2018 DRAFT DAY STEALS
I always do these before I actually see everyones actual draft skew since some GM's don't post them but gotta get that double AP baby!!! So here is my attempt like most years I'm sure to forgot someone so feel free to list him below. I don't really feel like I got any steals but I definitely liked the late round corners I aquired but can't really call them steals. Here are some names I thought were steals in the first 4 rounds of this years draft class but I think everyone helped their teams out. I based my projections of where I had each player ranked and where they actually got drafted.
1.10- New England Patriots- CB Charvarious Ward- (GM Briston Redford)
Credentials: 82 OVR/ 97 SPD/ 67 STR/ 55 AWR/ 92 AGI/ 93 ACC/ 69 CTH/ 90 JMP/ 78 TAK- 6'1" 196 lbs.
Ward can top out at 99 SPD/95 AGI/96 ACC at 6'1" and could have gone top but still would have made perfect sense. I realize the AWR is a bit lower than you'd like and thats unfortunately the name of the game with young prospects, not many come with perfect ratings so you take the good with the bad. In this case though I believe the good far outweigh the bad, the New England Patriots get a steal here.
1.11- Pittsburgh Steelers- CB Carlton Davis- (GM Gary Cohen)
Credentials: unknown OVR/ 99 SPD/ 59 STR/53 AWR/99 AGI/94 ACC/66 CTH/88 JMP/67 TAK- 6'1" 203 lbs.
Briston posted Carlton Davis' private workout in the forums after Gary drafted him and I feel the exact same way that I did for Ward above, you have a 6'1" corner with 99 SPD/99 AGI/97 ACC potential so what's not to like? Well again the AWR is lower but all the rest has the makings of a franchise shutdown corner in the SFL, I feel both Ward and Davis should have went higher so both get steals from me dawg.
1.14- Chicago Bears- TE Mark Andrews- (GM Brent Lachapelle)
Credentials: 84 OVR/ 89 SPD/76 STR/58 AWR/81 AGI/87 ACC/88 CTH/70 BTK- 6'5" 254 lbs.
Every year we seem to have the next greatest TE and this year is no different, Andrews has the potential to top out at 92 SPD/84 AGI/91 ACC which if I go into fit the system and type those in for TE, there is no tightends with those attributes in the league so he'll be a 1 of a kind. Getting a 1 of a kind at 14 is exceptional value and a great get for Brent who will give newly signed QB Erik Ainge a shiny new toy to throw to on offense.
1.15- Indianapolis Colts- LT Brian O'Neill- (GM Darryl Breckheimer)
Credentials: 85 OVR- 62 SPD/99 STR/69 AWR /77 AGI/ 79 ACC/ 93 PBK/81 RBK- 6'7" 297 lbs.
The Colts have a gem fall right into their lap at 1.15 in the top OL in this draft class by quite a bit on my board, he tops off at 65 SPD/80 AGI/82 ACC plus he already comes with above average AWR which is like a cherry on top. My only knock and it may just be because I haven't had luck with players under 300 lbs on the OL, they tended to give up more sacks so I'm curious to see how O'Neill fares because his attributes make him a 10+ year anchor.
1.16- Dallas Cowboys- CB J.C. Jackson- (GM Anthony Fernandez)
Credentials: 88 OVR/94 SPD/72 STR/69 AWR/93 AGI/99 ACC/69 CTH/87 JMP/88 TAK- 5'10" 201 lbs.
I normally don't rank smaller corners this high but Jackson is the exception to the rule. He can close out at 97 SPD/96 AGI/99 ACC, plus his 69 AWR makes him starter material. I wouldn't necessarily put him out as my CB1 or CB@ but a NCB definitely. He definitely fell due to size imo but the champs reap the benefits from it and get a stud CB here.
1.21- Cincinnati Bengals- CB Jaire Alexander- (GM Brady Tinnin)
Credentials: 82 OVR/ 96 SPD/56 STR/66 AWR/92 AGI/97 ACC/66 CTH/83 JMP/65 TAK- 5'11" 192 lbs.
If you haven't noticed I liked the corners in this draft and thought it was the strength of this class. Alexander will be 99 SPD/95 AGI/99 ACC speed corner who like Jackson above has the smarts to start as a NCB immediately in year 1. He has all the intagibles to be an elite corner in this league for years to come and for that reason I found it a steal here this late in round 1.
1.21- New York Jets- OT Matinas Rankin- (GM Kevin Mullendore)
Credentials: 74 OVR/70 SPD/89 STR/52 AWR/72 AGI/97 ACC/66 CTH/83 JMP/65 TAK- 6'5" 314 lbs.
Rankin may have a chicks first name but he was ranked as the 2nd best OL on my board. He can play anywhere along the OL year 1, he'll have probably 2 but at least 1 TC where he can work on his STR and blocking skils. I really liked his athletic ability, all the other stuff can be worked on but you can't teach wquick feet and burst.
2.13- Baltimore Ravens- TE Dallas Goedert- (GM Norbert Huszti)
Credentials: 72 OVR/86 SPD/56 STR/60 AWR/76 AGI/90 ACC/77 CTH- 6'5" 256 lbs.
Another solid TE here in the same draft topping out at 89 SPD/ 79 AGI/ 93 ACC and to top it off he's able to go through at least 1 TC possibly 2. As i typed in "fit the sytem" there were only 4 TE's who met the same criteria SPD/ACC as Goedert so to get that type of value midway through the 2nd round is excellent.
2.24- Minnesota Vikings- DE Chad Thomas- (GM Neal Wintermute)
Credentials: 78 OVR/86 SPD/69 STR/51 AWR/69 AGI/78 ACC/74 TAK- 6'5" 281 lbs.
Thomas is a sneaky good athlete, he can turn into 89 SPD/ 72 AGI/ 81 ACC, I like a strong DE and his 69 STR is not usually my cup of tea but with 1 TC and activity pts he can get that to 73 which is not ideal still but the athleticism should make up for it and his TAK is above average also which should help as well.
2.25- Tennessee Titans- DL Julian Taylor- (GM Apolo Shapiro)
Credentials: 73 OVR/78 SPD/86 STR/51 AWR/83 AGI/78 ACC/66 TAK- 6'5" 280 lbs.
Another player i was eye balling at the 1.28 spot, he can turn into 81 SPD/90 STR/86 AGI/81 ACC- the STR can get at least a +1 in TC. Can't beat these types of players at the bottom of the round, I see him more as a DE but Apolo might have different plans for him. It's hard to deny the value of a player like this where he was taken.
