Former Scout Explains Why This Is The Most Unpredictable Draft
April 18th, 2020
“Look, Ed, we’re not hearing anything.”
Very valuable insight here for the draft-obsessed, and especially for those wagering on next week’s NFL Draft.
(Yes, you can bet legally on the draft in many states. Wake up, Florida!)
Former Ravens, Browns and Eagles scout Daniel Jeremiah, now the top draft guru at NFL Network, told The Rich Eisen Show yesterday why the 2020 draft probably is the most unpredictable in history.
Why? Because the big mouths at teams’ headquarters were forced into social distancing.
“This is going to be the wildest draft in terms of what your expectations will be and what actually happens,” Jeremiah said.
“Because I’ll let people in on a little bit of a secret here. When you got to these Pro Days, all the coaches and all the scouts are there. And while the guy at the top of the decision-making chain is usually aware of keeping things a little bit close to the vest, there are conversations inside [a team’s] building, and there are people that know. And a lot of times those are coaches and scouts, and when they get around their buddies, that’s how the information gets out. That’s how you find out that Team X likes Player Y. It’s not coming straight from that building. It’s because a friend of a coach there talked to him at a Pro Day and he didn’t keep it to himself. So all this information comes out of these Pro Day conversations that take place and we didn’t have that this year.”
Jeremiah took that a step further, implying general managers collectively aren’t getting a consensus on players, which is having a greater impact on draft boards.
Jeremiah’s status at the NFL-owned network has him talking to GMs by phone routinely for his draft prep, and he explained that this year one GM’s third-rounder is a crappy undraftable prospect for another GM. He’s never heard/seen such gaps of opinion.
“There’s like these wide swings on these players. There is no group-think this year,” Jeremiah said.
Draft Kings, which has online sports books in several states, is offering just about 4-1 odds if you wager on the Bucs drafting a defensive player in Round 1. In an unpredictable draft, that’s a wager that might prompt Joe to phone a friend.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:25 am
So another words these guys dont know what they’re doing lol
April 18th, 2020 at 11:41 am
1st- Kinlaw or Ruggs III
2nd- Swift, CEH, or Akers (RB must be pick in 2nd)
3rd- best OL or S available
I’m not convinced Arians is ready to draft an OL in 1st round, if one of top 4 are even there. His quote of drafting OL for next coach seems like red flag as well. I think Haeg and a possible signing of a FA after cuts in upcoming months compete for that right tackle position.
I hope Kinlaw is the pick if there. If not, I know a lot of people will disagree, but I’m going with Ruggs III. You add him, one of the RBs in 2nd and this offense is downright scary.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:51 am
Sorry Erick, OT has to be 1st pick. Hands down.
April 18th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
1st Rd – Draft CJ Henderson or Chinn or trade for Jamaal Adams
-Pass defense & secondary is the weakest unit on the team
-Licht isn’t investing in the defensive front 7 in the 1st rd. Already invested in the defensive front 7 in the 1st rd the last 2 yrs and in free agency this yr
-Top 4 OT’s will be off the board by pick 14 and/or Becht red flag will drop him to a late 1st rd or 2nd rd selection
April 18th, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Any Kendell Beckwith updates, I noticed he is still on roster. Just curious feel bad for him he was playing very well!
We could also trade back & use the extra 2nd to draft starting RG & let Cappa battle for RT. I believe he played RT in college. Then you can take best player available in rd 1 that addresses one of three needs DT, S, CB. You can take a RB in 2nd w the extra pick gained but definitely in 2nd. I believed talent drops at RB after top 5. Bc of the draft being unusual there may be some unusual opportunities, lets hope Licth can capitalize
April 18th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Plenty of talented WRs in this draft. Please let’s not draft a WR in the 1st round!
April 18th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Also because teams aren’t bringing in players for individual visits. Not positive on the number, but it seems for as long as I can remember, the Bucs always drafted one of the players they invited to their facility
April 18th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Trade Mike Evans for Jamal Adams and draft a WR in at 14…. *waits for incoming tomatoes*
April 18th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Trade down to 20,21 or 22 pick Grant Delpit then round 2 Clyde-Edwards Heire. Then the best OT next pick. I not saying that’s going to happen but you never know with Jason Licht.
April 18th, 2020 at 1:08 pm
If Simmons is there at #14 stay out then you got a linebacker and safety in one who just happens to run a sub 4.4.
April 18th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Out=Put.
April 18th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
I fully expect that the Brady Bunch will put up more points this year than we did last year (our most points ever). Why? Well, primarily because BA is an offensive-minded coach. His offense put up 458 points last year, and now he has the GOAT directing the attack. Brady has AVERAGED 472 points/season since 2010. No reason to think that he can’t duplicate that with better weapons at his disposal.
BA knows what we still NEED to make that happen: a beastly RT, a stud RB & a #3 WR with hands like glue. He also knows that he doesn’t have very much salary Cap room to fill those NEEDS with veterans (and what money we do have will probably go to a veteran backup QB & a starting Safety). Thus our priorities in the draft would seem to be pretty clear. All that remains is to let the draft play out and make intelligent decisions. Piece of cake … we’ve got this.
April 18th, 2020 at 1:14 pm
For all of you wanting WR in the first….please go watch some film on van jefferson….we could get him in the 3rd or 4th. We have a #1 and #2 wideout already. Drafting one that high for a part time route running #3 role is a wast at this time. Even Claypool if we move back into the bottom 2nd will suffice for me.
This draft is deep at WR….find a #3 later.
April 18th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
@ ©MadMax – couldn’t agree more!
April 18th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Defense Rules, “we got this” says it all.
April 18th, 2020 at 2:10 pm
Basically it will really affect the later rounds because the consensus isn’t there to back up your beliefs. That GM will be on more of a limb. Doesn’t matter too much though, because the later rounds barely pan out anyway b
April 18th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
So Licht should trade up for an OT?
April 18th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Said it weeks ago… Simmons, LB, Clemson.. immediate impact athletic freak. All this talk about weapons for Brady leaves out that if he only has to score 17 a game, his job got a lot easier. We have a RB that is improving and young, and no OT is in that Orlando Pace category.
April 18th, 2020 at 5:12 pm
Viewfrom132
We have a hole at safety. If we had Simmons and played him like a wild card, jumping around pre snap to disguise defenses and freak QB’s from whatever position he lines up…that would be awesome and give this defense a chance to be spectacular.
I think everybody here would love Simmons…how do you suggest we get him?
Trading up to where he’s going to go from spot 14 would be a major investment of draft capital.
April 18th, 2020 at 7:32 pm
“Trade down and pickup another 2nd round pick
2 offensive lineman and pass catching 3 down runningback
*Key to the 2020 season is keeping TB12 upright and in 1 piece for hopefully 19 games
We must replace Dotson and Alex Cappa with our 2 new lineman
No QB in the last 10 years threw the ball out as quickly and threw to Runningbacks than Tom Brady
The key to TB12 success in the last 20 years as an immobile statute was and is getting the ball out and hitting the outlet reciever (runningback)
This team presently is not built for TB12 success but only possibility of injury
Kobe Faker is willing to tweet Jason Licht my chalk draftboard in my moms basement if i can have a free signed Matt Gay Jersey”
Kobe Faker
April 18th, 2020 at 7:37 pm
we will not have a chance at the top 3 tackles–Mecki Becton failed a drug test and may have motivation issues–anybody failing a combine pee test has motivation issues or is stupid.
so #1 Ruggs or Kinlaw
#2 CEH or DAndre Swift
get Jason Peters on the phone and get him signed
or
consider moving Cappa to R Tackle and getting best guard in round one after trading down
April 18th, 2020 at 7:39 pm
either way get Jason Peters
Cappa can back up well
April 18th, 2020 at 7:42 pm
Kobe says:Kobe Faker is willing to tweet Jason Licht my chalk draftboard in my moms basement if i can have a free signed Matt Gay Jersey” LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG! so funny
April 18th, 2020 at 8:57 pm
An original post from the great Kobe faker himself:
On January 4, 2017 you said:
“1st rd, Corey Davis. 2nd rd, Dede Westbrook. Licht can do whatever he wants with the rest of the draft and FA”
You might want to check that chalkboard again, Kobe.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:24 pm
No Kinlaw, trade back for Delpit. Hopefully Simmons, CEH, or Akers will still be on the board at #45. Would be pleased with any of these players. With all the different players and positions being referenced in the first two rounds, but the particular player I want is OLB Zack Baun in the third. Shaq 2.0 in Bowels defense.
April 19th, 2020 at 7:06 am
Erick I agree with you.
April 19th, 2020 at 8:02 am
Jon Says:
April 18th, 2020 at 11:25 am
So another words these guys dont know what they’re doing lol
Jon, they really don’t! They need their opinions verified and supported by others, just like we know-nothing fans! We are not paid and don’t have 12-18 months to prepare for the draft, either.
It is truly a good gig if you can get it!
April 19th, 2020 at 9:03 am
OT
RB
S
QB
OT
S
RB
Doubling up on OT,RB &S and you may end up with a decent stable of talent in those areas…