glazeduck

Something else to keep in mind about things like these -- especially this time of year... These rumors are being put out there for a reason and that reason usually isn't just hype or to put content out there... Kiper and McShay's schtick is all about driving excitement and getting fans excited for the 2nd-4th rounds of the draft. Adam Schefter has admitted plenty of times (once to me in person) that he puts out knowingly incorrect information to gain favors and plenty of others do that as well. I like Lance, followed him for a long time, but these aren't hot takes for the sake of being hot takes. They're being put out there with a purpose...

I don't think it's particularly likely to happen, BUT, we're going to have to be creative with salaries into the future... If you could find a team that valued Dawkins + 25 in the 10ish range and one of the top OTs was still on the board, I could see that potentially being interesting. Outside of something like that, or Sauce or Hamilton falling to the point where we could get him at a reasonable price, I don't think trading up is a viable option. Trading down however...

Velus Jones in the 3rd would be an extremely disappointing pick as well. Guy's not a WR...

The Browns looking at RBs, after resigning D'Ernest Johnson, is really interesting. Probably signals they're open -- if not VERY open -- to moving Kareem Hunt...

Since basically all of his picks were upended by free agency, here's his April version: https://buffalofambase.com/2022/04/12/astros-pick-six-april-2022-edition-bills/

I think you misunderstood me. I wasn't saying don't take a WR, I was saying not to take a guy with a high likelihood of busting. Relative to draft cost, Watson might have the biggest bust potential in the whole draft. My only point was you can't afford to miss on your 1st round pick when you're on the doorstep of a super bowl...

Completely agree. This is a guy that draftniks love to love and NFL types view with great skepticism. Too add to that, there's the draft math... There's 24 picks ahead of us... Certainly 4, possibly 5 will be EDGE defenders Likely 4 OTs will go ahead of us 1-3 IOL get taken 1-3 IDL will be taken At least 3, possibly as many as 9 or 10 (unlikely) DBs get taken At minimum 1, possibly as many as 3 or 4 QBs get taken ahead of us as well Which brings us to the WR class -- by my board there's 7 or 8 guys who could go ahead of us (if you want to include Watson, since this is a 'what-if') That is, at the most conservative, 21 selections (not including any surprise/non-chalk picks and LB, RB or TEs) and as many as 37. I'm not an advocate of taking Watson, I think he belongs squarely in the mid/back-half of the 2nd round, but if the draft falls such that he, in addition to all of the other viable WRs aren't even available at 25, that likely means other really good players are. Given our ability to find performance (Davis drafted in mid-rounds, McKenzie picked up off Denver's scout team, etc.) I think I'd be very okay with that. We're in a super bowl window, we can't afford to miss on an early draft pick and Watson is about the farthest thing from a sure draft pick this draft offers. DO NOT WANT (at least at 25...)

Literally came here to post almost word-for-word the same comment -- add Tremaine Edmunds to that list of non-SEC guys we prioritized. ALSO also, the ACC probably has the 2nd-best athletes after the SEC, with many of them also coming from the same(ish) area (Rousseau/Jaquan are from FL, Edmunds/Basham are from VA). To echo Gunner's point, it's pretty likely that we would prioritize SEC athletes if the right one(s) were there when we were drafting (see Tredavious...)

He's more a slot guy in the immediate future, but I definitely think he's got the potential to play outside, long term. I think a very likely scenario is us trading our 1 back and improving our 2... Seems like our slots in the first and second aren't great fits for WR and CB needs. But 2 early 2s feels like it's a really good spot to address both.

With the 92nd pick, the Green Bay Packers select Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State. Reason: We've gotten Aaron 3 new toys to keep him happy, this pick should hopefully keep him healthier... The 49ers (MAJBobby) are on the clock.

Totally fair, I just think our staff -- and the league in general -- is learning that separation and the ability to get open is far more important than being big or fast.

Barring something crazy like a big trade up for a difference maker (or a vet), 100% agree.

Yeah Wan'Dale occurred to me too, but with McKenzie reupped, I think the need for a gadgety guy is less likely than another outside guy. He's interesting for sure though.

Good, makes me feel less dumb to have completely omitted him, but also maybe even slightly more depressed about Metchie...

Success at the WR position is about almost everything BUT 40 speed, so look well past that. It's not something you can completely ignore, but things route running and the mental aspect of setting up defenders on routes, agility, hands, concentration, catch radius, actual on-field performance are all vastly more important than how fast a guy runs in a straight line across an arbitrary distance in his underwear... To that end, David Bell feels like he should absolutely be on this list and is not, which is a shame, I'd take him over Metchie.

He's underwhelming, for sure. I'd go upside with Justyn Ross, but according to your guidelines (which are absolutely necessary for your sanity!) he didn't qualify... I do think Metchie has some potential, though, so also not the worst pick...

Yep, Walker was the other I was looking at too.

Metchie, but I feel dirty doing it...

Justyn Ross would be a big swing here...

I can absolutely see that. I won't be at all surprised if he's drafted ahead of Watson (GASP!!!), Pierce, Burks, possibly even the Ohio State kids. To me he's all upside with next to exceedingly limited bust potential, and that's absolutely what most GMs are looking for in this draft (especially when you've got Aaron Rodgers needing immediately reliable weapons). That's a good place to be when your competition is a speed merchant coming off a more recent ACL tear, 2 guys who look best aligned in the slot, an enigma that hasn't lived up to hype (Burks), and a small-school athletic phenom without the performance to back up his draft hype.

@Vickveto I'd encourage you to look deeper into the metrics that most often lead to pro success. One of the leading indicators is breakout age and Pickens has one of the youngest, ever at 18.5 -- basically, how early did this kid dominate college football and he did it almost immediately. He also, in that freshman season, had a 27% dominator rating, so he was REALLY good, right away (in the SEC, no less). As for his speed? The guy ran a 4.47 while rehabbing a torn ACL, so he's certainly not slow. Catch radius? He's 5th in this draft class among the realistic top WRs with a 77 3/8 wingspan. His RAS (again, coming off of a major injury) was 8th best among ALL WRs -- 3rd among relevant ones. His freak score was 4th among top WRs as well (and once again, see: tear, ACL) By the data, mid-ACL-tear-recovery George Pickens is easily a top 10 wr prospect. Once he's healthy, he's top 5 or better. Then, go put on the tape. The kid is a DOG. He blocks his @$$ off, he plays with emotion and intensity, his swagger just jumps off the screen. You see a player who's average at everything, I see a kid readymade for the NFL with zero weaknesses, a very high floor and nothing but sky-high ceiling.

Yeah, the faint part was unnecessary. He's a very average prospect

Sauce is probably my favorite player in the draft, but that's a LOT to give up for one player. I'm torn on this, if the deal were more a player and a pick or two, I think it'd be a lot easier to stomach...

And neither will live up to their draft capital 🤣