Everybody has a different answer to this question, but to me, a great draft has elements of both. I don't see that.VikingLord wrote: ↑Sat May 05, 2018 3:02 am But how do you rate a draft? You give a grade based on the number of guys the GM finds that can step on the field Game 1 of the next season and start? Or even make an immediate impact?
Or do you grade it based on the performance of those players over the life of their rookie contracts and whether they either possess a trade value higher than where they were selected before that contract ends, or they are extended by the team that originally drafted them after they've grown into the starter role?
There is only one Day 1 starter, and that's the kicker. We all know how Zimmer slow-plays rookie cornerbacks, so Hughes will not start. He'll return kicks, but he won't start at corner. Not this year. He'll be brought along slowly, like Waynes. That's fine. I want him to learn and be really good when he does play. But if we're talking about Day 1 starters, the only one is Carlson ... if he makes the team over Forbath, which isn't a given (although I think it should be).
As for developmental players, I'm reading scouting reports, and I'm seeing significant weaknesses in each. O'Neill should be able to develop into a starter, but everybody else is a crapshoot. That being said, I readily admit that every draft is a crapshoot, so we just have to let it play out.
Trying not to be too negative here. I realize that drafting at 30 is much different than drafting at 10 or higher. When we're forced to rate a draft based almost solely on the long-term potential of the players chosen, it's hard for me to be as enthusiastic. I truly hope that we end up with some good players out of this. As always, I'll wait and see who emerges and root hard for anybody wearing Vikings purple.