Fun little draft nugget (Ashton Gillotte)

[staylor26]

It's here.

And it's instant cinema.@MikeSilver's behind-the-scenes from #Jaguars War Room is a must-read for all in #DUUUVAL and beyond... and confirms A LOT about how Day 2 played out especially https://t.co/0s2KBjegqd

— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) April 29, 2025

Mike Silver was in the Jags war room and revealed that they were going to take Gillotte at 70. When the Chiefs took him, they traded back.

Before they traded back, the Rams called and made an offer, but they also changed their mind when Gillotte came off the board.

Sounds like both the Jags and Rams really wanted this dude.

[duncan_idaho]

Yeah, that is interesting.

He fits the same type of play style as Verse (powerful, compact end with some speed), so not surprised the Rams were interested.

[Sofa King]

Am I missing that in the article? I don't see anything in there about this

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by Sofa King

Am I missing that in the article? I don't see anything in there about this

Really? I didn't even get the chance to read it. My friend who's a Jags fan is the one that told me and I assumed this was the article he was talking about. I'll get the correct link from him.

Edit: should be the right one now

[TLO]

U

[RunKC]

Shortly after the third round began, another potential option surfaced: The Detroit Lions called, floating a possible trade that would send their third-round pick (No. 102) and a pair of 2026 third-rounders to the Jags for the 70th selection, a fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The Lions still weren’t sure they wanted to do the deal, but they were laying groundwork. Gladstone, as he did frequently throughout the three days, consulted via speakerphone with one of his most trusted lieutenants, senior vice president of football analytics Jake Temme. Hired away from the Rams after Gladstone got the job, Temme was back in Southern California, where his wife had just given birth to the couple’s first child.

“Two extra threes are pretty tempting,” Temme said.

A few seconds later, Gladstone got an offer from the Rams: their second-round pick next year for the 70th selection.

Now there were three scenarios: Try to close the trade with the Lions; accept the trade with the Rams; or stand pat and take the player they wanted. Before the discussion could begin in earnest, a collective groan filled the room: The Kansas City Chiefs, with a pick acquired from the Titans in last year’s trade for cornerback L’Jarius Snead, snagged Gillotte with the second pick of the round.With the Jags’ selection just four picks away, quick decisions had to be made.

“Well, now the (Detroit) trade sounds good,” Tony Khan said.

Added Temme: “I’d agree to that trade right now.”

“I love it,” Gladstone said. Then, gesturing to director of player finance Trip MacCracken, who was communicating with Mike Disner, the Lions’ chief operating officer, the GM exclaimed, “Let it rip, baby!”

Yet Detroit wasn’t ready to make the deal. The suspicion in the Jags’ draft room was that the Lions had been targeting Gillotte. Also, minutes earlier, Gladstone had instructed MacCracken to ask for a sweetener: Instead of including their fifth-round selection in 2025, the Jags proposed trading their sixth-round pick.

A few minutes later, McCracken called back for a status check. “They’re considering it,” MacCracken told Gladstone.

The Patriots took Washington State receiver Kyle Williams with the 69th pick, putting the Jags on the clock. Gladstone brought up the Rams’ trade proposal: “That future second will likely be late, but a second is still a second.”

Finally, MacCracken got clarity from Disner: The trade terms were a go. “Detroit’s in if you want it,” he announced. Seconds later, Gladstone fielded a phone call and grimaced. “The Rams are out,” he said. “Guess who they wanted? Gillotte.”

Mentioned this before. This kid was a first rd pick a year ago. He’s going be really good and good franchises know it.

https://www.si.com/college/louisvill...irst-round-buz

[staylor26]

The Rams have done a damn good job of drafting edges the last couple of years also. Not just Verse, Byron Young was a great pick too.

[LagunaSWana]

You could hear the excitement in Ryne Nutt's voice when he talked about Gillotte yesterday.

[DJ's left nut]

I said it in the Bassa thread (and I think the draft thread) and this really further cements it.

More than any other Veach draft I can recall, this one really seemed to show (even without us having this kind of behind the scenes knowledge) that Veach NAILED the overall trends of this draft.

He just kept doing this. He kept grabbing a guy right before a run. And then waiting until after a run confident that someone else he really liked would slide.

He 'gamed' this draft beautifully. The only pick I can think of where he may not have really been directly trying to triage the board a bit was the ONL pick and even with that one, I think he saw has fast the board dropped off for interior pass rushers after ONL and grabbed the last one available that I thought was a real stand-out in that area.

Maybe the players don't pan out -- it happens. But in terms of how the draft was run, you really couldn't have asked for more. I get the feeling he got damn near every guy he wanted and right where he wanted them -- and most critically, where he HAD to take them.

Strictly from an operations perspective, it was phenomenally well done...

To use an F1 analogy -- he got the pit strategy right. And the crew nailed their marks on every stop. The only question is if they actually built a fast car. The operations was perfect -- we'll see how the engineering goes as the race progresses.

He nailed operations -- time will tell how scouting went.

[Garcia Bronco]

They were going to supposedly take Harvey at 70 before he went of the board as well.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I said it in the Bassa thread (and I think the draft thread) and this really further cements it.

More than any other Veach draft I can recall, this one really seemed to show (even without us having this kind of behind the scenes knowledge) that Veach NAILED the overall trends of this draft.

Even if Simmons busts completely out this will end up Veach's 2nd best draft.

[redfan]

Ah yes. Trip MacCracken, brother of Phil.

[JPH83]

That really is an interesting nugget, thanks staylor.

Have to say that I'm more confident about Gillotte than I probably am any other pick. I didn't get why draft boards had him lower, and I'm not surprised the NFL liked him more. I definitely preferred him to a number of guys touted as better, like Landon Jackson, Scourton, Kennard etc.

[Kiimo]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Even if Simmons busts completely out this will end up Veach's 2nd best draft.

Pretty bold prediction not sure I agree though.


This draft is great but it's A+ vs C+ depending on Simmons imo

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Kiimo

Pretty bold prediction not sure I agree though.


This draft is great but it's A+ vs C+ depending on Simmons imo

If you end up with 5 starters/contributors that's an extraordinary draft. Each one of these guys should contribute year 1. Positions like DE/DT often take a little longer to season and come along and our new coverage LB isn't exactly bumping Bolton or Tranquil for snaps in year one. That said our WR and HB should have a role immediately and see that role grow as quickly as they pick it up and produce.

We've needed a coverage guy at LB for years. We've needed big play ability at HB for about 2 years. We've needed pass rush help at DT for years. We've needed a ball hawk/playmaker who can create turnovers in the secondary for years. Nearly all these guys were taken in their projected range or much much lower than where they were projected. When you can address needs while getting great value at the individual picks I'd argue you've nailed the process.