RZBR Season 74 Draft Revisit
by adelfish | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
RZBR: Revisiting the Season 74 Draft
One of my favorite exercises is revisiting a recent draft and taking a look at how those players have impacted their respective teams. I am going to grab some of my favorite and least favorite picks from the 1st round, and a few from the later rounds.
Favorite 1st Round Picks
2nd Overall - Kaleb Kirkland (QB) - 79 OVR, Superstar
Can I love the player, hate the trade? Kirkland was a late riser on draft boards, but the Seahawks were in on him months earlier than the rest of us. David James was the consensus top quarterback in the draft, and Manny Myers was the 'safe' pick, who ended up going 3rd overall. The Seahawks made a massive trade to jump to 2nd overall to select their guy.
The trade actively made the team worse, and that has reflected in their record since (7-15). Kirkland has been as advertised, with 6000 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions in 22 games. It's a shame the cycle is ending soon, as Kirkland would be a top ten quarterback in a couple years.
7th Overall - Roy Pierson (Edge) - 81 OVR, Superstar
Pierson was the top edge rusher selected in the draft, and was the consensus best of the bunch. The run on quarterbacks helped Pierson slide down, and he immediately paid dividends for the Falcons. He accounted for 7 sacks in his rookie year, helping the Falcons win the NFC South for the first time in Coach Atom's career, and is currently sitting with 2 in his sophomore campaign. The Falcons defense ranks 5th against the pass, and 13th against the run, and Pierson is a big part of that.
9th Overall - Jason Webster (TE) - 77 OVR, Star
I mocked Jason Webster 5th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and somehow he fell to 9. It is very common knowledge that Red Zone is a tight end league, and Webster was CLEARLY the top guy in this draft, coming in with 84 speed, 90 acceleration, and 86 catching. He was a massive part of the Saints turnaround last year, finishing with 1100 yards and 12 touchdowns. He really should have received serious consideration for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Saints are thanking the Jaguars, Patriots, and Browns every day that they passed on Webster.
12th Overall - Alexander Williams (DT) - 81 OVR, X-Factor
If there is one thing I really credit the Cardinals front office with, it's not getting cute in the draft process. They have a board that they follow, and if a player slides to them, they pounce. Williams was the strongest defensive tackle of the group, and his physical traits pushed him to the top of the position class along with Mike Logan. The Cardinals added him, betting on the upside of his physicality, and were rewarded.
The Cardinals finished 1st in the NFC, and boasted one of the best defenses in Red Zone, thanks in big part to the presence of Williams.
13th Overall - Emmanuel Majette (WR) - 85 OVR, Superstar
Sometimes it's as simple as taking the best player available, and luckily for Detroit, Majette filled a massive need at wideout. He's an electric playmaker, but was limited in his rookie season due to the passing game struggles of the Lions. You can't deny his skill, with 97 speed, 95 acceleration, 95 agility and 95 change of direction, and combine that with his unbelievable catching abilities.
It's silly that Majette fell this far.
21st Overall - Luke Larson (C) - 77 OVR, Star
The Saints crushed this 1st round, and it was a huge part of their turnaround last year. Not only did they get the top tight end in the class 4 spots later than we mocked, they got the top center in the class in the 20s. Larson stabilizied their offensive line, and has been a massive part of their offensive success lately.
24th Overall - K.C. Kendricks (Safety) - 80 OVR, Star
I had Kendricks mocked at 13th overall, and thought he was easily the top safety in the class. The Patriots were patient, and he fell all the way to 24, and has been a steal for them. 6 interceptions and 1 touchdown in his rookie season played a huge part in the Patriots making it back to the postseason.
26th Overall - Jamal Walker (TE) - 80 OVR, X-Factor
Offensive Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year? You just knew that an athletic tight end like Walker heading to Green Bay was going to be a perfect fit. Yes, he was force fed the ball on a bad team, but he is a true blue-chip player that has helped transform Green Bay's offense.
Least Favorite 1st Round Picks
3rd Overall - Manny Myers (QB) - 76 OVR, Normal
I don't think the Giants were always going quarterback at 3, but when Kirkland was the pick at 2, I think they talked themselves into taking Myers. He was never going to wow you with athletic abilities, but you banked on his consistency and 'safe' perception giving him at least a shot at being above-average. Sadly, he came at Normal development, and is on one of the worst passing offenses in Red Zone.
5th Overall - Devon Weatherspoon (CB) - 82 OVR, Star
I hated this pick at the time, and I still hate it today. The Jaguars followed their best player available mantra, but upgrading offensive weapons for Trevor Lawrence was the biggest need (in my opinion) for them in this draft. The Jaguars decided to take a cornerback and a guard in the 1st round. They finished 8-9 with a bottom tier offense. They already had a great defense, what did adding another cornerback do to change the weaknesses of this team?
20th Overall - Jeremiah Smiley (OLB) - 70 OVR, Normal
I loved Smiley as a project player in this class, and actually had him going 30th overall in my mock draft, so he was definitely a reach at this point.
My problem with this pick, is the Jets need sure things. Smiley was all upside and risk, and there were so many good players on the board. Smiley now is in Denver, he was either released or a practice squad claim. What a waste.
22nd Overall - Marquis Bass (OG) - 70 OVR, Normal
I had Bass ranked as the 4th best guard in the class, and he was taken 2nd of the bunch. I thought Dexter Love was the clear second best guard (he went 30th to the Commanders), and the Eagles reached on Bass. I can't even claim upside, because Bass underwhelmed at the combine. Just a big miss for the Eagles. Fun fact, he was the only guard of the 4 who came out Normal.
Favorite Picks Outside of Round 1
37th Overall - Melvin Ellington (OT) - 76 OVR, Star
Top left tackle in the class, and he fell to pick 37. Craziness, tremendous value for the Saints. I had Ellington going 32nd to the Panthers.
44th Overall - Kyle Floyd (LB) - 74 OVR, X-Factor
Lamar Barnett was the consensus top inside linebacker in the class, and went 6th overall. I had Floyd going in the 1st round, and he fell into the middle of the second. Turns out, he was X-Factor development as well. What a steal for Chicago.
59th Overall - Kenny Reese (RB) - 81 OVR, Superstar
Rich get richer. Kenny Reese and Chris White were ranked 1A/1B on my big board, and the Commanders get Reese at 59, who ended up being the better selection (Chris White was Star). Reese is the backup in Washington, but is an electric playmaker and one of the best backups in the league.
60th Overall - Allen Beasley (DT) - 74 OVR, Normal
I know Beasley's development trait didn't turn out, but I still love the player, and I had him going 30th overall in my mock. This is great value for a defensive tackle.
67th Overall - Chris White (RB) - 85 OVR, Star
Despite the Star trait, as I mentioned above White and Reese were the top two backs, and getting White in the 3rd round is tremendous value. 96 acceleration is bonkers for a running back, and he was great for the Giants his rookie year, rushing for 1100 yards. Awesome pick.
72nd Overall - Jon Conner (DT) - 74 OVR, Superstar
The Vikings absolutely crushed this draft. I had Conner going 27th overall in my mock, and he goes in the 3rd round! I loved him as a defensive end in a 4-3, but the Vikes kicked him inside and he has been great there.
127th Overall - John Patton (LB) - 77 OVR, X-Factor
Defensive Rookie of the Year in the 4th round? Not bad Houston. Patton falling into the 4th round is nuts, I had him going in the 2nd on my big board. He had all the things you look for in a great inside linebacker, and the Texans were able to get him at the end of round 4.
156th Overall - Cole Rhinehart (QB) - 74 OVR, Superstar
If the Vikings win a RZ Bowl in Season 76 or 77, this draft is the reason why. Rhinehart is a crazy value pick in the 5th round, coming in with Superstar abilities for a 4 year contract under $1 million salary. He has now taken over for the Vikings as the starting quarterback.
157th Overall - Jalen Rhodes (Safety) - 75 OVR, Star
I had Rhodes as a Round 2-3 safety, and the Panthers get him in Round 5. Rhodes had a great rookie campaign, with 5 interceptions, despite the Panthers defense regressing. Great value here in Round 5.
Least Favorite Picks Outside of Round 1
42nd Overall - Michael Green (Edge) - 66 OVR, Normal
Falcons doubled down on edge rushers, and Green was a big miss. He was clearly an athlete playing linebacker, and it showed with his tackling and pass rush traits. He hasn't recorded any meaningful stats for the Falcons, and they passed on taking guys like Kyle Floyd and Brian Shelton.
52nd Overall - Rashuan Ginn (WR) - 70 OVR, Normal
Wide receivers outside of the top 40 picks get risky, as there are usually 3-4 consensus guys each class. This class had 2 slam dunks in Majette and Jerry Westbrook. The next best two went in Round 2, with Chance Ellis (79 OVR) and Earl Birmingham (78 OVR). After that, it was a big question mark. If you're going to take a wideout, bet on upside. Ginn had no upside, his combine was poor (89 speed). The Jets could have taken Chad Fulton (95 speed) who ended up as the 5th best wideout overall.
53rd Overall - Robert Samuels (OT) - 64 OVR, Normal
I had Samuels in the bottom 4 for my left tackles, and the Bears took a massive reach on him. Even worse? Two picks later, the Rams took right tackle Kirk Meyers (75 OVR, Star), and at Pick 61, the Giants took my second favorite left tackle in Brennan Walker (73 OVR, Star). Brutal.
66th Overall - Jalen Grimes (QB) - 68 OVR, Normal
What a waste of a 3rd rounder. I get it, the Jets liked Grimes' big arm (tied for 1st in the class with 95 THP), but the fact that they went two rounds higher than the Vikings did on their home run selection of Rhinehart? Ouch.
117th Overall - Michael Hodges (DT) - 65 OVR, Normal
If you're a defensive tackle who stunk on the bench press, you better be awesome at something else to even being considered draftable. Hodges was awful at the combine, and brought nothing that stood out in run or pass defense. This was a wasted pick all the way.
142nd Overall - David Money (Safety) - 57 OVR, Normal
Once again, late round picks need to have some form of upside. Athleticism, or elite at something. I understand later in the draft that becomes more difficult, but David Money is one of those picks where you knew he wasn't bringing anything. I didn't have him as draftable on my board.
150th Overall - James Oliver (QB) - 62 OVR, Normal
Not sure why the Raiders were drafting quarterbacks late, maybe it was cap reasons, but Oliver was graded as the second worst arm in the class (87 THP). If you're going to take a quarterback, bet on upside. There was none here.
Miscellaneous Draft Facts
Best QB - David James (Rams)
Best RB - Chris White (Giants)
Best WR - Emmanuel Majette (Lions)
Best TE - Jamal Walker (Packers)
Best OL - Cliff Palaj (Packers)
Best DL - Alexander Williams (Cardinals)
Best Edge - Roy Pierson (Falcons)
Best Inside Linebacker - John Patton (Texans)
Best Corner - Devon Witherspoon (Jaguars)
Best Safety - K.C. Kendricks (Patriots)
Best Kicker - Glenn McCann (Commanders)
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Fastest Player - Emmanuel Majette (WR) - 97 Speed (Lions)
Quickest Player - Chris White (RB) - 96 Acceleration (Giants)
Smartest Player - Tahj Dobbins (CB) - 99 Awareness (Colts)
Most Elusive - DeAndre Dennard (CB) - 96 Change of Direction (Packers)
Strongest Player - Alexander Williams (DT) - 96 Strength (Cardinals)
Semi Truck Award - Braxton Hayward (RB) - 85 Trucking (Patriots)
Y Button Award - Emmanuel Majette (WR) - 96 Spectacular Catch (Lions)