially at QB and RB.

2023 has Tyson Bagent, Hendon Hooker, Jake Haener, Clayton Tune, Jaren Hall of Vikings fame, Max Duggan and Malik Cunningham at QB, all day-three guys with the likely ceiling of Jim Sorgi.

This year has Penix and Nix, as well as guys probably at least as good as last year's batch, probably better.

@Herschel posted:

The plus side for Nagy is more guys staying means more good seniors to invite to the Senior Bowl. Maybe it's recency bias, but this year's practices and game probably will feature more overall talent, especially at QB and RB.

2023 has Tyson Bagent, Hendon Hooker, Jake Haener, Clayton Tune, Jaren Hall of Vikings fame, Max Duggan and Malik Cunningham at QB, all day-three guys with the likely ceiling of Jim Sorgi.

This year has Penix and Nix, as well as guys probably at least as good as last year's batch, probably better.

The problem for guys like Penix is they are so old once they do come into the league.  Penix is only a year and a half younger than Love and Love has 4 seasons in the NFL already.

So while guys can make NIL money, teams are always going to take the younger standout players over the older ones all things being equal.  And since where you are drafted determines how much your rookie contract is worth, that can be a lot of money to give up.

If we are looking for a RB, and we are, here's a guy that reminds me a lot of Aaron Jones. Rasheen Ali, RB, out of Marshall. I picked him up in the 7th Round in a mock I recently did.

@vitaflo posted:

The problem for guys like Penix is they are so old once they do come into the league.  Penix is only a year and a half younger than Love and Love has 4 seasons in the NFL already.

So while guys can make NIL money, teams are always going to take the younger standout players over the older ones all things being equal.  And since where you are drafted determines how much your rookie contract is worth, that can be a lot of money to give up.

On the flip side, with the new review criteria, it's also a much easier gamble to go back and try to gain a much higher draft position.

It certainly doesn't help the NFL, but helping the NFL isn't the players' highest priority.

This Wild West NIL/Portal is hilarious.....the players have flipped it on the NCAA and I'm laughing at it.

I'm surprised Reggie Bush isn't suing for defamation of character and to get his Heisman returned.

......and now you can see why Hafley said..."screw this.....I'm going to the pros so I can coach football."

@DH13 posted:

Most of the press I've seen post-regular season about the OL has centered on Walker and Tom and how much they have both improved and look like steals.

What I haven't read much about is Jenkins.  He was the budding superstar the last couple years as an elite G that could play well all over the line.  He had the injury but did he return to form this year or did he regress a bit?

542 pass blocking snaps and zero sacks allowed.   IMO his run blocking digressed a little but he is still one of, if not the, best guard in the NFL in my mind.

Heard/saw a couple of bits from Ben Fennell and he doesn't seem to trust Walker at LT, saying he kind of overachieved last year and the Packers should have a plan going forward.

A 7th rd pick started 18 of 19 games, at LT, had a very good year, and Fennell thinks he overachieved?

I like Ben's work, but c'mon guy.

@Herschel posted:

Heard/saw a couple of bits from Ben Fennell...

Like Fennell's tweets for the most part.
His buddy "eye in the sky" is good too.

Forever Fennell

@H5 posted:

   

A 7th rd pick started 18 of 19 games, at LT, had a very good year, and Fennell thinks he overachieved?

I like Ben's work, but c'mon guy.

It's probably because he was a 7th round pick.  People can't get over where guys were drafted for some reason.  So of course he "overachieved" instead of improved.

Of course he over achieved.  The question is, is it sustainable?   I don’t see why not.  Especially when you consider he was a rookie.  

Strange thought process to think he will regress instead of improve in his 2nd year.

Walker was in his second year, not a rookie.

That’s right.  Concept remains the same.  

Is college football destroying itself? Unsustainable structure right now.

@vitaflo posted:

It's probably because he was a 7th round pick.  People can't get over where guys were drafted for some reason.  So of course he "overachieved" instead of improved.

He started the year a little rough but had good spots. Probably explains why they stuck with him.

Luke Butkus & Ryan Mahaffey  boys & girls....I think they're good 😊👍 - Stenavich may have some input too.

I seem to remember was actually a high ranked player in the year prior to his draft class. I don't know what happened or why he dropped in the year prior to being drafted.

Rasheed won honorable mention and 3rd team Big Ten awards in the two seasons prior to the draft.  He declared as a red shirt Junior.
IIRC, some scouts reportedly had him projected as high as a 4th round pick.
Seventh round worked out well for the Pack.

I wonder what Fennell thought of Mark Tauscher. Did he overachieve for 10 straight years? 

@ammo posted:

I wonder what Fennell thought of Mark Tauscher. Did he overachieve for 10 straight years?

Or Donald Driver 🙂

Fennel is usually really good and seeing Walker make a jump in year 2 is what most pros do. At least the ones that are going to be anything.

Only way Walker "regresses" would be if he gets lazy and doesn't put the work in. I don't see that happening.

i believe lack of work ethic was the rap on walker before he was drafted  

People change especially when money is involved. Guess we'll see if he wants to work for it or not

i’m in favor of spending a high pick on an offensive tackle in this draft, assuming there’s someone available at a place in the draft that makes sense.

Packers supposedly will have 11 draft picks when the compensatory picks are added. With the team this young and already a ton of first and 2nd year guys, do the Packers even have room to add up to 11 new rookie players? I don't think so. I suspect Gutey will wheel and deal to move up throughout the draft and end up with 6 or 7 picks. Just a hunch.

Kevin "Sonny" Costner and I (mostly) agree with this thesis.  Competition is good.   No Sconnie POS QB's like Bo freakin Callahan