YoHo's Early Draft Thoughts

[lupedafiasco]

I wouldn’t mind Branch if I needed a slot CB and got him in the 2nd. Taking him top half of the first round to me is stupid.

[Yoop]

I wouldn’t mind Branch if I needed a slot CB and got him in the 2nd. Taking him top half of the first round to me is stupid.

depends on your value of the slot (star) position, myself I rank it high, in fact I rank it just as high as safety, or ILB, often there tasked with covering the best WR, RB's or TE's and they have to play stout enough to play in traffic, Branch sounds like a perfect fit for that, but as you said we already have Savage for that next year, for that reason I wouldn't use a top 20 pick on him either.

[Backthepack4ever]

100% with Lupe on this

barf barf on branch. no thanks

johnson is the stand alone best S by a mile imo. branch is a day 3 guy for me.

TE is deep. love some later guys

Rashee Rice is the best hands catcher in the draft. he wows me how he attacks the football. a good combine hes a top 40. Boutte my number 1 and it isnt really close.

[Backthepack4ever]

Top receiving TEs this year within top 50 receivers:
Kelce - 1338
Hockenson - 914
Andrews - 847
Engram - 766
Kittle - 765
Freiermuth - 732

2021:
Andrews - 1361
Kelce - 1125
Pitts - 1026
Kittle - 910
Goedert - 830
Schultz - 808
Gronkowski - 802
Gesicki - 780
Ertz - 763

In my opinion it isn't necessarily where you draft them, but how you use them. I honestly think way too many coaches in the NFL are neglecting the use of the TE.

Gesicki is a prime example. that dude is good and he was under used this year. I get the addition of Hill but he was an afterthought this year. I would take that guy in a heartbeat

[YoHoChecko]

Just heard from Ben Fenell that of all players in college football with at least 90 tackles the year, Brian Branch had the lowest missed tackle rate at 3.3%

Sooooo

Also had a higher PFF run defense grade than pass defense grade (90 to 87)

[Yoop]

Just heard from Ben Fenell that of all players in college football with at least 90 tackles the year, Brian Branch had the lowest missed tackle rate at 3.3%

Sooooo

Also had a higher PFF run defense grade than pass defense grade (90 to 87)

no way this kid is around on day 3, or likely slot 25 either, slot corner is now a starting position, even in base he probably stays on the field, and Nickel coverage gets the majority of the snaps, but again we have Savage, and his best position is the slot.

[YoHoChecko]

We’re talking about Branch at 15. Not on day 3 [mention]Yoop[/mention]

[Yoop]

We’re talking about Branch at 15. Not on day 3 @Yoop

sorry, I was referring to BTP Forevers day 3 comment

Branch is mocked at 17 to Detroit in one mock and 30 in another, course thats expected now.

3 Mocks I've seen have us taking Notre Dame TE Mayer

[Pckfn23]

Just heard from Ben Fenell that of all players in college football with at least 90 tackles the year, Brian Branch had the lowest missed tackle rate at 3.3%

Sooooo

Also had a higher PFF run defense grade than pass defense grade (90 to 87)

It's like someone posted that in this very thread

[YoHoChecko]

Another draft thought: this draft class stinks.

I'm looking at a lot of these prospects and guys slotted to go top 20 or so compare to past class' second rounders.

Keely Ringo reminds me of Kevin King--tall, fast, athletic but actually boom or bust in coverage. Darnell Washington isn't much more of a "unicorn" than Jelani Woods (better blocker right now, though). Quentin Johnson screams Day Two all day--maybe the kind that works out nicely, but still. Will Levis (thought by many to be top 10) feels a lot like Jordan Love coming out (physical tools, disappointing senior year, total project)

There are just very few prospects who combine the elite athleticism with experience/production and technique. Usually I feel like the first round is about 22-26 deep. This year, it's honestly maybe 16 deep.

[lupedafiasco]

I also think this is a bad draft class. CB is pretty stacked I think. TE is very deep. It’s a very bad WR class IMO. QB is getting a lot of love but I don’t see why. Personally I would swing for the fences and take Richardson. He’s the only one with the potential to be great. Levis possibly but I don’t like him being as old as he is already and still underdeveloped. There’s some decent edge talent.

But yes there’s really only a handful of players I have any interest in and they will likely all be gone. Sadly I think we end up with an OT the way I’ve kind of looked at it so far. The way WRs go I just can’t see Johnston or JSN being there and I have no interest in Addison. I can’t imagine going defense in the 1st again after how poorly the offense performed all season.

[YoHoChecko]

I also think this is a bad draft class. CB is pretty stacked I think. TE is very deep. It’s a very bad WR class IMO. QB is getting a lot of love but I don’t see why. Personally I would swing for the fences and take Richardson. He’s the only one with the potential to be great. Levis possibly but I don’t like him being as old as he is already and still underdeveloped. There’s some decent edge talent.

But yes there’s really only a handful of players I have any interest in and they will likely all be gone. Sadly I think we end up with an OT the way I’ve kind of looked at it so far. The way WRs go I just can’t see Johnston or JSN being there and I have no interest in Addison. I can’t imagine going defense in the 1st again after how poorly the offense performed all season.

TE and EDGE are both very deep, but also kind of weak at the top. Mayer is a poor man's Hockenson and is the consensus top guy.

I agree that the QB class is nothing special. The ones with the higher ceilings (Richardson and Levis) are such gambles that it's tough to justify early; you better trust your coaching and the plan. Stroud versus UGA is an All Pro, but it's the best he's ever looked, so also a gamble. Young is safe but I could see him being more Tua-ish, for worse and for better.


Agreed WR class stinks. JSN is the only guy I'd think of as a clear first round guy, and even he is coming off of a lost year of hamstring issues that are worrying. There are guys I like but their draft stock may get pushed above their real value due to scarcity.

I also hate the second tier safeties I've looked at thus far; maybe the third tier has some more useful guys, but I feel like of our needs, EDGE and TE will be easy to add a decent prospect. WR and S we have to find the right diamonds. OT should be fine.

[Scott4Pack]

Put it this way regarding a possible TE. If the TE in question had the foreseeable impact of a guy like Kelse, would that make it worth drafting a TE in round 1?

My first impression is that it would. That said, we can’t really foresee with perfect ability. Also,
If you also need an impact WR and one you value is available in round 1, you pick the WR.
If an impact DT/DE/Edge is available in round 1/2, you pick the DT/DE/Edge.
If an impact S who can generate turnovers and be reliable in various facets of a dynamic defense, you pick the S.

In other words, you probably only pick that TE as a luxury pick, as in if you feel strong at those other positions. That, even if you “know” he will be great. If those other guys are likely to be great as well, then that’s where you go, I think. (Unless you are a certain coach from New England.)

[NCF]

In other words, you probably only pick that TE as a luxury pick, as in if you feel strong at those other positions.

This is the general narrative, but it's wrong. Kittle and Kelce showcased it again this weekend.

[NCF]

Darnell Washington isn't much more of a "unicorn" than Jelani Woods (better blocker right now, though).

We will have to see how he runs. I like him from what I have watched so far. I like him better than Mayer.

[Yoop]

In other words, you probably only pick that TE as a luxury pick, as in if you feel strong at those other positions.

This is the general narrative, but it's wrong. Kittle and Kelce showcased it again this weekend.

Tonyan was a huge contributor 2 years ago, 52 receptions, 11 TD's, lots of 1st down completions, only about 400 yrds, but the over all yrds palled compared to moving the chains and the red zone prowess, we've surely missed Big Bob these last 2 seasons

[Scott4Pack]

In other words, you probably only pick that TE as a luxury pick, as in if you feel strong at those other positions.

This is the general narrative, but it's wrong. Kittle and Kelce showcased it again this weekend.

I’ll accept your Kittle and Kelce and raise you a RichRodge and a host of “can’t miss” TEs.
:-)

But a special TE is too tantalizing to pass up, right?

[Pckfn23]

In other words, you probably only pick that TE as a luxury pick, as in if you feel strong at those other positions.

This is the general narrative, but it's wrong. Kittle and Kelce showcased it again this weekend.

I’ll accept your Kittle and Kelce and raise you a RichRodge and a host of “can’t miss” TEs.
:-)

But a special TE is too tantalizing to pass up, right?

Richard Rodgers was labeled a can't miss TE??

[Scott4Pack]

This is the general narrative, but it's wrong. Kittle and Kelce showcased it again this weekend.

I’ll accept your Kittle and Kelce and raise you a RichRodge and a host of “can’t miss” TEs.
:-)

But a special TE is too tantalizing to pass up, right?

Richard Rodgers was labeled a can't miss TE??

No. I figured somebody might chime on that. I meant RichRodge and then the “can’t miss” TEs. Sorry I didn’t explain that better. Would’ve been better served to not mention RichRodge at all in that sentence anyhow. But I was thinking about him and so, there it is. Lol.

[APB]

No thanks on Branch. Might as well just keep a Savage. They’re the same player. Small safety that plays small. Branch is slightly more physical but he shys away from contact just as much as Savage and has to deal with it less because of the team he plays for. No thanks. You can get away with taking safeties later and them having impacts. I’m not taking a small safety that early.

I don’t see a player that plays “small” here. I also see a player vastly different than Savage. If anything, I see a guy with the same swag as Jaire.

Yeah, these are highlights but Branch clearly hits with enthusiasm and plays with aggression. Not sure where you see “soft” in his game. Now, I’m not pining for Branch but I think he’s got talent and would add to the Packer secondary.