Flugel

Thanks for the goodies LB! I'm gonna vent a little here - just know it's not aimed at you. This just feels like a good spot to exercise my 2 brain cells. I really like the Zinter selection; but I'm scratching my head about the 2nd round reach for Michael Hall Jr that many sites/publications had going in the 3rd and 4th rounds. I'm an Ohio State fan; but he ended with 2 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks in his final season. That doesn't really stack up well against the other talent that went in round 2 IMO regardless of how well he did at the combines. This felt a lot like reaching on DE Alex Wright a couple years ago. Why??? Why do I feel this way? If we wanted to reach on a player - it should have been LEFT TACKLE Kiran Amegadjie or others equivalent LT prospects were available in round 2. Unfortunately, we still have a very sleepy Casper the Friendly Ghost entitled to his starting LT job. He doesn't have to try or be consistent. He often stops after his initial hit when he's run blocking. He hasn't even put in the work to have a consistent stance that sets him up for ideal leverage, power and base. We've seen this for 4 years now. Film ain't gonna show us he's earned SQUAT. This FO drafted him at #10 overall so he's entitled. Keeping him throws off the scent the FO failed here. Both RTs are coming off season ending injuries. Our strength last year was OG; and it still was heading into the draft. 100% of our starting tackles (1 LT + 2 RTs). However, I am very aware we signed a 9 veteran G/T (Germain Ifedi) that didn't appear in 1 game last year. I think his most recent starts were all at Guard. Soooooo, our next pick today is in round 5.

I thought of you when he went just 2 spots before us. Then we ended up wasting a 2nd round pick on a DT that only had 2 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 12 games in 2023 (with countless mismatches for carpe diem on the schedule). He's a 3rd-4th round projection and his numbers reflect that. I remember when we did some lists of guys we wanted in various rounds - we both listed Brenden Rice. Before I could add Michigan's Roman Wilson - Pittsburgh just drafted him. There's still some other good WRs out there...

Good to hear. Buy a great big cold draft beer; and it gets really simple from there. Drink the Draft & watch the Draft.

I'd be shocked if he's not drafted within the next 21 selections. The good news is there will probably promising WRs like Brenden Rice, Devontez Walker, Jamari Thrash available. I got a sick feeling the LT from Yale will be gone at this time so a good WR would be awesome.

Have fun Gumbs!

Offensive Guards have feelings too! I say that because there's an Aggie OG Layden Robinson projected as high as round 2 (Lindy's) that I haven't seen you mention in here yet (unless I was sick that day). All kidding aside, even if that projection exceeds others that group Guards in with Centers - he may be someone for you to keep your eye on. There's 32 teams so all it takes is 1 to notice him. They'll probably give him a hilarious acronym/nick-name as a rookie. "WHO MISSED THAT BLOCK? Was it LayRob or Peak-a-Boo?"

Who woulda thought we gotta be careful using the 1st name Xavier all of a sudden? There's the Gamecocks' Xavier Legette staying in the Carolinas and the footspeed of Xavier Worthy that will be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes this Fall. You know we're in a different era when there's 2 Xaviers in the 1st round; and not 1 guy named Tom.

I wonder if we'll draft any young fellers from the Sign Steelers in Annie's Arbor.

You're not in the minority with that. I'll watch tonight but I'm way more interested when the Browns are in play. Tomorrow will be a lot more exciting.

Believe it or not, Trey Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks last year as a RDE facing Left Tackles. Unlike TJ Watt that went against Right Tackles every week, Hendrickson didn't whine about Myles Garrett winning Defensive Player of the Year. It's been said by another great pass rusher Micah Parsons, film had a way of showing what pass rushers commanded the most attention from offensive lines and their teammates (in his praise for Myles). Aside from that, 1 long time elite LT (Trent Williams) said Garrett is the easily best DE he has faced. Pittsburgh decided to protect TJ Watt from a challenge like Trent Williams at LT so all Watts Tears for Fears landed on deaf ears and cold beers. Hold on a second "Ma'am could I have a De-caff please?"

I'm cold. Is there a draft in here?

I hear ya about the WR thing. Having said that, I'd like to upgrade Elijah Moore and I think we can do it in this draft if we attempt to. I was never really enthused with the trade for him like others were. If we don't go after one - he has another year to try to prove me wrong.

Aside from your points, I'd be surprised if he didn't draft a DB somewhere in this draft.

In 68, I was only 4 years old. Any 1st impressions I had of Bill Nelsen thru 1972 were from whatever my dad saw and said. I got the sense he liked Bill Nelsen and appreciated him trying to play despite the 2 bad knees.

Yeah, who knows? You might be right Ballpeen. If you are right - the good news is a lot of productive college tackles (lacking arm length) get drafted to play OG creating a bigger supply of Guards (ie: Joel Bitonio was a Tackle in college) overall. This also means we wouldn't have to draft one in round 2 in order to secure a good one. Besides, we don't need immediate impact at OG with Bitonio and Teller so they can defer to a later round for a developmental guy. Just thinking out loud here. I think we have more depth inside at this time than at LT. Michael Dunn can play LG extremely well; and I'm guessing he could do the same at RG if we needed him to (that's an easier transition from 1 side to the other than OT). He helped us beat SF without Bitonio. They just signed a backup RG Germain Ifedi (who would only play RT if both Conklin and Jones are injured). Luke Wypler will also be counted on to backup Center an OG spot. Right now, I don't think we have a backup LT on the roster that anyone would have a great deal of confidence in (unless I'm forgetting someone I shouldn't be). There's been mentions and thoughts on our board about moving Dawand Jones to LT. I've warmed up to this idea more than I thought I would. However, trying this the 1st training camp after a serious knee injury that landed him on IR and a surgery table might not be the best time to try this. Like Dutch reminds us, we're not having any luck keeping Conklin healthy so we'll probably see more of Jones than Conklin at RT again. My guess is we'll go LT with our first pick in round 2 unless a run on the position depletes the supply of them too far to consider what's left for round 2 value. Very possible this could happen. Stay tuned...

I have to agree. I think we're begging for trouble pretending 1 more year of Casper the Friendly Ghost at Left Tackle helps this team in any way. This was like 2022 when the Browns pretended DT wasn't important at all. End result? This team couldn't stop the run or keep offensive linemen off the LB Corps. In fact, we had portions of the 2022 season where the entire 1st string of LBers were injured because of it. Yeah, Wills under contract but does that light his fanny or make him feel entitled 1 more time? I don't see a lot of playoff teams that have their biggest weakness upfront at Left Tackle. There may be some exceptions to that - like the Browns at the expense of needing 5 different QBs. When Wills went on IR, the Browns won 4 of their last 5 games. The only one they lost in that stretch was in Cincy. That day, they rested a lot of valuable starters while starting Jeff Driskell at QB. Unfortunately, none of this means they'll take a LT. There's probably going to be a run on them before we draft in round 2. We'll see what happens...

He had some good records in Cleveland when he played. Fans seemed to like him. After 1968 you could see the drop-off in his TD/INT ratio. Here's his record each season played & TDs/INTs: 1968: 11-2 & 19 TDs 10 INTs 1969: 10-3-1 & 23 TDs 19 INTs Pro Bowl 1970: 6-6 & 16 TDs 16 INTs 1971: 9-4 & 13 TDs 23 INTs 1972: 0-1 & 0 TDs 3 INTs

IMO, Left Tackles are somewhat like QBs in the sense teams will reach for them. For example, Lindy's Draft Mag has Kiran Amegadije going to KC at #64 overall in their Mock Draft - even though they had him as their 13th highest rated Offensive Tackle as a 4th round projection. He didn't make the Top 100 Rated Players posted in this mag based on consensus opinion of Field Level Media analysts. That said, the entire Ivy League got snobbed from that list. My other Draft Mag from Athlon Sports has him rated #76 overall in their Top 100 players. Before I share where this Mock Draft has him going - there's been some trades between when this was printed vrs the other Mag. This mag's mock draft also has KC taking Amegadije but this version has KC doing it at #63 overall. I think the most up to date version has KC drafting in the 64th spot. In either case, KC has a franchise QB to protect. Both Mock Drafts acknowledge the importance of that in terms of reaching above the ratings/projections into a limited supply of Left Tackles available to shield off the blind side of passer.

Easily my 2 faves leading both versions of Kardiac Kids in the 80s.

The truth shall set you free Michigan. The best sports program at the University in Annie's Arbor this side of the year 2000 is the Women's Gymnastics team that won the only undisputed, asterisks-free National Championship in 2021. The desperation to win with integrity is well summarized above. It's been pretty much impossible as clearly articulated by the dialed-in fan above. Just tell the truth, as painful as it always seems to be, and you can exhale again. Okay, so you're only 2nd or 3rd or 4th best again. The Vanderbilt Commodores would give anything to be in your shoes on the gridiron; even though they've won a National Championship in baseball in 2014 and 2019.

I hear ya! Let's hope some of these young men are thinking Clevelandofopportunity.

Could you imagine if we drafted 2 kids from Yale in the same draft?

Yes; and he never even played football there. James Harrison was also an undrafted free agent from Kent State. That said, Harrison got cut numerous times before he found the right blend of secret potions.

For example, NE drafted Kent State QB Julian Edelman in round 7 who began returning punts/kickoffs before he emerged as a Pro Bowl WR. Prior to that, Cleveland signed another former Kent State QB Josh Cribbs as an undrafted free agent who excelled as a Kickoff/Punt Return Specialist. He also played WR and some QB in the WildDawg. He made 3 Pro Bowls and earned a 1st Team All Pro honor. He was also recognized as a member of The NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. I wouldn't mind an equivalent find this year...

Well said. If we're ever gonna waste another draft pick on a kicker - I'd rather have it done here (especially if we have more than one 7th round pick). The 3 we drafted never survived their 1st contract in Cleveland. Having said that, the Browns brought the last one back just in case we lose our starting kicker to a severe hamstring pull again. A couple years ago, I was flipping back and forth between the 2 networks covering the draft in the final hour. One of the networks was saying when you get to the 7th round - it's almost better for the player if they end up being an undrafted free agent. This way the player has a chance to pick a best fit situation his skillsets among teams interested. Makes sense. On the other hand, many kids dream about getting drafted. How about a Brock Purdy being the last pick of the draft 2 years ago?