Draft grades

I give the draft a B- because I think we wasted the 3rd round pick on a guy that will add no value to the team in the first 2-3 years.

Payne is going to be a very good player but I think James and Edmunds have much higher upsides and play positions of need for us. I would've preferred to go with a skill position at 13.

Trading down and getting Guice was an "A" move. Great value pick at a position of need. The kid worries me a bit but hopefully he can figure things out and dominate for us.

I don't get the 3rd round pick. This team needs to draft starters and you should be able to find a guy to help out at Guard, ILB, or TE in this spot.
This could've been a day 1 starter if things worked out. We don't have time to experiment with guys at guard, we needed to draft one even if it's a reach.

I like the Apke and Stroman picks, they can make special teams better right away. Apke has elite athleticism, hopefully he is a bit crazy and willing to make special teams coverage his thing.
Stroman returned kicks at Virginia. He should be able to takeover Crowders return duties.


I change my grade to a solid B.
They have two starters and two special teams players that will contribute week 1.

Definitely, tough to play guard at his height

Anyone remember the Todd Wade experiment at guard? Same situation, big tall dude, fine for a tackle, couldn’t cut it at guard

WOW I forgot about him.
He couldn't move anyone off the line!

Low man wins in the trenches.

I give the draft a B- because I think we wasted the 3rd round pick on a guy that will add no value to the team in the first 2-3 years.

Payne is going to be a very good player but I think James and Edmunds have much higher upsides and play positions of need for us. I would've preferred to go with a skill position at 13.

Trading down and getting Guice was an "A" move. Great value pick at a position of need. The kid worries me a bit but hopefully he can figure things out and dominate for us.

I don't get the 3rd round pick. This team needs to draft starters and you should be able to find a guy to help out at Guard, ILB, or TE in this spot.
This could've been a day 1 starter if things worked out. We don't have time to experiment with guys at guard, we needed to draft one even if it's a reach.

I like the Apke and Stroman picks, they can make special teams better right away. Apke has elite athleticism, hopefully he is a bit crazy and willing to make special teams coverage his thing.
Stroman returned kicks at Virginia Tech. He should be able to takeover Crowders return duties.


I change my grade to a solid B.
They have two starters and two special teams players that will contribute week 1.

whoa, had to fix that for ya Jamf...that's kinda a big deal.

Always good analysis, but I think the swing OT pick in was a smart pick. They really like him a lot and our depth kinda stinks. Also...and Im not stating anytime soon, but this could be a move seen as a possible replacement for either of the starters. I think the Tackle pick in the 3rd says they think his potential is more than just depth.


Stroman really improved his game...it took a major jump last year...he turned into a really strong player. And remember, Coach Torian Gray recruited him and coached for a couple years at Va Tech. I think PFF had Stroman as one of the top CB in the stat when "thrown against" had one of the least caught percentages in the country. Stroman pick wasn't just some throw away, special teamer...I think they want to get a look at him in coverage. Found the stat: •Made a play on the ball on almost 37 percent of his targets over last two years and allowed just 25.6 percent completion rate this year.

Stroman has a slot corner make up...with Fuller gone, we got an opening there.

I think there’s a lot of value in a swing tackle considering Trent and Morgan are both coming off injury riddled seasons

I was not a fan of the 3rd round tackle but am coming around. It's drafting for a future need. I get that and assume that the LG position will come around.

2. Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech

Playmaker index: 27.7 percent (13 PD+INT, 47 targets)



The least-targeted on this list, Stroman absolutely locked down his receivers in 2017 for that vaunted Hokie defense. By season’s end, Stroman actually combined for more plays on the ball (13) than he allowed receptions (12) all season long. Those 12 receptions allowed include three in his final game against Oklahoma State as he still allowed a career-low 25.5 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught on the season.

Stroman has everything NFL brass should be looking for: size, speed, length, ball skills, awareness, etc. and he should make for one durable cornerback with a proven knack for finding the football. He finished his career in Blacksburg with 31 total plays on the ball and allowed only 41.9 percent of his 124 targeted passes to be caught over four years.


This is PFF pre draft write up on Stroman as no 2 on their list of CB Playmakers.

Stroman is known as a ball hawk...he will get a lot hands on passes and likes to undercut throws looking for the big play

Tampa Bay Buccaneers investigating threatening tweets directed toward GM Jason Licht (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23366481/tampa-bay-buccaneers-investigating-threatening-tweets-directed-gm-jason-licht)

what an idiot lol

This Trey Quinn kid looks pretty damn good too

Plus, he's a known commodity to Torrian Gray--VTech pipeline working.

One thing I like about this draft is that it gives our good development coaches excellent raw material to work with. Better, younger, faster, fatter!

2. Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech

Playmaker index: 27.7 percent (13 PD+INT, 47 targets)



The least-targeted on this list, Stroman absolutely locked down his receivers in 2017 for that vaunted Hokie defense. By season’s end, Stroman actually combined for more plays on the ball (13) than he allowed receptions (12) all season long. Those 12 receptions allowed include three in his final game against Oklahoma State as he still allowed a career-low 25.5 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught on the season.

Stroman has everything NFL brass should be looking for: size, speed, length, ball skills, awareness, etc. and he should make for one durable cornerback with a proven knack for finding the football. He finished his career in Blacksburg with 31 total plays on the ball and allowed only 41.9 percent of his 124 targeted passes to be caught over four years.


This is PFF pre draft write up on Stroman as no 2 on their list of CB Playmakers.

Stroman is known as a ball hawk...he will get a lot hands on passes and likes to undercut throws looking for the big play

2. Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech

Playmaker index: 27.7 percent (13 PD+INT, 47 targets)



The least-targeted on this list, Stroman absolutely locked down his receivers in 2017 for that vaunted Hokie defense. By season’s end, Stroman actually combined for more plays on the ball (13) than he allowed receptions (12) all season long. Those 12 receptions allowed include three in his final game against Oklahoma State as he still allowed a career-low 25.5 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught on the season.

Stroman has everything NFL brass should be looking for: size, speed, length, ball skills, awareness, etc. and he should make for one durable cornerback with a proven knack for finding the football. He finished his career in Blacksburg with 31 total plays on the ball and allowed only 41.9 percent of his 124 targeted passes to be caught over four years.


This is PFF pre draft write up on Stroman as no 2 on their list of CB Playmakers.

Stroman is known as a ball hawk...he will get a lot hands on passes and likes to undercut throws looking for the big play

So why did he fall to so late?

edit: Looked it up:
Sources Tell Us

"I worry more about how he will hold up as an NFL tackler because of how thin he is. I'm not worried about the coverage part at all. He's been challenged by big guys, fast guys and big fast guys in that conference and he's done really well against all of them." -- former NFL defensive backs coach