Posts: 3,876
Threads: 941
Joined: Jan 2014
Reputation:
2,582
![[Image: 137310.jpg]](http://www.rotoworld.com/images/headshots/CFB/137310.jpg) Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline reports that NFL general managers and scouts believe 70 of the 100 players in the 2019 NFL Draft are defensive players.
The NFL considers this offensive class one of the worst "in a long time" and it's not surprising to walk away with this impression if you spend any time looking at analysts' big boards. A ton of the first-round prospects are defensive lineman, and there's not a lot of top-end talent at running back, among other offensive positions. Most draft analysts aren't impressed with the quarterback class either, so this could be a year where some teams stockpile picks in anticipation for the 2020 NFL Draft. ![[Image: 137888.jpg]](http://www.rotoworld.com/images/headshots/CFB/137888.jpg) The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes Washington State T Andre Dillard is "deserving of first-round consideration."
Dillard (6'5/310) currently sits as the No. 5 offensive tackle prospect on Brugler's top-10 positional rankings behind Jonah Williams, Cody Ford, Greg Little, and Jawaan Taylor. Dillard has tons of experience -- he's a redshirt senior -- and was largely responsible for pass protection in Mike Leach's pass-first offense. Currently sitting on the first-round and second-round borderline, Dillard's combine measurements will be key in his evaluation.
-------
I picked Dillard in the 3rd round of my Vikings only mock last week because that's about where he'd been landing in most of the rankings I'd seen at the time. Since then, Jeremiah put him at 17 (ahead of Little, Risner and Jonah Williams)....and now this. We'll see, but I think it's a little high. Dillard is a developmental guy with some O'Neill-like upside, but he plays in a two-step-drop-and-throw offense that distorts his protection stats and makes it really difficult to get a gauge on what he would look like in an NFL offense where he'll be asked to run block every once in a while.
Who knows...I'm seeing big boards with Little and Risner Day 3...Williams anywhere from top 5 to Day 2...I think there's lots of good but not great OL talent...skill position players has no top layer...
If Offensive Depth and no Top Layer are that prevalent, there definitely will be a run on OL in The First and lots of really good defensive players will be dropping.
Teams are going to want to trade up to the mid-first to get the guy they had in their top ten.
It may be that 4 OL are already gone at #18.
A trade down might be the best play?
I'm seeing a lot of even talent, so getting another selection in the top 100 somewhere looks like a good move right now. I will change my mind a hundred times, however.
I think of how many times the boards will change between now and draft day and it will look totally different.
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
Who knows...I'm seeing big boards with Little and Risner Day 3...Williams anywhere from top 5 to Day 2...I think there's lots of good but not great OL talent...skill position players has no top layer...
Risner is the real head scratcher. PFF is in love with him. Thinks he's a 1st rounder. Pauline then says "scouts" gave him a 7th round grade. What "scouts" he's referring to is anyone's guess. I haven't watched enough of him to have an opinion yet. I sorta get the Little disagreement. Has all the tools, but he looked almost lazy in the one game I watched.
Quote: @kahsmick said:
If Offensive Depth and no Top Layer are that prevalent, there definitely will be a run on OL in The First and lots of really good defensive players will be dropping.
Teams are going to want to trade up to the mid-first to get the guy they had in their top ten.
It may be that 4 OL are already gone at #18.
A trade down might be the best play?
I'm seeing a lot of even talent, so getting another selection in the top 100 somewhere looks like a good move right now. I will change my mind a hundred times, however.
Right now (and I'll change my mind a hundred times, too), it looks like the value might suggest taking OL at 18 and the best DT at 50. Seeing a lot of mocks with some ridiculous DT value deep into the 2nd round.
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
On this board he's number 101...
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/28/2...e-dillard/
I like the draft network guys, especially Ledyard, but if I had to choose one to trust, it would be Jeremiah. Like Mayock, he's less of a scout and more of an analyst, meaning that he bases his rankings more on what he hears from NFL personnel. I don't think the draft network guys have that kind of access.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ kahsmick said:
If Offensive Depth and no Top Layer are that prevalent, there definitely will be a run on OL in The First and lots of really good defensive players will be dropping.
Teams are going to want to trade up to the mid-first to get the guy they had in their top ten.
It may be that 4 OL are already gone at #18.
A trade down might be the best play?
I'm seeing a lot of even talent, so getting another selection in the top 100 somewhere looks like a good move right now. I will change my mind a hundred times, however.
Right now (and I'll change my mind a hundred times, too), it looks like the value might suggest taking OL at 18 and the best DT at 50. Seeing a lot of mocks with some ridiculous DT value deep into the 2nd round.
I agree with staying at 18 and taking OL, but its scenarios like we are seeing here is exactly why I think we need to get our OL addressed in FA and hope to add quality through the draft. The notion that we will for sure find 1 or even 2 day one starters in the draft is poor planning IMO. We cant rely on any injured guys being ready day 1 and what we had this year would make me want to cancel the season than see them lined up out there again. front load a couple OGs contracts and draft more help, if the rookies pan out we can always trade those front loaded veteran contracts for future picks, but we need to make sure we have protection and running lanes accounted for going into the draft.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ kahsmick said:
If Offensive Depth and no Top Layer are that prevalent, there definitely will be a run on OL in The First and lots of really good defensive players will be dropping.
Teams are going to want to trade up to the mid-first to get the guy they had in their top ten.
It may be that 4 OL are already gone at #18.
A trade down might be the best play?
I'm seeing a lot of even talent, so getting another selection in the top 100 somewhere looks like a good move right now. I will change my mind a hundred times, however.
Right now (and I'll change my mind a hundred times, too), it looks like the value might suggest taking OL at 18 and the best DT at 50. Seeing a lot of mocks with some ridiculous DT value deep into the 2nd round.
I agree with staying at 18 and taking OL, but its scenarios like we are seeing here is exactly why I think we need to get our OL addressed in FA and hope to add quality through the draft. The notion that we will for sure find 1 or even 2 day one starters in the draft is poor planning IMO. We cant rely on any injured guys being ready day 1 and what we had this year would make me want to cancel the season than see them lined up out there again. front load a couple OGs contracts and draft more help, if the rookies pan out we can always trade those front loaded veteran contracts for future picks, but we need to make sure we have protection and running lanes accounted for going into the draft.
Couldn't agree more. In a perfect world--ok, my perfect world--we would sign Rodger Saffold to be our starting left guard. We move Easton over to RG, where he competes with 1st round draft choice. We draft a high-upside left tackle in the 3rd round who develops behind Reiff.
Couple things to consider....
* Will we be able to sign Easton if we target Saffold? Easton is going to want a starting gig and he can probably get it somewhere.
* What the hell happened to Elflein? Recently read a PFF article that graded him dead last among centers. I knew he was bad this year, but that bad? Is it possible we draft a center and move Elflein to RG? A position he was better at at OSU? And even he says he's more comfortable playing?
* With the exception of O'Neill and Collins, I don't know if any of our linemen are the kind athletic freaks required to effectively play in a Kubiak zone.
|
