mannc

I dunno…it seems like a pretty weak class at WR and IDL, but quite strong and deep at CB, Edge and TE…average at O-line and pretty decent at QB. Not seeing how it’s so awful. Seems at least as good as last year.

Agreed. I think the Packers played this just right. They got the most out of Rodgers that they could, and then managed to acquire some very nice draft capital for him on the way out the door. NE got nothing when Brady left, and he probably had a lot more left in the tank than Rodgers does.

Nice call.

Scouts and GMs badmouth every draft class…if the class sucks, then they can’t be blamed for coming away with mediocre players.

I think Simms is wrong about the WRs too; I think at least four go in round one, just because of need, and the fact that it’s a premium position. But Simms pointed out that JSN has injury concerns and underwhelming measurables, and said a lot of people he’s spoken to in the league think he’s an overrated prospect. As you point out, his mocks have not been real good, so we’ll see.

Kinda remains to be seen, no? I mean, we’re talking about a likely slot receiver in the NFL, with a history of injuries. Not crazy to think he could slip to 27. FWIW, Simms loves JSN and has him as his number 2 WR in the draft.

That wasn't my question. Why is JSN to the Bills “insane”?

These guys love to bad-mouth draft classes…happens every year. On the other hand, college football is broken, and that does not bode well for the NFL in the long term.

Why?

I guess my problem is with the terminology, not the method or the practice itself. If you're really giving out true "first round grades" then there should be 40 or more in really strong years and some number less than 32 in weak classes. If you're always giving out far less than 32 "first round grades" then you're just being a curmudgeon😃

Thanks, because I certainly did not intend to impugn GunnerBill’s opinion.

Exactly…the term “first round grade” has become meaningless, at least as used by many mock drafters, scouts and GMs

Again, no disrespect, but if the most "true" first round grades you're giving out is 23, then your grading system needs to be tweaked. If year after year you're giving out far less than 32 first round grades, then your definition of first round grade really means "top half of first round" grade. You're not the only one who's guilty of this...there are plenty of draft curmudgeons who every year say that there are only 15 or 20 players with "first round grades"...

And how many first round grades did you have in a strong draft year, like 2020? I'm sorry...I have a lot of respect for your opinion, but when I hear guys say there are 11 or 12 prospects with first round grades, my immediate thought is that they need to adjust their grading system, especially if they have less than 25 first round grades even in a strong year...it becomes meaningless.

As long as Green Bay has Rodgers under contract, they have plenty of leverage. And they absolutely can extract at least pick number 13 from the Jests...my guess is that they are holding out for additional picks, as well. The Jets aren't rolling with Wilson again in 2023 and I doubt they want to use pick 13 on the fourth or fifth best QB in this mediocre class...

Sorry, I meant to say trade up.

Beane certainly could trade down for one of those guys, but there are probably only five receivers who are worth a first round pick this year (if you include Kincaid) and there are way more than five teams that are looking to add receiving talent to their roster, so it won't be easy, sitting at 27, to get one of them. This year there aren't a lot of great players at other positions to push them down to the bottom of the round.

I agree...It's just that there aren't very many guys who can do that consistently. The Bills hoped Lil' Ed Oliver could do it, but they were wrong.

I'd be happy with any of those six, but I think they'll all be gone by 27.

Edge is a premium position. Interior DL is not. Other than a few guys like Jeffrey Simmons, Aaron Donald and Chris Jones, the position is filled with guys who can be replaced by free agents, without too much of a drop off.

And many wanted Josh Allen This year, I expect Beane to use the first round pick to fill the perceived need at DL/edge.

They drafted to fill a (perceived) need…always a bad idea.

Of course. Many of us here wanted them to do just that. And we appear to have been right.

You’re dreaming. Hopkins is over 30 and coming off a drug suspension. He’s likely to fall off a cliff, much like Julio Jones and AJ Green did at his age. And of course there’s the fact that he’ll soon be released if no GM is dumb enough to pay what Cards are asking.

He’s about to be cut. He’s not even worth a fourth round pick.