Dynasty DeLorean wrote: ↑Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:59 am
Two Cents wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:44 am
Jigga94 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:57 am
Huge difference between a 1st and a top 3 1st
Which brings up the discussion (maybe not here) about what exactly can a top 3 pick accomplish that Kyren hasnt or wont moving forward in the immediate future. In my opinion unless you are getting an Adrian Peterson, Bijan, or McCaffrey level RB talent in a premium situation that you think might bring a player sustained success over the first 5 years of his career - I would move 1.3 for Kyren and some change in a heartbeat. But I also see Kyren in the same way as some might see Gibbs.
I assume you're talking about non-SF. Draft picks can get real hairy real fast in that rookie draft format, so I get it. However, I think in general this is not a good way to look at it.
You'd be betting that Kyren is a 1 in 100 type of player, considering his lack of draft capital, size, and athleticism. At least players such as Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler were great athletes.
The main thing that gives me pause with conventional thinking is Sean McVay, who remains one of the best offensive minds in the league and runs wild with a scheme that doesn't seem to rely much on needing elite athletes. Of course, having Matthew Stafford helps too.
This is the Rams skill position core right now:
- Cooper Kupp - A slow, small school WR with a late breakout who became one of the best WRs of the last 5-10 years. RAS - 5
- Puka Nacua - A slow, Day 3 WR who never broke 1000 in college and has a chance to break the rookie rec. yard record. RAS - 5.17
- Kyren Williams - A slow, undersized, Day 3 RB who leads the league in rushing yards/gm. RAS - 3.45
McVay just seems to land anomaly after anomaly. I don't think any of these players would be doing what they are doing or what they've done under any other coach. It's not to say that someone like Kyren Williams will continue doing this for the rest of his career. But, when you see the difference that Williams adds to the Rams offense, it does make you wonder if he's actually better than a replacement RB in this particular scheme and that the lack of athleticism doesn't matter.
For example:
- Rams first 6 games: 30, 23, 16, 29, 14, 26. First four games are without Kupp.
- Rams in the four games Williams missed: 17, 20, 3, and 16. Kupp and Nacua played in all 4 of those games. Stafford missed 1 game.
- Williams returns, and the Rams put up: 37, 36, 31, and 28.
Especially, when he sent Cam Akers packing (RAS - 8.75), Zach Evans doesn't play (RAS - 8.79) and Royce Freeman is his backup (RAS - 8.26). That's a lot of athleticism at RB that's he's beaten out. More than likely this is Williams peak year, but there's been a lot to suggest he's better than a typical replacement RB in this particular offense.