I used the 30 minutes before the trade to test a possible added feature for future drafts. It doesn't work exactly the way I would want it to, but it might work - if you know how to use it. The idea would be to have a tab on the spreadsheet with a big list of prospect names - say, 500 or so total draft prospects - sorted alphabetically or randomized in some way (important - NOT ranked). You know how we can use CTRL-F to search a web page? If you go to the tab that has that player list and hit CTRL-F, you can pop a name in the box and search for your player. But you HAVE to be displaying that tab of the spreadsheet at the time. The idea is that when a player gets taken, the name gets cut from that list and pasted on the appropriate tab to show the pick. That way... anybody wanting to know in a hurry if your top guy is still available can do so quickly - just go to the list of players and hit CTRL-F to search. If you find the name, he's available. For RT / Joe / me / Tim / Lyman / whoever is running that particular draft and editing the spreadsheet, you cut and paste the player rather than typing it. (The name, position and school would be on the list in consecutive columns, so I think it would be faster/easier than typing. Also avoids issues with typos on our end.) The other benefit is that it builds in an automatic check for players already having been taken. If the person updating the spreadsheet does NOT find the name on the list, it's either a dupe or a total Stump The Truck pick. Drawbacks = for GMs, you HAVE to be on that tab of the spreadsheet for the search to work. The browser CTRL-F feature can't search all tabs. For those doing the updating, you HAVE to cut and paste every single time, or the dupe check aspect won't work (you can't accidentally leave names on the list once they're taken). And if the list is prepared by copying/pasting from any other source, it has to be randomized or sorted in some way to eliminate another company's intellectual property (the prospect rankings) for legal reasons.
That's a fit that feels good to me. I also like the Corrall to Washington move. I don't love either of these guys. But they both have aspects of their game that make the risk worth it in the 2nd. Ridder in particular is a guy I think has a pretty viable floor as an NFL QB.
Kinda funny that I ended up with Chicago of all teams. Apparently their GM has publicly commented that he wants more picks and will trade down to get them, even though the Bears don't have a first rounder. What makes it funny is that my initial reaction to seeing their picks was that I would NOT be inclined to trade down at all. I would be looking to see if I could fill two needs (or get two potential starters regardless of need) with those two second rounders. Someone would have to make a great offer to tempt me to part with either of those two picks. So the guy with the reputation for always trading down doesn't want to trade down in a situation where the real life GM has made it clear he's trading down if he can...
Saints feel fortunate that he made it this far. I love his athleticism and leadership qualities. Was debating between him and Corral ever since I made my last selection. Finally settled on Ridder last night, and then just had to cross my fingers and hope that he lasted a couple more picks. Because of his size and intangibles, and because QB's tend to get over-drafted anyway, I wouldn't be shocked if he goes day one.
@TopDawg = OTC I pm'ed @Underdog , @Tim and @Willie two picks ago to let them know they'll be up soon.
