2020 NFL Draft/Offseason thread

[MaximumSam]

To be honest, I'm a little surprised it's not more.  I'm struggling to think of the other two times.

When you have three of the four best players, at the most important position in sports, playing the entire duration of that time in the same conference, and staying mostly healthy, I think it's at least mildly expected.  How many times since 1999 has the NBA Finals not included the Lakers, Spurs or Warriors?

02 with Bucs Raiders and 12 with Ravens 49ers

[FearlessF]

On a similar line, the commercials during this 89 Draft are insulting.  Copper-fit Energy socks and a weight-gaining pill.  FFS

I don't think copper fit was invented back in 89

[Cincydawg]

Has there ever been a bad team (for years) that drafted a Number One QB and turned into a very good team year after year?

I know the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan, a pretty good QB, and had some good years (and bad).  They also got a few other pieces like Julio.

If you have a bad team, consistently, for a decade, where do you start?  Joe Burrow?  Or three linemen?

[ELA]

My mock draft (with trades)

FIRST ROUND

1	Bengals	QB Joe Burrow, LSU
2	Redskins	DE CHASE YOUNG, OHIO STATE
3	Lions	CB JEFF OKUDAH, OHIO STATE
4	Giants	T TRISTAN WIRFS, IOWA
5	Dolphins	QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
6	Chargers	OLB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
7	Panthers	DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
8	Cardinals	T Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
9	Jaguars	WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
10	Browns	T Andrew Thomas, Georgia
11	Jets	WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
12	Raiders	WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
13	49ers (SF)	DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
14	Buccaneers	T Mekhi Becton, Louisville
15	Broncos	CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
16	Falcons	OLB K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
17	Cowboys	S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
18	Dolphins (PIT)	ILB Patrick Queen, LSU
19	Chargers (LV) (CHI)	QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
20	Jaguars (LAR)	S Grant Delpit, LSU
21	Eagles	ILB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
22	Vikings (BUF)	WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
23	Patriots	QB Jordan Love, Utah State
24	Saints	CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
25	Vikings	DT Ross Blacklock, TCU
26	Dolphins (HOU)	RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia
27	Seahawks	DE YETUR GROSS-MATOS, PENN STATE
28	Ravens	OLB ZACK BAUN, WISCONSIN
29	Titans	DE A.J. EPENESA, IOWA
30	Packers	WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
31	49ers	CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
32	Chiefs	CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson

Trades:
Raiders trade #19 pick to Chargers for 2nd Round (#37), 3rd Round (#71) and 4th Round (#112) picks

[FearlessF]

depends - all pro QB or all pro linemen?

or Matt Ryan or 3 linemen that are solid starters, but nothing special

gotta have the QB if you want to get to the top

3 linemen might be the better fix to get to respectability - 8-10 wins per season and a trip to the playoffs once in a while

[ELA]

Has there ever been a bad team (for years) that drafted a Number One QB and turned into a very good team year after year?

Payton Manning

But, to your point, there aren't really examples in either direction.  When the Chiefs won last year, OT Eric Fisher (2013) became the first #1 overall pick to win the Super Bowl with the team that drafted him since Manning.

Prior to Manning, Orlando Pace (1997) did it.  Drew Bledsoe (1993) technically did it, but wasn't the starting QB anymore when he did.  Russell Maryland (1991) is the only other one in the free agency era.

Troy Aikman, Ed Jones, Terry Bradshaw, Bubba Smith and Paul Hornung in the pre-free agency era

[MaximumSam]

Has there ever been a bad team (for years) that drafted a Number One QB and turned into a very good team year after year?

I know the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan, a pretty good QB, and had some good years (and bad).  They also got a few other pieces like Julio.

If you have a bad team, consistently, for a decade, where do you start?  Joe Burrow?  Or three linemen?

It's all hit and miss. The Bengals drafted two tackles with their first two picks in 2015. Neither are currently on the team and they are drafting first overall

[Cincydawg]

If drafting strategy is hit or miss, every team should regress to a mean over time.  But we see some teams pretty consistently near the top for years, and vice versa.

[FearlessF]

this is why you trade down in the draft and take more picks

eventually a couple will pan out - 2nd and 3rd round work out about as well as the first

[Cincydawg]

That draft projection includes 6 players from LSU and 6 from Bama.  I guess they had pretty good teams last year.

I tend to think LSU will drop back to being a very good team from being elite, 10-2 ish.  Alabama will more likely reload, I suspect.

[bayareabadger]

Payton Manning

But, to your point, there aren't really examples in either direction.  When the Chiefs won last year, OT Eric Fisher (2013) became the first #1 overall pick to win the Super Bowl with the team that drafted him since Manning.

Prior to Manning, Orlando Pace (1997) did it.  Drew Bledsoe (1993) technically did it, but wasn't the starting QB anymore when he did.  Russell Maryland (1991) is the only other one in the free agency era.

Troy Aikman, Ed Jones, Terry Bradshaw, Bubba Smith and Paul Hornung in the pre-free agency era

Indy was bad for two years and then a low-end playoff team the two years before that. So technically bad "for years," but only by the barest definition of it. 

[MaximumSam]

If drafting strategy is hit or miss, every team should regress to a mean over time.  But we see some teams pretty consistently near the top for years, and vice versa.

We do, except for the ones with good quarterbacks

[Cincydawg]

Detroit and Atlanta have had apparently good QBs and rather sporadic successes.

[MaximumSam]

Atlanta was in the Super Bowl three years ago. Detroit probably has some other issues. Regression to the mean would bring them up.