"What are we doing in the draft" 2022 edition.

[Captain Morgan]

10 hours ago, Verge said:

Hi again! Time for another one of these. This is the only type of statement I will make on the draft and I'll answer questions in here so I don't get accused of "throwing junk at the wall" again . So what are we doing in the draft? What is the plan going in? This year seems a little more obvious than last year but we can still walk through it based on information I have gotten over the last few months, and I think I have been fairly consistent with that and not much has changed. 

 

Option 1 (Ideal): 

Ideally, one of these two tackles will land at 6 and Carolina will happily run the card up and be set at left tackle for the next decade. They want to fix that position and these are the top rated guys on their board. They would not entertain trade talks if these two were there. 

 

Option 2: 

Charles Cross is their third graded tackle, they will be happy to have them and would still select him at 6. However, I think they would be more open to trade talks if it was just Cross on the board. Likely would be the pick if he was there, but wiggle room if a desperate team wants the slot for whatever reason (I'll explain the more later) 

Option 3: 


Here is where things get a little unpredictable. Obviously if they do manage a trade down with two or three of the tackles being off the board it would be a little hard to predict the target because we would have to know how far down they go. However, a few targets I know they have their eyes on with first round grades are: 
Matt Corral 
Kenny Pickett 
Trevor Penning 
Cole Strange 

Ultimately I think they would go QB with this pick, and I think they would hope Corral was the guy that made it to them, as he fits what McAdoo's offense best and has a certain grit about him that fits whatever culture they are tying to conjure up. 

 

 

"But Verge! What about Malik Willis?"
Our scouts definitely like him, I just think there is a certain feeling in the building that they are not the right team to develop him, nor can they afford to sit and wait for him to get where he needs to be. Rhule's job is on the line. 

"But Verge! Who will be our QB if we take a tackle?"
I have maintained after the Watson failure that Jimmy G is our preferred option. It comes down to him and Baker Mayfield, whichever teams bends first on taking on part of their contract or outright cutting them. We will not be giving a draft haul for either one, and we will not be starting Sam Darnold in 2022. 


One of the more complicated things about a trade down that people have been talking about wanting to do, is that the Panthers have put themselves in a precarious position by selling themselves as buyers of this QB class as well as not hiding their intent on liking the tackles. Teams want to move AHEAD of the Panthers to nab a tackle/quarterback, and the Giants are willing movers out of that 5th spot. Teams like New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and LA are looking to move ahead of us and nab one of those tackles or quarterbacks (I think, I don't officially know for NO) and put us in a position where a team trading up with us is not an attractive option. 


So there is what I know in regards to our draft. Feel free to fire down some questions at me and I will be more than happy to answer with whatever information I have.

 

hey Verge, always appreciate your insight.  You didn't mention Neal.  Is that because it is assumed he won't be there, or did we see something we didn't like?

[Verge]

2 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

 

hey Verge, always appreciate your insight.  You didn't mention Neal.  Is that because it is assumed he won't be there, or did we see something we didn't like?

I am not sure what you mean? Neal is right next to Ekwonu

[Shocker]

2 minutes ago, Verge said:

I am not sure what you mean? Neal is right next to Ekwonu

Are we gonna get a @Verge mock this year?

Edited April 19, 2022 by Shocker

[Verge]

1 minute ago, Shocker said:

Are we gonna get a Verge mock this year?

My official one will be published on DraftWire/USA Today. I will be sure to link you all

[Shocker]

1 minute ago, Verge said:

My official one will be published on DraftWire/USA Today. I will be sure to link you all

Wow, congratulations!  Thats awesome

Edited April 19, 2022 by Shocker

[Captain Morgan]

6 minutes ago, Verge said:

I am not sure what you mean? Neal is right next to Ekwonu

 

he sure is...I scrolled too fast, thought both pics were of Ikem.

[FuFuLamePoo]

1 hour ago, Verge said:

It would be a complete stab in the dark from me. You'd probably suck it up and take Corral or nab Thib.
 

Does this mean you think Corral is their QB1?

[SOJA]

11 hours ago, Bronn said:

 

We already have two potential trade partners for #6 depending on how the first five picks play out.

 

this is interesting I had not previously heard this, where did you read/hear this?

[SOJA]

7 hours ago, trueblade said:

You kind of alluded to it but yeah, I'd be surprised if it's the Giants picking at five. 

I hate the thought of losing Ickey one pick before ours. Just like last year with Sewell. 

The only hope I can see is that no one feels particularly strongly about the top players to trade up, but I do think the Giants would take Ickey regardless 

[MHS831]

7 hours ago, ChuckWag78 said:

I want Sam. Want to see what he looks like with a real OC. Looked great through the first 3 weeks last year, then Brady's system was exposed. 

Brady's system was a joke.  It was as if he was using the Madden 2015 playbook at times.  He lost CMC on offense and our #1 CB on defense--his offensive line was a putrid pile of crap. 

I am not sure he can do it even with CMC, Horn, and three new offensive linemen--and the new OL coach and OC.  However, he has never played in good conditions that he trusts--

We can feel confident that he will (if he gets the opportunity) be improved.  Enough?  I dunno.

[MHS831]

I realize that many of you do not want another frog to kiss, but I honestly think, instead of taking Corral, you draft the LT and sign Baker.  Yes--he can be a headache--but he is better than any of the draft picks and other free agents.  If he plays well and wins the locker room-pay the man.  If he is a cancer and does not take the team to the playoffs, you draft a QB in 2023 and build around him.  We have the cap room and will get a discounted rate--my guess is he would cost us about $8-10m for 2022 and we have $30m in cap room.

That is better than missing out on the LT and taking Corral, for example, only to find out he is a career backup.  Baker provides an unexpected opportunity, even if you do not like him.  Behind a good line with these WRs, he would be pretty good, imo.

[Reebis21]

@Verge who is your favorite player in the draft regardless of if they are the highest rated player on your draft board? And regardless if they are a fit for the Panthers.

Edited April 19, 2022 by Reebis21

[Khyber53]

8 hours ago, Verge said:

My official one will be published on DraftWire/USA Today. I will be sure to link you all

So great to see that! 

I liked your OP, and I think that Detroit is going to go QB and take Willis in an effort to jump start that nearly dead franchise. They've got the kind of coach that can make that happen and a desperate need to slough off the old turtle shell they've been wearing.

And that could well leave us with an excellent tackle at pick #6. I think there's even a chance that Neal goes first between the two because of the Alabama powerhouse program thing. The program has better pro credentials than NC State. And I'd love to see Ickey end up here.

If we trade back, wayyy back, what chance do you think there is that we really swerve and stay away from QB and OT? I've said we need Linderbaum for long-term planning here, but honestly, we need a first class LB and no one is talking about that. If we're sitting back at say pick 16-20, and Nakobe Dean is still on the board, do we pull the trigger?

[Catsfan69]

13 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

I am amazed that anyone can still believe in Darnold. I doubt even the majority of his family truly believe he can be successful in the NFL anymore.

I don't think it's so much faith but rather blind hope.

It's like buying a single scratcher ticket for the year. Probably won't pan out but if you hit Oh Baby.

That's why I think he's the best option. We don't dig the hole any deeper by keeping him. Baker Jimmy and anyone else is barely an upgrade and digs that hole.