AFC North Post-Draft Musings

Every year, while soaking in the aftermath of the NFL Draft, fans and pundits offer no shortage of impressions of their team’s assorted draft successes or failures.  We’ve all run across the moldy, unfortunate YouTube clips of fans lamenting picks in real time, like this shiny, very funny example.

It’s pretty common knowledge that most draft classes can’t be accurately evaluated immediately, as players develop at different levels and display known and new traits at varying times throughout their respective careers.  “Three years” has become a commonly-accepted period in which a moratorium on draft judgment is more or less expected.

But that sure doesn’t stop folks from trying.

Witness the tenured CEO of Bad Takes, Inc., more commonly known as podcaster and former ESPN and Fox Sports punching bag Skip Bayless, whose well-publicized shouting matches have become a source of endless online embarrassment. His reaction to the Raiders’ snubbing of QB prospect Shedeur Sanders, and specifically former QB Tom Brady, continued his trend of abysmally poor impressions.

Never mind that 30 other teams did exactly what the Raiders did, as Sanders’ slide was finally stymied by the Browns in the fifth round.

Sanders and his dubious draft selection didn’t break just Bayless though.  Here’s analyst and Draftnik Mel Kiper Jr.’s meltdown – and yes, it rises to the level of “meltdown” – on ESPN.

Kiper’s juvenile outburst marked a career low, because, as loquacious as he is, Kiper’s track record in evaluating QBs is suspect at best and downright terrible at worst. This is, after all, the guy that compared notorious QB bust Jamarcus Russell, in pre-draft chatter, to Hall of Fame QB John Elway.  Let’s just say Kiper has little to stand on here.

Other than the Sanders debacle, this draft was relatively quiet and uncontroversial.  Our AFC North teams seem to have followed their draft boards, more or less.  Given the tone of post-draft coverage, it appears overall impressions of the Bengals draft are poor, with the aforementioned Mel Kiper Jr. deeming their efforts “the worst draft” of the 32 teams, yet even he gave them a “C”.

Other draft notes:

• The Ravens invited some scrutiny with their selection of Marshall Edge rusher Mike Green with their second round pick. Green was widely considered a first-round talent who fell due to character concerns stemming from multiple sexual assault allegations.
• The Ravens drafted a placekicker for their first time in franchise history (Arizona’s Tyler Loop), which doesn’t bode well for embattled incumbent Justin Tucker, who’s currently facing numerous sexual assault allegations of his own.
• The Steelers had an excellent draft, although opinions are mixed regarding their selection of Ohio State QB Will Howard in the sixth round over the oft-discussed, controversial Sanders.  No one denies Pittsburgh needed to add a QB, but one with a bit more of an NFL pedigree was expected.
• The #1 pick for the Steelers, DL Derrick Harmon, appears to be (at least in post-draft glow) exactly what the team needed in the wake of aging incumbent DL Cam Heyward’s hint at retirement soon.  Harmon is being compared to Heyward positively in many forums.
• For all the focus on their selection of Sanders, the Browns had an otherwise very good draft, per most publications.  If anything, their selection of QB Dillon Gabriel prior to Sanders was their biggest head-scratcher.  It will be fascinating to see how the Browns sort out their suddenly-crowded QB room going forward.
• The Browns may have found a real gem in their second round selection of UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger, who figures to play everywhere in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme, but may be kept inside early as LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah continues his recovery from a neck injury.
• The Bengals puzzled many with their selection of Texas A&M Edge rusher Shemar Stewart.  While his physical traits are undeniable, Stewart’s college career produced a total of 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles – not exactly a sterling resume.
• The rest of the Bengals draft is documented here.  Was it the worst?  Decide for yourself.

Next time.