My only disagreement is where to draft them. Only two of those list on the tweet were early first round picks. More startling is the current top 15 receiving leaders (not including RBs) by round chosen:
The theme seems to be that the 2nd or 3rd rounds are the sweet spot but nothing below the 5th. I've read that first round WRs have the worst flop rate of any position and I don't think any of the current crop are top-ten. First round WRs are likely Johnson, Njigba-Smith, Addison, and Boutte but there's not a strong high end contingent. The second and third rounds look decent. Perry, Rice, Hutchinson, and Tillman are big, athletic receivers while Downs, Flowers, Reed, and Cowing are sub-six-footers who kill with quickness. A bit of a rarity is Andrei Iosivas who is 6'3", runs in the high 4.3s, and has been productive... so what's he doing at Princeton?
By the time almost anything becomes conventional wisdom in the NFL, it’s outdated. The analytics (tm) people are making that mistake with running backs. Having a lot of arrows in the offensive quiver makes a lot of sense.
It also makes sense to regularly strengthen a strength. Teams that pour resources into a weakness seem to often fall into a hole where they never quite patch up the weak pieces, and what was a strength returns to mean or gradually declines.
I really appreciate you using your platform to promote something like Ben's fund! I'll do some budgeting and get back to you on this!
Separately, Totally agreed about WRs falling off a cliff after 30. I think that's what makes Marquise Goodwin's production so surprising! He's looked really good this year, but who knows about next year. Although I do think we need insurance in that position, I'm REALLY curious to see how No-E's play style will affect his longevity in the NFL. Maybe it'll have no effect and just the mileage of running will catch up to him, or maybe he'll play a couple more years. That's something I'll be watching the next few years.
Lockett hasn't slowed down a bit and he manages to avoid big hits. The two biggest needs are a big time DL and an interior OL. and LB and RB depth. A good 3rd receiver can be had in free agency or wait until next years draft.
Because John and Pete
should be indicted for Grand Larceny for the Wilson trade, there a fewer holes to fill than anybody anticipated and with Genos play. no need to draft a QB high. If next years draft haul resembles this one, the Hawks are set for years.
I find it really interesting to see what skill at what positions correlates to team success. I've previously bought into weak-link strong-link analysis, but you're throwing a wrench into that.
To sum up the theory, I'll put some examples here:
Pass rush is a strong link position, where it only takes one guy to get to the QB and blow up the play. Doesn't matter where in the line he plays, he changes the game.
Secondary is a weak link unit. It takes just one player blowing a coverage for the opposing unit to rack up a big play. Your secondary is only as strong as the weakest player in it.
I'm starting to question that, based on no small part to your points here. A CB1 like Ramsay can follow a WR1 like DK around, and if there's no NoE to burn the CB2 the opposing secondary remains sound. If there's no secondary pass rusher that can win his own weakened matchups, opposing O lines can double team your game wrecking pass rusher without fear.
I'm starting to believe that depth in a so-called strong link position matters a lot.
Kenneth I’m fully aligned with you here. Think one of those top 60 picks next yr need to be a WR, was a suggestion on those three very cool mock drafts you posted
That's why I'm really happy that Lockett has been smartly avoiding contact. This is buying us a couple of years more of quality play from him, even if YAC takes a huge hit.
My only disagreement is where to draft them. Only two of those list on the tweet were early first round picks. More startling is the current top 15 receiving leaders (not including RBs) by round chosen:
5th, 5th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd
The theme seems to be that the 2nd or 3rd rounds are the sweet spot but nothing below the 5th. I've read that first round WRs have the worst flop rate of any position and I don't think any of the current crop are top-ten. First round WRs are likely Johnson, Njigba-Smith, Addison, and Boutte but there's not a strong high end contingent. The second and third rounds look decent. Perry, Rice, Hutchinson, and Tillman are big, athletic receivers while Downs, Flowers, Reed, and Cowing are sub-six-footers who kill with quickness. A bit of a rarity is Andrei Iosivas who is 6'3", runs in the high 4.3s, and has been productive... so what's he doing at Princeton?
I know he is older so who knows what he has left but Goodwin has been ok?
By the time almost anything becomes conventional wisdom in the NFL, it’s outdated. The analytics (tm) people are making that mistake with running backs. Having a lot of arrows in the offensive quiver makes a lot of sense.
It also makes sense to regularly strengthen a strength. Teams that pour resources into a weakness seem to often fall into a hole where they never quite patch up the weak pieces, and what was a strength returns to mean or gradually declines.
I really appreciate you using your platform to promote something like Ben's fund! I'll do some budgeting and get back to you on this!
Separately, Totally agreed about WRs falling off a cliff after 30. I think that's what makes Marquise Goodwin's production so surprising! He's looked really good this year, but who knows about next year. Although I do think we need insurance in that position, I'm REALLY curious to see how No-E's play style will affect his longevity in the NFL. Maybe it'll have no effect and just the mileage of running will catch up to him, or maybe he'll play a couple more years. That's something I'll be watching the next few years.
Lockett hasn't slowed down a bit and he manages to avoid big hits. The two biggest needs are a big time DL and an interior OL. and LB and RB depth. A good 3rd receiver can be had in free agency or wait until next years draft.
Because John and Pete
should be indicted for Grand Larceny for the Wilson trade, there a fewer holes to fill than anybody anticipated and with Genos play. no need to draft a QB high. If next years draft haul resembles this one, the Hawks are set for years.
Great cause! But I am unable to paste the screen shot
I find it really interesting to see what skill at what positions correlates to team success. I've previously bought into weak-link strong-link analysis, but you're throwing a wrench into that.
To sum up the theory, I'll put some examples here:
Pass rush is a strong link position, where it only takes one guy to get to the QB and blow up the play. Doesn't matter where in the line he plays, he changes the game.
Secondary is a weak link unit. It takes just one player blowing a coverage for the opposing unit to rack up a big play. Your secondary is only as strong as the weakest player in it.
I'm starting to question that, based on no small part to your points here. A CB1 like Ramsay can follow a WR1 like DK around, and if there's no NoE to burn the CB2 the opposing secondary remains sound. If there's no secondary pass rusher that can win his own weakened matchups, opposing O lines can double team your game wrecking pass rusher without fear.
I'm starting to believe that depth in a so-called strong link position matters a lot.
Kenneth I’m fully aligned with you here. Think one of those top 60 picks next yr need to be a WR, was a suggestion on those three very cool mock drafts you posted
That's why I'm really happy that Lockett has been smartly avoiding contact. This is buying us a couple of years more of quality play from him, even if YAC takes a huge hit.