The 2025 Draft Thread

[skinsinparadise]

Watch Peters take a linebacker or WR in Round 4 and then take a Pacheco like runner in Round 6

It could happen. The Chump Bailey bringing up Ollie Gordon brings that home for me. I like him but i like a bunch of RBs over him, yet I'd be elated to have him, regardless. If the draft keeps going like this the 6th round might not be the end of the world for a RB.

They've met with Tahj Brooks, Gordon, Croskey-Merritt who might end up in that range.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I would not be mad at someone like Brashard Smith in the 6th

Yeah, me too. So many RBs I like.

But for me there are 5 left that I love. So tempted to grab one of them if they are there in the 4th. But wouldn't shock me if they skip RB in the 4th.

 

[RWJ]

Sitting here thinking if a trade down actually takes place today. There's a shot at #128 but it restricts our chances at drafting EDGE's Swinson and Walker. I can't think of any other EDGE prospect that has decent burst after those two that fit the position. Antwaun Powell-Ryland from VT is decent and may be around in the 5th if AP trades down along with Ahmed Hassanein in the 5th or 6th.

If AP trades our 6th rounder., #205 he may be able to acquire 2 additional 7th rounders to go with our #245. I am guessing he uses the picks today and goes EDGE in the 4th, RB in the 6th and BPA in the 7th. We shall see.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I'm not a Giddens fan yet. I say yet because it feels like he might have an AHA moment eventually. He's got the most juke moves in the class but they waste so much movement and take too long to execute. In the NFL he won't have as much space and time to dodge like he did in college.

If he figures out how to sidestep tacklers like he's not going for a highlight reel every time then he'll be more productive.

His east-west lateral, stop-go moves is part of what I love about him because he can do the in between the tackle breakaway runs, too. He had the 4th most 15 or more yard runs in this class. 4.43 40 at 212 pounds.

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah, me too. So many RBs I like.

But for me there are 5 left that I love. So tempted to grab one of them if they are there in the 4th. But wouldn't shock me if they skip RB in the 4th.

To quote Keim hours before the draft on Thursday: Source close to me says I have no idea what the Commanders are going to do in the draft.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think th 4rth is RB or bust.

Giddens
Skattebo
Tuten
Martinez
Sampson

I love those 5 for very different reasons, and it depends on what flavor you like. All 5 are very different. I think they are in their own tier. And not everyone agrees with that tier. I get that, depends on what flavor you like.

But the tier below is intruging IMO

Etienne -- some put him in the above tier this one, speed-pass catching, good vision
Devin Neal -- do it all back, high character, good hands
Barshard Smith -- electric pass catcher, ok runner
T. Brooks -- might be my fav late round back, patient runner, poor man's Kaleb Johnson, great pass protector, high character
O. Gordon-- was borderline elite in 2023, can catch, power back
Jaydon Blue -- great pass catcher, skat back
J. James -- the draft media loves him, me not as much, but great singles hitter
Monangai -- fun watch, cross between Skattebo and Kalen IMO
Woody Marks -- really solid pass protector, pass catcher, better than today's version of Ekeler
J. Hunter -- power and speed, a bit too straightline, upright for me, but still think he's better than Robinson
L. Allen -- great pass protector, good pass catcher
Croskey-Merritt -- they seem to dig him, met him multiple times. A bit like Hunter but with more wiggle

 

[RWJ]

His east-west lateral, stop-go moves is part of what I love about him because he can do the in between the tackle breeakaway runs, too. He had the 4th most 15 or more yard runs in this class. 4.43 40 at 212 pounds.

He's such a smooth runner too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

To quote Keim hours before the draft on Thursday: Source close to me says I have no idea what the Commanders are going to do in the draft.

Keim isn't lol doing so bad. Only thing he's been off on is Mike Green. Otherwise, he's talked about Conerly and Amos.

Combination of what Keim is hearing and who this team has met -- one or the other seems to work.

The problem is there are too many players that fit this where its impossible to zero in on one guy. But before pick 61 I had a short list. I kept saying here either Landon Jackson or Amos or Porter as the darkhorse pick was my prediction.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Amos and Bowman in the secondary would be fire. Not saying that's who I'd take in the 4th but if he's there it wouldn't shock me. If they want to create turnovers you got to acquire players who do it.

I recall the narrative with some was Whitt was a magician in Dallas as to making players into ball hawks. And or watch what he does with Forbes. Clearly, the evidence to far indicates, nope. It was the players, not Whitt. They actually had less picks under Whitt than they had the previous year with that wretched defense under Del Rio.

 

[Hail Raiser]

This is why you go #1 or undrafted.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Part 11, S: Why Malaki Starks, 'A+ across the board,' can run your defense

This isn't our father's safety position. Gone is the tone-setter. Yet? The position remains crucial to success. Starks, "one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft," leads the class.

www.golongtd.com

4. BILLY BOWMAN, Oklahoma (5-10, 196, 4.41, 2-3): Shortest safety of the group. “Sort of a knockoff Bob Sanders,” one scout said. “He’s real super aggressive like that. No fight’s too big for him. He’ll mix it up. If you’re one of these Pete Carroll teams and you’re going to stay with your standards, the length and all that, you’re not going to take him. But if you’re going to take an exception, he’s one of those kinds of players. He’s probably going to find a way into a lineup because he’s a really good player. He’s just small with short arms (28 ½). Couldn’t prevent rebound-type plays against Tulane and Auburn. Very active sparkplug. The production speaks for itself. I mean, he’s around the ball. He’s figured it out some kind of way.” Shortest arms at the position. “That will hurt him,” a second scout said. “That (40) will move him up. Talented athlete.

He’ll probably be in the third-fourth range.” Started 41 of 47 games over four seasons, finishing with 199 tackles (10 for loss), 14 passes defensed and 16 turnover plays. Had six picks as a junior, returning them for 238 yards (39.7-yard average) and three TDs. “He was not easy (to evaluate),” a third scout said. “He plays 100 miles an hour, and that’s good and bad. He missed a good amount of tackles by being so aggressive. Plays with some swagger; fun player to watch. Is he big enough to be a full-time safety? I’m not sure. He’s got enough speed to match up but he’s not a real loose, quick-twitched athlete. Probably not as good as (Brian Branch). If your glass is half full, he’s a second-round pick. If your glass is half empty, he’s probably a third. He’ll probably go two because there will be enough people that will like him and will have a really good role for him. I think it’s going to have to be as a nickel corner.” Returned 12 kickoffs for a 15.5 average. Co-winner of the Don Key Award, the Sooners’ pre-eminent post-season honor. “He is a scrappy little shit,” a fourth scout said. “Don’t tell him he’s little. He’s not afraid to hit, quite the athlete, got some ball skills, smart.

 

[Hail Raiser]

Giddens
Skattebo
Tuten
Martinez
Sampson

I love those 5 for very different reasons, and it depends on what flavor you like. All 5 are very different. I think they are in their own tier. And not everyone agrees with that tier. I get that, depends on what flavor you like.

But the tier below is intruging IMO

Etienne -- some put him in the above tier this one, speed-pass catching, good vision
Devin Neal -- do it all back, high character, good hands
Barshard Smith -- electric pass catcher, ok runner
T. Brooks -- might be my fav late round back, patient runner, poor man's Kaleb Johnson, great pass protector, high character
O. Gordon-- was borderline elite in 2023, can catch, power back
Jaydon Blue -- great pass catcher, skat back
J. James -- the draft media loves him, me not as much, but great singles hitter
Monangai -- fun watch, cross between Skattebo and Kalen IMO
Woody Marks -- really solid pass protector, pass catcher, better than today's version of Ekeler
J. Hunter -- power and speed, a bit too straightline, upright for me, but still think he's better than Robinson
L. Allen -- great pass protector, good pass catcher
Croskey-Merritt -- they seem to dig him, met him multiple times. A bit like Hunter but with more wiggle

Forgot about my boy from Rutgers! Magee, Tuddy and Monangi

 

[Anselmheifer]

Do we have a punt returner on the roster right now?

I could so easily see the Bears taking Tuten in the 4th and I'd hate it. Loveland, Burden III and Tuten would be huge additions for a team that already solidied the offensive line and already had good weapons.

Everyone keeps talking about trading back. I wouldn't mind a move up for a guy like Tuten. If we added Conerly, Amos, and Tuten, I think thats 3 starting caliber or impact players in one draft, which would generally be considered a successful draft. I think the talent in this draft drops off after the 4th anyway. I wouldn't cry about not getting a deep roster developmental guy/special teams player in the 6th/7th. And I'd expect us to be active in UDFA again anyway.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Forgot about my boy from Rutgers! Magee, Tuddy and Monangi

He's in that same flavor of Tahj Brooks and Ollie Gordon -- and is actually IMO a tougher runner than both of them IMO. And i like all three. He and Brooks and L. Allen probably the best pass protectors in this class. Better than Henderson on that front IMO -- Henderson gets more hype for it because he's a better prospect and its fun to see him do it at his size.

But generally he has some Skattebo in him. He breaks tackles and is hard to bring down. Not fast, but looks fast enough. I've read high character, too. He'd be a nice get.

The other guy in that flavor is Rocket Sanders who i have a hard time landing on an opinion on. My initial one is he's a slightly poor man's Tahj Brooks.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Probaby going early, unless there is something we don't know.

 

[RWJ]

Ollie Gordon's PBLKing is excellent. If we could walk away today with EDGE Swinson/Walker in the 4th, RB Ollie Gordon in the 6th and S Hunter Wohler or one of the PK's Borregale or Fitzgerald in the 7th, I'd be extremely stoked!

 

[DWinzit]

He's in that same flavor of Tahj Brooks and Ollie Gordon -- and is actually IMO a tougher runner than both of them IMO. And i like all three. He and Brooks and L. Allen probably the best pass protectors in this class. Better than Henderson on that front IMO -- Henderson gets more hype for it because he's a better prospect and its fun to see him do it at his size.

But generally he has some Skattebo in him. He breaks tackles and is hard to bring down. Not fast, but looks fast enough. I've read high character, too. He'd be a nice get.

The other guy in that flavor is Rocket Sanders who i have a hard time landing on an opinion on. My initial one is he's a slightly poor man's Tahj Brooks.

I really think Tahj will be looked at as one of the draft gems.

 

[bainesdc]

Giddens
Skattebo
Tuten
Martinez
Sampson

I love those 5 for very different reasons, and it depends on what flavor you like. All 5 are very different. I think they are in their own tier. And not everyone agrees with that tier. I get that, depends on what flavor you like.

But the tier below is intruging IMO

Etienne -- some put him in the above tier this one, speed-pass catching, good vision
Devin Neal -- do it all back, high character, good hands
Barshard Smith -- electric pass catcher, ok runner
T. Brooks -- might be my fav late round back, patient runner, poor man's Kaleb Johnson, great pass protector, high character
O. Gordon-- was borderline elite in 2023, can catch, power back
Jaydon Blue -- great pass catcher, skat back
J. James -- the draft media loves him, me not as much, but great singles hitter
Monangai -- fun watch, cross between Skattebo and Kalen IMO
Woody Marks -- really solid pass protector, pass catcher, better than today's version of Ekeler
J. Hunter -- power and speed, a bit too straightline, upright for me, but still think he's better than Robinson
L. Allen -- great pass protector, good pass catcher
Croskey-Merritt -- they seem to dig him, met him multiple times. A bit like Hunter but with more wiggle

RBs in play in the 4th I expect us to be interested in based on # of draft visits:

Martinez
Skattebo
Tuten
Neal

I think you also argue Jaydon Blue in this tier as well. He's arguably the best pass catcher in the draft.

Other guys were probably looking at in the 4th:

WR- Jalen Royals
WR - Xavier Restrepo

EDGE- Kyle Kennard
EDGE - Tyler Baron
EDGE - David Walker
EDGE - Antwaun Powell-Ryland

LB - Eugene Asante

DI - Jordan Phillips

S - Billy Bowman Jr.

 

[RWJ]

Expanding on my last post, I also like Marks in the 6th round because of his burst, pass catching and ball security is huge too. He's not the pass blocker that Ollie is but he has the better pass catching hands.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Where would Billy Bowman fit in our scheme? Quan Martin replacement?