NFL Draft Instant Reactions

Post-Draft-NFL Draft Instant Reactions

Nick Gaschler

So during the NFL Draft, I wrote down my quick reactions to each pick compared to my Last-Minute Pre-Draft Mock that I never released

1. Cleveland Browns

My Pick: Baker Mayfield-QB-OU

Actual Pick: Baker Mayfield-QB-OU

I was surprised when the reports came out, but Baker Mayfield is one hell of a quarterback. Sorry New York, but John Dorsey wanted him more. Baker is the only guy, in my opinion, who can save Cleveland. This is the right pick.

2. New York Giants

My Pick: Saquon Barkley-RB-Penn State

Actual Pick: Saquon Barkley-RB-Penn State

Not surprising, but with Darnold falling there was the potential they would take him. Barkley is the pick for this franchise and I see them becoming a superpower when they get a new QB after Eli retires. Good pick for the G-Men

3. New York Jets

My Pick: Josh Rosen-QB-UCLA

Actual Pick: Sam Darnold-QB-USC

Not surprising after he falls past the Giants as well. Suck for Sam somehow worked and I guess the guys that made a custom Darnold jersey and brought them to the USC games were correct. Darnold has the potential to be the star, but will he start Day One?

4. Cleveland Browns

My Pick: Bradley Chubb-DE-NC State

Actual Pick: Denzel Ward-CB-Ohio State

What the hell?! This put me off guard. I expected Denzel to go a little bit later, but wow I was not expecting that whatsoever. Regardless it’s a decent pick and should make the Browns’ defense better for the long run.

5. Denver Broncos

My Pick: Sam Darnold-QB-USC

Actual Pick: Bradley Chubb-DE-NC State

Dear lord can we fire Elway yet? That pick was stupid. Chubb is a 4-3 pass rusher, the Broncos run a 3-4. I don’t understand this. Seems like another losing season to me.

6. Indianapolis Colts

My Pick: Quenton Nelson-OG-Notre Dame

Actual Pick: Quenton Nelson-G-Notre Dame

Easy pick. It’s a good pick and Ballard wanted him all along. He submitted the fastest pick of the Draft at this point and it was a good one at that. He should become a Hall of Famer.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

My Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick-DB-Alabama

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Buffalo-Josh Allen

Decent pick for Buffalo, but wow how stupid is Tampa Bay? Honestly they got robbed with this pick. I think Allen can be a success in Buffalo, but he will need to develop. We just need to figure out what Tampa is gonna do and what top 10 pick they get next year.

8. Chicago Bears

My Pick: Denzel Ward-CB-Ohio State

Actual Pick: Roquan Smith-LB-Georgia

I like this pick. Establishing him with Leonard Floyd in the linebacking core a lot stronger for the Bears in 2018 and beyond. While Minkah Fitzpatrick was on the board and so was Tremaine Edmunds, this was a pick that the Bears liked and they cashed in.

9. San Francisco 49ers

My Pick: Derwin James-S-Florida State

Actual Pick: Mike McGlinchey-OT-Notre Dame

Well I didn’t expect this, but Jimmy GaropaGOAT needs a protector and Mike could be the real player here that makes the difference for the 49ers offense and fuels the, to the playoffs.

10. Oakland Raiders

My Pick: Trade w/ Buffalo-Josh Allen-QB-Wyoming

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Arizona-Josh Rosen-QB-UCLA

Ugh I don’t like Rosen at all, but I had a feeling they would select him if he was still on the board. They wanted him enough to trade up and it was nice to see the Cardinals get past Miami and Washington just to be safe. Whether or not this is the right pick is yet to be determined, but it’s a good pick.

11. Miami Dolphins

My Pick: Vita Vea-DT-Washington

Actual Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick-DB-Alabama

He has the potential to be a really good defensive player, but I don’t see him as a safety. Either way he has the potential to be a really good football player.

12. Buffalo Bills

My Pick: Trade w/ Oakland-Roquan Smith-LB-Georgia

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Tampa Bay-Vita Vea-DT-Washington

I really really like this pick. Seeing him walk out onto the stage made me smile. I think this makes Tampa the real winner of the trade as Vita Vea will make a real impact on the next level and should make the Pro Bowler soon.

13. Washington Redskins

My Pick: Tremaine Edmunds-LB-Virginia Tech

Actual Pick: Da’Ron Payne-DT-Alabama

I liked this pick at first, but then I realized Jonathan Allen is a thing. Either way, this makes the Washington Redskins a real defensive superpower and a very stable QB. Payne is one of my favorite players in the class and the Redskins are getting a gem in him.

14. Green Bay Packers

My Pick: Joshua Jackson-CB-Iowa

Actual Pick: Trade w/ New Orleans-Marcus Davenport-DE-UTSA

Listen I know NOLA took Davenport to take him away from Oakland, but Lamar would be so much better in this system and would really be a big help for the Saints in the future. But so would Davenport and I’m a huge fan of him in the end.

15. Arizona Cardinals

My Pick: Lamar Jackson-QB-Louisville

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Oakland-Kolton Miller-OT-UCLA

Hahahahahaha!! OK good job Oakland screwing up this pick when Tremaine Edmunds is still on the board. Miller isn’t even in my top 5 OT’s but whatever it’s fine, you guys can go ahead and suck for a couple more years.

16. Baltimore Ravens

My Pick: Isaiah Wynn-G-Georgia

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Buffalo-Tremaine Edmunds-LB-Virginia Tech

I really love this pick. Buffalo moved up for a reason and Edmunds is one hell of a football player. He’s got great potential and this reminds me so much of the Tre White pick from last season.

17. LA Chargers

My Pick: Da’Ron Payne-DT-Alabama

Actual Pick: Derwin James-S-Florida State

Finally Derwin jumps off the board and I like the pick. Derwin James has the opportunity to make a huge impact on the Chargers and the AFC West.

18. Seattle Seahawks

My Pick: Jaire Alexander-CB-Louisville

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Green Bay-Jaire Alexander-CB-Louisville

The Packers need a cornerback and I like Jaire Alexander better than Joshua Jackson at this point. He may not be in my top 5, but he is a lot better than Jackson as he has been more consistent and is a splash pick for the Pack.

19. Dallas Cowboys

My Pick: Calvin Ridley-WR-Alabama

Actual Pick: Leighton Vander Esch-LB-Boise State

I hate Leighton Vander Esch. I never liked his film much but got hyped up. I believe there is still a huge open space at wide receiver. This is a classic Jerry Jones screw up and I don’t believe it will serve the Cowboys well.

20. Detroit Lions

My Pick: Marcus Davenport-DE-UTSA

Actual Pick: Frank Ragnow-C-Arkansas

RIP to the Bengals. I have never seen a player get so overhyped so quickly up to the draft and I don’t believe he even belongs in the 1st Round. Another bust at offensive line for the Lions unless he can rebound from his injury quick.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

My Pick: Frank Ragnow-C-Arkansas

Actual Pick: Billy Price-C-Ohio State

Billy Price was the expected pick after Ragnow got taken. Now I just wonder where they will use him as he has great potential and may be able to become a decent player in the future.

22. Buffalo Bills

My Pick: Mike McGlinchey-OT-Notre Dame

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Baltimore-Trade w/ Tennessee-Rashaan Evans-LB-Alabama

This was actually my expected pick and I really like it. Rashaan Evans is a sideline-to-sideline player than can be a really good 34 outside linebacker or even a 34 inside linebacker. The Tide’s top LB goes in the first round

23. New England Patriots

My Pick: Connor Williams-OT-Texas

Actual Pick: Isaiah Wynn-T-Georgia

Wow I really do like this pick. They announced him as a tackle to let everyone know they are going to put him at left tackle, but I think this is a lot better than Lamar(for a Broncos fan at least) and will be a good player.

24. Carolina Panthers

My Pick: Christian Kirk-WR-Texas A&M

Actual Pick: DJ Moore-WR-Maryland

DJ Moore was a little bit surprising, but I like the pick. They need a WR and DJ Moore is a great receiver even though Calvin Ridley os really better than him. The Panthers made a good move that should pay off this year and beyond.

25. Tennessee Titans

My Pick: Rashaan Evans-LB-Alabama

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Baltimore-Hayden Hurst-TE-South Carolina

Wow that was underwhelming. I think Calvin Ridley would have been a much better player for the Ravens, but I guess Hayden Hurst can do well in purple and gold.

26. Atlanta Falcons

My Pick: Taven Bryan-DT-Florida

Actual Pick: Calvin Ridley-WR-Alabama

Best. Player. Available. No other reason why this was the pick, but pairing him with other Alabama star Julio Jones makes the Falcons offense a really good unit next year with two big time deep threats for Matt Ryan. This may guide Atlanta to a AFC South title.

27. New Orleans Saints

My Pick: Maurice Hurst-DT-Michigan

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Seattle-Rashaad Penny-RB-SDSU

Woah. I’d love to have a hit of whatever the Seahawks are smoking right now because that was their 3rd Round Pick right there. Guice is a much better talent and while I like Penny, he’s not a 1st Round prospect.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers

My Pick: Leighton Vander Esch-LB-Boise State

Actual Pick: Terrell Edmunds-S-Virginia Tech

Wow random pick, but that was a really cool pick as well. Shazier was inspirational and I do think that Edmunds has the chance to be a good player if he develops. I liked his pick and thought he had decent potential but not in the 1st Round.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

My Pick: DJ Moore-WR-Maryland

Actual Pick: Taven Bryan-DT-Florida

I like Taven Bryan, but wow do the Jaguars have enough defensive tackles or what. Either way Bryan should make an impact on the next level whether or not he starts Day one of not.

30. Minnesota Vikings

My Pick: Will Hernandez-OG-UTEP

Actual Pick: Mike Hughes-CB-UCF

Hughes is a good pick. I like the Vikings defense and this probably makes them the best football team in the NFC. Hughes can pair up with Xavier Rhodes and be a great football player in Minnesota.

31. New England Patriots

My Pick: Harold Landry-Edge-Boston College

Actual Pick: Sony Michel-RB-Georgia

Weird pick. No Guice is really annoying, but if the Patriots really wanted Michel they sure did get him. This gives the Patriots a lot of RB’s to work with, but still no TB12 successor

32. Philadelphia Eagles

My Pick: Derrius Guice-RB-LSU

Actual Pick: Trade w/ Baltimore-Lamar Jackson-QB-Louisville

Bye Joe Flacco. Hello Lamar. This allows Lamar to develop a bit and become a premier QB in the NFL when they move on from Flacco. I love this pick.