GunnerBill

Campbell went at #31. Simpson at #32. No other linebackers yet.

That's a good pick. I actually have a drop off between JMS and Tippman - one towards the top of my round 2 grades and one towards the bottom. Then there is a full round between Tippman and Wypler.

Houston just took him.

Possible. Hard to know.

What really struck me about him is that he really hasn't looked like the prospect those scouting reports describe so far. I hadn't watched him at all before the draft last year, but I found some videos after we picked him. I'm with those reports what I saw in college was an undersized, sub package, linebacker who looked great in space but struggled to hold up physically in the box particularly against the run. However, both in pre-season and limited regular season action for the Bills he has actually held up better than expected against the run, and hasn't been the non-factor I feared. The issue has been he has shown no coverage ability whatsoever. He looks slow in space and hasn't shown any of that sideline to sideline range. It is as if the guy on film at Baylor is not the same guy that turned up in Buffalo. I don't know if injuries at the end at Baylor have played a part, if he was just a bit overwhelmed by the NFL or something else but what we saw on the field last year was bad. Particularly in the areas he was supposed to be good. As for the "can he fill the Edmunds space" question.... I'm not sure the answer is yes even if we do get the guy from the film at Baylor in the longer term.

I am still sceptical he is their guy but the top 30 visit is interesting and I hadn't picked that up, thanks. Wonder if they got him on the field at all during that visit and really looked at his movement skills? Interested enough to let Kromer get a closer look it seems.

It is a theme in this class. A lot of older prospects who have used their additional years of eligibility for covid etc to strike in a weaker class and probably get drafted a round earlier than they would otherwise have done. It is a good point you make on McDonald. Because he is a projection. He played 5 tech in college but he looks at his best in the rare spots where they let him line up at 7 or 9 and rush the passer off the edge. Projecting him to transition there full time if he is 21 is one thing. Doing it when he is 24 you would have to take pause and work through whether that is maximising your 1st round opportunity. I do like the player but I have a mid 2nd on him and he is a trade down from #27 type target for me rather than a pick at that spot guy.

Okay it's Day 2 of the draft folks. That means Rich Eisen has gone without a tie. And to open Day 2.... With the 32nd pick of the 2023 Virgil Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select: Trenton Simpson, Linebacker, Clemson For the second successive pick in the draft a selection is going to be accompanied by the claim - I just picked the best linebacker in the draft. He is certainly the most talented, though he has less experience at the position than Campbell. As such Simpson won't be a fit for everyone but the Steelers are one team for whom I am confident he makes sense. He is everything they liked about Devin Bush in a bigger frame. Fast, rangey, can cover, can hit and while his initial fit is probably as the WILL in their 3-4 I think his long term future is at the MIKE. The one thing he doesn't have is Bush's instincts, but frankly they never really came to the party in the NFL, especially after his injury. And in this case you are standing pat and getting Simpson at the top of round 2, whereas for Bush they uncharacteristicly traded into the top 10. The Steelers signed Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts in free agency to give themselves some serviceable inside linebacker options in the short term, but Simpson could lock down a spot for a decade. EDIT: The Houston Texans and @wppete are now on the clock.

No Diggs was never a 1st but he would have gone before the 5th. So who you gonna take this year? Because there are - at least to my eye - only 12 or 13 genuine first round talents. And they are all off the board. I have Addison as a borderline 1st round talent. And he is still there. He is the best player remaining the way this mock falls. You can only pick players who are in the draft. That isn't lowering standards. It is living in reality. Addison is better than both.

Because had Diggs been healthy he wouldn't have been a 5th rounder. And second because this is a weak draft. I would have been dead against Addison in the 1st last year. But it is just a rubbish class.

Addison isn't AJ. No doubt there. But this isn't the 2019 draft.

What is AJ's top tier trait? AJ's best trait is his route running IMO. He also wasn't a top 10 pick. Nor was Hill (who is a physical story I agree). Chase was a top 5 pick, but is great both as a route runner and a physical specimen. The trait that most regularly translates is route running. That isn't opinion. That is borne out in fact. I don't blame anyone for wanting to priotise a high ceiling size and speed guy like Johnston. I get that. But he is a 50/50 proposition. Addison and JSN are guys I have round 2 grades on but they are well within the top 32 of this poor draft.

Not watched him. He is also ugly.

Who?

Excellent way of describing it.

I have a top 3. Then a gap. Then Hyatt as my 4. Then a gap. Then Downs and Flowers.

Yea I can see the case for McDonald. It is a projection because he was largely misused in college IMO. But I like him. Would like him more in a trade down.

Who did they pick?

As a rule route running translates. I don't think Addison or JSN are special. But I do think they are the two best receivers in this draft.

Best blocking tight end in the draft. Not worth a 1st though. Runs great routes.

Honestly in this scenario I'd draft Addison and not even think twice.

I am all for drafting elite speed / size guys. But if you are taking them early they gotta be able to play too.

I don't think there are ANY true #1s in this class. I think Johnston is the one that has that upside but he has a very low floor.

I get it but people are wanting a guy who can be a true #1 and I am not sure there is one in this class. You can't wish one into being (if Johnston is available and you wanna roll the dice on him I get it, he might be). If you are giving me a choice of a speed / size guy who hasn't proven he can do anything else I will take the route runner every time. Year after year after year it is the thing that translates.

He is the best route runner of the top 3 guys. And that more than any other wide receiver trait is the one that translates.