BL Draft Recap
Hey everyone, with the off-season here and draft time rolling around I thought it’d be good to look back at the first round of last seasons draft. Are there some future HoFers here. Who nailed the draft, who messed up, who turned something into nothing. I’m gonna grade you based on the draft and then based on how you developed what you drafted.
1.Bucs – Morgan Rowe QB
Drafted: 81 Star – 88 Star
Draft grade: A
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: No one knew what Rowe’s dev would be so just drafting based off throw motion and skills I understand the pick and it was a great pick. That’s what’s great about drafting, the best players don’t always have a dev and everything’s random.
2.Rams – Deangelo Williams WR
Drafted: 85 XF – 89 xf
Draft grade: A+
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: Williams getting injured robbed us of what would’ve probably been a historic season. Everyone knew that Deangelo was going to be the best player in the class and Nick got to sit back and take him. He doesn’t have the best speed in the class but 6’5 with XF and 94, I’ll take that any day.
3.Bears – Korbin Caldwell QB
Drafted: 79 star – 88 star
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: I didn’t like Caldwell as the second best QB, to me it was Rowe then Hooks/Mcmillon depending on what you wanted. Not that Caldwell was bad but you can’t teach elite speed and I just really like Mcmillon. Cmass devved him up right tho and he’ll be Superstar within the first few weeks which is all you can ask for.
4.Colts – Bryce Linder CB
Drafted: 77 star – 82 star
Draft grade: A
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: It seems like a normal progression for rookies is about 5 attribute points a season. So getting the best CB in the class here and getting him closer to 90 was a solid pick. The best part of this pick was trading an older regressing DT for a top 5 pick and landing a corner stone on defense.
5.Jets – Brian Anderson TE
Drafted: 74 Star – 79 Star
Draft grade: C-
Dev grade: B+
Final thoughts: I know Matt didn’t want to take a QB and he wanted to get his team around a QB and ride with Rodgers for one more season and that would’ve been fine if you didn’t draft a TE and would’ve kept Arod. If a TE doesn’t have 90+ speed they feel the same to me and you had a chance to draft a 90+ speed qb or another really good young QB (even if you didn’t know his dev I won’t hold that against you). I just don’t think Matt is bad enough to finish top 5 again and you have to go QB or impact player here and keep Rodgers.
6.Titans – David Hooks QB
Drafted: 76 star – 84 Superstar
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: I got lucky here getting a practice boost or this would’ve been more detrimental. I wanted Mcmillon, head said it, my heart said it, but I just didn’t want to pass up the speed even knowing the throwing motion was bad. Hooks isn’t a bad pick but it wasn’t great either.
7.Niners – Deion Mcmillon QB
Drafted: 78 xf – 88 xf
Draft grade: A+
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: The dev grade was easy, but the trades to get to 7 and then sitting put and getting the best QB while also DRAFTING AT A SEAHAWKS GAME, is some next level of fuckery. Getting a top 5 team overall and then getting an xf qb in the first draft. The stars are aligning for this sexy robe wearing MFer.
8.Vikes – Matthew Andrews DT
Drafted: 74 star – 82 superstar
Draft grade: B+
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: I don’t normally like taking DT this high because usually they don’t do much, but I think this madden it caters to top DL and they get some crazy sheds. Connor got real lucky getting the development boost. That’s what makes this a good dev grade but maybe not a great draft pick grade because I don’t know if he’d be as good if he didn’t get to superstar in season. Bradley Keenan might’ve been my pick here but I don’t hate this one.
9.Dolphins – Cole Hoover WR
Drafted: 67 star – 73 star
Draft grade: C
Dev grade: B
Final thoughts: I know I know he has 99 speed but you know who doesn’t need another 99 speed WR, the dolphins. I think I would’ve liked to see him stay at pick 3 and take a QB. But you like who you like and you draft them and you have fun.
10.Giants – Tavarres Spikes LG
Drafted: 78 SS – 78 superstar
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: C
Final thoughts: Tavarres was a G and moved to C so his development missed a little. It’s hard to evaluate OL because only one OL is over 80 from this class. They just don’t go up more than 1-2 development points in a season. So getting lucky and drafting an ability one was great but the giants got crazy holes, and a lot of random late round OL got abilities, so I’d like to have seen maybe a WR here because the risk of not getting an ability one out weighs the reward. I still think it’s a good pick because of the way Cam wants to play he will need a good oline.
11.Giants – Bradley Keenan CB
Drafted: 77 star – 82 star
Draft grade: A+
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: Now this was a great pick. The height is there, the speed, it’s a crucial position. This was probably the best CB in the class.
12.Giants – Aaron McClane QB
Drafted: 71 normal – 75 normal
Draft grade: D
Dev grade: F
Final thoughts: This pick I didn’t quite understand. If anyone understand the allure of fast QBs it’s me but you can’t take a bad one who’s fast. Cam had so many picks that you could’ve reached for even Hobson later on in the second or third and built some where else. Pick 12 on probably the worst QB of the class.
13.Saints – Chauncey Bullard LE
Drafted: 73 normal – 76 Star
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: B-
Final thoughts: He had the speed and some of the attributes you want for an edge player but I would’ve liked to see back to back CB and shore that up for the cycle with Jawuan and Micah Haskins.
14.Saints – JaWuan McLaughlin CB
Drafted: 78 normal – 83 normal
Draft grade: A
Dev grade: A-
Final thoughts: unfortunately for lucky he drafted two normal devs in the middle of the draft. He did get one of the better players he just didn’t get lucky with dev. But to get him up 5 points without star dev is solid and in a season or two he’ll be 90 and superstar any way. Great pick.
15.Chiefs – Malcolm Portis SS
Drafted: 75 star – 79 star
Draft grade: B+
Dev grade: B
Final thoughts: Portis is a very good but very raw safety who doesn’t have ideal height. Fortunately the Chiefs are a pretty good roster and you can take who you want. I know Troy wants to pound the rock and play defense but getting a WR to go with Mahomes like Cooke or Garner might’ve been the move.
16.Bears – Joel Andrews LT
Drafted: 75 normal – 78 normal
Draft grade: C
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: I’m no fan of taking OL in the first. Especially when your team isn’t very good. Not getting a dev too hurts even more. They just don’t progress like other players and it will be a long time until they get some abilities. Getting 4 att points is top tier though.
17.Lions – D’Marcus Sharpe LE
Drafted: 75 star – 74 star DT
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: D
Final thoughts: I know he moved from end to interior DL but how do you not get above what overall you started at. He has some physical tools which is what made him a solid draft choice just doesn’t seem like he made an impact at all.
18.Bucs – Markail Cooke WR
Drafted: 74 star – 83 XF
Draft grade: A-
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: Can’t hate on a pick that turns into a key piece on a Super Bowl roster and went from Star to XF in one season. Dan has reasonings on why he took Cooke but I still think Garner was the best WR left
19.Bills – James Miner LOLB
Drafted: 73 star – 80 superstar
Draft grade: B+
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: Haskins and Garner were still on the board so I still would’ve taken them over Miner here. You can never have too much depth at CB and WR but LB was a need and he turned into a stud and he has the physicals you want. Maybe not the best speed but it worked for Little.
20.Cards – Micah Haskins CB
Drafted: 77 star – 84 star
Draft grade: A+
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: This was the best player left on the board imo. He didn’t have elite speed or height but getting an all sound good player with solid atts in the bottom half of the draft is a good pick. Then to get him up 7 points. Very good.
21.Cards – Keenan White RE
Drafted: 73 star – 78 star DT
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: B+
Final thoughts: I’m not a huge fan of taking big de and moving them to DT they don’t always play right, especially 6’6 ones. I don’t hate the pick just didn’t seem to get the production from the guy.
22.Commanders – Jamal Mason TE
Drafted: 73 star – 79 star
Draft grade: F
Dev grade: B+
Final thoughts: I get why Justin took a TE, the HOF snub, the whole top users can’t cover a TE, etc. but that doesn’t mean it was a good pick. He doesn’t have elite speed and the trickle down effect of taking Mason over a QB when McMullen was right there was crippling for the commies and Justin. If Justin takes Marlon here, he doesn’t draft a bum qb later that he has to trade(wasted pick) he doesn’t have to trade Forbes AND his own first which turned into the 7th overall for the first overall pick. All for a TE when there are a million decent ones and they all feel similar.
23.Bears – Dom Monk WR
Drafted: 66 star – 81 XF
Draft grade: C
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: I get it. You see a guy with potentially 99 speed you have to go for it. But I’ve never really been a fan of 5’9 guys. I just think after drafting a normal dev tackle and a QB and you have DJ moore and Kmet already I would’ve shored up the defense. Your division has three users who are good at pounding the rock, Dante Harris would’ve been a great addition here. Can’t argue with the results though, I just felt for Cmass’ skill he knows how to pass, any WR would’ve flourished.
24.Chargers – Dante Harris DT
Drafted: 73 star – 81 superstar
Draft grade: B+
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: Seems like another 3-4 DE turned DT but I’m not positive I don’t think they get to 6’5 but this one worked out well. Harris won DROY and solidified the defense for Warren on his SB run.
25.Texans – Josh Garner WR
Drafted: 74 star – 83 XF
Draft grade: A+
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: Getting who I think was a top tier player in the draft at a premium position and turning him into an XF, that’s a home run. The Texans roster is bleak but getting a WR to go with Stroud for the cycle is a HOF move.
26.Jets – Kyle Dunn RG
Drafted: 76 superstar – 76 superstar
Draft grade: C
Dev grade: F
Final thoughts: How did he not get better? I wonder if he too was moved around and neon didn’t get it. Another pick that was solid if you kept Arod but because you traded arod and didn’t take the last decent QB it was a bad pick. The only saving grace was that he was superstar to begin with. (Do interior oline just not develop?)
27.Cards – Brian Beard LT
Drafted: 74 normal – 78 normal
Draft grade: C+
Dev grade: B
Final thoughts: Cloud just traded for a bunch of older superstar OL sand traded Beard so maybe this pick was wasted but getting a tackle up 4 spots seems like a good development project. I just would’ve stayed away from OL
28.Saints – Marlon McMullen QB
Drafted: 76 star – 82 star
Draft grade: A
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: Lucky stole the last good QB at pick 28. He stood tall on draft day and didn’t reach on a QB like he said he would do. He got what I think is 3 starters from this draft and it’s headlined by his last pick. With another solid season and training camp I feel that McMullen will get to SS by at least season 4s week 1.
29.Ravens – Roman Westbrook ROLB
Drafted: 75 normal – 76 normal
Draft grade: D
Dev grade: F
Final thoughts: I don’t think Cody drafted and his cpu didn’t do him any favors in the first. He did get some dawgs later on but drafting a team who has solid edge LB and two great madden MLB the CPU absolutely fumbled the bag here. Would’ve liked to see a WR here cpu to pair with Flowers.
30.Cowboys – RJ Canty HB
Drafted: 72 star – 83 superstar
Draft grade: B+
Dev grade: A+
Final thoughts: I can’t give a RB and A grade but the cowboys don’t have many holes and filling the vacancy that Pollard left was a good pick. This was a luxury pick and it worked out well for Alex. Pretty sure he won OROY and bumped to superstar so he should be the main cog for the foreseeable future.
31.Bengals – Colt Kilmer TE
Drafted: 74 star – 78 superstar
Draft grade: B
Dev grade: A
Final thoughts: This offense feels complete for the majority of the CFM. Austin loves him some TE and he likes to create some wild plays to get them open. He might not have been the best and a dt like Taj would be a better pick or the guy who went next.
32.Dolphins – Mike Jones CB
Drafted: 76 star – 79 star
Draft grade: A
Dev grade: B
Final thoughts: getting a 6’1 corner at the end of the first round with 96 speed is an awesome value pick. Knowing the dolphins situation now, it makes it even better. Niko might not have as good of a team but he has some pieces and opportunities to reload.