Some prospects I love, and where I love them.

[Direckshun]

Just a rundown of some players I like. I'll use the OP as a collection of the posts I've made on them. (Strikethrough means they are returning to school.)

QB:
Cameron Ward, Washington State (4th)

RB:
Bijan Robinson, Texas (1st)
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama (2nd)
Devon Achane, Texas A&M (3rd)
Tank Bigsby, Auburn (3rd)
Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (3rd)
Kenny McIntosh, Georgia (4th)
Eric Gray, Oklahoma (4th)
Sean Tucker, Syracuse (5th)
Kendre Miller, TCU (6th)
Chase Brown, Illinois (7th)
Roschon Johnson, Texas (7th)
Zach Evans, Ole Miss (UDFA)

WR:
Jordan Addison, USC (1st)
Rashee Rice, SMU (1st)
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (2nd)
Nathaniel Dell, Jr. (2nd)
Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State (2nd)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (3rd)
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma (3rd)
Kayshon Boutte, LSU (3rd)
Josh Downs, North Carolina (5th)
Cedric Tillman, Tennessee (6th)

TE:
Luke Musgrave, Oregon State (1st)
Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State (2nd)
Dalton Kincaid, Utah (2nd)
Darnell Washington, Georgia (2nd)
Arik Gilbert, Georgia (4th)
Jaheim Bell, South Carolina (6th)
Cameron Latu, Alabama (7th)
Will Mallory, Miami (7th)

OT:
Broderick Jones, Georgia (1st)
Anton Harrison, Oklahoma (1st)
Darnell Wright, Tennessee (1st)
Peter Skoronski, Northwestern (2nd)
Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland (2nd)
Blake Freeland, BYU (2nd)
Dawand Jones, Ohio State (4th)

OG:
Cody Mauch, North Dakota State (4th)
Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame (6th)
Nick Broeker, Ole Miss (6th)
Steve Avila, TCU (7th)

C:
Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia (5th)
Luke Wypler, Ohio State (6th)

DT:
Gervin Dexter, Florida (1st)
Bryan Bresee, Clemson (1st)
Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (2nd)
Siaki Ika, Baylor (2nd)
Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh (2nd)
Mazi Smith, Michigan (3rd)
Zacch Pickens, South Carolina (4th)
Byron Young, Alabama (6th)

DE:
Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (1st)
Andre Carter II, Army (1st)
Jared Verse, Florida State (1st)
Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (1st)
BJ Ojulari, LSU (1st)
Derick Hall, Auburn (1st)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (2nd)
Will McDonald IV, Iowa State (2nd)
Lukas Van Ness, Iowa (4th)
Isaiah McGuire, Missouri (4th)
Zach Harrison, Ohio State (5th)
Princely Umanmielen, Florida (7th)
Isaiah Land, Florida A&M (UDFA)

LB:
Henry To'o To'o, Alabama (3rd)
Mike Jones Jr., LSU (4th)
Ventrell Miller, Florida (6th)

CB:
Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford (3rd)
Tiawan Mullen, Indiana (7th)

S:
Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (1st)
Christopher Smith II, Georgia (2nd)
Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame (2nd)
Jordan Battle, Alabama (3rd)
J.L. Skinner, Boise State (3rd)
Sydney Brown, Illinois (4th)
Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State (6th)
Trey Dean III, Florida (6th)
Tykee Smith, Georgia (7th)
Beejay Williamson, Louisiana Tech (UDFA)

[Direckshun]

DE Jared Verse, Florida State

Maybe the biggest need on this team for the coming year is for the DE position across from the Karlaftis/Danna DE position, which is more rigid, brute force passrushers with high effort. We are in need of bendy talents that can burst off the edge, threaten the tackle's outside shoulder, and then counter them into oblivion. Verse seems like exactly the guy that fits the bill.

His big problem is that he needs truckloads of coaching. He isn't very good at reading his keys, he gets confused discerning passes and runs, just a lot of mental acuity training. All the physicals are there: he is bendy, speedy, very athletic, plays with great motor. I really enjoy his tape. But his rush defense is sloppy and he's going to need a truckload of coaching -- I think this guy is a 10-sack guy by season 2 or 3. He needs it simplified, and fortunately we have an outstanding coach in Joe Cullen who could groom this guy.

We need a lot more talent on the edge, and as raw as he may be, I think he's a great fit at the bottom of the 1st round, or even worth trading a few spots up for.

[Direckshun]

OT Blake Freeland, BYU

Man this guy would be a great fit for this team in every conceivable way. First, he's probably Mormon, so Andy Reid is all the way in. Second of all, he's a very long, power tackle with great arms who looks like a prototypical right tackle, which is one of the biggest holes on this team. He's a plug-and-play right tackle who still boasts some upside, somewhat higher than even rookie Lucas Niang did at one point.

He's not a guy that's going to be Mitch Schwartz, I don't think; he lacks the athleticism and super athletic DEs may give him problems in the early going. I trust Mahomes to navigate that in Year 1 and for Freeland, Andy Reid, and Andy Heck to properly coach that up by Year 2.

Perfect fit for the 2nd round.

[Direckshun]

RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M

I think Achane is an absurdly exciting player to watch, an absolutely electric undersized RB who can hit a crease and go the distance. I think he's sleeping on some draft charts, because as soon as the Combine comes and goes, he's going to be a Day 2 selection.

He is currently on the Texas A&M track team, running the 200m and 100m, and he's great at both. That means he has (a.) elite acceleration, and (b.) elite top-end speed.

He's not a guy you want to give a heavy workload, but this offense, with its three tight ends, it's RBs with mediocre top end speed, and the impending departure of Mecole Hardman, needs more speed. Andy Reid eats and sleeps with these guys. Put him on the roster.

I'd take him in the 3rd round.

[O.city]

I'd take Achane in round 2 and not blink

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'd take Achane in round 2 and not blink

My only hesitation there is usage.

I don't like him touching the ball more than, say, 12 times a game, maybe 15 times at his absolute peak. He's on the small side.

Do you want a limited usage guy in the 2nd? This year, Veach took Moore and Cook, players who have every-down upside. The year before, Humphries and Bolton.

I think Veach likes every-down usage for a player that early in the draft.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

My only hesitation there is usage.

I don't like him touching the ball more than, say, 12 times a game, maybe 15 times at his absolute peak. He's on the small side.

Do you want a limited usage guy in the 2nd? This year, Veach took Moore and Cook, players who have every-down upside. The year before, Humphries and Bolton.

I think Veach likes every-down usage for a player that early in the draft.

Hardman and Thornhill were 2nd rounders too. Thornhill is obviously a full-time starter and I would say based on snap counts, Hardman is more than just a part-timer too.

I agree with you.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'd take Achane in round 2 and not blink

It's hilarious that somebody that is SO opposed to taking a RB in the 1st, even at pick 32, would say something like this.

[staylor26]

If CEH is a lesson learned in taking a RB in the 1st, what about Swift, Dobbins, and Akers?

Hell, even the Colts look like they might get 2 great years out of JT if they're lucky.

His rookie season and year 3 aren't exactly a justification for taking a RB high in the 2nd either.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by staylor26

It's hilarious that somebody that is SO opposed to taking a RB in the 1st, even at pick 32, would say something like this.

Originally Posted by staylor26

If CEH is a lesson learned in taking a RB in the 1st, what about Swift, Dobbins, and Akers?

Hell, even the Colts look like they might get 2 great years out of JT if they're lucky.

His rookie season and year 3 aren't exactly a justification for taking a RB high in the 2nd either.

End of the 2nd is fine guess.

[CatfishBob2]

5'9 185 in the 2nd round? No thanks, idc how fast he is.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

OT Blake Freeland, BYU

Man this guy would be a great fit for this team in every conceivable way. First, he's probably Mormon, so Andy Reid is all the way in. Second of all, he's a very long, power tackle with great arms who looks like a prototypical right tackle, which is one of the biggest holes on this team. He's a plug-and-play right tackle who still boasts some right tackle, somewhat higher than even rookie Lucas Niang did at one point.

He's not a guy that's going to be Mitch Schwartz, I don't think; he lacks the athleticism and super athletic DEs may give him problems in the early going. I trust Mahomes to navigate that in Year 1 and for Freeland, Andy Reid, and Andy Heck to properly coach that up by Year 2.

Perfect fit for the 2nd round.

A plug and play right tackle who boasts some right tackle? Shit, man, sign me up for a bunch of right tackle!

[duncan_idaho]

I like Freeland, especially if they commit to Orlando Brown.

If they DON'T commit to Orlando Brown, I think the Chiefs try for Jack Conklin or Elgton Jenkins with the idea of them being the RT for the next 3-4 years, to add stability and veteran performance at one tackle while they groom the young guy at LT.

Jenkins would be the ideal sign, as someone who has played LT and performed well in the past.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

OT Blake Freeland, BYU

Man this guy would be a great fit for this team in every conceivable way. First, he's probably Mormon, so Andy Reid is all the way in. Second of all, he's a very long, power tackle with great arms who looks like a prototypical right tackle, which is one of the biggest holes on this team. He's a plug-and-play right tackle who still boasts some right tackle, somewhat higher than even rookie Lucas Niang did at one point.

He's not a guy that's going to be Mitch Schwartz, I don't think; he lacks the athleticism and super athletic DEs may give him problems in the early going. I trust Mahomes to navigate that in Year 1 and for Freeland, Andy Reid, and Andy Heck to properly coach that up by Year 2.

Perfect fit for the 2nd round.

Any time you have to write this about a tackle prospect, consider me out.

[Stro39]

What do we all think of this draft overall? I honestly don't think its as strong as last seasons, though the 2022 draft did have extra depth because of the pandemic.

I think there will be a ton of trading in the first round in this one though due to the QBs, which are obviously a much stronger group than last seasons draft. Having said that I think the 2024 QB crop looks stronger again; there are some holes in the games of the top QBs for 2023.