Are you ready for surprises on draft day? It sounds like you should be. “The media is wronger about mock drafts this year than you guys have ever been,” one NFL general manager told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). That’s undoubtedly because of the ongoing certainly involving COVID-19, which has caused the league to upend its predraft process. As Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com tweets, “group think” is less likely to occur in 2019 because scouts and executives were unable to congregate at pro days, events where evaluators typically will — intentionally or not — develop something of a consensus on prospects.
After deciding whether “wronger” is actually a word, let’s take a look at more on the upcoming draft:
- The Falcons held a predraft video meeting with Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson last week, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Atlanta currently holds the 16th overall pick, but recent reports have indicated general manager Thomas Dimitroff & Co. could be interested in moving up the board. Henderson is considered the draft’s second-best cornerback behind Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah, although some decision-makers may rate Henderson No. 1.
- Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins has held video meetings with several NFL teams, including the Chiefs, Packers, Bills, Lions, Saints, Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. This isn’t the first time Dobbins has been linked to Miami, as he took a predraft visit with the Dolphins before such meetings were shut down due to COVID-19. Indeed, Dobbins left that visit feeling Miami was “infatuated” with him.
- Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis says the 49ers, Packers, Dolphins, Ravens, and Eagles are the teams that have contacted him most, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. A massive presence at 6’6″, 310 pounds, Davis a first-round projection and comparisons to DeForest Buckner from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus, however, ranks Davis just 10th among interior defender prospects, noting his lack of development as a pass-rusher.
- The Ravens, 49ers, Panthers, Titans, and Seahawks have all held video sessions with TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, per Wilson. Blacklock, who stock has risen during the predraft process, missed the 2018 campaign with an Achilles injury but was productive during both his freshman and junior seasons. Last year, he posted 40 tackles (nine for loss) and 3.5 sacks.
I’m sure ‘group think’ actually stopped the office from talking to their scouts. Everyone I know, in corporate, is still working from home. My kids are attending school online, but I’m sure corona cut off all lines of communications at the NFL level.
“After deciding whether “wronger” is actually a word…”
Says the writer who wrote about “the ongoing certainly”…
Clearly different, but whatever makes you feel better bro..
“The ongoing certainty” AKA death, taxes and pointless spelling/grammar critiques on the internet.
You should ask for a refund of the subscription fees if it bothers you that much.
Some of these lovers of sarcasm nastily commenting about the noticing of “ongoing certainly” apparently don’t believe in proper spelling or grammar. For some, sarcasm is far more valuable than spelling/grammar.
Was “wronger” a typo or did some GM dunderhead actually say it? I wouldn’t be shocked by the latter.
There are some very clear prospects that are head and shoulders above their peers, at their respective positions. Burrow, Tua, Young, Swift, Jeudy, Lamb, Simmons, Queen, Okudah, Wirfs, Thomas, Becton, D.Brown, Kinlaw, and Henderson, but after that group of 15 or so prospects, there is an extremely close group of the next 20-30 prospects.
With that being said, I could easily see most mocks falling short, especially on their picks from 15 on. I think now more than ever, we will see more picks based off scheme fits, extended experience, and interviews, rather than sheer, raw talent and combine numbers..
Either way, this is going to be an extremely deep draft, especially in terms of players that can come in and compete for reps right away. Teams are going to be able to get fringe 1st round, typically early 2nd round talents all the way through the first three rounds..
I’ve been saying similar things. After about #10, this becomes a very flat, but very deep draft.
And a lot of 3rd round WRs are 2nd round talents, in other years. IRT schemes, I think we are entering an age (if we aren’t already there), where you want all your defensive players to have multiple position skills.
I can see guys like Baun lining up on the edge, blitzing, falling back into coverage, or playing OLB.
I hope the Falcons instead of getting henderson trade up for Isaiah Simmons. Simmons can fill the loss void of cambell or rush the QB this season. You will also need a strong covering LB when playing Saints and Tamba Bay and even Carolina. Bridgewater could excel under new OC joe brady. Also if we dont resign Keanu for next season, we can plug simmons in at Safety. I see Simmons as a Darwin James but slightly better. Realistically though, i see us getting henderson, which is fine and i love SEC defense players but i think we will overpay in picks for him
I would also be estatic if both henderson and kinlaw fell. Keep our 2020 pick and trade 2021 1st and 2020 2nd and other picks to acquire kinlaw/henderson and draft the other with 2020 pick. I mean Dan Quinn is on hot seat, so why not…