1984Echoes

Wenceel absolutely needs to stay in MLB. Find a way...

Coulda been me. I've been high on him since we signed him back in 2017-ish. It was Avila's first foray into spending decent international money instead of "spreading smaller amounts" around. That was probably part of it... it was $500K IIRC. But it was also that he was supposed to have a very high hit tool and really good speed and was projected to have some power (not much, but better than zero) for a middle infielder. And I was getting tired of the Rey Rivera's that Avila was drafting at the time. He showed the hit tool right away and looked like a decent prospect with a decent chance but... Struggled in Low-A in 2019, pandemic so nothing in 2020, and was "meh" coming back in 2021, low and high A. But he broke out in 2022 with a .900+ OPS in high-A and Erie... so I started chirping about him again. A bit loudly. Glad to see he's made it to The Show and let's see what he can do...!

I was talking about Sorsdal with that quote. Mahogany is projected to be a starter. I'm less certain about Sorsdal.

210. Detroit Lions (from Philadelphia Eagles, compensatory selection): Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College, Grade: A+ This is the best pick of Round 6. Detroit selects a guard many thought would be off the board by Round 3 with the No. 210 overall selection. Mahogany's outstanding power and above-average length make him a mauler in the running game. He'll need time to develop in pass protection and needs to play with more control but this is an incredible value for the Lions.

Is he good enough to become a starter though? Just asking for thoughts and opinions....

The 3 draftable Kickers in this draft were all drafted in the 6th round.

Christian Mahogany is actually rated as a future starter at RG.

And Harbaugh just took Johnson...

I'll go Michigan guys at WR - Cornelius Johnson, and Edge - Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor, but I'll take the LSU Center - Charles Turner. Oops, too late, the Titans just nabbed Jaylen Harrell.

"Trust in Holmes"... But, just asking: Any disappointments with anyone from this draft? I have a couple of odd ones... But first... I am NOT bothered by giving up a 3rd next year for Manu... not if he turns into a "Blots out the sun" type of LT. I like all the guys they drafted, bar none. None of the costs to trade up and get the guys they wanted bother me... it's the cost of "getting their guys" and, so far, the guys that Holmes is going up and getting are fantastic... I'm not even bothered by the lack of an "X" receiver drafted because there are always ways to find a WR, even if he's a 1-year band aid guy, if a GM knows where to look. My two disappointments (involving "I wish we had two more 6th rounders in order to select..."): 1) Yeah, I know Badgley kicked that 54-yarder last year. He just doesn't do it for me. And (3) Kickers who have huge accuracy, all the way out to 50+ yarders were selected between 203 and 212: Josh Karty, Cam Little, and Will Reichard. I wanted one of those 3. Any one would have done it for me... 2) The last 6'5" athletic Center who could also play Guard and has a mean streak and can block to the 2nd level... (and also threw up 39 reps on the 225-bench press), etc. was selected at 217 was Beaux Limmer. I wanted this dude. Anyone else have thoughts?

Oh damn!!! I didn't know he could ALSO play 2nd and SS!

Possibly. But I wouldn't look at that as immediate. Unless he's that good...? Otherwise... I think he starts out as KR/ special teams guy, 4th RB behind Craig... And becomes MORE versatile (safety, etc...) as the years go by and he has more time to absorb the complexities of the league and the (safety especially) position... Methinks it will be a gradual process.

Just saw that... Less nice. Next year's Philly 4th plus this year's 5th and a 6th round swap? That seems like a steep cost for one end-of-round 4th....?

164. Center. 201. X Receiver (whoever is left...). 205. Best Punter. 7th... 7th round flyer on...?

Kick returner (under the new-fangled system). Safety. RB. Special teams (gunner or similar?) Did I see WR too?

Sorry... 3rd times' a charm! Still have a 5th to get a Center!!! ... PLEASE!!!

Forum seems to be messing up here... Traded the Philly 4th from next year for Sione Vaki... I'm guessing he'll be our new-fangled kick returner this year. As well as multi-versatile depth at Safety, RB, special teams... maybe even WR? Jack of ALL trades!!!

They had an alternative, very interesting Plan B in mind: All 6'8" 350#'s of Giovanni Manu out of British Columbia! Cost: Next year's 3rd...

I think our secondary will be stronger at the end of next season than at the beginning...

Speaking of which... What is our Plan A and/or Plan B, at Tackle?

I'm fine with Awosika or Sorsdal at guard for any game... But if Ragnow goes down for a game or a few, or a big game... the ONLY option is to switch Glasgow over to center and put one of those guys in at guard. Great, Plan A. But what's Plan B? That's why I absolutely want a center to develop... to AT LEAST have a plan B in place. And I like those centers too...

I think one of those guys (Centers) will fall to the 5th. But to get they guy they WANT though (assuming a Center is a high target for them, as WELL as targeting a CB/Safety if that also is any kind of priority)... a 4th would have to be obtained and I would want to use the extra picks next year (a 4th and a 7th) and later picks this year (the extra 6th and the 7th), however that needs to add up point-wise... to get that pick. As for "X"-receiver... Antoine Green? Has he been "coached up" to where he's an option? DPJ? Can he get back to 2022 when he caught 60 passes for 840 yards and 3 TD's? Is there still another FA available to sign? (Mentions of Tyler Boyd above...). And there is STILL a half dozen receivers in the draft that have the size (not necessarily the speed... but SOME of them have that too) to work as an X receiver: Troy Franklin, Brendan Rice, Javon Baker, Devontez Walker, Johnny Wilson (definitely a different look here...), Bub Means, Cornelius Johnson.... I feel like the team could wait until the 6th to see which one (or a couple) of these guys falls to them...

However... I would want to obtain a higher pick for one of those guys, and STILL have at least our 5th and (1) 6th to add a Kicker (several good ones this year actually): Because I would use the 5th on one of the remaining Centers. Ideally one who could also play guard. These guys are more project and have some growth curve to go through versus maybe a plug and play guy... But I like their size and toughness and potential versatility (in order of like best-to-least): Mason McCormick, Tanor Bortolini, Hunter Norzad, Beaux Limmer, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger

Funny you should mention that... I actually see room for ONE MORE CB. Not even a specific name... but more of an ideal: It would need to be an Iffy Melifonwu type: long, tall, rangy, fast... Someone who could shift between Free Safety and CB, as needed. So it would have to be someone who has the speed and length to play CB and fight for jump balls (and win them) against taller WR's or TE's, but who also loves to hit like crazy and therefore could swing to FS. That guy would be key depth at both spots. Probably a lot of special teams work, come in occasionally against a taller receiver, or back up Davis and/or Iffy, as needed. If we can't keep Davis past this year: then maybe Iffy or "The New Guy" could be Plan B? I prefer a CB here over a straight-up safety because (A) versatility and (B) CB's are still in the 4.5-4.6 range at this point in the draft versus the remaining safeties tend to be either smallish and 4.6-4.7+ (or worse) range or bigger and 4.7-4.8+ range (strong safety types). A safety in this area of the draft is not going to be able to cover as a CB (IMO); versus a CB in this range can CB or Safety (IMO). Which was my point A above. There are several tall/rangy/hard-hitting CB's still on the board that fit this description. I don't know if Holmes/Campbell "loves" any of these guys, or are thinking along the same lines... but here are a few names to consider (all 6'2" or taller, 4.5-ish or so speed, hard-nosed and love to hit like a truck): TJ Tampa, Cam Hart, Khyree Jackson, Decamerian Richardson...

I am also interested in this as well...