It didn’t lack for drama or intrigue. There were a record 43 trades over the three-day course of the NFL Draft. I read that as further evidence that there really is no “tomorrow” in today’s NFL. It’s about right now.
Heck, the Jets are thinking Super Bowl. So are the Lions. And they have every reason to set such a lofty goal. Neither is being unrealistic.
The Texans ought to be feeling great right about now. They had nine picks, which they turned into a franchise quarterback, a bell cow edge rusher, a starting offensive lineman, a nifty slot receiver/kick returner and some key depth on both sides of the ball.
And don’t forget that Houston has another dazzler coming into the fold, since 2022 second-rounder WR John Metchie III appears ready to go after missing all of last season to undergo cancer treatment. The former Alabama dragster can, as they say, “take the top off of a defense.”
The Cowboys are set. That is a good-looking roster. And that was a solid draft. Yeah, the Bills outmaneuvered Dallas to get slick Utah receiving TE Dalton Kincaid, but I’m fine with the Cowboys’ first-round selection of Michigan run-plugger Mazi Smith. Round two did produce a TE, this one a stout blocker in another Wolverine, Luke Schoonmaker. Ex-Longhorn linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is a little bit of a third-round project, in my view, but he’ll be an immediate special teams contributor.
You can never have enough good corners, and I’ve been impressed with Southern Miss product Eric Scott Jr., whom Dallas picked with their first of two sixth-round choices. Big. Strong. Physical.
And if you didn’t get a little misty hearing Dallas assistant director of college scouting Chris Vaughn calling his 5’-5” son to tell him the Cowboys had taken him with their remaining sixth-round pick, you may need a heart check. But understand this, that was no charity or novelty pick. Deuce Vaughn was a flat-out stud at Kansas State, and he can fill a variety of roles in Dallas.
So Dallas got better over the weekend. But so did the Eagles, Giants and Commanders.
There were 14 quarterbacks drafted, way up over the nine selected a year ago. I was happy and relieved that one of them was former TCU QB Max Duggan, whom the Chargers tabbed in the seventh round. I expect Duggan will largely be an NFL back-up. But I also expect he’ll play ten years, make a wheelbarrow full of money and come off the bench to win a bunch of key games.
Duggan was one of THREE former Horned Frogs drafted by the Texans. Max will be reuniting with receivers Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis.
I really don’t care for this whole “Mr. Irrelevant” thing. Anybody who got drafted by an NFL team has achieved an extremely relevant accomplishment. I’m not into it.
That’s four straight wins for the Phillies. That’s two straight losses for the Astros. Sucks. Let’s close out April strong Sunday at Minute Maid.
I have always suffered from Quadramensophobia. Fear of the fourth month. Fear of April. I just have to stay out of harm’s way for another 18 hours.
A Game Seven between the Warriors and Kings? I believe I will.