Bear Hands

If Tyleik or Norman-Lott fell somehow, that would be even better.

Editing title for accuracy - also a pre-warning to keep it tame in here. No tomfoolery.

Fo sure. Where I'm kind of leaning w/our first: With this high of a pick, stepping back, big picture, you want a guy that can straight up elevate their side of the ball and change the way the opposition needs to play us. That's the bottom line for me. It's what we wanted with Bryce of course, Brown, Horn, etc. when drafting this high. Icky had the question marks in pass blocking but we had a 5+ year running need when we landed him. The defenders people are considering can be really nice, sure, potentially all-pro pieces (Walker, Johnson, Pearce, etc.) but are we getting a guy that a defense needs to immediately account for on every snap? Or are you banking on some potential actualizing? Is there any lack of sure-thing with translating to the NFL, or additional refinement needed? When you're banking on those factors high in the draft, that's where the busts can come from IMO. I.E. Johnson has press-man coverage questions (Surtain/Horn did not have those concerns), Walker with his size/down-to-down role, and Pearce needing some run-d technical refinement. But with Warren, you drop him in, I think the offense entirely changes. And the way people need to play us entirely changes as well. And I don't see anything technically that needs more hands-on coaching required. It's appealing. Not entirely there yet, but if a team is sold on him, I'm seeing the why.

I'm going to ruffle some feathers but I wouldn't touch Starks in the top-20, maybe even the 1st. Would be a massive overreach. Now don't get me wrong, he was one of UGA's leaders, strong tackler, no injuries, and had some huge plays - so a ton of good, but he also gave up big plays and just doesn't have the deep speed you want. He has some great traits, but after I've dove in recently, I'm looking at a Xavier Watts, and don't see what Starks necessarily brings that's so much more coveted. I kind of like Xavier even better honestly. More instinctual and quicker. Starks gave up a 99.6 passer rating when targeted and only 8 run stops on nearly 400 run snaps (over 150 in the box).

This. It’s why this year’s mocks are all over the place and who the hell knows come draft day. A guy perceived in the 40s right now could end up top-15 lol

I feel like we may be more preferential to guys like Grant, Tyleik, Norman-Lott, & Collins in this draft. Need a real brute force in the trenches, probably even more so than an edge guy. Honestly, I lean more trenches than the standing edge talent, especially if we're talking the types that need some run-d refinement. Which is basically all of them after Carter & Pearce. Heck, and even Pearce needs some work. While we're talking about our sleeper/faves, Kenny Grant is the one that could sneak up boards and I honestly think is the one being super overlooked. That size & athleticism with legit pass-rush skills in the middle of a DL doesn't come around often and I don't see him sitting long to hear his name called come draft day. He did it for a major program, was a key piece to that 2023 defense, and he'd be a really good fit between Brown & A'Shawn. That's a plug and play cog.

Interviews are huge for Green. I agree people can change and make dumb decisions, but he was straight up kicked out of a program and had to leave UVA. That just doesn't happen for a one time minor offense. It's why I've been cautious with getting excited about him. If he checks out with teams, he could go quite high. If he seems like a kid with some issues, then there could be a nosedive.

Will say, a Warren choice could be favorable if you're considering the FA and mid-rounder landscape. FA on offense is simply bad this year. There's no real multi-year investments. Defense is much different. There's also not exactly any true elevators on offense draft wise outside of Jeanty and Warren (I do like Loveland a lot). So if one of the few blue chips is there...I mean... And R2-3 has more impact options on defense. There's some REALLY appealing IDL (which is one of my top concerns) Tyleik Williams, Norman-Lott, Alfred Collins, & Philips to name a few. Also at EDGE with Elijah Roberts, Tuimoloau, Ivey, Swinson, & Princely. Not to mention Xavier Watts and others at DB. We'll be attacking FA first which will predicate a lot. And we are likely looking heavy defense, it may make taking a blue chip offensive guy quite appealing depending on who we get.

I don’t

You draft Warren and he’s a guy that becomes a focal point of an offense. That type of TE doesn’t come along often…him and Brockers coming out in back to back years is an aberration. Will say, I don’t think Loveland is far behind either but the short of it is that Warren completely changes an offense. It’s pretty appealing. Jeanty is the only other offensive skill player that could have that type of immediate impact IMO. McMillan, Loveland, Burden, Hampton, Egbuka just aren’t at THAT level of impact+value. It’s a tough call when you’re void of pass rush talent, and there’s good options (Walker, Pearce, Green) but then have a guy like Warren potentially there for the taking.

If you're looking at what they can give you out of the gate, I'm really not a Williams fan. He's got great measurables and I can see being a combine riser, but his work this past season wasn't impressive from what I've seen. He's good, not elite against the run and has a LONG ways to go as a pass rusher. You don't draft a 1st with potential and measurables weighted THAT heavily into the pick.

Christensen would be nice but he obviously wants to test the market. Between him being gone, the center spot, Icky still a bit of an uncertainty and Moton’s age, I really think the OL should be given some love via draft to develop our next starters. Stay ahead, don’t let a strength become a weakness. D wise- Jackson is the surprise but maybe we target some DBs in the market - there’s some interesting ones this year. Offense this FA is kind of trash but defensively, DB talent is there. Also- For being a more well known safety, Xavier Woods had one of the quietest 2+ year starting tenures I think I’ve ever seen here.

McLaughlin and Drew Kendall would be options from this draft exclusively at center. UNC's Lampkin played C for a bit before moving to Guard and could be a solid swing depth guy as well. The talent could be had.

Someone like that makes sense to me. It's a rough FA group overall, I wouldn't be surprised if we just drafted another in the mid rounds and didn't really grab anyone.

Between the Bengals doing what they can to keep him and the Patriots, Chargers and Wash piggy banks, we can probably scrap the idea of Tee all together.

If I were Morgan, I would prioritize both Christensen and Mays. Mays is nothing spectacular but he showed he can be a good swing depth piece. It's good to have something known/familiar insurance as depth. Christensen is the same but a bit more starter caliber. With him, I just don't want to overpay, but he seems like a good fit with the gang wherever he plays. I've always been preferential to Tremble as a longer term TE2, but would not overly pursue unless is a mutual thing. And then see if Mike Jackson wants a modest 2-year deal. Otherwise, I'm letting the rest of our FAs explore. Save the bank. I also wouldn't restructure too much, would be nice to just get out from under a lot next year for re-signing the better talent and a splash 2026 signing or two.

It's one of the last ties to 2015. I don't count JJ, he transcends the eras. Crazy we're a decade removed, but this is a smart move for us. Hopefully Trevin can turn into something good and we can identify someone to grow behind Jewell at the other ILB spot.

He was dismissed from UVA for something that all parties were hush hush about- that's how he wound up at Marshall. That being said, I've seen him up there on both The Athletic and PFF in the top-20 overall now. Him, Pearce, & Shemar are in the same vicinity EDGE wise.

I could stomach it for a minute but thought passing the last two drafts when it was deep with even guys like Limmer in later rounds was a pretty big whiff. Never hurts to draft the big uglies, pressing need or not, the guys in the trenches are where to keep the ship afloat.

Drafting on the OL is smart. There’s some solid guys who could sit a year or two behind him. Plus, I’m still unsure at C and LT. Keep strengths strengths. We’ve got a lot of picks to work with as long as they don’t Fitt this and turn 9 into 5 picks via trade ups lol

Frazier….

If I had to pick one guy -- leaning towards/almost pound the table that could possibly be had in the 3rd: Elijah Roberts He's an EDGE that I have a hard time not seeing make an impact.

I agree with the limited R1 grades but not his names. Jahdae Barron is a guy just skyrocketing on a few boards and publications. My guess is word from the scouting community must be trickling out and pushing him ahead of Morrison (and Johnson for some) Mykel Williams is a first on paper, not on tape. I just can't get on board with that. He's a guy that's dependent if a team thinks they can carve him into a better rusher. He needs a lot of development IMO. But Miller has fallen off in recent years. He was the guy claiming Willis & Ridder were going to be 1sts.

Good shout outs. I'm definitely preferential to Shemar. Don't know how high I'd be willing to take him, but I have a hard time not seeing him make an impact in the league. As mentioned, he consistently is collapsing OLs. 6'6 280ish. He's athletic to stand and set an edge, can get his hands in the dirt in sub packages. Good prospect with huge upside. He's built like a machine.

WR: Tez Johnson, Horton, Kyle Williams, & Nash RB: Brashard Smith, Kyle Monangai, and that Tuten kid ILB: Jay Higgins (love) EDGE: Elijah Roberts & Oladejo DL: Norman-Lott S: Xavier Watts