OK so I'm doing this draft with 31 other writers where you build a franchise from scratch using the players in the league today. Two starting units........here's who's been picked and I was about to take Dez Bryant and he went one pick before. http://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2013-rsp-football-writers-project/writers-project-draft-room/ I want good receivers and tight ends, can build an OL later, press corners, fast front seven that can play 34 and 43. I'm on the clock now with Sam Bradford and Revis my first two picks. I could lock down corner with an Amukamara or Casey Hayward, take en end like Dunlap, or Witten or Hernandez and I love Hakeem Nicks and Randall Cobb and Crabtree in the slot. But would be happy later with Antonio Brown, Hartline, Mo Sanu, those types. You can see who's been taken.......I'm also strongly considering Daryl Washington as he's perfect for the defense I want to run. What'd ya think??!!
Mike Williams TB Cam Wake Dashon Gholston/Donte Whitner Aldon Smith Gronk/Hernandez JJ Watt Von Miller Marcel Dareus Brian Cushing on the cheap after injury Sean Lee see above Joe Haden Josh Gordon Ryan Kerrigan Patrick Peterson
It would help if you cut-and-pasted your big board of your ranked players remaining. I can't keep it straight in my head who is taken and who remains without spending like 30 minutes compliing lists, so if you already have one can we all work off that?
Although I don't pick again for about forty picks, I suspect Washington might still be there. Hayward not so much and neither Hernandez or Witten. Casey can play inside or outside and was according to PFF the best corner metrically in the NFL last season.
Washington gives you flexibility. I think he is a LB that play any spot. Risky to let him go in favor of a corner. What kind of corner can you get in round 4?
Probably a good one. But it's a passing league and some guy has drafted Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant in rounds one two and three!
Kyle Wilson- talented, maybe Revis being shown the door is a reflection on him Carlos Dunlap Michael Johnson Richard Sherman (sans mouth) Navorro Bowman AJ Green Julio Jones LeSean Mccoy JPP Geno Atkins Earl Thomas maybe Rashard Mendenhall on the cheap Ryan Matthews Brandon Pettigrew Kam Chancellor Reshad Jones Torrey Smith/Jimmy Smith
Older and not as good as Hayward. I'm picking between these two I think. Do I go for the ultra fast playmaker linebacker who can do it all and play any system or the stud young corner who can play press on the outside or work the slot with a real nose for the football and great ball skills opposite Darrelle Revis?
Man tough choice. If they go based off a passing league chances are corners and WR will be gobbled up. Go with Heyward but don't expect Washington to make it. Tim Jennings as a 4th round target?
Frick we need a horizontal board here so we can see who is left. You don't have a pass rusher, correct? You also don't have a WR. WRs...Michael Crabtree (25), Hakeem Nicks (25), Randall Cobb (22), Victor Cruz (26), Vincent Jackson (30), Roddy White (31) Pass Rushers...Chris Long (27), Carlos Dunlap (23), Justin Houston (22), Greg Hardy (23), Tamba Hali (29)
Tony Gonzalez, if this is a best team today sort of thing, not a best team for the future. I know you said no Oline but Jahri Evans could be good value here.
Geno Atkins Victor Cruz I know I'd look at Zach Brown, Kendall Reyes, and Fletcher Cox in a few rounds as hopeful bargains since you're looking for versatility. Barwin later on, too?
No, no descending list. Figure I can go offensive line and tailback later on. Want to get a Packers style passing offense, good slot like Cobb or Crabtree. Bradford at QB so intermediate threats like Nicks is perfect. Lockdown defensive backfield with man cover corners and very fast attacking front seven that could play 34 or 43. So Houston could do what Cam Wake did when we played 34 and Washington could play WLB in a 43 or ILB in a 34.
Chandler Jones to think about over the next few rounds, too. Bruce Irvin. Janoris Jenkins & Stephon Gilmore
I think if you're going wide receiver, my preference is probably Hakeem Nicks. I still have a soft spot for him. He's produced 3.68 yards per pass snap from the slot in his career while ALSO producing 2.04 yards per pass snap from the perimeter. That's the difference between he and Crabtree. Crabtree has the same slot number or thereabouts but only 1.30 yards per pass snap from the perimeter in 2012. Nicks is a proven touchdown-maker, too. He has that "at all costs" attitude when he gets close to the end zone...he's proven it with 31 touchdowns.
I love Nicks too, Chris. I think I can get good receivers later on. I suspect ten corners might go between me and my next pick. Washington and Houston probably will too.
If you're going to go with WR I say Hakeem Nicks. If you're going to go DE I say Greg Hardy. 1. He plays RDE and I think that's important, in terms of team building 2. He was the best performer this year, scored extremely high in both run stopping and pass rush success. We always knew Greg Hardy had incredible potential, since we started following him a year or two before he came out. We just didn't know if he was a psychopath or not. He's kept his nose clean in the NFL and at 23 years old he's already got pass rush efficiency numbers that approach the best pass rushers. Highest Pass Rush Production number from the RIGHT side in the entire NFL amongst DEs. Only Aldon Smith was better from the right side amongst 3-4 OLBs. This was the first season they had Hardy focus solely on playing Right End.
You've already got Darrelle Revis. I feel like you can get a Kareem Jackson later on and be just fine there. Hell or a Chris Harris who was a stellar performer in Denver this year. I don't think you need to plump for that second corner so soon. I'd want to start getting a keystone wide receivers or a keystone pass rusher. Hakeem Nicks and Greg Hardy are they.
CBs: Casey Heyward (as you noted), Johnathan Joseph, Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, WRs:Anquan Boldin, Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Wes Welker, Mo Sanu (as you noted), T.Y. Hilton, Justin Blackmon, Josh Gordon, DEs: Bruce Irvin, Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Quinton Coples, Chandler Jones TEs: Gonzo, Dwayne Allen, LBs: Luke Keuchly stands out as being available, as does Bobby Wagner, OTs for later: Jahri Evans, Mitchell Schwartz
I don't think you can. I think people will be onto him. This is a smart crowd that knows how to navigate PFF as well as I do.
