So far I'd say:
We would likely see a RG3 type return of 3 first round picks for any team who holds the top 2 selections that is willing to move it.
There is a strong argument he is the best QB prospect of all-time or at least in recent memory. Yes, it is hard to say someone is a better prospect than Peyton Manning in hindsight but people forget Manning wasn't viewed as significantly ahead of Leaf or Tim Couch who came out in his year and the year after respectively. Elway is could be argued to be ahead but that was a completely different era of draft coverage.
He had a pretty poor national title game this season and a pretty underwhelming start to the season and like every super prospect in any sport he will have every flaw nitpicked to death by the time next draft rolls around. Will that be enough to remove the generational QB prospect status? Most likely not, but Justin Fields' status has skyrocketed to where he's starting to put himself in the conversation to potentially challenge Lawrence as the #1 overall pick. Next season (if it happens) will obviously go a long way in deciding how it all plays out.
I think Luck was more hyped than Leaf/Manning, along with being the most hyped QB in recent memory. Honestly, I think Vick may have been more hyped than Manning just because of how unique he was.
Yeah, I cheer for Texas, and I remember Texas not being too worried because they thought they had the best 2009 QB (Garrett Gilbert) in state locked up when they missed on Luck in 2008
Jacob Eason who just got drafted in round 4 was the top recruit from his year in 2016. Hunter Johnson, now with Northwestern, was #18 overall across all positions in 2017, but struggled as a RS SO in his first year as a starter. So you never know. Not to mention plenty of 5 star QBs over the past several years have had to transfer because they got beat out like Ricky Town, Blake Barnett, etc down. The line.
Swift was drafted this year by the lions.In 2018 i targeted Travis Etienne (sounds like "ETN") as the most phenomenal back since Barry Sanders.
I am a BIG D'Andre Swift fan (though his 2019 was less impressive than his 2018).
The greatest players i've seen in college football the last two seasons (f*** all expert/media blowhards, this is my opinion):
1. Simmons
2. Lamb
3. Etienne
4. Lawrence
5. Young
6. Burrow
7. Swift
8. Gordon (Seahawks signed him after he went undrafted this year; better than Minshew!)
Time will prove me right or wrong. I will be here to see.
Of course he was. My post was about Etienne (a 2021 draftee) and i put him in the context of the other great college players i had seen and relatively ranked last season.
I find it odd that any RB prospect would opt to remain in college more than the minimum given the punishment that position takes. Plus, every team points to age, so best IMO to try to get to free agency by age 25 (come out after 3 years in college, and 4 years of rookie contract). That at least gives you the best chance to secure 1 good payday of 2 average guaranteed years in your second contract.
For a WR to be top 5, they would have to have that rare total package of size at 6'3 or bigger, strength, physically imposing like Julio, TO, Metcalf, etc., speed at 4.4, and excellent route running. Nowadays, you build your 3 WR core to have that combination. A speed guy, a slot guy who is a good route running, and a big WR for the red zone. Each of the #3-#6 WR on the roster should be built to backup the guy ahead of them.
