This is always the big question, right? Who do you want?
Well, obviously I want Bradley Chubb to fall to 14 and I want someone to offer us a Herschel Walker trade, but if I’m forgoing that stupid nonsense, well I have to look at what I think is going to happen ahead of 14.
I think the following picks will come in (not in this order):
- 4 QBs
- Saquon Barkley
- Quenton Nelson
- Bradley Chubb
- Harold Landry
- Roquan Smith
- Tremaine Edmunds
- Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Derwin James
- Denzel Ward
Then I think of the Packers on the clock and I want to throw things. I would be happy with any of the defenders listed above at 14. Then I look at the next group and feel like it’s a big drop off. Josh Jackson? Jaire Alexander? Marcus Davenport? Vita Vae?
I feel like it’s a reach for all of them. I feel like the year we get to pick all the way up at 14 is the year where all the juniors go back to school and there are only 13 top tier players. I want to kick in my tv… but I don’t because, you know, who wants to get stuck overdrafting and then have to buy a new tv?
If this did come to fruition, I would probably want to trade down. Put a gun to my head and make me pick, I’d probably say Jackson… maybe Vea.
What I really want in Round 1 is for any one of those defensive players to fall to 14, except Derwin James. I know he’s talented, but I don’t want him. Fitzpatrick is a tweener safety-corner and I can live with that. James is a tweener safety-linebacker and I don’t want that. Not at 14.
I’m trying not to worry, though. The Raiders have been rumored to want Vea at 10, but rumors are all over the place right now and I’m not gonna listen to any of them.
Here’s what gives me hope:
There is no f#cking way I correctly predict the top 13 picks.
It can’t work out that way. I have a better chance of getting a perfect March Madness bracket. Look what happened last year: the Bears traded up to 2 to take Trubisky (which was hilarious). Who saw that coming? John Ross at 9? I can’t pick this stuff, so someone has to fall.
That’s it, that’s what I want: one guy to fall. I think Chubb is the one guarantee to not fall, so that leaves a solid list of: Landry, Smith, Edmunds, Fitzgerald, and Ward. I want one of those guys to fall. Ward is probably the one I want the most becuuae I think he would team up with King to make a great tandem, but if I’m being honest, I’ll love every one of those guys.
Guys like Vita Vea and Calvin Ridley are popping up on a lot of mocks to go top 13. Mike McGlinchey could go early because there aren’t a lot of tackles. Maybe even a Da’Ron Payne or Marcus Davenport sneak in there. Heck, maybe a 5th QB.
Something’s gotta give.
Then we get a defensive stud at 14.
Now, after 14 is where it gets interesting. I know there’s a lot of chatter about trading up in the first to get into the top 10.
I hate that idea.
Too expensive.
However, I really like the idea of trading up from the second round to get back into the bottom of the first. With a league-high 12 selections, that could be a lot of fun.
The value could be right if someone like Vita Vea or Da’Ron Payne start slipping, even Marcus Davenport. The corner class has a lot of interesting prospects like Jaire Alexander, Mike Hughes, and Josh Jackson that could be worth moving up for.
In a dream scenario, coming away with Denzel Ward and Vita Vea – or maybe Harold Landry with Josh Jackson – would be the start to what could become a dominant draft.
That’s what I want to see in round 1.
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