Draft "Boards"

[jdonley1180]

Serious question. Many posters refer to players as being higher or lower on their, "Boards". Does anyone seriously make up a draft board, whether its literally a white board or a spreadsheet? Or is this just a figure of forum speech... asking for a friend

[Kirby Jackson]

Oh there are LOTS of people here that have their own boards and do their own scouting

[jdonley1180]

1 minute ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Oh there are LOTS of people here that have their own boards and do their own scouting

 

I would love to see some of these

 

"SHOW ME YOUR BOARDS"  Lol!

[JaCrispy]

Does scheme fit, for certain teams, also determine order?  Asking for a friend...?

Edited March 28, 2020 by JaCrispy

[Kirby Jackson]

7 minutes ago, jdonley1180 said:

 

I would love to see some of these

 

"SHOW ME YOUR BOARDS"  Lol!

They’ll be out as we get closer. @BuffaloHokie13 @GunnerBill @DCOrange @thebandit27 are a few that do it. They do a really, really nice job. 

[thebandit27]

Mine is electronic, but yes.

 

I do a straight vertical board first with standard 1.0-8.0 grade. Then I stack the draft board with a positional value multiplier incorporated.

 

And that’s basically what I draft from... you know, in theory.

1 minute ago, Kirby Jackson said:

They’ll be out as we get closer. @BuffaloHokie13 @GunnerBill @DCOrange @thebandit27 are a few that do it. They do a really, really nice job. 

Thanks.

 

Nod to @Blokestradamus and @P51 who also do very detailed boards.

[DCOrange]

23 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

They’ll be out as we get closer. @BuffaloHokie13 @GunnerBill @DCOrange @thebandit27 are a few that do it. They do a really, really nice job. 

 

Just FWIW, I probably won't be doing an entire big board but I'll happily discuss different position groups in the different threads that pop up. I generally just focus on a couple positions each year rather than trying to create an overall big board like Gunner does for example.

[ColoradoBills]

21 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

Mine is electronic, but yes.

 

I do a straight vertical board first with standard 1.0-8.0 grade. Then I stack the draft board with a positional value multiplier incorporated.

 

And that’s basically what I draft from... you know, in theory.

Thanks.

 

Nod to @Blokestradamus and @P51 who also do very detailed boards.

 

Just a question if you would know.  I'm not a huge college fan and I was wondering if there is a good "blocking TE" that

could be developed for a Lee Smith replacement?  Maybe even someone if he couldn't make the cut this year who could get stashed on the PS.

I'm pretty sure once they move on from Smith they will want to fill that role.

 

I guess I should ask what you think of that idea.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

The problem with draft boards whether people here on TBD or the "experts" like the Mel Kipers of the world down to the lesser published ones is every selection is made by the same person so everything plays out perfect in their own mind.  

 

Would be interesting to take 32 of these "experts" assign them numbers 1 thru 32 and let them each pick in order of players still on the board.  Let's see how close any of these guys after the draft  boards come to look like what they had picked beforehand.

 

My other pet peeve about the actual draft.  After it's over, do you ever hear a GM tell you they didn't pick the best player available as opposed to they more made their selection based on need?  But they will tell you he's the best where as more than likely may have been in their top 5 selections, but the one they selected fits the need better.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

39 minutes ago, jdonley1180 said:

Serious question. Many posters refer to players as being higher or lower on their, "Boards". Does anyone seriously make up a draft board, whether its literally a white board or a spreadsheet? Or is this just a figure of forum speech... asking for a friend

 

I suspect most people on here that claim stuff like “oh, I had him as my #9 OG and #154 on my big board” are full of *****.

 

That said, however, I would guess that there are actually a handful of posters who actually do such extensive scouting and ranking.

[Mr. WEO]

All is of no matter....one cannot ever control for awful decisions made by FO's on draft day every year.  

[thebandit27]

21 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Just a question if you would know.  I'm not a huge college fan and I was wondering if there is a good "blocking TE" that

could be developed for a Lee Smith replacement?  Maybe even someone if he couldn't make the cut this year who could get stashed on the PS.

I'm pretty sure once they move on from Smith they will want to fill that role.

 

I guess I should ask what you think of that idea.

I’m usually not a fan of putting a TE on the field that isn’t a threat to catch the ball; if I’m going to do that I’d rather play a 6th OLman.

 

That said, Thad Moss (Randy’s kid) can block really well as an in-line guy. He’s not in Smith’s class, but he’s a better athlete.

[ColoradoBills]

15 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

I’m usually not a fan of putting a TE on the field that isn’t a threat to catch the ball; if I’m going to do that I’d rather play a 6th OLman.

 

That said, Thad Moss (Randy’s kid) can block really well as an in-line guy. He’s not in Smith’s class, but he’s a better athlete.

 

Thanks Bandit for your input.  I know it sounds strange about a position like this but I started to think that the Bills 2 6th and 1 7th picks

are going to have a hard time finding a roster spot.  I started looking to next years roster and who might get let go.  I'm not a Lee Smith

hater but he is getting up in age and does cost some.  With the expanded PS roster I started to think that more development guys

than usual will be getting looks.

[GunnerBill]

I will try and do all the bits I did last year which was:

 

- my draft sleepers;

- my QB evaluations;

- a revised version of my mock;

 

And then closer to draft time a list of my first round grades, my positional top 5s and an analysis and comparison of my top 100 to other years. 

 

Then in our running draft thread I do a running update on my big board at the end of each round and when it comes up to a Bills pick. Plus I do daily summary posts after each day. 

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, jdonley1180 said:

Serious question. Many posters refer to players as being higher or lower on their, "Boards". Does anyone seriously make up a draft board, whether its literally a white board or a spreadsheet? Or is this just a figure of forum speech... asking for a friend

 

Mine is an excel spreadsheet. I have a vertical grade axis down one side (the standard 1.0 to 8.0) and then the positions across the top. 

 

I have a few golden rules:

 

1 - to go on the board I have to have watched you at least 3 times;

2 - once a player has been put on the board his grade only changes after going back to the film;

3 - remember you are not grading against this class. You are grading against every player you have ever put on a board in every year. Chaisson is a good case in point this year. I found him almost the hardest player to grade and one of the critical points came when I asked myself "where would I grade him as against Brian Burns?" That helped me come down on a final grade. 

 

 

2 hours ago, JaCrispy said:

Does scheme fit, for certain teams, also determine order?  Asking for a friend...?

 

No. I grade without any specific team or scheme in mind. So let's take AJ Epenesa for example. I think he is quite scheme specific. He couldn't be drafted by the Eagles because he would be horribly ill suited to a Jim Schwartz defense. So that drops him on my board a little. But let's say you are the Seahawks whose defense I think he is a very nice fit for..... well they may have him a few points higher because the limited scheme fit matters less to them - he fits what they do. 

 

That is one way that what an amateur hobbyist like me does is different than what a professional GM or personnel guy does. 

[GunnerBill]

If someone can remind me how to do I will post a snap shot of the top of my board from last year if people are interested. 

 

The other thing I should say is there will be people not on my board just because I haven't watched them. If someone is not on my board doesn't mean I think they are bad. Means I haven't watched. I try and watch as many people as I can. Normally have 100 to 130 on my board. 

[qwksilver]

How cool would it be to see all the teams' actual draft board (obv after the draft).They could be posted at a set time and date. Maybe after the last cut down date. 

[JESSEFEFFER]

A longtime coworker of mine lost her father recently.  He was a Bills fan and draft maven of the sort we are talking about here.  It was his hobby and the draft was a big event for him to the extent that he threw a big party for it every year and spent weeks preparing for it.  I asked her if he had more passion for the draft or the actual games and she could not be sure, which is odd to me given how emotionally invested most of us are in the games. 

 

Due to business upheaval, there have been some years where she worked elsewhere for a few years but most years I would ask her to ask her dad for his prediction of the Bills #1 pick.  Oliver and Allen recently, Gilmore , Dareus, Spiller were specific predictions I remember seeing.  I don't think he ever got one wrong.   

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, JESSEFEFFER said:

A longtime coworker of mine lost her father recently.  He was a Bills fan and draft maven of the sort we are talking about here.  It was his hobby and the draft was a big event for him to the extent that he threw a big party for it every year and spent weeks preparing for it.  I asked her if he had more passion for the draft or the actual games and she could not be sure, which is odd to me given how emotionally invested most of us are in the games. 

 

Due to business upheaval, there have been some years where she worked elsewhere for a few years but most years I would ask her to ask her dad for his prediction of the Bills #1 pick.  Oliver and Allen recently, Gilmore , Dareus, Spiller were specific predictions I remember seeing.  I don't think he ever got one wrong.   

 

I mocked Oliver to the Bills all the way through last draft season and then my final version right before the draft I convinced myself teams would not be the stupid as to let him get to #9. But I was always adamant that if he was there the Bills would not even think twice - and the draft room video showed they didn't. As soon as the word "Hockenson" was said for the Lions Beane pumps his fist and says "Ed Oliver will be the pick." 

 

The only other year I think I got it right was Shaq. 

[Kirby Jackson]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I mocked Oliver to the Bills all the way through last draft season and then my final version right before the draft I convinced myself teams would not be the stupid as to let him get to #9. But I was always adamant that if he was there the Bills would not even think twice - and the draft room video showed they didn't. As soon as the word "Hockenson" was said for the Lions Beane pumps his fist and says "Ed Oliver will be the pick." 

 

The only other year I think I got it right was Shaq. 

Loaded question and VERY difficult to pick but gun to your head Bills pick at 54? (No pressure)

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Kirby Jackson said:

Loaded question and VERY difficult to pick but gun to your head Bills pick at 54? (No pressure)

 

Hugely difficult to pick. I have to know who is there haha. Personally I doubt receiver or running back so I am going to strike those guys out. Tight End is only possible if Kmet is still there I think and he will be gone. Won't be a Quarterback and I'd be surprised if it was offensive line. 

 

I think Greenard and Anae are probably gone.... I am going to say Kyle Dugger. 

[ColoradoBills]

20 minutes ago, qwksilver said:

How cool would it be to see all the teams' actual draft board (obv after the draft).They could be posted at a set time and date. Maybe after the last cut down date. 

 

It sure would but teams don't want to let out their secrets and I understand why.

But you brought up something interesting.  With this years draft not having all the hype about fans and draft activities it would be cool to

maybe get a former GM to show people how teams generally put a board together.

 

They got a lot of time to fill with pre-draft hype.  Hopefully someone over at the NFL Network will think of something like that.

[Punching Bag]

3 hours ago, jdonley1180 said:

Serious question. Many posters refer to players as being higher or lower on their, "Boards". Does anyone seriously make up a draft board, whether its literally a white board or a spreadsheet? Or is this just a figure of forum speech... asking for a friend

 

I think it is a typo - Draft Bored.

[qwksilver]

9 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

It sure would but teams don't want to let out their secrets and I understand why.

But you brought up something interesting.  With this years draft not having all the hype about fans and draft activities it would be cool to

maybe get a former GM to show people how teams generally put a board together.

 

They got a lot of time to fill with pre-draft hype.  Hopefully someone over at the NFL Network will think of something like that.

The NFL could force each team to reveal draft board. 

Actually the transparency could help teams. If one team was going to cut someone they could see which team liked him the most and get something vs cutting him.

[JESSEFEFFER]

16 minutes ago, qwksilver said:

The NFL could force each team to reveal draft board. 

Actually the transparency could help teams. If one team was going to cut someone they could see which team liked him the most and get something vs cutting him.

 

 

Never happen imo.  Reputations are at stake for the players they do draft enough as it is.  No one wants to be on the hook for the evaluations of the players that they did not take as well.

[boater]

Do any of these draftnics have the testicoli to post their board publicly in GoogleSheets? That would be fun.

 

I wouldn't mock them for their bravado. I would praise them for their openness and honesty... and find great curiosity in their findings.

 

 

 

 

[qwksilver]

12 minutes ago, JESSEFEFFER said:

 

 

Never happen imo.  Reputations are at stake for the players they do draft enough as it is.  No one wants to be on the hook for the evaluations of the players that they did not take as well.

Never is a long time but I agree. The only way this happens is for the NFL to make money out of it. 

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, boater said:

Do any of these draftnics have the testicoli to post their board publicly in GoogleSheets? That would be fun.

 

I wouldn't mock them for their bravado. I would praise them for their openness and honesty... and find great curiosity in their findings.

 

 

 

 

 

I've offered my 2019 board up. My 2020 board is still a work in progress but happy for people to see my 2019 board.

[thebandit27]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Loaded question and VERY difficult to pick but gun to your head Bills pick at 54? (No pressure)

At this point I’ll guess Bryce Hall or Noah Igbinoghene

42 minutes ago, boater said:

Do any of these draftnics have the testicoli to post their board publicly in GoogleSheets? That would be fun.

 

I wouldn't mock them for their bravado. I would praise them for their openness and honesty... and find great curiosity in their findings.

 

 

 

 

I’ll post my 2020 board come draft week

[DCOrange]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Hugely difficult to pick. I have to know who is there haha. Personally I doubt receiver or running back so I am going to strike those guys out. Tight End is only possible if Kmet is still there I think and he will be gone. Won't be a Quarterback and I'd be surprised if it was offensive line. 

 

I think Greenard and Anae are probably gone.... I am going to say Kyle Dugger. 

I would tend to lean towards one of the safeties as well. Ultimately depends who is there but safety seems like a good match of BPA, system value, and need. I think Dugger is probably the one they’re hoping for as well but it’s a really deep safety class so tough to say which guys will be there at 54. 

[John from Riverside]

4 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

All is of no matter....one cannot ever control for awful decisions made by FO's on draft day every year.  

Like I said all of your posts read the same

such bull####

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, John from Riverside said:

Like I said all of your posts read the same

such bull####

 

 

The truth often disturbs and unsettles the true believers.

 

 

[John from Riverside]

Just now, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

The truth often disturbs and unsettles the true believers.

 

 

What truth

your just flat wrong

[Mr. WEO]

3 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

What truth

your just flat wrong

 

So you CAN account, in your mock drafts, for awful decisions made by GMs on draft day?

 

or

 

GMs don't make awful decisions on draft day?

 

or

 

A stud WR would not make more of an impact on scoring than a stud OG?

 

or 

 

Passing on a 2nd round  WR last year is NOT why we had to use a 1st round pick to secure a #1 WR this year?

 

Which are you struggling with?

[John from Riverside]

41 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

So you CAN account, in your mock drafts, for awful decisions made by GMs on draft day?

 

or

 

GMs don't make awful decisions on draft day?

 

or

 

A stud WR would not make more of an impact on scoring than a stud OG?

 

or 

 

Passing on a 2nd round  WR last year is NOT why we had to use a 1st round pick to secure a #1 WR this year?

 

Which are you struggling with?

Just point out the bad gm draft decisions

 

then while your at it slow me how ALL god don’t do the exact same thing

 

then even though ppl try to explain to you countless times that rookies don’t all mature at the same rate but you keep o with h your billshit

 

or the fact that diggs is  a better investment because you KNOW your getting a very good player

 

Just because beane didn’t do it the way YOU wanted it didn’t make it wrong

 

 

[TigerJ]

I've seen some big boards - sites like Drafttek.  When I see a mock draft mock a player to the Bills with whom I am unfamiliar, I'll do an online search for some scouting reports like those that The Draft Network produces.  That's about as "in depth" as I'll go.

[Augie]

I’ve been to a Bills Super Bowl. I’ve been to The Masters. I’ve been to major tennis tournaments. I’ve been to Sweet 16 NCAA basketball. 

 

If I could choose any “sporting event” to attend for the rest of my life, it would be to sit in the Bills war room on Draft Day. Second place isn’t even close. 

[maryland-bills-fan]

No. I would have to look at most of the games for each player to feel that I had a chance of getting it right. Not just the highlight reel, but the time they had a bad game or a game where they were just okay and made mistakes or were lazy.  .. What I do at best is look at 5-10 mock drafts and see who is +- 8/-5 picks or so from the Bills draft picks to see who might be in play.  I feel this gives some sense of "BPA" around that area.  If the Bills have a need at a position, then look at those guys in more detail themselves and at lists of player ranking at that posiiton.  I hope to see a higher ranked player fall to the Bills pick. ... ... I think that in his earlier years at the Bills, had a lot of freedom to pick any position he wanted, because there were not valuable people blocking any position.  So he looked for players who could be real difference makers and maybe not immediate contributors and spent low round draft picks to move up for them.  Now he has to consider who is already on the roster and where the roster needs upgrading.  We are NOT going QB in round 2 this year. 

 

[Victory Formation]

I don’t think most people sit down and actually watch every prospect in every game they’ve played. Most folks watch YouTube videos and maybe draft pundits breakdowns and analyses and color commentaries on X player. I think if you do that you are more informed than 99% of fans. There’s a few out there that actually sit down and watch every game but they’re unicorns but take Kyle Dugger for example. How many people here watched even one single Lenoir-Rhyne game? That doesn’t stop fans from banging the table for this D2 small school prospect in the second round. And I’m cool with that so long as you paid attention to the combine, at least watched some clips and highlight videos on YouTube. That’s better than banging the table for a guy because he’s 6’8 or because he has dreadlocks and his name sounds cool.

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

9 hours ago, Augie said:

I’ve been to a Bills Super Bowl. I’ve been to The Masters. I’ve been to major tennis tournaments. I’ve been to Sweet 16 NCAA basketball. 

 

If I could choose any “sporting event” to attend for the rest of my life, it would be to sit in the Bills war room on Draft Day. Second place isn’t even close. 

Bills SB when they win is not first?
 

I have no interest in building a draft board, but I think it’s great that some guys enjoy the process as much as they clearly do. That said, it would be very cool to be in the draft room. It has it all, excitement, disappointment, and dare I say the art of the deal.