Honestly I've studied the draft less this year than ever before. I'm no expert by any means. By biggest feeling though is that I just want offense. The abortion of a superbowl notwithstanding, I really feel defensive talent is becoming less and less relevant. If you have a good coach, you can usually scheme yourself to competent defense, which is as much as I care about having (see: McDermott last two years). That said, players I have my eye on in general:
High First Round
DK Metcalf: Seems to be a consensus growing that he's the top talent at WR. I have my concerns, for example him missing so much time with injury. But also, his size. I have no interest in another Kelvin Benjamin type. Much of his highlights are him dominating smaller competition. Now there's also examples of him gaining down the field separation, but what I don't see his him running quick, underneath routes to gain catch and run separation underneeth, which worries me. But I'm no scout. If he really his the bonafide top receiver, best in the class, I have no qualms with using #9 on him.
Any of the Offensive Tackles: I don't know much about them. Williams sounds like the safest, but that was also true about Mike Williams so who knows. An OT at 9 wouldn't be very exciting, but it would be impossible to argue with or find fault in.
Late first/Early second targets
Marquise Brown: I'm seeing him mocked as a second round pick which I find unbelievable. In any event, it doesn't sound like he's being projected as a top 10 pick, so I won't beat that drum. As I've said, he's my favorite receiver by a long shot. The NFL has clearly moved away from the big contested catch receivers and toward small, quick, gain separation receivers. He's likely the fastest receiver in the draft, had superb college production, and has made a career out of gaining separation to excel. He could have Tyreek Hill type big play ability, though he's probably not quite as fast. The kind of speed infusion he would bring to the team is exactly what this offense needs. The fact that he will likely fall because of his size makes him all the more salivating to me.
Paris Campbell: Another burner that I haven't seen getting a lot of love lately. Productive in college and legitimate speed. I don't like him as much as Brown, but I wouldn't complain about adding his speed either. He was Haskin's #1 receiver.
Any other OL: Again, I don't know them. At this point I'd be more open to taking an interior lineman if that's the best lineman on the board. Our OL was trash, can't fault any OL pick.
Josh Jacobs: Yes, I subscribe to the "never a RB in the first round ever" philosophy. But (1) in the event we trade way down; (2) there isn't a WR or OL we like available; and (3) Jacobs really is the real deal, I might get on board. I don't know a lot about Jacobs, most don't, because he hasn't played much. But from what I'm reading, he's being hyped as the best skill set in the draft. He's every bit the model of the modern NFL RB. Good hands, very fast, has the body to play 3 downs, and very very little tread on his tires. Our RB situation is horrid, and if the brass is confident he really is the best RB in the class, I wouldn't hate the pick in the late first. Our offense needs an infusion of talent, even if it comes at the RB position.
Day 2 targets
Bryce Love: Another of my favorite players in the draft. Going into the year he was touted as the top RB in college and future locked first round pick. Then he had an injury plagued year that was capped off with a torn ACL, ouch. Given the type of player he is, undersized speedster, this will just reinforce the narrative on him and push him down draft boards. But given his talent, if healthy he's probably still the most explosive back in the draft. He's Kamara/McCaffrey-lite, electric speed and WR-type ability out of the backfield of in the slot. He's exactly what our offense has been missing from the RB position since Shady started going downhill. I'd love to bring him in and use him at first just as a third down back, let McCoy hone in on just being a between the tackles guy. I'd be ecstatic with him in the second or third.
Any fast receiver:I don't know the other names. But I want speed at the position. If we don't take one of the guys mentioned above in the first or second, a third round receive is imperative. Need youthful speed at the position.
Any other OL: Need to draft at least one somewhere in the first 3 rounds.
A TE: I'm not familiar with the class. Philosophically I'm against taking TE's in the first round because I think they're so hard to project (sort of like goalies in hockey). But I do think grabbing one on day 2 would be a good idea. Fant and Hockenson seem to be the favorite names? I have no preferences.
So those are my guys. I guess if you would ask my dream scenario is would be:
-Trade back and get an extra second
-Late First: Marquise Brown
-Second Round: OL and TE
-Third round: Bryce Love
