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2017 NFL Draft - Day 2 discussion thread

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Houston Texans: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt: A+ Grade
I have to believe the Texans think they're living in some parallel universe where every team drafts poorly, because I can't imagine they ever would've thought Zach Cunningham would be available in the second round. There was a chance Cunningham wasn't even going to be available for Houston in the first frame in an ideal world! Cunningham is a very talented linebacker, and he'll be able to replace the declining Brian Cushing. What a steal.

http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades2.php
 
I was browsing the Browns fan forums seeing what they were feeling. A few of their fans think they can go 10-6 in 2017. LOL, they will win 3 or 4 games at best. Maybe 5 but those young quarterbacks they have aren't ready yet.

Even the great Peyton Manning went 3-13 as a rookie on the 1998 Colts which was also a very bad team. It takes times to rebuild. At least two or three years. And that's if they are hitting home runs with all of these draft picks. Chances are the Browns are drafting more busts than good players in this draft.
 
Carr Bombed said:
I don't give a **** who's Cushing's replacement is right now, I want to know who's Derrick Newton's replacement, plus Duane Brown is getting long in the tooth. Address the trenches.
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Nothing wrong with getting long in the tooth.
Tom Brady has gray hairs and is still winning Super Bowls.
Bad example on my part. But offensive lineman have long careers too.
Bruce Matthews once played at a high level as a senior citizen as well.
 
Bulls on Parade said:
I was browsing the Browns fan forums seeing what they were feeling. A few of their fans think they can go 10-6 in 2017. LOL, they will win 3 or 4 games at best. Maybe 5 but those young quarterbacks they have aren't ready yet.

Even the great Peyton Manning went 3-13 as a rookie on the 1998 Colts which was also a very bad team. It takes times to rebuild. At least two or three years. And that's if they are hitting home runs with all of these draft picks. Chances are the Browns are drafting more busts than good players in this draft.
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The irony here is that the way you've carried on about our draft picks thus far, we apparently drafted two slam-dunk Hall of Famers.
 
Well I didn't think would need to wait this long addressing OL but there is one out there still that I love and best place for him to refine his tools and develop is RT. His name is Julie'n Davenport 6-7 318. Looks like a franchise LT in process.
 
Carr Bombed said:
I don't give a **** who's Cushing's replacement is right now, I want to know who's Derrick Newton's replacement, plus Duane Brown is getting long in the tooth. Address the trenches.
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It's a valid concern and the only plausible explanation is that the Texans think there's little if any difference in OT talent available in this Draft between the 2nd round and the 3rd-4th rounds. This year is really pitiful in OLine talent.
 
What he does best:

  • Outstanding thumper that loves taking on and destroying blocks from linemen, tight ends and lead blockers.
  • His size, physicality allow him to be effective in man coverage against tight ends/
  • Has the athleticism to play the run from sideline to sideline as well as get effective depth in coverage; should not come off the field.
  • Broke up seven passes on 86 targets over the last three years.
  • Doesn’t vacate gap assignments by running around blocks; willing to take on, stack and shed to the ball.
  • While he gave up 71.1 percent completions in 2016, the longest pass against him went for just 21 yards; only four of 57 career receptions against (86 targets) went longer than 20 yards.
  • Can beat blocks to the point of attack with his combination of instincts and first-step quickness.
  • Does an excellent job of finding the ball between the tackles despite constantly addressing blockers. Sifts through the trash well to get to the ball.
  • Has the prerequisite height, length and build to play inside linebacker at the next level.
Biggest concern:

  • Tries to tackle high far too often, leading to missed tackles that he is in position to finish; 21 missed tackles in 2016 led to him finishing 174th in tackling efficiency
  • Flashes ability to but does not consistently break down in space to finish; will come up out of control at times, even when taking the proper angle
  • Will at times lose his man in zone coverage by peeking in the backfield
Player comparison: Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots

Hightower is big and physical, and has the versatility to play both inside and outside. He has been a productive player for New England not just against the run, but in coverage and as a pass-rusher as well, elements that Cunningham needs to develop further for his game but has the physical and athletic capacity to do.

Bottom line:

While Cunningham’s tackling is certainly a concern, his combination of physicality and athleticism makes him a viable every-down starter at the NFL level. He flashes the ability to square up, break down and finish open-field tackles, he too often comes up high and out of control, causing him to miss. Few inside linebackers currently in the NFL have his willingness and capability to take on and shed bigger blockers at the line of scrimmage, making him a complete linebacker prospect worthy of a mid- to late-first-round pick.
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IDEXAN said:
It's a valid concern and the only plausible explanation is that the Texans think there's little if any difference in OT talent available in this Draft between the 2nd round and the 3rd-4th rounds. This year is really pitiful in OLine talent.
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Or they went BPA & will try to find some other way to address the need.
 
Cunningham is my #1 LB in the draft (yes even over Reddick & Foster). He can play anywhere in the formation and is a tackling machine with range. Great pick. Hate not getting Dawkins but you can't pass on a guy like Cunningham.
 
TheMatrix31 said:
The irony here is that the way you've carried on about our draft picks thus far, we apparently drafted two slam-dunk Hall of Famers.
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I'm excited about our first two picks. That's for sure.
But I am not making crazy record predictions.
Although if I said we'd go 10-6 in 2017 it's realistic.
Heck, we probably should go at least 11-5 even with a tough schedule.

We have a very good team in place. The major difference is our rookies can come in and learn the program. They can grow and likely win games at their own pace.

It's not unheard of for a rookie quarterback to succeed on a good team. But if it's a very bad team and that rookie QB is thrown to the wolves usually there will be major struggles and a losing record.

Like I said, even the great Peyton Manning went 3-13 as a rookie on a similarly bad Colts team in 1998. Although I'd argue that 1998 Colts team was still better than the roster the Browns have right now.

The Texans roster, as is, is good enough to give the Super Bowl champion Patriots all they could handle in that divisional round playoff loss at Foxborough. And that was with Brock Osweiler struggling and no J.J. Watt.

The Browns may win 4 or 5 games in 2017.
I'm being very generous to them. They may go 1-15 again.
I think Brock Osweiler will be their Week 1 starter. No joke.

The mood is different when a good team is drafting players.
As oppose to a bad team. You have more realistic expectations.
 
Molly did we draft with our third-round selection yet?
I'm in the other room, can't find my TV remote.
And I have the Astros game on Root Sports.
 
WolverineFan said:
Cunningham is my #1 LB in the draft (yes even over Reddick & Foster). He can play anywhere in the formation and is a tackling machine with range. Great pick. Hate not getting Dawkins but you can't pass on a guy like Cunningham.
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I don't get it. Has problems tackling & no interceptions during his career yet your favorite LB in the draft? I trust your opinion but damn.
 
beerlover said:
I don't get it. Has problems tackling & no interceptions during his career yet your favorite LB in the draft? I trust your opinion but damn.
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Second best LB in this draft. Hes a really good tackler and who cares if he gets INTs? Hes a LB. He has great recognition skills and is a sideline to sideline tackling machine. great burst to the ball!
 
beerlover said:
I don't get it. Has problems tackling & no interceptions during his career yet your favorite LB in the draft? I trust your opinion but damn.
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Great athlete with Elite instincts. Lives in the backfield with 31 TFL in 2 seasons as a starter. Sideline to sideline range to make 250 tackles in 3 years when he was literally the only guy worth blocking on Vandy's defense. I'm not worried about the ''tackling issues''. The guy made 250 tackles. He can clearly tackle. IMO the inconsistency is almost 100% derived from his lack of lower body strength. Get him in an NFL weight room and put Mike Vrabel in his face and he will beef up that lower body.

Get that play strength up to go along with those instincts and we have a heat seeking missile in our front seven. I will add that I don't think he's as good in coverage as he's getting credit for. He's solid. He can hang with TE's and RB's in routes but he doesn't make many plays on the ball.
 
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