The 2025 Draft Thread

[MartinC]

I'm big on this. Newton seems to be their best DT now.

For what it’s worth PFF had Jon Allen as one of the highest graded on D against Atlanta and the highest grade on the D line.

I think we underrate Allen - he gets knocked because he’s not racking up eye popping sack or TFL stats.

That said when you pay 4-3 DTs as much as we are paying Allen and Payne you could make the argument you need the sack and TFL numbers from those positions - but it’s rare. Not many Alan Donald’s around.

 

[MartinC]

I didn't watch the Skatterboom game but I was reading he has a 4.62 40time and that kinda worries me. NFL players will be much faster, stronger, bigger, and tackle better. Not sure if he'll translate. He is intriguing as like a late round grab to complement someone else.

He will prepare and get into the 4.5’s - he’s not a burner but that’s not his game. And with the ball in hand he has game speed. There is plenty of tape of him running away from backers and DBs (although he seems to prefer running OVER DBs …)

He’s got hands as well. He’s a threat out of the backfield.

That said I agree he’s only someone I would be interested in for us if he was still there in say the 5th - and I think he will probably go before then.

Wherever he goes he’s a football player - and it’s hard to time or measure that sometimes.

 

[burgold]

For what it’s worth PFF had Jon Allen as one of the highest graded on D against Atlanta and the highest grade on the D line.

I think we underrate Allen - he gets knocked because he’s not racking up eye popping sack or TFL stats.

That said when you pay 4-3 DTs as much as we are paying Allen and Payne you could make the argument you need the sack and TFL numbers from those positions - but it’s rare. Not many Alan Donald’s around.

I think he also gets beat up because of the eye test. We watched Robinson go for about eight yards a pop in the first half and we think if we have great tackles that just shouldn't happen. The lanes shouldn't be that big. They shouldn't be able to run that long before contact.

Now, it's difficult for us to know in real time who or how many are the reason why our rush D is lacking, but it's also fair to see that and want better from our defensive leaders and stars.

 

[bowhunter]

I didn't watch the Skatterboom game but I was reading he has a 4.62 40time and that kinda worries me. NFL players will be much faster, stronger, bigger, and tackle better. Not sure if he'll translate. He is intriguing as like a late round grab to complement someone else.

Announcer during the game today used an Alstott reference. I could see that

 

[method man]

It’s going to be interesting to see if they upgrade Allegretti this season. If you look at his cap hits, he made backup level money this year and he is making backup level money next year. He played as a low-mid end starter this year, which is a lot better than what we had with the Trai Turners, Chris Pauls, etc.

There are a lot of guards worth looking at in the offseason - Trey Smith, Will Fries (look him up…highly underrated), Teven Jenkins, etc.

I can see a KC Chiefs strategy, especially in a division like this with all the DT talent, to build an elite interior and get by with average at the tackle positions. Where KC screwed up this year is their tackle play was horrendous

 

[@DCGoldPants]

For what it’s worth PFF had Jon Allen as one of the highest graded on D against Atlanta and the highest grade on the D line.

I think he played limited snaps. Glad he's back but not feeling his impact. I take PFF rankings with a grain of salt. It's something the Grant Paulsens of the world use too much as a crutch to determine "who is best" at something. The Champ Bailey axiom. Pick off Jake Plummer over and over. Then gives us the game losing TD in the playoffs for Denver. Well, stats put him in the HOF. But I would have put him in the Hall of Really Really Good.

 

[MartinC]

I think he played limited snaps. Glad he's back but not feeling his impact. I take PFF rankings with a grain of salt. It's something the Grant Paulsens of the world use too much as a crutch to determine "who is best" at something. The Champ Bailey axiom. Pick off Jake Plummer over and over. Then gives us the game losing TD in the playoffs for Denver. Well, stats put him in the HOF. But I would have put him in the Hall of Really Really Good.

He was in on 42% of defensive snaps. Which was not that many overall (27) given the defensive spent most of the second half on the bench! But it was almost the same number of snaps as Newton.

Payne played a high percentage and they basically rotated Allen and Newton next to him.

 

[Chris]

Payne played the majority of the 2nd half on the edge. Whitt or Quinn (?) said that was because they need a bigger body to set the edge vs the run.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

For what it’s worth PFF had Jon Allen as one of the highest graded on D against Atlanta and the highest grade on the D line.

I think we underrate Allen - he gets knocked because he’s not racking up eye popping sack or TFL stats.

That said when you pay 4-3 DTs as much as we are paying Allen and Payne you could make the argument you need the sack and TFL numbers from those positions - but it’s rare. Not many Alan Donald’s around.

I don't think Jon Allen is underrated. Not sure what to think of with regard to PFF, some of their rankings just does not pass the look test. But they do study the film much harder than we do and I have to believe they know what they are doing. If we use PFF his season grade is 56.7 and an astonishing 44.0 against the run which ranks 163rd out of 218 DTs. He is just not getting it done at any salary number.

 

[Gooseneck]

Payne played the majority of the 2nd half on the edge. Whitt or Quinn (?) said that was because they need a bigger body to set the edge vs the run.

I wonder if we are going to see more of that in the future with Allen back

 

[SkinsGuru]

I believe this will be Allen's last year in B&G.

 

[tomwvr]

I didn't watch the Skatterboom game but I was reading he has a 4.62 40time and that kinda worries me. NFL players will be much faster, stronger, bigger, and tackle better. Not sure if he'll translate. He is intriguing as like a late round grab to complement someone else.

I think he will be a round 5-7 pick and at that point I would be interested in taking him

 

[commva2]

Iowa State WR Higgins is an interesting prospect. He has size, skill, stats, and could go in the early second round.

 

[Fan Since a Fetus]

I believe this will be Allen's last year in B&G.

I could be wrong on this, but he has one year left after this year. I think his cap hit would be $6 mil. I think we keep him at least one more year.

 

[method man]

I could be wrong on this, but he has one year left after this year. I think his cap hit would be $6 mil. I think we keep him at least one more year.

I thought it was $17M cap savings if they cut him. He’s out of here

This is a great DT class. We should take someone round 2 or 3 who can be the rotational 3rd guy and can then take over for Payne in 2026 when we are in a better position to cut hin

 

[Chris]

From overthecap.com-

 

[Chris]

I wouldn’t be even a little surprised if JA knows he is a DMW in Washington and that his return from injury was expedited to have a chance to put some play on film for future prospective employers.

Either way, it’s good for everyone at this point.

 

[Anselmheifer]

I could be wrong on this, but he has one year left after this year. I think his cap hit would be $6 mil. I think we keep him at least one more year.

We can save $17 million by cutting Allen, with $6 million in dead cap. Allen does not make a 17 million dollar impact. Not nearluy. Until Newton develops, fingers crossed, we have zero impact players on the IDL. We can't defend the run, and we don't generate much interior pressure. DT is a clear need in the draft and FA. I like Jon Allen the teammate, competitor, professional. It's not personal. I'd rather spend that $15,000 on resigning Terry. Or on Higgins, Trey Smith, Charvarius Ward. It's just a better business investment.

With regards to the draft, I'm really worried that the players that would make the most impact for us, are going to be gone before 26. I think there is a scanario where the best OT's, WR's, TE's, edges, and CB's are all gone. If we had a shot to move up 10 picks for a player like Kelvin Banks, I think I would. Sign Higgins and Ward in FA, edge if the talent is there.

Our offense with a second year Coleman, Banks, Biadasz, Cosmi, McLaurin, Higgins, Terry, and depth pieces, would be hugely solidified. That is a super solid core, especially with a top 5 QB. And honestly, if our current defense had one more solid CB and a little more help spread around, we'd at least be solid, which is all our defense probably needs with Jayden and an improved roster.

I'd love to solidify OT with an impact player in the draft.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Just a friendly reminder this is a draft thread. We’ve sortof wandered into a tangent on our current DL.

I still think they should draft Skattebo just so I can hear Bram say Skattebo over and over.

As far as a fit perspective goes. I’m not sure. He wouldn’t be the game breaker you’d want from a speed perspective . But he can run and catch and even lines up as WR. He can do some of everything and will leave everything out there.

I’m not suggesting we should draft him, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t have pretty good success for somebody in the NFL.

 

[MartinC]

I could be wrong on this, but he has one year left after this year. I think his cap hit would be $6 mil. I think we keep him at least one more year.

He’s got a $23M cap number next year - no way he plays here at that number. We will either extend him or release him. I think releasing him is more likely.