RatkoVarda

nfl.com grade Draft picks: Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah (No. 3 overall), Georgia RB D'Andre Swift (No. 35), Notre Dame LB Julian Okwara (No. 67), Ohio State OG Jonah Jackson (No. 75), Kentucky OG Logan Stenberg (No. 121), Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus (No. 166), New Mexico State RB Jason Huntley (No. 172), Utah DT John Penisini (No. 197), Ohio State DE Jashon Cornell (No. 235) Day 1 grade: A Day 2 grade: A- Day 3 grade: A- Overall grade: A- Draft analysis: On the first two days of the draft, the Lions secured a shutdown cornerback, explosive running back, much-needed interior offensive line help and brought together two family members in a literal sense. They hit the offensive line again with Stenberg, who has exactly the type of nastiness and strength you want up front -- at times it got the best of him during his collegiate career, though, so maturity will be a factor in how fast he can contribute. Cephus was a third-round talent with a seventh-round 40 time (4.73). He'll be a factor in the Lions' offense sooner than later. Huntley can be a special teams ace. Penisini meets the team's need for a backup nose tackle. 3 years later: 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th picks gone with very little to show outside one guy, 3rd and 5th picks could be solid contributors or not make 2023 team; 4th pick far and away best player

BH just showing off now OT COLBY SORSDAL, WILLIAM & MARY TRIBE (PFF 89.9) Sorsdal was the second-highest-graded FCS offensive tackle this season, trailing only North Dakota State Cody Mauch, who is a top-45 prospect on PFF’s big board. The senior didn’t allow any sacks in 2022 and earned the third-best run-blocking grade among FCS tackles (89.2). First team All-American, team captain, Top performer at East-West Shrine game.

nice; i'll add Xavier Hutchinson WR Iowa St, big guy with good hands and average athlete; and 2 local OL: Sow, G, EMU, ; and Witt, OT, Northern Michigan

Ika goes 2 picks later. Will be interesting to see who is better in 3 years. Doubt it is Martin.

Tillman for size; Hyatt for speed.

OG is next!

from the Beast SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Iowa, LaPorta was the featured target in offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz’s offense, evenly splitting his snaps between inline/backfield (49.4 percent) and slot/wide (50.6 percent). At a program known for producing NFL tight ends, he became just the second Hawkeye to be named the Big Ten’s Tight End of the Year and finished as the program’s all-time receptions leader (153) at the position. Although he is more quick than fast as a route runner, LaPorta makes himself available mid-route because of his lower-body quickness and athletic fluidity. As a blocker, his functional strength and consistency must improve, but Iowa asks its tight ends to do everything (LaPorta even took three snaps out of the wildcat) and scouts rave about his competitive demeanor. Overall, LaPorta is an average point-of-attack blocker and his lack of length hurts his success rate in contested situations, but he plays with outstanding quickness and body rhythm with soft hands as a pass catcher. He is in the Austin Hooper mold and projects as a low-end TE1 or high-end TE2 on an NFL depth chart.

Speed at WR, RB, TE.

LaPorta is one of the best college tight ends we’ve graded in the PFF college era. In fact, his 20 broken tackles this past season were the fifth-most in our nine years of grading. LaPorta has the tools to be a difference-maker at the position. That's who you want to take chances on at the position. LaPorta is going to be a weapon on seams, overs, crossers and flat routes. His speed, combined with his dynamism in space, is meant for such a role.

Defense Offense

infamously, lots of talking heads said Chris Spielman was a reach at 29 (2nd rounder then) for now, both BH and Campbell deserve the benefit of the doubt

just shows how variable this all is 12. Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Grade: D Yes, he's an air back. Yes, he can do a lot of things. But, again, why take him here when there is a guy like corner Christian Gonzalez on the board? He's good but he's a back. At least it wasn't a top-10 pick. 18. Lions: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa Grade: A+ I love this pick for the Lions. This kid will be special. He is big, can run and will improve as a cover player as he gets acclimated to the NFL game. He's one of my favorite players in this draft.

i think everyone knows that Swift is leaving, either before or after this season, maybe just keep him as depth rather than get another 5th/6th for him

Holmes will probably surprise us, but 3 picks tonight, looking at 1) Secondary (CB or S) Porter or Branch would be nice based on talent alone; actually would not object to drafting both 2) DL (DT or NT) even just a 2-down guy, they don't really have a huge guy outside of Alim 3) OG (Torrence or Avila) Torrence seems to be a monster in the run game, but Avila better as pass protector with C experience; neither helps at OT 4) Pass catcher (WR/TE) Gibbs has this partially covered so might wait until Sat

Porter, Torrence, Benton is probably too much too ask. Swift + a 5th = what? probably not much; maybe just keep him?

they did not want Gonzalez; if they did, they would have moved up to get him; there was a ton of trades and the cost in the teens was not high to move up a little; they had 3 5th round picks to use; talented guy, but not a fit for them

The Athletic article gives it a F. The Athletic streaming cast cannot stop gushing over the possibilities. Time will tell.

don't know how much safeties are valued, and he's just an average athlete, but a great football player, and if Brian Branch falls to the late 20s, he might be worth trade up

he is going to spend millions of dollars of Florida's tax dollars on outside attorneys

at some point people will tire of her, but it may take many more years

going to be a decent number of win now teams, who hopefully don't care about Rodriguez's opt out and Ilitch can always throw in some cash if that helps

Malloy's on-base streak ends at 21 games.

there are not 10 people on planet Earth who are better QBs than Goff. none of top 5 QBs drafted this year will ever - in my uninformed opinion - be better than he is.

Alito used his Ouija board to talk to James Madison and this is what he learned: virulent anti-gay company - speech rights sorta pro-gay company - not so many speech rights

trading up to get some defensive combo of Carter/Whiterspoon would be better