So many draft questions, where do we start.
From a bunch of you cats
Draft winners and losers, who you got?
Gang -
We try not to grade all the picks. We understand the want for it and the reasoning behind it.
We are an instant reactionary society, and need immediate gratification. It's really the only thing that the draft is missing - a direct result in terms of winners and losers.
Let's look at three drafts I loved and three that seemed downright puzzling.
Love what Washington did. The Redskins did not panic and waited at 15 and still got the quarterback they coveted. (And the bonus points that Dwayne Haskins was ticked off that the Giants took Daniel Jones nine spots ahead of him - and Haskins will get two shots a season at Jones and the Giants - are factored in.) Add in the fact that Washington continues to piece together an all-SEC defensive front with the addition of Montez Sweat and the Redskins got better at the NFL's two most important positions.
It may be luck, but how can you not like what the Jags did. Sitting there at 7 as the Raiders passed on Josh Allen for a monster reach for Clelin Ferrell at 4, the Bucs did there thing and got the best LB in the draft at 5 and the Giants made the head-turning pick of Daniel Jones at 6, you have to believe the Jags told their representative to sprint to the podium with the name of the best pure pass-rusher in the draft.
Finally, the Jets did nothing special but sit there at 3 and get the best player in the draft. Quinnen Williams is an absolute dude.
The Giants' really confusing offseason continued with the pick of Jones at 6. (Side note: This social media reaction from Giants fans is why Twitter was invented.) https://twitter.com/RageAgainstTwit/status/1121702660925739008 Hey, if he becomes the dude, then that's fine, but what we can gauge and guesstimate is perceived value. The Giants added a defensive lineman with pick 17 - which they acquired in the lopsided deal with Cleveland for Odell Beckham Jr. - in Dexter Lawrence. But, since most folks believe that Jones was going to be there at 17, an Ed Oliver or a Josh Allen at 6 would be a much better haul. (That said, I love the Giants late move of adding DeAndre Baker by trading into the 30th pick. Dude is going to be a multi-year Pro Bowl corner.)
The Steelers continued to act like anyone but the Steelers. Let's review the offseason shall we. Messy divorces with Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell. A cap-twisting extension for a 37-year-old QB who is no longer mobile and dreadful on the road. Now, they move significant draft capital - a first and a second this year and a third next year - to move up 10 spots to get Devin Bush, the Michigan LB who very likely would have been there at 20.
Kansas City had a terrible Thursday. (Cue Chuck Barkley, "TURRRRRR-ible.") Follow along. They dealt a first-rounder for Frank Clark and gave him a monster extension. Yes, Clark, the former Seattle DE is a dude, but they could have resigned either Dee Ford or Justin Houston for less and kept the 1. That pick became Clark's replacement and much more affordable with TCU power rusher L.J. Collier. And that was nowhere close to the worst news Thursday for the Chiefs, who announced that http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26605711/hill-heard-audio-discussing-son-abuse-case receiver Tyreek Hill has been banned from the facility after an audio tape was released describing some horrifying quotes about child abuse allegations.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces that the Atlanta Falcons selected Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom during the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)From Mike P
What did you think about the Falcons pick?
Mike P -
I understand the decisions for the Falcons, who were dreadful on third-and-short and in goal-line situations last year.
According to FootballOutsiders, the Falcons running backs were stuffed - stopped at the line of scrimmage or behind the line of scrimmage - on 25.3 percent of their rushes. That number was the second-worst in the NFL.
Also, according to FootballOutsiders, the Falcons ranked 27th in the league in successful power runs, converting only 60 percent of the time on third- and fourth-downs needing 2 yards or less.
So drafting two pick-and-plug offensive linemen makes sense.
Is it sexy, well no, but if the savings helps keep Julio Jones happy, well, that's sexy.
Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was taken 19th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night in Nashville.From Robert
What are the Titans doing taking a guy who can not play this year and has domestic violence issues in his past?
Robert -
I am not as down on drafting Jeffery Simmons as some folks are.
I believe when he returns - if he comes back 100 percent healthy - Simmons is a versatile and potentially dominant defensive lineman that can be great at tackle or end. He's an absolute dude.
But I understand the frustration for a fan base that is mired on the 8-8 treadmill in a division in which everyone looks like they are improving, the Titans spent their first-rounder on someone who likely will not be on the field in 2019.
Not exactly the pick - or the look - the team was imagining, especially when the draft was in Nashville.
From several of you
Who is on the board that surprises you the most?
Gang -
This, in my mind, is a bigger story than anything this side of the Daniel Jones reaction and the Tyreek Hill nightmare.
And the phones have to be ringing like crazy right now in Arizona considering the names on the board.
The Cardinals hold the first pick tonight and considering they just added their QB of the future, they could look at a lot of needs and play this in a lot of directions.
They could deal this pick for a King's ransom to a team like Denver or Miami or another QB-hungry club that thinks Drew Luck could be the answer.
The Cardinals could address their porous offensive line with Florida Jawaan Taylor, who was projected as high as top-10 before injury concerns started circulating.
They could try to move Patrick Peterson in a monster deal and replace him with Greedy Williams.
They could draft Larry Fitzgerald's replacement with either Ole Miss initialed prospect DK Metcalf or AJ Brown. (And in no way shape or form am I questioning Bill Belichick, taking the Arizona State WR N'Keal Harry over either of the Rebels or any of THE Ohio State speedsters was a little shocking.)
As for the players still there beyond those five SEC dudes listed above, here are a few more.
Alabama tight end Irv Smith and Washington corner Byron Murphy were in a lot of first-round mocks.
And you know as well as I do, the run on running backs will happen at some point tonight, too.
And right after the Cardinals sits the Colts, who also have a slew of options with a lot of talent on the board.
I love the draft. You know this.
From Scott C
I got three in your contest. Did I win?
Scott - Sorry, no, there were a slew of people with three. There were two with four. Here are the answers to the specific questions. (And kudos to Larry L. and Todd G. for getting 9 SEC players, which stumped a lot of folks.)
And unless I missed it - and if I did, send me an email - no one got the Falcons' first pick correct.
SEC players drafted - 9
First SEC player drafted - Quinnen Williams, Alabama
Second quarterback picked - Daniel Jones, Duke
Falcons first pick - Chris Lindstorm, Boston College
Which team makes the last pick of the first round - Patriots
From Joe Don
JG
Great read! Unfortunately, I'll be missing Round 1 to hear Darryl Strawberry's testimony tonight at the annual Freedom Gala for Teen & Adult Challenge.
Best SEC QB's based on NFL career. (HEAVY emphasis on Championships, not just statistics)
Bart Starr
Peyton Manning
Eli Manning
Y.A. Tittle
Quick question # 1 how may people born after 1990 would know who he is or that he was an LSU product?
Quick question #2 what does Y.A. stand for? Yelberton Abraham Tittle, Jr. which means there was a Yelberton Abraham Tittle Sr.!
Quick question #3 who would name their child Yelberton?
Joe Don -
Great Rushmore. More on that in a moment. QQ1 - 1-in-10; QQ2 - So there were two, apparently; As for the answer to No. 3 (Who names their child Yelberton?) well that feels easy. Yelberton. It almost has a "Boy named Sue" feel.
Y.A. Sr.: Let's name the boy Yelberton.
Mrs. Tittle: But you always hated that name.
Y.A. Sr.: Yes, but it made me tough. You know any sissies named Yelberton.
Mrs.: Tittle: No. You're the only Yelberton ever.
Y.A. Sr.: Exactly.
As for this week's Rushmores, let's go here:
Rushmore of former SEC quarterbacks based on NFL performance: Manning, Tittle, Starr, Tarkenton.
Rushmore of can't miss draft picks that missed: The all-timer here for me was former Alabama linebacker Keith McCants. Wow, I thought he was going to be an absolute dude and he was picked one spot ahead of some dude named Junior Seau. Say Ow!, indeed. Manderich, Bo Jackson and Jeff George, who I thought he was.
Rushmore of best first rounds of the NFL draft: 1989, 1983, 2007 and 1996.
Rushmore of Jack Nicholson movies: Shining, Few Good Men, As Good as it Gets, The Departed.
Hate mail. by the truck load (A lot of these were on the Times Free Press Facebook feed. The couple at the bottom are from long-time less-than-friends of the show.
Here we go:
This man is a sports writer and has no business writing on this topic. This is only to bring clicks and views. Once again, the Chattanooga Times is a joke and it's so sad to see what they truly thrive on. What a joke.
I absolutely hate when people talk about children as if they are less than human. We vaccinate but that's besides the point. His wording shows me exactly what kind of person he is.
Does this idiot think that vaccination means you cannot carry germs???
The stupid is strong with this one. If the vaccines work, why would we be concerned about somebody catching something
I'm sorry, who is this clown?
Wow...the ignorance...can t believe they even published this.....what a waste of time
Name calling, bullying, where are the mature, educated news pieces?
Greeson, do you ever have a twinge of anxiety that you'll be held accountable someday for all your subservience to a fascist regime?
You lost me at "I voted for Trump and I would gladly do it again" (BLEEP)HOLE!
We're almost there....
God I hate you and everything you write say and think!!!
Have a great weekend gang.