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The 2023 draft has been a little weird for the South Maryland Jaguars and the most active since i’m here. Our biggest needs were WR and OLB, and we ended only drafting both in late rounds. This is the recap:
1.10 (Traded to Yuma)
Two big targets here, OLB Sam Fisher and WR Mel Ransbottom, both were picked at 1.5 and 1.9, like we expected. Still there was WR Tyrus Peters but didn’t like to our scouts and me either, his combine was only better than the others for his broadjump and we don’t need another returner. Of course, we could picked DT Rob Whalen, a potential HoF DT, to replace Matheny, who was in his last year of his contract (recently extended his contract for $35M, 5 years) or thinking in a future retirement of Charlie Patton entering his 9th year this season, but this front four has been together for so many years and his cohesion is perfect would be a shame mess it up. So we looked to trade down and Whalen went to Yuma for two future 1st and WR Frankie Odum, who also solved in part, at least for this season (if he doesn’t drop too much in TC), our problem with the receivers.
2.9 (Traded to Utah)
A similar situation here, OLB J.T. Sims, QB Austin Cash, WR Wally Dowd and OLB Melvin Covington, four targets and eight picks in front of us, seemed very likely one of them fell to us but we were wrong. We could trade up for one of the LBs, but we didn’t move. Then our objective was G Cassity, but many teams contacted us to trade down again and still have two young G drafted last year waiting his chance. Utah was the best offer with two late 2nd rounds and without take a player in the first, seemed better pick two players in this 2nd round even later, than one earlier that wasn’t one of our first objectives, and for the players we took in that picks, for me, it was.
2.27 CB Derek Hatcher (32/44) - Maryland
Finally, our first pick. We didn’t expect to pick a CB here, but was hard to pass this guy, and with another choice four picks later we must take him, oh and is out from Maryland. In a normal class of DBs, this guy is normally a late 1st round, or early 2nd at worst in any draft. One of the fastest corners of this class (along Gathier), and this year, that’s a lot, in fact in the last two drafts (I don’t have info of earlier drafts) only Quinn Robinette has a score of 4.40 in dash. Like Jerry Drake last year, he is way better than he looks, if he doesn’t improve at TC I will be very surprised. Maybe he will be at nickle this year, with big possibilities to end as 2nd CB, in front of Roger Mayes. But with both and Drake, plus Nate Sinclair at safety we have a secondary for years.
2.31 RB Earnest Bixler (28/37) - Georgia
We expected to pick Daniel Dorf to get finally our so long waited OLB, but he got picked just one pick before. Staat is getting old, and more sooner than later he will need a replacement, though we hope he still have 1 or 2 more years in his legs. Of course, expect that Bixler is the replacement maybe is have too high expectations for him, but both have differents styles and we think they’re very complementary, and if we don’t find anybody to replace Staat when he retires he can be a good starter for us. Of course, this is only if he improves in the TC, but he will, if not will be a dissapointment.
3.7 QB Tyrell Quinteros (9/27) - Arizona
The other option here was WR Preston Chandler, but without a pick in the 4th round (and we didn’t want to trade a future pick) was one or the other. We had three quaterbacks in our list, Austin Cash, Joe Fabian and him. And all of them had pros and cons, finally picked Quinteros who seems fit better in our style of game. His combine isn’t spectacular, but is better than it looks, at least for me, cause his combine isn’t based on the dash score on the contrary of many other QBs, oh and has the third highest sense rush bar of this class. His only problem is that he may have a conflict with one of the leaders, I guessed was Staat but seems is with T Darrin Brustkern so could be very easy to solve it. Again, I expect a good TC from him, and see if one day can be useful for us.
5.12 OLB Curtis Sutter (22/33) - Virginia Tech
And here is the OLB, five rounds later. Was the only left I liked after Daniel Dorf was picked, maybe along with OLB Jose Haslett, but he was gone very soon. Maybe I was expecting more from him, but we are so less talented at this position that still is a good addition.
6.11 TE Clay Tuttle (15/34) - Texas A&M
Very interesting prospect here. Has been the second 6’8’’ TE of this draft, that’s curious. I don’t really know what expect from him, but can be a good blocking TE, and with his size overmatch almost every defender on him. The other option was C Richard Banks, who looked more a sure thing, I hope don't regret later.
7.10 WR Matthew Jacks (33/44) - Texas Christian
I don’t know where this come from, but 33 in current rating for a 7th rounder receiver is high, very high, in fact is the highest rated player from our draft in Pre-Camp, wow. I guess he will drop, more after the experience of WR Roderick King who dropped 21 points last season after the TC (and Jacks also have a high volatility), but if he stay in the 30s in current rating we may have found something useful, and that’s a lot in this late rounds.
This year has been a test for me. The last two draft we were in top 5 picks and we ended with studs both years, those also were my first two drafts ever in a MP league, but outside the 1st rounders we didn't take a lot of quality in later rounds. Now I'm happier in general despite not to take a stud in the first round. Of course, also can be the worst draft ever if the TC isn't good, but Solecismic give us the 5th highest score in the draft review, that's a good start.
1.10 (Traded to Yuma)
Two big targets here, OLB Sam Fisher and WR Mel Ransbottom, both were picked at 1.5 and 1.9, like we expected. Still there was WR Tyrus Peters but didn’t like to our scouts and me either, his combine was only better than the others for his broadjump and we don’t need another returner. Of course, we could picked DT Rob Whalen, a potential HoF DT, to replace Matheny, who was in his last year of his contract (recently extended his contract for $35M, 5 years) or thinking in a future retirement of Charlie Patton entering his 9th year this season, but this front four has been together for so many years and his cohesion is perfect would be a shame mess it up. So we looked to trade down and Whalen went to Yuma for two future 1st and WR Frankie Odum, who also solved in part, at least for this season (if he doesn’t drop too much in TC), our problem with the receivers.
2.9 (Traded to Utah)
A similar situation here, OLB J.T. Sims, QB Austin Cash, WR Wally Dowd and OLB Melvin Covington, four targets and eight picks in front of us, seemed very likely one of them fell to us but we were wrong. We could trade up for one of the LBs, but we didn’t move. Then our objective was G Cassity, but many teams contacted us to trade down again and still have two young G drafted last year waiting his chance. Utah was the best offer with two late 2nd rounds and without take a player in the first, seemed better pick two players in this 2nd round even later, than one earlier that wasn’t one of our first objectives, and for the players we took in that picks, for me, it was.
2.27 CB Derek Hatcher (32/44) - Maryland
Finally, our first pick. We didn’t expect to pick a CB here, but was hard to pass this guy, and with another choice four picks later we must take him, oh and is out from Maryland. In a normal class of DBs, this guy is normally a late 1st round, or early 2nd at worst in any draft. One of the fastest corners of this class (along Gathier), and this year, that’s a lot, in fact in the last two drafts (I don’t have info of earlier drafts) only Quinn Robinette has a score of 4.40 in dash. Like Jerry Drake last year, he is way better than he looks, if he doesn’t improve at TC I will be very surprised. Maybe he will be at nickle this year, with big possibilities to end as 2nd CB, in front of Roger Mayes. But with both and Drake, plus Nate Sinclair at safety we have a secondary for years.
2.31 RB Earnest Bixler (28/37) - Georgia
We expected to pick Daniel Dorf to get finally our so long waited OLB, but he got picked just one pick before. Staat is getting old, and more sooner than later he will need a replacement, though we hope he still have 1 or 2 more years in his legs. Of course, expect that Bixler is the replacement maybe is have too high expectations for him, but both have differents styles and we think they’re very complementary, and if we don’t find anybody to replace Staat when he retires he can be a good starter for us. Of course, this is only if he improves in the TC, but he will, if not will be a dissapointment.
3.7 QB Tyrell Quinteros (9/27) - Arizona
The other option here was WR Preston Chandler, but without a pick in the 4th round (and we didn’t want to trade a future pick) was one or the other. We had three quaterbacks in our list, Austin Cash, Joe Fabian and him. And all of them had pros and cons, finally picked Quinteros who seems fit better in our style of game. His combine isn’t spectacular, but is better than it looks, at least for me, cause his combine isn’t based on the dash score on the contrary of many other QBs, oh and has the third highest sense rush bar of this class. His only problem is that he may have a conflict with one of the leaders, I guessed was Staat but seems is with T Darrin Brustkern so could be very easy to solve it. Again, I expect a good TC from him, and see if one day can be useful for us.
5.12 OLB Curtis Sutter (22/33) - Virginia Tech
And here is the OLB, five rounds later. Was the only left I liked after Daniel Dorf was picked, maybe along with OLB Jose Haslett, but he was gone very soon. Maybe I was expecting more from him, but we are so less talented at this position that still is a good addition.
6.11 TE Clay Tuttle (15/34) - Texas A&M
Very interesting prospect here. Has been the second 6’8’’ TE of this draft, that’s curious. I don’t really know what expect from him, but can be a good blocking TE, and with his size overmatch almost every defender on him. The other option was C Richard Banks, who looked more a sure thing, I hope don't regret later.
7.10 WR Matthew Jacks (33/44) - Texas Christian
I don’t know where this come from, but 33 in current rating for a 7th rounder receiver is high, very high, in fact is the highest rated player from our draft in Pre-Camp, wow. I guess he will drop, more after the experience of WR Roderick King who dropped 21 points last season after the TC (and Jacks also have a high volatility), but if he stay in the 30s in current rating we may have found something useful, and that’s a lot in this late rounds.
This year has been a test for me. The last two draft we were in top 5 picks and we ended with studs both years, those also were my first two drafts ever in a MP league, but outside the 1st rounders we didn't take a lot of quality in later rounds. Now I'm happier in general despite not to take a stud in the first round. Of course, also can be the worst draft ever if the TC isn't good, but Solecismic give us the 5th highest score in the draft review, that's a good start.
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