I think you need your first three draft picks to be your best players early on in their careers.
So if we look at the last few years:
2024. - D at this point, and if Morgan and Lloyd develop a B but now, incomplete
- Round 1, Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
- obviously we're hoping for big things but nothing thus far
- Round 2, Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M - excellent first year
- Round 2, Pick 58: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia - good at times needs to improve
- Round 3, Pick 88: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC - nobody knows
- Round 3, Pick 91: Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri - MEH
2023 NFL Draft. D+
- Round 1: Lucas Van Ness - Bad,
yes he had a broken thumb, and probably a crappy coach. Nevertheless his creativity and production was underwhelming
- Round 2, Pick 50: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State - Decent
- Round 2, Pick 62: Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State - injuries have hurt his development but I see him as below average at best
- Round 3, Pick 78: Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State - a great pick
2022 NFL Draft. - C at best
- Round 1, Pick 22: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia - performing more like a fourth or fifth rounder in my opinion. they declined to pick up his fifth year option which tells you a lot
- Round 2, Pick 34: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State - injuries but not great consistent performance when healthy..
- Round 2, Pick 53: Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA - a decent to possibly good pick. We shall see
- Round 3, Pick 92: Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest - a great pick
I think the composite score here is not terribly strong. I think Gutey get a C on an absolute ranking in a D if you grade on a curve.
The net is, to Bboystyle's point, we have to do a hell of a lot better on our early pics if we are going to be competitive