I have noticed the growing interest in spring football, most notably the UFL. While it is good to have some kind of football, for others, it’s not the same. That’s why this weekend is important for many fans.
That’s right, for all you football fans out there, I’m talking about Draft Day! The time of year when the newest class of hopeful future NFL stars find out what team they’ll start their career with. There is a lot of uncertainty in this year’s draft, and many different mock drafts out there. That’s why I’m here to give you my take on what to expect for this year’s draft!
NO SURPRISE WITH THE FIRST PICK
The only thing I can truly guarantee is who will be picked first: Fernando Mendoza. No one can seem to find any reason why the Las Vegas Raiders won’t pick him with the No. 1 pick. He made the best case possible last season with Indiana: Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion. Considering how bad the Raiders’ offense was last season, they can’t afford to miss out on a quarterback (again) in the draft. The idea of Mendoza commanding an offense with rising stars Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers should give everyone goosebumps.
UNCERTAINTY IS DEFINITELY CERTAIN
There is no major consensus among the “experts” about what is going to happen after the No. 1 pick. The number of different mock drafts out there is nuts. I can tell you what the problem is. A majority of teams need a new quarterback, and there are no quarterbacks in this year’s draft after Mendoza that can turn around any offense. So, we are going to be in the dark about this year’s first round until AFTER the No. 2 pick is made. I can also say this: this year…NFL teams are playing their cards pretty close to the vest.
POTENTIAL BLOCK BUSTER TRADE ON THE HORIZON
Sources are saying that the Philadelphia Eagles are open to trading star wide receiver AJ Brown. The strongest contender to get him appears to be the New England Patriots. After an embarrassing outing in this year’s Super Bowl, the Patriots clearly needed an upgrade at offense. I’m not convinced that Drake Maye is still the guy, but with little quarterbacks in this draft class, the Patriots need to find other upgrades. Brown would definitely be a big boost in the offense for the Patriots as they seek their first Super Bowl title in the post-Tom Brady era.
LOCAL INTEL
So, I’m sure Los Angeles fans reading this wants to know what the Rams and the Chargers are planning to do in this year’s draft. The Rams already used their pick, the No. 29 pick, to trade for Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. But the Rams still have the No. 13 pick they got from the Atlanta Falcons. So, what will they do? Word is that the Rams want to add another receiver to create a truly intimidating offense to challenge the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. One viable option is Makai Lemon, wide receiver from one of the places I used to call home: the Trojans of USC. The word is that the Rams can smell a Super Bowl title, and this year’s draft is all about making that a reality.
As for the Chargers, every draft guru says they should go for or will get help on defense. That thinking is WRONG! Justin Herbert has the potential to be the best quarterback in the NFL on his best day. But there is no way on God’s green earth that he can keep taking this kind of punishment with a flimsy offensive line. The line is shot, and they need reinforcements. They also need better weapons for Herbert to throw to. Ladd McConkey is good, but he’s not “the guy.” Don’t be fooled by McConkey’s numbers: they’re inflated because Herbert has no one to throw it to. If this is another failed year for the Chargers, I will be shocked if the Chargers’ GM doesn’t lose his job. (Hey, if they need a new GM…you can Talk to Me…that was for you readers wondering when I would drop a Stevie Nicks reference.)
The first round of the draft is Thursday, April 23 at 5PM PDT live from Pittsburg, the home of the Steelers. You can watch it on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network, or any place you can stream it.
