By: Jeremy T. Ballreich
So the draft came to a close in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday evening. I’d be remissed if I didn’t discuss the drafts biggest winners and losers from the weekend.
The Winners
1) The Philadelphia Eagles (UGA-North)
Had Jalen Carter fall to them at 9 after trading with Ryan Poles (GM of the Chicago Bears) securing another DT for 5 years, then at 30 had Nolan Smith fall to them. Overall Howie Roseman as a GM has built 2 Super Bowl teams and are a likely suspect to be the best team in the NFC again.
2) The Houston Texans
With getting their QB of the future in CJ Stroud at 2. They managed to trade back up to 3 in the draft and grab Will Amderson Jr. one of the best defensive players in the draft getting a cornerstone of the franchise on both sides of the ball for the new HC Demico Ryans.
3 Kansas City Chiefs
The rich get richer with right picks falling to the Super Bowl Champs. They continue to build an excellent franchise and should be heavily favored once again by most NFL Prognosticators.
4). Pittsburgh Steelers
Got their Oline issues almost wrapped by getting Broderick Jones at 14 after trading ahead of the Jets with the Patriots. Then had Joey Porter Jr. a legacy player fall to them at the top of the 2nd with their pick from Chicago after the Chase Claypool trade the previous season. Another solid team building draft for them.
5) Detroit Lions
With a powerful offense the season prior. Most of the mocks had Detroit going defense. But after trading back with Arizona with the picks they received from the Houston Texans. The Lions selected the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama. Then at 18 got the best coverage LB in the draft with Iowa’s Jack Campbell. Brad Holmes cares less about positional value and more about getting plug and play guys for his team. Then they had back-to-back steals in the draft. At 45, after trading up with Green Bay, the Lions selected Brian Branch. Then traded back twice from 55 to 68 to select QB Hendon Hooker of Tennessee. Which to me says that they have a vision for the future of the team.
The Biggest Losers:
1) San Francisco 49ers
At 99th pick in the 3rd round, they did the unthinkable in the modern draft. They chose place kicker Jake Moody out of Michigan to be their kicker of the future. Not saying he isn’t good. But PK doesn’t usually go before day 3. Seemed like an act of desperation when they had more glaring needs in the team.
2) The Cleveland Browns
Seem to make some really poor decisions when making their choices. Ignoring some of their biggest needs in this draft left many fans and pundits scratching their heads.
3) Green Bay Packers
Other than their pick at 13 in Luke Van Ness DE out of Iowa. The Packers seemed more focused on taking picks to upset the recently exited Aaron Rodgers than actually building team with back to back picks at TE before they addressed the needs of the secondary and WR. IMO
I really only have 3 losers this draft. Because honestly grading and evaluating these players before they ever take the field and play a game. At least to this writer, well it’s ludicrous. All of these players came out of college to make a living in the NFL. I personally would like to give every team an incomplete until we see these guys after 3 years. The average NFL career anymore. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for Reading!!!
