MichiganCardinal

Aidan Hutchinson: A+ Can't ask for anything more. His injury possibly cost us a Super Bowl. I hope he gets the DPOY that he was on track for last season. Jameson Williams: B A lot of bark and little bite until last season when he finally showed his potential. There might still be meat on the bone too, which makes this a difficult grade. The off-field struggles and immaturity (both on and off-the-field) negatively impact this grade too. I worry about paying him the kind of salary that he will demand, and that has to impact my grade for a top-ten overall pick. Josh Paschal: C I'd like more out of where he was drafted at #46 overall. Looking at the players drafted after him, there are a handful I would prefer. Part of me still wonders if David Ojabo would have been the pick, reuniting him with Hutch, if he didn't go to Baltimore the immediately preceding pick. Health has been part of it, but I agree with the assessment of him as just a rotational player, which you hope for more in the 2nd round. At the same time, I think there is part of him that is doing what he's there to do. He first and foremost plugs the run. He does it well when he's out there. I would just still like to see more. Kerby Joseph: A+ Love myself a good bounty hunter pickup in the late 3rd. He's possibly the best safety in the league, even if his faulty reputation hurts him. James Mitchell: D I expected more out of Mitchell. His lack of contribution and exit stage left was disappointing. Malcolm Rodriguez: A You can't ask for more out of a 6th rounder. He's not a revolutionary player, but he's the kind of guy you want on your team. James Houston: B What an enigma this guy was. If you had told me in the middle of his run of sacks that he'd be the first Holmes draft pick released in the era, I'd have figured he committed an atrocious crime off the field. It's hard to grade him higher than a B when he's not on the team anymore, but he gave us some entertainment for a little while, and what more can you ask of a 6th round pick? Chase Lucas: B He's still in the league, so hard to grade harshly. Would be better if you can find someone who can contribute on your team, but you can't win them all. Overall: A- It's not 2021, which I graded an A+, but it's still a very good draft - the kind that leads to championships. They did their job in picking up a game-wrecker at #2 overall, and then effectively added to the team, in a significant way, with Jamo, Kerby, and Rodrigo, along with no true busts before the 5th round. Still, the Jamo and Paschal picks leave a little something to be desired, and I'm not sure either will be here past this year. I'm not saying I could do a better job, I couldn't. But I think an A means like damn near perfect, and I don't think it was quite that.

It's not 2021, but I think it'll be a solid class, barring injury. Williams should pan out as a quality contributor, even if not a top-ten DT in the league. His job will be to plug the middle of the defense, stuff the run, and disrupt the pocket enough in order for Hutchinson to win his DPOY award(s). I get the feeling that Williams will be the kind of guy who won't be a household name nationwide, but who will get his roses on this defense and with this fanbase. I am probably the most excited about Ratledge, who I think has the ceiling of Frank Ragnow. I'm excited to see him on this offensive line, especially if he gets to play next to Sewell. TeSlaa is likely the defining pick though. Certainly the riskiest. I think he ultimately contributes as a quality X receiver, though maybe not this year. I'm not projecting him to be Mike Evans or Puka Nacua, though I don't think it's absurd to say that could be his ceiling with his athleticism and how new he is to the position. In five years, no one will care or remember that we traded a fair number of assets to get him though. A TeSlaa jersey in blue might be my rookie pickup this year, along with a Jamo in black. Miles Frazier likely sticks around too for the entirety of his rookie deal, contributing on the offensive line. Hassanein will be a fun watch, and could easily turn into a fan favorite, though I don't expect him to compete with Paschal, Onwuzurike, or Davenport on the line as a rookie. Dan Jackson looks like a fun player too, easy to root for. Dominic Lovett I know nothing about. Both should be special teams contributors, but won't define the draft in either direction.

At 7.244, the Detroit Lions select future gold jacket recipient Dominic Lovett, WR, Georgia.

Jackson appears to be a massive culture fit and a special teams contributor. Walked on to Georgia, and was a fan favorite. Struggles in coverage, but had two blocked kicks on special teams.

7.230: Detroit Lions select future gold jacket recipient Dan Jackson, S, Georgia.

Cut him, I've seen enough.

Both starting guard positions are probably up for grabs. Rutledge might have the upper hand on one, but if they can go BPA in the draft, they can do the same on the depth chart.

Miles Frazier, OG, LSU

182 and 228 for 171. That's fine.

Detroit is on the clock! Traded up with New England.

I'm not one to critique a man's mustache, but James Gladstone looks like the one 8th grader in the middle school who is trying to show off that he can grow a mustache.

Maybe they should trade Pickett to the Steelers. 🙂

Unless the Browns plan to roster four QBs, there is a non-zero chance that Sanders will have to clear waivers to the practice squad before playing a single regular season snap. Unless they plan on releasing one of Pickett or Flacco and rostering two rookie QBs. I'm glad I'm not a Browns fan.

Going to be awkward when Sanders tries the ASB route of naming every QB taken before him and has to name his own teammate.

Mel Kiper claiming that sliders do really well while showing a graphic with Jimmy Clausen, Brady Quinn, and Chadd Pennington on it.

The Browns now have Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. lol

Shedeur Sanders to the Browns! He'll bust there, so all is well with the world.

Sam Howell to the Vikings.

Onto the 5th round. Wouldn't be surprised to see Holmes move up in the next 10-15 picks. Probably not for Mel Kiper's #5 ranked player in the draft.

Did y'all know the NFL has international fans? I would have had no idea if it wasn't for the 4th Round of the NFL Draft.

Manu is more of a tackle prospect, and the extent to which they viewed him as a guard it was always RG, next to Sewell. I think it's possible they abandon trying to make him a guard with this pick now that they will have three starting-capable guards on the roster. Of course, all three seem to have more experience at RG than LG. Mahogany played 11 games at LG and 23 games at RG at Boston College; Glasgow was not good at LG last year after he was moved over from RG; and Ratledge started 37 games at RG in college. If I had to venture a guess before day three, the starting line will be Decker/Mahogany/Ragnow/Ratledge/Sewell, with Glasgow and Awosika as the backup IOLs and Manu and Skipper as backup OTs. If there is a competition, I would guess it's on Glasgow to try and replace one of the young bucks.

Lions have five picks remaining at 6.182, 6.196, 7.228, 7.230, and 7.244. I don't see five roster holes remaining for 6th round talents. They may try to package three of those to move back into the 5th round. Bradyn Swinson, Jack Sawyer, Fadil Diggs, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins have the upside to compete with Davenport et al. for the starting edge role... I like Cam Skattebo as a potential Craig Reynolds replacement... Marcus Mbow is still there if they want to double dip on the offensive line... And I'm sure there are some guys they love who I have never heard of.

I don't think TeSlaa and Jamo will really play the same position in the offense FWIW. Jamo is the prototypical Z, ASB is the prototypical slot, and TeSlaa is now the prototypical X. Of course that doesn't mean they'll each be used that way. But I see ASB as being the jack of all trade WRs, Jamo's best weaponization as being the deep bomb, and in a perfect world, TeSlaa's best usage being as a big bodied threat in the end zone who will go up and win 50/50 battles. They're just each different receivers.

How is TeSlaa pronounced? The capitalization probably means it's not spelled like the stock that's crashing. Teh-slaw? Like coleslaw?

I'll be surprised if the Lions don't make a move to add another edge rusher. Re-signing Z'Darius probably makes the most sense, but Matt Judon, Dennis Gardeck, Emmanuel Ogbah, and even Von Miller are guys to keep an eye on.