Tag: 2017 NFL Draft

Bleacher Report re-grades Chris Ballard’s first draft haul

B/R re-graded the Colts’ draft haul from 2017.

It has been five years since Chris Ballard conducted his first draft as general manager of the Indianapolis Colts.

A lot has changed since that first draft, which included eight selections within the first five rounds. Only one of them remains with the team, and that wound up being defensive tackle Grover Stewart.

Bleacher Report recently decided to look back on the 2017 draft hauls for each team. Here’s how they re-graded the Colts’ group of eight selections:

Malik Hooker may have produced a lot more if not for injuries. Despite missing 28 games with the Colts, he showed glimpses of his ball-hawking skills, logging 11 pass breakups and seven interceptions in 36 outings (35 starts). Indianapolis declined his fifth-year option and allowed him to leave in free agency last year.

Marlon Mack held the lead role in the backfield for consecutive seasons, rushing for 1,999 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2018 and 2019. In Week 1 of the 2020 campaign, he tore his Achilles, and Jonathan Taylor took over the top spot.

In 2021, Indianapolis re-signed Mack, but he hasn’t rediscovered his pre-injury form. Now, the 26-year-old is in contention for the lead spot with the Houston Texans.

Grover Stewart and Anthony Walker Jr. earned prominent roles in the front seven. The former signed a three-year extension during the 2020 season. The latter made 12 starts with the Cleveland Browns in 2021.

The Colts’ 2017 group doesn’t have any star power, but the front office deserves credit for finding three starting-caliber talents on Day 3. The whiffs on Day 2 hurt the overall grade though.

Grade: C+

While Hooker never truly panned out in the long run as the Colts had hoped, they did get some solid production from a number of players in the class. Cornerback Quincy Wilson offered close to nothing but wound up being the player traded for the pick that resulted in cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.

Stewart is the crown jewel of the class. He has quietly become one of the best one-techniques in the NFL, and he’s proven to have a strong impact in the middle of the defensive line.

Mack turned out to be a solid starter before Jonathan Taylor came along while Anthony Walker Jr. was a strong leader and made an impact on early downs.

A lot has changed since this draft, but it will always be somewhat significant because it gave us our first look at how Ballard conducts the front office through the pre-draft process.

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Cooper Kupp was available for Washington

Cooper Kupp’s grandfather once played in Washington. Imagine if Washington had selected him in 2017? Washington is one of 31 NFL which regrets passing on Kupp.

The fastest corners in the NFL simply can’t cover him.

He gets open several times every game and makes big catch after big catch.

Cooper Kupp was drafted in the 2017 NFL draft in the third round —No. 69  overall. This past season, Kupp caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards. That is not a typo: 145 receptions, 1,947 yards.

Washington had finished 2016 at 8-7-1 and was picked No. 17 overall in the NFL draft. Washington made a good, solid selection in round 1 with Jonathan Allen.

In round two and selecting at No. 49 overall, Washington took DE Ryan Anderson (Alabama).  Cooper Kupp was available and Washington was not the only team who had no idea what Kupp would become.

However, former Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay was involved in his first NFL draft as a head coach with the Los Angeles Rams. McVay said when he interviewed Kupp, he stood out as mature and like a coach. Hey, what were other coaches and scouts listening to when they interviewed Kupp?

I wonder, seeing Kupp played at Eastern Washington, how many of the other 31 teams even considered him worthy enough to interview him?

Were they not impressed that Kupp used to train by making single-handed catches of tennis balls flying at high speeds out of a ball machine? Did it occur to coaches that if a guy can catch a much smaller tennis ball at high speed, he is not going to have much trouble with a larger and slower football?

Did teams bother to find out that Kupp’s dad Craig Kupp had actually made it to the NFL? Craig was a quarterback. My, I wonder how much that influenced his son to sound like a coach as early as age 22? Craig had been drafted in the 5th round — No. 135 — in 1990 by the N.Y. Giants, and made the Cardinals roster in 1991.

If that’s not enough, Cooper Kupp’s grandfather (Jake) also played in the NFL (1964-75). What’s more, Jake actually was a Washington Redskin in the 1966 season, a tight end who caught four passes. He played guard the rest of his career but had a long enough career that he was obviously aware of much of the business and a very good athlete.

So back to Cooper Kupp who was passed over by Washington and many other NFL experts in that 2017 draft. Kupp is accustomed to being passed over by other “experts.” He was not even offered a college scholarship until after the completion of his high school senior season. No major conference colleges were interested.

When he ran a 4.62 40 at the NFL Combine did most coaches and scouts judge him too slow? Interestingly enough his times in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle were outstanding.

McVay was only age 31 during his initial draft. Yet he knew enough to know that a wide receiver that is lightning quick in changing directions and running 20 yards is going to be able to run great pass routes.

Did I mention that Kupp caught 145 passes this season?

 

Washington’s 2021 top performer: No. 1, Jonathan Allen

Jonathan Allen is Washington’s top player in 2021.

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This week, Washington Wire is counting down the top five Washington Football Team performers for the 2021 season.

No. 1 Jonathan Allen (DT)

Allen continued to live up to his first-round selection (17th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft, with perhaps his best season in his short career.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide lineman led Washington in sacks (9.0), tackles for a loss (10) and QB hits 30. Allen’s penetration was so dominant, his 30 QB hits were double that of his closest teammate Daron Payne’s 15.

Here are Jonathan Allen’s sacks during the 2021 season:

Allen led Washington defensive lineman with 62 combined tackles (31 solo and 31 assisted). According to PFF, Allen had the third-highest pass-rush win rate among interior defenders in 2021. Aaron Donald (LAR 22.9%), Javon Hargrave (PHI 21.1%) and Jonathan Allen (WAS 20.0%).

No Washington players were voted to the NFL 2021 All-Pro Team however Brandon Scherff and Allen did receive votes. Allen and Payne were the only defensive players for Washington to start each game. Allen is also Washington’s nominee for the NFL Man of the Year Award.

Allen’s career season came after he signed a four-year extension back in the summer.

Recapping the historic 2017 Saints draft class

Draft grades didn’t appreciate what the Saints found in the 2017 NFL draft, selecting Alvin Kamara, Ryan Ramczyk, and Marshon Lattimore.

The week of the 2021 NFL draft is here, and our countdown to this year’s event continues by recapping the 2017 Saints draft class. We knew at the time that this would be a pivotal rookie haul, but few observers around the league appreciated just how great the group would be. Let’s recap:

Sunday funnies: Looking back at the Mitchell Trubisky at No. 1 hysteria

Many reports linked the Browns to Trubisky at No. 1

The morning coffee hadn’t really kicked in yet, but suddenly I was jolted awake by a notification of something written exactly four years ago today. It’s a stark reminder of how important good draft decisions are, as well as the critical nature of seeing through the all the smoke that happens at this point in the draft season every year.

On this date, April 11, 2017, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Browns were seriously considering selecting North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky instead of Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick. Schefter wasn’t the only one, not even close; some in the Cleveland media had been advancing the theory for weeks. It was a topic we had to cover several times, unfortunately.

It all proved for naught. Garrett was the pick and the Browns lived happily ever after. Trubisky somehow managed a Pro Bowl berth and a playoff berth as the starting QB in Chicago despite uneven play, but he played his way out of the position and is now the backup QB in Buffalo. That’s a terrible return on investment for the Bears, who traded up a spot to No. 2 overall to select him.

There’s a lesson here in believing all the reports you see at this time of year. Schefter and others were merely repeating what was told to them. I do that as well, but always try to clarify that it’s just one person’s or source’s take. The motivation behind those sources is the key, and that can be very difficult to ascertain. I’ve been doing this a long time and I still “get had” on some things like that, unfortunately.

Keep that in mind as you see all the reports that seem crazy in the final weeks leading into the draft. Remember the conviction with which some tried to sell you that Trubisky was indeed going to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft right up until Roger Goodell announced,

“With the first pick in the 2017 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns select Myles Garrett.”

The Browns wanted to select Mitchell Trubisky with 1st overall pick in 2017 NFL Draft

Former Browns HC Hue Jackson confirmed Cleveland wanted to select former Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky with the first overall pick in 2017.

Although quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is no longer a member of the Chicago Bears, the 2017 NFL Draft will forever be a talking point when it comes to missed opportunities for Bears GM Ryan Pace.

The decision to not only select Trubisky, but to move up one spot and trade draft assets has been the biggest mark against him during his tenure as general manager. But the decision was almost taken out of his hands completely, thanks to the Cleveland Browns.

Former Browns head coach Hue Jackson joined NFL insider Mike Silver and his daughter Natalie on the Pass it Down podcast to talk about the 2017 NFL Draft. The Browns were picking first overall and wound up with Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett. Jackson explained that he was all-in on Garrett from the start, but said the Browns front office wanted to go in a different direction.

“At the time, there was divide between who should be the first pick,” Jackson said. “I wanted Myles Garrett and I’m an offensive coach. I didn’t think there was a quarterback worth being the first pick in the draft.”

Jackson, who coached the Browns from 2016-2018 and compiled a 3-36-1 record, went on to describe why he was enamored with Garrett. He then explains the front office wanted to select Trubisky instead.

“I was lock and barrel on Myles Garrett,” he said. “But there were others that were lock and barrel on Mitchell Trubisky and me being a quarterback guy, I did not want that. I liked Mitchell, but I didn’t think he was the first pick of the draft at quarterback. There were some rumblings about that and I think everybody knew that. There was truly divide. But the day of the draft, we obviously ended up picking Myles and rightfully so.”

During the pre-draft process, many experts believed the Browns would wind up taking Garrett, but those rumblings about Trubisky were always prevalent. Even after the draft, insiders believed the Browns were gearing up to trade up for Trubisky after picking Garrett, but the Bears beat them to it.

Interestingly enough, Jackson also said he didn’t find out Garrett was their pick until the day before the draft, which is a similar approach Pace took with the Bears when he reportedly refused to tell his coaching staff who he was selecting until the day of.

Chicago traded up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers to select Trubisky, and the rest is history. But if the Browns front office had their way, the entire landscape of the NFL could be drastically different. Instead, Garrett has become one of the best defensive players in the league for the Browns and Trubisky is now on the Buffalo Bills as a backup after a tumultuous career in Chicago.

Would the Bears have selected another quarterback if Trubisky wound up with the Browns? We’ll never truly know the answer, but Cleveland’s front office almost made us find out.

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The Browns wanted to select Mitchell Trubisky with 1st overall pick in 2017 NFL Draft

Former Browns HC Hue Jackson confirmed Cleveland wanted to select former Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky with the first overall pick in 2017.

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Although quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is no longer a member of the Chicago Bears, the 2017 NFL Draft will forever be a talking point when it comes to missed opportunities for Bears GM Ryan Pace.

The decision to not only select Trubisky, but to move up one spot and trade draft assets has been the biggest mark against him during his tenure as general manager. But the decision was almost taken out of his hands completely, thanks to the Cleveland Browns.

Former Browns head coach Hue Jackson joined NFL insider Mike Silver and his daughter Natalie on the Pass it Down podcast to talk about the 2017 NFL Draft. The Browns were picking first overall and wound up with Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett. Jackson explained that he was all-in on Garrett from the start, but said the Browns front office wanted to go in a different direction.

“At the time, there was divide between who should be the first pick,” Jackson said. “I wanted Myles Garrett and I’m an offensive coach. I didn’t think there was a quarterback worth being the first pick in the draft.”

Jackson, who coached the Browns from 2016-2018 and compiled a 3-36-1 record, went on to describe why he was enamored with Garrett. He then explains the front office wanted to select Trubisky instead.

“I was lock and barrel on Myles Garrett,” he said. “But there were others that were lock and barrel on Mitchell Trubisky and me being a quarterback guy, I did not want that. I liked Mitchell, but I didn’t think he was the first pick of the draft at quarterback. There were some rumblings about that and I think everybody knew that. There was truly divide. But the day of the draft, we obviously ended up picking Myles and rightfully so.”

During the pre-draft process, many experts believed the Browns would wind up taking Garrett, but those rumblings about Trubisky were always prevalent. Even after the draft, insiders believed the Browns were gearing up to trade up for Trubisky after picking Garrett, but the Bears beat them to it.

Interestingly enough, Jackson also said he didn’t find out Garrett was their pick until the day before the draft, which is a similar approach Pace took with the Bears when he reportedly refused to tell his coaching staff who he was selecting until the day of.

Chicago traded up one spot with the San Francisco 49ers to select Trubisky, and the rest is history. But if the Browns front office had their way, the entire landscape of the NFL could be drastically different. Instead, Garrett has become one of the best defensive players in the league for the Browns and Trubisky is now on the Buffalo Bills as a backup after a tumultuous career in Chicago.

Would the Bears have selected another quarterback if Trubisky wound up with the Browns? We’ll never truly know the answer, but Cleveland’s front office almost made us find out.

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Giants stick with Evan Engram in PFN’s 2017 NFL re-draft

In Pro Football Network’s 2017 NFL re-draft, the New York Giants stick with tight end Evan Engram.

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With the 23rd pick in the 2017 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected tight end Evan Engram out of Ole Miss.

Since then, Engram has gone on to frustrate more than excite. He’s battled a series of injuries and played a full 16-game slate just once (2020), has scored three or fewer touchdowns in each of the previous three season and, perhaps most concerning of all, has a permanent case of the dropsies.

Engram’s drops are not only a weekly part of his game, they often seem to come at inopportune times. This past season, one of his drops came in the final moments of a Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, effectively costing the Giants a win — a win that would have ultimately won the NFC East down the line.

Despite all of that, Pro Football Network has the Giants sticking with Engram in their 2017 NFL re-draft.

23) New York Giants: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

After securing 2,420 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, Evan Engram is proven to be a productive tight end for the New York Giants. With Eli Manning approaching the end of his career, quarterback was a need here, as was offensive tackle and middle linebacker. With no player meeting those needs — I did give consideration to Cam Robinson — the Giants hold firm with Engram in this 2017 NFL Draft redraft.

“Productive” is one way to put it. “Maddeningly inconsistent” is another.

In addition to Cam Robinson, running back Dalvin Cook, cornerback Shaquill Griffin, wide receiver Kenny Golladay and several other intriguing options were also still on the board. Instead, the Giants stick with Engram and doom themselves to future issues in key moments.

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ESPN chooses J.J. Watt’s destination in their ‘Bold NFL Offseason Predictions’

Wisconsin Badger fans, Green Bay Packer fans and any NFL fan for that matter has followed the recent saga that has been J.J. Watt

Wisconsin Badger fans, Green Bay Packer fans and any NFL fan for that matter has followed the recent saga that has been J.J. Watt’s displeasure with the Houston Texans and his subsequent release.

For the Packer fans out there, his release seemed to be good news as there seems to be a collective wish that the Wisconsin Badger legend signs with his hometown team.

Well, ESPN predicted Watt’s landing spot in their recent collection of “Bold NFL offseason predictions for all 32 teams.”

Their guess? J.J. Watt joins his brothers T.J. and Derek with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sep 27, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; NFL referee Shawn Smith (14) flips the coin as brothers Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) take part before their game against at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

What ESPN had to say:

“Yes, the Steelers have more pressing needs than a defensive end and their cap situation hardly affords them the budget to bring in a star, even an aging one. But with the Watt brothers’ emphasis on family and the vocal desire to play together, it’s not that far fetched. With Watt already earning a massive amount of money in his decade in Houston, it’s not unreasonable to think he could take a family discount to play his final years with his brothers. Imagine a Steelers defense that has both Watt brothers. It’s not as distant a possibility as it once was.”

What BadgersWire has to say:

This move would make sense for all parties, though if J.J. Watt truly wants to win a Super Bowl I don’t think Ben Roethlisberger should be the quarterback leading him to that point. The funnier part of all of this is Packer fans wondering what could’ve been had the team drafted T.J. Watt back in 2017 instead of DB Kevin King (we all saw what King did, or didn’t do, in the NFC Championship Game a few weeks ago). If J.J. truly wants to join his brothers T.J. and Derek, then the King draft pick becomes even more entertaining.

As a non-Packer fan in a Wisconsin market, I still want to see J.J. come home and join the Packers. But I would also be here for the reaction if he chooses Pittsburgh solely based off his two brothers playing on the team.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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