(07-10-2021, 12:31 PM)Bullseye Wrote: Not sure if this topic ever arose. but it's still the dead zone, and I am jonesing for football, like Pookie from New Jack City going through withdrawals.

Not a pretty sight. folks.

But I was wondering based primarily on your feelings of the draft class before they played a down, which draft class did you like better, the 2020 or 2021 class?

To review, this is the 2020 class:

1-9  CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
1-20 K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU
2-42 Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
3-73  DaVon Hamilton, NTm, Ohio State
4-116 Ben Bartch, G, St. John's (MN)
4-137 Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan St.
4-140 Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami (FL)
5-157 Daniel Thomas, S, Auburn
5-165 Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
6-189  Jake Luton, QB, Oregon St.223 Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis
6-206  Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech
7-223 Chris Claybrooks, CB Memphis

and here is this year's class

1-1  Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
1-25 Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
2-33  Tyson Campbell, DB, Georgia
2-45 Walker Little, T, Stanford
3-65 Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
4-106 Jay Tufele, DL, USC 
4-121 Jordan Smith, Edge, UAB
5-145 Luke Farrell, TE, Ohio State
6-209  Jalen Camp, WR. Georgia Tech

For several reasons, I would give the edge to this year's draft class.

1.  Trevor Lawrence.  He has been touted even by national observers as a generational QB prospect.  That possibility alone gives 2021 the edge.

2.  In terms of guys I liked in the first round, I didn't care for either first round pick last year.  Henderson was a fair prospect, but there were other guys I wanted above him.  I simply did not like the Chaisson pick at all.  Damn near everyone liked the Trevor Lawrence pick.  Conversely, damn near everyone hated the Etienne pick.  Though I preferred Teven Jenkins at that spot, I at least liked Etienne as a prospect.

3.  I also think the extra "premium" pick-the Walker Little pick due to the Ngakoue trade-gives 2021 another edge over last year.  Now we'll have to see whether Little gives us more impact for that pick, but just from a numerical perspective, 2 second round picks are better than one.

4,  Finally, this year's class addressed more premium positions (QB, LT, and CB) than 2929 (CB, Edge)

On the other hand, after the 4th round, I think the 2020 class fared better than this year's class.  Starting with the Jordan Smith pick, I wasn't impressed with this year's draft haul.  Last year, I at least felt good about Collin Johnson.  Also in terms of raw numbers overall, 12 picks are better than 9 picks.

Your thoughts?

Bullseye, I agree that this year's is better, but mostly because last year's was so bad, in my opinion.

Taking Henderson never pleased me. He seems like he can be a decent CB, but more of a need reach than an ability pick. Should have taken Justin Jefferson.

Really, though, any draft that gets you a generational QB is a great draft, in spite of the rest of it often being heartburn inducing. That said, I agree that Little could be a gem. We'll have to see.

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