(04-29-2023, 07:39 AM)TheDogCatcher Wrote:

(04-29-2023, 01:15 AM)Jags32250 Wrote: Doug and Trent aren’t dummies, I think this is telling of how they feel about the level of talent at this point. Which makes it even more head scratching why they wanted to load up on late round picks. Definitely a confusing draft.

It was a failed draft strategy. The picks were meant to be trade up ammo, but other GMs saw how weak this draft is and aren’t interested in late round picks.

This is interesting in terms of trades, in that there were fewer underclassman in this draft due to NIL payments...limiting the talent in the bottom rounds of the draft. Having the ability to stay at college while making legitimate money and not having to risk that a player could go undrafted/not make a team (without a college degree,) made the 5th-7th round picks worth less in trade value.

The talent level entering the draft will balance itself out, but the average age of draftees should tick up with the current system.  I don't know if it will fully balance out by next years draft, but I do give Baalke some credit by getting compensation for next year with the first round trade down.

---