Just connecting dots, perhaps correctly and perhaps not. But San Francisco may have had an agreement to trade with the Patriots or Seattle for Rutledge. It explains Sam Francisco moving down to 2nd immediately, even though New England and Seattle had shown more interest. I love the potential of finding a Bruce Matthews while upsetting the draft nerds. Almost a repeat of their view of overpaying for WAJ in 2023. I hope this is a repeat.
I keep coming back to a feeling about what we collective saw and often see - in a draft where there isn't consensus talent all over the board, and instead a lot of "ok" that teams suggested prior to the draft, the first round becomes "go get our guy." The first round seems like it becomes "I like him and I'm afraid" sometimes even more than fit. In the 2nd round, teams start to lock more into plans vs. "we like him and he won't be there again....I guess him" sorts of picks. I know the Texans like Rutledge and, while many hoped he'd be there at 28 or 38, this feels like, "we like him, we don't want to hope and settle if he's not there at 38, don't 'love' anyone else - let's do it now." This also seems like why teams like the Rams overpaid at 13 for Simpson vs. coming back into the end of the first, or the Jets for Sadiq, or Dolphins for Proctor, etc.
I completely agree. Nick says in his press conferences that he has a cluster of players to pick from. If you trade up two spots then your targeting a specific player that you know will be selected be the team in front of you. Even if the 49ers picked Rutledge, then you pivot to your next target according to what you are telling everybody you will do at your press conferences who most teams have a higher grade on (Faulk, Woods, Johnson, Rodriguez). I like Rutledge as a player and I had him mocked to the Texans at pick 38. I have Rodriguez mocked at 28, so lets see if they get flip flopped.
At pick 38 I like the DT's McDonald and Bailey, but the teams with picks in front of the Texans have heavy DT needs. I'd expect the pick at 38 to be either LB Jacob Rodriguez or Edge Gabe Jacas.
Thoughts on the Draft 1. Cowboys did great. Selected a future HOF Safety at 11 and then selected the most twitched up Edge player in the draft in Malachi Lawrence. 2. Browns are Browns. Picked the right positions, the wrong players. 3. Dolphins - WTF? Allowed the Cowboys to select Downs when you have a huge safety need (Lonnie Johnson is the starting safety). And then picked a player with huge deficiencies in pass pro and is not a scheme fit. 4. Ravens & Lions- How do they luck into great players dropping to them in the draft? 5. Steelers- Have an angel watching over them. Were set to draft Malaki Lemon and the Eagles sniped the pick from them. They ended up selecting Max instead, got a better player and don't have to deal with the drama from Lemon. 6. Rams- McVay is pissed he was forced to draft a QB. Offensive Tackles on Draft Day go early every year. The mock draft simulators online do not have the importance teams place on OT built into their algorhythms. Defensive players are rotated regularly during a game. Offensive tackles play every offensive down. Finding athletic 300lb to start in the NFL is incredibly hard to find.
This part of the draft is where there are about 50 players with all similar grades. I would not put it past the Texans to trade back from 38 to recoup some picks.
I can see that happening. If Jacob Rodriguez is available and they trade back, I might just pout a bit.
I could see the Steelers sending 53 + 85 if another WR target is there at 38. If so, hope BDN asks for Cory Trice Jr. as well (David Mfn Putney... Draft Day rec!)
26. Keylan Rutledge OG Georgia Tech 38. Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech 59. Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech 91. Chandler Rivers CB Duke 106. Oscar Delp TE Georgia 141. Le'Veon Moss RB Texas A&M 243. Vincent Anthony Jr. EDGE Duke
I’d be ok with any of the following at 38. Although I do fully expect we will trade down to recoup some picks, unless there’s a guy there at 38 we genuinely love. Zion Young Gabe Jacas Christen Miller Kayden McDonald Chase Bisontis TJ Parker Jacob Rodriguez Also wouldn’t mind if they wanted one of the corners to finally have some legit depth behind our top 2. Terrell, Cisse, and Hood come to mind as top guys that could be there at 38.
I really think if we want Delp, he has to be one of our next two picks. He's not sliding far. We might have to use 38 to get him if you really want him. If we go McDonald, the next pick might start to force LB because of position scarcity. This is where the fans need to be realistic to where players are likely to fall and see the team go BPA and not force it. We don't want to behave like the Browns chasing needs ideally. If our top DTs get taken ahead of us, consider if we can slide back a bit to get more ammo for this area and either take a weapon or your top LB. Then the following pick is possibly the opposite. I noted weapon because if that's Delp, cool. If he gets snatched but LB looks ehh and so does DT, consider a player like Jonah Coleman. We could still use top flight weapon talent too.
Bruce Mathews was a top ten pick and was an agile dancing grisley bear with pro-bowl left tackle quality pass protection skills and top tier lateral quickness. Comparing the two does a disservice to Rutledge. Just on pure physical comps, Dean Steinkuhler is probably a better comp from that line - a mauler who played inside exclusively - but even then Steinkuhler was a #2 overall pick. Don't give Rutledge an unreasonably high "hall of fame" level bar as a baseline. You'll just end up being disapointed when there's no reason to be.
