Are we going to do thoughts on our Shark Pool LG Rookie Draft again this year?
I'm your Huckleberry
Roster pre-draft:
QB: Purdy
RB-ETN, Rhamondre, Javonte, Chase Brown, Singletary and Keaton Mitchell
WR: London, Pickens, Juedy
TE: Laporta, Kincaid, Pitts and Musgrave
K: Butker
D: Jets
Before I get into it let me put on my crown of shame. This is my worst performing team I've ever had after 3 years and at least I can it's not remotely close. Kudo's to a sharp league. The shame, shame, shame walk for me. I have even sucked in the draft playoffs, which is especially bad because I actually prepare for it, highest pick my own team has got in 3 years was pick 4, finished last in draft playoffs this year. But thankfully team Joey has won every playoff he's been in this league, just happened to be the draft playoffs this year and got me pick 1.1 after trading him Goedert mid-season, which at the time I'm pretty sure we both assumed was going to be a late one.
1.1: Marvin Harrison Jr: I went skinny on keeping only 3 WR's after cuts on premise I was picking a WR at 1.1, not exactly rocket science here. But can honestly say that while MHJ was always the front runner I kept an open mind during the entire process on which one I'd take. You don't have to try hard to envision a scenario where Nabers or Odunze end up as better fantasy players, but primarily due to Nabers QB issues and Odunze's target comp early on in his career in conjunction with MHJ's clean high floor/ceiling profile and strong landing spot made this a no brainer post NFL draft.
1.6: Brian Thomas Jr: my second junior, this one just has a JAG dad and now he's one himself. I mentioned I would not be surprised if Nabers or Odunze ended up as the top fantasy WR in this class. I'd include Thomas as well, anyone else would surprise me, though the difference with him vs those other 3 is the lower floor as there are things I will admit in his profile which have been strong indicators of bust potential whereas the other 3 it's frankly hard to see busting other then health or off field issues. What is a little unusual to work out like this is that since I knew these picks in January I've thought I was as likely to pick him at 6 as I was MHJ at 1.1, just have had him as my clear cut WR4 in a tier by himself since January and I'll add he'd have been my WR1 in last years class. I keep hearing a bunch of Tee Higgins comps and I'd not hate it if he turned out similarly productive but don't agree with that comp, his athletic profile blows away Tee's and I see more AJ Green potential in his size, movement and athletic profile. Also highly encouraged by all the reports I hear about his FBI. I think if he wants to be great and is healthy he will be, he's second to none in this class IMO with the tools he possesses.
2.6: Ben Sinnott-This pick felt like deja vu all over again. Last year at pick 2.5 I was hoping to draft Anthony Richardson, after a long wait he went 2.4. Despite having a bunch of TE's I decided to pick BPA and went with Laporta, but I almost did not, was a close call. This year I'm sitting at pick 2.6 and would have gone with Jayden Daniels, after a little wait he went at 2.5 and again I decided to go with BPA, thus the Deja Vu part. This is not a TE hoarding bit, said something similar last year when I drafted a bunch of TE's. Just trying to not be a prisoner of need drafting-which is not always easy or avoidable but was here because nothing really stood out that addressed a need, this was a far easier decision then drafting LaPorta at 2.5 last year and I can only hope for that feeling similar when I drafted them both lead to similar results.
3.6- Malachi Corley aka The YAC King: a few days before the NFL draft I saw a tweet from Lance Zierlien saying he was in the airport and would take any questions and since I was sitting in doctor's office with nothing to do I hit him up. My question was in a dynasty league after the big 3 and Thomas, which WR's would you you target? He replied Ladd, AD and Corley in some order. Now Lance may stink at dynasty, got no idea, and I was never able to get as high on Corley as he was or put him inside my top 8 WR's but he was my highest rated player left for at least half a round.
3.11- Drake Maye-Mulled him 3.6, need was calling, traded up from 4.6 as I thought some teams picking before me would be looking at QB and gave up my 2025 4th to move up. Nix and Cousins did go soon after, before my pick at 4.6, perhaps they were preferred over Maye by the teams selecting them, but seeing that made me feel better about a move up. My goal here was with just Purdy on the team I wanted another QB who I viewed as having high upside potential, and IMO he has as much upside as any QB in this draft though for sure I see the negative that it could take take some time to push Jacoby aside and he likely needs an improved cast around him. But IMO he's the second best running QB of the big 6(which helps a little with the lighter weapons), by far the best size and arm talent is in the convo for being as good as anyone's-just depends on your preferred flavor. Check, check, check. Second youngest of that group of QB's and I care zero about that for longevity purposes for a QB in this format, but I do care about it for purposes of his potential individual growth curve.
5.6- Dameon Pierce- cut him at roster cut down, scooped him back up mainly on hopes they move him or at if not he at least adjusts better to the Texans run scheme this year.
6.6-Malik Washington- was my biggest WR sleeper predraft or if sleeper does not apply the WR I was higher on then majority opinion more then any other WR. Was a My Guy. His fall mystified me because the film looked really good and if he's got off the field issues I'd be surprised as the young man already has a psychology degree from Northwestern. The draft capital and situation no doubt stinks though and roster space is a premium so he'll have to look pretty extraordinary and/or some injuries to hit Dolphins WR's for him to make my roster. He's the kind of player in a deeper roster type of league I'd have drafted in round 3/4 but the hold here is an obstacle I'm doubtful I will overcome.
7.6-Blake Watson-my deep sleeper RB for the past few months, would have taken him sooner but played the ADP game, even had drafted him in some FFPC redrafts before the NFL draft. I took him in most of my rookie drafts, only one other team in a league I was in grabbed him and it was at 5.1, well before I thought I could get him. If Malik Washington falling so far in the draft was not the most mystifying thing to me the way the NFL treated Watson would be the winner. No combine invite, not drafted. Did get $275K guaranteed which last I checked was the highest for an UDFA, which has not been any kind of strong indicator but you like to see some commitment. Since then Payton's had some encouraging things to say about him, and having Javonte on the team already did not hurt my interest. Over 1100 yards rushing and 50 receptions to go along with 17 TD's last year. Absolutely phenomenal workout, great metrics. He's old but welcome to the party as this is the oldest draft class with the oldest group or RB's we'll probably ever see. (As a side note we had WR who will turn 27 before the EOS drafted, a TE who turned 25 in March and a RB who will be 25 in season all drafted)