Especially this year, I am labeling this the Wimpy Division. No, not like the the Wimpy Kid literary craze. Wimpy, as in that rotund guy from the old Popeye Cartoons, whose philosophy in life was stated in one simple sentence, “I will gladly pay you next Tuesday for a hamburger today”. This has become the division that uses Draft Picks like credit cards, and for this group, Tuesday has come due this year. These four teams have a total of 24 Draft Picks between them. That is the lowest total for any division. It is the only division with less than 30 cumulative selections. And Seattle has an abysmal 3 total Picks. The third one doesn’t come until Round 7, Pick 252. Yes, that is the least of any team in the NFL. Don’t expect a whole lot of help from this Draft if you are Russell Wilson or a Sea Hawks fan.
Since the 49’ers have the most Picks (9) and the highest Pick (#3), let’s start with them and work our way down.
49’ERS 9 Picks
Round 1, Pick 3 JUSTIN FIELDS QB Ohio St
Round 2, Pick 43 CREED HUMPHREY OC Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 102 TYLAN WALLACE WR Oklahoma St
Round 4, Pick 117 KARY VINCENT CB LSU
Round 5, Pick 155 KYLIN HILL RB Mississippi St
Round 5, Pick 172 CHRIS RUMPH OB/ER Duke
Round 5, Pick TOMMY TREMBLE TE/H-B Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 194 WALKER LITTLE OT Stanford
Round 7, Pick 230 JOSHUAH BLEDSOE S Missouri
You had to know the team was after a QB with their big trade up to Pick 3. Though I think they are most interested in Trey Lance, FIELDS is similar in multiple ways (especially athletically) and has the more impressive resume’. LAWRENCE and WILSON are already gone on my Board. Even tho they acquired OC ALEX MACK, he’s on his last legs due primarily to the wear and tear of a 10+-year career, and CREED will be a plug and play for a decade. After losing several wideouts, WALLACE is a tough, skilled, athletic addition to their receiving corps. The biggest help right away in this group could be VINCENT, who is a very athletic DB that may get immediate work as their top Nickel Corner. Watch for RUMPH in 2022, or sooner if DEE FORD gets hurt…again.
CARDINALS 6 Picks
Round 1, Pick 16 CALEB FARLEY CB Virginia Tech
Round 2, Pick 49 JACKSON CARMAN OG Clemson
Round 5, Pick 160 RHAMONDRE STEVENSON RB Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 223 DARRICK FORREST S Cincinnati
Round 7, Pick JOSHUA KAINDOH DE Florida St
Round 7, Pick 247 DANIEL MOORE OT Texas A&M
With PATRICK PETERSON moving to Minnesota, CB was their top priority and FARLEY was sitting right there for them to select. CARMAN played OT for Clemson, but his arms are a bit short by NFL standards, so I list him @ OG. But their bigger need is outside, so expect them to try him at RT first. STEVENSON was a big, explosive RB for the Sooners last season. Just what the Cards lack in their RB room. OT MOORE could surprise! I like the long term potential of all 3 of their late round guys.
RAMS 6 Picks
Round 2, Pick 57 JOE TRYON ER/DE Washington
Round 3, Pick 88 MARCO WILSON CB Florida
Round 3, Pick 103 CHAUNCEY GOLSTON DE Iowa
Round 4, Pick 141 DERRICK BARNES ILB Purdue
Round 6, Pick 209 KYLEN GRANSON TE/H-B SMU
Round 7, Pick 252 DREW DALMAN OC Stanford
Most RAMS fans can’t remember what a First Rounder looks like. The last one they drafted was JARED GOFF, and he’s gone now in favor of MATTHEW STAFFORD. MARCO WILSON will be asked to step in for VFA departure TROY HILL, and he’s athletic enough to do so. TRYON is a legit edge rusher ala LEONARD FLOYD. BARNES is an underrated ILB that showed what he can do at the Senior Bowl and their Pro Day. The combo of SNEAD/McVAY have established a track record of finding Day 3 Picks that can play in the League and another 5-6 Rookie Free Agents to fill their rosters. They must keep doing so, given their propensity to trade away Picks for “names” in the Hollywood tradition.
SEA HAWKS 3 Picks
Round 2, Pick 56 TYSON CAMPBELL CB Georgia
Round 4, Pick 129 JEROME JOHNSON DT Indiana
Round 7, Pick 250 TOMMY DOYLE OT Miami (O)
Maybe it was the lack of Draft Picks that had QB WILSON dropping trade-me hints. SCHNEIDER/CARROLL have made some daring personnel moves over the years, many of which have worked out. Methinks their past caught up with them this year with this puny list of Picks. CAMPBELL is a super athlete, and many feel that he starts right away as a pro. He’d better! JOHNSON is an under-the-radar player, who excelled in his Big Ten career at an emerging Hoosier football program. Ex-Basketballer DOYLE is very long and very raw. He will require tutoring and patience.
There are some good Picks here, from a solid prospect class. However, not much excitement or drama beyond the 49’ers group, and FIELDS in particular. Only 3 of my Top 50 prospects were drafted by these 4 teams; FIELDS (5), FARLEY (17), HUMPHREY (45).
Pigskin
