Weekend NFL Draft Recap and Some Other Stuff
· First, I agree 1000% with the idea of putting Mel Kiper Jr. into consideration for the Hall of Fame. He is the Godfather of the Draftniks and was instrumental in making it as popular as today. I’ve religiously followed the draft for over 30 years, and he is the guy that started the idea of fans following players, doing mocks, and studying film.
· There is significant talent in the UDFA market. It will be very interesting to see all the players from the UDFA compared to the day three guys that make it. I will highlight the best landing spots in a future newsletter.
· I know the NFL Draft is big money and ratings for the networks involved, but I had an idea this weekend that I wonder if they could have a special “Saturday Ticket” on day three. By that, I mean allowing fans to watch the reporters or media for each team following the draft.
For example, put on Day 3 coverage of the Dallas Cowboys, and you get the same guys that do the Podcasts talking about your team, breaking down how it helps, who else the team was interested in, and interviewing with that player and his family, spotlighting players that might still be on the board that would help the section and so on.
They could recap the first two days and spotlight those players. Every team has dozen team-only podcasts, so I’m sure they would have plenty of material to fill day three but with a more focused team, topic, and discussion. NFL is all about revenue. They could roll into the NFL Network + piece.
· Eagles seem to have the magic serum with the NFL draft the past few seasons, but I think the brakes should be tapped a little. I understand the guys from Georgia and the whole back-to-back champs, but I’ve seen it with college super teams where the whole are not NFL top-tier talent, but some players benefit from those guys around them. It does make me laugh a bit as they keep saying Carter will behave since he will have all his friends with him but aren’t his teammates the same guys he hung with when problems happened? It is not necessarily great if he has many teammates, only if they are the ones that will shut down bad behavior and not enable it.
Take the Miami Hurricanes team that won their last National Title and is considered one of the two or three best teams of all time had a ton of talent, but not everyone had impressive careers. Dan Morgan, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, Sean Taylor Bryant McKinnie, Andre Johnson, and Jeremy Shockey were unique. Still, Mike Rumph, Phillip Buchanon, Kelly Jennings, Jerome McDougle, and William Joseph were average at best. We will see what happens, but Philadelphia has many young defensive players who need to step up with their new coordinator, so you would think there will be a learning curve.
· Seems the Commanders, by ignoring the QBs in the NFL draft, are moving forward with Howell but quietly keeping an eye on and increasing their chances for a former D.C. native to come home and be their top pick next season.
· Some picks from days two and three that I like/love as great fits and value:
o Joey Porter, CB Penn State/Steelers
o Keeanu Burton DL Wisconsin/Steelers
o Brian Branch S Alabama/Lions
o Drew Sanders LB Arkansas/Denver
o Jalin Hyatt, WR Tennessee/NY Giants
o Tyjae Spears, RB Tulane/Tennessee
o Wayne Morris OT Oklahoma/Kansas City
o Braeden Daniels OG Utah/Commanders
o Charlie Jones WR Purdue/Cincinnati
o Jaquelin Roy DL LSU/Vikings
o Kyu Blue Kelly CB Stanford/Ravens
o Keondre Coburn DL Texas/Kansas City
o Elijah Higgins WR Stanford/Miami
o Zach Kuntz TE Old Dominon/NY Jets
o Cory Trice CB Purdue/Steelers
· Special shout out to the guys I interviewed this draft season, and great to see them take the following steps in their careers with Erick Hallett (Jacksonville), Thayer Thomas (Vikings), Charlie Thomas (Browns), and Tanner McCalister (Browns).
· Anyone who thinks their first-round pick is a guaranteed slam dunk, notice the players not having their 5th-year option picked up in the coming days.
· Mark your calendars for the NFL schedule release of May 11th.
2024 NFL Mock Draft already….read it for what it’s worth.
· Now that NFL Free Agency can start again, the same guys sitting there should land roster spots in the coming days and weeks.
o Isaiah Wynn OT New England
o Teddy Bridgewater, QB Miami (maybe Green Bay?)
o Robbie Gould K San Francisco (maybe Dallas?)
o Mason Crosby K Green Bay
o Kenny Golladay, WR NY Giants
o Randall Cobb, WR Green Bay
o T.Y. Hilton WR Dallas
o Cameron Fleming, OT Denver
o Karl Joseph SS Pittsburgh
o Marcus Allen FS Pittsburgh
o Ronnie Harrison S Cleveland
o Mason Rudolph, QB Pittsburgh
o Leonard Floyd OLB LA Rams
o Taylor Lewan LT Tennessee
o Donovan Smith, LT Tampa Bay
o Rashaan Evans, LB Atlanta
o Gabe Jackson G Seattle
o Dalton Risner G Denver
o Maurice Hurst, DT San Francisco
o Yannick Ngakoue, DE Indianapolis
o Matthew Ioannidis, DE Carolina
o Poona Ford DT Seattle (update signed today with Buffalo)
o Dawuane Smoot, DE Jacksonville
o Marcus Peters, CB Baltimore
o Troy Hill, CB LA Rams
o Rock Ya-Sin CB Las Vegas
o Tre Flowers CB Cincinnati
o Kareem Hunt, RB Cleveland
Other Sports This Weekend.
· Great thing about getting back into major league baseball the past five years or so, thanks to my son, is the reminder that it is a marathon, not a sprint. Looking at records at this point with teams like the Yankees (15-14), Mets (15-12), Boston (15-14), Houston (15-13)., Phillies (15-14) and LA Dodgers (16-13). So many teams are getting their legs under them and waiting for some players to return. It makes watching a game not the stressful experience of the NFL after the first month but more of an enjoyable single experience
· NBA has to be thrilled about a Curry v LeBron matchup. If LA can come together and win this series, I think Rob Plinka has his answer and needs to bring nearly everyone back, except for Lonnie Walker, who I am sure will find more playing time and more significant money elsewhere.
Nice piece on MLB reviewing the first month of the season.
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