Two draft games for the draftniks

[KingintheNorth]

This is for draft fans or bigtime college football enthusiasts. This isn’t about being right or wrong. It’s really to show how unpredictable the talent identification process is and how fluid the overall draft process is.


Game 1


Think back to going into the 2022 season, go through the 31 players just drafted in the 1st round, and how many would you have said in September were surefire 1st round selections. It’s 12 for me, I’ll break that down more later.



1. Carolina Panthers (via trade) Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

2. Houston Texans C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

3. Houston Texans (via trade)Will Anderson Jr., edge, Alabama

4. Indianapolis Colts Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

5. Seattle Seahawks (via trade) Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

6. Arizona Cardinals (via trade) Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

7. Las Vegas Raiders Tyree Wilson, edge, Texas Tech

8. Atlanta Falcons Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

9. Philadelphia Eagles (via trade) Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

10. Chicago Bears (via trade) Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

11. Tennessee Titans Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

12. Detroit Lions (via trade) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

13. Green Bay Packers (via trade) Lukas Van Ness, edge, Iowa

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (via trade) Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

15. New York Jets (via trade) Will McDonald IV, edge, Iowa State

16. Washington Commanders Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State

17. New England Patriots (via trade) Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

18. Detroit Lions Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt

20. Seattle Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

21. Los Angeles Chargers Quentin Johnston, WR, Texas Christian

22. Baltimore Ravens Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

23. Minnesota Vikings Jordan Addison, WR, Southern California

24. New York Giants (via trade)Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

25. Buffalo Bills (via trade) Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

26. Dallas Cowboys Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade) Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma

28. Cincinnati Bengals Myles Murphy, edge, Clemson

29. New Orleans Saints (via trade) Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

30. Philadelphia Eagles Nolan Smith, edge, Georgia

31. Kansas City Chiefs Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge, Kansas State


In an article on ESPN written 3 months before the draft (January 25th, 2023) Kiper got 22 out of 31. On June 28th, 2022 (303 days before the draft, Matt Miller got 13 of 31 correct.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Game 2

Here is Todd McShay’s “way too early 2024 mock” written today, May 4th, 2023. How many players have you watched play or even heard of before today?

I included the commentary on the Cowboys mock selection.



1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via mock trade with ARI/HOU) Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. Arizona Cardinals Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State​

3. Washington Commanders (via mock trade with IND) Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. Tennessee Titans Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama

5. Arizona Cardinals (via mock trade with TB) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

6. Indianapolis Colts (via mock trade with WSH) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

7. Atlanta Falcons Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

8. Chicago Bears (via CAR) J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

9. New England Patriots Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

10. Pittsburgh Steelers Bralen Trice, DE, Washington

11. Chicago Bears Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

12. Los Angeles Rams Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

13. Green Bay Packers Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

14. Seattle Seahawks Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami-FL

15. Denver Broncos Jack Sawyer, OLB, Ohio State

16. Las Vegas Raiders Kalen King, CB, Penn State

17. Houston Texans (via CLE) Maason Smith, DT, LSU

18. Miami Dolphins Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

19. New York Giants Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State

20. Minnesota Vikings J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

21. New Orleans Saints Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

22. Detroit Lions Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

23. Jacksonville Jaguars Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

24. Baltimore Ravens Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

25. Los Angeles Chargers Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

26. Dallas Cowboys JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Tyron Smith and Terence Steele are both set to be free agents after the upcoming season, and Dallas was 27th in pass block win rate last year (52.9%). Latham has a 6-foot-6, 326-pound frame, plays with power and has versatility. He allowed just one sack over 13 starts last season. Latham is also a real asset in the run game at right tackle, where he could help spring Tony Pollard.

27. Green Bay Packers (conditionally via NYJ) Calen Bullock, S, USC

28. Cincinnati Bengals Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

29. Buffalo Bills Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia

30. Philadelphia Eagles Jeremiah Trotter Jr., ILB, Clemson

31. San Francisco 49ers Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State

32. Kansas City Chiefs Graham Barton, OT, Duke

 

[beware_d-ware]

I personally don't watch any college football until it's draft time. Partly because my alma mater Texas A&M Aggies are so brutal, partly because there's no parity in the sport. When Ohio State opens as 30 point favorites over Purdue, where's the fun in spending 3 hours watching that? NFL spreads rarely go over one touchdown for any game.

That being said, Arizona bagging Caleb Williams AND Marvin Harrison Jr. would be ridiculously good.

 

[big dog cowboy]

26. Dallas Cowboys JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Tyron Smith and Terence Steele are both set to be free agents after the upcoming season, and Dallas was 27th in pass block win rate last year (52.9%). Latham has a 6-foot-6, 326-pound frame, plays with power and has versatility. He allowed just one sack over 13 starts last season. Latham is also a real asset in the run game at right tackle, where he could help spring Tony Pollard.

We will know much more at the end of the season. But if the backup OL's that the Cowboys love don't look like they can step up into starting roles, then going OL in the 1st round will practically be a necessity. While I think they have some good backups, it's something worth watching.

 

[reddyuta]

JJ McCarthy a first rd QB- it's a joke right?

 

[RS12]

I personally don't watch any college football until it's draft time. Partly because my alma mater Texas A&M Aggies are so brutal, partly because there's no parity in the sport. When Ohio State opens as 30 point favorites over Purdue, where's the fun in spending 3 hours watching that? NFL spreads rarely go over one touchdown for any game.

That being said, Arizona bagging Caleb Williams AND Marvin Harrison Jr. would be ridiculously good.

Plus a desperate team probably gives Arizona value for the little guy.

 

[RS12]

Game 2

Here is Todd McShay’s “way too early 2024 mock” written today, May 4th, 2023. How many players have you watched play or even heard of before today?

I included the commentary on the Cowboys mock selection.



1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via mock trade with ARI/HOU) Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. Arizona Cardinals Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State​

3. Washington Commanders (via mock trade with IND) Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. Tennessee Titans Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama

5. Arizona Cardinals (via mock trade with TB) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

6. Indianapolis Colts (via mock trade with WSH) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

7. Atlanta Falcons Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

8. Chicago Bears (via CAR) J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

9. New England Patriots Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

10. Pittsburgh Steelers Bralen Trice, DE, Washington

11. Chicago Bears Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

12. Los Angeles Rams Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

13. Green Bay Packers Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

14. Seattle Seahawks Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami-FL

15. Denver Broncos Jack Sawyer, OLB, Ohio State

16. Las Vegas Raiders Kalen King, CB, Penn State

17. Houston Texans (via CLE) Maason Smith, DT, LSU

18. Miami Dolphins Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

19. New York Giants Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State

20. Minnesota Vikings J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

21. New Orleans Saints Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

22. Detroit Lions Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

23. Jacksonville Jaguars Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

24. Baltimore Ravens Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

25. Los Angeles Chargers Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

26. Dallas Cowboys JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Tyron Smith and Terence Steele are both set to be free agents after the upcoming season, and Dallas was 27th in pass block win rate last year (52.9%). Latham has a 6-foot-6, 326-pound frame, plays with power and has versatility. He allowed just one sack over 13 starts last season. Latham is also a real asset in the run game at right tackle, where he could help spring Tony Pollard.

27. Green Bay Packers (conditionally via NYJ) Calen Bullock, S, USC

28. Cincinnati Bengals Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

29. Buffalo Bills Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia

30. Philadelphia Eagles Jeremiah Trotter Jr., ILB, Clemson

31. San Francisco 49ers Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State

32. Kansas City Chiefs Graham Barton, OT, Duke

Where is Pennix? Just about everyone else has him as the 3rd QB in the class?

 

[KingintheNorth]

Where is Pennix? Just about everyone else has him as the 3rd QB in the class?

Found one written Sunday that has Penix going 11th.

Christian D'Andrea

April 30, 2023 7:01 am ET

1.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Caleb Williams, USC
2. Indianapolis Colts: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
3. Arizona Cardinals: DL Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
4. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
5. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
6. Los Angeles Rams: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
7. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
8. Tennessee Titans: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
9. New Orleans Saints: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
10. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
11. Atlanta Falcons: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
12. New England Patriots: OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
13. Denver Broncos: WR Zakhari Franklin, UTSA (but currently in the transfer portal)
14. Chicago Bears: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
16. Green Bay Packers: DL J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
17. Washington Commanders: QB Bo Nix, Oregon
18. Baltimore Ravens: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
19. Minnesota Vikings: S Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
20. New York Giants: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
21. New York Jets: DL Maason Smith, LSU
22. Los Angeles Chargers: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
23. Seattle Seahawks: IOL Connor Colby, Iowa
24. Detroit Lions: EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: S James Williams, Miami
26. Miami Dolphins: IOL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
27. San Francisco 49ers: WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
28. Dallas Cowboys: RB Raheim Sanders, Arkansas - It’s an Arkansas guy who plays a position Jerry Jones loves. Dallas will be in the market for an RB1 if Tony Pollard plays out his franchise tag without signing an extension. Sanders would be an immediate, low-cost fit
29. Buffalo Bills: S Calen Bullock, USC
30. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
31. Cincinnati Bengals: S Javon Bullard, Georgia
32. Kansas City Chiefs: DL Jer'Zahn Newton, Illinois

 

[RS12]

28. Dallas Cowboys: RB Raheim Sanders, Arkansas - It’s an Arkansas guy who plays a position Jerry Jones loves. Dallas will be in the market for an RB1 if Tony Pollard plays out his franchise tag without signing an extension. Sanders would be an immediate, low-cost fit

Dont see this at all.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Dont see this at all.

Me either.

 

[Risen Star]

31 and 32.

Fun games.

 

[Spottswoode]

You would have hit on 7 of the top 10 and 14 of the top 31 if you picked strictly by their National High School rankings.

 

[Spottswoode]

On McShay’s Way Too Early mock, he has 12 of the top 32 National High School prospects from the 2021 class.