Tag: NFL

Ranking Every NFL Team By Their First Round Picks Since 2019

The NFL Draft is a day away. For teams in a rebuild, this could be when they get their franchise player. For those who had a good run last year, this is a time to ensure long-term success. While there have been plenty of late-round and undrafted stars like former Chargers legend Antonio Gates and Buccaneers’ QB Tom Brady, it is without question that the first round has the most stars in the draft. I decided to use the last two drafts to see which teams are the best at finding quality players in the first round. To do so, I graded each player on a -5 to 5 scale. Note that Indianapolis, Chicago, and the LA Rams didn’t have a first-round pick in either year, so they are omitted.

1: San Francisco 49ers: 6 points – 2019 DE Nick Bosa (5), 2020 DL Javon Kinlaw (-2), 2020 WR Brandon Aiyuk (3)

The Niners struck gold with Nick Bosa, who, like his brother Joey, has been a terror for opposing QBs in his first two seasons. The biggest question is if 2020 first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk can be a solid #2 receiver. He has been a reliable receiver for the 49ers and is also one who can move the sticks (42 out of 60 of Ayuik’s receptions went for first downs), but I don’t think he is WR1 potential. However, partnered with a receiver like JuJu Smith-Schuster or Allen Robinson, he could be a very efficient #2 as defenses will not be so focused on him. The Niners had big hopes for Javon Kinlaw, but he has been underwhelming as a pass rusher with just two sacks.

T-2: Dallas Cowboys: 5 points – 2020 WR CeeDee Lamb (5)

The Cowboys had one pick last year and none the year before. However, they got a pro-bowl caliber talent in CeeDee Lamb, probably the second-best receiver in the 2020 draft behind the future Hall of Famer, Justin Jefferson. Despite playing with four different QBs, and missing a few games, Lamb was just short of the 1000 yard mark. Lamb was greatest when playing in the slot and racked up a league-leading nine receptions of 15 yards or more against zone defenses when he was in that position. The only place I think he needs to improve is his yards after catch, as he averaged 0.1 yards less than expected compared to Jefferson’s 1.9 yards more than expected.

T-2: Denver Broncos: 5 points – 2019 TE Noah Fant (2), 2020 WR Jerry Jeudy (3)

The Broncos had quite a bit of success with their 1st round picks. Fant has been a reliable option for young QB Drew Lock. I think he has not been as much of a red zone threat as the Broncos would’ve liked, as he ended the season with just three touchdowns. However, he is a great route runner, averaging 3.5 yards of separation, and gets an average of 1.3 YAC more than expected, both of which are higher than Travis Kelces. Jeudy has shown that he can be a strong deep threat receiver; however, I don’t think he was as much of an X-factor as Lamb and Vikings’ rookie, Justin Jefferson and he struggled with drops (only 46% catch percentage), which is why he has a three and not a five.

T-2: Washington Redskins: 5 points – 2019 DE Montez Sweat (5), 2019 QB Dwane Haskins (-5), 2020 DE Chase Young (5)

The Redskins have added two beasts to their D-line in the last two years. Both Sweat and Young have been stars from their first game and have helped make the Washington front seven one of the most feared in the NFL. Additionally, both Sweat and Young were both in PFF’s top 100 players list. However, their grade is tainted by the selection of Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has been one of the biggest busts in the NFL, mainly due to his inconsistent play and off-field and character issues, and the Redskins wisely cut him before the end of this season.

T-2 New York Jets: 5 points – 2020 OT Mekhi Becton (4), 2019 DL Quinnen Williams (1)

The Jets have drafted surprisingly well in the first round for a team that has struggled so badly. Williams has been exceptional, but I don’t think the Jets really needed him at that stage. The Jets didn’t have a single player in the top 50 for yards, targets, or receptions. This could have been avoided if the Jets had gotten a good receiver in 2019. Becton has already become a top lineman in the league, and I think he has done a phenomenal job. He received the second-highest grade from PFF for rookie tackles and was on the Pro Bowl ballot. I believe in a year or two, he could be headed to the Pro Bowl.

T-6 Baltimore Ravens: 4 points – 2019 WR Marquise Brown (3), 2020 ILB Patrick Queen(1)

The Ravens have gotten some excellent talent in the last two years. Last year, they found a true WR1 in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. The second-year player has been a good offensive piece, but he hasn’t been utilized enough to justify the Ravens using a first-round pick on him as he was 48th in targets last year. Queen has shown flashes of talent but has been a very sloppy tackler. I don’t think Queen will ever become an excellent cover linebacker (his PFF grades for run defense and pass coverage were 29.0 and 30.2, respectively), but he could be a good pass rusher in the Ravens’ blitz-heavy defense.

T-6 Cincinnati Bengals: 4 points – 2020 QB Joe Burrow (5), 2019 OT Jonah Williams (-1)

The Bengals have been very focused on the offensive side of the ball lately. Williams has been good but has only played ten games in two seasons. He missed his entire rookie year after getting hurt in OTAs and then struggled with injuries this year as well. If he can stay healthy, this could be an excellent pick. If not, it could be disastrous. Burrow, however, was phenomenal in his rookie year as he was on pace for over 4250 yards which would have put him less than 100 yards away from Andrew Luck’s rookie record before a knee injury ended his season. If these two develop nicely and stay healthy, they could be the core of the offense.

T-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 points – 2020 OT Tristan Wirfs (5), 2020 Devin White (-1)

The Buccaneers had high hopes for Devin White, who was touted as the best ILB in the Draft. However, he hasn’t been the dominant force the Buccaneers hoped would replace veteran LaVonte David. He’s one of the best pass-rushing off-the-ball linemen but has been hopeless in coverage and let in a staggering 87.8% of targets against him last season. Like Mekhi Becton, Wirfs has already catapulted himself into a top 10 tackle and had the highest PFF grade for rookie tackles at the end of the season. There’s not much wrong about his game and I expect him to continue to develop into a HOF-caliber tackle.

T-9 Kansas City Chiefs: 3 points – 2020 RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (3)

The Chiefs were a team that didn’t need any improvements in 2020. I think Edwards-Helaire was a bit of a reach, and his production has justified that. The rookie finished with 0.29 yards less than expected, which was the 11th worst of running backs with at least 85 attempts, and opposing defenses put eight men or more in the box on just 9.39% of snaps. I think the Chiefs should have considered trading down and getting offensive line depth instead.

T-9 Cleveland Browns: 3 points – 2020 OT Jedrick Wills (3)

The Browns got an excellent blocker in Wills. The Browns needed a quality lineman to replace Joe Thomas, and they got exactly that in the former Alabama tackle. He is excellent in both the run game and in pass protection, but he did have a league-high 11 penalties. While some people may find that concerning, I feel he can clean up his game and become one of the best tackles in the NFL.

11 Buffalo Bills: 3 points – 2019 DT Ed Oliver (3)

The Buffalo Bills have a potential future 1st team all-pro in defensive tackle, Ed Oliver. The ninth overall pick in 2019 has been a big part of the Bills’ front seven. Don’t expect him to be the next Aaron Donald because his pass rush skills are average but instead, expect him to chew up blocks and plug running lanes on the front line. In a few years, he could be a premier defensive tackle similar to the likes of Philly’s Fletcher Cox and Baltimore’s Calais Campbell.

T-12 Carolina Panthers: 1 point – 2019 DL Brian Burns (4), 2020 DL Derrick Brown (-3)

The Panthers have been very focused on their D-line in the past years. Brian Burns has been a phenomenal player, who I think will only get better in the next year or two. He ranked top ten in sacks and fumbles for edge rushers, even with him playing more like a defensive tackle than an end. Brown has been a good player in the pass rush department, but his run defense leaves plenty to be desired (PFF ranked him 77th in run defense). I don’t think he is anywhere close to justifying going seventh overall; he’s a late second-rounder at best.

T-12 Pittsburgh Steelers: 2 points – 2019 LB Devin Bush (2)

The Steeler defense was rather bad in 2019, and the reason that changed is partly thanks to this man. Bush came to a Steelers team that was all about rushing the passer and didn’t care much about playing coverage. The Michigan alum looked very strong during his rookie year, where he racked up 109 tackles and two interceptions. Many said he was even better than Devin White, who went fifth overall. Regardless, the addition of Bush, along with Steven Nelson and Minkah Fitzpatrick, has brought the secondary up to par with the Steelers’ ferocious pass-rush.

14 Arizona Cardinals: 2 points – 2020 S Isaiah Simmons (-3), 2019 QB Kyler Murray (5)

The Cardinals got their franchise QB in Kyler Murray, which is what you would expect from the number one overall pick. Murray has been a Pro Bowl caliber dual-threat quarterback, and his PFF grade beat-out superstars like Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. I think he could develop into a very dangerous player. Simmons looked like a clear bust at the beginning of the season but has played better down the stretch and proven that he can make plays. If he can be more consistent, he could be a good asset in the secondary, but I’m not convinced that he can keep up his good form.

15 Green Bay Packers: 1 point – 2020 QB Jordan Love (-5), 2019 LB Rashan Gary (3), 2019 S Darnell Savage (3)

The Packers got two outstanding players on defense. Gary has been a good pass rusher with seven sacks on the year. Savage has turned out to be one of the best young safeties in the NFL, and this year he got 75 tackles and four interceptions, both very high numbers for a safety. However, the Packers reached way too far to get Jordan Love. I thought Love was a mid-second rounder to early third-rounder at best, and especially with Jalen Hurts on the board and Aaron Rodgers playing for a bit more, I don’t get this pick.

T-16 Minnesota Vikings: 0 points – 2020 WR Justin Jefferson (5), 2020 CB Jeff Gladney (-3), 2019 C Garrett Bradbury (-2)

The Vikings have been hit or miss in the first round. In 2019, they took a center in Garrett Bradbury. Despite playing all 32 games of his short NFL career, Bradbury has been mediocre. According to PFF, his 5.1% pressure rate was 34th out of 36 centers. Gladney was also underwhelming. While he did have 81 tackles, he also had 21 missed tackles, which is not NFL level. However, the Vikings did get a generational talent in Justin Jefferson, who could be the face of the NFL in a few years. He finished fourth in receiving yards and tied for the most receptions of 20 yards or more.

T-16 Detroit Lions: 0 points – 2019 TE TJ Hockenson (4), 2020 CB Jeff Okudah (-4)

The Lions have found an above-average franchise tight end in TJ Hockenson. The second-year tight end finished third among tight ends in yards and fourth in receptions last year. This is even more helpful when you’re a team that will be searching for a new QB in the near future because it’s no secret that young and developing QBs love having a good tight end. Look at Mark Andrews and Lamar Jackson or Greg Olsen and Cam Newton. Okudah has been very inconsistent in coverage, often getting beat or messing up coverage, and getting hurt midway through your first season doesn’t help.

T-18 Tennessee Titans: -1 point – 2020 OT Isaiah Wilson (-5), 2019 DL Jeffery Simmons (4)

Like many teams, the Titans have gotten one value player and one they would have rather not taken. Simmons has turned out to be an excellent pick and a focal point of the Titan’s defense. If a player is already above-average in his second year as a pro, there’s a good chance that he will turn into something special. Also, tackling Derrick Henry in practice doesn’t hurt either. Getting Wilson on the practice field was an achievement for the Titans as the first-rounder was on the COVID list twice and dealt with numerous off-field issues. After briefly being with the Dolphins, Wilson was cut without playing a game, and it seems likely that his NFL career is over.

T-18 Jacksonville Jaguars: -1 points – 2020 CB CJ Henderson (-1), 2020 LB K’Lavon Chaisson (-3), 2019 DE Josh Allen (3)

The Jaguars have a few players they would like to see improvement in. Henderson showed flashes of greatness but was hampered by injuries. Chaisson also had a few good games but was unable to contribute much. While the Jaguars did get a promising talent in Josh Allen, he injured his knee in the middle of last season, and it isn’t certain that he’ll be the same explosive player who racked up 10.5 sacks in his rookie year.

T-20 Atlanta Falcons: -2 points – 2019 OG Chris Lindstrom (4), 2019 OT Kaleb McGary (-3), 2020 AJ Terrell (-3)

The Falcons got only one value lineman in 2019, despite using two first-round picks to try to keep Matt Ryan’s jersey a bit cleaner. Lindstrom has been excellent and was probably the best offensive lineman of his draft class. He has already become a top-3 lineman, in my opinion. However, the same can’t be said about McGary, and to make matters worse, the Falcons traded up to get him. Terrell has been decent, but I think he needs to be more physical and work on his tackling to be a fixture in the league.

T-20 Houston Texans: -2 points – 2019 OT Tytus Howard (-2)

Howard has precisely what the Texans wanted when he’s on the field. He is a solid tackle who is excellent in the passing game, giving up only two sacks this whole year. However, the problem for him is staying on the field. Howard missed eight games in his rookie season and three this year. If he can stay healthy, he could be an excellent anchor on the Texans’ offensive line.

T-22 Los Angeles Chargers: -3 points – 2020 QB Justin Herbert (5), 2020 DT
Jerry Tillery (-5), 2019 LB Kenneth Murray (-3)

The Chargers did get their franchise QB in reigning OROY Justin Herbert, who had a stellar season where he broke the records for most passing TDs in a rookie year, most total TDs in a rookie year, most completions in a rookie year, and he fell just 39 yards short of Andrew Luck’s rookie passing yards record despite only playing 15 of the Chargers’ 16 games. However, the Chargers have had some woes on the front seven. Tillery could barely stay on the roster, which is something you surely do not want to see in a first-round pick, and while Murray has been a good tackler, he needs to be much more aggressive on the line of scrimmage to be a complete tackling linebacker.

T-22 New Orleans Saints: -3 points – 2020 C/G Cesar Ruiz (-3)

The Saints had only one first-round pick in the last two years, and they took Cesar Ruiz. While he has been a starter for the Saints, he has been inconsistent and gave up a whopping 16 pressures between week eight and week ten, although he did bounce back nicely. I think the fact that Ruiz can play both center and guard doesn’t help much, as center Erik McCoy will probably be around for quite some time. If the Saints really wanted a lineman, they should have either tried to get Wirfs at 13 or waited till round 2 or 3.

T-22 New York Giants: -3 points – 2019 QB Daniel Jones (4), 2019 CB Deandre Baker (-5), 2019 DT Dexter Lawrence (-1), 2020 OT Andrew Thomas (-1)

The Giants got their franchise QB in Daniel Jones, and that’s about it. Baker has been cut after struggling with off-field issues. He is now a backup in Kansas City. Lawrence’s production has been underwhelming for all the hype he created during his stay at Clemson. Thomas has been a decent tackle in the run game, but he has been clueless in pass protection. His 57 pressures allowed were 14 more than any left tackle last season.

T-25 Miami Dolphins: -4 points – 2020 QB Tua Tagovailoa (1), 2020 OT Austin Jackson (-3), 2020 CB Noah Igbinoghene (-5), 2019 DL Christian Wilkins (3)

The Dolphins have one young star on both sides of the ball. Tagovailoa hasn’t been as good as Burrow or Herbert, but I think he will still be the Dolphins’ franchise QB for at least a little bit longer. Wilkins has been excellent in a Miami defense, which has suddenly become one of the best in the league, finishing 6th in solo tackles. Jackson has been okay as a lineman but not extraordinary, and Igbinoghene is far from being starter-worthy, barely getting playing time in his first year.

T-25 New England Patriots: -4 points – 2019 WR N’Keal Harry (-4)

The Patriots tried to get receiver depth with this pick, but Harry has been underwhelming. Harry had minimal impact in his rookie year and hasn’t done much in year two despite being the number one receiver for Cam Newton. His 309 yards look more like a WR3 than a WR1. Time is running out for Harry to make his case to be a starter in the NFL.

27 Las Vegas Raiders: -5 points – 2020 CB Damon Arnette (-5), 2020 WR Henry Ruggs III (2), 2019 DL Clelin Ferrell (-1), 2019 RB Josh Jacobs (4), 2019 S Johnathan Abram (-5)

The Raiders have a few decent players that they drafted. Jacobs can become an All-Pro if he continues to get better. Ruggs has shown that he is an excellent deep threat but needs to work on the shorter stuff. Ferrel has been a starter but hasn’t had the X-factor impact you want from a first-round pick. However, there are two awful picks that the Raiders made. Both Abram and Arnette have struggled with injuries, and both looked utterly clueless in coverage. This has led the Raiders to have one of the worst secondaries in the game.

28 Seattle Seahawks: -6 points – 2020 LB LJ Collier (-3), 2020 LB Jordyn Brooks (-3)

Some may say that the Seahawks have been “drafting for the future,” which is quite reasonable. However, it becomes no longer reasonable when you have a serious chance to win the Super Bowl. Brooks will not be playing much when you have Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright patrolling the secondary, and trading Frank Clark for Collier was just silly. Perhaps the Seahawks could have addressed their secondary woes and repaired the running game, which never really recovered since Beast Mode’s departure.

29 Philadelphia Eagles: -8 points – 2019 OT Andre Dillard (-5), 2020 WR Jalen Reagor (-3)
I thought Reagor would be a star in Philly, but he hasn’t been utilized enough. For a number two receiver, I think the Eagles need to get him more involved as he only got 369 yards. Dillard has been a rather lousy pick. He has been a backup and thus hasn’t had much playing time, which is not a good sign if you are a first-round pick.

Why the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl

Many fans (me included) believed that Super Bowl LV was going to be a blowout. We were right about that; however, the thing that we didn’t get right was who would be blown-out. That left many fans wondering how the Bucs were able to stop such a high-powered offense that only lost one game when playing with their starters. Here’s why I think the Bucs pulled off this massive upset.

They Got Pressure to Mahomes

The Buccaneer pass rush was one of the best in the league, and they showed that against the Chiefs. They pressured Mahomes a Super Bowl record 29 times. This led to plenty of incomplete passes and quick scrambles. It also forced Mahomes to get the ball out quickly and didn’t allow Tyreek Hill to get down field. I understand that you have two backup tackles, but I was surprised the Chiefs didn’t try to do much about it. I think they needed to perhaps keep the running back and maybe a tight-end back in pass protection to give Mahomes time to find his big playmakers.

The Offense Was Dominant

The Buccaneers beat the Chiefs on the offensive side as well. The Chiefs’ defense managed to pressure Brady on just 4 dropbacks; the lowest Brady has faced in a Super Bowl. Additionally, Rob Gronkowski looked like the Rob Gronkowski of old, running through the middle of the Chiefs’ secondary for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. The run game was excellent as well, as Fournette and Jones III combined for over 140 yards to help ice the game.

They Won the Penalty Battle

The Chiefs were their own enemy in this game. They had 11 penalties for a whopping 120 yards. Even worse, many of these penalties were on the defensive side and on crucial third downs. The penalties allowed the Buccaneers to keep driving, and the Chiefs’ defense would have to get at least 2 or 3 stops due to the penalties. This not only allowed the Buccaneers to drive down the field and put up points but also meant that they controlled the football for long amounts of time.

That’s it for this article. If you have any thoughts on these players or the Super Bowl, please let me know in the comments section.

Week 9 Preview

Week 9 features a few exciting games. Two aging quarterbacks go head to head when Drew Brees’ Saints head to Tampa Bay to take on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Garret Gilbert & the Dallas Cowboys will pull off the upset of the century if they can defeat the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Was Week 1 a fluke for Drew Brees?

Brees had one of his worst games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. He got back on track with a 3 Touchdown performance against the Packers two weeks later, but critics wondered if Brees was on the decline. If Brees can put up another solid game and lead his team to a win, he can prove all the critics wrong. It won’t be easy. Tampa has one of the leagues top defenses and augmented their offense with former All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.

Will Antonio Brown be a help or a hindrance for Tom Brady?

Antonio Brown was arguably the best receiver in the NFL. His season took a turn for the worse when he demanded a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. After he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, Brown was sidelined due to a frostbite injury. After reports of off-field issues showed up, Brown was traded to the New England Patriots. He played just one game there before being cut by the team. Now he has a second chance. He’ll play with QB Tom Brady and one of the most potent defenses in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, this team could be tough to beat.

Can Robert Spillane keep his starting spot ?

Robert Spillane played only five games when he was called up to replace Devin Bush in Week 6. The undrafted second-year out of Central Michigan blew up last week, with 11 tackles and a pick-six. However, the Steelers did bring in Avery Williamson from the Jets. Assuming the Steelers intend on starting Williamson, either Vince Williams or Spillane will have to be benched. Spillane will need a near-flawless performance if he intends to start in the weeks to come. The good news is that the Steelers will be going up against the 2-6 Dallas Cowboys who will start 4th string QB Garret Gilbert. Look for Spillane to get lots of opportunities tackling an injured Ezekiel Elliott. Williamson is not expected to have much of an impact this week as he has not practiced with the Steelers.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 8 Review

This week featured a slew of exciting games. The Steelers eked out a win against the Baltimore Ravens, thanks to a clean game from their QB Ben Roethlisberger, and the Niners were understandably defeated by the Seattle Seahawks due to a monster game from DK Metcalf. However, there was one big upset this week: the 1-5-1 Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Superbowl contender Titans.

Is Tua Tagovailoa better than Ryan Fitzpatrick?

Answer: We don’t know. While Tua didn’t have the greatest game from the statline, it wasn’t his fault. The Dolphins defense gave Tua great field position which meant that he didn’t have to do much. Also, two of the four touchdowns were scored by the defense and special teams which meant that Tua technically threw for 50% of the offense’s points. It’s difficult to say how Tua will fare if the defense isn’t so dominant.

Can Big Ben step up against the Ravens?

Answer: Yes. Big Ben played a very solid game against the Ravens. The offense couldn’t do much in the first half, but whatever adjustments the Steelers made at halftime seemed to work. The big point is that Ben fixed his interception problem, something that almost lost the Steelers the game against Tennessee. The Steelers lived off of their defense, scoring touchdowns after both of Lamar Jackson’s interceptions. If Ben was sloppy with those chances, the Ravens would have won that game.

Is it Brandon Aiyuk’s breakout game?

Answer: Yes and No. Aiyuk did play a nice game against the Seahawks but nothing spectacular., His impact may not be so large once George Kittle is healthy. It will be interesting to see if Aiyuk can keep up this level of involvement. If he does, then Aiyuk could be a star receiver for years to come. If he is placed in a smaller role, he could be in a situation similar to Chase Claypool, who has seen his targets diminish after Diontae Johnson came back. If Kittle is out for a large chunk of the season, Aiyuk might be able to keep his involvement and solidify his spot in the offense. However, Aiyuk was placed on the COVID/Reserve list on Wednesday, which means that he will miss his week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Expect him to be well-rested for the week 10 matchup against the Saints.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the week 9 matchups. 

Don’t make this mistake when using Muthead

Those who play Madden know that Muthead is a handy tool to track players and find a player’s value before you sell them or make a bid. I personally have used Muthead when auctioning off unwanted players whom I pull in packs. Despite all the useful data, do not use the market gainers and market losers right away.

For example, as of Jun 7, 2020, Muthead claimed that Colts’ right tackle, J’Marcus Webb, is a gainer thanks to one 2,100 coin sale. If you go ahead and try to sell Webb for 2,100 coins, it’s probably not going to sell. Before that lucky sale, the highest Webb had ever sold for was 800 coins, and that was in late August when the number of cards was probably much less. The average selling price for the last month was around 575 coins. Losers shouldn’t scare you either. As of June 7, 2020, Muthead lists Titans’ free safety Dane Cruikshank as a market loser. Similar to the Webb example, this is due to a single 3,500 coin sale. After that sale, he sold for a more reasonable 650 coins. In fact, Cruikshank is probably a gainer, since he has been selling for anywhere between 650-900 coins in late May, compared to around 600 in early May. 

When selling a player, it is best to look at the 30-day graph of that player. This will give you the average sales for each day. While it is not good to sell cards for the highest ever sold, it is just as bad to sell the card for the lowest amount. Muthead shows you the median price, lower quartile, and upper quartile. If you have very little competition or the card is highly rated (>87 OVR), you should sell for somewhere in between the median and upper quartile, depending on the card and how long you’re willing to wait for it to sell. If the card is decent (78-86 OVR), you should sell for slightly less than the median. If the card is bad (<78 OVR), you should sell for somewhat more than the lower quartile, unless the cards in the auction house are selling for considerably less, in which case it would be better to wait a few hours.

Link to Muthead

Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Review

Pick 49 – Chase Claypool WR, Notre Dame – Grade B-

I understand that the Steelers want depth in the injury-stricken receiving core, but we have a crisis here. Ben Roethlisberger is not Big Ben anymore. He has been injured and probably only has a few more years ahead of him. Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges have got their chances, its time to move on. Jalen Hurts is a boom or bust type of player, and this is the time for Pittsburgh to take a risk. If it doesn’t work, you have a strong QB class next year led by Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. If the Steelers wanted a safer option, I would have gone with J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State. He’s a big, physical guy who could give the Steelers a bruising run game when combined with James Conner. 

Pick 102 – Alex Highsmith OLB, Charlotte – Grade A

I was initially confused about this pick, but now it makes sense. The Steelers are going back to the ’70s and playing physical, smashmouth football; the linebacker core will be scary good with Watt, Bush, Williams, and now Highsmith. Combine that with an offense of Juju-Smith-Shuster, Vance McDonald, and James Conner, this could be a Steeler team that really wears you down. I would have maybe looked at Jacob Eason, or one of the D-linemen in the draft.

Pick 124 – Anthony McFarland RB, Maryland – Grade A-

I absolutely love this pick, McFarland is an absolute steal at this point of the draft. He does have some injury concerns, which do worry me, but when I look at the upside, this is an excellent pick. McFarland has the potential to be a Chris Johnson-like player. He will be an excellent complement to James Conner. The other prospect I would have considered is the Nigerian O-lineman from Auburn, Prince Tega Wanogho, who is an outstanding player. 

Pick 135 – Kevin Dotson G, Nebraska – Grade C+

This pick might be more necessity than talent, but Dotson has a chance to be a starter very soon. This could be a situation similar to what the Steelers did with Chucks Okorafor. He will be a backup for the first season or two and will presumably see his snaps go way up if Stefen Wisniewski is having a difficult time. However, I think that Prince Tega Wanogho should have gotten a call here.

Pick 198 – Antonie Brooks Jr SS, Maryland – Grade B-

Another pick where I see more necessity than talent, but Jennings is a reliable backup at the safety position. I think he could be a 3rd safety similar to Kameron Kelly last season. He will compete with Marcus Allen for the spot. I think the Steelers should have taken a defensive tackle with this pick. 

Pick 232 – Carlos Davis DT – Grade A-

Finally, the Steelers get Javon Hargrave’s replacement. The big fella out of Nebraska is well, big. I don’t think he is very athletic, but he can chew up blockers. He will probably be Chris Wormley’s backup in a 3-4 scheme. 

Sleeper Pick: Logan Wilson

With the 2020 NFL draft a day away, it’s time to look at some of the late-round gems in this draft. One of them is Wyoming LB Logan Wilson. Wilson is a linebacker who can make an impact on any team. He’s 6’2″ and 241 pounds, ideal for a big middle linebacker. I doubt Wilson will be a useful pass rush threat as there are some block shedding issues in his game, but he could be a linebacker tantamount to Green Bay’s Blake Martinez. He is fast to plug up gaps in the run game and he would be an excellent spy or Tampa 2 linebacker as he has good instincts and dextrous hands. He finished with 105 tackles and 4 interceptions as a senior last year.

Wilson ran a 4.63 40 yard dash, which is decent for his size. If he slims down and gets a bit quicker, he could maybe even play as a safety in the league. Wilson could be a top tier backup and special teams player right away, and in two to three years, he could be a regular starter for any team. I would be surprised if he doesn’t get selected before the 5th round.

3 ways the NFL could make the virtual draft more enjoyable

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL will be conducting a virtual draft with team officials drafting from their homes. I have three wacky suggestions that would make this draft a much more enjoyable experience. 

  1. For the first round only: teams should create a 15-30 second video clip on Twitter welcoming their new player to the organization. This feature would not only give another way to watch the draft, but also give fans something to watch while Mel Kiper Jr. gushes (or rages) about the latest pick.
  2. Instead of Roger Goodell announcing the picks, teams should make all transactions (picks, trades, etc.) in Madden 20. With the new generation (myself included) obsessed with the world of video games, and the success of Quibli and Star Wars’ collaborations with Fortnite, a partnership with EA Sports’s star football simulation game would be extremely beneficial for the league.
  3. Create a VR experience for fans to feel as if they were at a physical NFL Draft. This service should be offered at least for those who bought tickets, or it could be made into a paid service.

Why Albert Okwuegbunam Could Be the Best Tight End in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft class is not tight end favorable, very few teams need a tight end right away. Even top tight end prospects like Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) or Adam Trautman (Dayton) may only hear their name at the end of the first round or early second round. I expect Okwuegbunam to go somewhere in-between the late second to early fifth rounds, but the unassuming Missouri prospect may be the best tight end of the draft class.

The first aspect is his ideal build for a tight end. He is 6’ 5” and weighs 255 pounds. That’s about the same size as Trautman and Kmet. Second, is his sheer athleticism. At the 2020 NFL combine, Okwuegbunam ran a 4.49 40-yard dash time, which was the best of any tight end this year, and the third-best since 2007. Lastly, there is his college production. Okwuebunam was used mainly as a blocker at Missouri, and he could not blossom into the pass-catching menace that he can be. He only averaged 2.88 catches per game, 11.8 yards per catch and six touchdowns last season. These numbers are significantly less than the other prospects, but Okwuegbunam did have an extremely hostile season compared to his fellow tight ends. Kmet was playing at Notre Dame, a top tier university with an excellent football program which makes it much easier to succeed. Trautman played at Dayton, which is in the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is at the lower end of the Divison I conferences with weak colleges such as Stetson and Marist. Okwuegbunam played at Missouri, which is not a major football university but part of the extremely challenging SEC conference. When facing SEC teams such as LSU and Florida, which are some of the top teams in the nation, it is tough for any player to make an impact.

Okwuegbunam is not going to be a superstar instantly. He will need a seasoned quarterback and a knowledgeable coach who can help him learn as he goes. If Okwuegbunam is not granted time to grow or isn’t able to stay healthy, his career could flounder. Nevertheless, if Okwuegbunam is not thrown into the deep end of the pool and is allowed to mature fully, he could be a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end tantamount to George Kittle or Zach Ertz. The future looks promising for the young star, and his NFL career could be a legendary one.