The Open For Business Draft Thread 2025 Edition

[HavePityPlease]

3 minutes ago, texbengal said:

Michigan has 2 DTs - Manson Graham and Kenneth Grant. Currently Graham is the better player, IMO Grant may have a higher ceiling, he’s a heckuva athlete for a 330 pound guy. Issue for me is, Bengals already swing for guys like CTB and Murphy as “traits” guys but I want guys with a history of productivity, so for me, that’s Graham. Another intriguing inside guy is at Texas - Vernon Broughton. Impressive get-off and he can collapse the pocket. 
 

They just need guys who can play. They don’t have nearly enough of those. 

 

Agreed.  I've been saying it for years, but this team needs to stop going for "talent who fell in the draft" and leave the "numbers" picks for the high first round.  Go get lunch pail, loves football, produces despite some athletic and workout limitations - just give yourself a chance to have a unit and stop relying on superstars to bail you out, especially on defense.

[Le Tigre]

3 minutes ago, texbengal said:

Michigan has 2 DTs - Manson Graham and Kenneth Grant.

Yesterday…their entire defense shackled THE all day long. Graham had 5 tkls and 2 assists. 

[KA14_HOF]

1 hour ago, Jamie_B said:

Do we end up with a top 10 pick?

 

At this point, we'd better.

 

We're now in competition with 17 other teams for draft position. Something tells me we will find a way screw even this up by winning our next 4 games.

[Jamie_B]

3 minutes ago, KA14_HOF said:

 

At this point, we'd better.

 

We're now in competition with 17 other teams for draft position. Something tells me we will find a way screw even this up by winning our next 4 games.

 

 I think there are two winnnable games in the next two weeks, I don't think we win in Pitt, or Denver, and maybe not against Cleveland. If I had to guess right now I would guess we end up drafting number 12

[|BlackJesus|]

Sadly, the team might win the next 3 and ruin our draft pick for no reason ...

 

[claptonrocks]

17 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

Sadly, the team might win the next 3 and ruin our draft pick for no reason ...

 

I see a possible Cowboy and Titans wins but 

Cooper Rush has beaten us before .

 

Browns is 50-50 but with Winston's emergence id go Browns even at home since we suck there 

 

Broncos and Inbreds too much for us.

The only game I think we definitely win is Titans .

 

I'll take a 5-11 record for Top draft picks.

 

Id rather lose them all to build a defense.

[texbengal]

57 minutes ago, HavePityPlease said:

 

Agreed.  I've been saying it for years, but this team needs to stop going for "talent who fell in the draft" and leave the "numbers" picks for the high first round.  Go get lunch pail, loves football, produces despite some athletic and workout limitations - just give yourself a chance to have a unit and stop relying on superstars to bail you out, especially on defense.

The thing is, you CAN find both… guys who are great athletes who also are productive. They have some.
 

Just not sure why they get enamored with guys like Jefferson (Texas)… even CTB and Turner. They weren’t good college players. It didn’t take a genius to see that. I just don’t get it. I know it’s not an exact science but they have whiffed really badly in the trenches, especially. Offensive skill position guys, very good. Defense with few exceptions, sucks rocks. And that isn’t even considering coaching. Are all these young guys this bad, or do we need better coaches to develop them? I’m sure it is a combination of both but man, this fell off the cliff in a hurry. 

[texbengal]

3 minutes ago, claptonrocks said:

I see a possible Cowboy and Titans wins 

Browns is 50-50

Broncos and Inbreds too much for us.

yeah I think 7-10 is about right. 

[claptonrocks]

On 11/26/2024 at 2:42 PM, BlackJesus said:

Against what conference?

That's my hangup with him..

[claptonrocks]

3 minutes ago, texbengal said:

yeah I think 7-10 is about right. 

I believe 5-11 is more possible.

We can't stop any team now.

Better draft picks as well.

[HavePityPlease]

Just now, texbengal said:

The thing is, you CAN find both… guys who are great athletes who also are productive. They have some.
 

Just not sure why they get enamored with guys like Jefferson (Texas)… even CTB and Turner. They weren’t good college players. It didn’t take a genius to see that. I just don’t get it. I know it’s not an exact science but they have whiffed really badly in the trenches, especially. 
Offensive skill position guys, very good. Defense with few exceptions, sucks rocks. And that isn’t even considering coaching. Are all these young guys this bad, or do we need better coaches to develop them? I’m sure it is a combination of both but man, this fell off the cliff in a hurry. 

 

You can, I mean, they're still all NFL players... but it's like they rely on league consensus rather than finding a player that fits "because sexy pick".   

 

This is the difference between picking guys like Jefferson, Murphy, Dax Hill, guys who didn't really put up numbers, had knocks about "didn't really produce up to their talent/athleticism" and yet they were all in huge programs full of studs?  To me that's a red flag.  On the other hand, if you have a guy who played on some crappy team in college but produced admirably anyway, well he might just produce in the NFL once he's surrounded by serious talent - regardless of whether that's a "football guy" or an athlete.  They just need to find the guys who produce regardless of their performance in shorts.

 

As for falling of a cliff - I don't think anybody can argue with that.  It's beyond a player here and there, it must include something off the field or culture-wise.  To me that's another point in the argument for getting lunch pail football guys, because IMO it's more likely that stuff doesn't undermine their on-field play, they come to work to work.

[claptonrocks]

1 hour ago, Le Tigre said:

Yesterday…their entire defense shackled THE all day long. Graham had 5 tkls and 2 assists. 

Definitely the best interior lineman in the he draft.

His counterpart isn't to far behind.

[IKOTA]

I think with the weak minded players this team has drafted and acquired otherwise, losing every game is very much a possibility. I certainly hope they do so that some drastic changes can be made…in both personnel; including coaches, as well as philosophy. 
 

I can’t stand Zac Taylor overall, but firing him would require a solid plan in place which I don’t think this front office is capable of. 

[HavePityPlease]

3 minutes ago, IKOTA said:

I think with the weak minded players this team has drafted and acquired otherwise, losing every game is very much a possibility. I certainly hope they do so that some drastic changes can be made…in both personnel; including coaches, as well as philosophy. 
 

I can’t stand Zac Taylor overall, but firing him would require a solid plan in place which I don’t think this front office is capable of. 

 

That's the rub, I don't think any of us can really say we're confident the team will make an inspiring choice to succeed Zac if he's fired - most likely another fresh-faced up-and-comer that we have to "hope" can succeed.

[claptonrocks]

18 minutes ago, IKOTA said:

I think with the weak minded players this team has drafted and acquired otherwise, losing every game is very much a possibility. I certainly hope they do so that some drastic changes can be made…in both personnel; including coaches, as well as philosophy. 
 

I can’t stand Zac Taylor overall, but firing him would require a solid plan in place which I don’t think this front office is capable of. 

Zach Taylor has performed well as the offensive play caller but take into consideration he has JB, Chase and the rest of skilled players

 

His overall HC skills are due to Duke Tobins inability to land the right choices for this team.

Duke has a light crew in scouting but he can't hit on his top 2 picks with much success.

 

Duke has to go...has to.go...

[Le Tigre]

1 hour ago, claptonrocks said:

 

Duke has to go...has to.go..

Then who? 
 

(remembering who would be doing the hiring) 

[claptonrocks]

3 hours ago, KA14_HOF said:

 

At this point, we'd better.

 

We're now in competition with 17 other teams for draft position. Something tells me we will find a way screw even this up by winning our next 4 games.

You know that's not going to happen

 

Beat Tenn..they suck big-time..

 Maybe just maybe Dallas.

That's about it.

Looking to lose to Dallas and finish 5-12 and my get some high up drafts choices.

 

[claptonrocks]

4 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

Then who? 
 

(remembering who would be doing the hiring) 

Duke has a closet  scouting team.

It hurts .

He still hasn't clicked on many of his first 2 round picks.

Blame it on scouting but Duke signs off on them.

Delimna for sure.

[Le Tigre]

9 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

You know that's not going to happen

 

Beat Tenn..they suck big-time..

 Maybe just maybe Dallas.

That's about it.

Looking to lose to Dallas and finish 5-12 and my get some high up drafts choices.

 

The fans of every team…in every lost season…in every sport…have this as part of their dealing with the failures. It’s a sort of “kill the traitors to my realm” thing: fail and humiliate yourselves before me! Then, bring me the finest replacements to brighten my sad countenance. 
 

(They don’t have a draft in the “other” football…there it is transfer windows. “Tanking” means little for future rewards, but relegation gives the fans something to hope for, so their disappointment/revenge is sated)

[|High School Harry|]

12 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

You know that's not going to happen

 

Beat Tenn..they suck big-time..

 Maybe just maybe Dallas.

That's about it.

Looking to lose to Dallas and finish 5-12 and my get some high up drafts choices.

 

Dallas is terrible.  However, I can't see us beating them on Monday Night prime time and in Dallas.

I was going to say too bad it can't be flexed out or they would but just looked at the Week 14 Sunday line

up and it has to be the whiz poorest football slate of the year.  Pittsburgh and Cleveland ... meh

[dex]

15 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

I believe 5-11 is more possible.

We can't stop any team now.

Better draft picks as well.

Unfortunately higher draft slots do not necessarily mean better draft picks. They still have to scout and choose well. 

[|High School Harry|]

9 minutes ago, dex said:

Unfortunately higher draft slots do not necessarily mean better draft picks. They still have to scout and choose well. 

Duke is on a tight budget and can only buy three guides to the draft from the Barnes and Noble magazine rack.

Actually, they would probably do better if they did their scouting that way.

Its been all downhill since Pro Football Weekly folded.

[Cat]

12 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

You know that's not going to happen

 

Beat Tenn..they suck big-time..

 Maybe just maybe Dallas.

That's about it.

Looking to lose to Dallas and finish 5-12 and my get some high up drafts choices.

 

Also Shittsbugh will likely be resting their starters in week 18; we might get a win there

[Jamie_B]

1 hour ago, Cat said:

Also Shittsbugh will likely be resting their starters in week 18; we might get a win there

 

Maybe, seeding might be in play with them still.

[|SF2|]

On 11/26/2024 at 2:42 PM, BlackJesus said:

To be fair, Derrick Henry  faced better and faster players week in week out but you can’t deny Jeanty has been awesome this year, especially the game against Oregon.