Here is the latest on the upcoming virtual draft, courtesy of NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport:
- D’Andre Swift profiles as many teams’ top-graded running back, and some are viewing the No. 26-32 range as the sector where he could land or even multiple running backs could go (Twitter link). Holding the No. 26 pick, the Dolphins are perhaps the most notable running back-seeking team in that range. They have been the team most closely connected to backs thus far. The Seahawks, Ravens, Titans, Packers, 49ers and Chiefs pick behind them.
- Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray may be one of the highest-floor players in the draft, with Rapoport noting (via Twitter) no team has come through with a black mark against him. This represents obvious good news after Murray suffered a hamstring injury at the Combine. Before the NFL nixed pre-draft workouts and visits, Murray was scheduled to meet with 15 teams. It’s likely he spoke to many via video chat. Scouts Inc. grades Murray as the draft’s No. 25 prospect.
- On that note, mammoth tackle Mekhi Becton has generated the most excitement from scouts, per RapSheet. The Louisville blocker goes 6-foot-7, 364 pounds. While his frame reminds of Raiders right tackle Trent Brown, the latter was a fifth-round selection. Becton, who somehow ran a 5.1-second 40-yard dash at that size, may well land in the top 10 and probably has the highest ceiling of all the tackle prospects.
- A less exciting player, but one that might be a safer pick: Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas. Teams are calling the ex-Bulldogs blocker the most overlooked player who will go the highest, per Rapoport. Thomas could wind up in the top five, with Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline noting he is the favorite to be the Dolphins’ pick if they surprise most by not going quarterback at No. 5.
- After the top four tackles go off the board, there figures to be a gap until the next one is picked. Houston tackle Josh Jones may be the player with the highest variance, with teams viewing him anywhere from a first- to a third-round choice, Rapoport adds. Jones grades as Scouts Inc.’s No. 50 overall prospect and seventh-ranked tackle — also behind Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland and USC’s Austin Jackson.
- Going into what’s viewed as a deep draft at wide receiver, at least one GM views it as a historically deep all-around class. Said GM placed first-round grades on more than 32 prospects for the first time in his tenure, RapSheet notes.
“Said GM placed first-round grades on more than 32 prospects for the first time in his tenure”
That’s great, but if you take a random sampling of drafts from the past, you will discover that on average, only a third of first round picks actually end up having careers that justified their pre-draft grade.
I also think some gms feel this way and some dont. I doubt every gm thinks there’s more than 32 1st round players
I don’t think the practice is necessarily bad…as long as a GM understands that much of the potential he is grading will never actually materialize.
I know the view now is you don’t take RBs in the first round, but if a guy is a difference maker than you take him in the first round and get that 5th year option. I think it’s a smart play when teams no longer want to invest big term money in the position.
There is no free lunch and at some point you either have to reward your best players by paying them their true market value or part with them. If your drafting a player in round one you should be looking at him as a guy who will be helping your franchise his entire career and not just as a 5 year rental.