The 2025 NFL Pre-Draft General Talk

[Merlin]

One of the worst practice players you’ve ever seen

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Bottom line is the Rams or any team wants to draft any player and feel they need more info, they call that particular player's position coach and tell the position coach to give an honest assessment. The vast majority of time said position coach gives an honest assessment because you never know who you will be working for down the road. Anyway McGinn has had this column for over 40 years and it is my favorite draft time read. Make of it what you will, but I have always found it eye opening and insightful.

Not saying the guy isn't insightful but totally agree about teams doing their due diligence by talking to coaches who have worked closely with any player. Now I'm going off of memory, but I also remember Burden's head coach defending him as a good team player and about his work ethic. I just don't trust anything that is put out to any media member, regardless of rep, just because all teams try their best to play misdirection games to get their or a guy to fall.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Not saying the guy isn't insightful but totally agree about teams doing their due diligence by talking to coaches who have worked closely with any player. Now I'm going off of memory, but I also remember Burden's head coach defending him as a good team player and about his work ethic. I just don't trust anything that is put out to any media member, regardless of rep, just because all teams try their best to play misdirection games to get their or a guy to fall.

That’s a bit oversimplified. Tape backs it up and every scout McGinn talks to isn’t going to make up the same lie. Most of what I hear from draft analysts is that when teams like a player, they don’t talk about him. You don’t hear much about him and scouts don’t offer much. And remember, some of these guys like Brugler talk to coaches themselves. Others do their own evals too. They don’t all get info based on what scouts tell them. If you were McGinn, who’s been around a long time, don’t you think you’d have your trusted sources and know who is BS by now? Do the same guys pull the wool over his eyes every year and he keeps falling for it? I doubt that’s the case.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

My View: I've had this thought rattling in the back of my head for awhile that the reason Tutu got paid and other WR's were getting paid wasn't just cause it was a bad FA WR class this year but that teams already knew that it was slim pickings in the draft by December. It's also why so many pundits are lumping pass catchers together and have some of the TE's interspersed in there like how Loveland and Warren slot in around 2-4 in the above mentioned guys.

Yep. It’s also why Tutu only got a one year deal. It indicates that they don’t want to commit to him. It was a necessity signing. If they loved him like a few people claim, they’d have signed him to a longer deal. If he was as good as some think, another team would have signed him for more money and a longer deal.

The WR class isn’t good. It’s helping to elevate the other pass catchers in this draft, in the tight end group too.

Snead hasn’t reached for need in the last two drafts. The last time he did was probably Tutu. I don’t expect him to reach for a WR in round one. Maybe he’ll feel Egbuka is worth it as a clean prospect, but anyone they take this year will be receiver four. Is that worth a first? If you are picking a receiver to develop then I’d go after guys with better traits and hope I can develop them, but that’s not ideal in the first two rounds.

I think at 26 a few other positions will be better value. A good linebacker like Campbell could instantly help stop the run. A good corner can instantly upgrade the corner group. Both could have a bigger impact in their second year than a project receiver. A backup OT potentially could have more impact than a fourth receiver.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Yep. It’s also why Tutu only got a one year deal. It indicates that they don’t want to commit to him. It was a necessity signing. If they loved him like a few people claim, they’d have signed him to a longer deal. If he was as good as some think, another team would have signed him for more money and a longer deal.

The WR class isn’t good. It’s helping to elevate the other pass catchers in this draft, in the tight end group too.

Snead hasn’t reached for need in the last two drafts. The last time he did was probably Tutu. I don’t expect him to reach for a WR in round one. Maybe he’ll feel Egbuka is worth it as a clean prospect, but anyone they take this year will be receiver four. Is that worth a first? If you are picking a receiver to develop then I’d go after guys with better traits and hope I can develop them, but that’s not ideal in the first two rounds.

I think at 26 a few other positions will be better value. A good linebacker like Campbell could instantly help stop the run. A good corner can instantly upgrade the corner group. Both could have a bigger impact in their second year than a project receiver. A backup OT potentially could have more impact than a fourth receiver.

I like Golden and Egbuka and would happily take either at 26, just not sure either reaches us. They're are a few guys later in the draft that intrigue but the class is pretty meh.

 

[Londoner]

The WR class isn’t good.

Agreed.

If we count Travis Hunter as primarily a CB, then the only WRs with true first-round potential in this draft are Tet McMillan and Matthew Golden. And the former has serious question marks about him, having apparently stated that he doesn't watch much football and isn't a fan of reviewing game tape either.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I like Golden and Egbuka and would happily take either at 26, just not sure either reaches us. They're are a few guys later in the draft that intrigue but the class is pretty meh.

Is it an ideal situation for a team to use a first round pick on a number two or possibly number three receiver? I’d think not. But, I guess this draft is so devoid of talent overall that it’s a probability. That’s why I like Ayomanor (High character, high intelligence, prototypical size, good measurables). Over many of these other receivers. He may not be as finished but his ceiling is higher than most of them. Unfortunately he likely gets picked earlier than he would in other drafts.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Is it an ideal situation for a team to use a first round pick on a number two or possibly number three receiver? I’d think not. But, I guess this draft is so devoid of talent overall that it’s a probability. That’s why I like Ayomanor (High character, high intelligence, prototypical size, good measurables). Over many of these other receivers. He may not be as finished but his ceiling is higher than most of them. Unfortunately he likely gets picked earlier than he would in other drafts.

I think Golden and Egbuka have traits that they could have an outside shot at being very good number 1s in this league. You have to squint but they're there. I can't say that for many others. Don't know much about Ayomanor.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Five biggest NFL draft takeaways from Daniel Jeremiah’s conference call previewing 2025 event

Fannin makes an appearance here and will make the Fannin fans smile.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

That’s a bit oversimplified. Tape backs it up and every scout McGinn talks to isn’t going to make up the same lie. Most of what I hear from draft analysts is that when teams like a player, they don’t talk about him. You don’t hear much about him and scouts don’t offer much. And remember, some of these guys like Brugler talk to coaches themselves. Others do their own evals too. They don’t all get info based on what scouts tell them. If you were McGinn, who’s been around a long time, don’t you think you’d have your trusted sources and know who is BS by now? Do the same guys pull the wool over his eyes every year and he keeps falling for it? I doubt that’s the case.

Like I said, it's possible that its not true or it may be overblown or true. Do you think every scout is going to be completely truthful to media knowing that this info will get out? I can't fathom that it is based off of the intentions of the sources sharing whatever information they may decide to share. It doesn't necessarily have to be flat out lies and could be facts that are exaggerated. So Burden's head coach coming out to defend him means nothing? Didn't something similar happen with Jalen Carter and the Eagles still drafted him in the 1st round? I'm sorry but I just can't put 100% trust in anything during lying season. I'm just gonna wait and see what happens on draft day.

 

[OldSchool]

Five biggest NFL draft takeaways from Daniel Jeremiah’s conference call previewing 2025 event

Fannin makes an appearance here and will make the Fannin fans smile.

Nope I read ir here. Slow and small and just not good he'd be a wasted pick.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Like I said, it's possible that its not true or it may be overblown or true. Do you think every scout is going to be completely truthful to media knowing that this info will get out? I can't fathom that it is based off of the intentions of the sources sharing whatever information they may decide to share. It doesn't necessarily have to be flat out lies and could be facts that are exaggerated. So Burden's head coach coming out to defend him means nothing? Didn't something similar happen with Jalen Carter and the Eagles still drafted him in the 1st round? I'm sorry but I just can't put 100% trust in anything during lying season. I'm just gonna wait and see what happens on draft day.

They are trusted sources. After doing it for 20 years a guy like McGinn knows which ones will tell him the truth. Those are the scouts he’s talking to.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I like Golden and Egbuka and would happily take either at 26, just not sure either reaches us. They're are a few guys later in the draft that intrigue but the class is pretty meh.

Golden may be the first receiver taken according to some ppl.

Egbuka may be a good number 2 but I can’t see a number 1 in him. I was very high on him early on. I hope there’s better value at 26

 

[El Chapo Jr]

They are trusted sources. After doing it for 20 years a guy like McGinn knows which ones will tell him the truth. Those are the scouts he’s talking to.

Guess we'll just agree to disagree

 

[Tumak61]

Where do we historically use that first rounder lately. Say last 20 years. Not including trades of course.
QB. Goff, Bradford
D Line. Brockers, Donald, Verse, Quinn, Long, Carriker
OT. Robinson, Smith, Barron
RB. Gurley, Jackson
WR. Austin
CB. Hill
LB. Ogletree
Seems we have the best success overall drafting on the D line, RB, and QB. Drafting Offensive Linemen has been a disaster. Austin, yikes. Of course Gurley was a great pick regardless of his short career. Jackson was another great pick.
Almost never use it on a DB. Not counting trades.

 

[dang]

That's a good point. I see him like AD Mitchell from last year (I was a big fan of him too). If I'm in the back of the first round I'd that shot. Or ideally a trade down. I think AD went 34th overall? I could see 35-36 as burdens floor.

I’m sticking with my original assessment. There WILL be better players available at R1.26. If Rams trade down for high R2 and low R3 picks perhaps Burden would be in play for the high R2 pick.

 

[muggmeister]

I'm not sure where it's gonna come from but we have to get more explosive in our run game. Of last years top 20 rushers, only Najee Harris (4.0) and Deande Swift (3.8) averaged less than Kryens 4.1 ypc. Kyren also equaled Rico Dowdle with only 2 20+ yard carries, also fewest among top 20 rushers. I love his work in the trenches, finding creases out of nothing, and his ability to find the end zone but...

This is a position we can and should upgrade and I haven't seen anything from Corum that would translate as an improvement. Could it be Hampton in the 1st, hmm. Skattebo in the 3rd? We can want a Higbee replacement and a 4th WR to develop to start in '26, but for now let's juice up the run game and take pressure off Stafford like that. Who should or will be that guy?

 

[dang]

I'm not sure where it's gonna come from but we have to get more explosive in our run game. Of last years top 20 rushers, only Najee Harris (4.0) and Deande Swift (3.8) averaged less than Kryens 4.1 ypc. Kyren also equaled Rico Dowdle with only 2 20+ yard carries, also fewest among top 20 rushers. I love his work in the trenches, finding creases out of nothing, and his ability to find the end zone but...

This is a position we can and should upgrade and I haven't seen anything from Corum that would translate as an improvement. Could it be Hampton in the 1st, hmm. Skattebo in the 3rd? We can want a Higbee replacement and a 4th WR to develop to start in '26, but for now let's juice up the run game and take pressure off Stafford like that. Who should or will be that guy?

Henderson, KJohnson or Judkins in a trade down to R2? But my guess is they draft someone with their R3.101 or R4 pick.

 

[Londoner]

Who should or will be that guy?

We have bigger needs than a change of pace back, so I wouldn't be using the first-round pick on one. If we want a pure speed guy, who is also a receiving threat, in the backfield, the likes of Brashard Smith and Bhayshul Tuten should be available at the end of the third or in the fourth round.

 

[muggmeister]

We have bigger needs than a change of pace back, so I wouldn't be using the first-round pick on one. If we want a pure speed guy, who is also a receiving threat, in the backfield, the likes of Brashard Smith and Bhayshul Tuten should be available at the end of the third or in the fourth round.

I'm not advocating for a change of pace back, I'm lobbying for a true bell cow RB with some juice. Tired of seeing Stat lines of 20 carries, 81 yards. Would be nice if we can routinely have 25 carries for 160 yds.