Board 8 > Board 8 National Football League League (B8NFLL) Season 15: The Offseason

(+) Yeah! (+)

KCF0107 posted...

My plan is to shoot for a 2 PM ET start time

Right at NBA tip off nice

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Day 2 of the NFL Draft will begin soon
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The giants are currently entertaining all offers for WR Tyler Lockett - willing to take almost literally anything in return.

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Round 3 Recap:
1. Wildcats - Idaho DE Raymont Jones
2. Dolphins - Virginia OLB Eli Harold
3. Bears - Tennessee Martin CB Brad Freeborg
4. Giants - Michigan G Wendell Bell
5. Jaguars - Washington St. DT Lamar Rose
6. Dolphins - Notre Dame C Neil Christman
7. Steelers - Alabama SS Ronnie Harrison
8. Jets - Missouri DE Charles Harris
9. Lions - Tennessee Tech OT Wayne Brown
10. Colts - Tennessee OT Floyd Burns
11. Giants - Stanford SS Justin Reid
12. Bengals - Tennessee OT Dean Hall
13. Patriots - Wisconsin FB Alec Ingold
14. Titans - Michigan CB Jason Burt
15. Raiders - Notre Dame G Jamal Tucker
16. Wildcats - Grambling St. WR Chester Rogers
17. 49ers - Michigan WR Bob Reynolds
18. Steelers - Western Kentucky DE Noah Spence
19. Bengals - Temple CB Tavon Young
20. Eagles - Rutgers FB Michael Burton
21. Browns - Temple OLB Jacob Martin
22. Vikings - Notre Dame HB C.J. Prosise
23. Broncos - Texas Tech HB DeAndre Washington
24. Falcons - Virginia CB David Franks
25. Packers - UCF OLB Shaquem Griffin
26. Express - Washington St. QB Luke Falk
27. Washington - Baylor MLB Luke Randolph
28. Dolphins - Virginia Tech SS Terrell Edmunds
29. Ravens - Southern Miss OLB Eugene Hendricks
30. Rams - Florida St. DT Orlando Lewis
31. Bills - Eastern Illinois G Doug Pope
32. Lions - Nebraska DT Marvin Gilbert
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Round 4 Recap:
1. Steelers - Arizona St. WR Jaelen Strong
2. Steelers - Florida St. TE Nick O'Leary
3. Pioneers - West Virginia WR Kevin White
4. Giants - Missouri WR Dorial Green-Beckham
5. Jaguars - Purdue QB Reuben Lane
6. Chiefs - Notre Dame HB Rodney Williams
7. Chiefs - LSU G Darren Levy
8. Jets - Alabama OLB Shaun Dion Hamilton
9. Orcas - Tulane HB Robert Kelly
10. Wildcats - Michigan St. C Brian Allen
11. Colts - Brown QB Eugene Nagy
12. Bengals - Florida A&M DE Rob Wolford
13. Patriots - Toledo QB Logan Woodside
14. Titans - Georgia Southern K Younghoe Koo
15. Raiders - Iowa G Bryan Nipper
16. Wildcats - LSU OLB Stephen Patton
17. 49ers - Morehouse DE Santana McCullum
18. Giants - Boston College FB Terrance Diamond
19. Pioneers - Memphis OLB Genard Avery
20. Eagles - Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta
21. Browns - Iowa CB Scott Manning
22. Vikings - Maine G Neil Bell
23. Broncos - Florida St. DE Zack Black
24. Falcons - Minnesota TE Maxx Williams
25. Packers - BYU DE Pete Carty
26. Express - Air Force MLB Rodney Sylvester
27. Washington - Arkansas Pine Bluff OLB Jessie Woods
28. Dolphins - Oregon OT Jamie Maddox
29. Ravens - Michigan St. HB Jeremy Langford
30. Rams - Miami FS Adrian Colbert
31. Cowboys - Maryland DE Robert Sullivan
32. Pioneers - New Mexico DT Harold Jackson
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NFL Draft Order

1. Buccaneers
2. Seahawks
3. Panthers
4. Giants
5. Jaguars
6. Bears
7. Chiefs
8. Jets
9. Lions
10. Orcas
11. Colts
12. Bengals
13. Patriots
14. Titans
15. Raiders
16. Wildcats
17. 49ers
18. Bills
19. Steelers
20. Eagles
21. Browns
22. Vikings
23. Broncos
24. Falcons
25. Packers
26. Express
27. Washington
28. Dolphins
29. Ravens
30. Rams
31. Cowboys
32. Pioneers

Bills own Pioneers 5th + 6th, Patriots 6th, Panthers 7th, Giants 7th, Raiders 7th
Chiefs own Steelers 5th, Giants 6th, Pats 7th
Dolphins own 5th
Lions own Orcas 5th + 6th
Packers own Falcons 7th
Panthers own Bills 7th
Patriots own Giants 5th
Seahawks own Dolphins 7th
Steelers own Bengals 5th
Wildcats own Steelers 6th
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Rounds 5-7 will begin on Sunday, May 23rd between 1-3 PM ET
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Bills are willing to part with the Pioneers 5th for later round pick(s) if anyone's interested. Also, we'll trade our own 5th for anyone there tomorrow who is interested if who we're looking to draft there doesn't make it to our pick.

The Dolphins do not own the entire 5th round as I erroneously reported but merely the Seahawks' selection in the round
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I'm shooting for a 2:30 ET start to Day 3.

As usual, I will stick around after the draft concludes for live rookie signings for those interested, after talking about post-draft info like team draft grades.
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Draft soon
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Internet went out right before my pick, lol

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Round 5 Recap
1. Buccaneers - Hawaii FB Joey Isoefa
2. Dolphins - Tennessee DT Gary Hilton
3. Panthers - Indiana G Danny Zimmerman
4. Patriots - Florida SS Marcell Harris
5. Jaguars - South Carolina CB Erik Charles
6. Bears - TCU SS Derrick Kindred
7. Chiefs - LSU MLB Fred Woodson
8. Jets - Michigan St. WR Ken Wheaton
9. Lions - Alabama OT Martin Langham
10. Lions - LSU OLB Hunter Jensen
11. Colts - Penn St. FB Rex Rolle
12. Steelers - West Virginia HB Shyrone Oldham
13. Patriots - Arizona FS Stanley Tucker
14. Titans - Washington DE O.J. Wasserman
15. Raiders - North Carolina DE Derrick Cobb
16. Wildcats - Jackson St. C Antrel Langford
17. 49ers - Western Michigan TE Jason Mack
18. Chiefs - Florida A&M DT Chad Green
19. Chiefs - Ohio St. P Cameron Johnston
20. Eagles - Michigan DE Charles Looman
21. Browns - Texas A&M TE Ricky Seals-Jones
22. Vikings - Morehouse OT Ike Hall
23. Broncos - Michigan St. OLB Jason Springs
24. Falcons - New Mexico FB Leslie Evans
25. Packers - Arizona St. K Zane Gonzalez
26. Express - Mt. San Antonio FS Adrian Kinney
27. Washington - Tulane WR Howard Pritchett
28. Dolphins - Washington OT Antonio Fitzgerald
29. Ravens - South Carolina QB Pat Wallace
30. Rams - UCF DE Jim Hasty
31. Cowboys - Colorado St. CB Dave Conley
32. Bills - Florida QB Evan Paulding
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Round 6 Recap
1. Buccaneers - Kansas St. K Matthew McCrane
2. Seahawks - Notre Dame WR Ralph Perkins
3. Panthers - Arizona St. C Marshall King
4. Chiefs - West Virginia CB Glen Bruce
5. Jaguars - USC HB Alex Miller
6. Bears - San Diego St. CB Steve Biggs
7. Chiefs - Rice DE Rocky French
8. Jets - Mississippi St. TE Jordan Thomas
9. Lions - Arizona St. P Matt Haack
10. Lions - L.A. Tech QB Chuck Flewelling
11. Colts - Syracuse G J.J. Johnson
12. Bengals - Florida FS David Elway
13. Bills - Kansas St. QB Damien Swain
14. Titans - Colorado DT Derrick Price
15. Raiders - Tennessee FB Tre Fischer
16. Wildcats - UL Lafayette G Jeff Nickerson
17. 49ers - Georgia DE James Pollard
18. Bills - Memphis DT Larry Grant
19. Wildcats - Washington St. CB Mike Little
20. Eagles - Arizona St. WR Steve Lofton
21. Browns - Texas A&M OT Sheldon White
22. Vikings - Nebraska MLB Moe Sellers
23. Broncos - Western Carolina C Jeff Abrams
24. Falcons - Michigan OLB Sam Bell
25. Packers - California SS Reggie Sparks
26. Express - Texas A&M WR Dan Pope
27. Washington - Virginia G Robbie Lewis
28. Dolphins - Washington MLB Jim Bridges
29. Ravens - Virginia Tech C Raymont Gibson
30. Rams - Illinois OLB Lamar Kirkland
31. Cowboys - Colorado WR Darrius Mackey
32. Cowboys - Florida St. SS Juan Wiggins
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Round 7 Recap:
1. Buccaneers - Boston College HB James Kennedy
2. Seahawks - Syracuse C Earl Parrish
3. Bills - Alabama FB Doug Lott
4. Bills - Arkansas MLB Kevin Bridges
5. Jaguars - Michigan TE Jon Mike Doeberling
6. Bears - Virginia Tech FS Amos Claybrooks
7. Bills - Miami DT John Turner
8. Jets - Michigan St. DT Kurt Manley
9. Lions - Miami HB Tyler Vickers
10. Orcas - Georgia Southern DE Casey Fisk
11. Colts - UL Lafayette WR Edward Minter
12. Bengals - Oregon HB Michael Nalen
13. Bills - Clemson FS Reginald Wilcox
14. Titans - Arizona St. WR Champ Pittman
15. Bills - North Carolina WR Jim Henry
16. Wildcats - Murray State CB Vince Rose
17. 49ers - Ole Miss WR Mike Dorsey
18. Panthers - Tennessee FB Daryl Curry
19. Steelers - Miami K Michael Badgley
20. Eagles - SE Missouri SS Lawrence Platt
21. Browns - South Carolina St. FS Antonio Wooden
22. Vikings - Florida St. G B.B. Wicks
23. Broncos - Cincinnati FS Luther Billups
24. Packer - Georgia CB Ken Bell
25. Packers - Tennessee C Desmond Alford
26. Express - Colorado OT Craig Redmond
27. Washington - San Jose St. MLB Kelvin Watkins
28. Seahawks - West Virginia OT Eric Clark
29. Ravens - Western Illinois CB Chris Mills
30. Rams - Georgia OLB Casey Palmer
31. Bills - West Virginia FS Andrew Edward
32. Pioneers - Michigan MLB Mike Greer
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Madden Draft Grades

The following is a list of all user teams ordered by the letter grade given to them and then alphabetically. Take little stock in how you are graded. These are not at all an indicator of the ratings to expect from your rookies nor future performance. They are essentially arbitrary. All AI teams are given A grades.

A-
Buccaneers
Eagles
Raiders
Titans

B+
Jaguars
Wildcats

B
Bears
Bills
Colts
Jets
Patriots

B-
Falcons
49ers
Packers

C+
Panthers

C
Lions

C-
Bengals
Browns
Chiefs
Washington

D+
Giants
Orcas

D-
Steelers
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In addition, Madden also mentions when they deem a team's first pick was not their best pick. Again, this is an arbitrary distinction and not based on anything of importance. Still, useless information can be interesting!

Bears
First Pick: WR Phillip Dorsett
Best Pick: CB Brad Freeborg

Bills
First Pick: G Doug Pope
Best Pick: QB Evan Paulding

Broncos
First Pick: MLB Ben Heeney
Best Pick: HB DeAndre Washington

Browns
First Pick: OT Adrian Parker
Best Pick: CB Scott Manning

Buccaneers
First Pick: QB Trevor Largent
Best Pick: OLB Bradley Chubb

Dolphins
First Pick: DT Tyeler Davison
Best Pick: CB Marlon Humphrey

49ers
First Pick: DE Jihad Ward
Best Pick: WR Bob Reynolds

Lions
First Pick: WR Will Fuller
Best Pick: OT Wayne Brown

Orcas
First Pick: DT Chris Jones
Best Pick: OT Sam Tevi

Packers
First Pick: FB Andy Janovich
Best Pick: DE Pete Carty

Ravens
First Pick: DT Adam Gotsis
Best Pick: HB Jeremy Langford

Seahawks
First Pick: G Will Hernandez
Best Pick: HB Aaron Jones

Steelers
First Pick: G Donald Stabler
Best Pick: DE Noah Spence
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Gee thanks Madden

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Post-draft Bears AI trade #1 to announce

Bears receive:
LT Taylor Decker (84 overall, 24 years old)

Seahawks receive:
LT Thomas Herring (96 overall, 33 years old)

I already made the trades, so I don't know the financial specifics any long, but the Bears basically saved $10 mil while the Seahawks added $5 mil.

The Bears have a significant cap crunch and very few tradable assets that they are willing to part with. Herring, coming off of an injured season was set to make $15-ish mil, so he was one of the main options for the Bears. Finding a trade partner was tough, but the Seahawks have a former 1st round pick who was a backup his first two seasons before performing well in his first season as a starter, with a block:sack ratio above 8.

The Seahawks have a massive amount of cap space. While Decker was a very young former first round pick starting to come into his own, they do have, including Will Hernandez, three starting OL 27 and under, so along with their massive amount of cap space, they could afford to take on Herring. Coupled with taking three presumable offensive starters in the first 33 picks, the Seahawks might be one of the most loaded offenses in the league as they hope to break out of their two season funk where they finished with bottom six records.

Bears understood trade parameters, financial impact, Decker's history, and how the Seahawks could benefit from this trade. It is official.
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Post-draft Bears AI trade #2

Bears receive:
DT Rodrique Wright (85 overall, 35 years old)
CB Curtis Brown (80 overall, 26 years old)

Rams receive:
DT Red Bryant (89 overall, 35 years old)
CB Mike Hayes (76 overall, 26 years old)

Again, I don't have the financial specifics again, but the Bears saved around $3 mil while the Rams may have taken on an additional $1-2 mil.

The Bears turn Red Bryant and a low-end #2 CB/modest slot corner into two 80+ #1 starters at their respective positions with a history of producing. It is also a wash on ages. This also puts them under the cap.

The Rams get the highest-rated player in Red Bryant. They already have a pass rushing DT in Joe Mixon, so Bryant's specialty in run defense should pair nice for one of the league's most elite defenses. Brown was a good story being a former 190th overall pick who against all odds became an effective starting CB, but recent Day 1 picks at the position have relegated Brown to the slot, so he became a relative luxury. Swapping him for the less heralded and tested Hayes shouldn't pose much of an issue.

Bears understood trade parameters, financial impact, Decker's history, and how the Rams could benefit from this trade. It is official.
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Signing Draft Picks

Quite a few teams have done it already, but now's the time to get those draftees' signatures and have them suit up for your squad. It is essentially just like signing your own free agents, but you don't have to worry about holdouts/franchise tags, and you typically have far fewer players to sign.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind as you read your PM. One, you will not know the overall ratings until they are signed. That is an in-game mechanic and not something by my design. Two, the desired deals for each player, in terms of length, is based on where they were taken. It is as follows:

Top 5 - Six years
6-10 - Five years
11-32 - Four years
2nd-4th rounds - Three years
5th-7th rounds - One year

Once again, you do not have to offer them their exact deals and can change their length, but I advise you to sign them to the length that they ask for because if you change the length, they might ask for considerably more money.

The deadline to sign your rookies will be Thursday, June 3rd at 3 PM ET. Should you idle, I will sign all your rookies to the deals that they are asking for (such a severe punishment I know). If you have roster space issues, then I will prioritize players who will fill roster holes and then in descending order of when they were selected until your roster is filled.
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To Do:
- Continue 1st round pick history by team
- Do favorite draft picks in each round + favorite team classes
- Add in rookie contracts to spreadsheet
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Another trade

Express receive:
FB Toby Gerhart (87 overall, 30 years old)

Packers receive:
WR Martavis Bryant (78 overall, 23 years old)
HB Tavian Radetsky (76 overall, 24 years old)

Express incur a roughly $1 mil cap penalty to turn a roughly $5 mil cap hit into a $1.63 mil one

Packers incur an $860k cap penalty to turn a $2.06 mil cap hit into $4.08 mil in cap hits

The Express were one of 12 teams to lose their starting FB to retirement with few quality players to replace them. Bryant and Radetsky might be very young, but they were seldom used backups with no realistic opportunity for larger roles in Portland, and the relative cheap contracts they were under weren't needed for an Express team with plenty of cap space.

The Packers liked Gerhart, but they used their top draft pick on a FB, and they need HBs and WRs in a bad way with limited cap. Even though they lost cap space, they plugged two holes at a bargain rate as they look to work around the cap to fill their remaining holes and presumably sign more rookies.

Packers understood the trade parameters, the financial impact, and the past history of Radestsky and Bryant. This trade is now official.
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KCF's Favorite Picks

I'm going to go through each round of the NFL Draft and highlight my three favorite picks and explain why. For the most part, I look in the early rounds for perfect team fits based on historical production, a visible succession plan to a starting job (or immediate starter), players who might be the missing piece to the puzzle, and selections that just make me think, "That guy's going to have a long, productive career somewhere." For the later rounds, I look for players who most likely have a chance of sticking around for a long-ish career for a myriad of reasons. While I do know some of the rookie ratings due to user signings, ratings were not a factor in my analysis nor were players dropping further than expected draft slot.

In addition, I will probably list an honorable mention or two and most importantly, a regret pick. What I mean by a regret pick is someone that I believe may have just made a mistake and went in the wrong direction. I will limit myself to just one per round and only for the first three rounds because honestly how much can you really regret in the sixth round?

I will try and limit picks that I made myself, but there might be a few. I will refrain from choosing any Orcas picks. At the end of all this, I will also mention my three favorite team draft classes.
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First Round

Rams OT Dion Dawkins (21st overall) - I am told that he was the 7th ranked prospect in the draft. I had him going 9th in my draft, and there were at least half a dozen teams between there and his actual selection that he would have been my #1 choice. Now he gets to land on a team with a great offense and an OL that has aging starters at OT and depth issues around that will guarantee him plenty of playing time. There's been some recent history of OL falling pretty far in the first round who perform very well right out of the gate. Most of those situations involved the player being a Day 1 starter, so even if that isn't the case here, I'd say history and the situation that he landed in are on his side.

Vikings OLB Jerome Baker (22nd overall) - The Vikings used to have an inconsistent D, but over the past half dozen seasons or so, they've been up there as having one of the better Ds in the league. It's mostly been due to an excellent DL and secondary, but the LBs have started to come into their own. The Vikings have a 33 year old in Zach Brown who used to be a perennial LB of the Year candidate and was twice named Defensive Player of the Year, but he has slowed down some and has made it through all 16 games only once in his career. With Brown being an 83, it seems like a safe bet that Baker's rating will be high enough to trigger a preseason battle. If he wins the job, it could be a big boost to his development as the Vikings have several prominent members of their defense possibly in the final year of their career.

Seahawks HB Aaron Jones (28th overall) - I liked the movement of the Seahawks in Day 1, but if I am going to highlight one of them, it will be the tradeup for Jones. Jones was the second-ranked HB in the draft and maybe 11th or 12th overall, but he kept slipping and was the fourth HB selected because teams in front of him liked the rookie reports on Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette more. The Seahawks gave up their 2nd, 5th, and slot receiver to move back up into the late first to get Jones who right now would be my favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has to hope for the Seahawks to not sign a free agent HB and to beat out Jordan Howard for the starting gig, but with the Seahawks focusing solely on offense in this draft to assist what is usually an already high-powered unit should help him and the team immensely.

Honorable Mention:
Jaguars OT Kolton Miller (5th overall)

Regret Pick - Raiders selecting QB DeShaun Gaines over OT Dion Dawkins

If I am going to give up three future Day 1 picks on draft day to select a particular player, no scenario comes to mind where they player would be a QB. QBs are one of the most volatile performers in the game, and given they don't have the same level of impact as an elite defender, offensive lineman, or running back, this is really a high risk, medium reward kind of situation. Unless Gaines turns out to be the next Sam Keller or Chris Leak, the Raiders aren't going to get anywhere near the return on investment that they made, and when you have one of the league's least talented OL in the league, your mega investment isn't even in a situation to succeed. Dawkins just makes a lot more sense here. Dalton was a borderline Top 10 QB when he played under higher quality offensive lines, so I don't think that he even needs replacing. Just fix what fell into disrepair.
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Second Round

Dolphins CB Marlon Humphrey (34th overall) - The Dolphins traded down, grabbing an extra pick and an emerging slot receiver (let's ignore that he's since been presumably relegated to #4 WR) and still got a player I thought they would select somewhere in the 1st round. He was a Top 15 prospect, so it is possible he can find his way to a preseason battle with longtime CB Antonio Cromartie for the slot corner job. This is the league's #1 pass D that he's going into and with incumbent #2 Ross Cockrell's contract expiring after the situation, he might soon become a starter in the league's best secondary.

Falcons OLB Chase Allen (56th overall) - I liked all of the LB picks this round, but Allen is going to be the clear starter and for a Falcons team that could use a high-impact rookie to try and keep out in front of the NFC South after seeing the Buccaneers and Orcas infuse their teams with tons of young talent. Allen replaces former underwhelming starter Anthony Chickillo, so the bar he has to clear isn't especially high.

Ravens WR Devin Funchess (61st overall) - I mentioned before when I talked about first round pick histories and in my KCF-only draft word document that the Ravens have never been much of a passing team. However, they currently only employ a 76 overall player and took a QB on Day 3. They will have one hole left to fill, and you have to assume that player will be the eventual starter. If it is any of the top four free agents, then this could potentially be the franchise's best passing attack this season. They have the OL to aid them. The pass catchers are lacking, but that just means that there's plenty of opportunity for players to make their mark. The Ravens will need to acquire a fourth WR, but given the lack of top-end talent on the market, Funchess could be in a position to be the starter or at least the slot receiver in a higher volume than what we are accustomed to from Baltimore. I just like this pick a lot okay?

Honorable Mention
Chiefs OT Cam Robinson (39th overall)

Regret Pick - Bengals choosing WR Breshad Perriman over any of the 5 OL taken later in this round or HB Wendall Smallwood or defense in general

I'm sorry, but I really hated this pick. I'm shaking my head at the thought of spending a premium pick on a potential #5 WR for them. If there is one position I would advise to not have excess in, it is WR. The position is overpaid as it is, but in a running league, there are only so many catches to go around. Just taking a quick look at teams with at least decent passing games who had a healthy WR corps last season, #3 WRs will get around 30 rec and #4 around 15-20. If you add a #5 in there, they would probably get single digits. The Bengals are pretty set at WR. They have talent and depth issues at HB, OL, and most areas on defense, but this was a planned pick to take a WR with the 45th selection. This didn't address any sort of issue or offer much upside, so it just seems like a total waste to me.
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Third Round

Jets DE Charles Harris (72nd overall) - It is rare for a Day 2 or later pick at DE to become the starter, not just as a rookie, but ever. Harris could find himself in competition for the spot opposite Malik Jackson. He isn't in the most ideal situation as the DL for the Jets is Jackson and a bunch of aging and no-name players. The defense does at least have a very strong LB corps and secondary, so if he does unexpectedly find himself the starter, it isn't full of doom. If this isn't his year, he would still be, in theory, in an excellent position to become the starter.

49ers WR Bob Reynolds (81st overall) - The 49ers were advised to cut two of their overpaid and underperforming WRs, leaving with them with a pair of 34 year olds likely in the final year of their career. It is unknown how Trubisky will fare as the full-time starter, but regardless, Reynolds will be the slot receiver to begin and have a leg up on the competition next season for a starting job. I like his chances.

Broncos HB DeAndre Washington (87th overall) - The Broncos have former Top 10 pick Kenyan Drake set to be the starter this season, but he had all of 35 carries as a rookie, so we really know practically nothing about him. The only other HB on the roster is 75 overall, so if something goes wrong with Drake, Washington should be there to step in while running behind one of the league's best offenses. He landed in quite possibly the best situation for him.

Honorable Mention
Ravens OLB Eugene Hendricks (93rd overall)

I am retiring the Round 3 regret pick. I had absolutely no idea who to pick (I was sort of leaning toward Falcons CB David Franks or Wildcats WR Chester Rogers if you want an unsure answer without any explanation), so I figured that was good enough reasoning to just do the Day 1 rounds from here on.
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Fourth Round

Jaguars QB Reuben Lane (101st overall) - I don't know how often I have mentioned this, but I know if has been multiple times here/Discord, but incumbent Tim Tebow has seen his passer rating drop six straight seasons now, and he's missed significant time in two of the past three seasons. With the front office vowing to turn this franchise around after being on of the league's best for a decade, perhaps Tebow, despite being re-signed in the offseason, will be on a short leash. Lane is the clear #2 here, so unless the team would turn to a free agent, Lane would be the next guy up, and he'd be coming to a pretty good WR/TE group, a rising HB, and what should be an improved OL.

Falcons TE Maxx Williams (120th overall) - Former TE Cameron Brate was not really involved in the passing game. He was more of a blocker, but the Falcons were a low volume passing team. Who knows how things will play out over a full season, but Patrick Mahomes should be the guy throwing the ball this season, and he was fantastic at it as a rookie. Maxx should be the favorite to win the starting job, and as a receiving TE, he could be a nice surprise as a rookie.

Cowboys DE Robert Sullivan (127th overall) - Someone has to start on a DL that features DTs Jerrell Powe and Ryan Walker and DE Erik Thornton. There are multiple ongoing talks that have the Cowboys either receiving or losing a DE, but right, that final spot is being filled by mid-70s players. Sullivan would almost certainly be good enough to be contention for the spot, and by would that be quite the opportunity if he seizes it.

Honorable Mention
Express MLB Rodney Sylvester (122nd overall)
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Fifth Round

Dolphins DT Gary Hilton (130th overall) - After a draft weekend trade left the Dolphins with just one rostered DT, one who is likely to be among the prizes of the S16 RFA period, the future at DT beyond this season with the franchise was unknown. They did spend a first on one, but that leaves another starting spot and the rotational role up for grabs. The Dolphins have re-signed many Day 3 picks after their rookie year over the years, and one was former 6th rounder Joe Upshaw who has since been a starter for the Bears and Packers. Hilton could very well be part of the vaunted Dolphins defense for multiple seasons.

Wildcats C Antrel Langford (144th overall) - I don't know if he will even get signed given they already have one C roster, drafted one earlier, and have cap constraints, but given they will all likely be 70-something players, Langford could be in a position to be a Week 1, Day 3 rookie starter. It may not be the ideal place for him or the franchise, but hey it's something.

Dolphins OT Antonio Fitzgerald (156th overall) - After years of RFA pilfering and a suddenly healthier OL, the once very deep OL in Miami now looks to be nothing special beyond the starters, especially on the outside. Current RT Morgan Moses is in the final year of his deal and missed 11 games last season. Should he be hit with another injury, Fitzgerald, if they win the backup RT job, could step in and perform well enough for the Dolphins to choose Fitz over the former Top 10 pick.

Honorable Mention
Patriots SS Marcell Harris (132nd overall)
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Sixth Round

Seahawks WR Ralph Perkins (162nd overall) - The Seahawks put all of their draft capital on the offense, but as of the Perkins pick, he's the current slot receiver. With a ton of cap space, you have to expect he will slide to the #4 spot at least, but in what could be one of the most formidable offenses this season, being able to carve out a role as a slot receiver is a pretty big deal for a 6th rounder.

Lions QB Chuck Flewelling (170th overall) - The Lions took a P the pick before, and yeah, he has an excellent chance of being their P for the remainder of B8NFLL, but that is kind of low hanging fruit (that I have taken and will again in the future). The Lions have always been reluctant to pay for backup QBs. Chuck might be able to compete for the backup job. Incumbent Jared Goff has yet to miss a game, but backup QBs always seem to find a way.

Cowboys SS Juan Wiggins (192nd overall) - The Cowboys secondary is not what is used to be, and several prominent members are expected to retire of have their contracts expire after the seasons. Josh Jones has done nothing to suggest he should be the present and future for the Cowboys, so if Wiggins can make his mark early on special teams and as whatever role backup SSs play on defense that gets them in the game a lot, perhaps he can be part of the next wave of Cowboy DBs.

Honorable Mention
Rams OLB Lamar Kirkland (190th overall)
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Seventh Round

Buccaneers HB James Kennedy (193rd overall) - With Chris active again, the HB group isn't safe. He has already floated Matt Forte around, and he is someone who would choose to not offer a tender to someone in RFA (Artis-Payne could have that fate). If Kennedy impresses in what should be relatively minimal activity, Kennedy at least has a path to long-term employment with the franchise who drafted him, and that isn't common with Day 3 HBs.

Jaguars TE Jon Mike Doeberling (197th overall) - While Sultan is starting to shed his loyal tendencies, he is still quite loyal to his players. With incumbent Brent Celek likely playing his final season, Doeberling has a shot at becoming the future at the position for the Jags or become the next Vernon Davis who spent 12 years as Celek's backup.

Pioneers MLB Mike Greer (224th overall) - After former 7th round pick Kyle Kato has a sensational rookie season in such limited time as an injury replacement, Mr. Irrelevant could replicate that if given the opportunity. The odds of that are low given starters Kyle Emanuel and Kato have yet to be injured (well I suppose they could have in the preseason), but because there's recent history within their own franchise, I like the potential of such a situation.

Honorable Mention
Washington MLB Kelvin Watkins (219th overall)
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To Do:
- Continue 1st round pick history by team
- Mention favorite team classes
- Add in rookie contracts to spreadsheet
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Ah yeah giants keep up our streak of being middle of the road af

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Favorite Three Draft Classes

Baltimore Ravens
DT Adam Gotsis (29th)
WR Devin Funchess (61st)
OLB Eugene Hendricks (93rd)
HB Jeremy Langford (125th)
QB Pat Wallace (157th)
C Raymont Gibson (189th)
CB Chris Mills (221st)

Gotsis and Hendricks are both Top 100 picks who sit behind veterans in the final seasons of their career on a perennially outstanding defense. If they get an opportunity to start here, they should find themselves in a favorable situation. Funchess could be a huge wild card. He was the 6th WR taken in the draft, but if the Ravens grab a legit passer in free agency, I wouldn't put it past him to have a better career than most or even of those five taken before him. Langford has to chance to be the #2 HB in this HB-friendly offense behind an oft-injured Doug Martin. Wallace has a chance to become the backup to a veteran starter, and if he gets a second contract, he could follow in former QB Trevor Siemian's path and get the starting job, even if only for a season. Gibson gets to become a backup on an interior OL where two players are on their contract years and another is in his late 30s. You just never know. Mills has a long path ahead of him, but there is a scenario where he gets a second contract and eventually works his way up the totem pole with two other CBs on the team in their 30s.

Jacksonville Jaguars
OT Kolton Miller (5th)
MLB Preston Brown (37th)
DT Lamar Rose (69th)
QB Reuben Lane (101st)
CB Erik Charles (133rd)
HB Alex Miller (165th)
TE Jon Mike Doeberling (197th)

This team desperately needed a change at OT, and here comes Miller looking to help change the offensive fortunes of the struggling Jags. Another replacement to an underwhelming starter, Brown gets to grow alongside two former Top 10 OLB picks trying to gain their footing. If there is one area on defense that you can possibly get away with trying to develop everyone simultaneously, it is at LB, and in a division with two offensively challenged teams in the Colts and Titans, and the Pioneers having taken a step back from their S13 production, it is a less arduous task for the Jags. Rose gets to play alongside two elite players in DT Billy Walker and DE Cordero Moore, both of whom were also mid-to-late round picks. Lane gets to be the backup to a QB whose has been spiraling downward since his sophomore season breakout. Charles doesn't really have a future here in Jacksonville, but Miller and Doeberling could be career Jags like many other Day 2 or 3 picks have.

Seattle Seahawks
G Will Hernandez (6th)
HB Aaron Jones (28th)
TE Mike Gesicki (33rd)
WR Ralph Perkins (162nd)
C Earl Parrish (194th)
OT Eric Clark (220th)

I mentioned in my draft word doc that the Seahawks needed to focus on their defense, but they instead went all-in on offense. It's so crazy that it might work! Their OL is now complete, they should have their new starting HB (I'm aware that Jordan Howard could easily win the job), they have a receiving TE after 12 seasons of a hybrid player in Matt Spaeth, and their late round picks should all carve out a role in their rookie seasons. We could be looking at a Top 5 offense in the league. I am assuming that the Seahawks will use their huge cap space to target defense in free agency, and if they do, they could be quite the dangerous team this season.

Honorable Mentions
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
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you typo'd atlanta falcons

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I really liked the movement from the bucs, getting the first 2 picks and another mid 1st as well.
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Whoa an honorable mention

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The thing is emerald, all that movement and are the bucs actually any more talented than they were before chris hit the self destruct button to make all that happen?

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They might be eventually if those players pan out!
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Top 3 i take it!

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Emeraldegg posted...

They might be eventually if those players pan out!

Got to remember KCF prefers young players be either put into established units or groomed behind vets. Thrusting multiple rookies into starting roles on an underperforming team is not something he has ever really approved of. He seems to prefer FAs to fix that.

That and Chris offloaded a good QB for a ton of dead money. So the moves that put him in that position probably weigh down his draft. May have been different if Bridgwater was a bad QB

Denver Broncos

QB Brady Quinn (S2, 21st)
HB LenDale White (S3, 12th)
OLB Lawrence Timmons(S4, 31st)
HB LaMarcus Coker (S5, 26th)
QB Ryan Perrilloux (S6, 29th)
OT Andre Smith (S7, 12th)
WR Mike Wallace (S7, 24th)
WR Golden Tate (S8, 13th)
OT Matt Kalil (S9, 26th)
DE Cameron Wake (S10, 32th)
QB A.J. McCarron (S11, 30th)
C Joe Looney (S12, 17th)
CB Kevin Johnson (S13, 20th)
HB Kenyan Drake (S14, 8th)
FS Kevin Byard (S14, 16th)

Drafted to become the late Steve McNair's successor, Quinn had an excellent first season as backup before ascending to the starter spot in his sophomore season. He struggled, but he his finest seasons in Denver were his final ones. Aside from the backup part, he followed the same trajectory with both the Bills and Washington. However, he's been better as his career has gone on and has four straight 84+ passer rating seasons with Washington to go along with three straight trips to the Pro Bowl. With another strong season in what should be his final one, he could be a Hall of Fame candidate.

White was expected to succeed Tiki Barber when the latter decided to hang it up, but White just wasn't it. He bounced around teams (I can recall Browns, Eagles, and Ravens, but there might have been one or two more), but it was always as a high-end, temporary backup. I think he retired with around 4000 career rushing yards on roughly 4.0 YPC.

Timmons filled in as injury replacement for a good chunk of his career, but he didn't become a full-time starter until S9, the season that the Broncos won the SB. Even with only 100 starts to his name, he has managed to be quite the disrupter with more than 20 sacks and 20 INTs in his career. He may not have been named to the Pro Bowl and could miss out on being a Hall of Fame candidate, but he's had an excellent career with the opportunites that he was given.

Now Coker was the one who was the long-term HB for the Broncos. With over 10k career rushing yards, 75 total TDs, and rushing for 4.0 YPC in each season with seven straight seasons of 4.4 or better, he will certainly find himself on the list of Hall of Fame candidates. He unfortunately won't be a career Bronco as they let him walk as a free agent, but he still has plenty left to offer another team for a season or two.

Super Bow champion Ryan Perrilloux had an absymal start to his career. He suffered long-term injuries and was ineffective every season. In one magical season in S9 though, everything aligned for him as he passed for more than 2000 yards on 60% completion (79.1 passer rating) and rushed for over 750 yards and the Broncos took home their first Super Bowl. Then the team let him walk to grab Michael Vick. Perilloux didn't sign with anyone until midway through the season when he was even better for the Browns with a 79.2 passer rating on 62% completion and had an 8.4 YPC. His play got him a four year deal, but it went quickly downhill from there as his completion % in the first two seasons of his contract were 52.3 and 53.8%. A change of scenery trade to Chicago when it came to passing, but he did have his best rushing season of his career. He was let go after the season and hasn't been with another team yet, but at age 31, he still has plenty of time for a late-career renaissance.

Smith was used with the pick they gained from the Bills when they signed away SS Lewis Baker in RFA, and he quickly emerged as one of the best young OL in the league. He didn't allow a sack until his third season, and his fourth and fifth seasons saw him post a combined 88 blocks against 2 sacks allowed. He has been starting at G instead of his natural OT the past few seasons, and like any interior lineman, the efficiency took a dip to where his career block:sack ratio has just now fallen below 10, but he's still had a great 8 seasons for the Broncos.

With Ryan Perrilloux, Michael Vick, and A.J. McCarron passing to him, it hasn't been much of a high-volume passing attack in Denver, but Wallace has made the most of it, mostly as a #2. He has averaged over 500 yards a season and is coming off of a season where he posted 48 rec for 804 yards (16.7 YPC would have topped the league if he just had a few more receptions) and 7 TDs. All but the receptions were a career high for him.

Tate has simply been a disappointment, but kudos to him for being able to stick around in Denver. He has just 137 rec for 1614 yards and 8 TDs in his seven seasons with the Broncos, all as the slot or #4 WR.

Kalil's S14 was wiped out after just two games, but he's had a great career as the blindside protector allowing no more than five sacks (22 total) in any of his five full seasons. The only knock on him is his wildly fluctuating blocking totals that have gone as high as 81 and as low as 33. Still, he has has career block:sack ratio of just below 12.

The first and only DL taken in the first by the Broncos, Wake has averaged 10 sacks a season in his four full seasons with the Broncos while providing above-average run defense. His S13 was cut short but he provided nearly a sack a game (6 in seven games).

McCarron had an odd four year career with the Broncos. He was an excellent backup to Vick his first season. In his second season as the new starter, he posted an 82 passer rating with 2300+ yards and 26 TDs on 61% completion. His third season saw him be one the league's worst passers with a low-60s passer rating and a 13:22 TD:INT ratio. His fourth season saw him post an 81.4 passer rating and completed 64% of his passes, but he threw for just 1660 yards and 11 TDs as he could not get the passing game going. His backup, DeShone Kizer, threw for over 1000 yards and 6 TDs while starting just two games (he played in all 16 total, so no he didn't average more than 500 yards per appearance). The Broncos did not draft a QB, so they must sign one in free agency, but at any rate, McCarron's Bronco career is over for now.

Looney, the highest C ever drafted in B8NFLL, started his career with just 16 blocks against 6 sacks allowed, but has exploded these past two seasons to get his career block:sack ratio above six, including a Pro Bowl year last season with 71 blocks against 10 sacks allowed.

In two seasons, Johnson has averaged 20 tackles and 2 INTs for a great Broncos pass D. I have nothing else to add.

Using the pick acquired by the Bears when SS Derek Linde signed with Chicago, the Broncos took their now #1 HB in Kenyan Drake. Like most rookie HBs before him, he struggled as Coker's backup as he record a 3.6 YPC and no TDs on the ground (1 through the air though). Now's his time to shine though, so we'll see what kind of improvements he has in store for the Broncos this season.

A backup to the Hall of Famer Tom Zbikowski, Byard had 3 tackles. Now he takes over on a secondary where all the starters are between 23 and 25 years old.
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Detroit Lions

DT Claude Wroten (S2, 27th)
CB Jonathan Wade (S3, 30th)
OLB Wesley Jefferson (S4, 26th)
OLB Willie Williams (S5, 13th)
FS Tyvon Branch (S6, 21st)
WR Marques Colston (S7, 32nd)
OT Joe Staley (S8, 9th)
QB E.J. Manuel (S9, 12th)
MLB Perry Riley (S9, 28th)
DE Margus Hunt (S10, 15th)
CB Darius Slay (S11, 14th)
DE Joey Bosa (S12, 15th)
QB Jared Goff (S13, 5th)
TE George Kittle (S14, 22nd)

As I should, I follow draft plans that teams give me to the letter when given specifics, but when given plans to select BPA, I have on occasion gone slightly down from the #1 available prospect. The Lions wanted BPA, which would have led them to a QB when they had a 30-ish Peyton Manning. I went with Wroten, and whatever ethical issues one may have with what I did, Wroten is sure to be Hall of Fame bound. He started his career off with a bang being named co-DL of the Year as a rookie, and since then, he's been one of the best two-way DTs in the league averaging over 50 tackles and nearly 8 sacks a season as a member of the Lions, Panthers, and Ravens. He is one of four players to record more than 100 sacks during B8NFLL and is currently tied for the second-most among active players (102).

Wade is no longer in the league, but I feel like he might have made a Pro Bowl or two. He won a SB with the Lions in S6, and that's really all I can recall about him.

Another player who has since retired and whose career I remember little about. I think his starting job in Detroit was fluid. He also played with the Colts before returning to Detroit and ending his career where he started.

Williams won Defensive Rookie of the Year, and I don't think it was the same season, but he also recorded 14 sacks in a season, which may the best or tied for the highest mark by a LB in B8NFLL history. He's never been much of a tackler, but he has over 50 career sacks to go along with a dozen or more INTs, FFs, and FRs. He's still going strong as the OLB leader on the team seemingly his entire career.

Branch has started all 142 games he has played in for the franchise, and while his stats do not stick out, the fact that he's maintained his upper 80s rating despite playing on some really bad defenses post-S6 SB season suggests he's been good in coverage.

Alternating between being the #2 and #3 WR on the team, Colston has been adequate, averaging over 350 yards a season on 12.2 YPC. Still his play never warranted his paycheck, and after 8 seasons, he has hit the free agent market.

Staley was the top backup OL to begin his career but eventually succeeded Kevin Shaffer as the blindside blocker. He had a rough S11 with 39 blocks against 8 sacks allowed, but he's been solid ever since with 114 blocks against 11 sacks allowed. He has never been a high block guy, but he's been great at limiting sacks.

It isn't like I keep a mental note about a team's worst decision ever, but the Lions trading of DT Claude Wroten for the S9 #12 pick always stood out to me because I thought it was a bad decision from the start trading away their best defensive player. That pick turned to be QB E.J. Manuel, and if you are asking who, exactly.

Riley was taken in the same draft as Manuel. He lost his starting job to and was outplayed by a player taken in the third round of that same draft. It's like Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins except neither stuck around for long as the Lions traded for Bryan Vinson. They would certainly like a do-over on both of their first round picks in S9.

Hunt has been excellent in the run game averaging almost 50 tackles a game, but he has 11 sacks in five seasons and little disruption elsewhere. His development has hardly gone anywhere, but he's hanging in there.

Slay has twice as many sacks (8) as he does INTs (4) in his four seasons. He's the top CB on the team, so he has that going for him.

After the Lions D showed serious signs of improvement in Bosa's first two seasons with back-to-back 10 sack affairs where he was just as effective as Hunt in stopping the run, Bosa's passrushing skills took a huge step back (2) as the Lions D regressed to something closer to what they had mostly been experiencing for the several seasons before Bosa's arrival.

Goff had a surprisingly effective season as a rookie posting an 81.4 passer rating on over 2700 yards with a 16:12 TD:1NT ratio on over 62% completion. His sophomore season was a relative disappointment. The dip in completion % was small (61%), but his passer rating dropped to 71.3 after throwing almost 500 fewer yards, 5 fewer TDs, and 3 more INTs. Who knows what to expect his third season.

For a backup TE, Kittle had a surprisingly great season as he had 11 rec for 138 yards and a TD, but still, he was a backup TE. I would advocate a TE in the first round only in certain circumstances given the position's low impact, but I certainly wouldn't advocate drafting a backup TE in the first under any circumstance.
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I have yet to begin adding in rookie contracts, but the cap spaces for everyone who has signed some or all of theirs should be updated.
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If I didn't realize how bad that S9 first round was right away, I sure came to realize it down the road. I forgot Perry Riley was a first rounder too, yeesh.

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Green Bay Packers

QB Charlie Whitehurst (S2, 19th)
DE Ray Edwards (S3, 20th)
WR Robert Meachem (S4, 19th)
OT Tavita Thompson (S5, 10th)
SS Kenny Phillips (S6, 3rd)
QB Tyrod Taylor (S7, 21st)
CB Ras I-Dowling (S9, 14th)
DE Everson Griffen (S10, 7th)
WR Keenan Allen (S11, 25th)
DE Demarcus Lawrence (S12, 14th)
CB James Bradberry (S13, 30th)
OT Laremy Tunsil (S14, 3rd)
DE Matthew Ioannidis (S14, 31st)

Korayashi is one of the nicest users you will meet, but he had nothing but disdain for Charlie Whitehurst, and I have no idea why. He was at worst an above-average starter during his five years in Green Bay having record five 75+ passer rating seasons with over 12500 yards and 84 TDs vs 59 INTs. He found his way to St. Louis where he was almost certainly the top backup QB from S7-S10 as he recorded in 49 games and 5 starts there 2300+ yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs with a passer rating north of 90. He went to the Colts where he was named Comeback Player of the Year in his return to being the full-time starter. His second season in Indy saw him injured, and new management arrived either during that season or after and cast him aside for Colin Kaepernick. Whitehurst finished his career winning a ring as Russell Wilson's backup for the Pioneers. He finished with more than 20k passing yards and 143 TDs vs 99 INTs. A very underrated QB who succeeded with all four franchises he played for.

Edwards backed up uber-talented DEs Dwight Freeney and John Abraham. He had no realistic shot at winning a starting job over either, and he never did. I forget if he spent his entire career in Green Bay or eventually hit the FA market and never signed with anyone.

Meachem was a solid #2 with Green Bay, and after being traded to the Steelers, he had an up-and-down career as the #1 there, but statistical dips might have been due to QB play more than anything. He wrapped things up with a disappointing season in Carolina, but averaging roughly 700 yards a season as a #2 and #1 in run-oriented or lackluster offenses is pretty impressive.

Thompson has always performed among the best OTs in the league. He has block:sack ratios at 15 or above in eight of his 10 seasons. Health was always a major issue for him, and in his final two seasons in Green Bay, he played in just 9 of 32 games. The 49ers scooped him up and he has missed four games in five seasons, missing no more than two in any season. He is coming off of both of his Pro Bowl seasons where he has recorded a combined 132 blocks against 10 sacks. His age and injury history are working against him, but if he keeps this up, he might be on the Hall of Fame ballot when it is all said and done.

The highest SS taken until Patrick Chung, Phillips has had a pretty non-descript career in Green Bay. He has averaged roughly 45 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs, and 1 FF+FR a season. He does have a pair of Pro Bowl trips to his name and has started all 16 games in seven consecutive seasons now.

Taylor is the most extreme scrambling QB we will have unless the generated draft classes change things. He hasn't eclipsed 2000 passing yards in any of those seasons, but he does have 1000+ rushing yards in three of the past four seasons and over 6000 in his career to go along with 43 TDs on the ground. Despite having his worst passing season since S9, he was named co-MVP in S14. After a lot of injuries early in his career, he has missed just one game in the past five seasons.

Dowling has been a good CB for them and just made his first Pro Bowl. There's not much else to say.

Griffen had three straight 10 sack seasons before the Packers blew up their team a little and traded him to the division rival Bears. He's had 10+ sack seasons each season there, so his streak to begin his career is still intact.

I feel like there's a misconception within some that scrambling QBs are not gifted passers or the passing game falters with them around, but players like Vince Young, Russell Wilson, and Josh Portis have proven that to be false. Not all QBs are created equal though, and Taylor simply doesn't pass, and the coaching philosophy exacerbates that issue. Why the Packers would spend a 1st on a WR is beyond me, but Allen's career in Green Bay just ended with 1044 yards and 7 TDs in four seasons.

Lawrence's production has significantly improved each season with just 4 sacks and a FR as a rookie up to 13 sacks, 3 FFs, and a FR in his third season. It will be difficult to improve upon that, but at least he has had a season that lived up to his billing as the 14th pick.

Bradberry has 10 INTs in two seasons. The only person who comes to mind that has done better than that to start their career is Jaquiski Tartt who set a B8NFLL record with 11 INTs in S12.

Tunsil had a respectable first season, but after seeing so many other 1st round OTs rush out of the gate with strong rookie seasons, his 36 blocks against 5 sacks could be considered a big disappointment to some.

Ioannidis was a backup DE who had 5 tackles. He is now expected to fight for the spot opposite Lawrence with last year's starter Jordan Beck.
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Indianapolis Colts

QB Ben Mauk (S4, 21st)
WR Mario Manningham (S5, 12th)
QB Jake Christensen (S6, 14th)
HB Chris Johnson (S7, 22nd)
HB LeSean McCoy (S8, 7th)
OT Anthony Davis (S9, 17th)
DE Bjoern Werner (S10, 5th)
HB Duke Johnson (S13, 17th)
DT DaQuan Jones (S14, 28th)

The Colts' first 1st rounder after giving up the previous two in RFA to sign DE Robert Mathis and DT Darnell Dockett, Mauk is not famous for anything that he did on the field but instead being signed to a 7 year contract in free agency and being traded after just one season resulting in the largest single-player cap penalty in B8NFLL history. He was an excellent backup in Indy with four straight 100+ passer rating seasons and mediocre at best everywhere else (1 year in New England and 6 in Baltimore).

Manningham hasn't racked up a bunch of yardage (5720 in 10 seasons despite starting 103 of 131 games), but he's been great at finding the end zone (49 rec TDs and another 8 on returns) and has a career YPC of 13.4.

Christensen hasn't played for anyone after leaving the Colts when his contract ran up, but he was an adequate starter when given the opportunity and actually has a 3000+ yard, 22 TD season (S9).

Stuck behind Steve Jackson, Johnson only put up roughly 450 yards in four seasons. He was a backup with Atlanta and Columbus the following two seasons and has been a free agent for the past two.

McCoy was moderately more productive as Jackson's backup, but he landed in Minnesota and was part of their SB-winning team as Courtney Lewis' backup. He got his first full-time starting gig last season for Carolina and was one of the league's best HBs in a breakout season where he recorded over 1600 yards on 4.5 YPC.

The Colts were mostly maligned by poor OL during most of their existence, but Davis became a much-needed bright spot for them there. He hasn't made a Pro Bowl, but he does have 273 blocks against 27 sacks in his career.

Werner is an absolute monster. He has begun his five-year career with 12+ sacks in each season and has 66 total. Five seasons in and he's already 21st on the active list. Everybody ahead of his has been in the league nine seasons or more.

Duke was part of a big 1st round rookie HB class that hasn't really done much to make their mark on the league. Duke is probably the second-best of that group after rushing for 2426 yards in his two seasons, but he has YPC of 3.6 and 3.8 in both seasons. He's been excellent at holding onto the ball though with three fumbles over 700 touches, and he is very involved in the passing game, even if his 6.0 receiving YPC is definitely on the low end at the position.

Jones was drafted to become a starter this season, and he gets to play alongside one of the best DLs in the league with Werner, Lyle Kearns, and Dan Williams.
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Jacksonville Jaguars

QB Matt Leinart (S2, 2nd)
HB Adrian Peterson (S3, 6th)
HB Marshawn Lynch (S4, 29th)
OT Reggie Youngblood (S5, 23rd)
QB Tim Tebow (S7, 28th)
OT Russell Okung (S8, 22nd)
DE Ryan Kerrigan (S9, 29th)
CB Stephon Gillmore (S10, 20th)
HB Devonta Freeman (S11, 29th)
OLB Aaron Lynch (S12, 6th)
OLB Jordan Evans (S13, 29th)
OLB Dante Fowler (S14, 7th)

The only 1st rounder outside of the Sultan era, Leinart was a big bust. He had a roughly early start to his career, and I want to say that he was beat out by S4 2nd rounder Matt Flynn one year and never regained the starting job. I forget what his career path was like after that except I am positive he never became a starter again. I want to say he finished out his career as Brady Quinn's backup in Washington.

Rookies across the board tend to start out slow, but that is more prevalent in HBs. Not Peterson though. From the moment he set foot on the field to when he hung up his cleats for good, he was one of the best HBs in the league and for a time the very best HB in the league. He finished his 11 year career averaging more 1200 rushing yards a season on 4.4 YPC. He was one of the most obvious Hall of Famers that we've had in our league.

Despite morale issues and modest playing time, the Jags really liked the idea of spending 1st rounders on backup HBs. Lynch was the first of those, and as expected, he played sparingly in Jacksonville, got made he wasn't starting, was part of a controversial trade to the Titans, and ultimately suffered a career-ending injury there. I'm not sure what his career stats were like or how he fared in Tennessee, but I'm sure it was nothing special.

Youngblood was excellent in the run game by racking up blocks, indicating he was Peterson's primary blocker to run behind. However, health and pass protection issues made him not worth is price tag as he enters the free agent market after 10 seasons in Jacksonville.

Many teams expressed interest in grabbing Tebow, but it was the Jags who selected him late in the first. His peak was his sophomore season taking over for Drew Brees where he posted an 87.1 passer rating and 17 TDs vs 8 INTs. His passer rating has gone done in each season since, culminating in a 72.4 last season while completing just 53.4% of his passes. Even after being made aware of this fact, management decided to re-sign him, so here we are.

I always preach about the importance of stockpiling OL, and even though the Jags already had Marcus McNeill and Reggie Youngblood, Okung was selected. He had 34 blocks against 3 sacks before being traded to the Patriots for recently retired and Comeback Player of the Year CB Tracy Porter and I want to say a Day 2 pick. He has since gone on to record 196 blocks against 10 sacks allowed for the Patriots. The Jags traded the wrong OT.

I have mentioned this before, but if drafting a player in the first results in them losing the competition to another player who ends up excelling for you, then I'd say that pick was a success. Kerrigan never took over at DE when KGB retired, but Cordero Moore did. Moore has made multiple Pro Bowls and has multiple 15 sack seasons to his credit while also providing 14 FFs+FRs in his six seasons as the starter.

Gillmore may have failed to record an INT last season (he did provide a FF and 2 FRs), but in his first four seasons, he put up a whopping 19 and with trips to the Pro Bowl. Eli Apple has now gained the top CB spot, but Gillmore has had a great career in Jacksonville, even though the team has struggled for a few seasons now.

The latest backup for Peterson, Freeman sparingly played his first three seasons and failed to find the end zone. Becoming just the third full-time HB in franchise history (they had Reuben Droughns for inaugural season), Freeman had a great season despite missing time with 1204 rushing yards on 4.2 YPC and being one of the best receiving backs with 50 rec for 420 yards. With a commitment to changing up the OL after years of lackluster play, perhaps we haven't yet seen the best he has to offer.

Lynch hasn't done much in three seasons with 181 tackles, 7 sacks, 4 INTs, 2 FFs, and a FR. The entire Jags LB corps just wasn't the same after Ray Lewis and David Pollack retired, and Lynch was the first pick to give them a new look, and while it hasn't worked out yet, if the others get things going, maybe Lynch will follow suit.

Okay, the Evans pick might have been an error on my part. I tried deciphering what I was supposed to do the best that I could, but I may have interpreted things incorrectly. Evans didn't even win the starting job as a rookie. A former 5th round pick did, and this was when the Jags fell apart. Evans is now an expensive backup.

As I've also mentioned, I'm not afraid to move on from a recent first round pick if the opportunity presents itself. Dante Fowler was there for the taking at #7, and while he wasn't disruptive with just two sacks, he was a stable force for a much improved Jaguars defense. On an all 25-and-under starting LB group, the direction this group heads might hinge on what Fowler does over these next few seasons.
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Kansas City Chiefs

CB Antwan Allen (S2, 30th)
DE Jason Jack (S3, 31st)
DT Justin Ostrowski (S4, 12th)
DE Rhyan Anderson (S5, 15th)
OT Duke Robinson (S6, 20th)
DT Terrance Knighton (S7, 9th)
HB LeGarrette Blount (S8, 12th)
WR Dez Bryant (S8, 23rd)
OLB Jamie Collins (S9, 16th)
SS Andrew Sendejo (S10, 4th)
QB Jimmy Garappolo (S11, 1st)
DT Dontari Poe (S12, 32nd)
OLB Samson Ebukam (S13, 1st)
WR DeVante Parker (S14, 9th)

CBs are very hard to evaluate. While high INT totals are pretty cool to look at, I mainly try and pay attention to the team's pass D performance. If they do well, I give everyone credit, and if they do not do well, I assign them all some level of blame. The Chiefs had some really solid defensive teams for the first several seasons of his career, but after retirements hit a lot of their front seven, the run defense took a nosedive while the pass D hung on. Thus I look at Allen's career in quite the favorable light.

Jack is still hanging around as one of the oldest DE free agents, but he hasn't played since his rookie contract ran out or was released toward the end of it. He gave the Chiefs 2 tackles and 2 sacks in seven games.

Ostrowski has been purged from the league, but I recall that he played nowhere else but Kansas City. I don't think he was ever the starter but was a rotational DT for his entire career there.

Anderson was another 1st round DE who ended up never starting a game for the Chiefs or anyone else up to this point. He has played in 78 games for the Chiefs and Cowboys and has put up 34 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 FR. He played in SB XIV for the Cowboys and as of this moment, he is the favorite for the LE spot opposite Erik Thornton.

Robinson has quietly had great career with the Chiefs. In 9 seasons, he has played 137 games with 130 starts, recording 421 blocks against 36 sacks allowed (11.6 blocks per sack).

Supposed to be a run-defender, Knighton ended up being more of a pass-rusher as he has 65 sacks in eight seasons with the Chiefs and Wildcats. He has never missed a game and has started all 128.

Blount had mostly been a pretty average HB throughout his career until last season when for the first half or so, he was the best in the league before slowing down in the second half. Still, he managed career bests in yards (1508), rushing TDs (11), and tied for his best YPC (4.4) en route to...not even being named to the Pro Bowl. Still, this was an encouraging season as he enters his contract year.

Bryant failed to reach 400 yards despite being a starter for the majority of his Kansas City career. He landed in Tampa Bay where he's been paid roughly $8 mil to give them 17 rec for 161 yards and a TD in 20 games.

Collins has had a consistent career in Kansas City, providing the club with roughly 80 tackles, 6 sacks and 2 FFs+FRs a season. Still, he's probably the weakest link in that LB corps.

Sendejo was the top-ranked prospect in the draft but "fell" to the Chiefs at #4. He's given them a healthy dose of INTs but has offered little else statistically. The Chiefs have had a decent pass D since he's been around, so he deserves some credit there.

Jimmy G looked to follow in Ryan Tannehill's footsteps and have an absurd rookie season from a QB, but from the second half of that season to the end of his sophomore season, he was one of the worst QBs in the league. He has righted the ship to be an above-average starter the past two seasons. His career 74.2 passer rating puts him 18th among QBs with 1000+ passing attempts in their career. Higher on that list is 28th overall pick A.J. McCarron.

Poe had a great first season with 44 tackles, 8 sacks, and a FF, but he hasn't quite matched those marks since. There's still time though as he enters his contract year.

The Chiefs became the first team to have multiple #1 overall picks, and their second was Ebukam. He had a great rookie season giving them 108 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, and 2 FRs. His second season was cut short due to injuries, but he was on pace to more or less match his rookie season.

Parker suffered an injury his rookie season and was significantly outplayed by third round receiver Justin Hardy. Not a great start to his career.
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Mexico City Browns

MLB Kai Parham (S3, 13th)
QB Brian Johnson (S4, 25th)
FS Lovon Ponder (S5, 7th)
CB Avery Atkins (S6, 22th)
QB Sam Bradford (S7, 18th)
OT Ryan Clady (S7, 25th)
MLB Aaron Curry (S8, 16th)
MLB Dont'a Hightower (S9, 8th)
HB Mark Ingram (S10, 16th)
G Kevin Zeitler (S10, 29th)
WR DeAndre Hopkins (S11, 6th)
DE Olivier Vernon (S12, 9th)
QB Dak Prescott (S13, 6th)

Not having a first round pick in the first draft after trading for WR Terrell Owens, the Browns used their first 1st rounder on Parham. He didn't stick at MLB and moved outside where he was a pretty average starter before ultimately giving way to Kwon Alexander much later. He was a career Brown and retired after this past season with 570 tackles, 37 sacks, 8 INTs, 11 FFs, and 9 FRs.

Johnson was a BPA pick during the height of former GM War's maniacal plan to have Aaron Rodgers throw the ball as much as possible. He ultimately did replace Rodgers and later started for the Colts, with whom he had a surprisingly great season one year with the where he was a likely MVP finalist at around the halfway mark. He was later a backup with the Eagles. He was lost to the purge on the free agent market, so I can't bring up his stats. Bummer.

Ponder was an underrated starter in his 10 year career averaging 2.5 INTs and 2.5 FFs+FRs a season while being a solid tackler. Like most DBs, there just isn't much more to say other than that.

Atkins knew how to do one thing well, and that was intercepting passes, hauling in 30 in his nine year career, including a then B8NFLL record 9 in S10.

Then-GM stuntman wanted a QB to replace Brian Johnson, and that player was Bradford. He had a promising four start rookie season where he threw for 697 yards on 65% completion for an 81.3 passer rating. He was one of the league's worst QBs the following two seasona dn while he had a bounceback fourth season, it wasn't enough to earn a second contract with the club. He was an excellent mid-season injury signing with the 49ers two seasons later giving them 728 yards on 63.2% completion and an 82.6 passer rating. The Titans tried the same thing the following season where he gave them a 55.7 passer rating, 916 yards, 9 TDs, and 12 INTs on 52.2% completion in 8 games. He hasn't played for anyone since, but I also want to point out how weird it is that he has over 1000 rushing yards as a pocket passer.

Taken later in the same draft as Bradford, Clady started every game in his first four seasons but was very ineffective. In the past four, he has been much better, though probably just above-average at the position, but with various injuries preventing him from playing a full season.

Curry was quickly moved outside and has given the Browns quite the return on investment as a mid-first rounder. In seven seasons, which includes two he lost roughly half the season, so really six full seasons, he has 602 tackles, 42 sacks, 9 INTs, 11 FFs, and 15 FRs. It goes without saying that he is one hell of a playmaker.

Hightower was a confusing selection then and still does now after the Top 10 pick gave the Browns 61 games and 22 starts in five seasons. He didn't play for anyone last season.

The Browns traded back in the first round of the S10 draft that included multiple 1sts in return. The first selection was Ingram who was projected to go much higher, but HBs always seem to fall. Ingram started out slow in an injury-filled rookie season that saw him put up just 277 yards in six starts on a 3.6 YPC. He steadily improved each season, and in S13, he had 1864 yards and 12 TDs on 4.3 YPC. He was no slouch in S14 with over 1500 yards and 11 TDs on 4.4 YPC. He was named to his first Pro Bowl last season and has emerged as a possible Top 10 HB in the league.

The second pick from that trade back was Zeitler. Like most interior OL, he gives up his fair share of sacks, but he is a beast of a blocker for his position, including a career high of 63 last season.

The third of five straight seasons of naturally drafting in the Top 10, Hopkins was another draft hit for them. He didn't have a great rookie season, but over the ensuing three, he has averaged over 1000 yards and 7 TDs a season as he helped the Browns reach the postseason for the first time in awhile in S14 and has gone to the past two Pro Bowls.

Vernon has provided below average passrushing production and seems to be a liability in the run game as his tackles have gone down from 22 to 13 to a mere 8 despite starting all 48 games in his career. This is certainly troubling.

Prescott had an okay rookie season with a passer rating just north of 70 while throwing for over 2700 yards on 55% completio with a 21:19 TD:INT ratio. He was on fire to begin his sophomore season but settled down to ultimate provide a slightly more efficient second season with a 74 passer rating, 2400 yards on 56% completion and a 19:13 TD:INT ratio. Out of the disappointing S13 1st round QB rookie class, in which all four QBs were taken with the first nine picks, I guess you could say that he's the most promising at this point.
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