Board 8 > Board 8 National Football League League (B8NFLL) Season 12: The Offseason

(+) Yeah! (+)

Second Round

Hawks SS Keanu Neal (45th overall) - Okay, nobody probably remembers me saying this, but I was contemplating doing something crazy with the Seahawks pick in the 1st round, and it was selecting Keanu Neal. The OT prospects unexpectedly fell to 30, so I shelved that idea with some reservations. What may be the Seahawks' loss will be the Hawks' gain as the Hawks have had some of the best SS production over the years with the retired Roy Williams and Donnie McCleskey. The Hawks' underrated defense might not take much of a hit this season.

Packers HB Isaiah Crowell (46th overall) - The Packers may be synonymous with running, but their running game is nothing without Carnell Williams, who is likely playing his final season. The backup HBs have a career 3.4 YPC, which I don't have to tell you how abysmal that is. Something had to change, which is why Crowell was brought in. He would have to work hard to be as useless as Ben Slater and Christine Michael are. I am probably being a little too harsh on Michael as he was just a rookie last season. While it would be stunning to see Crowell come in at the same or lower rating as Slater, I would make Crowell the backup, no questions asked. With the enormous strain Tangicide put on Williams last season (he did say he would do things differently this season), there's a good chance Crowell will see enough touches this season for Tangicide to evaluate him as the long-term successor.

Jaguars G Ali Marpet (50th overall) - The Jags used to have a very deep OL, but a couple trades these past two seasons have put a dent into their supply. He gets to be the #1 backup G (depending on how preseason depth charts shake out with the backup OTs and C) behind a 37-year-old and a G who has missed nine games in the past two seasons (Ronald Leary). Marpet is going to get his chances this season, and is placed in a situation to succeed with a solid offense and great OL talent around him. While that probably should have been Clint Boling in this situation, a positive spin on the situation is that Marpet is two years younger.

Honorable Mentions
Pumpkins DT David Parry (44th overall)
Raiders DE Datone Jones (61st overall)

Regret Pick - Rams selecting CB Jason Verrett over G Jeff Allen or any of the three other Gs taken later in the round

I honestly forced myself to choose something. I didn't really have an issue with any of the picks this round. Good job everyone! While I assume that the Rams and their enormous cap space are just going to take their pick of whatever G they want in free agency, I will pick on them anyway. Now Verrett could very well become a starter or hell, even the #1 CB this season given how tightly bunched everyone is, and Verrett could easily join that group once signed. However, G has been much more of an issue than CB these past few seasons for the team, so they should have probably addressed that sooner in the event they strike out on their presumably top target in free agency.
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Third Round

Redskins DT Star Lotulelei (69th overall) - While I am not looking forward to the possibility of having to spell his name frequently in future game summaries, he landed in a fantastic situation. He gets to be the #1 backup to stalwart Kevin Williams, the supremely underrated Gabe Watson that also features young DEs in J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. This scary DL could become even scarier fast, and I fully expect Lotuelelei to reap the benefits and succeed the the 36-year-old Williams or 33-year-old Watson eventually.

Bengals C Brandon Linder (80th overall) - The Bengals interior OL has trouble staying healthy (starting Gs missed 13 games combined last season alone), which depending on Linder's rating might be great news for his bid for playing time. They could theoretically become the top backup at all three spots, and perhaps a fresh face along the OL will help an offense that feels a little stuck right now

Lions SS Karl Joseph (79th overall) - The Lions have made a big push to improve their defense this offseason, so to come away with a possible starter in the middle of the draft after being down some draft picks is a best-case scenario for them. It's a perfect match.

Honorable Mentions
Jaguars CB E.J. Gaines (82nd overall)
Raiders DT Sylvester Williams (93rd overall)

Regret Pick - Falcons selecting OTs Tim Martin and Denzelle Good over Karl Joseph (or any safety really)

I'm not saying that this is what MMX was thinking, but I get the idea of accumulating multiple players at a single position early to create competition and let the best man win, whenever that may be. However, I think that competition works better in practice with defensive players than it does offensive, and based on how the round shook out, he probably should have grabbed Joseph first, then the OT later. Picking Martin and then "reaching" for a safety, preferably a FS, next would also work. The decline of Thomas Davis is quite sad. After starting every game through the first eight seasons, the injury bug hit Davis and hasn't been the same. He started all 16 games last season, but had just 27 tackles and 2 INTs to his name. He is still far and away the best safety option on the team, and maybe even among the free agents, but they need some depth behind him and the enigma that is Atari Howard. They didn't do so until the 7th round.
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Didnt need the safety
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Actually, you literally did need to add a safety. You must have at least two FSs and two SSs.
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Fourth Round

Packers OLB Reggie Hartley (110th overall) - The Packers are looking a little thin at OLB. Depending on Hartley's rating, I can see him winning the starting job out of the preseason. While Tangicide can obviously reverse any decision the AI makes regarding depth charts, Hartley starting Week 1 behind that stout DL and in front of the pretty good secondary could help make him a 10+ year player in the league.

Pioneers HB James White (112th overall) - I believe this was considered a "reach" by the draft board, but he landed at the perfect place if you ask me. As the transitions transition from Willis McGahee to Le'Veon Bell, we have absolutely no idea what to expect from the latter. He has just around 50 touches to his name, so we have no idea how productive, efficient, or healthy he's going to be. What we do know is that the Pioneers' offense is a nightmare, so if Bell gets injured, I can see White as the person to step onto the field and flourish instead of returner and former Panthers' draft pick Bernard Pierce, who has 0 touches on offense in his career.

Jaguars FS Tre Boston (114th overall) - Sultan is not one to cut his players, and with all of his available cap space likely being tied up with his draft picks, I think we have found the Jags new starting FS for this season at least. The Jags have been blessed with excellent secondary production and impact on the pass D in the past, even in the face of many retirements, but this one was particularly brutal with FS Bob Sanders and SS Michael Lewis both hanging it up after 11 seasons with the club. There's a chance that Boston doesn't work out with the thinnest secondary safety net the team has had to work with, but the Jags D has been solid at worst every year since Sultan took over. I'm a believer.

Honorable Mentions
Bears G Chaz Green (100th overall)
Steelers SS Eric Murray (104th overall)
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KCF0107 posted...

Actually, you literally did need to add a safety. You must have at least two FSs and two SSs.

A backup safety, oline more concerning. Hedged my bets that one wont suck and youth
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Fifth Round

Bengals WR Allen Robinson (144th overall) - The last time the Bengals selected in the 5th round (Chris Hogan), the player turned out very well, so who's to say that can do it again? With a new QB at the helm, whether it be Jake Locker, T.J. Yates, or a free agent, perhaps the passing game can take a step forward (I am aware that retired QB Carson Palmer was third in passing yards and led the league in passing TDs) and involve more people so Robinson has a chance to replace Mike Williams or Matt Jones as a starter some day.

Jets TE Jesse James (148th overall) - Like the Bengals, the Jets are going to have someone new start at QB (Mike Glennon, Marcus Mariota, David Fales (fat chance), or a free agent). Perhaps they utilize the TE more, and with the current TEs on the roster 34 and 33 years old, James could get a second contract and be one of the few starting TEs to be taken in 5th round or later.

Ravens C Austin Reiter (151st overall) - The Ravens entered the draft with just two interior OL on the roster. While another two were selected before Reiter, anything is possible, so with it so barren in Baltimore, he has as good of an opportunity as any OL taken this round to have an opportunity to make his mark and get a second contract.

Honorable Mentions
Redskins C Andy Gallik (133rd overall)
Lightning MLB Corey Morton (139th overall)
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Sixth Round

Buccaneers TE Jace Amaro (181st overall) - If signed, he instantly becomes the starter. That automatically lands you on this list. Nothing else needs to be said.

Ravens MLB Chad Carpenter (183rd overall) - a lot of backup MLBs in 4-3 Ds taken in the 5th or later have found starting jobs later in their careers, including current Ravens start Rian Wallace. The Ravens' starting LBs were taken at 105th (Young), 158th (Wallace), and 209th overall (Jones), so yeah, I believe in their ability to develop Carpenter into a starter-worthy LB. At 34, Wallace is looking to need a replacement in likely S14. How fitting it would be if Carpenter is the guy.

Raiders WR Cody Latimer (189th overall) - With Andy Dalton turning the corner in his fourth season after relieving an injured Kirby Freeman, the Raiders' passing offense was the best it has been in a long time. With WR Anquan Boldin now retired, those targets are there for the taking. With the team still waiting for breakout seasons from former first round picks Brandon Marshall and Doug Baldwin, a late round rookie WR has an opportunity to make a name for himself with a team that was so close to reaching the Super Bowl. Add in some return ability (or so the scouting report said), and that could provide the boost in development to become a career slot receiver or if everything breaks right, a starting gig.

Honorable Mentions
Rams MLB Allen Rogers (182nd overall)
Jaguars OLB Justin McGee (178th overall)
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Seventh Round (or when I decided to forgo honorable mentions and talk about five players)

Redskins TE Junior Spires (197th overall)
Pumpkins TE Bruce Otto (204th overall) - In recent seasons, plenty of backup TEs taken late in the draft have received multi-year contracts after their rookie season, regardless of production. There's a chance one or both of these TEs has their NFL dreams still alive next season.

Patriots MLB Stan Massey (193rd overall)
Buccaneers MLB Raymond Els (213th overall)
Seahawks MLB Reuben Reed (222nd overall) - As mentioned with the Ravens in the sixth round, 4-3 D backup MLBs have a history of brighter futures. With the Pats and Bucs LB situations in flux and the careers of the Seahawks MLBs winding down, all three of these have a somewhat decent chance of being in the league in a few seasons and a remote chance of becoming starters, whether for the teams that drafted them or somewhere else.
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Favorite Three Draft Classes

Columbus Pioneers
MLB Kyle Emanuel (24th)
OLB Kyler Fackrell (27th)
OT Cyrus Kouandjio (56th)
CB Ike Foley (88th)
HB James White (112th)
G Jamil Douglas (120th)
OT Kevin O'Neal (152nd)
OT Bryant Graham (184th)
DT Michael Sikes (216th)

Upon looking at the various draft classes, this was instantly my favorite class They shored up their biggest weakness on defense, and they retooled their OL that was pilfered during RFA. All of these rookies, except for the spare OT should have clearly defined roles and in positions to succeed or at the very least show the front office that they deserve to stick around for awhile. The only thing that I would have done differently is probably take a SS in the 3rd instead of Foley and take a true flyer on a slot corner CB with one of the late OT picks they made.

Jacksonville Jaguars
OLB Aaron Lynch (6th)
G Ali Marpet (50th)
CB E.J. Gaines (82nd)
FS Tre Boston (114th)
SS Ibraheim Campbell (146th)
OLB Justin McGee (178th)
CB Edgar Williams (210th)
TE Frank Emanuel (218th)

The Jags needed OLB and DB help, and they got it in spades. They got who they hope will be what Boling was on the path to becoming, and they also got a TE they don't exactly need, but he might be nice to have as a backup FB during games. They did nothing flashy, which may make this a puzzling inclusion to some. In what has suddenly become a more competitive AFC South these past two seasons though, the Jags did everything right during the draft in the face of recent and looming retirements.

Washington Redskins
DE Jadeveon Clowney (5th)
OT Rob Havenstein (37th)
DT Star Lotulelei (69th)
G Max Garcia (101st)
C Andy Gallik (133rd)
OLB Neil Parker (165th)
TE Junior Spires (197th)

Washington's lines looked scary before, but damn am I glad to not be in the NFC East! I have a feeling the first five picks will become starters within three years. It's rare to see a team dominant on both lines and have a lot of succession opportunities coming up. Maybe there's some concern that the transition doesn't result in business as usual, but with the team getting a jump start now have players start out alongside DT Kevin Williams, OTs Leonard Davis/Daniel Inman, and C Melvin Fowler, I wouldn't bet against them.

Honorable Mentions
Cincinnati Bengals
Mexico City Browns
New York Jets
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To Do:
Create a new topic
Officially begin rookie signing period
Add Hall of Famers to wiki (why do I keep forgetting?)
Clean up my inbox...again
Record entire draft class
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Yeah it's a good thing i decided to do my early picks on discord... Ending up with Phillip Gaines as our 1st round pick would have been slightly disappointing.

And without looking at their needs, i really liked what the Browns did. VI has had some stellar drafts, i hope they can finally take the next step this year.
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Yeah I really needed to focus on defense this draft, which shows through my picks

Most of my offense is young and talented and I filled some holes in my defensive spots. The question is can I keep up with my division which has similarly gotten strong and doesnt show signs of slowing down
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I highly like the draft i had got everything i wanted and more
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I'm glad. I had to pivot a little from what you originally said in your PM because your 3rd/4th round strategy didn't account for your potential of selecting a G with your 2nd round strategy..
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This will all be transferred over to a new topic that I will create maybe later tonight.

Signing Draft Picks

Quite a few teams have done it already, but now's the time to get those draftees' signatures and have them suit up for your squad. It is essentially just like signing your own free agents, but you don't have to worry about holdouts/franchise tags, and you typically have far fewer players to sign.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind as you read your PM. One, you will not know the overall ratings until they are signed. That is an in-game mechanic and not something by my design. Two, the desired deals for each player, in terms of length, is based on where they were taken. It is as follows:

Top 5 - Six years
6-10 - Five years
11-32 - Four years
2nd-4th rounds - Three years (will be eligible for RFA)
5th-7th rounds - One year

Once again, you do not have to offer them their exact deals and can change their length, but I advise you to sign them to the length that they ask for because if you change the length, they might ask for considerably more money.

The deadline to sign your rookies will be August 6th at 9 PM ET. Should you idle, I will sign all your rookies to the deals that they are asking for (such a severe punishment I know). If you have roster space issues, then I will prioritize players who will fill roster holes and then in descending order of when they were selected until your roster is filled.
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New topic:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/77900063
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almost time to stop bumping this
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New topic, so this one can die:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/78009170
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