THE 81st ANNUAL Player Selection Meeting — otherwise known as the 2016 NFL Draft — takes place at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois at 1.00 am (Irish time) tonight but we’ve already had plenty of drama before a single name has been called.
First off, the LA Rams bet the house on Jared Goff, giving up a raft of draft picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up to the number one pick. At least, all the signs point to that pick being Goff.
Then the Philadephia Eagles told us they believe chocolate and vanilla ice-cream are the same thing when they swapped places with the Cleveland Browns to move from the eighth pick to second overall with another quarterback, Carson Wentz, the likely pick.
If the rumours that surround this year’s draft are to be believed, we’ll see even more trading inside the top 10 this evening as teams look to pounce on players. But what are the key questions heading into tonight?
1. Who will be the first non-quarterback off the board?
Ronne Stanley looks set to be the number three overall pick Jeff Haynes / AP/Press Association Images
Jeff Haynes / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
The San Diego Chargers currently sit at number three and have their choice of every player in the draft not named Goff or Wentz.
That includes the likes of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive ends DeForest Buckner and Joey Bosa and stud cornerbacks like Jalen Ramsey or Vernon Hargreaves.
Instead, all the talk is that San Diego are going to draft Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle from Notre Dame. A safe pick, sure, but the right one? That seems unlikely.
2. How many quarterbacks will go in the first round?
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Christian Hackenberg playing Croke Park in 2014. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
We know two for sure, but NFL teams always overreach for quarterbacks and it’s possible we could see a third or even fourth QB go in the top ten tonight.
While the latter would be a huge surprise, nobody would be shocked if the likes of Paxton Lynch, Conor Cook and Christian Hackenberg — all of whom are second round quarterbacks at best — went before tonight’s first round is over.
Ideally, teams would wait on these players but franchises like the 49ers, Jets and Broncos all have glaring needs at the position so don’t be shocked if all five have their names called in Chicago on Thursday.
3. How far will Myles Jack fall?
Myles Jack's knee issues have caused him to slip in this year's NFL Draft. Danny Moloshok / AP/Press Association Images
Danny Moloshok / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
As recently as two weeks ago, linebacker Myles Jack was a lock to be a top-five pick in the 2016 Draft. However, mixed medical reports on his surgically repaired knee have seen him drop as low as 14 in mock drafts and he could fall even further.
The conundrum facing teams is as follows: Do they want a good player who will last eight or ten years in the NFL or do they want a great player whose career could be over in four?
Jack is a rare talent — and can even play running back — so if he’s there at 14 (though I don’t believe he will be) and the Raiders don’t take him, I’ll be disappointed.
4. Who is in line to be the biggest bust?
Barring a massive shock, Jared Goff will be the first name called tonight. Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images
Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Since the new collective bargaining agreement came it, the term bust is relative as the mega contracts handed out to the likes of Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell no longer exist.
However, I don’t believe Jared Goff will be a starting quarterback in the NFL in five years time and the Rams have put the medium-term future of their franchise on the line for a guy whose college tape is fine but is that really enough to justify a number one overall?
Jack Conklin, the offensive tackle from Michigan State, is another name that has been linked with a top-10 pick but the guy has the slowest feet of any offensive lineman with a first round grade and will likely end up playing guard. Nobody should be drafting a guard in the top 10.
5. Who could be the biggest steal?
Jhurell Pressley could offer teams a lot of value in later rounds. Matt York
Matt York
If Jack falls out of the top 10 and goes on to have the career he could have, it will obviously be him but, instead, I’m going to look at three players who are unlikely to hear their name until Friday or Saturday night.
The first is Jhurell Pressley, running back from New Mexico. He has fallen down in terms of draft stock because he’s not a pass-catching back but he averaged nearly eight yards per run in college thanks to a combination of good speed, footwork and vision.
On the other side of the ball, Sheldon Day, defensive tackle out Notre Dame has suffered because his ‘measurables’ don’t quite add up to a proto-typical player at his position.
However, despite being the focus of most opposition offensive lines, Day’s numbers show his ability to both pressure the quarterback and make stops in the run game and will make him a third round steal.
Finally, keep an eye out for Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan on day three. Fast (4.72 40-yard-dash) with a powerful and accurate arm, he’s likely to enjoy an more successful NFL career than some of those quarterbacks drafted above him.
What about you? Who are you hoping your team drafts over the next three days? Let us know in the comments section below.
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5 questions still hanging over the 2016 NFL Draft
THE 81st ANNUAL Player Selection Meeting — otherwise known as the 2016 NFL Draft — takes place at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois at 1.00 am (Irish time) tonight but we’ve already had plenty of drama before a single name has been called.
First off, the LA Rams bet the house on Jared Goff, giving up a raft of draft picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up to the number one pick. At least, all the signs point to that pick being Goff.
Then the Philadephia Eagles told us they believe chocolate and vanilla ice-cream are the same thing when they swapped places with the Cleveland Browns to move from the eighth pick to second overall with another quarterback, Carson Wentz, the likely pick.
If the rumours that surround this year’s draft are to be believed, we’ll see even more trading inside the top 10 this evening as teams look to pounce on players. But what are the key questions heading into tonight?
1. Who will be the first non-quarterback off the board?
The San Diego Chargers currently sit at number three and have their choice of every player in the draft not named Goff or Wentz.
That includes the likes of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive ends DeForest Buckner and Joey Bosa and stud cornerbacks like Jalen Ramsey or Vernon Hargreaves.
Instead, all the talk is that San Diego are going to draft Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle from Notre Dame. A safe pick, sure, but the right one? That seems unlikely.
2. How many quarterbacks will go in the first round?
We know two for sure, but NFL teams always overreach for quarterbacks and it’s possible we could see a third or even fourth QB go in the top ten tonight.
While the latter would be a huge surprise, nobody would be shocked if the likes of Paxton Lynch, Conor Cook and Christian Hackenberg — all of whom are second round quarterbacks at best — went before tonight’s first round is over.
Ideally, teams would wait on these players but franchises like the 49ers, Jets and Broncos all have glaring needs at the position so don’t be shocked if all five have their names called in Chicago on Thursday.
3. How far will Myles Jack fall?
As recently as two weeks ago, linebacker Myles Jack was a lock to be a top-five pick in the 2016 Draft. However, mixed medical reports on his surgically repaired knee have seen him drop as low as 14 in mock drafts and he could fall even further.
The conundrum facing teams is as follows: Do they want a good player who will last eight or ten years in the NFL or do they want a great player whose career could be over in four?
Jack is a rare talent — and can even play running back — so if he’s there at 14 (though I don’t believe he will be) and the Raiders don’t take him, I’ll be disappointed.
4. Who is in line to be the biggest bust?
Since the new collective bargaining agreement came it, the term bust is relative as the mega contracts handed out to the likes of Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell no longer exist.
However, I don’t believe Jared Goff will be a starting quarterback in the NFL in five years time and the Rams have put the medium-term future of their franchise on the line for a guy whose college tape is fine but is that really enough to justify a number one overall?
Jack Conklin, the offensive tackle from Michigan State, is another name that has been linked with a top-10 pick but the guy has the slowest feet of any offensive lineman with a first round grade and will likely end up playing guard. Nobody should be drafting a guard in the top 10.
5. Who could be the biggest steal?
If Jack falls out of the top 10 and goes on to have the career he could have, it will obviously be him but, instead, I’m going to look at three players who are unlikely to hear their name until Friday or Saturday night.
The first is Jhurell Pressley, running back from New Mexico. He has fallen down in terms of draft stock because he’s not a pass-catching back but he averaged nearly eight yards per run in college thanks to a combination of good speed, footwork and vision.
On the other side of the ball, Sheldon Day, defensive tackle out Notre Dame has suffered because his ‘measurables’ don’t quite add up to a proto-typical player at his position.
However, despite being the focus of most opposition offensive lines, Day’s numbers show his ability to both pressure the quarterback and make stops in the run game and will make him a third round steal.
Finally, keep an eye out for Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan on day three. Fast (4.72 40-yard-dash) with a powerful and accurate arm, he’s likely to enjoy an more successful NFL career than some of those quarterbacks drafted above him.
What about you? Who are you hoping your team drafts over the next three days? Let us know in the comments section below.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
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