It really depends on how you look at it. If you were expecting complete players you’ll probably be a little disappointed. However if you look at it through the situational football perspective it’s a really good draft.
Fitz top 5 talent who likely will become a leader and will help transform or defense. Sabin absolutely loved him due to his work ethic and personality. He has a drive to be great and will dramatically improve the play of those around him. Not to forget that he was the first Thorpe and Bednarik award winner in the same season since Charles Woodson! He may, however, be the only 3 down player drafted. A+
Gesicki is by far the most dynamic TE we’ve had since Keith Jackson. He is a mismatch nightmare and the red zone threat we desperately needed. 4.54 forty and 41 inch vertical from a former basketball and volleyball player? Get out of here! So what if he isn’t an accomplished blocker. With his size and strength, that can be developed. If it doesn’t happen, so what, there’s a backup plan further down the list. A
Baker was reported to run a sub 4.4 forty at his proday. He excels at man coverage and was matched up again Saquan Barkley among others. He did give up 6 TDs in 2 years but I’d need to research why. Was it man or zone coverage? Did the qb or receiver make a great play or did he blow the coverage. Regardless, we need to get Kiko off the field on passing downs and this is why he was selected. Don’t worry about his run support as he will not be a 3 down player, which is most likely why some don’t like the pick. Again, this is situational football where we’ll have packages for the front 7 and quite possible have very few, if any, 3 down players there. It will be nice if for once if we don’t see TEs constantly running wide open over the middle of the field. B+
Smythe is our blocking TE plain and simple. He comes in on running downs and goal line exclusively. He’s very stiff and doesn’t run routes very well but has good hands. Some may have wanted a dt, like me, but this is a role vacated by Fasanonthat needed to be addressed. B
Ballage was a mystery to me at ASU, of which I watch a lot of their games being from AZ. I never understood why he didn’t see the field very much. His vision is average at best, but his speed and cuts are extremely smooth. He most likely isn’t going to ever become a starter but we needed to fill the void of 3rd down back left by the departure of Damien Williams. Make no mistake, ballage is an enormous upgrade. He catches the ball extremely well and is a nightmare in space. He also most likely will return kicks. B
I honestly don’t know much about the final three picks other than Armstrong has speed and may be a special team flyer. Boling is supposedly strong at run support and our kicker, while having a down year, is reportedly good on onside kicks. McCray is a player and if you include him it raised the collective grade a little to a C+
Overall if you look at it from the perspective of situational football I give this draft a B+. However it raises to a solid A when you factor in Quinn and Anthony were essentially 4th and 5th round picks this year.
Fitz top 5 talent who likely will become a leader and will help transform or defense. Sabin absolutely loved him due to his work ethic and personality. He has a drive to be great and will dramatically improve the play of those around him. Not to forget that he was the first Thorpe and Bednarik award winner in the same season since Charles Woodson! He may, however, be the only 3 down player drafted. A+
Gesicki is by far the most dynamic TE we’ve had since Keith Jackson. He is a mismatch nightmare and the red zone threat we desperately needed. 4.54 forty and 41 inch vertical from a former basketball and volleyball player? Get out of here! So what if he isn’t an accomplished blocker. With his size and strength, that can be developed. If it doesn’t happen, so what, there’s a backup plan further down the list. A
Baker was reported to run a sub 4.4 forty at his proday. He excels at man coverage and was matched up again Saquan Barkley among others. He did give up 6 TDs in 2 years but I’d need to research why. Was it man or zone coverage? Did the qb or receiver make a great play or did he blow the coverage. Regardless, we need to get Kiko off the field on passing downs and this is why he was selected. Don’t worry about his run support as he will not be a 3 down player, which is most likely why some don’t like the pick. Again, this is situational football where we’ll have packages for the front 7 and quite possible have very few, if any, 3 down players there. It will be nice if for once if we don’t see TEs constantly running wide open over the middle of the field. B+
Smythe is our blocking TE plain and simple. He comes in on running downs and goal line exclusively. He’s very stiff and doesn’t run routes very well but has good hands. Some may have wanted a dt, like me, but this is a role vacated by Fasanonthat needed to be addressed. B
Ballage was a mystery to me at ASU, of which I watch a lot of their games being from AZ. I never understood why he didn’t see the field very much. His vision is average at best, but his speed and cuts are extremely smooth. He most likely isn’t going to ever become a starter but we needed to fill the void of 3rd down back left by the departure of Damien Williams. Make no mistake, ballage is an enormous upgrade. He catches the ball extremely well and is a nightmare in space. He also most likely will return kicks. B
I honestly don’t know much about the final three picks other than Armstrong has speed and may be a special team flyer. Boling is supposedly strong at run support and our kicker, while having a down year, is reportedly good on onside kicks. McCray is a player and if you include him it raised the collective grade a little to a C+
Overall if you look at it from the perspective of situational football I give this draft a B+. However it raises to a solid A when you factor in Quinn and Anthony were essentially 4th and 5th round picks this year.
