prime21 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Mel released this yesterday through ESPN Insider. OFFENSE Quarterback Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans Final Big Board rank: 34Midseason pick: WatsonPreseason pick: DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns How good would Watson's stat line have been if he hadn't torn his ACL in practice in early November? He had 19 touchdown passes in only six starts. That's more than Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota had all season. DeShone Kizer, the lone rookie quarterback who started in Week 1, had only 11 touchdown passes to 22 interceptions. Just too many turnovers. Mitchell Trubisky flashed at times for the Bears, but he and Kizer finished in the bottom three in Total QBR. Year 2 is important for both -- Trubisky will have a new coach, while Kizer will likely be battling a first-round pick. I expect Watson to have a huge 2018 season. Running back Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs Final Big Board rank: 82Midseason pick: HuntPreseason pick: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings Hunt and the Chiefs had a 1-6 lull in midseason but finished 4-0 to end the season. He had a rushing touchdown in all four of those games, and he's an important cog if Kansas City hopes to beat New England in a potential playoff matchup next weekend. Hunt led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards and added 53 catches. Cook was my preseason pick to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he tore his ACL in Week 4. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints Final Big Board rank: 88Midseason pick: Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville JaguarsPreseason pick: Fournette How good was Kamara down the stretch? He's my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Saints have relied on running the ball and playing solid defense, and it's working. Drew Brees is playing efficiently while throwing shorter passes, many of them to his rookie running back. Kamara led the league in yards per carry (6.1) and had 81 catches and 14 total touchdowns. Anybody even remember when Adrian Peterson was in New Orleans? That's because Kamara has been so good (along with Mark Ingram). Fournette had only one 100-yard rushing game in his last five, barely squeaking above the 1,000-yard mark for the season (1,040). All-purpose back Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers Final Big Board rank: 6Midseason pick: McCaffreyPreseason pick: McCaffrey McCaffrey finished the season with 80 catches and seven total touchdowns, though he averaged only 3.7 yards per carry. I expected more from him, but he improved down the stretch. Now Carolina has a chance to go on a postseason run in the wide-open NFC field. Tarik Cohen was in consideration here, too. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams Final Big Board rank: 83Midseason pick: KuppPreseason pick: Kupp The Rams have had one of the best offenses in the league in Year 1 under Sean McVay, but it's not all Todd Gurley. Kupp has been the primary slot receiver since Day 1, finishing the season with 62 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns. I said before the year that he was one of the most physically-ready receivers in the draft class, and it has been a strange season for wide receivers taken in the first round -- Corey Davis had 34 catches, Mike Williams had 11 and John Ross had none. None of the three had touchdowns. Rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has had a notable impact on an already-loaded Pittsburgh offense. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers Final Big Board rank: 39Midseason pick: Smith-SchusterPreseason pick: Zay Jones, Buffalo Bills Smith-Schuster broke out in Week 8 with a seven-catch, 193-yard performance that included a 97-yard touchdown, and he finished the season with 58 catches and eight touchdowns, including one on a kick return. If you're looking for a potential X factor in the playoffs, Smith-Schuster might be the guy. And remember: He's only 21 years old. That Steelers offense has so much potential. Jones had only 27 catches on 74 targets for the Bills. Tight end Evan Engram, New York Giants Final Big Board rank: 21Midseason pick: EngramPreseason pick: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Engram had a lot more snaps and targets than I thought he would, but that's because the Giants were devastated by injuries to pass-catchers. He had to play. He finished the season with 64 catches and six touchdowns. Engram still has to improve as a blocker, but he's an important part of the Giants' future. Let's see who's throwing him the ball in 2018. Howard and David Njoku combined for 10 touchdown catches, too. It was a solid first year for rookie tight ends. Offensive line Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints Final Big Board rank: 29Midseason pick: RamczykPreseason pick: Ramczyk Sixteen games, 16 starts for Ramczyk. And he moved from left tackle to right tackle once Terron Armstead got healthy. Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars Final Big Board rank: 28Midseason pick: RobinsonPreseason pick: Robinson Like Ramczyk, Robinson was plugged into the starting left tackle spot early in training camp. The Jaguars' offseason trade for Branden Albert didn't work out. Robinson missed one game, but he was solid protecting Blake Bortles' blind side and clearing holes for Fournette. Dan Feeney, Los Angeles Chargers Final Big Board rank: 76Midseason pick: Garett Bolles, Denver BroncosPreseason pick: Bolles Feeney, my No. 3-ranked guard before the draft, made nine starts for the Chargers after Matt Slauson was injured, helping Los Angeles dig out of an 0-4 hole. Forrest Lamp, my top-ranked guard, was ruled out for the season in training camp, so the guard group wasn't especially strong in 2017. Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills Final Big Board rank: 54Midseason pick: DawkinsPreseason pick: Taylor Moton, Carolina Panthers The second-round pick has impressed down the stretch while filling in for Cordy Glenn at left tackle. I rated Dawkins as a guard, and he was dominant as a tackle at Temple. He has shown a lot in Year 1. Moton played only 62 offensive snaps for the Panthers. Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings Final Big Board rank: 62Midseason pick: ElfleinPreseason pick: Elflein Elflein has been a consistently good presence in the middle of the Vikings' O-line, though a shoulder injury forced him to miss two games, including the final regular-season game. Elflein is battling back to try to make it for Minnesota's divisional-round game. DEFENSE Defensive end Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals Final Big Board rank: 52Midseason pick: LawsonPreseason pick: Jonathan Allen, Washington Redskins Lawson finished the season with 8.5 sacks, 21 quarterback knockdowns and eight tackles for loss while playing in the Bengals' defensive line rotation. He started only one game but still played a lot. The former five-star recruit is super talented, but injuries dropped him to the fourth round in the draft. Keep an eye on him as a potential 10-sack-per-season pass-rusher going forward. The Bengals got a steal. Allen played in only five games due to a foot injury. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns Final Big Board rank: 1Midseason pick: Solomon Thomas, San Francisco 49ersPreseason pick: Garrett The No. 1 overall pick had seven sacks, 18 quarterback knockdowns and nine tackles for loss -- in only 11 games. He missed the first part of the season with an ankle injury, but he was already one of the Browns' best defenders. He has All-Pro talent -- he just needs to stay on the field. I'm excited to see how he improves in 2018. Thomas had three sacks and 41 total tackles in 12 starts. Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants Final Big Board rank: 107Midseason pick: TomlinsonPreseason pick: Tomlinson Tomlinson pitched in with 50 tackles and a sack while starting all 16 games next to Damon "Snacks" Harrison, playing 53.1 percent of New York's defensive snaps. The second-round pick was reliable against the run. Larry Ogunjobi, Cleveland Browns Final Big Board rank: 99Midseason pick: Nazair Jones, Seattle SeahawksPreseason pick: Eddie Vanderdoes, Oakland Raiders The top of the 2017 DT class really hasn't played much. Chris Wormley, my top-ranked defensive tackle, played only 11.2 percent of the Ravens' defensive snaps. My No. 2 DT Malik McDowell hasn't played at all for the Seahawks after an injury before the season. The Browns have two candidates, though, including my No. 3-ranked DT Caleb Brantley, who has two sacks. But I'm going with the third-round pick Ogunjobi, who has 32 tackles and a sack while playing more snaps than Brantley. T.J. Watt has helped elevate the Steelers' pass rush, contributing seven sacks to the team's league-high mark of 56. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire Linebacker T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers Final Big Board rank: 48Midseason pick: WattPreseason pick: Watt After two sacks and an interception in his NFL debut, we thought Watt had to regress, right? He finished the season with seven sacks, 12 quarterback knockdowns and 10 tackles for loss. He also had 52 total tackles and started 15 games. It was a solid rookie year for the younger Watt brother, who's at his best when he can get after quarterbacks. The Steelers need him to be at his best in the playoffs. Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers Final Big Board rank: 8Midseason pick: Kendell Beckwith, Tampa Bay BuccaneersPreseason pick: Foster Foster played only 10 games, but he was a menace in the middle of the 49ers' defense. He had seven tackles for loss and 72 total tackles. He was one of my favorite 2017 prospects and my top-ranked inside linebacker. He's the reason the 49ers parted ways with longtime stalwart NaVorro Bowman earlier this season. Beckwith had a good year, but Foster played at an All-Pro level when he was on the field. Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions Final Big Board rank: 17Midseason pick: DavisPreseason pick: Davis The Texans' Zach Cunningham was an option here, but Davis started two more games and had 14 more total tackles. And the first-round pick Davis -- who had 96 tackles, two sacks and an interception -- is a little better in coverage. He struggled with ankle injuries at Florida last season, but his 4.56-second 40-yard dash and 38½-inch vertical at the Florida pro day moved him up my board. Cornerback Tre'Davious White, Buffalo Bills Final Big Board rank: 32Midseason pick: WhitePreseason pick: White Cornerback was the easiest position to pick on this team. White was dependable -- he had four interceptions and broke up 15 other passes, along with 69 total tackles. He played 98.7 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps and looks like he could be Buffalo's No. 1 corner for years to come. The first-round pick was one of the most consistent prospects I graded in the Class of 2017. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints Final Big Board rank: 9Midseason pick: LattimorePreseason pick: Lattimore Lattimore is my pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. That means the Saints get both rookie award-winners. New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton did a fantastic job with their 2017 class. Lattimore had five interceptions, nine pass breakups and 52 total tackles in 13 starts. He didn't look out of place against the league's best receivers. Lattimore has a chance to be a special player in this league for a long time. Fifth-round pick Desmond King, who has done a great job for the Chargers, would be my pick for third cornerback. Safety Jamal Adams, New York Jets Final Big Board rank: 3Midseason pick: AdamsPreseason pick: Adams There were a few good rookie safeties this season, but none were better than the No. 6 overall pick Adams. The Jets moved him around, even playing him some at linebacker and wide cornerback. That's versatility. He started every game, finishing with 82 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. The Jets again have the No. 6 pick for the second straight year -- they won't need to go safety with their first two picks again. John Johnson III, Los Angeles Rams Final Big Board rank: 143Midseason pick: Marcus Maye, New York JetsPreseason pick: Maye The third-round pick started 11 games for the much-improved Rams, contributing an interception and 71 tackles. Los Angeles couldn't keep the Boston College product off the field. Eddie Jackson, who had two 75-plus-yard touchdowns in Week 7, and Marcus Williams, another Saints draft pick, were also in consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I lmbo whenever reminded the Beas traded for Trubisky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJoTownsell1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Adams and Maye will be the Kam Chancellor/Earl Thomas for this defense for many years to come. Now let's hope Macc finds their equivalents on the offensive side of the ball this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I keep hearing the Jets used Adams in non-safety roles. Is there no END to their stupidity and dumbness? They draft a safety but do not even put him into that position? Idiots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Seems like the Steelers might be onto something with drafting athletic linebackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandy Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I really was happy about how our 2 safties played. We've got something that'll last for years, and be the top of the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJoTownsell1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 4 minutes ago, SenorGato said: I keep hearing the Jets used Adams in non-safety roles. Is there no END to their stupidity and dumbness? They draft a safety but do not even put him into that position? Idiots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HessStation Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Ironically who wanted Pat Elflein in the 3rd round....Hessstation. Who the Jets trade back for Stewart with in the 3rd round....the Vikings....who'd they take....Elflein. Hessstation for GM yo. Real talk etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandy Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 5 minutes ago, SenorGato said: I keep hearing the Jets used Adams in non-safety roles. Is there no END to their stupidity and dumbness? They draft a safety but do not even put him into that position? Idiots Adams is expendable. I understand why they would put him at linebacker, he's much better at run D than Pass D. Some people have speculated whether he would be a better Linebacker, but I don't understand putting him at corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I would have far rather had Tredavious white a 1st round and 3rd round pick plus probably more than that than Adams. Unless Adams suddenly starts producing turnovers next year and covers better the pick is not worth it for a box hybrid safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Well wel well where are the SOJFs now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnitedWhofans Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 ONce again, the argument of the value is the only real argument that people can have against him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prime21 Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 32 minutes ago, Beerfish said: I would have far rather had Tredavious white a 1st round and 3rd round pick plus probably more than that than Adams. Unless Adams suddenly starts producing turnovers next year and covers better the pick is not worth it for a box hybrid safety. We can't live on he shouldn't have been picked 6th if they wanted to use him in this capacity. At this point they have to use him as best as they see fit. He may be better in this role than as a deep safety and if that's the case then the should play him this way. Playing in this role will undoubtedly lead to less turnovers but I'm glad we have such a versatile player that can be moved around. I do understand your point that a hybrid safety is probably not worth such a high pick but whats done is done. At least for now we are not calling him a bust which is more important in the scheme of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNuuFaaolaExperience Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 1 hour ago, SenorGato said: I keep hearing the Jets used Adams in non-safety roles. Is there no END to their stupidity and dumbness? They draft a safety but do not even put him into that position? Idiots I don't get this logic. If he is versatile, why not play him where he is valuable? It would be stupidity to NOT play him in different roles simply because they drafted him at safety. That is like keeping a high draft pick on the team because he was drafted high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gangrene Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 This time next year, Mahones picked at ten...will be the one of the bright lights from this class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 See Browns had two guys on the list and still did not win one game- things could be worse Jet fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 This is nice. They really helped this D be close to not the worst in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy2020 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 They should have chosen Maye over him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 “He was average...but he was average at TWO positions. Now that’s versatility folks.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnitedWhofans Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Final PFF grade for his rookie year: 81.2 which is in the "above average" category. Very good for a rookie year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 12 minutes ago, T0mShane said: “He was average...but he was average at TWO positions. Now that’s versatility folks.” Love too draft Deone Bucannon at #6 overall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebag Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 1 hour ago, jeremy2020 said: They should have chosen Maye over him. Yes. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnitedWhofans Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 2 minutes ago, peebag said: Yes. Thank you. Maye fell apart a bit towards the end of the year. PFF grades him at a 41 In terms of all Rookie Teams, Its between Adams and John Johnson III of the Rams. Very similar stats. JJ III has 1 INT, Adams has 1 forced fumble. JJ III has more pass deflections than Adams. Adams has more tackles and sacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJoTownsell1 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 2 hours ago, TheNuuFaaolaExperience said: I don't get this logic. If he is versatile, why not play him where he is valuable? It would be stupidity to NOT play him in different roles simply because they drafted him at safety. That is like keeping a high draft pick on the team because he was drafted high. That's your fault for assuming some of these posters use logic when formulating arguments. Many times, it's just a whine-fest. Jamal Adams could have won Rookie of the Year and they would still bash Adams and Macc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerfish Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Box strong safety that creates few turnovers. We drafted a guy at 6 because the guy we drafted at 21 the year before couldn't handle the job. I have no doubts that Adams will have a long term good career as long as he is kept as a box safety/linebacker hybrid. Using the 6th pick in the draft for that kind of player is stupid when you have holes all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varjet Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 John Johnson was drafted much lower than Maye or Adams. The Pat Elflein pass for Stewart will live in infamy. White is a Cover 2 corner who did not fit Bowles system. Lattimore would have fit Bowles system. For better or worse, there was stuff in Lattimore's file, in addition to the ghost of Dee Milliner, that precluded the Jets from taking him. I have not yet filled in my draft grades in the other post for the 2016 and 2017 drafts, but if 2015 was a D, 2016 was a C/C- and 2017 is somewhere around a B-/C. Mac needs to do much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detectivekimble Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Who in the hell is Mel Kiper anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SenorGato Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 1 hour ago, JoJoTownsell1 said: That's your fault for assuming some of these posters use logic when formulating arguments. Many times, it's just a whine-fest. Jamal Adams could have won Rookie of the Year and they would still bash Adams and Macc. Adams bashing I don’t get since he neither made the call or is a bad player. This Macc guy and bashing the organization? Super fair, Watson was riiiiiiight there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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