The Way Too Early Grade The Draft Thread

[Attyla]

D+ we did not get our number one WR LOL

Actually, I like this draft, Spytek moved around a lot and got us some nice pieces. We did not get everything but it feels like Raiderland Christmas.


So let's see those overreaction grades. I know, I know, you cannot grade a draft for 3 years. Boo f[raiders_icon]cking Hoo. Lighten up Francis and grade this glorious weekend.

Mendoza by himself does not get us an A but the rest of the group certainly has to impress when put together. McCoy if he heals up makes the robber barons of the draft.

And there will be UDFAs and post draft pickups and drops. Tyree is going, well eventually, I mean the door s 40 yards away so it will take some time.

Grade A- but if McCoy pans out the grade could change.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Totally agree. It felt like Kevin Costner was running point in the draft room for us from the movie Draft Day and I think Spy did as well as he could moving around the board like he did. Refreshing having a GM not trying to outsmart everyone else and picking players way out of position on boards. We basically started from ground zero and I believe we are much improved.

Yeah, gotta love the confidence Spy seems to have. They had a plan, but were fluid rather than getting lemon-booty and pulling a Leatherwood.

We really seem to have an honest-to-goodness professional front office with Scouts having a say, based on how wide-ranging our draft picks have come from. Especially with the UDFA/Minicamp choices.

Another absolute luxury is having Spy and Kubiak on the same f’n page. For goodness sake it’s been f o r e v e r since our draft room didn’t feel like it was run by toddlers high on sugar with their hair on fire.

If I’m getting it right we had 6 of our 10 draft picks come via trade. Spy working man. 10 new players from the draft, 35 UDFA/Minicamp. Thats damn near an entire football team comprised of rookies.

[raiders72]

These are the facts, when you change GM’s every 15 games this is what u get.
No foundation
No continuity
No direction
No development
Same for the Head Coach and staff as we all know

Team has to many positions to fill via the Draft and FA more than not is not the answer.
From Ferrell to Wilson past Drafts have buried this Organization especially in Rounds 1 and 2 where you have to hit

Spyboy has been here for 2 drafts
Gotta follow the process and see where it goes at least for another 3 drafts and Yes pray to the god you answer too, FM is the savior!

[HesterLayes]

As many have mentioned years and years of poor drafting has led to this…impossible to make everyone happy. Our secondary was unathletic and not great so they really hit that…as far as OL..maybe Spy likes the two kids he drafted last year.Maybe Dennison said “we can work with this”

[GoodTimeCharlie]

These are the facts, when you change GM’s every 15 games this is what u get.
No foundation
No continuity
No direction
No development
Same for the Head Coach and staff as we all know

Team has to many positions to fill via the Draft and FA more than not is not the answer.
From Ferrell to Wilson past Drafts have buried this Organization especially in Rounds 1 and 2 where you have to hit

Spyboy has been here for 2 drafts
Gotta follow the process and see where it goes at least for another 3 drafts and Yes pray to the god you answer too, FM is the savior!

Too much change is definitely bad, but then the right hiring is equally important. Gruden and his complete disregard for any other input besides his own bloated ego could have finished the full of that 10 year contract and we’d still have been shit.

The reason things look better is we finally have good people doing the job they’re supposed to with proper delegation. Something that would never have happened until Mark finally allowed it to. Run your football team by hiring good football people.

We’ve had way too much ownership acting as GM ever since Big Al lost his way with salary cap and senility.

[Sold My Soul]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/stor ... epth-chart

[16 to 88]

B

They got good value for almost each pick. I understood the miss on a starting OT, as there was a run on them in Rd 1. Not getting a starting IDL, and passing on Pregnon and Dunker is why they don’t get an A grade. I love the McCoy pick, potential star, and if it doesn’t work out, it was only a 4th Rd pick.

I felt Pregnon was likely not an option for us because he isn't a good fit for our scheme and let's not lose sight of the fact he was talked about being a high 2nd round pick but wasn't selected until towards the bottom of round 3. A lot of teams had a shot at him, some teams more than twice and he slid way down the charts. During the selection process guys on this board were saying something is up with him and teams are passing over him.

As for Dunker he is considered athletic enough to fit our system but very unrefined at his position and was considered bottom of the 2nd talent but was also passed over by multiple teams, some more than twice, sliding down the draft boards just like Pregnon. The eagles, browns, and the rams had a shot at him in the 3rd round and all selected other OT's over him. I only point this out because you are marking down our grade based on this and don't know if you are fully aware of the circumstances and what transpired.

[BoJacksonRules]

I felt Pregnon was likely not an option for us because he isn't a good fit for our scheme and let's not lose sight of the fact he was talked about being a high 2nd round pick but wasn't selected until towards the bottom of round 3. A lot of teams had a shot at him, some teams more than twice and he slid way down the charts. During the selection process guys on this board were saying something is up with him and teams are passing over him.

As for Dunker he is considered athletic enough to fit our system but very unrefined at his position and was considered bottom of the 2nd talent but was also passed over by multiple teams, some more than twice, sliding down the draft boards just like Pregnon. The eagles, browns, and the rams had a shot at him in the 3rd round and all selected other OT's over him. I only point this out because you are marking down our grade based on this and don't know if you are fully aware of the circumstances and what transpired.

Or maybe both turn out to be blue chip players. Both players were scheme fits. Just because they were selected lower than they were graded doesn’t mean there was something going on that the public wasn’t aware of. Plus we traded out of our pick and lost out on McDonald. Rebuilds are normally started with the offensive and defensive lines. Hopefully im wrong and the 2 Olineman and the NT we drafted last year are the answer.

[Viper]

Not addressing a DT is really what sticks out to me but maybe they’ll look at a vet a bit later or they like what we have on roster, but I find that a reach. I know it’s water under the bridge but can you imagine if Wilkins had worked out for us? He fits the description of what we need imo. Our defensive front would have been really good, but that was a long ago yesterday.

[RI RAIDER]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/stor ... epth-chart

I did not realize that the brass already said Zuhn will be a guard. It makes sense and hopefully he is a surprise. We need help there for sure.

[Rabidraider]

I did not realize that the brass already said Zuhn will be a guard. It makes sense and hopefully he is a surprise. We need help there for sure.

And I believe he didn't take one snap at guard last season. I thought he was going to play tackle.

[chucker]

I don't think Kubiak and Dennison care that Zuhn has never played guard. I suspect they feel like if you're a really good tackle and can also move to center and play well there, then you're coachable and adaptable enough to play guard. Remember that the Seahawks won the SB with an undrafted tackle playing center.

[KillerRaider30]

These are the facts, when you change GM’s every 15 games this is what u get.
No foundation
No continuity
No direction
No development
Same for the Head Coach and staff as we all know

Team has to many positions to fill via the Draft and FA more than not is not the answer.
From Ferrell to Wilson past Drafts have buried this Organization especially in Rounds 1 and 2 where you have to hit

Spyboy has been here for 2 drafts
Gotta follow the process and see where it goes at least for another 3 drafts and Yes pray to the god you answer too, FM is the savior!

When management is discombobulated so is the product on the field.
This is the problem.

Since 2000
26 yrs ÷ 16 HCs = a new HC every 1.6 years.

Kubiak 2026
Carroll
Pierce
McDaniels
Bisaccia
Gruden
JDR
Sparano
DA
Hue
Cable
Kiffin
Shell
Norv
Callahan
Gruden 2000

The real reason for the suckness.

[BoKnows81]

Changing GMs and coaches isn't the problem at all. Hiring the wrong ones on the first place is the problem. The names on the list above weren't worth dick, aside from Kubiak. They all needed to go.

[RI RAIDER]

I don't think Kubiak and Dennison care that Zuhn has never played guard. I suspect they feel like if you're a really good tackle and can also move to center and play well there, then you're coachable and adaptable enough to play guard. Remember that the Seahawks won the SB with an undrafted tackle playing center.

Exactly. I would rather the staff have the foresight to realize this kid would be good at guard (position of need). Its a natural progression for tackles to slide over (whether they can't cut the mustard at tackle or skillset is better suited for guard). Obviously, we have moved tackles over to guard. I would rather move them right away instead of forcing them at tackle (round peg in square hole) before realizing they are no good there. Why waste valuable time.

[RI RAIDER]

Changing GMs and coaches isn't the problem at all. Hiring the wrong ones on the first place is the problem. The names on the list above weren't worth dick, aside from Kubiak. They all needed to go.

I agree. One thing I will give Mark credit for (only thing I can think of) is that his ego allows him to quickly move on from a mistake. Many owners would never admit to a mistake and do not want to pay a coach for sunbathing at home. Unfortunately, it seems all Mark does is make mistakes. He is the schleprock of the league in making mistakes. Hopefully thats all come to an end and he stays far away from decision making.