The 2025 Draft Thread

[bifflog]

Anybody looked at Corey Kiner? I saw this earlier...



And then remembered his name popped out to me on a graphic I saw before:

 

[skinsinparadise]

I certainly wouldn’t avoid drafting a corner, it’s easily a top 3 need for us IMO. I just don’t feel as good now about taking one that early, depending on who’s on the board of course. Admittedly, part of that also has to do with having so few picks - I’d feel better about taking on that hit rate risk if we traded back and gained a 3rd or whatever.


I’m a little surprised we don’t seem linked to any TEs that I can recall? To me, TE is a bit like corner - it’s a pretty solid looking group until our top guy (Ertz/Lattimore) goes down.

Yeah doesn't seem to be the case as for TE even though its a good draft for it. I guess not enough picks and if the idea is to win now, its not a position where you typically hit the ground running.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I am a little surprised no mentions of Giddens or Harvey in the RB mix. Who knows though, it is just a list.

It sounds like they want an OL for sure, even it means later day 3 for the pipeline. We should draft at least one every year!

Harvey maybe because of his age? the two that jump out to me that surprises me that they aren't interviewing are Giddens and Sampson.

Having said that, maybe they have and its just not been leaked yet.

 

[RWJ]

Besides the QB's, Pearce will be the most intriguing player to see when and where he goes.

The Edge class is really impressive right through the 4th round. It is good to know going in we would have options into the 3rd and beyond. I mean Que at the end of the 4th is an incredible bargain.

He's got Philly's name all over him right now at this point. Yes, we shall see.

 

[method man]

Yeah doesn't seem to be the case as for TE even though its a good draft for it. I guess not enough picks and if the idea is to win now, its not a position where you typically hit the ground running.

My final take on the TE class is it is top heavy but feels meh after the first two guys.

 

[RWJ]

I wouldn't let corner not having one of the better hit rates deter you from taking one. The Eagles took two corners early last year and basically it locked them into a SB.

I think CB and RB are the ticking time bombs on this team if not fixed. I think we can survive at edge plus there are still options in FA at that spot.

But for CB, if lets say Lattimore is who we saw last year or gets injured as he tends to do. We got no easy replacement.

And as to RB, its amazing we can control the clock with so little help from that position but we might not be that lucky next season.

SIP, I got EDGE, then CB and RB or RB and CB followed by S and then OT and WR/LB/PK most especially in a trade down in the 1st ending up with a 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th. It wouldn't surprise me to see AP trade down again.

Right now, my wishlist for players has EDGE, CB, S, RB and OL but it changes with a trade down in the 1st to EDGE, then CB and RB or RB and CB, S, OT, and then WR/LB/PK

 

[skinsinparadise]

Anybody looked at Corey Kiner? I saw this earlier...



And then remembered his name popped out to me on a graphic I saw before:

I got to watch him more. Just watched one game.

In that game, he was decent nothing spectacular. Nice spin move. Not fast but a feisty runner. He has a low center of gravity which I think helps his contact balance. Odd guy in pass protect -- he's a feisty and willing pass blocker, yet defenders just blow him up, regardless.

Hit me as cross between J. Hunter and Jordan James.

 

[bifflog]

I got to watch him more. Just watched one game.

In that game, he was decent nothing spectacular. Nice spin move. Not fast but a feisty runner. He has a low center of gravity which I think helps his contact balance. Odd guy in pass protect -- he's a feisty and willing pass blocker, yet defenders just blow him up, regardless.

Hit me as cross between J. Hunter and Jordan James.

Your take sounds awfully similar to Brugler's pros/cons on him:

Strengths​

1. High-level contact balance, because of his natural leverage and run strength
2. Not a content runner and shreds arm tackles
3. Knows how to press angles to create cutback opportunities
4. Runs with high knees to maintain momentum and step out of tackle attempts
5. Allows blocks to develop with run pacing
6. Small sample size as a receiver but caught all 16 targets in 2024
7. Became fifth player in school history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons

Weaknesses​

1. Doesn’t have ideal size for the position
2. Mediocre speed and won’t accelerate away from pursuit consistently
3. Better short-area quickness than true burst
4. Fumbled three times in 2024 — ball security must improve
5. Poor red zone production (three red zone rushing touchdowns in 2024)
6. Awareness and timing as blocker need work (see 2024 Pitt tape)
7. Doesn’t have much special teams experience

 

[skinsinparadise]

My final take on the TE class is it is top heavy but feels meh after the first two guys.

Arroyo and Taylor are interesting IMO. Taylor is high floor. He's smooth and gets open so seamlessly on quick outs and is a decent blocker. But i leave watching him wanting more because you don't have that many explosive plays and as far as YAC, he's OK but a straightline runner without much wiggle. He strikes me as a high floor B level player. And its rare for me to think of any TE has high floor.

Arroyo feels boom-bust. Some killer plays where he looks explosive and capable of making big plays. Ditto as run blocker, some killer tone setting blocks. But is not consistent and you have the injury history. lol, i think he's either a star or a bust.

Fannin might be the harder read for me among all the players I watched. It would be a toss up between him and Tre Harris. He's sort of like Taylor in that he's catching balls mostly on the first level. But he's a better YAC guy then Taylor. He somehow finds a way to get open. Yet he's a so so athlete -- though his shuttle and 3 cone is one of the best in this class and better than Taylor.

Ferguson -- I think is a high floor 2nd TE. OK player with potential to be good because of his athleticism. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Then you got like 7 or so late round TEs, similar story to the late round RBs in this draft, role players and what you like depends on what flavor you want. You got some big blockers -- Bates types. Hawes, Dippre- maybe Motavao who has the size but needs to improve. then kind of the middle of the road types: Evans, Helms, Bringingstool. Athletes like Conyers (so so 40 but really good 3 cone-shuttle), Simon. And some others, too. Nothing really sexy in the later rounds. But you can find a role player.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Your take sounds awfully similar to Brugler's pros/cons on him:

Strengths​

1. High-level contact balance, because of his natural leverage and run strength
2. Not a content runner and shreds arm tackles
3. Knows how to press angles to create cutback opportunities
4. Runs with high knees to maintain momentum and step out of tackle attempts
5. Allows blocks to develop with run pacing
6. Small sample size as a receiver but caught all 16 targets in 2024
7. Became fifth player in school history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons

Weaknesses​

1. Doesn’t have ideal size for the position
2. Mediocre speed and won’t accelerate away from pursuit consistently
3. Better short-area quickness than true burst
4. Fumbled three times in 2024 — ball security must improve
5. Poor red zone production (three red zone rushing touchdowns in 2024)
6. Awareness and timing as blocker need work (see 2024 Pitt tape)
7. Doesn’t have much special teams experience

I got to watch more than one game to get a feel. I have to do at least 3. For most of these RBs I've watched a lot. There is a one dude who has been putting up every rep of the RBs on youtube, and I've watched all of it but they haven't put up all the RBs yet. The one downside is they don't showcase the pass blocking. You have to watch the games individually to find that.

For the one game I watched of Kiner my only quibble with Brugler is i think he's awareness as a blocker is good. His issue is he simply gets steamrolled regardless. So as i said its weird to see a willing blocker who is the right place continually to get bulldozed regardless. I've seen it happen don't get me wrong at times for most of these RBs, but with this dude it happened repeatedly.

 

[skinsinparadise]

SIP, I got EDGE, then CB and RB or RB and CB followed by S and then OT and WR/LB/PK most especially in a trade down in the 1st ending up with a 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th. It wouldn't surprise me to see AP trade down again.

Right now, my wishlist for players has EDGE, CB, S, RB and OL but it changes with a trade down in the 1st to EDGE, then CB and RB or RB and CB, S, OT, and then WR/LB/PK

Yeah my point earlier wasn't how I personally would order them. It was what Keim thinks which I always assume is driven by what the team is thinking. Seems clear he thinks Edge, CB, RB, O line are top wants.

 

[burgold]

I think my order would be Edge, RB/Weapon, CB, OL (don't really care if it's a tackle or guard), and safety.

RB/Weapon. I think we need to upgrade at running back. We could use a starter upgrade, but we also need a change of pace homerun hitter. Equally important we need one more player to stress the defense in the passing game. Ideally, that would be a field stretcher that no one would dare leave one on one.

 

[DWinzit]

I think my order would be Edge, RB/Weapon, CB, OL (don't really care if it's a tackle or guard), and safety.

RB/Weapon. I think we need to upgrade at running back. We could use a starter upgrade, but we also need a change of pace homerun hitter. Equally important we need one more player to stress the defense in the passing game. Ideally, that would be a field stretcher that no one would dare leave one on one.

I am really hoping that if they accumulate more picks and bring in a solid RB and a speedy YAC slot/outside player. They have looked at a lot of players both of these positions that will go later in the draft.
They will need to spread the wealth between the D - especially Edge and DB but add a DT, LB and double dip on DBs. O - RB, OL, WR

 

[RWJ]

 

[DWinzit]

Harvey maybe because of his age? the two that jump out to me that surprises me that they aren't interviewing are Giddens and Sampson.

Having said that, maybe they have and its just not been leaked yet.

I wouldn't think his age is much of a deterrent considering what he brings to the table.

I am little surprised Etienne was on the list. It must be in case he really falls. He did have some sort of a character nick didn't he?

I must admit, I have not paid much attention to Brooks.(strange because I looked at a bunch below him in the rankings) I just took a little time looking at him. He would be a decent addition if we were in day 3 and not looked at RB yet.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I wouldn't think his age is much of a deterrent considering what he brings to the table.

I am little surprised Etienne was on the list. It must be in case he really falls. He did have some sort of a character nick didn't he?

I must admit, I have not paid much attention to Brooks.(strange because I looked at a bunch below him in the rankings) I just took a little time looking at him. He would be a decent addition if we were in day 3 and not looked at RB yet.

Etienne had a DUI but supposedly he was contrite and rebounded from that where there is nothing else to worry about. Now Keim didn't say they met with Etienne but threw him in the mix of conversation so I presume he is a person of interest.

He and J. Hunter and Croskey-Merritt, I have to sit down and just watch them for a few hours on the weekend. I can't really land on an opinion good or bad when watching them so far. Other runners right or wrong, I can explain how I see them. But those three i struggle with.

Etienne seems to be going below the radar some but I am sensing he's likely going 3rd-4th round range.

 

[skinsinparadise]

lol, let me try with Etienne, after just watching another game.

Etienne is good. Not sure he has greatness in him. But he's solid. He's fast but not per se breakaway fast. He has quick feet, cuts well, and accelerates well. He has decent physicality but nothing special. Good contact balance. Soft hands. Pass protect not bad.

He's like a high floor solid B RB. Nothing exciting. But has some potential.

He's be an improvement over what's here. But lol, I think I like about 25 or so RBs in this draft better than we got. Using a baseball analogy, he strikes me as a steady 280 hitter.

the potential is he's young and doesn't have a lot of mileage on him so he can get better.

 

[burgold]

So, he's like Earnest Byner? Good at everything, but not great at anything?

 

[DWinzit]

lol, let me try with Etienne, after just watching another game.

Etienne is good. Not sure he has greatness in him. But he's solid. He's fast but not per se breakaway fast. He has quick feet, cuts well, and accelerates well. He has decent physicality but nothing special. Good contact balance. Soft hands. Pass protect not bad.

He's like a high floor solid B RB. Nothing exciting. But has some potential.

He's be an improvement over what's here. But lol, I think I like about 25 or so RBs in this draft better than we got. Using a baseball analogy, he strikes me as a steady 280 hitter.

the potential is he's young and doesn't have a lot of mileage on him so he can get better.

I will be hoping we come away with a back a tier or two higher.

Like I've said, I am not normally big on drafting a RB early. This year everything aligns in my eyes to draft one no later than round 3. In your terms, I would be jazzed up for a 2nd rounder on Henderson, Hampton, or Kaleb.

It is actually amazing to say considering where we were a year and half ago but this offense is really just lacking a RB, WR and one OL

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I've been trying to think of a comparison to Jihaad Campbell. Maybe a bigger fast Haasan Reddick that's better in space?

That dude doesn't get past me at 29. I see him going in the teens, unless that QB big run happens like I'm predicting.

what defines a big QB run? I see 3 being taken in the first. How many would it take to be considered a run?