NFL: Post-draft analysis
By: Will Aimette
Many shocking moves were made on Thursday through Sunday in this year’s NFL Draft, including the Jaguars, who traded up to get Jacksonville’s newest star, Travis Hunter.
Travis Hunter will be the most successful rookie
After the Jaguars drafted Hunter, it was clear he would be successful. He’s already coming into a talented offense with breakout rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr to pair with his receiving talent, and QB Trevor Lawrence to throw him the ball. Lawrence has one of the strongest arms in football, and Hunter possesses the speed to be the perfect WR fit for him. The Jags front office has made it clear that Hunter will be making his debut only as a receiver, but as the season progresses he will play on both sides of the ball. The only problem? The Jaguars didn’t get a D-lineman. They had a chance to get one, with Abdul Carter or even Mason Graham taken at the three and five spots. I do understand the Jaguars approach, in the NFL it is smartest to get the best player available, but then you have to get one in free agency, which they haven’t. But going back to Hunter, he slots in perfectly in this talented offense, and now that Lawrence is going to be 100 percent, things are looking up for fans in Jacksonville.
The Giants had the best draft in the NFL
The Giants put together a great draft class. After getting one of the most talented players in the draft, Abdul Carter, then trading up to get Ole MIss QB Jaxson Dart? That’s what solidified their drafting success. The only problem about the class they brought in was injuries. The Giants have to watch out for Carter, as he is a very injury prone player. Plus, Dart is still a complete mystery to them. He is a massive risk to take, but isn’t that what the draft is for? Anyways, the Giants put up a very solid draft between Dart and Carter, and greatly improved their team in the later rounds with key O-lineman and solid role players.
Shadeur Sanders was a steal for the Browns
Even though Sanders’ draft stock took a major hit before the draft, he didn’t deserve this treatment. I mean, the Saints took a QB named Tyler Shough out of Louisiana before Sanders got drafted. That’s just disrespectful. Clearly Sanders has a way higher upside than most of the QBs taken before him, and with the Browns getting defensive help and a running back in the first few rounds, their QB problem still remained. And they got a guy that could make a difference. I’m not here to say Sanders is better than Ward, but I’d say he falls in the range at least NEAR Jaxson Dart, at least above a mediocre QB out of Louisiana. The fact that a guy with those college stats got taken in the fifth round is crazy to me. The Browns got the possible steal of the draft, taking a once top-10 talent in the fifth round. Even if he isn’t successful, we all will be looking at this situation wondering how Sanders managed to fall that far.
Ashton Jeanty was a massive reach by the Raiders
While Jeanty is one of the best pure-talented players in the draft, the Raiders reached. They did not need to select him with the sixth pick in the draft. The Raiders could have gotten the best pure WR in the class, Tetairoa McMillan. Even better, they could have traded down five or six spots for better picks later. Just saying, the value for trading down nearly a top-five pick is insane. And they still would have gotten Jeanty. The Raiders were the only team outside of the Cowboys that needed a running back. And the Cowboys had pick 12. So while the Raiders did bring in an elite talent and a difference maker, they did not need to pick him that high.
