by Anthony Fernandez, September 28th, 2013
[1.17] 
HB Latavius Murray, UCF | D
I'll preface this by saying - Murray is a good player. I think over the arc of time, if GM Santos sticks in St. Louis, he'll be happy to have Murray. The main issue for me is almost not fair, as I'm granted hindsight that 6 picks later a better RB (imo) went, and not only that... to your division rival. Eddie Lacy is a little more raw, with 56AWR, but from what I remember from these leagues, if you're going POWER back, just tack on all the weight you could. In fact, in GZL we had a system where we could add (or subtract) 10 pounds over a players career... and boy did adding those 10lbs to RBs really help. So the fact Lacy is a bulging 250lbs just gives him a pretty clear advantage over Murray. And halfway through the season, that seems to be playing out that way as well. Lacy has been far from perfect, but he's shown flashes of what he could be. Murray is struggling to the tune of 3.1 YPC and 2 TD. His superior CTH hasn't really helped him much (2 more catches than Lacy). And the Rams, on paper, appear to be the worst team in SFL. But I believe in GM Santos, and I think in time, they'll turn it around. They nabbed a few good players in this draft, I just think in time they'll regret not taking Lacy instead.
[1.18] 
WR Keenan Allen, CAL | C+
The Cards JUST miss out on the RL/SFL DeAndre Hopkins reunion. Ultimately I liked that pick quite a bit for the Broncos, but I do believe Allen is a considerable step down for just 5 picks later. Allen has played very good so far, but he should be playing well catching passes from Grossman. I think this pick is a sliding grade, as if they can pump some points into Allen to make him quicker, I think they'll be very happy with him. The fact he's only 20 is very nice, too, as any points invested in him are protected a little longer from regression.
[1.19] 
MLB Kevin Minter, LSU | B
I still don't love taking MLBs this high in a league that has SO many good options there, but the Bucs taking one at 5 overall really beefs this grade up for the Jags, for if nothing else the value.
Bostic is clearly the better player - but Minter is not THAT much worse to get 14 picks later. He's a better tackler, is 2 years younger, and a tiny bit stronger. While Bostic has those freaky speed and acceleration numbers that pop off the player card - I think I'd rather have Minter at 19 (and saving $3M per year). Will be interesting to see how the two players stats compare over time... but the early battle isn't even one, as Minter has to get on the field.
[1.20] 
TE Tommy Bohanon, Wake Forest | A
This pick raised some eyebrows on draft night, as Bohanon was a FB in college, but clearly GM Barber had other plans. In the market for a TE, it would have been easy for Barber to just nab the next best TE (many believed to be
TE Dion Sims) but he thought outside the box. As a GM who was zeroed in on TE Eifert, I'm very happy Barber thought outside the box! The comparison is fair - Bohanon offers crazy stats for a TE 88SPD / 81 STR / 86 AGI / 90 ACC, but the tradeoff is 4", 6AWR, and 16CTH. Blocking wise, Bohanon is better (clearly), but both are considered good blocking TEs and better than most in the class. So the question then becomes - do you value the +4SPD, +1ACC, +5STR... or do you value the height, catching, and awareness? Ultimately, I'm very happy with Sims, so I'm grateful for GM Barber. But don't fool yourself, Bohanon is going to be an amazing TE in this league, and is already putting up great numbers. Would he have been there in the 2nd? Maybe, but I'm glad he got paired with a GM who values him and will make sure he succeeds.
[1.21] 
QB Matt Barkley, USC | A+
This move was kind of telegraphed from the moment that Woodson was sent out and Big Ben was brought in (presumably to mentor a rookie). The question that always remained was WHICH rookie? Barkley is the clear standout in this class. He's the most ready to toss out there and take your lumps, and lumps will be taken. So far he has looked rough, as rookie QBs do, but he mostly just needs to play enough to get a little progression and build him for what he could be - which is the leader of the next wave of stud QBs in this league like Brady Quinn and Sam Bradford. There was some mystery leading up to the draft around WHERE the QBs would go on draft night. Some mocks had NO quarterbacks going in the 1st round, or not coming off until the very end - where my Dallas Cowboys had clearly not found a solid solution at QB after dealing Brees to get INTO this draft. I knew the Jets would be competition, and had earmarked a few other squads (Vikings were also one, as they also bid on Stafford in free agency). And of course with the new Mentor rule, there were plenty of guys with aging vets who could have become stealthy QB seekers. Ultimately I think due to the mentor rule, QBs were going to rise, and Kevin knew it. In the perfect world, I bet he'd have taken a different player at 21 and then hopefully grabbed Glennon or Tyler Wilson with any of the vast array of ammo Mullendore had at the bottom of the 1st and top of the 2nd. But perhaps a little surprised Barkley had not been nabbed yet, and coupled with maybe a few other targets being gone, I think Barkley was the logical pick. And make no mistake, when Mullendore is done with him, he'll be a top 5 QB in SFL.
[1.22] CB Darius Slay, Miss St. | A++
Ok - QB taken care of - what next? How about a top 3 CB in the draft at the 22nd pick? Sure, why not. After a wild run of CBs that saw 4 get drafted in the Top 6 picks, we didn't see another one get drafted from 7 to 22. Crazy. And as stated, I like Slay better than 2 that went before him. Two other interesting tidbits about this pick? 3 of the top 5 CBs in the class ended up the AFC East, and after Slay we didn't see another CB until the top of the 2nd. Great job by Kevin identifying the value, and snatching up the last 1st round worthy guy.
[1.23] 
HB Eddie Lacy, Alabama | A+
POUND THE
ROCK, HEWKO! I love this pick for the Seahawks, as I stated in the summary for the Rams pick, but I really do foresee Lacy becoming a stud. There was even talk before the draft that various teams in the Top 10 would snatch Lacy, Breck and the Colts I believe, but that always seemed a little high. That said, Lacy has the potential to be such a special player that I probably wouldn't have blinked an eye at it. He certainly deserved to be the top HB taken in the draft, so to get him at 1.23 is an absolute win for the Seahawks. This is a player that I'll be tracking from afar... and if I ever have 1st round picks again may take a swing or two at over the years.
[1.24] 
NT Johnathan Hankins, OSU | A+
I absolutely loved Hankins in the pre-draft process. With my own DT position somewhat barren behind aging Haynesworth, we had kind of hoped Hankins would be around at the bottom of the 1st. At 320lbs, but with 91STR, 73SPD, 77AGI, 79ACC - I might have been tempted to move him to RE and go 34, but he's going to be a beast wherever he ends up. The Ravens have got incredible production out of him as a rookie - EIGHT tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and even an interception just halfway through his first season. Huge get for a Ravens team who may not catch Brady and the Bengals this year, but will be nipping on their heels in the playoffs and years to come.
[1.25] 
LT J.C. Tretter, Cornell | A+
Tretter is a freak. He's finished STR at 99, but also boasts 83ACC, 70SPD, 77AGI, and 85PBK. I'm not at all surprised that GM William Cook took an OL high in the draft - having inherited his team and observing his drafting tendencies via my roster. He clearly invested a lot of resources in the OL in Dallas, and it was by far the strongest facet of the club he left behind. So naturally he'd want to make sure that Brady Quinn is protected through his prime. Tretter reminds me of a better version of
LT Riley Reiff, who Cook drafted in Dallas. To get Tretter at 25 is a huge win, and kind of calms any concerns ownership may have had about a Top 10 TE draft pick. Tretter may struggle early, as young LTs do, but he'll be a stud in no time.
[1.26] 
HB Montee Ball, Wisconsin | C+
Breck, who is an absolute maestro moving up and down the draft board, finally lands at pick 26. And he gets his HB! I vaguely remember reading Ball was always his favorite HB in the class, which may be true or not, but I disagree with the analysis. Ball is solid for sure, but he's a little light in the ass, and while all his other attributes are solid, nothing really pops off the page. That said, he's playing incredible splitting time with newly acquired HB Demarco Murray. Somehow Breck has both HBs popping 4+ yards a carry, which is truly impressive. I have no doubt that Breck will turn Ball into a stud that he can either workhorse to huge gains, or trade at peak value, but I do wonder if when Breck agreed to drop so far down the draft board he had expected a run of five A+ picks being made RIGHT before him? Ultimately, he'll be fine, but I wouldn't have been surprised to see Breck pull off ONE final move down that lands him more assets, plus still gets him Montee Ball. I think I remember calling about a move up from 1.32 to 1.26 - and Ball probably would have been there - but ultimately a 2nd round pick was too much for me to give up for the slight jump, considering the disarray of our roster.
[1.27] 
LT David Bakhtiari, Colorado | B
As I've stated before, it kills me to say nice things about the Saints. But Bakhtiari is a good get at the 27th pick. Offensive Lineman dropped in this class, and with some work, David Bakhtiari could look like a top 10 OL that they got at the thrift store. DB should probably be getting some playing time down there in the Big Easy, but who am I to criticize lineup choices for a 1st place team. At just (4-4) though, they are FAR from wrapping it up.
[1.28] 
FS T.J. McDonald, USC | B+
McDonald is a great player. He was actually one of 5-6 targets I had with my haul of picks coming up between 1.30 and 2.3, but the Falcons said no sir. Obviously I loved the size of McDonald, and his ability to play physical football. I think I liked him more at SS than FS, but both of my positions were in flux with Brodney Pool hitting regression (and Free Agency) this coming offseason. Ultimately, I don't think I would have pulled the trigger on McDonald because we signed Pollard to play SS, but I loved the workout on McDonald and knew he'd be very good for whoever got him. Early returns have been promising on McDonald, while Pool was moved from SS to FS (as he's a tiny bit rangier) but he's been relegated to backup behind Pool for his rookie season.
[1.29] 
LE Malliciah Goodman, Clemson | A
This is another pick that I'm inclined to make an A+ just simply because they left my guy on the board. I had known going in I wanted Glennon (6'7" with a cannon for an arm that is only 21 years old) - but my smokescreen of adding QB Matt Stafford was fading fast. I knew the Vikes were QB shopping based off their interest in Stafford in Match Eligible Free Agency, and I thought this would be a prime spot for them to steal Glennon and turn him into a top SFL QB in the next 5 years. When they went DE, I was so relieved I almost took Glennon at 1.31 instead of 2.3! Ultimately though, with the Vikes not picking again until 2.4 (just behind me), and Kevin and the Jets taking Barkley, I felt fairly confident in letting Glennon wait until the top of the 2nd. I was also relieved that I didn't pay the 2nd round pick asking price that was being floated to move up a few spots with teams like Indy or Tampa. All of that said- I have no idea if the Vikes actually liked or wanted Glennon, and I'm positive they are very happy to have Goodman, who is a favorable comp to Dion Jordan wayyyy later in the round. He's going to be a very good pass rusher coming off the left side. Great size, above average speed, acceleration, and strength. Very good pick.
[1.30] 
LT Menelik Watson, FSU | C+
Watson is the most pedestrian of the OTs taken, but he's in no way a bad pick. While he's not an athletic freak like some of the guys taken, he's very close to ready to play now, and will progress into a stud OT quickly. I do wish he was a little younger with that 56AWR, but ultimately all teams will be under the same situation with the Age 30 regression. I'd hook this guy up with a mentor to try and hurry him along.
[1.31] 
TE Dion Sims, Michigan State | A
Sims was my 2nd favorite TE in the class, and I explained the process behind Simms in the Raiders draft pick review. I'm sure some will not like taking a TE this high, so maybe some GMs won't have this rated at an A, but without sounding TOO much like a homer, I'm very happy with the pick and expect Sims to be a force in Dallas for a long time. I've been trying to fine tune and find out the best way to deploy him (TE1? WR3? WR4?) - which can be tricky with a rookie WR. Ultimately, I think he'll be one of the better TEs in SFL in the next 5 years, especially once he and Glennon are more developed. Watching him in the games, you can see the talent. He's running free often - he's physically imposing. We just need a QB that can get him the ball more reliably.
[1.32] WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota | A
Theilen has had a rocky start to the year, with all the QB issues we've had in Dallas, but his outlook is very good. He was aided by a good skew (and some love in progression and workouts), but ultimately we feel very lucky to have got a 6'2" target with his speed and quickness with the final pick of the 1st round. Ultimately to have zero draft picks in the 1st-4th rounds, and to come out of this with adding two amazing weapons in the passing game, we feel very lucky.
Thanks for reading! Sorry for the delay on Part 2/3, took a trip to the mountains. This weekend is the beach - but hope to release Part 3/3 (Picks 2.1 - 2.16) next week.
