First Round Targets

[staylor26]

RB:

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio St.

OT:

Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Josh Simmons, Ohio St.


DT:

Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Tyleik Williams, Ohio St.

EDGE:

Mykel Williams, Georgia
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio St.

[kccrow]

Two "would you" guys in Round 1 to chew on...

TE Mason Taylor, LSU... Yeah, I've been hard on the "we don't need this" train but damn this kid is talented. Probably going in the top 40-42 picks. I know he's had private meetings with the Browns (33), Saints (40), Dolphins (48), and Broncos (51).

LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA... LB never feels like great positional value in round 1, kind of like RB, but this kid is pretty damned good. Has met with a slew of teams, but notably, Baltimore is on the list. He's routinely slotted in the top 45.

[kcbubb]

I saw Jason Taylor talk about his son, Mason, at the senior bowl and he will have a productive 10 year career at TE in the league. The way Jason talked about Mason was a big deal to me. I’d rather have him in the 2nd but you might be right. He’s definitely gone before the 50th pick, IMO.

[Bump]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If it thinks Hampton will be there in the 3rd or Grant/Jackson in the 7th, Grok is very very stupid.

Harmon may well not be there for us in the 1st, let alone the 2nd. Burch is likely a late 2, early 3. Royals is probably gone mid-late 2nd, won't make it to the late 3rd.

Hall might last later into the 3rd day but I doubt he makes it to Mr. Irrelevant; feels like a probably 4th/5th rounder to me.

In either event, no -- I wouldn't call that anything resembling impressive.

ya that seems too good to be true. AI needs some more work on it's NFL mock drafts.

[RunKC]

Not seeing an edge being taken guys. I don’t think Mykel Williams will be there, Stewart probably not as well (thankfully) and Tuimoloau is generally thought of as a mid 2nd and Scourton is good but probably won’t be BPA. In fact I’ve seen very few mocks with him as a first.

It feels like the top 4 or 5 DE’s will all be gone by the time we pick. That’s fine bc the depth in this class is insane

[DJ's left nut]

I don't think I'd go this route, but if Starks is there, it's an interesting philosophical conversation.

Long-term, are we interested in building our defense through the back instead of the line? Because in Starks you have a guy who you take because you're projecting him to by Kyle Hamilton someday.

If you can have a secondary built around Trent McDuffie and a Kyle Hamilton sort of safety over the next 6 years or so...well its an interesting thought.

Not sure I'd do it. But I'd consider it.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I don't think I'd go this route, but if Starks is there, it's an interesting philosophical conversation.

Long-term, are we interested in building our defense through the back instead of the line? Because in Starks you have a guy who you take because you're projecting him to by Kyle Hamilton someday.

If you can have a secondary built around Trent McDuffie and a Kyle Hamilton sort of safety over the next 6 years or so...well its an interesting thought.

Not sure I'd do it. But I'd consider it.

I think the pivot to the run game, and the depth and quality of DL options makes it hard to not go that route. But like you I wouldn't mind.

This really feels like an excellent draft to go BPA and work back from there. If that's Starks, so be it.

[Chargem]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I don't think I'd go this route, but if Starks is there, it's an interesting philosophical conversation.

Long-term, are we interested in building our defense through the back instead of the line? Because in Starks you have a guy who you take because you're projecting him to by Kyle Hamilton someday.

If you can have a secondary built around Trent McDuffie and a Kyle Hamilton sort of safety over the next 6 years or so...well its an interesting thought.

Not sure I'd do it. But I'd consider it.

I think I would do it, if you really felt he could be a Hamilton level talent. But at the same time, you can get good safeties on the open market instead of drafting with premium picks.

[kccrow]

My update 4/9

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Josh Conerly, Jr., OT, Oregon
Kelvin Banks, Jr., OT, Texas
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

[RunKC]

Just for fun: Cleveland loves Dart. He’s available at 31 and we get a call. What would it take to move down?

They have these picks:

Round 1: No. 2

Round 2: No. 33

Round 3: No. 67

Round 3: No. 94

Round 4: No. 104

Round 6: No. 179

Round 6: No. 192

Round 6: No. 200

Round 6: No. 216

Round 7: No. 255

Trade chart says only 20 pts separates 31 to 33. Bills got a 5th last year moving from 32 to 33.

Kevin Stefanski went and saw Dart throw in person at Ole Miss as well already. The Browns very well could go Carter or Hunter with #2 overall and grab their QB at the top of the second or by trading into the backend of the first. They're doing their work. https://t.co/bDO9gyw8Rv

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) April 8, 2025

[kccrow]

Cleveland doesn't have a 5th round pick either. The chart values say their high 6th and their low 6th (179 and 216). At that point, I'd probably ask for a future 4th, which would rob them of a little bit of value but be a much better get for us than 6th round.

It really depends on how the board shakes. If we move down, Philly could let someone in front of us so you'd have to have a couple of guys you really like sitting there and be willing to lose out on either because you aren't really gaining a whole lot.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Just for fun: Cleveland loves Dart. He’s available at 31 and we get a call. What would it take to move down?

They have these picks:

Round 1: No. 2

Round 2: No. 33

Round 3: No. 67

Round 3: No. 94

Round 4: No. 104

Round 6: No. 179

Round 6: No. 192

Round 6: No. 200

Round 6: No. 216

Round 7: No. 255

Trade chart says only 20 pts separates 31 to 33. Bills got a 5th last year moving from 32 to 33.

Kevin Stefanski went and saw Dart throw in person at Ole Miss as well already. The Browns very well could go Carter or Hunter with #2 overall and grab their QB at the top of the second or by trading into the backend of the first. They're doing their work. https://t.co/bDO9gyw8Rv

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) April 8, 2025

At that point you're weighing the 5th year option (which is valuable) against a late round pick.

Is it worth a 5th, 6th or two 6th's? Probably not.

A 4th, specifically Cleveland's 4th at 104? Yeah, I'm interested at that point.


But again, depending on who you were targeting and wanting to draft at 31, do you risk losing them moving down 2 spots and also the value of having that 5th year option is something to strongly consider.

I'd probably just take my guy at 31, but that's just me.

[Urc Burry]

The couple times I’ve messed with the espn sim James Pearce Jr has been sitting there.

Is that a run to the podium pick, or is he not a fit?

I feel like his skill set has been missing, and the trade for Uche was hoping to bring that in.

I know the dudes only available because of some red flags. But I feel that’s a risk worth taking

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

The couple times I’ve messed with the espn sim James Pearce Jr has been sitting there.

Is that a run to the podium pick, or is he not a fit?

I feel like his skill set has been missing, and the trade for Uche was hoping to bring that in.

I know the dudes only available because of some red flags. But I feel that’s a risk worth taking

I really like Pearce but I think the Chiefs would pass on him.

The major issue is absolutely fit -- he's just not as sturdy as Spags likes and we're not going to put him out there as a standup backer or anything.

He's essentially a supercharged Uche and we had ZERO use for Uche. Didn't even bother trying to integrate the skill-set. I can't see them using a 1st round pick on a guy like that so quickly after very clearly and loudly signaling they aren't terribly interesting in actually using them.

And of course, the character issues seem to be a real concern.

But ultimately, as much as I like Pearce, fit is going to be a massive issue for him. And ultimately that's why he'll slide more than the character issues, IMO. I've said it for years but it's scheme versatility (or lack thereof) that creates unexpected draft slides. If you're a guy who really only fits in a specific type of defense, your pool of possible teams might only be 10 squads. And if that's the case and you're 2nd on their board, you're just gonna keep sliding.

Combine that with the fact that some of those teams may have him off their board due to character concerns and you could see a pretty massive fall.

Or he could go 8th to some team that thinks he's gonna be Parsons 2.0.

[Urc Burry]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I really like Pearce but I think the Chiefs would pass on him.

The major issue is absolutely fit -- he's just not as sturdy as Spags likes and we're not going to put him out there as a standup backer or anything.

He's essentially a supercharged Uche and we had ZERO use for Uche. Didn't even bother trying to integrate the skill-set. I can't see them using a 1st round pick on a guy like that so quickly after very clearly and loudly signaling they aren't terribly interesting in actually using them.

And of course, the character issues seem to be a real concern.

But ultimately, as much as I like Pearce, fit is going to be a massive issue for him. And ultimately that's why he'll slide more than the character issues, IMO. I've said it for years but it's scheme versatility (or lack thereof) that creates unexpected draft slides. If you're a guy who really only fits in a specific type of defense, your pool of possible teams might only be 10 squads. And if that's the case and you're 2nd on their board, you're just gonna keep sliding.

Combine that with the fact that some of those teams may have him off their board due to character concerns and you could see a pretty massive fall.

Or he could go 8th to some team that thinks he's gonna be Parsons 2.0.

Appreciate the insight. Outside of the DT and RB’s I’ve been pretty checked out this draft szn.

I’d still definitely be all for it. But I get where you’re coming from. Like the BJ Thompson pick as well. I think Spags/Veach like the idea of that skill set, but when reality comes its never worked out.

I’m just going to be so mad if we pass on him, and the Eagles pick him. I can already see it coming.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Appreciate the insight. Outside of the DT and RB’s I’ve been pretty checked out this draft szn.

I’d still definitely be all for it. But I get where you’re coming from. Like the BJ Thompson pick as well. I think Spags/Veach like the idea of that skill set, but when reality comes its never worked out.

I’m just going to be so mad if we pass on him, and the Eagles pick him. I can already see it coming.

Yeah - that seems real possible.

I hope he goes before us.

Because Nolan Smith and James Pearce screaming off the edges with Jalen Carter coming up the chute doesn't sound like much fun to me.