Grade our draft

AsylumGuido · 05-02-2023, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by MatthewT

Reach is generally a negative term, but it doesn't always need to be. In the Saints case, a few guys were taken earlier than expected per published scouting reports and draft projections. With the Saints having very specific area's that needed to be addressed, some slight reaches were expected. This always going to be an issue when a team has to draft for need instead of best player available, which is where the Saints are at right now.

I get what you are saying to a degree, but weren't there players of the same position that would have been available later at the Saints previous slot before trading up? It just appears to me that they had the players they moved up to get ranked higher on their board that what they felt would be remaining if they sat still. I believe while need was absolutely a factor it was the desire for those specific players that drove the trade ups.

One thing I hear repeatedly every year around draft time is that every team's board will be dramatically different outside of the first ten to fifteen players. What appears to be a reach (negative version) by one team's standard may be a steal as seen from other team's reckonings.

saintsfan1976 · 05-01-2023, 04:28 PM

I wanted Darnell Washington. Other than that, let's see how it goes!

Mr.Riaton · 05-01-2023, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

I wanted Darnell Washington. Other than that, let's see how it goes!

Same. I kept visualizing that big bastard helping blaze trails for our backs to do their thing in addition to becoming a great red zone threat possibly. Oh well, still like our draft

K Major · 05-01-2023, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.Riaton

Same. I kept visualizing that big bastard helping blaze trails for our backs to do their thing in addition to becoming a great red zone threat possibly. Oh well, still like our draft

This will be a good talking point in a couple of years

Mr.Riaton · 05-01-2023, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

This will be a good talking point in a couple of years

I was literally just thinking that after I wrote that! Maybe we scoop him up in FA in a few years😁

AsylumGuido · 05-02-2023, 07:27 AM

Once again, I don't get the love for Darnell Washington. He describes himself as a "sixth offensive lineman". In his entire career he never displayed anything approaching being a threat in the passing game. He only had THREE TD's in his career. He averaged only 1.66 catches per game in his career. In his final five games with Georgia he only caught a total of FOUR passes!

If you want to convert him to an offensive tackle, maybe, but as a TE offensive threat .. where was it? I hear, "But, he can block!" So can Tre'Quan Smith. He's an oversized Tre'Quan.

papz · 05-02-2023, 08:04 AM

It's not difficult to see the reasons why people wanted to draft Darrell Washington, you're just not choosing to look. His size, speed, athleticism, pedigree, and blocking ability make him a very tempting prospect. Looking solely at his college production is very misleading. Georgia plays in a heavy run oriented offense and his usage rate as a receiver was not high. He also played alongside 2024 top 10 pick Brock Bowers.

So while I was neither for or against taking Washington, you could definitely see why there was appeal there. I wanted Achane instead of Miller, but that doesn't mean I can't see where Miller makes more sense. It's okay that people like Washington and you don't, vice versa.

AsylumGuido · 05-02-2023, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by papz

It's not difficult to see the reasons why people wanted to draft Darrell Washington, you're just not choosing to look. His size, speed, athleticism, pedigree, and blocking ability make him a very tempting prospect. Looking solely at his college production is very misleading. Georgia plays in a heavy run oriented offense and his usage rate as a receiver was not high. He also played alongside 2024 top 10 pick Brock Bowers.

So while I was neither for or against taking Washington, you could definitely see why there was appeal there. I wanted Achane instead of Miller, but that doesn't mean I can't see where Miller makes more sense. It's okay that people like Washington and you don't, vice versa.

I guess I'm not the only one that didn't see it. Seven TE's went before him in the draft. All 32 teams passed on him until the 30th pick in the 3rd round. Only seven TE's were drafted after him, as well. Perhaps all the teams saw him as a project. We didn't need a project. We needed players that play and produce on day one like Bresee, Foskey, and Miller.

Mr.Riaton · 05-02-2023, 08:36 AM

Not to mention Washington had a RAS of 9.88.
As far as 7 TE being taken before him…that’s not uncommon for great players to slip though the cracks. There were four RB taken before Kamara until he got drafted in the third round…I guess teams thought he was a project as well…

AsylumGuido · 05-02-2023, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Mr.Riaton

Not to mention Washington had a RAS of 9.88.
As far as 7 TE being taken before him…that’s not uncommon for great players to slip though the cracks. There were four RB taken before Kamara until he got drafted in the third round…I guess teams thought he was a project as well…

I guess this is why I've never gotten into the whole pre-draft hype. We as fans have no idea what the teams have in mind for their needs and direction. It's quite possible that the Saints, and several other teams, never saw Washington as a fit at all and was he never even a consideration. It is impossible as a fan that has fallen for draft prospects to come away from any draft without disappointments. But, fortunately, we do not make the final decisions.

To be honest, I had never heard of Washington until after the draft. I'm not a college fan and didn't really notice him in the championship game that I did watch. That's the only Georgia game I saw all season. I don't remember hearing anything about him pre-draft when the top TE prospects were discussed some.

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05-02-2023, 08:42 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by MatthewT Reach is generally a negative term, but it doesn't always need to be. In the Saints case, a few guys were taken earlier than expected per published scouting reports and draft projections. With the Saints having very specific area's that needed to be addressed, some slight reaches were expected. This always going to be an issue when a team has to draft for need instead of best player available, which is where the Saints are at right now. I get what you are saying to a degree, but weren't there players of the same position that would have been available later at the Saints previous slot before trading up? It just appears to me that they had the players they moved up to get ranked higher on their board that what they felt would be remaining if they sat still. I believe while need was absolutely a factor it was the desire for those specific players that drove the trade ups. One thing I hear repeatedly every year around draft time is that every team's board will be dramatically different outside of the first ten to fifteen players. What appears to be a reach (negative version) by one team's standard may be a steal as seen from other team's reckonings.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

05-01-2023, 04:28 PM	#2
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 11,023 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Grade our draft I wanted Darnell Washington. Other than that, let's see how it goes! turbo_dog, K Major and Mr.Riaton like this.

05-01-2023, 04:40 PM	#3
Mr.Riaton 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Broussard,La. Posts: 1,308	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 I wanted Darnell Washington. Other than that, let's see how it goes! Same. I kept visualizing that big bastard helping blaze trails for our backs to do their thing in addition to becoming a great red zone threat possibly. Oh well, still like our draft turbo_dog and K Major like this.

05-01-2023, 04:43 PM	#4
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,831 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by Mr.Riaton Same. I kept visualizing that big bastard helping blaze trails for our backs to do their thing in addition to becoming a great red zone threat possibly. Oh well, still like our draft This will be a good talking point in a couple of years Mr.Riaton likes this.

05-01-2023, 04:44 PM	#5
Mr.Riaton 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Broussard,La. Posts: 1,308	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by K Major This will be a good talking point in a couple of years I was literally just thinking that after I wrote that! Maybe we scoop him up in FA in a few years😁

05-02-2023, 07:27 AM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Grade our draft Once again, I don't get the love for Darnell Washington. He describes himself as a "sixth offensive lineman". In his entire career he never displayed anything approaching being a threat in the passing game. He only had THREE TD's in his career. He averaged only 1.66 catches per game in his career. In his final five games with Georgia he only caught a total of FOUR passes! If you want to convert him to an offensive tackle, maybe, but as a TE offensive threat .. where was it? I hear, "But, he can block!" So can Tre'Quan Smith. He's an oversized Tre'Quan. MatthewT likes this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

05-02-2023, 08:04 AM	#7
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,793	Re: Grade our draft It's not difficult to see the reasons why people wanted to draft Darrell Washington, you're just not choosing to look. His size, speed, athleticism, pedigree, and blocking ability make him a very tempting prospect. Looking solely at his college production is very misleading. Georgia plays in a heavy run oriented offense and his usage rate as a receiver was not high. He also played alongside 2024 top 10 pick Brock Bowers. So while I was neither for or against taking Washington, you could definitely see why there was appeal there. I wanted Achane instead of Miller, but that doesn't mean I can't see where Miller makes more sense. It's okay that people like Washington and you don't, vice versa. SmashMouth likes this.
	Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. All little common sense goes a long way.

05-02-2023, 08:19 AM	#8
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by papz It's not difficult to see the reasons why people wanted to draft Darrell Washington, you're just not choosing to look. His size, speed, athleticism, pedigree, and blocking ability make him a very tempting prospect. Looking solely at his college production is very misleading. Georgia plays in a heavy run oriented offense and his usage rate as a receiver was not high. He also played alongside 2024 top 10 pick Brock Bowers. So while I was neither for or against taking Washington, you could definitely see why there was appeal there. I wanted Achane instead of Miller, but that doesn't mean I can't see where Miller makes more sense. It's okay that people like Washington and you don't, vice versa. I guess I'm not the only one that didn't see it. Seven TE's went before him in the draft. All 32 teams passed on him until the 30th pick in the 3rd round. Only seven TE's were drafted after him, as well. Perhaps all the teams saw him as a project. We didn't need a project. We needed players that play and produce on day one like Bresee, Foskey, and Miller.

05-02-2023, 08:36 AM	#9
Mr.Riaton 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Broussard,La. Posts: 1,308	Re: Grade our draft Not to mention Washington had a RAS of 9.88. As far as 7 TE being taken before him…that’s not uncommon for great players to slip though the cracks. There were four RB taken before Kamara until he got drafted in the third round…I guess teams thought he was a project as well…

05-02-2023, 09:14 AM	#10
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Grade our draft Originally Posted by Mr.Riaton Not to mention Washington had a RAS of 9.88. As far as 7 TE being taken before him…that’s not uncommon for great players to slip though the cracks. There were four RB taken before Kamara until he got drafted in the third round…I guess teams thought he was a project as well… I guess this is why I've never gotten into the whole pre-draft hype. We as fans have no idea what the teams have in mind for their needs and direction. It's quite possible that the Saints, and several other teams, never saw Washington as a fit at all and was he never even a consideration. It is impossible as a fan that has fallen for draft prospects to come away from any draft without disappointments. But, fortunately, we do not make the final decisions. To be honest, I had never heard of Washington until after the draft. I'm not a college fan and didn't really notice him in the championship game that I did watch. That's the only Georgia game I saw all season. I don't remember hearing anything about him pre-draft when the top TE prospects were discussed some.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill