The 2013 NFL Draft is upon us and it has been another crazy scouting off-season in the NFL. Just a few thoughts before tomorrow nights festivities kick off:
1. This is the first time, since I've started religiously following the draft, that nobody knows who the Chiefs will pick with the first overall pick. That is a result of two things, in my opinion. One - There is no consensus #1 player in this draft. But such has been the case in the recent past, so that is not an anomaly. Two - With the rookie salary cap in place since last year, teams picking #1 overall won't be tipping their picks by negotiating with them before the draft. Last year, we all knew since mid-season 2011 that Andrew Luck was going #1. All the RG3 talk made it interesting, but ultimately I don't think anyone in the NFL community actually believed that the #1 pick would be anyone but Andrew Luck. This year, as a result of both of the above factors, this will be a more exciting draft simply due to the "unknown" factor.
2. Over the past three months I've heard a lot of reports, and subsequently confirmed for myself by watching a little tape, that this draft is light in the top ten picks but pretty deep overall, especially in the offensive line and the defensive front seven. This means the rich keep getting richer because playoff teams will have the chance to pick a player that really might not be graded much lower or at all than the top 10 picks.
3. I envy the 49ers roster. A Super Bowl squad before we even begin the draft + Anquan Boldin in free agency + 13 picks in this draft to wheel and deal around to get the players they want or get future picks. That is how you build a franchise and set it up for success. Kudos to Trent Baalke
4. Speaking of the Super Bowl, this is where the Ravens build their roster. Living down the street from the stadium in Baltimore, I heard a lot of fans panicking a little when they saw Ozzie Newsome gut the Super Bowl winning roster of numerous starters on both sides of the ball, including franchise icon Ed Reed and Playoff MVP Anquan Boldin. Add the fact that their emotional leader Ray Lewis also stepped away from the game and I could almost understand the Ravens' fans anguish. But Newsome, like in the past, stayed relatively quiet in the first wave of free agency and then came away with the best pass rusher who became available due to a fax snafu, Elvis Dumervil, and a solid free safety to replace Reed, Michael Huff. I expect Ozzie to quietly pick the best player available on their board and keep re-tooling the Ravens roster. After all, they lost eight starters the previous off-season and then went on to win the Super Bowl. I trust in Ozzie.
5. Tavon Austin reminds me those Leon Sandcastle ads on NFL Network. Before the combine, he was a second round pick. Since blowing up the combine with a 4.34 forty yard dash, media pundits have vaulted him to as high as the #4 overall pick. He's a slot receiver who is a nightmare to tackle in the open field, but I don't see a top-20 player when I watch him. He's been the hottest name in the draft so far.
6. This is also the first draft that I can remember where there isn't a consensus #1 QB, or even a top three QB list that scouts and media experts can agree on. I've seen Geno Smith, Mike Glennon, Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, EJ Manuel, and even Landry Jones as the top QB in this draft. This is one of the main reasons for point #1 above. And this is also why the Chiefs, Raiders, Eagles, Cardinals, and the Bills (all picking in the top-8) went out and got veteran QB's this off-season. Nobody is completely sold on the QB class this year but the fact that it's the most important position on the football field will vault them up the draft board and thus dictate much of the movement in this draft.
Enjoy the draft everyone and let me know if you'd like me to post anything about a particular player or team after the draft.
1. This is the first time, since I've started religiously following the draft, that nobody knows who the Chiefs will pick with the first overall pick. That is a result of two things, in my opinion. One - There is no consensus #1 player in this draft. But such has been the case in the recent past, so that is not an anomaly. Two - With the rookie salary cap in place since last year, teams picking #1 overall won't be tipping their picks by negotiating with them before the draft. Last year, we all knew since mid-season 2011 that Andrew Luck was going #1. All the RG3 talk made it interesting, but ultimately I don't think anyone in the NFL community actually believed that the #1 pick would be anyone but Andrew Luck. This year, as a result of both of the above factors, this will be a more exciting draft simply due to the "unknown" factor.
2. Over the past three months I've heard a lot of reports, and subsequently confirmed for myself by watching a little tape, that this draft is light in the top ten picks but pretty deep overall, especially in the offensive line and the defensive front seven. This means the rich keep getting richer because playoff teams will have the chance to pick a player that really might not be graded much lower or at all than the top 10 picks.
3. I envy the 49ers roster. A Super Bowl squad before we even begin the draft + Anquan Boldin in free agency + 13 picks in this draft to wheel and deal around to get the players they want or get future picks. That is how you build a franchise and set it up for success. Kudos to Trent Baalke
4. Speaking of the Super Bowl, this is where the Ravens build their roster. Living down the street from the stadium in Baltimore, I heard a lot of fans panicking a little when they saw Ozzie Newsome gut the Super Bowl winning roster of numerous starters on both sides of the ball, including franchise icon Ed Reed and Playoff MVP Anquan Boldin. Add the fact that their emotional leader Ray Lewis also stepped away from the game and I could almost understand the Ravens' fans anguish. But Newsome, like in the past, stayed relatively quiet in the first wave of free agency and then came away with the best pass rusher who became available due to a fax snafu, Elvis Dumervil, and a solid free safety to replace Reed, Michael Huff. I expect Ozzie to quietly pick the best player available on their board and keep re-tooling the Ravens roster. After all, they lost eight starters the previous off-season and then went on to win the Super Bowl. I trust in Ozzie.
5. Tavon Austin reminds me those Leon Sandcastle ads on NFL Network. Before the combine, he was a second round pick. Since blowing up the combine with a 4.34 forty yard dash, media pundits have vaulted him to as high as the #4 overall pick. He's a slot receiver who is a nightmare to tackle in the open field, but I don't see a top-20 player when I watch him. He's been the hottest name in the draft so far.
6. This is also the first draft that I can remember where there isn't a consensus #1 QB, or even a top three QB list that scouts and media experts can agree on. I've seen Geno Smith, Mike Glennon, Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, EJ Manuel, and even Landry Jones as the top QB in this draft. This is one of the main reasons for point #1 above. And this is also why the Chiefs, Raiders, Eagles, Cardinals, and the Bills (all picking in the top-8) went out and got veteran QB's this off-season. Nobody is completely sold on the QB class this year but the fact that it's the most important position on the football field will vault them up the draft board and thus dictate much of the movement in this draft.
Enjoy the draft everyone and let me know if you'd like me to post anything about a particular player or team after the draft.
Post about the Colts, plz!!
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