This is the worst QB class since 2013.
There's not a 1st round talent among the entire bunch IMO. Disgusting.
Agree with you Cali, RB is pretty bad as well. There's some solid depth Backs that can be added to a committee, but no real game-changers.
TE is very deep with talent. One of the best TE classes since 2017.
WR has a lot of upside guys who could develop into very good pro players, but no surefire Superstars. This a strong route runners group, you can find a very good future 1,000yd+ WR in rounds 2-4.
Very deep at EDGE & DE.
One of the most athletically gifted LB classes in a long time.
CB is deep as it usually is, there's about 21-24 Corners you can pick in any round & you'll be getting a contributing starter.
Safety just like last year is top heavy.
Last year it was really a 3-man draft, this year its 5.
But overall, a very good group of prospects across the board, with really only a handful of guys that you can pencil in as no doubt Superstars.
This draft is heavy on potential, a lot of boom or bust players.
Long cause kinda of my full general thoughts by position:
QB: Nah 2022 bruh lol. Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, and Malik Willis... I mean I guess Purdy lol, but really Kyle Shanahan saved that. Though Willis just made some money. Either way that class sucked. I'd say Mendoza is still a 1st round prospect, not the high end of most years, but like would I take him ahead of McCarthy, Nix, Richardson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Haskins, Teddy, etc all of whom were 1sts? Yeah probably. I mean you could just say those guys shouldn't have been 1st rounders I guess. But still. As a Raider fan I really wish we could trade down and pick up a haul from like the Jets, Browns, or Cards...
Simpson and Nuss have 2 major red flags that I wouldn't touch before round 3 at minimum. Well Simpson maybe late 2nd, Nuss 4th...Build + Production. Simpson at least has the better arm and had good production for a stretch. But 1yr starter, much of which was bad, and he had injury issues and is pretty small... nah. Beck I'd say is possibly Qb4 simply because I'd feel most confident in him at least being a servicible backup who can game manage and complete some passes. Cole Payton, Taylen Green, Sawyer Robertson, and then I guess Drew Allar just as a shot in the dark prayers in 6th round are fine I guess... But Yeah ****** class....
WR: I feel like this class has a lot of solid wr2 or 3 types. I'd say versus consensus, I'm probably higher on Stribling, Jakobi Lane, Eric McAlister + Cameron Dormer (intrigued by both statistical profile), Brenen Thompson (as a Ted Ginn type threat), and maybe like Chase Roberts and Eric Rivers late. The Top 6 consensus I like, just agree with you - no legit stars. I'd probably be most confident Lemon or even Cooper are the most productive "safe" options for the first like 3 years of their careers. Tate will depend on which team he goes to for me. Tyson is probably the one if I was truly shooting for a #1 WR that had highest potential id go for (but due to injury and riskier prob not pick till teens). I'm not really sold on Boston as much though. Concepcion has major drop issues, but he produces... Risky but I like him better than Boston. Id say Sarratt and Antonio Williams are both very safe day2. ... I'm out on Brazzell... I wouldn't draft anyone from Tennessee as policy.
TE: Actually I'd say 2023 is probably better. Though maybe athletically its this one all the way. I think this class is actually better than 2017, but I was never really all that in on OJ Howard which is a big difference. I like the top 3 TEs a lot but Idk If I'd want any like top 25. Sadiq I like and would say he's the #1 prospect, but I have a feeling that Stowers just ends up more prodcutive receiver. And Klare sneakily honestly isn't that far behind Sadiq and Stowers tbh. There are some solid prospects for sure I'm kinda all over the place on. Id have Roush 4th just for the high end potential he has. I like Raridon and to a lesser extent Boerkircher in that true do everything TE mold as well late. I'd probably say though my "sleeper" is Dae'quan Wright (YAC for TEs is king) who is the 20th TE on the consensus and John Michael Gyllenborg who is 18th. I also like Bentley and would like Royer a lot more if he was younger. I'm 100% out on Trigg. And Delp I'm lower on than consensus, but great athlete....
EDGE: I really like some of the day 2 edges. But then it just dies. Also a lot of these edges aren't just all around guys. A lot more than I can remember it's pure speed rushers, power guys, just guys that lack production, and guys with just major outliers in certain areas. Love Bain, but arm length and just general lack of athleticism likely limits his true high end pass rush potential. That's why Bailey and Reece are going to go 2/4 ahead of Bain. I personally would draft Bain ahead, but its not happening. Lawerence is probably the most intriguing. Parker, Faulk, Zion Young, Jacas are all guys I'd feel fine starting. Not sure any end up 10 sack guys. Meanwhile Howell is major length outlier. R Mason Thomas just is an avg athlete for pure pass rush guy. Barham and Crawford are probably the best Sleepers in 3rd round. Dennis Sutton is elite athlete who never produced, but prob ends up a fine starter. Personally my 2 sleepers are Mason Reigor and Logan Fano. Id say about 4th round edges kinda dies out though.
DT: I think this is one of worst DT classes at the high end in a while. I don't think any DT goes 1st round. I mean maybe like 30s. Like Woods and Banks are probably the highest potential guys, but Woods along with everyone at Clemson kinda sucked this year. And I'd never trust drafting a Florida guy who was an elite athlete but then only played like 100 snaps this past year. McDonald is fine if near like 50 as a NT, but I don't think he's ever gunna be a great pass rushing nose. Lee Hunter and Christen Miller I like but again 2nd rounders. Id take both ahead of Banks but below Woods. My Sleepers are ZXavian Harris, Kaleb Proctor, Jordan Van Den Berg, and Bobby Jamison-Travis.
LB: I fully Agree, LOVE this LB class at the top. I'd probably feel comfortable drafting like 8 LBs in top 2 rounds? And that's pure off-ball LBs, not how most people list 34 OLBs as LBs. Once you remove the EDGEs from LBs, this might have the most LBs drafted in top 2 rounds in as long as I can remember. I think Rodriguez is a 1st rounder. Styles is top and I'd have Reece at EDGE unless he fails. Really like Rodriguez and surprised he's only 44 on consensus. The rest I'd say all 2nd. Kyle Louis is at the bottom of those 8 for me only because he's more of a tweener that just requires a good DC. But like dudes a playmaker.... My sleeper is kaleb elarms-orr, really Like him as like the 4th round target. Super late sleeper would be Jack Kelly.
