Big Blue Huddle

I am not sure the Giants will trade up for Sanders or Ward.  I certainly hope they don't trade up.  Given that the Giants will now be drafting somewhere between 4 - 8 (I think) we all have to rethink our pick as it is now doubtful it will be Sanders or Ward.

Whom do you want with this draft pick and why?

A shutdown Corner or trade back and draft an OL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

A CB, DT or rusher is about the only options based on need and availability of worthy players.

I am with you guys about the need for a shutdown CB, DT and OL.  Here are my thoughts.

Shutdown CB - I think Will Johnson is the cleanest prospect in the NFL Draft.  I believe he may be Sauce Gardner good.  He's got size at 6'2" and between 200-205 pounds, speed (both straightline, closing as well as recovery), great hip flip and wonderful instincts on a ball.  He's had multiple INTs for TDs.  I've seen him play a ton being a Michigan fan.  He is very aggressive in providing run support and is not afraid at all to tackle.

DT - Mason Graham is a beast.  Plays at 6'3" 320 pounds.  Has a really quick burst with strength and a nonstop motor.  Last year playing with Mazi Smith who was a Feldman Freak and explosive college player, I thought that Graham outplayed Smith hands down the entire season.  Pairing him with Dexter Lawrence would go a long way to solving our porous run defense.

OL - Here is where I see some problems.  There is a lot of talk that Will Campbell out of LSU may have short arms and may need to be projected more as a Guard than where he has played at OLT.  I saw him play against Alabama and he did not wow me at all.  Kelvin Banks is also getting a lot of press but he is another one folks are saying may be a better Guard.  I do not see a really clean OT as a round 1 pick.  My favorite OL prospect that I've seen a few times that I really like is Tate Ratledge out of Georgia.  He's huge at 6'6" 320 pounds.  He plays with great strength and movement.  He gets real push on an opposing DL.  As an interior blocker on runs, his movement is really good for things like combo blocks.  I have not seen him much as a pulling guard however for any blocking scheme that involves running between tackles, I think he's a very good candidate.  His pass blocking is good as well as he can go man to man against interior DL and not get pushed back all the time plus he has enough lateral movement for twists.  His only problem as I can tell is that he has been used something like 98% of the time as a Right Guard so he may not offer positional versatility.  That versatility means less to me if he is a really good ORG which I think he will be in the NFL.  I believe he will be a day 1 starter.  He's probably a 2nd rounder.

Quote from: Philosophers on December 30, 2024, 01:03:13 PMI am with you guys about the need for a shutdown CB, DT and OL.  Here are my thoughts.

Shutdown CB - I think Will Johnson is the cleanest prospect in the NFL Draft.  I believe he may be Sauce Gardner good.  He's got size at 6'2" and between 200-205 pounds, speed (both straightline, closing as well as recovery), great hip flip and wonderful instincts on a ball.  He's had multiple INTs for TDs.  I've seen him play a ton being a Michigan fan.  He is very aggressive in providing run support and is not afraid at all to tackle.

DT - Mason Graham is a beast.  Plays at 6'3" 320 pounds.  Has a really quick burst with strength and a nonstop motor.  Last year playing with Mazi Smith who was a Feldman Freak and explosive college player, I thought that Graham outplayed Smith hands down the entire season.  Pairing him with Dexter Lawrence would go a long way to solving our porous run defense.

OL - Here is where I see some problems.  There is a lot of talk that Will Campbell out of LSU may have short arms and may need to be projected more as a Guard than where he has played at OLT.  I saw him play against Alabama and he did not wow me at all.  Kelvin Banks is also getting a lot of press but he is another one folks are saying may be a better Guard.  I do not see a really clean OT as a round 1 pick.  My favorite OL prospect that I've seen a few times that I really like is Tate Ratledge out of Georgia.  He's huge at 6'6" 320 pounds.  He plays with great strength and movement.  He gets real push on an opposing DL.  As an interior blocker on runs, his movement is really good for things like combo blocks.  I have not seen him much as a pulling guard however for any blocking scheme that involves running between tackles, I think he's a very good candidate.  His pass blocking is good as well as he can go man to man against interior DL and not get pushed back all the time plus he has enough lateral movement for twists.  His only problem as I can tell is that he has been used something like 98% of the time as a Right Guard so he may not offer positional versatility.  That versatility means less to me if he is a really good ORG which I think he will be in the NFL.  I believe he will be a day 1 starter.  He's probably a 2nd rounder.

Fantastic post!  Thanks!  My order of preference would be QB, OT, corner , DT. As much as I want the first 2, it would be foolish to blatantly reach. Would be ok with the corner and DT in this scenario as best available talent.  If we are   not within reach of top 2 QBs, must get a solid FA signing.  Im ok with AT and Elumenor at tackle, but the depth at a minimum needs help

If the answer isn't either Mason Graham or Will Johnson we are only pretending to advocate for BPA. Given they both fill glaring needs I'd really struggle to see the case against those two. Of course we might see unexpected chinks in their athletic armour at pro-days/combine to cause some debate but their tape is their friend.

They will not trade up for Ward or Sanders. They would have definitely drafted one of them at #1 or 2.

Quote from: londonblue on December 30, 2024, 01:44:22 PMIf the answer isn't either Mason Graham or Will Johnson we are only pretending to advocate for BPA. Given they both fill glaring needs I'd really struggle to see the case against those two. Of course we might see unexpected chinks in their athletic armour at pro-days/combine to cause some debate but their tape is their friend.

Sticking hard and fast to BPA is a fools errand. As long you aren't reaching to fill a need and the value is reasonably close you draft for need over taking the best player.

Quote from: gregf on December 30, 2024, 01:16:31 PMFantastic post!  Thanks!  My order of preference would be QB, OT, corner , DT. As much as I want the first 2, it would be foolish to blatantly reach. Would be ok with the corner and DT in this scenario as best available talent.  If we are  not within reach of top 2 QBs, must get a solid FA signing.  Im ok with AT and Elumenor at tackle, but the depth at a minimum needs help

When I think of Will Johnson vs Mason Graham, I really struggle to pick one versus the other because of the following:

Will Johnson - He came to Michigan as a 5 star recruit and has done nothing except play and develop at the highest levels.  It's not like he came to Michigan as a coveted recruit and just thought he'd be a great college player just because he was a great high school player.  He accepted all coaching, listened and just became better while contributing his God given athleticism and instincts for the ball.

Mason Graham - He came to Michigan as a 3 star/low 4 star recruit.  He was a former high school wrestler.  In his freshman year on an outstanding Defense he managed to play in 13 games and had 3 sacks.  That is saying something.  As a freshman, we all kept saying, "who is this guy?"  I love 3 star players who go on to great success because it typically shows great coachability and a very high end motor.  He destroys running plays because with his insanely quick initial step he already has OL players off balance then with his tenacity he just keeps making the play harder and harder to succeed for the offense.

I know JJ, Blake Corum and Roman Wilson get a lot of credit for the 2024 Michigan National Championship team, but if you ask me honestly, I think it's the guys coming out this year on teh defensive side that were the bigger reason for that championship.

Quote from: londonblue on December 30, 2024, 01:44:22 PMIf the answer isn't either Mason Graham or Will Johnson we are only pretending to advocate for BPA. Given they both fill glaring needs I'd really struggle to see the case against those two. Of course we might see unexpected chinks in their athletic armour at pro-days/combine to cause some debate but their tape is their friend.

I wish we could get both but will be happy with either.

Quote from: BlueMoshik on December 30, 2024, 02:02:47 PMThey will not trade up for Ward or Sanders. They would have definitely drafted one of them at #1 or 2.

I'm 80% with you. I think if it doesn't cost too much, they would move up. Swap picks and throw in Thibs or Hyatt, so we don't have to give up draft capital. I'd be OK with something like that.

By drafting a CB in the 1st are we giving up on Tea Banks? How many years in a row are we going to draft a shutdown CB in the 1st or 2nd round?

Quote from: TDToomer on December 30, 2024, 03:14:53 PMBy drafting a CB in the 1st are we giving up on Tea Banks? How many years in a row are we going to draft a shutdown CB in the 1st or 2nd round?

Wouldn't Banks slide to #2?

So if he is not a stud we stop drafting for the position?

Quote from: T200 on December 30, 2024, 02:39:26 PMI'm 80% with you. I think if it doesn't cost too much, they would move up. Swap picks and throw in Thibs or Hyatt, so we don't have to give up draft capital. I'd be OK with something like that.

Teams picking before us will not want either of those players. 

Quote from: T200 on December 30, 2024, 02:39:26 PMI'm 80% with you. I think if it doesn't cost too much, they would move up. Swap picks and throw in Thibs or Hyatt, so we don't have to give up draft capital. I'd be OK with something like that.

I think Hyatt is a Daboll problem not a Hyatt problem.