The NFL Draft happened this weekend (okay, it started on Thursday) and as usual, it was filled with interesting moments as well as completely predictable things. For example, we all knew Trevor Lawrence would go #1 and Zach Wilson #2, but who would have guessed the Bears would trade up to #11 to take Justin Fields? I do not think many people saw that coming. Or how about the fact that Penn State had three players taken in a row in the seventh round? Shaka Toney, Michal Menet, and Will Fries went in the final round in that order. I am not sure if that has ever happened before.
I am sure you are all dying to know how I did with my mock draft. I managed to pick four correctly: Lawrence, Wilson, Mac Jones, and Kwity Paye. I was hoping for five, but I am with four, especially since I got Jones going to the Patriots without them having to trade up. I am also pleased with the fact that so many of the players I considered at certain spots went either one or two picks away (for example, I saw Kyle Pitts all over the place on mock drafts–hell, there were people who thought he might fall to the Steelers, but I had him going at #5 and he ended up #4). It is also funny because I had the Giants taking DeVonta Smith (the first time I did it, I had the Eagles taking him at #6, but then they traded down). It seems the Giants wanted him, but once the Eagles went back up, they were willing to swap with the Bears.
The big debate has been whether or not the Steelers had a good draft or a bad one. According to some people, it was the worst draft ever and to others it was fantastic. I think it has the potential to be very good. I like Najee Harris, in fact I thought he would go earlier to the Cardinals. The fear is the offensive line, but I think the o-line got better with Maurkice Pouncey retiring and Alejandro Villanueva leaving. I think those two were past their prime and more suited for pass blocking. Zach Banner will be healthy and the Steelers drafted two linemen later with their third and fourth picks.
The pick I love is Pat Freiermuth in the second round. I figured he would go early second round or maybe even late first round (I thought the Patriots may draft him if they could not land a QB–take him, then go for Trask in the next round). One thing people forget is that a tight end that can block helps the running game. The Steelers have lacked a blocking tight end since Heath retired. Freiermuth can block, but also is a fantastic receiver.
Other draft observations…
-Watching the draft is fun, but also brutal. Every pick they have to tell a story about how that player had a rough life and overcame adversity. Or about how the player did not play football until they were a senior in high school. It just gets old.
-Penn State had six players drafted, which is the same as Pitt (although they did it in opposite ways–Penn State had two first rounders and a second rounder, then three in the seventh, whereas Pitt did not have anyone until the third round, but then had someone in each round after that). Crazy that those two teams, along with Kentucky produced six draftees and yet they all had mediocre seasons.
-Alabama & Ohio State had ten players drafted each. Not surprising at all. The SEC crushed the competition with 65 players, the Big Ten was next with 44.
-Micah Parsons went to the Cowboys and Odafe Oweh to the Ravens. Going to be hard to root for them…just kidding, I always root for any Nittany Lions in the NFL. I just hope their team loses, haha.
-Okay, the team I thought that had the best draft was the Chargers. They addressed their needs the best in my opinion. I remember watching a Chargers game and messaging my brother that it seemed like they are like two or three players away from being very good. Well, they added to the o-line and drafted a fantastic cornerback. Oh, and they added another TE for Herbert (I think Tre’ McKitty has the potential to be one of the elite tight ends in the league) to go along with Jared Cook.
