2018 NFL Draft Thread

[Mdot21]

I think the only guys who could declare that played on Michigan's entire team are RB Karran Higdon and DE Chase Winovich.

My guess is Higdon is a virtual lock to come back, don't think he's a serious NFL prospect. Just doesn't have the size.

Winovich is interesting though. I think that one is 50/50 toss up. I could see him going but I think with another year of starting and another 10-15 pounds on that frame he could catapult himself up the draft boards in the 2019 draft. Chase only been a starter for 1 year (2017) and he is a bit on the smaller side for a 4-3 DE.

I really do hope Chase returns. That defense could be filthy next year if he comes back and the young defensive linemen continue to develop. They only lose McCray and Hurst on that entire two deep.

[847badgerfan]

UW RS Junior CB Nick Nelson has also filed. He's probably as good as gone now. I wish he'd stay and work on his tackling, or even actually start trying to tackle... He's a great cover guy though.

[rolltidefan]

knowing the Browns they'll probably trade both picks back lol.
I think they need to hold firm where they are at and just take the best player available.
The Giants have the #2 pick and they are probably taking Darnold or Rosen, whichever one the Browns don't take. A QB is obviously where they are going.

Colts have the #3 pick, they could go RB and snatch Barkley up, but their biggest need on that team is by far the OL. They've never given Luck a top tier LT or offensive line and that's why he's gotten his brains beaten in every year he's been in the NFL and why he missed this entire year. If they don't take an OL or trade down and take an OL they are crazy.

49ers have the #4 pick and I could definitely see them going after Barkley to pair him up with Jimmy Garoppolo. I think that's his most likely landing spot, but Lynch is a defensive guy and they could go defense at that pick. Wouldn't be shocked at all if they went after a pass rusher and went with Arden Key of LSU or Bradley Chubb from NC State.

Broncos need a QB desperately. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Browns trade back here. Browns trade back to #5 and Broncos trade up to #1, Broncos take Rosen and Browns get another 1st round pick in the next years draft. Might be what is likely to happen, since the Browns have passed on just about every QB worth a 1st round pick the last few years.

barkley is one of my favorite cfb players right now and is top rb in draft, but i still wouldn't take a rb in the top 15, especially this year. tons of good rb's coming out.
barkley
chubb and michel
love
kerryon johnson
guice
harris and scarborrough
ron jones jr
royce freeman
weber
and more. if i'm early in draft, unless i picked it up from someone else in a trade or something, i got bigger needs than a rb. i'm hitting ol/dl which is likely where the bigger issue is.

[OrangeAfroMan]

Barkley was shut down in multiple games this year, although he has value as a pass-catcher.  Is he really that highly thought of?  

He had a bad game vs. OSU, okay, that's fine.  But IU and Rutgers?  Was he hurt?

[rolltidefan]

he's projected top 5-10 in most mock drafts and pretty much concensus #1 rb. still a long way out, though, and mock drafts are, uh, less than precise at times.

[Mdot21]

Barkley will test through the roof. He's really 5'10 and 230 pounds, and he will run very well and lift lotta reps of 225. He's a lot like Reggie Bush but not a p&@y and made of glass like Reggie Bush was. The guy will be what Reggie Bush should have been. Bush never ran with power and he didn't have that lower body build to rip through arm tackles like Barkley has. Barkley's legs, thighs, and calf muscles look like Barry Sanders or something. It's not normal.

The two best RB's on planet earth right now are Zeke Elliot and Le'Veon Bell. Watched a lot of those guys in college. And I have to say, I think Saquon Barkley is more talented, more physically gifted, more complete than both of them.

Wouldn't look too much into him "getting shut down". Penn State's OL in all honestly wasn't that great. He wasn't running behind an All-World offensive line this year. The dude is very Barry Sanders like in a way in that he does A LOT on his own.

I'll be floored if he's not a top 10 pick. Best RB prospect that I have seen in a long, long time. He can do it all. Blocking, catching, returning, runs pass routes like a receiver. He is an enormous, enormous talent.

[FearlessF]

the only reason Barkley wouldn't go in the top 10 is because the NFL just doesn't value stud RBs like they used to or should

[rolltidefan]

the only reason Barkley wouldn't go in the top 10 is because the NFL just doesn't value stud RBs like they used to or should

this draft seems to be heavy on good rb's and qb's.
20+ years ago, barkley might be #1 overall. right now, though, he's definitely #1 rb, but imo there are so many good rb's i'll take someone at a more valuable position and pick up another really good rb later down the board. jmo. bu if you've got a good oline and dline, and a starting qb and lockdown corner, yes barkley is best option.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Wonder if Purdue will continue its streak of having a player drafted. We're at 20 straight years now, which is somewhat amazing after the poor recruiting and poor on-field performance under both the Hope and Hazell squads.  

I'm thinking Ja'Whaun Bentley is our biggest opportunity to extend. 

[Mdot21]

this draft seems to be heavy on good rb's and qb's.
20+ years ago, barkley might be #1 overall. right now, though, he's definitely #1 rb, but imo there are so many good rb's i'll take someone at a more valuable position and pick up another really good rb later down the board. jmo. bu if you've got a good oline and dline, and a starting qb and lockdown corner, yes barkley is best option.

Dallas took Zeke with the 4th pick couple years ago, Jags took Fournette with the #4 pick and their QB sucks. Panthers took McCaffrey with the 8th pick. Rams took Gurley-who imo is #3 RB in football right now behind Zeke and Bell- with the 9th pick overall few years back.

I think teams will take RB's high if they deem the RB to be special enough. The days of picking a RB high just because you need one are over. But if the guy is really, really, really good they'll take him.
I'm thinking 49ers will snatch him up. Jimmy G is looking gooooood man. That team struggled to get first downs with the other QB's. Not exactly like that team has a plethora of weapons around him. Jimmy G has just been making it work. He's QB'ed them to 3 straight wins as the starter and threw for back to back 300 yard games. First time a San Fransisco 49ers QB has thrown for back to back 300 yard games since Jeff Garcia in 2001.
Barkley is just so special in the passing game, and the game has shifted so much to the pass and is geared so much toward the passing game, that a RB who can virtually be another WR like Barkley can- is worth every single penny and then some.
Give Jimmy G a weapon like Barkley, and you might really see that guy take off into the stratosphere. He seems like the first New England back-up to have it all. Hoyer had the mental side and leadership but none of the talent. Mallett had all of the talent but none of the other stuff. Garroppolo seemingly has it all. Can definitely see why New England didn't want to trade him until they were forced too.

[OrangeAfroMan]

Florida's kicker is leaving early apparently....so that's fun.

[rolltidefan]

Dallas took Zeke with the 4th pick couple years ago, Jags took Fournette with the #4 pick and their QB sucks. Panthers took McCaffrey with the 8th pick. Rams took Gurley-who imo is #3 RB in football right now behind Zeke and Bell- with the 9th pick overall few years back.

I think teams will take RB's high if they deem the RB to be special enough. The days of picking a RB high just because you need one are over. But if the guy is really, really, really good they'll take him.
I'm thinking 49ers will snatch him up. Jimmy G is looking gooooood man. That team struggled to get first downs with the other QB's. Not exactly like that team has a plethora of weapons around him. Jimmy G has just been making it work. He's QB'ed them to 3 straight wins as the starter and threw for back to back 300 yard games. First time a San Fransisco 49ers QB has thrown for back to back 300 yard games since Jeff Garcia in 2001.
Barkley is just so special in the passing game, and the game has shifted so much to the pass and is geared so much toward the passing game, that a RB who can virtually be another WR like Barkley can- is worth every single penny and then some.
Give Jimmy G a weapon like Barkley, and you might really see that guy take off into the stratosphere. He seems like the first New England back-up to have it all. Hoyer had the mental side and leadership but none of the talent. Mallett had all of the talent but none of the other stuff. Garroppolo seemingly has it all. Can definitely see why New England didn't want to trade him until they were forced too.

dallas had a great oline and good d as well, plus thought they had their qb (but ended up with their qb in the draft as well). jags also, surprisingly, had a solid oline and top 5 d before drafting fournette. and drafted their qb (not good one, imo but they liked him) a couple years earlier.
those are the exceptions to my rule. rams might fit that mold this year too, though.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Florida's kicker is leaving early apparently....so that's fun.

A kicker? Wow... There's gotta be a story there. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

Very poor, hispanic family  - it's a money thing.  He just led the NCAA in FG% and didn't miss from 50+, so it's not like he's going to improve on that.