Way too Early 2021 Draft Thread

[FantasyFreak]

Cool breakdown on Lawrence, acknowledging his talents, but getting into some of the things he needs to improve one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT9Bxy-uDJ0

[Cameron Giles]

Really hope Jacksonville doesn't waste Lawrence.

[bjd5211]

I don't see the Jags as the shoe-in or even favorite to finish with the number one pick everyone else seems to see. They have a good amount of talent on that roster and I think Minshew will have a solid year. Not saying they are going to the SB or even making the playoffs, but I don't see them as being significantly worse than teams like Washington, NYJ, NYG, Detroit, Cincy, Miami or Carolina. There are always teams that finish higher or lower than expected anyway and there are a number of other teams that could bottom out and end up picking high. If I had to put money on a team to finish with the number one pick today, I would probably take Carolina personally.

[StripesOfKC]

I don't see the Jags as the shoe-in or even favorite to finish with the number one pick everyone else seems to see. They have a good amount of talent on that roster and I think Minshew will have a solid year. Not saying they are going to the SB or even making the playoffs, but I don't see them as being significantly worse than teams like Washington, NYJ, NYG, Detroit, Cincy, Miami or Carolina. There are always teams that finish higher or lower than expected anyway and there are a number of other teams that could bottom out and end up picking high. If I had to put money on a team to finish with the number one pick today, I would probably take Carolina personally.

Ummm

[StripesOfKC]

I don't see the Jags as the shoe-in or even favorite to finish with the number one pick everyone else seems to see. They have a good amount of talent on that roster and I think Minshew will have a solid year. Not saying they are going to the SB or even making the playoffs, but I don't see them as being significantly worse than teams like Washington, NYJ, NYG, Detroit, Cincy, Miami or Carolina. There are always teams that finish higher or lower than expected anyway and there are a number of other teams that could bottom out and end up picking high. If I had to put money on a team to finish with the number one pick today, I would probably take Carolina personally.

I can promise you Detroit with a healthy Stafford would stop the living bleep out of the Jags

Giants and Jets too

Only one of those teams close to JAX is Carolina and maybe Cincy if Burrow flops as a rookie (which I don't think he will)

Jags D is atrocious and poorly coached

[bjd5211]

I can promise you Detroit with a healthy Stafford would stop the living bleep out of the Jags

Giants and Jets too

Only one of those teams close to JAX is Carolina and maybe Cincy if Burrow flops as a rookie (which I don't think he will)

Jags D is atrocious and poorly coached

Well they play week 6, so we shall see.

The Jets are an absolute mess, and their one good player wants out. The Giants have no Defense and their #1 CB is probably going to jail.

[StripesOfKC]

I can promise you Detroit with a healthy Stafford would stop the living bleep out of the Jags

Giants and Jets too

Only one of those teams close to JAX is Carolina and maybe Cincy if Burrow flops as a rookie (which I don't think he will)

Jags D is atrocious and poorly coached

Well they play week 6, so we shall see.

The Jets are an absolute mess, and their one good player wants out. The Giants have no Defense and their #1 CB is probably going to jail.

Detroit with healthy Stafford was one point worse than Green Bay+Lambeau refs

Them being worse than the Jags would mean Stafford got hurt--no other scenario possible. Lions with Stafford healthy have not gone worse than 6-10 in 8 years

Jags also have no defense in case you just woke up from 2017

Fact is for all the shi*talking about the Jets they went 7-9 last season with Luke Falk starting 3 games and were a 1 point loss against Buffalo and an egg against Cincy from making the playoffs somehow

[StripesOfKC]

Getting my flag out and ready (not planting yet though) for Chris Olave in 2021

Not the flashiest player but nice burst, easy separation, good instincts in finding soft spots within zones, reliable hands, contested catches, likely (though not confirmed yet) solid athletic testing and just plays very fluidly--making everything he does at the catch point and after the catch look easy

19 year old breakout (last year) but volume stats are not gaudy (though has a 17.4 YPR) largely because of how much Ohio State runs. Wish we can see him in a pass heavier scheme this year with a more developed Fields and no Dobbins (though I'm sure Ohio State has a replacement in the wings)

Only hiccup is that his YAC skills leave you wanting more--part of this is that many of his routes were comebacks near the sideline but still something to consider

Removing that he reminds me a bit of Stefon Diggs
Maybe Robert Woods is a better comparison

Probably a chance that he doesn't declare next year though as a less established/proven/hyped WR in a strong class

[Cameron Giles]

Rashad Bateman opted out of the upcoming season. First notable skill position player to do so

[nathanq42]

Rashad Bateman opted out of the upcoming season. First notable skill position player to do so

Just have to confirm at the combine that he has the will to work on himself and hasnt let it all go when he isnt actually in the football grind and it'll be one of the smartest moves he has ever made IMO

[honcho55]

Rashad Bateman opted out of the upcoming season. First notable skill position player to do so

Just have to confirm at the combine that he has the will to work on himself and hasnt let it all go when he isnt actually in the football grind and it'll be one of the smartest moves he has ever made IMO

Agree. If I was highly rated and getting even a day two draft grade I’d sit out this year. Just plain not enough incentive to play, vs the risks that are already there (underperforming final year, injury, other players surpassing you anyway). Add in covid and this is the right call

[nathanq42]

Rashad Bateman opted out of the upcoming season. First notable skill position player to do so

Just have to confirm at the combine that he has the will to work on himself and hasnt let it all go when he isnt actually in the football grind and it'll be one of the smartest moves he has ever made IMO

Agree. If I was highly rated and getting even a day two draft grade I’d sit out this year. Just plain not enough incentive to play, vs the risks that are already there (underperforming final year, injury, other players surpassing you anyway). Add in covid and this is the right call

Hopefully this starts a trend of high level prospects sitting out year 3 and just going to a private practice program to put in the work without having dudes trying to take your head off

[FantasyFreak]

Just have to confirm at the combine that he has the will to work on himself and hasnt let it all go when he isnt actually in the football grind and it'll be one of the smartest moves he has ever made IMO

Agree. If I was highly rated and getting even a day two draft grade I’d sit out this year. Just plain not enough incentive to play, vs the risks that are already there (underperforming final year, injury, other players surpassing you anyway). Add in covid and this is the right call

Hopefully this starts a trend of high level prospects sitting out year 3 and just going to a private practice program to put in the work without having dudes trying to take your head off

I don't agree. Playing the game is important, especially at the WR position. I don't think a year off is helpful, however in the context of this year, I don't blame him. Players will stop getting scholarships if you think this should be the new norm, or will have to agree to playing 3 years. Universities aren't going to shell out tons of money for players to opt out before they hit their junior years, in most cases.

[nathanq42]

Agree. If I was highly rated and getting even a day two draft grade I’d sit out this year. Just plain not enough incentive to play, vs the risks that are already there (underperforming final year, injury, other players surpassing you anyway). Add in covid and this is the right call

Hopefully this starts a trend of high level prospects sitting out year 3 and just going to a private practice program to put in the work without having dudes trying to take your head off

I don't agree. Playing the game is important, especially at the WR position. I don't think a year off is helpful, however in the context of this year, I don't blame him. Players will stop getting scholarships if you think this should be the new norm, or will have to agree to playing 3 years. Universities aren't going to shell out tons of money for players to opt out before they hit their junior years, in most cases.

Fair point, I guess I just really hate the NCAA, and with the pandemic acting as a catalyst for the possibility of a dedicated minor league for the NFL I am all on board for getting these young guys off of college rosters and stop sacrificing their future quality of life to some college program for free, if they are putting their health and careers on the line every play they should be getting paid for it IMO. Currently the players and colleges need each other, if this year makes that relationship no longer symbiotic but rather parasitic (colleges being the parasites) I dont think they could afford to drive players away by putting so many restrictions and limits to their scholarships. These kids bring in so much money for their respective colleges, and dont get a penny from the college, best they get is "a platform to audition for the NFL", a solid alumni network, and an education they likely wont be able to leverage because of the brain trauma & they are spread so incredibly thin during college they likely wont be able to retain the vast majority of their education anyways.

TLRD; NCAA is scamming players and there is a real possibility of the NCAA needing the players a lot more than the players needing the NCAA in the near future.

[FantasyFreak]

Hopefully this starts a trend of high level prospects sitting out year 3 and just going to a private practice program to put in the work without having dudes trying to take your head off

I don't agree. Playing the game is important, especially at the WR position. I don't think a year off is helpful, however in the context of this year, I don't blame him. Players will stop getting scholarships if you think this should be the new norm, or will have to agree to playing 3 years. Universities aren't going to shell out tons of money for players to opt out before they hit their junior years, in most cases.

Fair point, I guess I just really hate the NCAA, and with the pandemic acting as a catalyst for the possibility of a dedicated minor league for the NFL I am all on board for getting these young guys off of college rosters and stop sacrificing their future quality of life to some college program for free, if they are putting their health and careers on the line every play they should be getting paid for it IMO. Currently the players and colleges need each other, if this year makes that relationship no longer symbiotic but rather parasitic (colleges being the parasites) I dont think they could afford to drive players away by putting so many restrictions and limits to their scholarships. These kids bring in so much money for their respective colleges, and dont get a penny from the college, best they get is "a platform to audition for the NFL", a solid alumni network, and an education they likely wont be able to leverage because of the brain trauma & they are spread so incredibly thin during college they likely wont be able to retain the vast majority of their education anyways.

TLRD; NCAA is scamming players and there is a real possibility of the NCAA needing the players a lot more than the players needing the NCAA in the near future.

I think top end prospects are needed by the NCAA for sure, to get the numbers they do, but many of these players won't play in the NFL, and if they can get a scholarship towards an education that sets them up for their careers, I see it as a fair trade off in that sense. The problem is, who and how do you decide how players should get compensated, and to what degree? It's a complex issue, and I agree the players create a massive profit for the NCAA, but these schools do also provide scholarships to players who will not be playing in football beyond University, so those players are not only not being held back, they are benefiting from it.