Please enjoy this free edition of the Scouting Notebook. If you like what you see, please consider supporting The Draft Scout with a subscription. The San Francisco 49ers trade up to No. 3 overall roughly 10 days ago sent a minor shockwave through the world of the NFL. Especially once news started to circulate from those well-connected around the league that the 49ers trade up wasn’t for Justin Fields or Trey Lance but for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.
Matt don’t u see the landscape for QBs changing like Mahomes an Allen they are what u draft for when picking 3 not playing it safe with Mac Jones Just like in the NBA Steph Curry changed the game these QBs have the traits to be Game Changers Fields An Lance with Shanahan being a genius he is I just feel like u got Rosen why not go get a Game Changer cause every Defensive Coordinator wants u to pick Mac Jones they are scared at what Fields or Lance could become. if Shanahan can really coach up a young QB Jed should make him prove it since he gave up all them picks Fields would go First Overall in any other draft it just doesn’t make sense to give up that much for Mac Jones that has no elite traits that u covet when u pick this high
Kuechly is being touted by some as a top-15 player. It doesn't show up on film. Instead, the All-American looks like a third-rounder. And that's on a good day.
Kuechly does nothing particularly well, other than rack up tackles credited to him by a university employee who has everything to gain by giving the tackles to the one marquee player on the defense—a rampant issue in every stadium across the country.
Take away the gaudy tackle numbers and what's left? Not much, honestly. Kuechly is an average athlete with good vision, but poor strength and no ability to work off blockers.
I don't doubt that teams could be interested in Pitts, but who could possibly be trading up to take him? The Cowboys? Chargers? Anything past that might be too much capital to give up for a non-QB.
Matt, why do you have Fields dropping lower than Lance? Kyle Shanahan is a phenomenal offensive coordinator and head coach, but opting for Mac Jones is right in character for the guy who traded up for QB CJ Beathard in the third, insisted on drafting RB Joe Williams in the 4th round after he had quit college football and never played a down in the NFL, and traded up for Dante Pettis in the 2nd, spent a small fortune on Tevin Coleman and Jerrick McKinnon while letting Matt Breida walk. Bill Walsh made mistakes, like James Owens and Renaldo Neimiah, but Kyle’s mistakes are next level - right Falcons fans?
Matt, I’m wondering why Landon Dickerson is consistently mocked in the first round. Every one of his college seasons ended with a catastrophic injury. If he can’t stay healthy in college, there’s no reason to think he’ll do so as a pro. Netane Muti slipped to the sixth round. Even if Dickerson is a better prospect, doesn’t it stand to reason that he’d slid as well, particularly this year, when teams won’t have complete health information?
Great work Matt!!! You really see AVT dropping to the bottom half of the 1st round? Seems like the hype was louder earlier in the process. If he does it would be hard to see Joe D pass on him with the #23 pick.
Matt don’t u see the landscape for QBs changing like Mahomes an Allen they are what u draft for when picking 3 not playing it safe with Mac Jones Just like in the NBA Steph Curry changed the game these QBs have the traits to be Game Changers Fields An Lance with Shanahan being a genius he is I just feel like u got Rosen why not go get a Game Changer cause every Defensive Coordinator wants u to pick Mac Jones they are scared at what Fields or Lance could become. if Shanahan can really coach up a young QB Jed should make him prove it since he gave up all them picks Fields would go First Overall in any other draft it just doesn’t make sense to give up that much for Mac Jones that has no elite traits that u covet when u pick this high
Healthy McCaffrey back in No. 5? Teddy loses his starting spot and his number...
Dude you wrote this ... I realize that you have gotten better in scouting since then, but still how could you write this about Luke Kuechly 😳
https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1031882-luke-kuechly-2012-nfl-draft-scouting-report.amp.html
Kuechly is being touted by some as a top-15 player. It doesn't show up on film. Instead, the All-American looks like a third-rounder. And that's on a good day.
Kuechly does nothing particularly well, other than rack up tackles credited to him by a university employee who has everything to gain by giving the tackles to the one marquee player on the defense—a rampant issue in every stadium across the country.
Take away the gaudy tackle numbers and what's left? Not much, honestly. Kuechly is an average athlete with good vision, but poor strength and no ability to work off blockers.
I don't doubt that teams could be interested in Pitts, but who could possibly be trading up to take him? The Cowboys? Chargers? Anything past that might be too much capital to give up for a non-QB.
I’d love seeing players rocking the college style numbers! Gotta love a kicker wearing #97
Matt, why do you have Fields dropping lower than Lance? Kyle Shanahan is a phenomenal offensive coordinator and head coach, but opting for Mac Jones is right in character for the guy who traded up for QB CJ Beathard in the third, insisted on drafting RB Joe Williams in the 4th round after he had quit college football and never played a down in the NFL, and traded up for Dante Pettis in the 2nd, spent a small fortune on Tevin Coleman and Jerrick McKinnon while letting Matt Breida walk. Bill Walsh made mistakes, like James Owens and Renaldo Neimiah, but Kyle’s mistakes are next level - right Falcons fans?
Denzel Mims wearing 5 again would be dope!
Matt, I’m wondering why Landon Dickerson is consistently mocked in the first round. Every one of his college seasons ended with a catastrophic injury. If he can’t stay healthy in college, there’s no reason to think he’ll do so as a pro. Netane Muti slipped to the sixth round. Even if Dickerson is a better prospect, doesn’t it stand to reason that he’d slid as well, particularly this year, when teams won’t have complete health information?
How likely do you think it is Carolina trades back now that they’re not looking for a qb?
Great work Matt!!! You really see AVT dropping to the bottom half of the 1st round? Seems like the hype was louder earlier in the process. If he does it would be hard to see Joe D pass on him with the #23 pick.
If a team were to trade up to 4, which teams do you envision? Broncos, Patriots, or Bears is what I’m thinking