2021 GMO Draft - UDFA

I Know other players battled through cancer but this guy overcame testicular cancer.

 

Patriots select:

Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State

 

Patriots are offering their two 7th rounders for an OTC pick

 

@xinik then @dirk275

 

A slew of Buckeye LB's in this draft...

 

I'm actually still here if my pick comes up.

 

Unless picks happen in the middle of the night and I'm awake then don't expect me to pick until noon at the soonest.

 

We’re pretty far ahead I guess. You could always leave your #1 with me. I might be here by 10ET. It’s my day to sleep in tomorrow.

 

Sent 1 name to RT.

 

It is now 10:15 am (5:15 ET - we’re back to 5 hours). The Bills pick is about 18 away, and have 2 in the 7th. If by any chance I’m not around, RT has a pick list for me.

The Bills are interested in trading down from 6 (29).

Happy Palm Sunday to all Christians.

 

Punters are people too!

(the obligatory Rich Eisen line, prompting an eye roll from Mike Mayock)

 

I will forever think of Mitch Williams and John Kruk whenever I hear "testicular cancer" in a sports context.

 

Are we taking Palm Sunday off from the draft?

 

I didn't get that memo.

 

I'm ready. Just waiting for NYG to pick

 

Raiders have a couple picks coming up....Standing by.

 

I’m pretty close with my next two picks so I was going to wait, but I’ll post my Texans off-season breakdown to pass a bit of time

 

Houston Texans​

This was a busy off-season. New GM, new Head Coach. And a disgruntled Face of the Franchise who publicly stated he didn't want to be here anymore. I agonized over what to do with the future of this franchise. But ultimately decided that Nick Caserio, a Bill Belichick disciple, would shed the distraction while the value on him was essentially sky high and move forward from there, building a roster that has depth and a desire to win. I shipped out Deshaun for a plethora of valuable assets (three 1's, one 3, CB Donte Jackson, and maybe most importantly DT Derrick Brown). Lovie Smith is our new DC. History says that means a transition to a heavy Cover-2 scheme. For that you have to win with your front 4. I got this vision in my head of Derrick Brown next to an improved Ross Blacklock wreaking havoc inside, and all the things I could do with the extra draft ammo. It's a brand new era in Houston!

Fun sidenote: Came within a "small" cap issue of this deal involving a different team and a different young budding star at DT. But as they say, the rest is history.

FREE AGENCY​

My goal was to make sure I had an option at QB after the trade. A possible stopgap in case I didn't land our QB of the future and/or present in the draft. Aside from that, this team was transitioning to a new coaching staff and new schemes. So I had to add some pieces to make those work while pinching pennies everywhere I could due to lack of cap space. Piece of cake, right?
My plan was to target a known commodity at the QB position. I also needed help at DB, LB's who fit the Cover-2 scheme, and due to roster cuts to get a little breathing room against the cap, I needed affordable starting caliber players at Running Back.

Execution​

Roster Depth:
QB Mitchell Trubisky $6 million (CHI)
QB Brett Hundley Vet Min (ARZ)

RB Mark Ingram $1.05 million (BAL)
RB Wayne Gallman $1.075 million (NYG)
FB Kyle Juszczyk Vet Min (SF)
WR Sammy Watkins Vet Min (KC)
WR Keelan Cole Vet Min (JAX)

LB Tahir Whitehead $1.1 million (CAR)
CB Mackensie Alexander $1.1 million (CIN)
P Jack Fox $625,000 (made probowl in 1st year in league, guessing Tim was asleep [busy AF] on this non-tag)
Traded for CB Donte Jackson and DT Derrick Brown

Final Thoughts: I thought it went well. Weren't a lot of good options in FA at the QB position. I got one I could live with for a year with at least a chance to outperform the low expectations at a reasonable price. Added some capable talent through trade/FA at RB, WR, DT, LB, and CB. All one year signings. Guys that succeed have a shot at 2nd contract. Guys that don't we move on. We started the rebuild up front with Derrick Brown while adding some capable scheme fits in Whitehead and M.Alexander. Also a boatload of draft capital.

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DRAFT
​

My primary goal was to find our QB of the future. Always a must if you don't have one. The secondary goal was to keep it simple and begin adding NFL talent across the roster. I had a likely starting point at DB, where not only were we transitioning to a new defensive scheme, but this team was simply horrible last year, finishing 30th in total defense while simultaneously creating the fewest turnovers in the entire league. That's not how you win football games, in regular season or the playoffs.

1(8) Zach Wilson - QB - BYU
3(3) Richie Grant - S - UCF
4(4) Kary Vincent Jr - CB - LSU
4(17) Kendrick Green - G - Illinois
5(3) Jaret Patterson - RB - Buffalo
6(18) Garret Wallow - LB - TCU
6(28) Javian Hawkins - RB - Louisville
7(3)


Zach Wilson needs no explanation. He's a polarizing prospect. But this franchise needs an identity and he's definitely capable of all the throws. He's a bit reminiscent of Patrick Mahomes in some of the off platform and arm strength feats he puts on tape. For better or worse, I don't think it's a secret it's a copycat league to a fault. Well Nick Caserio and co. flirt with disaster here, chasing greatness with what they hope will be the next young superstar signal caller capable of unbelievable plays on a down to down basis.

Richie Grant: He's a center fielder who reads developing plays quite well, has good range, and actually is a fairly sound tackler to boot. He's a bit similar to Justin Reid whom we already have on board. But back to our secondary goal...keep it simple and just add talent (especially on the back end).

Kary Vincent Jr.: Nick Caserio is a Belichick disciple. And there's two things I know for sure about Bill. He never shies away from swinging at DB's in the draft, and he takes his special teams seriously. Vincent can help on both counts. His speed could be an asset on special teams. And as for finding Cover-2 players for Lovie Smith, I personally thought Vincent was incredibly quick to react on tape to plays happening underneath him. And he certainly didn't shy away from flying in to blow up screens and curls before they could develop. Feisty at the catch point, we have high hopes for the impact he could have in this system and on specials.

Kendrick Green: Fun note about him as a man. Helped organize a peaceful rally at Illinois during the black lives matter movement. So he's a natural leader. Notes about him on the field. He's got gifts not every interior blocker does. He moves very well, and brings a physicality with him when he gets to his target. Has some learning to do, some balance issues to clean up breaking down on the move, but I think he's exactly the kind of man and player Caserio would love to fill this roster with. And no one can ever shit-talk the idea of taking shots to improve the protection in front of a franchise QB you just crowned in the Top-10.

Jaret Patterson: Seriously, go look up this dude's story on Youtube. He's been an underdog his whole life. And never let the low expectations stop him from outperforming them three-fold. He looks a bit undersized. But most people who watch his tape will tell you he doesn't play that way. I'm certainly one of them. Has great vision, good pad level, and has that "knack near the goal-line" you always hear about. He could be this year's Kareem Hunt or James Robinson and just ball out like Dallas just took him 4th overall or something.

Garret Wallow: Part of the "500-Club" A.K.A. has 500+ snaps experience on special teams in college. Again, Caserio is a BB disciple so I'm assuming he understands the value of a quality special teams group. Beyond that, Wallow is actually a pretty good fit for the new Cover-2 scheme. He processes quickly and trusts his eyes. He's a bit undersized, but that's not necessarily the problem in today's NFL it would have been 6-12 years ago. Might win our "Will" spot eventually. Should help specials immediately.

Javian Hawkins: This kid is built in the Tarik Cohen mold. Very agile and most LB's will struggle with him in space. He can eventually become a weapon from several spots. In the meantime he can provide KR/PR and RB depth.

 

I'll check back in later.