Official 2024 NFL Draft Thread

[Joemailman]

[Frozen Tundra]

It's Senior Bowl week. I just wanted to tell y'all that I hissed at a quartet of Chicago Bears coaches on my way to the office.

Cool. Just so long as you made sure they all know that they still suck. Can't ever let 'em forget that for even a moment, or they start getting cocky like those damned Viking fans.

[RashanGary]

Remember Cullen Jenkins had a brother who was probably a little better than him, named Kris Jenkins. His kid is getting drafted from Michigan this year. Same name, Kris Jenkins.

[call_me_ishmael]

Didn't I just post recently about how Cullen Jenkins seems to have been good enough to live well but not good enough to be spotted by everyone and picked out a crowd? Dude just seems to be living a good life on instagram.

[Fritz]

One of my friends really likes one of Texas's defensive linemen. It'd be crazy to draft one in the first round, but you can never have enough, and if the guy is a difference-maker, what the hell?

[Joemailman]

One of my friends really likes one of Texas's defensive linemen. It'd be crazy to draft one in the first round, but you can never have enough, and if the guy is a difference-maker, what the hell?

There are 2 DL from Texas that are late 1st/early 2nd round types. Byron Murphy is a 6-1/300 lb. 3-tech. T'vondre Sweat is a 6-4/346 lb. NT.

[Fritz]

There are 2 DL from Texas that are late 1st/early 2nd round types. Byron Murphy is a 6-1/300 lb. 3-tech. T'vondre Sweat is a 6-4/346 lb. NT.

It's Sweat that impressed him. Boy, at 346 my friend says he's even got a little shake to him. That'd be a big, quick dude right in the middle to eff up the run.

[run pMc]

It's Sweat that impressed him. Boy, at 346 my friend says he's even got a little shake to him. That'd be a big, quick dude right in the middle to eff up the run.

I'm a fan as well. For a big dude he can move, and he's pretty well conditioned for a guy that size. A lot of C in the league would not be able to hold up 1-1 to his bull rush.
I was skeptical about a move to 4-3, I think it will be a variable front and they more or less rushed 4 last year anyway, but an "official" move to 4-3 makes me wonder if they will look at trying a guy like Brooks on the edge at times and drafting a big dude like Sweat. Pair him with Slaton and you have some serious size in the middle to cover up your LBs. I like it.

Murphy is supposed to be more explosive and a good run defender, which is nice, but given the choice of the two I'm going with the big guy. I think he might develop into a Dexter Lawrence 2.0.
Bigger picture, Kenny Clark is still good but he plays too many snaps. I think they would be well served to rotate more guys in. Also, stuffing the run will do wonders for this team.

[bobblehead]

It's Sweat that impressed him. Boy, at 346 my friend says he's even got a little shake to him. That'd be a big, quick dude right in the middle to eff up the run.

yep, he moves like a LB. Sort of like Aaron Donald does. Obviously not Donald, but also 40 pounds heavier coming out.

[RashanGary]

yep, he moves like a LB. Sort of like Aaron Donald does. Obviously not Donald, but also 40 pounds heavier coming out.

Donald came out 285. So it’s 65lbs.

I watched the highlights and of course he looked good. He was mostly dominating guys much weaker than him. I watched his Alabama tape and they just handled him easily. If he’s ever good, it’s going to be a while because NFL guards can control him.

He’s very slow. He has a nice initial burst, but very slow and doesn’t look athletic running.

Huge guy. Looks the part. Just not a great athlete compared to NFL DTs.

I think he’s going to run 5.0 plus. If he does agility drills, I think they’ll be awful. He has a decent initial burst so maybe he’ll jump ok for his weight.

I didn’t see much more than Slaton to be honest. He’s bigger, but I think Slaton plays with a little more pop and energy against nfl competition compared to Sweats Alabama tape. Honestly, 5th round imo.

[RashanGary]

I think he has a place in the league. Maybe 3rd round actually. Because Alabama wasn’t moving him at all. They were just holding their ground. So he can play the run. He can keep his position and not get moved off the ball. He’s a run defender only.

[Joemailman]

If Sweat wants to be drafted as early as some have him rated, he'll have to convince NFL teams he can be a factor on the pass rush. I saw one site had him listed at 346 pounds, and another at 362. If he's smart, he'll show up at the combine in shape.

Sweat has a pretty good swim move. He's not just relying on a bull rush every play. And he does a pretty good job of getting his hands up to deflect passes.

I wouldn't take Sweat at 25. I'd think about it at 41. I don't think he'd be there at 58.

[run pMc]

If Sweat wants to be drafted as early as some have him rated, he'll have to convince NFL teams he can be a factor on the pass rush. I saw one site had him listed at 346 pounds, and another at 362. If he's smart, he'll show up at the combine in shape.

Sweat has a pretty good swim move. He's not just relying on a bull rush every play. And he does a pretty good job of getting his hands up to deflect passes.

I wouldn't take Sweat at 25. I'd think about it at 41. I don't think he'd be there at 58.

100% agree. I think he's gone inside 50, and I think it depends on his interviews and what kind of shape he shows up in at the combine. Garrett Bradbury can't handle Kenny Clark, imagine him trying to handle this guy. He can bull rush a Range Rover.

[Fritz]

The #41 pick for a guy who will likely play mostly only in base defense, at least the first year, which is about 15 snaps or so a game? I might consider it - defensive linemen make that much difference - but I see the argument against drafting him.

But it's won in the trenches. So that, and another offensive tackle and a guard/center would be okay in my book.

[run pMc]

The #41 pick for a guy who will likely play mostly only in base defense, at least the first year, which is about 15 snaps or so a game? I might consider it - defensive linemen make that much difference - but I see the argument against drafting him.

But it's won in the trenches. So that, and another offensive tackle and a guard/center would be okay in my book.

Fair point. A high pick for a guy who probably comes off the field on 3rd down is not for many teams. I do think someone takes him in R2 because of his size and tape unless he craps the bed at the combine.
It's BPA all the way, they have plenty of needs IMO. (We know they won't take a WR in R1.)

My guess is they go heavy on defense, and that most of their early picks are there. RBs can be found Day 3 and they have a probable starting 5 on OL but need a lot of depth. With Walker and Tom they don't need to take an OT early, wouldn't shock me if they did though.

We know Gute likes players who play/practice well at the Senior Bowl, and we know he tends to draft at positions where the draft depth is good. 11 picks this year - that should plug some talent gaps.