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Is this the worst "elite" group of prospects in some time?


RaidersAreOne

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Looking at previous draft classes and comparing them to this one, I can't help but think how lame the top tier of prospects is.

2019:

  • Nick Bosa
  • Quinnen Williams
  • Ed Oliver
  • Devin White
  • Josh Allen

2020:

  • Chase Young
  • Joe Burrow
  • Isaiah Simmons
  • Derrick Brown
  • Tua Tagovailoa

2021:

  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Ja'Marr Chase
  • Penei Sewell
  • Kyle Pitts
  • Patrick Surtain

2022:

  • Aidan Hutchinson
  • Sauce Gardner
  • Kayvon Thibodeaux
  • Kyle Hamilton

2023:

  • Bryce Young
  • Bijan Robinson
  • Will Anderson Jr
  • C.J. Stroud
  • Jalen Carter
  • Devon Witherspoon

2024:

  • Caleb Williams
  • Jayden Daniels
  • Drake Maye
  • Harvin Harrison Jr.
  • Joe Alt
  • Brock Bowers

2025:

  • Travis Hunter
  • Ashton Jeanty
  • Shedear Sanders?
  • Cam Ward?
  • Mason Graham?
  • Abdul Carter?

Am I wrong for thinking this is a lame year to land a top 5 pick? The QB class stinks and the only other "blue chip" guys seem to be Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty?

 

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4 hours ago, RaidersAreOne said:

Looking at previous draft classes and comparing them to this one, I can't help but think how lame the top tier of prospects is.

2019:

  • Nick Bosa
  • Quinnen Williams
  • Ed Oliver
  • Devin White
  • Josh Allen

2020:

  • Chase Young
  • Joe Burrow
  • Isaiah Simmons
  • Derrick Brown
  • Tua Tagovailoa

2021:

  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Ja'Marr Chase
  • Penei Sewell
  • Kyle Pitts
  • Patrick Surtain

2022:

  • Aidan Hutchinson
  • Sauce Gardner
  • Kayvon Thibodeaux
  • Kyle Hamilton

2023:

  • Bryce Young
  • Bijan Robinson
  • Will Anderson Jr
  • C.J. Stroud
  • Jalen Carter
  • Devon Witherspoon

2024:

  • Caleb Williams
  • Jayden Daniels
  • Drake Maye
  • Harvin Harrison Jr.
  • Joe Alt
  • Brock Bowers

2025:

  • Travis Hunter
  • Ashton Jeanty
  • Shedear Sanders?
  • Cam Ward?
  • Mason Graham?
  • Abdul Carter?

Am I wrong for thinking this is a lame year to land a top 5 pick? The QB class stinks and the only other "blue chip" guys seem to be Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty?

 

I think you're wrong.  Most of those draft classes that had "top" prospects but look at them now.  At least 40-60 percent of those top players are average to below average players now.

It's cool to over hype players but every draft class will have really good prospects.  2025 is a strong class with Sanders and Ward as the top QBs.  They aren't the "traditional QBs" most grew up wanting on their teams.  Mike Mayock introduced so much bias and poor scouting terms that many are quietly moving on from.  The game changes so expect differently from your team building aspects.

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5 hours ago, armsteeld said:

I think you're wrong.  Most of those draft classes that had "top" prospects but look at them now.  At least 40-60 percent of those top players are average to below average players now.

I can't stand when people conflate what a player is as a prospect with what they become as players.



To add to what RaidersAreOne posted up top:

in 2020: Herbert and Okudah really did belong at the top of those rankings as well
in 2021: Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were there, Surtain wasn't quite the top 5 can't miss type back then though
in 2022: Add Stingley and Travon Walker
in 2023: Devon Witherspoon was a good prospect, but not "elite", wasn't even consensus CB1, a lot of people preferred Christian Gonzalez
in 2024: agree

 

But yes, all in all, this really does feel like a weak draft at the very top. Most of the guys on the list there that are the highest ranked, feel like in most years 6-10 range guys.

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You are probably right that the top 5 isn't as strong as it was the last few years but there's still quality prospects that are going to be real good ball players. 
Mason Graham and Will Johnson are blue chip prospects IMO, as are Jeanty and Hunter. 
I think Cam Ward is a great prospect and will do good in the NFL, even if he probably would've been drafted QB4 in 2024 and QB3 in 2023. 
Looks to me like a decent top 5 even if it's not up to 23'-24' standards 

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2 hours ago, goldfishwars said:

I don't think it's landed yet how good he is, despite the class being otherwise weak at the top

As someone that was very high on Ashton Jeanty even before his historic season this year, it’s wild to me that he is hardly even using his full skill set this year. Boise State has barely utilized his pass catching versatility this season, which was one of the bigger factors in me being high on him as a prospect prior to this year. 

In other words, I fully expect his buzz to shoot up even more once he goes to offseason workouts at the combine/pro day and makes some noise with his ability to also be a pass catching threat. What he’s doing running the ball this year is obviously insane. 

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