stitches

I really like AD Mitchell's talent. He has some exceptional reps... he gets open all the time... when he actually decides to run his route to the end. And Burton is pretty good too... he's just a headcase of some sort it seems. He's changed like 7-8 schools since high school...

"I need to feel it" if the video and sound are synced ... they were watching the Senior Bowl. What did they need to feel from that game?

Not anything specific... but maybe we get a vibe about some positions,,,

Here are a few more Reception Perception charts for the WRs: AD Mitchell: Jermaine Burton: Javon Baker: Ja'Lynn Polk:

I think you are underestimating Worthy's WR technical proficiency stuff. I think he's better route runner than given credit for. I think he has very sharp and crisp cuts in and out of his routes. I think even thought he's small, he actually plays much more phisical than his size would suggest. I posted a graph a week or so ago that showed him being the receiver with most separation in this draft. I think a ton of his problems and limitations stem from just... being small. And you will have to work around those and that's why I have him as a second rounder and not 1st... but.. yeah. If he gets jammed, he's done... if the defender is there with him at the catch point he's probably not coming away with the ball in that contested ball situation. You will have to move him across the formation, you will have to create free releases for him, you will pretty much never want to put him at X where defenders can put their hands on him before he's even made a step or two... but I think he can be really dangerous and dynamic player if you have a creative offensive coach that can use his strengths and try not to put him in compromising positions where his weaknesses are highlighted. IF we draft him, I have no doubt Steichen will have a good plan and idea about how to use him.

To some degree... but I would be willing to give up less for him and I would only do it AFTER I've lost on MHJ(so again... presumably the cost would be lower one pick later and with one elite prospect fewer on the board. I feel the same way... in like... 99.9% of the cases. And I am absolutely with you about that not being a smart move... in like... huge majority of cases. I just think every rule has exceptions... and as long as those are super rare and you don't fool yourself that you can do that every draft... or hell, even every few drafts, it should be OK. I think this is the first time I've seriously considered supporting such a move for a non-QB here.. and I've been here for how long? 6-7 years? Interesting... haven't seen that one. Thanks The thing is... what is the high end explosive trait that BTJ has and Mitchell doesn't? I will hang up and listen... Oh damn... I think I'm convincing myself to move AD above BTJ... Dammit... I think AD can be everything BTJ is... PLUS MORE. But he hasn't shown the consistency so far. So it's a bit of a projection. That's fair enough. I get the worries with Worthy and his size... it's possible it doesn't work at all(kind of like Bryce Young)... but we've seen smaller receivers in recent years be successful in the league and I think the league is going smaller and faster in certain positions. And Worthy actually has a trump card that he can rely on. The injury concern is real though...

@Superman BTW, with Worthy... I think I love the fit with the Colts and Steichen more than I like him as a player in general, so even though I have him as a second rounder... I can absolutely see the case for the Colts trading back in the 1st and taking him in the 20s. I think he's precisely what we need and what we are missing for Steichen's offense specifically with AR. Just imagine AR with JT in the backfield which should already be a problem for opponents... Now imagine you add Worthy in motion, this will create such huge headaches for the defense ... And I do think Steichen is actually a believer in at snap motion. He went from bottom 3 in at snap motion % in Philly's offense the last 2 years(and they ended up being dead last this year) to no. 11 with the Colts when he got his own gig. This is a huge departure and IMO it show a specific belief and specific philosophical approach we can pinpoint and Worthy is quite possibly the most dangerous player in that type of role in this draft... and add the vertical dimension he provides and we are missing and I think the fit is pretty clear.

That's an epic feat after he just posted his draft guide last week... Here's Brugler's final mock draft. This time full 7 round mock!! 256 picks! https://theathletic.com/5418352/2024/04/17/nfl-mock-draft-2024-full-seven-rounds-dane-brugler/ Here are his picks for the Colts: I think I would love that draft. Some great picks within those 7 rounds.

That's another good option and I'd be OK with that too, but I'd probably be tempted by MHJ... and I know in a lot of cases it doesn't make sense mathematically... but... he's one of those players for me where I'd make an exception. There are some rumors about AD Mitchell not wowing NFL people in his meetings, about him being... for a lack of a better word - a diva... I cannot speak on that and I don't know how much of that is true and how much of that is a problem even if true. I really like him... I think purely talent-wise, he's probably more talented than BTJ, but I still have BTJ above him, just seems more consistent and reliable. I like Ricky Pearsall a lot too. And Worthy is somewhere in that range too... If I had to tier them: ---------- game changers MHJ Nabers ---------- great talent Odunze --------- second half of R1(including 15 I guess...) BTJ AD -------- R2 Pearsall Ladd Worthy Leggette Burton Polk -------R3+ Malik Washington Troy Franklin Roman Wilson ... He's not but he's not super long either.

Yeah, I have to be honest and admit I haven't even watched a ton of him, but once I saw the arm length, just decided it's a waste of time. I can imagine some of the top CBs with arms that get close to 32"(Arnold, Mitchell, DeJean) being an exception Ballard would make, but at 30.5" it just feels very un-Ballard-like pick.

Very good target if Ballard is set on trading back,,,

I was just about to do my guesses for @Dr. T 's contest, but I guess I will wait to see if I can glean anything from this episode.

I'd rather trade for MHJ, but I see him as a generational prospect... something others might disagree with and reasonable people can disagree on this one. About whether I would do it... I think I said earlier in another thread that I personally would probably wait for Minny/Broncos/Raiders to trade up to 3/4 and and then try to trade up for the pick after, because I feel like this would lower the cost. BUT... in this specific hypothetical... I will wince hard... and I'd probably do it. About why MHJ and not JJ... because the cost of MHJ is just the picks and rookie contract. The cost of JJ is the picks... +30M+ a year salary. You can do A TON with 23-24M(the difference in salary) a year for the next 4-5 years... and I think MHJ is very low risk prospect. In essence I think the difference in $$ is well worth taking the risk. Hell if worst comes to worst(MHJ is complete and total bust, that you cannot even play - not gonna happen), you can pay the 23-25M in savings for a Pittman/Ridley level receiver in the FA to soften the blow.

DeJean IMO is fast-...ish and explosive-...ish but IMO he looks stiff on tape. That's not to say Ballard wouldn't like him. I think he fits a lot of the things Ballard likes in his corners... except for the arm length...

IMO Zach Wilson should NOT effect anybody's 1st round QB plans... he's a shot you take at rehabilitating a talented player, he's not a game changer who should influence your decisions at the top of the draft and at the top of your roster.

Short arms. Not gonna happen

Ballard would not do this ... I don't think. I am not sure he would do it for a QB, let alone any other position...

If I had to guess... 4 QBs, 3 WRs, 3 OTs, 2 EDGE, 1 CB, 1 TE... Colts trade back... Colts pick Xavier Worthy in the 20s...

He couldn't help himself either

To some degree I agree with you about Campbell and his failure being partially due to injuries we couldn't have predicted. But I also think the FO made some serious projections I am not sure would have panned out even without the injuries - namely, they seemed to indicate from the very start that they see him as more than a slot receiver and gadget guy and they said after they drafted him that he showed them a lot with his route running in the pre-draft process. I was very skeptical about this at the time and I still am not sure he would have panned out the way they seemed to project him even without him getting hurt...

They do... and it's still their choice when to do it and when to exercise better judgement... or to draft a different player of the same type. Being a GM caries responsibilities, including during the draft(maybe most importantly during the draft, and this is especially true with someone like Ballard who relies heavily on the draft). Otherwise - why not just let the HC/OC/DC run the draft and get whoever they want for the team they are coaching... I get it that it's a collaborative process. I get that you take input from your coaches, but when it's said and done... it's still your responsibility to make that decision. And BTW, you know who I bet would agree with me on this one? I bet Ballard sees it the same way and I bet he'd take responsibility for this one ... or other misses and he wouldn't just throw the sin on the sacrificial lamb that Reich seems to have become with a lot of fans(and I was not the biggest Reich fan by the end of it, but mainly for coaching related things with a sprinkle of his vouching for some QBs that didn't work out).

I really don't want us to keep giving Ballard that excuse. This has become one of my pet peeves. We shouldn't give him a pass for every offensive player that failed just because Reich wanted him. He's the GM. It's his job to make the final call. And this is coming from someone who loved Campbell as a prospect... I thought this pick was awesome at the time. And I was wrong... and so was Ballard.

I would take the WR between same level talent WR and DE ... or CB... or DT. Assuming blank slate roster I'm drafting for(if I had like 2 amazing WRs and no amazing player at DE or CB, that might change the calculation a bit).

Depends on the player and just how elite he is compared to MHJ, but overall I would take MHJ over most top 5 drafted players at those positions. Just for the last 5-6 years: - Will Anderson Jr - - Devon Witherspoon - - Travon Walker - Aidan Hutchinson - Sauce Gardner - Kayvon Thibodeaux - Chase Young - Jeff Okudah - Andrew Thomas - Nick Bosa - Quinnen Williams - Cleilin Farrell - Denzel Ward - Bradley Chubb Out of all of those(as PROSPECTS) I would even have to think about it for Nick Bosa. I'm taking MHJ over every single one of the rest.

Agreed, I think if we add more CBs it's more likely to be in FA after the draft. There are still some intriguing options out there as experienced vets, who we can add to the group and round it up well(if we grant what Ballard is saying about the CBs already on the roster as true). Yup... Same... I really like Fuaga and I think he fits really well that Steichen offense plus he has some versatility on the OL until the time comes for him to take on the RT starting spot. I think you keep Smith at RT until you decide to let him go(when his contract expires or if you decide to trade him...) because at some point you will have to make some sacrifices, and if you have a ready made talent in the wings waiting to take that spot, I can see Ballard sacrificing Smith.