LogFAQs > #925360689

First Round

Browns DE Olivier Vernon (9th overall) - I am singling him out because considering the greater scheme of things, I think the Browns needed a DE more than any other team that picked one this round. In addition to Charles Grant retiring, the Browns shockingly let one of the best DT in the league hit the FA market in Vince Wilfork. The DL heading into the draft was basically just Pierre Woods as the two projected starting DT are a below average guy on the wrong side of 30 that was famously the centerpiece in the Walter Jones/Mike Flynn Colts trade and a complete unknown. Having a pedestrian DL would have doomed the Browns defense and caused yet another setback for a team that has naturally picked in the Top 10 for three straight seasons. The DTs are still what they are, but at least the DEs make them more palatable and gives the team a fighting chance with their underrated LB corps.

Pioneers OLB Kyler Fackrell (27th overall) - While I contemplated including both of their first round picks, I am going to highlight just Fackrell. I loved this pick so much that I was a little sad it just came and went on draft night. AI teams get no respect I tell you. Everybody knows that the Pioneers have an elite offense, but the work-in-progress defense started to turn a corner last season. It may come as a shock that the weak link is at LB where otherworldly stud Kamerion Wimbley exists to prey upon others. The Pioneers may have solved that in a single round. Fackrell is the one I believe in more. Not knowing his rating, I think he can unseat incumbent O'Brien Schofield and be the favorite for DRotY.

Chiefs DT Dontari Poe (32nd overall) - This is partially up here because of what Ranlom originally intended to do with the pick. I was getting PTSD from my trade with the Wildcats in S8. This was a great pivot though as incumbent DEs Baraka Atkins and Ryan Riddle are starting to wind down and DT Terrance Knighton is just a glorified sack specialist (very low tackle totals for a DT and just five total FFs+FRs in his career). While it was sad for me to see that this was the result of 176-game starter (aka every B8NFLL game) Sam Rayburn leaving the only franchise he has ever known, it appears as if the Chiefs turned a negative into a positive. Will Poe flame out? Maybe, but the Chiefs need to start establishing some sort of defense, and this was a great next step after getting some fresh OLBs and Ss in recent seasons.

Honorable Mentions
*insert any other DE selection here*
Bills HB Todd Gurley (4th overall)

Regret Pick - Wildcats selecting CB Ronald Darby over DE Malik Jackson

Given the construction of the roster, I get that Darby will likely be good enough to be a starter Week 1 while Jackson is maybe not as likely without user intervention. Still, this defense isn't good enough to be spending a 1st round pick on a CB. Darby isn't quite set up to fail, but he has far and away the greatest bust potential out of any of the 32 1st round picks.
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KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
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