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Happy Friday, everyone. With the NFL Draft next week, that’s about all the news there is. As expected with that ballyhooed 2017 class, Alabama is expected to have a historic first night.
With Tua, Jedrick Wills, Henry Ruggs & Jerry Jeudy all expected to come off the board early next week, @AlabamaFTBL could become first school in over 50 years to have 4 offensive players selected in first round of a single draft. pic.twitter.com/UAijKoPXSW
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) April 16, 2020
If/when Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are selected in the 1st round, it will mark the 2nd time a school has had a QB and 2 WR selected in the first round - 2007 LSU was the other instance (Russell, Bowe, Davis).
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) April 15, 2020
Only thing that’s been consistent since ‘09 is the ! Best to ever do it! pic.twitter.com/3RpAgKW9iO
— Pete Golding (@CoachGolding) April 16, 2020
Yet people still choose to play elsewhere. It defies logic.
Raekwon Davis is something of a wild card. Back during the season, he was routinely mocked in the first round. You don’t hear much talk in that direction nowadays, but he has been talking with quite a few teams.
Teams can speak to an unlimited number of prospects, up to three times per week for an hour per chat. And Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis told #PFTPM on Thursday that he has heard from multiple teams on multiple occasions as the draft approaches.
According to Davis, the 49ers, Packers, Dolphins, Ravens, and Eagles have been in the most contact with Davis.
Landon Collins believes that Dwayne Haskins is the future in Washington and would prefer to pass on Tua.
“I love Tua, and I love Alabama guys,” Collins said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” this week. “Definitely would be a great, great asset to our team. But like I said, we addressed a first-round draft-pick quarterback last year. I think Tua would be a great aspect to our team, but we already have one. I think we should keep the guy we have now. Put our eggs in that basket because, I mean, when he’s prepared and he knows what he has to do on the field, he’s gun-slinging it, he’s pushing the ball downfield, he’s making plays. From that standpoint, that’s how I see it.”
Nothing wrong with that, but way to clickbait the headline.
Interesting thought from draft analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah.
I believe we'll see less groupthink in the draft this year. At pro days, coaches & scouts (from diff teams) spend so much time around each other & they end up forming a consensus on players. Not the case this year. Some will be shocked at how high/low these guys go.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 17, 2020
Social distancing is forcing teams to think for themselves. That is uncharted territory for that group.
Jeremiah also notes that the WR class is very strong
Over the last five years, the average is 11.8 WRs taken in top 100. Last year, 13 were taken in that range. I believe 18 of the top 100 players in this draft are WR's. However, I doubt we see 18 go in the top 100. That means there will be excellent value later in the draft. https://t.co/XGOuD2BIgf
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 17, 2020
Fortunately, it doesn’t require a lot of brainpower to play the position.
WR Wonderlic Scores:
— First N Goal (@First_N_Goal1) April 15, 2020
Michael Pittman 29
Bryan Edwards 28
Chase Claypool 27
Brandon Aiyuk 23
Henry Ruggs 20
Justin Jefferson 19
Denzel Mims 17
KJ Hamler 15
Laviska Shenault 14
Jalen Reagor 13
Cee Dee Lamb 12
Van Jefferson 12
Tee Higgins 11
Jerry Jeudy 9
as per @BobMcGinn#NFLDraft
Last, the social distancing draft still has strict sponsorship rules.
If an NFL draft prospect is drinking out of a soda can while being shown on the April 23-25 broadcast, it can’t be Coca-Cola. And if he’s eating candy, it can’t be a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Those are only two of the rules on a long list of corporate do’s and don’ts the NFL has sent to draft prospects and their marketers ahead of the completely-virtual broadcast to ensure that its 50 official league sponsors and partners are protected and not ambushed by non-league partners on one of the biggest nights in sports.
According to the memo obtained by The Action Network, the NFL maintains that — although the players who will be featured on the telecast haven’t signed contracts — their appearance is property of the NFL.
“Do NOT have any products displaying brands or logos that have not been approved by the NFL within camera range of your feed for the NFL Draft broadcast,” the memo reads.
What a world.
That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.
Roll Tide.