The 2024 Draft

[bearsoldier]

We need an upgrade at Punter. Tory Taylor is really an interesting prospect at 26yrs with only 3 years of American football experience.

Currently ranked as the #2 punter prospect on Walter football...

https://walterfootball.com/draft2024PU.php


Tory Taylor, P, Iowa
Height: 6-4. Weight: 231.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.

11/25/23: So far this year, Taylor has averaged 48.2 yards per punt and booted a long of 62. He has 27 punts placed inside the 20.

7/14/23: In 2022, Taylor averaged 45.4 yards per punt with a long of 70. In 2021, he averaged 46.1 yards per punt with a long of 69 yards. Taylor averaged 44.1 yards per punt in 2020.

[southdakbearfan]

Matt Araiza is a free agent.

[wab]

I like that McNamara dude from A&M too.

[bearsoldier]

I like that McNamara dude from A&M too.

He would be an improvement over Trenton Gill.

https://bnbfootball.com/2024-nfl-draft/punter-rankings/

Austin McNamara 2023 Stats
46.3 yards per punt, 24 inside 20 yard line, 7 touchbacks, 49.1% fair catches forced, 59 long, 81.8% unreturnable punts

1. Austin McNamara, Texas Tech
P | 6’4″ | 195 lbs | 5th Year

Austin McNamara has a powerful leg with a vicious punting motion. He kicks the ball with aggression, but has still shown excellent placement on his kicks. He’s improved his mechanics over his 5 year career as a starter, and has done a nice job of converting his distance into hangtime. McNamara has good size at 6’4″”, and it doesn’t slow him down in his punting motion.

McNamara has shown in the past that he can average an impressive yard per punt number (48.2 in 2021), but has instead transitioned his power into elite hangtime. McNamara only allowed returns on 18% of his punts this past season, by far the best percentage for any punter averaging over 45 yards per punt.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

But WHAT to call him?

“Uber-punt”
“Leggy McLegface”.

[Moriarty]

Both guys are 6'3+
Punters are getting enormous

I want to see them start headhunting 5'9 returners for daring to break a return on their kicks

[wulfy]

Tory Taylor was one of the few weapons for Iowa.

[Rusty Trombagent]

Tory Taylor was one of the few weapons for Iowa.

I'm worried there's not enough tread left on those tires

[wulfy]

Tory Taylor was one of the few weapons for Iowa.

I'm worried there's not enough tread left on those tires

No kidding - dude punted 93 times last year. 13 more than the next closest guy (from Navy). Average NCAA punts about 55 to 60 times a year.

[Bearfacts]

The majority believe Poles will not trade down and that he will draft CW. While I haven't personally ruled out a trade I also wouldn't put any money on it. It's clear we're drafting a QB and if you have the top pick and that top pick is a consensus #1 QB with your team as well you draft him and that's that.

That leaves Poles with pick #9 to play deal or no deal with. The podcasters are already on it and other talking heads will soon follow suit so is it also time for us to think on it as well? If Poles does trade down he'll need roughly 200 points for a mid 3rd and 400 points for a mid 2nd. That says LV at #13 or JAX at #17.

So if we're up for it we can begin to talk about what strategy Poles might use here.

[Otis Day]

If there is a bonafide stud, at whatever position, you take him. A can't miss, play from day one stud, would be a hard pass from me. Quantity doesn't always equate to quality.

[wab]

I think it depends on the board. I think Poles will go into it wanting to trade down into the teens in order to pick up a R2, but it there's someone there who is at the top of his board, he will take him.

[Yogi da Bear]

I think it's got to be a DE. From my mocks that I've done, both Verse and Latu fall in the 14-17 range, but I think that the position is such a huge need that we can't risk it. I expect he'll get one or the other at #9. It would not shock me at all if Poles came out of the draft with only four picks.

[The Marshall Plan]

BPA DL all the way.

Latu, Verse, Newton I don’t care.

[The Marshall Plan]

I think it's got to be a DE. From my mocks that I've done, both Verse and Latu fall in the 14-17 range, but I think that the position is such a huge need that we can't risk it. I expect he'll get one or the other at #9. It would not shock me at all if Poles came out of the draft with only four picks.

I wholeheartedly agree.

We are SO damn close to having a great team on paper.

This defense is one guy away. That second pass rusher.

It changes everything. We would have a top 10 defense easily.

That top 10 defense then becomes Caleb’s best friend. Those extra 15 yards or so of shorter fields turn scoreless drives into points and that same defense gives the offense latitude in their playcalling and opens it up.

[dplank]

The majority believe Poles will not trade down and that he will draft CW. While I haven't personally ruled out a trade I also wouldn't put any money on it. It's clear we're drafting a QB and if you have the top pick and that top pick is a consensus #1 QB with your team as well you draft him and that's that.

That leaves Poles with pick #9 to play deal or no deal with. The podcasters are already on it and other talking heads will soon follow suit so is it also time for us to think on it as well? If Poles does trade down he'll need roughly 200 points for a mid 3rd and 400 points for a mid 2nd. That says LV at #13 or JAX at #17.

So if we're up for it we can begin to talk about what strategy Poles might use here.

Yea my head has already started thinking about this, needed 48 hours but I'm ready. So please don't take any of these comments as sour grapes or anything about Poles not doing what I wanted him to do, I'm just looking at "where we are now" and I see a couple issues he needs to navigate.

1. We lost Justin Jones, Ngakoue and Greene on the DL and replaced Greene I guess with a similar mid guy to eat snaps. But we have needs at both DT and DE to fill.
2. I still see WR as a big problem looming for us, as DJ has 2 years before UFA and Allen just 1. And we have, IMO nothing behind them as Scott and Velus don't look like players. We are set for 2024 for sure, best WR group since Marshall/Jeffery, but beyond that looks dire so I want to add a high quality WR in the draft.
3. We also have a depth problem at T, where we are 1 injury away from having to put Borom back out there. Jones will be due an extension after this season also so the "2 cheap T's" scenario will end unless we re-draft into this position ahead of schedule.

So I can see DE, DT, WR, and T as all viable for #9. I'm assuming now that we are taking CW at #1, and because we didn't trade that for a haul I don't see how Poles accomplishes this without a trade down as we just lack picks in this draft. Of course he can trade down from #9, but once you start dropping out of those top 10 picks the talent really starts to fade and we'd be plugging these holes with lesser talent.

[HurricaneBear]

If Nabers is there I grab him and give Chicago the best offense it's ever seen.

[G08]

WR/DE/OL, in no particular order.

If Rome Odunze is there, I can't imagine bypassing him (even with Moore and Allen on the roster already). Would ostensibly make us an 11 personnel unit in the future, but that's not a problem.

Dallas Turner and Jared Verse would look quite good across from Montez Sweat, and if Gervon Dexter takes a step this season you're looking at a nasty fucking front four.

OL could be the move as well but I feel that they truly like Braxton Jones at LT and aren't in a rush to supplant him.


If Odunze and Turner are gone... do you risk trading down and hope Verse or an OL you like is still there? That's where it gets convoluted.

[southdakbearfan]

Trade down, grab a couple extra picks. Snag best DL or OL after trade down.

[The Marshall Plan]

If Nabers is there I grab him and give Chicago the best offense it's ever seen.

This is so damn appealing.

Can you imagine if we give that kid Moore, Allen, Nabers and Kmet?

lol. Shit.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

and Everett
and Swift

We have a don’t have the holes we used to have, I don’t think we need 8 draft picks.
We need quality not quantity.
We have some cap space if some holes persist.

If we draft 4 players I’m comfortable with that.

[Arkansasbear]

If Nabers is there I grab him and give Chicago the best offense it's ever seen.

This is so damn appealing.

Can you imagine if we give that kid Moore, Allen, Nabers and Kmet?

lol. Shit.

Dear I say it - Super Duper Offensive.

[The Cooler King]

Presuming at least 3 QBs and MHJ go before 9, you could make a case now to build a top 5.

So unless Poles next top "cloud" is only 4 or less, he could narrow it down to a few options in coming weeks.

Before I thought he may trade down, but now I thinking that he won't baring a scenario where someone is way overpaying to trade up for a QB.

Even with Allen, Odunze seems an ready choice if he's there. Nabers should on tape/ability basis, but sounds like character concerns could be legit.

The OT - who knows, wouldn't put it past Poles. DE or DT are easily needs so it's an easy argument. And slight chance you could get choice of top defender.

[crueltyabc]

Nabers is so special that I'd challenge the coaches to deal with whatever perceived diva-ness he has. The WRs we have right now are rock-solid all-business guys who will definitely help.

Odunze is a little less special IMO but he's a great fit to a group that could use a tall ball-winner.

The OT question is interesting to me because you're making a draft pick to put a talented player on the bench. With WR and DL you can find them snaps for sure but I think Braxton is pretty good and has the benefit of years of experience in the league. For me, OT is the choice only if you trade back and something crazy happens where the board doesn't fall your way. The dlinemen are good enough that I would take one instead of a OT in most cases. I've got to watch some tape and figure out who I like from the EDGE and 3T prospects who make sense to me if Nabers and Odunze aren't there. Maybe one of them will look like a #9 pick to me? I kinda doubt it considering how few of the draftniks have more than 1 or 2 defenders of any kind in the top 10. It feels safe to trade back to the early teens and expect to get a guy.

[HurricaneBear]

Nabers should on tape/ability basis, but sounds like character concerns could be legit.

What are the concerns? I was so focused on MHJ pre Fields trade that I did not look deep into Nabers outside oogling his speed.

[IotaNet]

I dunno. This draft is so deep at WR, I think we could trade back a little (maybe 3-4 spots), pick up an excellent WR and also snag Latu. I understand the medical concerns, but some are calling him the most "finished" DE in the draft. If Poles likes the medicals and is convinced that the kid wants to play, I say we roll the dice.

From there, we load up on OT prospects and call it a draft.

[RichH55]

I dunno. This draft is so deep at WR, I think we could trade back a little (maybe 3-4 spots), pick up an excellent WR and also snag Latu. I understand the medical concerns, but some are calling him the most "finished" DE in the draft. If Poles likes the medicals and is convinced that the kid wants to play, I say we roll the dice.

From there, we load up on OT prospects and call it a draft.

This is almost exactly where I'm at

I do note one thing - if the monster Texas DT slides and is sitting there later 2nd (especially early 3rd) - You need to find a way to come away with him.

It's a luxury pick - but what a luxury

[malagabears]

Nabers is so special that I'd challenge the coaches to deal with whatever perceived diva-ness he has. The WRs we have right now are rock-solid all-business guys who will definitely help.

Odunze is a little less special IMO but he's a great fit to a group that could use a tall ball-winner.

The OT question is interesting to me because you're making a draft pick to put a talented player on the bench. With WR and DL you can find them snaps for sure but I think Braxton is pretty good and has the benefit of years of experience in the league. For me, OT is the choice only if you trade back and something crazy happens where the board doesn't fall your way. The dlinemen are good enough that I would take one instead of a OT in most cases. I've got to watch some tape and figure out who I like from the EDGE and 3T prospects who make sense to me if Nabers and Odunze aren't there. Maybe one of them will look like a #9 pick to me? I kinda doubt it considering how few of the draftniks have more than 1 or 2 defenders of any kind in the top 10. It feels safe to trade back to the early teens and expect to get a guy.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

My thoughts on 9: (assumption is that Williams, Maye, Daniels, and MHJ will all be gone by 9)

If one of these two drop to 9 I'm running the card to the commissioner.

1. Rome Odunze
2. Malik Nabers

If those two are gone then I'd trade down if possible. If a trade down can't/won't materialize then I'd consider the next three.

3. Joe Alt
4. Brock Bowers
5. Byron Murphy



If they're able to trade 9 and drop down to the back half of the middle of the first round 15-20:

1. Laiatu Latu
2. Jared Verse
3. Jackson Powers Johnson
4. Troy Fautunu
5. Chop Robinson

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I dunno. This draft is so deep at WR, I think we could trade back a little (maybe 3-4 spots), pick up an excellent WR and also snag Latu. I understand the medical concerns, but some are calling him the most "finished" DE in the draft. If Poles likes the medicals and is convinced that the kid wants to play, I say we roll the dice.

From there, we load up on OT prospects and call it a draft.

This is almost exactly where I'm at

I do note one thing - if the monster Texas DT slides and is sitting there later 2nd (especially early 3rd) - You need to find a way to come away with him.

It's a luxury pick - but what a luxury

Huge Texas fan here - saw every game he played at Texas and a few of his high school games. Has always been a great talent but this year he was forced to step up as a Super-Senior and he finally put it all together. I love the idea of using whatever capital we get from a trade down at 9 to grab Sweat with a late 2nd. Also a huge fan of Byron Murphy and wouldn't hate the idea of grabbing him as our 3-tech.