Grade the Last Three Drafts, Excepting 2026.

[easyk83]

Well guys what do we think right now? Now I'm using my phone for this so I am disinclined for a long post.

But taking a look back on 25 what had been looked at as a failed draft is looking pretty solid right now. Golden has emerged as a playmaker and Anthony Beltons pass pro has been superb. He still has work in the run game but he looks very promising right now. Sorrell has been a special teams beast for us and is a locker room leader, he might not be producing stats but he has been crushing it in blocking and breaking blocks. This is not a man you want in your lane on kickoffs.

2025: B

2024: A+, you have a couple drafts like this and you can make a super bowl contender. Bullard Williams and Cooper are all all pro level players, if Morgan turns into a franchise LT the scale breaks.

2023: B+, I would have given this one a C but through 6 games LVN has been a monster against the run and pass.

 

[tynimiller]

You cannot grade a draft IMO that soon without a ton of projection or low confidence in being right.


Three years minimum for me before I truly try and label a grade on a whole class.

2024 Class is absolutely one of Gute's best classes he's had in his time but not only due to the few big hits its from the roundness of the draft class too. To get one or two for sure starters out of a class is banger, regardless of where and how...but to have legit three guys (Cooper, Bullard and Williams) that are projecting to be top 10 type guys at their positions with Evan already there, Javon threatening and is one of the best slot safety type guys in the league this year so far. But we also have Morgan who has had starts at different spots and this year is finally (we hope) settling in and will go through growing pains at Left Tackle. That's FOUR starters...then we also have Travis Glover who at worst case is a serviceable OL depth piece that has been adaquate at RG in starts. BONUS folks include Hopper and Lloyd who have been contributors, Oladapo ST contributor and Monk also. DYNAMITE returns from a class overall. If someone expects more contribution from a class they're crazy. AND I'll say folks downgrading this class solely because your first rounder isn't the best one of the group don't understand the risk of the draft and the hard job of predicting prospects.

 

[easyk83]

You cannot grade a draft IMO that soon without a ton of projection or low confidence in being right.


Three years minimum for me before I truly try and label a grade on a whole class.

2024 Class is absolutely one of Gute's best classes he's had in his time but not only due to the few big hits its from the roundness of the draft class too. To get one or two for sure starters out of a class is banger, regardless of where and how...but to have legit three guys (Cooper, Bullard and Williams) that are projecting to be top 10 type guys at their positions with Evan already there, Javon threatening and is one of the best slot safety type guys in the league this year so far. But we also have Morgan who has had starts at different spots and this year is finally (we hope) settling in and will go through growing pains at Left Tackle. That's FOUR starters...then we also have Travis Glover who at worst case is a serviceable OL depth piece that has been adaquate at RG in starts. BONUS folks include Hopper and Lloyd who have been contributors, Oladapo ST contributor and Monk also. DYNAMITE returns from a class overall. If someone expects more contribution from a class they're crazy. AND I'll say folks downgrading this class solely because your first rounder isn't the best one of the group don't understand the risk of the draft and the hard job of predicting prospects.

I agree with the three year mark but why not do early grading? Part of what makes a draft impactful is getting plus contribution from cats on a rookie contract

 

[gopkrs]

I agree with the three year mark but why not do early grading? Part of what makes a draft impactful is getting plus contribution from cats on a rookie contract

Agreed. And I don't like the headset we have of not wanting to give rookies more of a shot. It's better to give them some experience early if they are close imho and collegiate players are much more ready than they have been in past years.

 

[DoURant]

Agreed. And I don't like the headset we have of not wanting to give rookies more of a shot. It's better to give them some experience early if they are close imho and collegiate players are much more ready than they have been in past years.

I think this season we may have turned the corner on that. 6 draft picks, and 4 are playing significant snaps and roles on the team. (Cisse, McClellan, DDS, and Smack) plus Burton has played some, not great, but he was given a chance early.

 

[tynimiller]

I keep hearing that we don't play rookies....but I don't see this avoidance some claim. It really is more so only in the trenches and even then LVN played early, Sorrell too once healthy, Dani is already......tons of young TEs, WRs, CBs and Safeties have seen playing time seemingly intentionally.

 

[tynimiller]

I agree with the three year mark but why not do early grading?

Because it breeds folks misconception that rookies should provide more or that young college prospects should translate in a specific way....over assumptions of young first rounders vs older third rounders folks completely avoid the nuance part of that alone.

Take for example 2025...folks were screaming bloody murder about Golden not being worth it or pre-judging him...sheer ignorance. Or even Belton...folks just fail to understand the tansition to the pros is insane..and each position should vary your expectations but also the systme they're going to and from. By three years thigns are starting to take shape, at a minimum for judging if the player fits the place they are....that though doesn't always mean they were necessarily a bad pick.

 

[easyk83]

Because it breeds folks misconception that rookies should provide more or that young college prospects should translate in a specific way....over assumptions of young first rounders vs older third rounders folks completely avoid the nuance part of that alone.

Take for example 2025...folks were screaming bloody murder about Golden not being worth it or pre-judging him...sheer ignorance. Or even Belton...folks just fail to understand the tansition to the pros is insane..and each position should vary your expectations but also the systme they're going to and from. By three years thigns are starting to take shape, at a minimum for judging if the player fits the place they are....that though doesn't always mean they were necessarily a bad pick.

Counterpoint, this is a football board. Why not talk about the cats we've brought in, evaluate them and try to project how they might develop. Nothing binding here, nothing that will cause harm. If we wanted to avoid misconceptions and ignorance this board ought to be shut down.

This, btw is also a thread to eat crow. LVNs looked like it was slow cooked to perfection.

 

[easyk83]

I keep hearing that we don't play rookies....but I don't see this avoidance some claim. It really is more so only in the trenches and even then LVN played early, Sorrell too once healthy, Dani is already......tons of young TEs, WRs, CBs and Safeties have seen playing time seemingly intentionally.

It's not just play but how much of a difference are they making? The performance of williams Bullard and now Cisse relative to their contracts is just killer. Not all of them can be kept.

 

[DoURant]

I keep hearing that we don't play rookies....but I don't see this avoidance some claim. It really is more so only in the trenches and even then LVN played early, Sorrell too once healthy, Dani is already......tons of young TEs, WRs, CBs and Safeties have seen playing time seemingly intentionally.

I think it's been more of them using high draft picks on positions where they most likely would be backups starting out. Gary, and LVN are 2 good cases referring to that thought process. The past few years we honestly have seen an influx of high snap counts by Draft picks, especially mid round picks.

 

[Magooch]

I do think there's definitely some truth in both. Some players are late bloomers, some take a while to adjust to the speed of the league, some are "project" players with elite traits that need developed (you aren't getting both elite traits AND day one production unless you are consistently picking at the top of the rounds), and so on. There are a lot of reasons why a player might turn good even if they aren't ready to hit the ground running in year one.

BUT at the same time it IS also true that if you want to maximize the value out of your draft picks you need to get them producing as quickly as possible. Half the value of a draft pick is that you have them affordably under your control on that rookie deal. You definitely want to have a view for the long-term, thinking of what your needs are going to be down the line, but you need guys who can immediately contribute, too.

It's like, at the end of the day....if I could find a GM who literally had a 100% hit rate for finding "NFL roster quality" players with every single pick BUT they all took 3+ years to get there...that team would probably still be pretty mediocre lol. It would be ridiculous to expect every player in a given draft to be getting heavy snaps day one, but there has to be a mix for sure

 

[milani]

Well guys what do we think right now? Now I'm using my phone for this so I am disinclined for a long post.

But taking a look back on 25 what had been looked at as a failed draft is looking pretty solid right now. Golden has emerged as a playmaker and Anthony Beltons pass pro has been superb. He still has work in the run game but he looks very promising right now. Sorrell has been a special teams beast for us and is a locker room leader, he might not be producing stats but he has been crushing it in blocking and breaking blocks. This is not a man you want in your lane on kickoffs.

2025: B

2024: A+, you have a couple drafts like this and you can make a super bowl contender. Bullard Williams and Cooper are all all pro level players, if Morgan turns into a franchise LT the scale breaks.

2025: B+, I would have given this one a C but through 6 games LVN has been a monster against the run and pass.

The loss of Reed hurt. Because it means Golden and Watson have to go unscathed the rest of the way. Williams, Sturdivant, and Melton cannot match those two.

 

[tynimiller]

Counterpoint, this is a football board. Why not talk about the cats we've brought in, evaluate them and try to project how they might develop. Nothing binding here, nothing that will cause harm. If we wanted to avoid misconceptions and ignorance this board ought to be shut down.

This, btw is also a thread to eat crow. LVNs looked like it was slow cooked to perfection.

Not sure if you're new"ish" but you're talking to a guy that used to do yearly projections for the rookie class, I build my own big board of 100-200 rookie prospects ranked....it's not normal. So I love discussions, but with that I do toe the line on extreme nuance and hesitation must be involved when projecting grades grossly too early. It's the main reason why I despise grades handed out to teams post draft....are they grading the pick vs their board (what board if so), are they taking into account the system they are going to be playing versus what they played in college...the team situation should massively factor into it as well....but most just throw stuff out there. That is more a beef I have with those exercises and not a forum discussion....but time and time again on forums or boards all over it just gets old folks declaring definitive things far too soon...LVN is a great example, there are still guys cemented in the he is JAG...so that's where perhaps I have far more exhaustion than some, because combatting ignorantly too early takes take twice as much effort to combat than they do to say. (FTR you didn't take any such stance, just that threads like this typically go there with some)

 

[mradtke66]

It would be ridiculous to expect every player in a given draft to be getting heavy snaps day one, but there has to be a mix for sure

I bet we're closer to that mix that many realize, but a few higher, recent picks are skewing the perception.

Golden is one. We had a crowded WR room.

Gary is another, but we had a crowded EDGE room his rookie year.

Looking over the last 5 drafts....

2026: 4/6 of our picks have seen significant snaps. Still 3/6 if you exclude Burton

2025: 4 of our picks saw picks saw significant snaps as rookies. Golden, Belton, Williams, and Barryn Sorrell saw action.

2024: 4 of our picks saw picks saw significant snaps as rookies Morgan, Bullard, Cooper, and Williams.

2023: I count 6 of our picks saw significant snaps as rookies. LVN, Musgrave, Reed, Kraft, Carlson, Brooks.

2022: I count 5 of our picks saw significant snaps as rookies. Quay, Wyatt, Watson, Doubs, ZBB.

 

[El Guapo]

We've been starting more rookies this season out of necessity. I do not believe that it has anything to do with a change in coaching philosophy.

In terms of philosophy, it likely isn't a philosophy at all. Guys go into camp and have to prove it. If the coaches see rookies struggling with the playbook, scheme, fundamentals, or any other part of the game...you can bet that they won't be playing meaningful snaps. Fans just see draft position and media projections. We don't really know who can and can't play yet.

 

[El Guapo]

I still think that 2022 was Gutekunst's strongest draft:
1st
-Quay Walker
-Devonte Wyatt
2nd
-Christian Watson
3rd
-Sean Rhyan
4th
-Romeo Doubs
-Zach Tom
5th
-Kingsley Enagbare
7th
-Tariq Carpenter
-Jonathan Ford
-Rasheed Walker
-Samori Toure

Carpenter and Toure are the only washouts in the entire draft. Working backwards, Rasheed Walker was a capable LT for two seasons. Pretty good for a 7th rounder. Jonathan Ford is still getting meaningful snaps. Enagbare showed glimpses and provided depth. He's actually doing well for the Jets this season.

Everyone else on the list is a legit starter with Watson and Wyatt stars IMO that have both been limited by injuries.

**Arguing over a GM's best draft is a great position for any fanbase.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Well guys what do we think right now? Now I'm using my phone for this so I am disinclined for a long post.

But taking a look back on 25 what had been looked at as a failed draft is looking pretty solid right now. Golden has emerged as a playmaker and Anthony Beltons pass pro has been superb. He still has work in the run game but he looks very promising right now. Sorrell has been a special teams beast for us and is a locker room leader, he might not be producing stats but he has been crushing it in blocking and breaking blocks. This is not a man you want in your lane on kickoffs.

2025: B

2024: A+, you have a couple drafts like this and you can make a super bowl contender. Bullard Williams and Cooper are all all pro level players, if Morgan turns into a franchise LT the scale breaks.

2023: B+, I would have given this one a C but through 6 games LVN has been a monster against the run and pass.

2025: Agreed, B seems pretty good. Golden has looked amazing this season (rare for a first round pick from Gute to contribute before year 4). Belton has been the only other real contributor to the team thus far and has been a pretty poor RT thus far.

2024: I have to disagree. I'd give this draft a B+ because Morgan has looked pretty bad at LT, he's just looked better than the awful guards playing next to him. That's not really a surprise though as Gute's major weakness in drafting is finding good players over 280 pounds. Bullard is a very good slot corner, Williams is playing like an All-Pro safety, and Cooper was playing like a top-10 off ball linebacker before getting hurt. Only thing holding this draft back from being an A in my opinion is the play of Morgan, Lloyd, and the still weird decision to draft Hopper in the third.

2023: B - primarily due to Kraft being drafted. LVN has played well this season but I just can't overlook a first round draft pick contributing next to nothing for two year at a position of need on a team. Reed and Valentine bring this draft up from a C to a B. Reed, when healthy (pretty rare) is a great slot/gadget receiver and Valentine, while not a starting level CB, is a decent backup CB which is rare to find in the 7th round. 13 draft picks this season and only five players are still on the team, not a great ratio for a draft and develop franchise.

Overall, Gute is a pretty good drafter if you ignore his picks along the oline and dline and how long it takes for his first rounders to contribute to the team. That 2024 draft was an elite draft, getting two true Pro Bowl level players in Bullard and Cooper (and Cooper looked like he might have been advancing to an All Pro level) and an All Pro level player in Williams is pretty amazing.

 

[gopkrs]

I hope he's doing his homework because this imho is the really important year. I hope he isn't afraid of drafting people that look like they are ready to play. I mean to say let's not draft for what someone might become. By the time, if ever, they become that. It's time for them to leave or get paid. Maybe put another scout on the payroll just for O line.

 

[milani]

We've been starting more rookies this season out of necessity. I do not believe that it has anything to do with a change in coaching philosophy.

In terms of philosophy, it likely isn't a philosophy at all. Guys go into camp and have to prove it. If the coaches see rookies struggling with the playbook, scheme, fundamentals, or any other part of the game...you can bet that they won't be playing meaningful snaps. Fans just see draft position and media projections. We don't really know who can and can't play yet.

Take advantage of a job opening especially when you are young.

 

[OldSchool101]

For me I obviously weight the Day 1 draft pick heaviest and so on. Those RD6-7 areas if you get a Starter past Special Teams you get extra credit.

In 2023 we literally Hit in EVERY round
Van Ness
Reed
Kraft
Wooden
Wicks
Karl Brooks
Valentine

I don’t know how others grade but to me C is an average grade. If not we probably should use another grading system altogether. The NFL now passes out A and B like they are twinkies. I’m just using real time info and projecting a little bit. IMO

I’d put 2023–A-/B+ We didn’t draft an All Pro. We didn’t get a starting QB, but we really nailed it. If you did that every year you’d be a deep playoff contender before long.

2024 —B
Morgan, Cooper, Bullard, Evan Williams, Glover.
Me thinks you could literally flip Morgan and Evan in Rounds and argue solid picks for both.


2025— B-
Golden, Belton, Savion, Sorrell..
Golden looks like a Stud. At his current pace he’s a Top 10 area athlete in a redraft.

 

[easyk83]

2025: Agreed, B seems pretty good. Golden has looked amazing this season (rare for a first round pick from Gute to contribute before year 4). Belton has been the only other real contributor to the team thus far and has been a pretty poor RT thus far.

2024: I have to disagree. I'd give this draft a B+ because Morgan has looked pretty bad at LT, he's just looked better than the awful guards playing next to him. That's not really a surprise though as Gute's major weakness in drafting is finding good players over 280 pounds. Bullard is a very good slot corner, Williams is playing like an All-Pro safety, and Cooper was playing like a top-10 off ball linebacker before getting hurt. Only thing holding this draft back from being an A in my opinion is the play of Morgan, Lloyd, and the still weird decision to draft Hopper in the third.

2023: B - primarily due to Kraft being drafted. LVN has played well this season but I just can't overlook a first round draft pick contributing next to nothing for two year at a position of need on a team. Reed and Valentine bring this draft up from a C to a B. Reed, when healthy (pretty rare) is a great slot/gadget receiver and Valentine, while not a starting level CB, is a decent backup CB which is rare to find in the 7th round. 13 draft picks this season and only five players are still on the team, not a great ratio for a draft and develop franchise.

Overall, Gute is a pretty good drafter if you ignore his picks along the oline and dline and how long it takes for his first rounders to contribute to the team. That 2024 draft was an elite draft, getting two true Pro Bowl level players in Bullard and Cooper (and Cooper looked like he might have been advancing to an All Pro level) and an All Pro level player in Williams is pretty amazing.

Coaching vs drafting, Belton and morgan have been all over the line which did not do them any favors. IMO a coach should keep a player to just one side of the line. Both Morgan and belton have shown ability in the passing game but their run blocking is awful.

As for LVN, position change followed by untimely injuries and changing schematics. Gannon, however, has brought out the best in him.

 

[milani]

Coaching vs drafting, Belton and morgan have been all over the line which did not do them any favors. IMO a coach should keep a player to just one side of the line. Both Morgan and belton have shown ability in the passing game but their run blocking is awful.

As for LVN, position change followed by untimely injuries and changing schematics. Gannon, however, has brought out the best in him.

He has looked amazing except for some drops. But I also believe that he and Watson are fragile. That is why we have to throw to some of the others to extend their playing time.