2019 NFL Draft Stories

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By Bernard Faller

Updated: April 13th 2019

Every season we witness many unknowns play out both leading up to and during the NFL draft. I expect nothing different this year. Which player surprisingly falls? Which teams trade up to get their guy? How early will quarterbacks go off the board? Many of the questions should be answered in short order with the draft mere weeks away. This article delves into a few of the bigger stories heading into the draft taking a look at some interesting player stories and a team which will have a big impact on the draft.

The Josh Rosen Saga

Do the Arizona Cardinals really change up at quarterback by drafting Kyler Murray one year after drafting Josh Rosen in the top-10? Most current reports point to this being the case. There is no shortage of teams potentially looking at making a quarterback move. Oakland, Tampa Bay, the Giants, Denver, Cincinnati, Miami, Washington, and Tennessee are all teams with questionable quarterback situations going forward with either starting quarterbacks on expiring contracts or deals with little or no guaranteed left after 2019. This gives teams plenty of freedom to move on from their current starter if desired. Rosen might also garner interest from teams with older quarterbacks, such as New England and the Chargers, who would want the chance to groom a young quarterback at the right price. Rosen would be owed only about $2 million per year (less than many backup quarterbacks) over the next three seasons for a new team, potentially making him a ridiculous bargain if he can become just a competent starter.

Could the Murray talk all be a smokescreen to drive up trade value in a move down the board for Arizona? That would also make sense for an awful team in need of talent across the board after truly earning the number one pick in the draft. The answers to these questions will drive the rest of the draft.

Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders Draft Plan

To say Oakland was bad in 2018 does not really begin to describe the depths of Raider’s woes. Oakland ranked 25^th in Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA and 30^th on the defensive side. Their highest ranked player at running back, wide receiver, tackle, edge defender, defensive interior, linebacker, and cornerback graded no better than 42^nd per Pro Football Focus’ ranks. There is work to be done, clearly. Fortunately, the Raiders jumped off to a big head start early in the off-season. Oakland traded for all-pro wide receiver Antonio Brown. They further boosted the receiver corps in free agency adding speedsters Tyrell Williams, and J.J. Nelson. Tackle Trent Brown, safety LaMarcus Joyner, running back Isaiah Crowell, plus veteran linebackers Brandon Marshall and Vontaze Burfict complete the notable free agent signings.

So how do the Raiders use their four top-35 picks in the draft? Let’s concentrate on their top pick at number four, a potentially key turning point in the draft. There are rumors the Raiders could move up to the number one spot for Murray if he is truly available. They easily have the ammunition with the aforementioned number of high picks to move up if that is the case. It would be a bold move for new GM Mike Mayock but also limits available draft resources on a team with massive needs, particularly across the defense. One scenario involves taking an edge rusher at four, one of the biggest needs for Oakland. The potentially available edge talent, such as Josh Allen, fits this draft spot and might be the most likely scenario.

Another interesting case occurs if defensive tackle Quinnen Williams falls to the Raiders at number four. He is the top overall player for some analysts and teams can never have enough disruptive interior players to rotate along the defensive front. Oakland invested heavily (but cheaply) in defensive tackles recently, however, with last year’s rookies 2^nd rounder P.J. Hall and 5^th round steal Maurice Hurst plus signing Jonathan Hankins and Justin Ellis. It would be a fun debate of best player available versus team needs/value in a draft loaded with high-end defensive line prospects. Trading down from four also presents another option here, particularly if Kyler Murray or Williams falls and one which the Raiders might prefer given the defensive line depth available in this draft. The lack of top quarterback talent this year might make trading down difficult though.

Overall, Oakland’s early picks should be dominated by shoring up the defense in a draft loaded on that side of the ball. The available picks, large number of needs, and interesting spots in the draft make the Raiders one of the key teams in determining how the draft plays out.

Quarterback Needy Teams

Where quarterbacks fall always represents one of the bigger stories on draft day. The need for competent passers traditionally pushes them up the draft board yearly. The article notes previously the many teams who could draft a quarterback. The question is how many teams actually invest early at the position. Despite the large number of teams who possibly draft a quarterback high, there might not be many in true desperation over their quarterback situation. Many of those teams have competent players, although maybe not long-term answers, which allows freedom in using high draft picks.

The NFL starting quarterback landscape is dominated by high picks with the majority being selected in the top half of the 1^st round. Will the Giants select a quarterback at six when they bypassed a signal-caller at pick two last year in a class considered far superior by the consensus when compared to this year’s group? Do the quarterback-needy teams in the middle of the first deem any of the quarterbacks worthy of trading up for? They would likely have to sacrifice next year’s 1^st round pick to move up far enough to be sure of obtaining their desired player. A team like Miami could stay committed to the rebuild and postpone taking a quarterback. Are the quarterbacks who drop to the mid-first range really worthy of selecting in the middle of the first if none of the teams were confident enough in the quarterback to make a move up? Might teams simply use veteran stopgaps this season waiting for next year’s 2020 class in hopes of better alternatives in the draft? The questions abound for this quarterback class. It would not be a surprise to see any of the top quarterbacks including Haskins, Lock, and/or Jones fall farther than many projections envision in this year’s draft. Conversely, like in every draft, the need for quarterback could push these same players higher than expected.

How Far does Jeffery Simmons Fall?

A highly rated prospect injures himself prior to the NFL draft. Unfortunately, we have seen similar situations before. Many scouts ranked Simmons as a top-10 type draft talent prior to tearing his ACL after dominating the SEC for two consecutive seasons at defensive tackle. He likely misses most, if not all of the 2019 season due to the injury and teams will not know when he will be fully recovered. That means any team selecting Simmons probably misses out on at least a quarter of his rookie contract.

Simmons also has an ugly off-the-field incident prior to his freshman season at Mississippi State that teams will have to look into but he stayed clean throughout his time in college. Linebacker Jaylon Smith of the Dallas Cowboys found himself in a similar situation on the injury front in 2016 where a late season injury causing a missed rookie season in the NFL. He dropped to the 2^nd round of the NFL draft. A similar scenario is easily within the range of outcomes for Simmons in this draft.

Bio: Bernard Faller has degrees in engineering and economics. He currently lives in Las Vegas and enjoys athletics, poker, and fantasy football in his free time. Send your questions and comments (both good and bad) on Twitter @BernardFaller1.

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2018 Post-Draft Rookie Rankings

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By Bob Cowper

Updated: May 11th 2018

I’m feeling a bit bittersweet today. After months of research, statistical analysis and film watching this will be my last post about the 2018 rookie class. You’ll be in capable hands with the rest of our RSO writing crew but I can’t help but feel sad about losing “my guys.” I’m looking at you Anthony Miller and Rashaad Penny. I had been a casual college football writer for years, and a fan for much longer, but the 2018 class was the first that I went truly deep on. Alas, I will probably feel the same about the 2019 class this time next year. Speaking of the 2019 class, expect to see content rolling out starting in June. I have compiled a watch list of 150 players from the FBS to Division III. I will release conference previews in the Summer, along with a way-too-early mock draft. I will also unveil a Madden-like grading system I devised as a way to quantitatively compare players across levels and positions. Before all of that though, let’s take one last look at my 2018 rookie rankings. These were updated after the NFL Draft and I have also included a write-up about some noteworthy players. Enjoy!

#3 – Nick Chubb, RB, Browns

I have vacillated on Chubb’s ranking more than anybody else at the top of my rankings. Earlier in the year I had Chubb and Derrius Guice alternating as my RB2/RB3. Immediately after the draft I bumped Chubb down to RB4 (1.04), behind Ronald Jones, due to concerns about playing on a poor Browns team that has a crowded backfield. The more I thought about it though, I decided I’d rather have Chubb because I think he’s a better player and will earn ample opportunity early enough in his career to warrant the 1.03 pick.

#5 – Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks

It was hard not to have Penny rocket up my rankings after he went 27th overall to the Seahawks. It felt like a confirmation of everything I saw and loved during the 2017 season. I tempered my excitement though for two reasons. First, Penny’s struggles as a pass protector are well known and I fear this could limit his touches to start his career. Second, the Seahawks have a weak offensive line (ranked 27th by PFF after 2017) that will test even Penny’s elite evasion. I was also building some return game work into Penny’s valuation but now that he’s a first round draft pick I doubt there’s any chance he gets to return kicks.

#6 – Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons
#7 – DJ Moore, WR, Panthers

I’m sticking to my guns here. I have had Ridley as my WR1 throughout the season and I still don’t feel he has done anything to change that for me. Moore certainly impressed at the combine more so than Ridley but it’s not like Ridley looked like Orlando Brown out there. Moore was a victim of a poor passing game at Maryland, but you could say the same about Ridley who was rarely featured. Moore will get a lot of early targets as the lead receiver in Carolina but I’d rather have Ridley’s fit in Atlanta with a top passing offense. Julio Jones will dictate coverage which should leave Ridley and his superb separation and route running skills wide open.

#20 – Bradley Chubb, DE, Broncos
#21 – Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals

Chubb and Rosen come in as the first of their position in my rankings. IDP and QBs are always tough to rank because they are so heavily dependent on league settings and scoring. In general, for a typical RSO IDP league, I think that taking your first IDP near the second turn is a good bet; same with quarterbacks in a 1QB league. If you’re in a league featuring high IDP scoring or in a Superflex or 2QB league, you’ll need to push these guys higher by about a round. Similarly to Ridley, Chubb joins a unit where he won’t be the focus and can prosper. I’d be buying shares of the Broncos in team defense leagues, boy are they going to rack up the sacks. Rosen was the fourth quarterback taken in the NFL Draft but I think he should be the first off the board in your fantasy draft because he has the best combination of short-term opportunity and supporting cast in my opinion. Darnold and Allen may see the field just as soon but they won’t be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson and Christian Kirk. Mayfield is the wildcard if he beats out Tyrod Taylor, who the Browns spent a 3rd round pick on in a trade, because the Browns skill position players look intriguing if they all stay healthy and out of trouble.

#39 – Lorenzo Carter, OLB, Giants

I have a man crush on Lorenzo Carter. He’s a quick and lanky edge rusher who also showed the ability to drop into coverage late in the season. He’ll probably start as a situational pass rusher but the Giants will soon find that they found a gem in Carter. If you’re playing in an IDP league you can probably get Carter later than 39th overall but I wouldn’t chance it. Take him in the third round, stash him on your bench and be the envy of your league this time next year.

#45 – Ito Smith, RB, Falcons

Like Carter, Smith is a sneaky late round pick to stash on your bench. He’ll be lucky to find 50 touches in 2018 behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman but once Coleman leaves in free agency, Smith will fall into a fruitful timeshare. Smith ran for 1,100+ yards each of the last three years while catching 40+ passes. Smith is strong and thick with powerful leg drive. I rated him as a B+ blocker in his class so despite his short stature he isn’t a liability in pass protection. Smith will be the type of back who earns 75% of his fantasy production in the last two minutes of each half. He’ll come on the field for his mix of receiving and protection and stay on the field while the team runs the hurry-up.

#48 – Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Packers
#49 – J’mon Moore, WR, Packers

I’m not very high on either of these Packer receivers but one of them is going to emerge, it’s just a matter of which one does. There were rumors that St. Brown fell in the draft because of his “diva” personality which shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anybody who has done any research about his family. That pedigree and promise is what garnered St. Brown buzz the last two years – it certainly wasn’t his on-the-field production. Moore is shorter, lighter and slower but put up two solid seasons at Mizzou in 2016 and 2017 (60+ receptions, 1,000+ yards, 8+ TDs). I wouldn’t recommend drafting either player, you’re better off waiting to see which one hits and then scramble to the waiver wire, but if I had to pick I would go with St. Brown for his superior physical attributes.

#50 – Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers

I like Rudolph as a speculative third round pick in Superflex and 2QB leagues. While Ben Roethlisberger has been squawking about the Rudolph pick, let’s not forget that just a year ago he was considering retirement. I don’t think it’s a mistake that the Steelers brass decided to draft James Washington and then pair him with his college quarterback. There’s also a chance that Rudolph gets playing time in the short-term due to an injury to Big Ben. Ben has only played a full 16 game season three times in his 14 year career. If you happen to get two games out of Rudolph in 2018 when your own starter is hurt or on bye you’ll already be ahead of the game value-wise.

#64 – Josh Sweat, DE, Eagles

Josh Sweat is another IDP sleeper of mine. Sweat may not get much opportunity early in his career but he had first round talent and physicals but was available later due to his injury history. The stories about his knee injury are pretty gnarly so I would not recommend spending much draft capital on him but if you’re in a deep IDP league and looking for a long shot, he’s your guy.

#80 – Richie James, WR, 49ers

So you’re saying there’s a chance? The 49ers offense is an enigma at the moment. As a Jimmy G owner, I’m excited for what he showed late last year but I am concerned about who he’ll be targeting this year. Pierre Garcon will be back from injury but he’s old. Marquise Goodwin is back too but he’s nothing more than a complementary player in my opinion. The door is open for somebody to emerge and Richie James has as much of a chance as anybody else on the roster. James had two uber productive seasons to start his career: 107-1,334-8 and 105-1,625-12. He lost most of 2017 to injury but is healthy now and reports are that he played well at the team’s first mini camp. You’d have to be in a pretty deep league to consider drafting James but once you get past WR15 it’s a crap shoot anyway.

Note: When watching film for a player in the offseason, I typically pick two games at random to watch. If game film is not available I will search for highlight reels, but keep in mind these are the best plays that player had all season so they really need to jump off the screen. I do not necessarily want to watch games where they did very well or very poorly as that may not be a great illustration of their true ability. If possible, when comparing players at the same position I also like to watch film against common opponents. Full disclosure, I am not watching film of every single game any player plays, instead I am looking for a representative sample. When researching college players I use a number of resources, I would recommend bookmarking the below sites…

Stats: espn.com, sports-reference.com, cfbstats.com, herosports.com, fcs.football, foxsports.com
Film: 2019 NFL Draft Database by @CalhounLambeau, youtube.com (but be wary of highlight only reels)
Draft info and mocks: draftcountdown.com, draftscout.com, walterfootball.com, mattwaldmanrsp.com, draftek.com, ndtscouting.com
Draft history: drafthistory.com
Combine info: pro-football-reference.com, espn.com, nflcombineresults.com
Season preview magazines: Phil Steele, Lindy’s, Street and Smith’s
Podcasts: ESPN’s First Draft, Strong as Steele with Phil Steele, The Audible by Football Guys (specifically episodes w/ Matt Waldman), UTH Dynasty, Draft Dudes

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2018 NFL Mock Draft: Part I, Picks 1-16

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By Bob Cowper

Updated: April 24th 2018

If you have not already read Part IV of my mock draft, please start there so you can start at the bottom and follow through to the beginning. Part IV includes detailed notes about my methodology and process. You can then move on to Part III and then to Part II before continuing below. An important note to remind readers is that this mock draft was compiled on March 30-31 so please keep the timing in mind as you read in case there are trades or free agent signings in the interim.

#16 – Ravens – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

The Ravens have been desperate for a WR1 for what feels like a decade. Sadly, I don’t think free agent signing Michael Crabtree is the answer nor are there are any true standout WR prospects in the class. Despite my criticism, I believe that Ridley is the best of the bunch. Aside from a solid 40 yard dash, Ridley mostly hurt his stock at the combine. I previously had him as a Top 10 player but have dropped him because of lingering doubts. Ridley is quick, shows good hands and is an excellent route runner. When I watch him on film he just pops, damn the stats or the combine results. I’m less convinced about his chance to become a team’s WR1 now than I was a year ago but I still think he can be a productive NFL receiver.

#15 – Cardinals – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Denzel Ward at #15 is an absolute steal. In real life, I believe Ward will go higher because some team will either trade their pick to a team looking for a corner or some team will just go BPA and snag him. He very likely could go a spot earlier to Green Bay but instead I have him falling to the Cardinals. Unfortunately for the Cards, none of the top quarterbacks have made it this far so they’ll be the ones to go BPA and take Ward. While researching Ward, I came across a telling stat: opposing quarterbacks completed just 32% of their passes when targeting Ward. He had a very positive combine to go with the tape. He tied for the fastest 40 yard dash by a corner (4.32), had the longest broad jump and the second highest vertical.

#14 – Packers – Derwin James, S, Florida State

James started the year in Top 5 consideration with Minkah Fitzpatrick but slipped a bit during a disappointing season for the Seminoles. Long time starting safety Morgan Burnett is gone to the Steelers so Green Bay has a vacancy in their defensive backfield. James excels in run support and near the line of scrimmage which would fit perfectly with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at free safety. The Packers did draft a safety last year in the second round, Josh Jones, but I don’t think that would be enough to make them pass on James. Even though he and the team struggled at times, James still put up good totals (84 tackles and 2 INTs) in his comeback season from 2016’s knee injury. Corner may be a more immediate need for the Packers but something about Derwin James in Green Bay felt right.

#13 – Redskins – Vita Vea, DT, Washington

The Redskins need a NT for their 3-4 scheme and there is none better in this class than Vita Vea. He has refrigerator like size: 6’4″ and 347lbs. He ran a 5.10 which sounds slow since we’re so conditioned to the times for RBs and WRs so let me put it into context. Since 2010, he ran the second fastest of any defensive lineman 345lbs or more. The only player faster was Dontari Poe who went 11th overall to the Chiefs in 2012. Vea’s stat line isn’t overwhelming (43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks in 2017) but that’s because you can’t measure his impact with the boxscore. Lining him up alongside 2017 first rounder Jonathan Allen will create a stellar one-two punch for years to come.

#12 – Bills – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

In my preview of Lamar Jackson this offseason, I comped him to then Bills QB Tyrod Taylor so it’s ironic that I have him landing here after Taylor’s trade to the Browns. Jackson is an incredible runner as we all know. There was rumors that he should switch to WR but that was ridiculous – he’s a good quarterback. He may have a smaller frame than you would want from a run-first QB but he played 38 games in college and is not injury prone like the narrative suggests. Could he sustain a freak, season-ending injury? Of course, just ask Tom Brady. Jackson’s accuracy needs to improve to truly make it in the NFL (57% career completion percentage). I think he will start his career as an inefficient, big-play-waiting-to-happen type of quarterback. It’ll come down to the timing of those big plays. One last thought, can you imagine Lamar Jackson and LeSean McCoy running the read option together? My god.

#11 – Dolphins – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

If you had asked me a few months ago, I would have said that Smith would be the first linebacker off the board. Fast forward to April and Tremaine Edmunds has leapfrogged him but the Dolphins would still be getting a Pro Bowl caliber player here. Smith is slightly faster than Edmunds (4.51 vs 4.54) but is smaller at 6’1″ and 236lbs. Over his final three games, under the brightest of spotlights in the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff, Smith totaled 37 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Pairing Smith with returners Kiko Alonso and Cameron Wake, the newly acquired Robert Quinn, and a hopefully-healthy Raekwon McMillan would give the Dolphins a fearsome front seven.

#10 – Raiders – Mike McGlinchey, T, Notre Dame

Much like how I picked Nelson for the 49ers to help protect their big money quarterback, I have done the same for the Raiders with McGlinchey. Incumbent LT Donald Penn is 34 years old and coming off a season-ending foot injury in 2017 which could cause him to miss some offseason time. Penn also has a huge roster bonus due in 2019, the last year of his deal, so I’ll bet that the Raiders are planning to move on from him regardless of his injury status. The Raiders offensive line was already a strength of the team (they allowed just 24 sacks, tied for third best in the league) but adding somebody like McGlinchey would solidify the position long term.

#9 – 49ers – Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

I was surprised to see that Nelson didn’t fit anywhere earlier for me. He’s probably a Top 5 talent but teams rarely draft a guard that high. A guard has only been taken this high four times since 1985 (coincidentally, twice in 2015; one of which is the much maligned Ereck Flowers from the Giants). Nelson has some fantastic highlights and I love watching them whenever they show up on my Twitter timeline. I’m not convinced the 49ers truly need to draft a guard this high but I figured that they just invested a ton of money in Jimmy Garappolo so they might as well add a piece to protect that investment.

#8 – Bears – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

Tremaine Edmunds has climbed up draft boards since the start of 2017 and finds himself at #8 in my mock now. He ran very well at the combine (4.54) and has fantastic size as well (6’5″ and 253lbs). He was very productive in 2017: 108 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Pair that production with his size and speed and you have a can’t miss linebacker. He will feature as an ILB in the Bears 3-4 defense but because of his speed and explosiveness, he can get to the quarterback too so he’ll have value as a situational pass rusher as well.

#7 – Bucs – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

Tampa has thus far only re-signed one of their four free agent DBs, and have not signed any from other teams, signaling to me that it is a position they plan to target in the NFL Draft. What better player to target than Fitzpatrick who played both CB and S at Alabama. He likely factors more as a safety in the NFL but could see time as a strong nickel. Depending on the matchup, I would expect to see him in shadow coverage against a dominant tight end. Fitzpatrick struggled through a hamstring injury in 2017 but still managed to play 13 games. Don’t overthink it.

#6 – Colts – Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State

Before the Colts traded the #3 pick to the Jets, Chubb was a common pick for them in mock drafts. The fact that the Colts traded back, adding multiple second round picks, and still land Chubb is awesome. Chubb put together back-to-back seasons with at least 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He finished the year as the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. Like Barkley, he’s a better player than his draft slot would lead you to believe.

#5 – Broncos – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

The Broncos traded QB Trevor Siemian and signed journeyman Case Keenum in free agency. Keenum is 30 years old and his deal is only for two years so they’ve created a perfect situation to bring in a project QB like Allen. Keenum can start in 2018 and possibly even into 2019 if necessary. Allen’s accuracy issues are well documented and I am personally not a fan because of them. Many who know more than I, however, think he has the tools to be a star in the league. Coming in behind an established veteran would be the best thing for Allen’s future prospects.

#4 – Browns – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Barkley is possibly the best true football player in the class, at worst he’s second to Bradley Chubb. However, the quarterback run and general hesitance to draft running backs high lowers Barkley’s stock. He’s an absolute stud and will be a fantasy monster from Day One. He has an uncommon combination of size and speed and is a great receiver. He did struggle at times in 2017 as a runner but when he did, he made up for it in the passing game. If the Browns do go the direction I have planned for them, they would end up with a formidable offense in 2018.

#3 – Jets – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

The run on quarterbacks continues! I have read a lot of Mayfield/Jets connections in the last few months and when there is smoke, there is fire. Mayfield is hyper-accurate and just plain hyper. His personality has undoubtedly taken him off some teams’ draft boards but I would want him on my team. My favorite part of the Senior Bowl might have been watching Mayfield on the sideline. It was a non-competitive all-star game but there he was living and dying with each play, hyping up teammates and helping his fellow quarterbacks. The only thing that makes me question this pick is the fact that the Jets brought in Teddy Bridgewater. I have never been a Bridgewater fan so I still think the Jets should go for a QB here.

#2 – Giants – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

I have previously compared Rosen to Giants QB Eli Manning so this seems like a great fit. In my opinion, Rosen is the most NFL ready quarterback of this class. He does have injuries in his past and some like to question his “love for the game” but that’s not factoring into my analysis. He’s a prototypical pocket passer who will have a long NFL career. It’s not often that you get a chance to draft a franchise quarterback so the Giants need to just make this pick and stop pretending that Manning is anything more than a stopgap option at this point in his career.

#1 – Browns – Sam Darnold, QB, USC

I don’t believe that Darnold is the best quarterback of this class, but I do think that he will be the first overall pick. Darnold is a confident passer which results in turnovers just as often as it does spectacular plays. He has an ability to extend the play with athleticism in the pocket and he is a team leader and motivator. I noticed that he has a long throwing motion which worries me and might be the explanation for the high number of interceptions (the window closes before he actually gets rid of the ball) and the fumbles (because the ball dips so low, it’s a target for rushing defenders). He has a high ceiling but also has a low floor – a high risk, high reward pick.

Note: When watching film for a player in the offseason, I typically pick two games at random to watch. If game film is not available I will search for highlight reels, but keep in mind these are the best plays that player had all season so they really need to jump off the screen. I do not necessarily want to watch games where they did very well or very poorly as that may not be a great illustration of their true ability. If possible, when comparing players at the same position I also like to watch film against common opponents. Full disclosure, I am not watching film of every single game any player plays, instead I am looking for a representative sample. When researching college players I use a number of resources, I would recommend bookmarking the below sites…

Stats: espn.com, sports-reference.com, cfbstats.com, herosports.com, fcs.football, foxsports.com
Film: 2018 NFL Draft Database by @CalhounLambeau, youtube.com (but be wary of highlight only reels)
Draft info and mocks: draftcountdown.com, nfldraftscout.com, walterfootball.com, mattwaldmanrsp.com, draftek.com, ndtscouting.com
Draft history: drafthistory.com
Combine info: pro-football-reference.com, espn.com, nflcombineresults.com
Season preview magazines: Phil Steele, Lindy’s, Street and Smith’s
Podcasts: ESPN’s First Draft, Strong as Steele with Phil Steele, The Audible by Football Guys (specifically episodes w/ Matt Waldman), UTH Dynasty, Draft Dudes

Robert F. Cowper is a freelance writer who lives in New Jersey. Robert works as a recreation professional, specializing in youth sports, when he isn’t acting as commissioner for his many fantasy sports leagues.

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