2022 General Prospect Discussion and Watch List

I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

While not overly interesting on their own, there are two linemen.. Zach Tom and Zachary Thomas

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Originally posted by Shifty:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Yes!

Cole Strange as well

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:

Originally posted by Shifty:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Yes!

Cole Strange as well

Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:

Originally posted by Shifty:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Yes!

Cole Strange as well

Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Solid

Adding Isiah Likely also. Based on this fool proof strategy, here is my totally realistic mock draft:

61 - Sauce Gardner CB
93 - Isiah Likely TE
102 - Sincere McCormick RB
133 - Cole Strange OG
172 - Smoke Monday S
186 - Velus Jones WR
252 - JoJo Domann LB
255 - Bailey Zappe QB
262 - Charleston Rambo WR

Works for me!

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:

Originally posted by Rathof44:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:

Originally posted by Shifty:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Yes!

Cole Strange as well

Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Solid

Adding Isiah Likely also. Based on this fool proof strategy, here is my totally realistic mock draft:

61 - Sauce Gardner CB
93 - Isiah Likely TE
102 - Sincere McCormick RB
133 - Cole Strange OG
172 - Smoke Monday S
186 - Velus Jones WR
252 - JoJo Domann LB
255 - Bailey Zappe QB
262 - Charleston Rambo WR

Works for me!

Haha. Key & Peele skit.

Well we signed a CB in FA so I think that means we don't draft one very high, also needed more LBer depth and signed that as well.

Lost a G and DT so pretty sure we have those targeted with our picks. I would think they go front 7 first couple picks then G/C and Safety mid. Try for a WR and RB later

Originally posted by Shifty:

Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I'm starting to think that the best draft strategy is just to draft the guys with the coolest names.

Based on this metric, my top prospects so far are:

Sauce Gardner
JoJo Domann
Velus Jones
Smoke Monday
Bailey Zappe

Who am I missing?

Sincere McCormick

Sounds genuine

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:
Well we signed a CB in FA so I think that means we don't draft one very high, also needed more LBer depth and signed that as well.

Lost a G and DT so pretty sure we have those targeted with our picks. I would think they go front 7 first couple picks then G/C and Safety mid. Try for a WR and RB later

Still a lot of FA to play out but I'm thinking DL x 2 (edge first), Safety are our main needs on defense.

No idea what's happening with the OL. C, LG, RG, RT could all have ??? over them, especially from the outside looking in.

It seems like this front office likes to go into the draft with a few position groups in mind and then spend multiple picks to try to improve that area. Last year it was RB, CB, and OL. THis year, I think these are the position groups that could get multiple picks:

OG/C - Mack's uncertainty, the loss of Tomlinson, and the general mediocrity of Brunskill make this the main focus. I think they are happy with their OT depth with Williams, McGlinchey, McKivitz, Moore, and Skule. So they need to find the C of the future and have some options if Banks doesn't work out. Brendel might be an underrated option as depth, but they need to spend 2-3 picks here and/or bring in a vet to bolster this group.

TE - This group has relied on the excellence of Kittle for far too long. Dwelley and Woerner have not proven to be anything more than marginal pros at best. It's time to give Kittle a partner who can take some pressure off. Look for them to use an earlier than expected pick on this position, or multiple late round/UDFA spots to increase the talent level in this room.

DL/DT - This team obviously values DL play, but they also feel confident in their ability to grow talent in house. Letting Jones walk and hoping that Kinlaw has a healthy season is a bit of a gamble, so they will want to keep the cupboard stocked. The depth is decent here and they could decide to address this need in next year's draft, but I doubt it. Armstead has proven to be an interior force, Givens is rising, and Hurst has a high ceiling if healthy. They could also bring Street back relatively cheap. Additionally, I don't see them letting this draft go without grabbing a guy who could play on the outside. It is too important of a position to ignore for more than one offseason.

DB/CB - It is looking more likely that we resign Tartt, which I like. Despite his missed INT in the NFCCG, he is an above average safety who would be difficult to replace. The Safety room also has Tarvarious Moore coming back from injury, but that still leaves depth pretty questionable. I think they are going to look for guys with versatility to play CB or S, but they could easily shore up CB depth by bringing in a cheaper vet or two (Dontae Johnson anyone?). If that is the case, I think they will go with pure safeties with athleticism and upside to coach up. It's hard to see them spending an early pick here, given their interior OL needs, but it is possible.

They could potentially use some draft capital at other positions, but I don't think it is likely. If a speedy WR who can be a returner is available, that would be extremely enticing, but I think they will hit the above position groups with the majority of their picks.

Originally posted by Karma:
It seems like this front office likes to go into the draft with a few position groups in mind and then spend multiple picks to try to improve that area. Last year it was RB, CB, and OL. THis year, I think these are the position groups that could get multiple picks:

OG/C - Mack's uncertainty, the loss of Tomlinson, and the general mediocrity of Brunskill make this the main focus. I think they are happy with their OT depth with Williams, McGlinchey, McKivitz, Moore, and Skule. So they need to find the C of the future and have some options if Banks doesn't work out. Brendel might be an underrated option as depth, but they need to spend 2-3 picks here and/or bring in a vet to bolster this group.

TE - This group has relied on the excellence of Kittle for far too long. Dwelley and Woerner have not proven to be anything more than marginal pros at best. It's time to give Kittle a partner who can take some pressure off. Look for them to use an earlier than expected pick on this position, or multiple late round/UDFA spots to increase the talent level in this room.

DL/DT - This team obviously values DL play, but they also feel confident in their ability to grow talent in house. Letting Jones walk and hoping that Kinlaw has a healthy season is a bit of a gamble, so they will want to keep the cupboard stocked. The depth is decent here and they could decide to address this need in next year's draft, but I doubt it. Armstead has proven to be an interior force, Givens is rising, and Hurst has a high ceiling if healthy. They could also bring Street back relatively cheap. Additionally, I don't see them letting this draft go without grabbing a guy who could play on the outside. It is too important of a position to ignore for more than one offseason.

DB/CB - It is looking more likely that we resign Tartt, which I like. Despite his missed INT in the NFCCG, he is an above average safety who would be difficult to replace. The Safety room also has Tarvarious Moore coming back from injury, but that still leaves depth pretty questionable. I think they are going to look for guys with versatility to play CB or S, but they could easily shore up CB depth by bringing in a cheaper vet or two (Dontae Johnson anyone?). If that is the case, I think they will go with pure safeties with athleticism and upside to coach up. It's hard to see them spending an early pick here, given their interior OL needs, but it is possible.

They could potentially use some draft capital at other positions, but I don't think it is likely. If a speedy WR who can be a returner is available, that would be extremely enticing, but I think they will hit the above position groups with the majority of their picks.

Good analysis. Niners needs are much clearer now that they've made some smart signings in free agency.

BPA in the early rounds stop targeting positions.

Originally posted by Oilcan:
BPA in the early rounds stop targeting positions.

Yeah BPA that isn't QB, RB, or LB

I don't think we need any of those early on.

Originally posted by Oilcan:
BPA in the early rounds stop targeting positions.

I have an issue with the simple BPA philosophy. It assumes there is an empirical, objective version of "best" when it comes to players. We have already seen that "draft guru" rankings are not connected to success in the league in any meaningful way. Furthermore, certain players are more or less suited to different schemes, so it muddies the water even more. People who say BPA want a quantifiable way to criticize a team's draft before the players even play.

I like what the Niners do/have done this offseason. They crunch the cap numbers, analyze the players available and the likelihood that they can make the team better relative to their salary, and then they choose position groups to bolster. That way they can focus on fewer areas of need come draft time and hedge their bets. For instance, look at last year. They knew they needed to stock their RB room because so many guys were going to be FAs in a year. They brought Gallman in for cheap, and then grabbed Sermon in the 3rd round. Later on in the draft they were able to double down with Mitchell because they had narrowed their needs down enough. Mitchell beat Gallman out and the rest is history. They did the same thing with Lenoir and Thomas which allowed them to learn together and gave Thomas time to adjust to the league.