2 OPEN TEAMS: WAUSAU & LAWSON!!!!

 

Mel Kiper's Draft Review - Part I

Wow, it has been a busy spring. The new NFL draft format with less time for each selection made it much easier on my hair. Of course, the entire time I was on the ESPN podium all I really wanted was for the TTFBA draft to start, because that is my first love.

To start my TTFBA Draft Review I am going to include a feature that I have never included before. Generally, I just give out grades and talk about the players. But this year I am going to list how I have the players that have already been selected in the first couple of rounds rated.

To start with, within each draft there are different levels of quality. My break down of the players essentially consists of 8 categories of draftable players. They are:

1. Elite, All Time Player Potential
2. Elite, Franchise Player
3. Blue Chip, All Pro Players
4. Starter, Pro Bowl Upside
5. Starters, with Upside Potential
6. Starters
7. Quality Backups, with Potential
8. Boom/Bust

With the exception of the last category, all of these categories are in rank order.Then, within each of these categories a player can be ranked. The values of players within a category are more similar, but the values between the categories are vastly different. What this means is, to trade up within a category is not going to cost as much as to trade up into the higher categories. The last category, Boom/Bust are the players that are the toughest to categorize. Because of their bust potential they need to be drafted later than what their upside potential might command but can also be drafted somewhat higher because of this potential.

Of the players drafted so far, here is how I have them rated, with a note of where they were selected in the TTFBA draft.

Elite, All Time Player Potential -

Adrian Peterson - 2

Elite, Franchise Players

Patrick Willis - 3

Blue Chip, All Pro Player

Joe Thomas - 1

Starter, Pro Bowl Upside

Marshawn Lynch - 4
Jon Beason - 5
Darrel Reavis - 6
Ryan Grant - 7
Laron Landry - 9
Dwayne Bowe - 14
David Harris - 15

Starters, with Upside Potential

Anthony Gonzales - 10
Amobi Okoye - 13
Joe Staley - 16
Aaron Ross - 17
MIchael Griffin - 18
Reggie Nelson - 19
Chad Greenway - 21
Leon Hall - 24
Tanard Jackson - 25
Ben Grubbs - 26
TOny Ugih - 28
Paul Poslunnzy-35
Adam Carriker - 40
Lamar Woodley - 44
Zack Miller - 47
Greg Olson - 54

Starters

Samson Satele - 12
Selvin Young - 22
James Jones - 27
Aaron Sears - 29
Chris Gocong - 31
SIdney Rice - 33
Marshal Yanda - 36
Greg WHite - 37
Gerald Alexander - 38
Levi Brown - 39
Justin Durant - 42
Justin Blalock - 45
Ahmad Bradshaw - 46
Anthony Herrera - 48

Quality Backup with Potential

Kenton Keith - 41
Brian Leonard - 43

Boom/Bust

Calvin Johnson - 8
Ganies Adams - 11
Trent Edwards - 20
JaMarcus Russell - 23
Ted Ginn -30
Brady Quinn - 32
Shaun Alexander -34

Of course, all of htese rankings are just opinions. But, looking at how I have the players rated, you can pretty much forecast the grades the teams that selected them are going to receive. What is important is that I suggest that when preparing for the draft that you use this or a similar system for rating the players. Then, when it is time to make your selection, make sure that you are selecting the best quality player available. Within that quality you could have the players ranked differently depending upon need, supply and demand, team affiliations, or whatever criteria you want. However, if you are thinking about a player in a lower category, you need to reconsider your selection. If you really want or need that player, then you need to manipulate your draft value, i.e. trade down to make sure that you maximize the value of your selection.