Grade the fucking draft

B.

Everyone loved #14. Hopefully it translates on the field. Seems like they were very familiar with Short spending time with him. I think the biggest thing for the two dt's is that they will be in a rotation and won't have to play 90% of the time.

Kugbila is a weird one. Want to like it but we know there will be growing pains like with Amini. Hopefully that Aini steps up otherwise our OL blows.
I'm okay with Klein. Moderately talented and with versatility our LB's aren't the most durable these days unfortunately. Ideally he only plays on ST. Dan Connor?
As for Barner I don't hate the pick. Obviously no real need and maybe Ellington would have been a better pick but is insurance again for DW /Stew injury and is better than Armond Smith or whomever that other dude is. Not sure how many touches he will get with Tolbert in the mix.

So one starter and one guys who will be heavy in the rotation. Possible. But unlikely RG. And some reasonable depth, special teams at 5/6.

B

 

I don't understand eschewing competition for Byron Bell because there were guys available in the fourth and fifth who could legitimately challenge him even if they believe he'll get better.

 

C.

Star fell to us, but almost everyone else was a head scratcher, as much as I love the SHort pic.

To not address the OL seriously is going to be a mistake. We left starters out there, plain and simple.

TBD is correct overall, but we left two major weaknesses (secondary and OL) out in the cold, and that's not ok. Especially when there were good players out there to be had.

 

Agree. But I wonder if they plan to pick up a vet that is out there now or will be released by someone who drafted OL.

 

I'm not a pushover for anyone, regardless of credentials or history, but Gettleman knew what he wanted and was very decisive. Certainly can't argue with his history. Time will tell.

I saw an earlier comparison to Silatolu, but there's no rap on this guy not being being smart. Just saying.

 

One can only hope...

 

ONly one I question is caligula, but only because I know other people question it.

This is like when parents ask me if my kid's school is good. WTF do I know? I know it's not a ghetto school. I know all the volunteer positions fill up - so those bitches like the school. So - if all those bitches like it - I guess it's good.

Based on the above, the whole draft was good except Caligula.

I would say if our draft was a neighborhood, young white women could safely jog alone.

A-

 

B if 4th doesn't pan out. A if he does...the first 2 picks were awesome. AJ Klein will be a very valuable player. Barner is definately worth the pick in the 6th. Love the draft...if that 4th was Phillip Thomas its an A+ but if Edmund works out one day...GREAT draft.

AJ Klein is Kueckly light. Averaging 117 tackles with 4 ints for TDs? (Can drop into coverage). Like that pick. I think Barner could one day come from the slot and be effective, good hands.

 

Everyone always thinks they nailed it and have 5 new starters. Facts are you probably only have 2 if you're lucky, 1 gets cut and 2 more are backups for years.

So did we get 2 starters out of this class?

Having Star fall into our laps elevates our overall grade to B reguardless of picking anyone else. Providing of course he lives up to all the hype and love we've been giving him here since about week 10 when we thought we were in the running for a top 3 pick.

But thats an A++ pick in itself.

Kawaan Short. Apparently top of our board going in Friday. I was calling for a Vaccaro/Short combo heading into the draft. The value was there in the pick for sure. Its just coming to terms that it was a need. Maybe we had a little too much faith in Cole, Fua and Kearse. Does he start day 1, maybe not, but he will be heavily rotated in. Played alot of snaps just like Star, and fatigue was an issue. He has already lost a bunch of weight and excelled against top competition at the Senior Bowl including the likes of Warford that many wanted at 44.

This pick is an A and one of the better ones ive felt about in years. I feel the 2nd round curse has finally been lifted (touch wood).

I dont know if I see talent below him drafted in round 2 that screams out to me. Banks went before. I guess we could have gone with Amerson/Taylor/Alford here. But we did bring in some bodies for DB in Florence, DJ, Mitchell and we retained Munny. Im more comfortable with what we have at DB over DT prior to the draft. I think this would have been the point to trade down if we were going to do it. Maybe picking up a 3rd or 4th and targeting Warford who went in round 3.

Edmund Kugbila. This just screams Amini all over again. I think most of us would prefere to avoid the D2 route for finding players. This one's on the coaching staff. Had we taken Quessenberry, Jones or Bakhtiari here most wouldn't have gone balistic. Right now he is pretty much an unknown but to start all he really has to do is beat out Piggy. Does he start week 1, probably not but he is obviously the teams plan for the future at RG. We do have a decent history with drafting linemen too. He has what Polian calls PQ's.

I need to at least see him play before I can judge him but I give it a C- for looking like a reach. I hope Amini and Kugbila shove it down my throat and dominate next year. Amini showed improvement late in the year so it'll probably be another year or two before we see what they can do.


AJ Klien. I thought the need for LB was pretty obvious. I was looking at prospects rated higher than the 5th round. Was thinking Arthur and Moore in round 2 or with an addtional pickup in round 3 with a trade down or even Khaseem Green instead of Kugbila. While Klien is listed as an ILB he has the flexibilty and experience to play SLB. We need a backup behind Beason even is he stays healthy and manages to make it through 16 games. Onatolu was cut so that only left Senn/Chase and JW who has been in and out of the squad like a yoyo. Probably only impacts special teams year one like most 5th rounders. But it looks like a pretty safe pick with the potential to stick around for years and even start when others get injured. Likely our #1 LB sub once he gets up to speed. The value here was great and his skill set matches the direction the league is heading. Dont want to compare him to Conner because I think he's better in converage. More like Keek lite.

This pick get a solid B+ from me.

Kenjon Barner. Not a need for the immediate future but his talent is outstanding. He has been a personal favorite of mine for along time so I just love the pick. Has experience with the zone read already, can field punt, kick returns, screens and can even develop into more of a slot guy at WR. Could be a long term answer to some interesting questions in the future if he continues to excell.

Not a need pick but I love it, A++. Will be another 6 rounder we are so proud of, like Hardy. Won't start but could see a bunch of touches.

By week 1 we could have 2 starters in Star and Kugbila, a rotational guy in Short (could actually beat out Star or Dwan to start) and 2 backups in Klien and Barner. And both Klien and Barner could see significant snaps.

However, all that said, Im still not happy with Bell having literally no competition at RT and we have nobody behind Olsen other than Hartsock and Brockel. We need another deep threat at TE. Those spots could have been addressed in picks 5 and 6.

Lester as a UDFA has a real shot to claim a FS spot too with Martin gone and no replacement brought in.

And for those that want or see Rivera/Shula replaced next year this is the draft we should have put together in Foxys last year. Draft the foundation and let the new HC buy the toys.

Im really excited about having Star and Short wreaking havoc in front of Keek, Davis and hopefully Beason. Not to mention what it means for CJ and Hardy.

We went to a SB with a solid front 4 and shit in the secondary.

 

I keep seeing Kuechly lite with Klein, and AUstin lite with Barner, but the fact is, they're not.

Kuechly and Austin were high 1st round draft choices, and did not fall to the fucking basement rounds like the others did.

They're not player A lite. They're just not. Sorry.

Barner fumbles a lot. Awesome, so that's cool.

Klein gets dragged around while he tries to tackle people and taken for Oklahoma Hey Rides. That's cool too. Also late to the fucking ball a lot.

Yay! Awesome!

They might contribute, that's fine. I'm sure I can do no better, and I'm sure they were rated highly for a reason, and I'm not ready to bash Gettleman in the least. I think he was wonderful on the first day, and I think Short has a more tangible showing than Lotolelei does - a tangible showing, as in more sacks, and may seem more disruptive, though SL will allow our backers to shine more. I just get tired of hearing that Klein and Barner are "liter" or "v2" versions of great talents.

As for TE, might as well go sign the fucking Soldia. I mean, why not.