Defjamz26

After 4 years of not addressing the QB position properly, we’ve finally drafted one high. Now that that’s been taken care of, what do you all think is the next position that we should be pounding the table for the staff to draft? Or, the position where we desperately need to find “the guy”. For me I’m going to go with pass rusher. I understand we signed Ebukum, but he’s never had more than 5 sacks in a year (granted he’s never really been a full-time starter), so his potential is a mystery. I liked Paye when we drafted him, but he’s missed some time with injuries and still hasn’t balled out yet. I think we need to get that “guy” at edge. A guy who can be a yearly 10+ sack guy. Just like I did early studies with QBs going into the season, I’ve done the same with pass rushers. The guy I like is Jared Verse. I think he could be a franchise pass rusher here.

It’s hard to say because I don’t think that Ballard has picked up anyone’s 5th year option outside of Nelson. But he traded out of the 1st in 2019, and traded away two firsts for Buckner and Wentz. Not a huge sample size outside of Malik Hooker who had his option declined. Ill say I’ll have a better idea halfway into the season.

Not to sound like a pessimist, but these stories usually mean very little. There’s always a guy working with some expert or training super hard. It has to translate on the field though. Remember when Komoko Turray was working out with Mathis before TC? Plus after awhile players peak. Not in terms of production, but in skill set. After awhile you are who you are and no amount of position gurus, summits, clinics, or extreme workouts are going to change that.

DE Paye is always missing time, Odeyingbo hasn’t broken out yet, and I’m not sure what Ebukam will bring as the “top” edge rusher on this time. Say what you want about his run defense but Ngauke got to the QB.

Is there a player on this team you guys think will have a breakout year? Besides any of the rookies though. Last season I thought Franklin was that player for us. He ended up setting the franchise record for tackles in a season and was great as the captain of the defense. It was his best year to date. This year my vote would be for Bernard Raiman. He actually got better as the season went on after Saturday got to work with him. I think another full offseason is going to take his game to the next level. I think he’ll grade out as a top 12 OT when it’s all said and done.

I’ve thought for awhile now that the Colts are basically going to have to choose between Pittman and Taylor. I don’t think both get long term deals. I hope it’s Taylor because I don’t think paying him $10 million a year is absurd. Paying Pittman $14+ a year is a little rich for me unless he has a Diggs/Jefferson type of season. And that’s the other factor for me too. Taylor has already had the type of season we’re waiting for Pittman to have that would warrant an extension.

This isn’t surprising when you consider how many of our prospects were In most analysts top 100 players. Richardson, Brents, Downs, Freeland, and the DT were all players that had high grades. To be able to draft all of them in the first 5 rounds is incredible. For example, PFF had Anthony Richardson, #11 Josh Downs, #38 Adetomiya Adebawore, #56 Julius Brents, #68 Darius Rush, #70 Jaylon Jones, #105 Blake Freeland, #108 https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-nfl-draft-board-big-board So by just their board (and their grading is usually tougher) we got 5 of their top 100 players, and two guys just outside it. So 7 out of their 110 highest graded players went to the Colts. When you factor in the draft value we got versus rankings, the Colts came out like Bandits. Richardson is the only person who was overdrafted by their rankings, although Freeland went just two picks earlier than he was ranked. Obviously we need to see how they all perform, but just in terms of value, this was the Colts best draft since 2018 and one of the best in the league this year.

The simple answer is that the job of a college football coach isn’t to prepare players to play at the next level; it’s to win games. Mechanics don’t matter in college where almost everyone is running spread offenses and QBs are only operating out of shotgun. Play calls are all designed by the coach so you don’t need to always be able to throw the ball on a rope. You just need to be able to get it to a spot where the receiver will likely be because he’s the best athlete on the field. Thats why you see so many QBs get with QB coaches like Jordan Palmer in the offseason to actually improve their mechanics. It’s also not worth investing that type of time into a player you may only have for 3 years. By the time they’ve improved on their mechanics, they’re declaring for the draft. It sounds harsh but the reality is that CFB is a business. Get your QB, teach him how to play in your system, and then win as many games with him before he goes to the league.

CB Yes we drafted 3 and have Moore in the slot, but that much youth at corner isn’t ideal. I like Brent’s starting, but I feel like we need a veteran on the opposite side. We have Rogers but Gus doesn’t seem to use him a whole lot.

Also didn’t they try that for a few games last season? I think they had Smith at RG and Pryor at RT.

Brents was this year’s Tariq Woolen, but he’s not nearly as raw as we thought (he was 2nd in DROY voting) Woolen would be coming out of college. He’s also more physical and better in run support. Brents is perfect Ballard and Bradley corner. He’s a day 1 starter. This was one of the better prospect scheme fits in the entire draft.

I would really like the Penn State OT if we were in a position. Let’s see how Freeland and Rainman do first, but if they both flame out, that’s the direction I’d lean. Olu was going top 5 in most mocks before he decided to go back to school. I also imagine he’ll have a RAS that Ballard will love since he looks massive on tape, and Penn State is known for having some freaky athletes.

Blackmon is in the last year of his deal and hasn’t played well since his rookie year. F

Scout the player not the school, but Ringo is the other CB I would put us drafting at 35 except that in a little hesitant on Georgia CBs. DeAndre Baker, Eric Stokes, Derion Kendrick, and Tyson Campbell are all recent Georgia CBs to come out. Stokes and Campbell both had insane athletic profiles as well. Campbell is solid, but it look like the Packers overdrafted Stokes.

You will see this reflected in my upcoming Mock but I have Julius Brents, CB from Kansas State.

As I stated in another topic, I don’t really care too much who we draft. I’m comfortable with any of the 4 at this point. But I had my choice for the sake of this topic it would be Stroud. He’s just so good already and has the least worries of any of the 4. Size, mechanics, decision making, and ability to extend plays aren’t an issue with him. My only knock is upside. His physical tools leave him with a low ceiling. Who I think the Colts will draft is Levis. I know Ballard came out in his last presser and laughed at the reports that say the Colts have keyed in on one guy, but Levis’ makes a ton of sense. He just “fits”. Something about him just screams Colts QB and him being a Ballard guy. Richardson does too. I guess for me from a traits perspective, it’s easy to see some similarities to Luck in Levis. Same height, same weight and chiseled frame, same big cannon for an arm, same fiery leadership, and although Levis didn’t run the 40, I’d imagine the athleticism is about the same. The issue is he doesn’t have Luck’s college production and he’s way behind mentally from where Luck was.

Giants Selections: 31 Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU 57 Luke WYPLER, C, Ohio State 89 Terrell Smith, CB, Minnesota 95 Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa state 128 DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB 160 Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State I think Giants fans would be happy with this draft. 2 starters in Johnston and Wypler. Hutchinson is a sleeper that should push their other wideouts for playing time early. Ravens picks: 22 Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland 86 Nick Saldiveri, OG Old Dominion 124 Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia 157 Jalen Redmond, DT, Oklahoma Not too sexy here. Ravens didn’t have a lot of picks. In hindsight I wonder if I should have traded back at 22. Banks and Saldiveri can start though. Wheaton is a developmental player like Myles Boykin who they drafted a few years back. The Ravens on paper are a good team without a lot of glaring needs though. Their WR room is weak but they added OBJ who will join Bateman who looks solid when healthy. Plus they have Andrews at TE.

First off thanks to everyone who participated in this. It was really fun. Special shout out to @NFLfanand @VikingsFanInChennai for all you guys did. Keeping track of all the trades, updating the spreadsheets, keeping everyone notified with messages, on top of drafting for your teams. You guys had a lot on your plate and delivered.

Give me Dante Still for the Giants at 172

Got it.

With pick number 172, the New York Giants select YaYa Diaby, Edge Louisville.

Is it too late for me to make pick 172?

Instead of Karl Brooks, I’ll take Jalen Redmond, DT from Oklahoma.

With pick #157 in the 2023 NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens select Karl Brooks, DT Bowling Green.

I’ll make my picks now