Exhibit A: The consensus All-American team and their draft position:
QB - 1
RB - n/a - underclassman
RB - 3
WR - 125
WR - 20
WR - n/a
TE - 54
OL - 9
OL - 10
OL - 12
OL - n/a
K - UDFA
AP - 24
AP - 121
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DL - 2
DL - 15
DL - 41
DL - 36
LB - 53
LB - 5
LB - 46
DB - 6
DB - 11
DB - UDFA
DB - n/a
P - UDFA
I threw out the kicker/punter. Avg draft position is 42.6. There's 20 counted positions here, so if they were the first 20 picks, they'd average out to be 10th.
The average All-American this year was a mid-2nd round pick. There are plenty of high picks in there, certainly, but a few late picks and a lot of 2-3rd rounders.
Iowa return man Kayden Wetjet Swiffer Sweeper was a legendary punt returner, but he's pick 121. Some slow UConn WR is an AA, but goes 125.
The college game and the NFL game are different. So separating them in one's mind shouldn't be that difficult. For every Mendoza or Love, there is a Stowers or Rodriguez. You can have a weak arm and win a Heisman. You can be slow and win a Butkus. There are no weak arms or slow LBs in the NFL. It's different. Better or worse, I don't give a damn. It's different.
