The grades are in … The one thing we have learned in this business is that you really can’t grade a draft until at least deep into its first year of play in the NFL and that it may actually take several seasons. And that was confirmed big-time last year, for example, when Detroit’s draft was generally being… Read More »
2025 Draft just 365 days away!! … For the record, the 2025 draft is just 363 days away, so to help wile away the time, here is our annual way ‘way-too-early’ projection for next year’s draft. And while its done with more than a little tongue-in-cheek – so please don’t anybody write in asking “what we are smoking… Read More »
That’s a wrap; THE end, finished!! … The 2024 draft came to a fitting close just before 7 PM ET this evening when the NY Jets selected former Alabama S Jaylen Key with the 257th and final pick of the draft. Of course, that makes him ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ for the year. And while the actual draft is in… Read More »
It is on to the final day of the 2024 draft … The second and third rounds of the 2024 draft came to a close last evening when Washington, with a pick acquired from San Francisco selected former Rice WR Luke McCaffrey with the 100th and final pick of the third round. However, as usual there wasn’t much… Read More »
Bears, Cards ace opening round … We are always loathe to anoint winners and losers out of the first round of any draft -let’s wait to see who can actually play in the NFL – but it was hard not to like what Chicago and Arizona accomplished in last night’s draft. As we noted last night, the Bears… Read More »
SEC again leads way in opening round; PAC-12 goes out proud … Pretty much as usual, the SEC had the most players selected in the opening round of the 2024 draft as 11 former players in the conference were taken in the first round. At the same time, the PAC-12 went out with a bang as the conference… Read More »
‘We can’t believe our guy was still there’ … Its the morning after in the NFL and as usual just about every GM in the league is gushing about not really expecting the guy they selected in last night’s opening round to have still been on the board when they got on the clock. Most years its just… Read More »
That’s a wrap … The opening round of the 2024 draft came to a close just a few minutes ago when the Carolina Panthers, with a pick acquired from Kansas City thru Buffalo selected South Carolina WR Xavier Legette with the 32nd and final pick of the night. However, there won’t be much rest for NFL personnel people… Read More »
IT IS DRAFT DAY!!! … Where is everybody?? Of course, the actual draft doesn’t start until 8 PM ET later this evening, but it still promises to be an interesting day as there are just so many possible moves on the table right thru the first round. Do the Patriots stay at #3? Do the Giants and/or Vikings… Read More »
The evolution of draft coverage … For those that haven’t seen it, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has a neat article on the evolution of draft coverage and especially the mock draft going back to the 1970s. It certainly resonates with us because in many ways its also how we came to the business. Fact is that back in that… Read More »
Nobody knows … Just a quick follow-up to the earlier report on what appears to be the evolving thinking regarding the top QB prospects in this week’s draft. In that piece we suggested that there appears to be something of consensus around the league that QBs Caleb Williams and Jayden Williams are legit potential elite franchise players whereas… Read More »
No resolution to Falcons, Eagles tampering charges this week … ESPN is reporting at this hour that they have been told there will not a final decision on the allegations of tampering against both Atlanta and Philadelphia. The Falcons have been accused of talking to former Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins prior to signing him as a free agent… Read More »
More thoughts on the draft … There are a couple of reports making the rounds this day regarding what’s going on at the top of the board. On the one hand, there is a report that Las Vegas has reached out to Washington about a possible trade for the #2 pick where the Raiders would presumably take LSU… Read More »
Thoughts on the draft … As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, the excitement among NFL fans and analysts reaches a peak. This annual event is more than just a talent acquisition process; it’s the foundation upon which teams build their future success. Here’s a look at what to expect from the 2024 NFL Draft, including top prospects, team… Read More »
Broncos get QB Wilson from Jets … There has been a bit of a buzz around the league that Denver might be back in the trade up for a QB mode at this week’s draft and today they made a move at the position, just not that one. The Broncos have reportedly acquired Zach Wilson from the Jets… Read More »
Peeking ahead to the 2025 QB class … With all the focus on the QBs with the 2024 draft now just over 72 hours away, we’ve had a number of correspondents ask about the prospects at the position for the 2025 draft just in case their particular team misses out this year. Again, its a year away so… Read More »
Too much analysis leads to paralysis … We have joked over the years that there almost always comes a moment in the draft process when one realizes that we have hit that phase when in fact too much analysis leads to paralysis and it really is time to just get on with the picks. In fact, we may… Read More »
Bolts looking for big haul for 5th pick … LA Chargers’ GM Joe Hortiz confirmed at his pre-draft presser yesterday that the Chargers are definitely amenable to trading down from the 5th pick in next week’s draft. Hortiz, though, made it pretty clear that he’s not just giving the pick away. Indeed, he said the Chargers weren’t at… Read More »
Pats’ Wolf says team is ‘open for business’ … The draft world is abuzz here and here and here this afternoon after New England’s defacto GM Eliot Wolf said at his pre-draft presser earlier today that the Patriots are ‘open for business’ heading into next week’s draft and that they would be prepared to move up or down… Read More »
As the QB turns with the draft just a week away … The start of the 2024 draft is now barely a week away and what had been a rather orderly process to date seems to have turned a little weird! The way the draft normally works is that teams with high picks that need a QB take… Read More »
Top FCS prospect passes away … The real world intruded on the build up to next week’s draft with word that star Albany DE AJ Simon, one of the better FCS prospects in the 2024 class, passed away earlier today from an undisclosed cause. Simon, who was considered to be a late-round or free agent candidate, posted 12.5… Read More »
Draft buzz: Wednesday the 17th … With the start of the 2024 draft now just over 8 days away and counting, there does seem to be a bit of an uptick in the noise around next week’s event. On the one hand, more than one team out there is watching and waiting for a decision from the league… Read More »
Patriots host QB Penix … With just a few days left for teams to bring in out-of-town prospects for pre-draft visits to their facilities, there was something of a noteworthy development in New England where the Patriots had Washington QB Michael Penix in for one of their allotted ’30’ visits. Its noteworthy because the Patriots have the 3rd… Read More »
Illini DT Newton works out … Illinois DT Johnny Newton was finally able to work out in front of pro scouts earlier today. Newton, a late first or early second round prospect for the upcoming draft, has not been able to participate in either the Combine of Illinois’ pro day as he has been rehabbing from a foot… Read More »
College spring transfer portal open … Expect a little more craziness in the world of college football as the spring transfer portal opened this week. already two fairly prominent names have been added to the list of available college players including Penn State WR Keandre Lambert-Smith who at one time last year was being talked about as a… Read More »
