2021 GMO Draft - UDFA

Tampa Bay is OTC

@Willie

 

the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS select;

Feleipe Franks - QB - Arkansas

 

Sorry for the delay. I got confused.

 

Buffalo is OTC

@KilkennyDan

 

The Buffalo Bills select:
Charles Snowden, OLB, Virginia

Also note, the draft chart needs pick 7 (25) corrected from LAR to BUF per trade note 21

 

Select: Chuba Hubbard, RB - Oklahoma State

 

Dallas is OTC

 

Indianapolis Colts​

So the real life GM solved one problem for me; That was what to do at Quarterback. He traded a 3rd this year, and what will be a 1 or 2 next year to acquire Carson Wentz. I will withhold judgement on whether I love or hate this trade until at least six games into the 2021 season. Truth be told, I like it so far in that our HC has a fairly positive history with him, and that if it's a complete disaster we can make moves to ensure that pick next year stays a 2nd rounder instead of a 1. Genius!
My goals between Free Agency and the draft were to turn our large available cap pool and 6 remaining draft picks into the pieces to make this team a true Superbowl contender, assuming the QB trade brings us a top 12 NFL Quarterback. All moves were made assuming our HC/OC can make that a reality.

FREE AGENCY​

My goal was to fill holes well enough without overpaying that we could go into the draft without having to "Force" a pick at any particular position.
My plan was to succeed there while also making one Big Splash signing if I thought it would genuinely improve our team without mortgaging the future.

Execution​

Big Splash Signed WR Chris Godwin to 4 year deal with average annual value of $15.5 million.

Roster Depth:
LT Russell Okung to 2 year deal worth AAV of $6.75 million
DE Justin Houston to 1 year deal worth $6 million
DE Deatrich Wise to 1 year deal worth $3 million
CB Xavier Rhodes to 1 year deal worth $4.5 million
CB Chidobe Awuzie to Vet Min 1 year deal
S Xavier Woods to Vet Min 1 year deal

Final Thoughts: Huge Success!! Godwin + Michael Pittman + Zach Pascal + Parris Campbell + Nyheim Hines = Dynamic group of weapons for new QB Carson Wentz. Should let our offense be multi-dimensional and allow no defense to focus on only the run or the pass.
Russell Okung, while a bit of an injury risk, is a veteran presence that knows how to handle himself at LT and gives us the freedom not to force a pick there when value says we shouldn't. DB's Rhodes, Awuzie, and Woods give us depth at CB and S so once again, we don't have to force any additions in the draft unless value dictates it's a good idea. On a Vet min deal Awuzie might just outplay recent draft pick Rock Ya-Sin, who takes too many penalties not to be challenged for his starting spot.
Likewise, the additions of Justin Houston (retained) and Deatrich Wise give us some pass-rush options that possibly improve our chances of getting after the QB. But at the very least help us maintain the level of pressure we managed last year, so once again (Have you heard this before?) we don't need to force any picks in the draft unless it's a good idea. Also "won" in that so much of what I did was zero commitment beyond 2021 that we'll have the cap space back for whatever is needed next offseason. I also traded DL Tyquan Lewis for DT David Irving. Small move of depth players, but my personal preference based on upside is Irving providing depth inside on passing downs.

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DRAFT ​

My goal even after my FA moves was to find our LT of the future (shocking, I know), and to try and improve our pass rush. Otherwise I was just trying to provide some quality depth at positions that aren't completely settled. Our GM has shown a penchant for trading back to acquire picks, and to play along I stayed true to that. We moved back from 21 to 34 to gain back the 3rd we lost acquiring Carson Wentz (11th instead of 21st too) and to improve our 6th round placement (2 instead of 22).

2(2) Joseph Ossai - DE - Texas
2(22) Dillon Radunz - OT - North Dakota State
3(11) Quinn Meinerz - IOL - Wisconsin-Whitewater
4(22) Cade Johnson - WR - South Dakota State
5(21) Derrick Barnes - LB - Purdue
6(2) Tre Brown - CB - Oklahoma
7(20) Demetric Felton - WR/RB - UCLA

Our GM has shown a dedication to investing in a quality O-line. And also a tendency of trading back to acquire extra picks. I certainly stayed true to both of those in this offseason.
Joseph Ossai: He will be brought along slowly. Has J.Houston, Turay, Banogu, and D.Wise in front of him on the depth chart. But he's a high effort, high character guy who fits everything the Colts are looking for, minus averaging 10+ sacks per season through his last two college campaigns. He's been productive, but there are questions about what his ceiling can be. In a "weak?" DE class, we'll gain value in a trade back and take the gamble that big Joe is just scratching the surface. His personality will certainly fit our team regardless.
Dillon Radunz had a very successful college career at NDSU. He's been a huge Riser in the pre-draft process, and he more than proved at the Senior Bowl that he's capable of handling the jump in competition. Looked about as smooth as any OT present that week. If he needs a little extra time to acclimate, that's why I brought Okung into the fold. Radunz is our LT of the future. Present if he's ready.
Quinn Meinerz: Another senior bowl standout, he was the star of the show honestly. Got talked about all week, and proved he's nasty enough to make every interaction a dog fight. We have our three interior starters set, so my vision for Meinerz was to bring him along slowly with a vision to him being the first guy off the bench at any interior OL position until the time comes that one of our starters is either injured or a cap casualty. Then it's "The Gut's" show. Literally just realized this would give us two OL's we could coin "Big-Q". Awesome!!
Cade Johnson (WR): Well you shouldn't draft a guy based on the senior bowl alone. But Good Lord! Did any of you watch the video I posted of him in the 1-on-1's during senior bowl week? Dude was breaking ankles. Created separation like it was a training video. I think he went about 10 reps versus several different players before there was a pass he didn't snag. No one could mirror him. My vision for him is to eventually steal Parris Campbell's job, since he can't stay healthy enough to lay permanent claim to it. In the meantime he's developmental depth.
Derrick Barnes: He's a bit of a mystery. Didn't get enough publicity to be a proven commodity. Maybe a small reach. But if there's a need I wasn't sure I'd filled by this point it was at our "Sam" Linebacker spot. Obvious Darius Leonard owns the Will spot. I think the team believes enough in Okereke to make him the incumbent at Mike. That likely sticks. But in time, if Barnes proves capable enough, he's welcome to steal that job. In the meantime the team has a bunch of guys drafted late recently who haven't had a chance to prove it. Add Barnes to a deep group, and I'm guessing he wins the Sam job out of the gate. It's the least important LB spot in today's NFL anyways, on the field anywhere from 20% to maybe %37 of the game. Obvious running downs mostly. I do love this guy's physicality and tenacity on tape. And he might succeed on the odd blitz if our DC wants to get creative. He's a handful even for tough OLs.
Tre Brown is going to bring value on special teams while providing depth at nickel CB. Had an impressive week at the senior bowl, showing an ability to mirror, compete at the catch point, and make WR's earn it without being overly handsy. Love his chances to stick in the league.

Well I always get carried away. But hey, I wait all year for this shit and I put a lot of energy into it. So sue me!!

@KilkennyDan Ask and ye shall receive...

 

The DALLAS COWBOYS select;

Brenden Knox - RB - Marshal

 

Falcons are OTC

@Torgo

 

That might have been what f'd me up on Seth, but it probably had more to do with me trying to read the small print on my phone without my glasses. lol! I hate when that happens! I scanned through looking for him twice, but I just missed it....In all honesty, I was worried the same thing was going to happen with the Darden pick, but I decided to cross my fingers and go for it, hoping for the best. lol! Luckily for me, he was still available, and CLE is real happy with that pick.

 

He was on my short list for SEA just behind Yeboah....

 

I think your 2 seconds and the third rounder are smash hits. I had forgotten about the WR out of SDSU (Jackrabbits?), but I think he'll be remembered on real draft day.

 

Alright, I'll do another breakdown of my offseason, since we're not rushing through picks at the moment. This time I'll start with the least interesting team remaining, IMO.

The Denver Broncos! I do appreciate John Elway as a GM though, even though he recently relinquished that position.

 

Falcons select

Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green

 

Chargers are OTC

@Falcons Guy

 

I'd say purely based on grade etc it's a bit early to take Morris, but we seem to be starting to have a mini-run on the next tier of TEs. So what the heaven, he's my choice and I'm taking him now.

 

That post was made on Wednesday - mid afternoon. No takers.

I would have taken a 2022 4th/5th Rd pick for all three. I think I'll just use them this year.

 

I almost took him rounds ago but didn't want to take him early.