First 3 rounds for DT might be as insane as the RB spot
It's hard not to see AP and company take advantage of the strength of the draft by dipping into the RB, DT (minimally a run stuffer) and would love a disruptive Edge that plays well versus the run. Maybe TE too but my gut would be later in the draft based on what we have currently.
It is nice that similar to last year, the strength of the draft falls into our team needs. Of course I wish OT was the real strength of this draft
None of that would surprise me he looks like a freak. If he has a combine like that though he might not last to 29
Yeah. I think there will be a huge run on RBs in Round 2. Like, if Dallas doesn't take Jeanty with their first rounder, it is the lock of the century that they go RB in round 2. Ditto teams like Cleveland, New England, Raiders, Saints, Bears, Bengals (especially), Denver, Pittsburgh, etc. There's going to be a huge run on RBs in round 2.
Yeah it almost feels like we have to take a RB at 29 or it'd be like WR last year where there is a run on them that ends with all the good ones taken just before our 36th pick (I nearly cried when McConkey went like two picks before us).
I'd be okay with Henderson or Hampton at 29. Prefer Henderson for the home run ability but Hampton would basically gaurantee 2nd and 6 every time and that's huge.
None of that would surprise me he looks like a freak. If he has a combine like that though he might not last to 29
Yeah. I think there will be a huge run on RBs in Round 2. Like, if Dallas doesn't take Jeanty with their first rounder, it is the lock of the century that they go RB in round 2. Ditto teams like Cleveland, New England, Raiders, Saints, Bears, Bengals (especially), Denver, Pittsburgh, etc. There's going to be a huge run on RBs in round 2.
Agree.
It would not shock me that by the time our pick comes up in the third -- all these guys are gone:
Jeanty, Hampton, K. Johnson, Sampson, Henderson, Skattebo, Judkins.
And we'd be shopping in that next tier: Neal, Harvey, Giddens, B. Smith, etc.
Going a tier below that I've been watching Tuten. And I think he fits that speed back-change of pace type. He seems to have no hype for some reason. For a speed back, he has some power feistiness to him, too. Years back I liked Keaton Mitchell as a late round speed back. He ended up for undrafted. Tuten IMO is a better version of Mitchell.
I like Tuten too SIP. That BC game was insane from him, but the holes in that BC front were massive. He's showcasing speed and decisiveness, but not really any creativity in that game.
What do you think about Gasden vs Fanin GC? Gasden has the bloodlines and is a converted WR, but you know he's been coached well through his upbringing.
I like Fannin Jr a lot better than Gadsden Jr personally. Gadsden is a good prospect: great athleticism and height, tough, good hands, elite contested catch ability. But Fannin is one of the special players of the class that has NFL star player potential that has already flashed a bunch on the college field. The key tangible skills that separate Fannin from TEs like Gadsden are the burst and separation skills, and the YAC skills. Fannin explodes off the line to beat press and backfoot man coverage early, gears down a bit up the stem, then explodes again through the break, opening up HUGE windows in the coverage. That's why he's getting the ball so much--his mid-route separation skills are incredibly rare for a TE. His highlight cutups are 15 minutes of him just running wide open against everyone, including Penn St and Texas A&M, because he blows everyone away at the route break.
Meanwhile Gadsden made Kyle McCord work hard as Hell on throws because he isn't ever really getting separation against man coverage, and he just wouldn't have gotten the ball that much from a QB with a lesser arm.
And the YAC talent is the other big thing that separates Fannin Jr from the other TEs. It's pretty shocking to see the way he eludes tackles in the open field. Someone that tall with that long of a stride doesn't usually juke people in the open field so regularly, but it looks like he's euro-stepping defenders on a fast break. This is the part of his game that reminds me of young Travis Kelce.
First 3 rounds for DT might be as insane as the RB spot
It's hard not to see AP and company take advantage of the strength of the draft by dipping into the RB, DT (minimally a run stuffer) and would love a disruptive Edge that plays well versus the run. Maybe TE too but my gut would be later in the draft based on what we have currently.
It is nice that similar to last year, the strength of the draft falls into our team needs. Of course I wish OT was the real strength of this draft
Really agree. Those are currently my areas of focus on future acquisitions. These days with so many good young QBs you need a top 10 pass rusher to compete in the top ten teams.
In our own division we not only have a stacked roster in Philly that's also young but we face the daunting task of limiting Barkley even while knowing that their QB is a serious threat all on his own. We need a run stopper at dt just as you said.
Additionally, Dallas is said to be focused on improving their run game and restoring what used to be a signature part of some very potent offenses they've had in the past.
And adding a new stud rb isn't just great for JD and the offense in general so they don't become too one dimensional (relying so much on jds legs as well as his arm, and Terry). Plus, another good way to limit Barkley impact is too keep his ass on the bench with a better ground game and time of possession/click control.
A dt, a rb, and either edge or a monster that can pressure in the front four are the priorities for me.
Of course as things go forward I reserve the right to develop crushes and flop here and there across all roster positions with stars in my eyes for the buzzy glamour player of the month.
I like Tuten too SIP. That BC game was insane from him, but the holes in that BC front were massive. He's showcasing speed and decisiveness, but not really any creativity in that game.
I just noticed he's on Feldman's freak's list, supposedly runs in the low 4'3's and can bench about 400 pounds. Agree he's a decisive-speed back. Not a nuanced runner. One cut and go. Although he can break tackles, you can see some of his power-contact balance in motion. I think decent vision, too at least in the context of finding that first crease. Certainly breakaway speed.
He needs to clean up his fumbles though just like Sampson does. Henderson is the more safe speed back on that front. Henderson good with ball security and pass pro.
But like you I am not a speed back or bust guy with these RBs. Everything being equal I prefer speed. but as I've detailed and you have as well a dude like Skattebo is on the table for me.
I think some have soured some on the more chain-mover power back types because we've not really had a good one. I had some hope for Brian Robinson but have seen enough -- his issue IMO isn't that he's a power back. The issue is he isn't a good power back.
There is some value of a RB who can make something out of nothing especially when facing elite defenses like the Eagles. Robinson's problem for example against them wasn't the style he plays with -- but was the fact that IMO for a powerback he really depends heavily on getting that run blocking crease -- he's inconsistent at best about making something out of nothing like Skattebo excels at.
Skattebo also IMO is a better pass blocker than Robinson. He's a much better weapon with his hands-route running. He has more explosion, on and on.
So while I get people preferring the genre of speed among these backs. And I do as well. I am not sour at all on really good backs that don't major in breakaway speed.
