I feel like teams will regret some draft day decisions in a few years. I feel like there are some fantastic defensive players that fell pretty far. Six of the first twelve picks were quarterbacks. Bo Nix was taken 12th. I like Nix, and I think he can be a solid backup (he reminds me of Sean Clifford in so many ways), but he is not a top 12 guy. Same goes with Michael Penix. I like him and I think he has the potential to be a very good starter, but the Falcons taking him at #8? After signing Kirk Cousins? Just a weird move. Here are my rankings on the QBs:
Caleb Williams–I think Williams is either boom or bust. Like he will become a top five QB within a few years OR be an abject failure, no in-between.
Drake Maye–I just think he has the potential to be a great quarterback
Michael Penix–I think he is in a good situation. Work behind Cousins, then move into the starting role. He has a great deep ball, and hopefully he can stay healthy.
Jayden Daniels–I am not sold on him. I hope he proves me wrong, the Commanders fans could use a win.
Spencer Rattler–The Saints took him in the fifth round, I think he ends up better than the next two.
Bo Nix–Career backup
JJ McCarthy–Bust material. Probably goes back to Michigan in five years as a QB coach.
The Steelers had another fantastic draft. I am glad they listened to me and went with line help. OT and C in the first two rounds. I did not think Fautanu would be there. I kept seeing rumors that they would trade up for Quenyon Mitchell, and when he was available, I thought they would take him. I would have been okay with that as well. The secondary would have immediately moved into the top-tier in the league. But shoring up the line is the right move.
Penn State had eight players drafted. I feel like Theo Johnson would have been better off staying one more year, but hopefully he is able to develop and show off his skills with the Giants. I know some people will say that being drafted is the dream and all that stuff, and it does not matter when you get picked…but it does. If you read or listen to enough players, teams spend more time on first and second round guys, they have higher expectations, and they want them to succeed. After that, the attention on the guys drafted later drops. They have to do more to prove themselves. I think if Johnson stuck around one more year, he ends up being a first or second round guy. Oh well though, hopefully he proves himself and ends up being a great tight end for the Giants.
Couple of things that always crack me up during the draft:
1) Roger Goodell is a terrible public speaker. It is surprising for someone in his position. He messes up names, seems nervous, and just comes off like he has never spoken in front of a large group.
2) Short arms! Every defensive player is criticized by Mel Kiper as having short arms, then he will counter his own critique by saying some great player had short arms. I cannot remember who he was talking about, but he was like “the big problem is his short arms, you really wish they could be longer, although Aaron Donald had short arms, so it is not the end of the world.”
