NFL: 2018 NFL Draft

100% this. UDFAs usually get cut by the end of training camp or after preseason games. If Lazard goes in the top 4 rounds of the draft he is guaranteed some money and a decent chace of making the roster. I want him to go to a team I like, but making it into the league and having a chance to show what you can do is the first hurdle. THEN he can show how good of a pro he can be and pick his team with his next contract. Lazard has busted his ass to be an NFL player and deserves whatever he can get.

It's really rare for a player picked in the first four rounds to not make the roster. Most decision makers don't want to admit failure that quickly because it makes them look bad.

I think there might be a run coming on wide receivers tonight, and where he goes in that group just depends on what type of receiver the teams are looking for. Apparently there isn't much consensus around the league with some players - I figured Rashaad Penny, Terell Edmunds and Sony Michel would be available in the third round but there they were going in the first round last night. So maybe Lazrd is higher on some boards than what we're all expecting.
 
Maybe the Steelers are looking at Lazard now that they traded Martavis Bryant to the Raiders? Lazard could fill that role in Pittsburgh quite nicely!

That would be so awesome. I had counted my Steelers out of the running for Lazard going into the draft, but that extra 3rd round pick and opening in the WR corps looks nice. He'd be part of a good receiver group with a good QB to throw to him. Antonio Brown is one of the hardest working guys in the league and would be great to learn from as well.
 
As for the Steelers pick last night, I'm a bit disappointed that it looks like they reached on a safety that could have been there in the 2nd or even the 3rd round.

I'm hoping they tried to trade back unsuccessfully but still ended up with a guy they really like.

Edmunds is a terrific athlete and hopefully will develop into a great safety. We'll have to wait and see.
 
Biggest loser of the draft: I nominate RGIII's comeback. Freshly signed with the Ravens only to have them draft Lamar Jackson.
 
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As for the Steelers pick last night, I'm a bit disappointed that it looks like they reached on a safety that could have been there in the 2nd or even the 3rd round.

I'm hoping they tried to trade back unsuccessfully but still ended up with a guy they really like.

Edmunds is a terrific athlete and hopefully will develop into a great safety. We'll have to wait and see.

I think they were hoping Vander Esch would fall to them. I was surprised at the Edmunds pick, too. Unless all of the pundits were wrong - which is totally possible - there weren't amny teams that had him that high on their boards.

Same for Sony Michel and Rashaad Penny. They might turn out to be great picks, but it didn't seem like there was a need to take them that early.
 
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I think they were hoping Vander Esch would fall to them. I was surprised at the Edmunds pick, too. Unless all of the pundits were wrong - which is totally possible - there weren't amny teams that had him that high on their boards.

Same for Sony Michel and Rashaad Penny. They might turn out to be great picks, but it didn't seem like there was a need to take them that early.

I too think the Steelers were looking hard at an ILB but they couldn't justify any of the options that were left. I could see Edmunds being used like Troy P was used...note I am not expecting him to be the hall-of-famer that Troy P was. It was a pick of need for sure...maybe a reach but what if they had taken a WR at 28 and then no safety OR linebacker was there for them in the 2nd round? I feel they had no choice but to either trade back (wonder if the Ravens contacted them?) or to take the highest rated S or ILB on their board. Edmunds could be a beast...but yeah...he might have been there in the 2nd round.
 
I too think the Steelers were looking hard at an ILB but they couldn't justify any of the options that were left. I could see Edmunds being used like Troy P was used...note I am not expecting him to be the hall-of-famer that Troy P was. It was a pick of need for sure...maybe a reach but what if they had taken a WR at 28 and then no safety OR linebacker was there for them in the 2nd round? I feel they had no choice but to either trade back (wonder if the Ravens contacted them?) or to take the highest rated S or ILB on their board. Edmunds could be a beast...but yeah...he might have been there in the 2nd round.

I guess they didn't like Justin Reid from Stanford that much, or really wanted a SS instead of a FS. And they probably didn't really like any of the remaining ILB prospects that high.

My guess is they fell in love with Edmunds athletic ability and are hoping he blossoms as an all around SS as a pro. He was a corner for a while in college so he's got some room to grow at the position.
 
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I guess they didn't like Justin Reid from Stanford that much, or really wanted a SS instead of a FS. And they probably didn't really like any of the remaining ILB prospects that high.

My guess is they fell in love with Edmunds athletic ability and are hoping he blossoms as an all around SS as a pro. He was a corner for a while in college so he's got some room to grow at the position.

I think you are right. Did you see those ESPN images of him after he was selected? That guy is downright scary strong and athletic! Hope the Steelers can maximize his talent!
 
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It's really rare for a player picked in the first four rounds to not make the roster. Most decision makers don't want to admit failure that quickly because it makes them look bad.

I think there might be a run coming on wide receivers tonight, and where he goes in that group just depends on what type of receiver the teams are looking for. Apparently there isn't much consensus around the league with some players - I figured Rashaad Penny, Terell Edmunds and Sony Michel would be available in the third round but there they were going in the first round last night. So maybe Lazrd is higher on some boards than what we're all expecting.

Consensus is that the Seahawks reached like crazy drafting him where they did.
 
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I guess they didn't like Justin Reid from Stanford that much, or really wanted a SS instead of a FS. And they probably didn't really like any of the remaining ILB prospects that high.

My guess is they fell in love with Edmunds athletic ability and are hoping he blossoms as an all around SS as a pro. He was a corner for a while in college so he's got some room to grow at the position.

The other thing about Edmunds...it seems like he was born to cover TEs. And the Steelers have had their issues in recent years getting beat by TEs. And we play some good ones coming up this season (Gronk and Kelce off the top of my head). That ability just might have entered into the Steeler mindset when making this pick?
 
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I probably like Baker more than most but that was such a Browns move, my god.

I like him too. Him and Darnold would be my choices. Allen will be a bust. But if they don't take Baker there, they may not get their guy. If they wait until #4, who do they take at 1 that doesn't make everyone question their move anyways? I thought they had a decent draft. I probably would have taken Chubb over Ward, but still hard to argue on Ward.

Bills made the dumbest move in my opinion.
 
T
Amari Cooper
Jordy Nelson
Martavis Bryant

That's a heck of a WR corp
The homer in my wants Jordy to succeed. I love the guy. But, as a "fantasy football owner? I'm wondering if the Packers saw the cost vs value exceeding what they wanted. He may be on the down turn, I hope not. But, I think I wouldn't draft him until after the 3rd or 4th round for what his production may be. I may be wrong.
 
I am looking at the Hughes pick as if he is the replacement for both Sherels (KR/PR) and possibly Waynes or Alexander (@ CB) starting in 2019..... They better go G/T the rest of the way, though.

Assuming no trades in the second, the guy they'd like to have--Connor Williams, Texas-- should be gone. I think the two guys that might be there for them to target are Austin Corbett, G, Nevada and Tyrell Crosby, T, Oregon.
 
The article I just read gives them an A+?
Comes down to these two things on his grade sheet:
  • Never had completion rate higher than 56 percent in either season as a starter
  • Field-reading is spotty
You're playing in that conference, you think he'd have higher numbers.

I may be wrong, but the bust percentages on qbs are in my favor.
 
Four players will still be waiting in the green room when the draft resumes tonight - Josh Jackson, Connor Williams, Derrius Guice, and Shaquem Griffin. Who's going off the board first? I think Jackson and Guice will both be gone witin the first five picks, Williams at some point in the second round, and Griffin in the third.