GuyTalk: Last Minute NFL Draft Prep

Photo Courtesy of Niners Nation

Okay ladies, today is the big day. The day we’ve all been waiting for and counting down to. Just kidding…but it is the first day of the NFL Draft 2016! We have our resident GuyTalk sports expert Chris on hand this week for a fast track on Draft Day knowledge, and he’s back today for a few last minute players to know…

I’m back! If you missed my breakdown of what to expect for this weekend’s NFL Draft, you can still read up to make sure you’re following the best Draft Twitter accounts and using the correct football terminology at your watch party tonight. But if you want more in-depth knowledge, and your best picks for your own fantasy football teams, here is a deeper breakdown:

Photo Courtesy of Chicago Genie

PLAYERS TO KNOW

Quarterbacks are the most important position in the game so they move rapidly up Draftboards and are the most talked about prospects. You will probably hear their names in the first night of the Draft. There are the biggest QBs heading into the Draft:
- Jared Goff:U UA skinny, strong-armed QB at Cal who has consistently put up impressive numbers since his freshman year
- Carson Wentz: A physically gifted prospect with impressive game film – although most of his experience is against lesser opponents (he played at North Dakota State)
- Paxton Lynch: He’s huge (6’7”), has a strong arm and put up impressive stats at Memphis although some draft experts say his footwork needs improvement
- Connor Cook: He was a 3 year starter at Michigan State who won 34 of his 40 starts including winning 5 of 7 games against top 10 opponents. The only knock on him is (unsubstantiated) rumblings about a potential attitude problem

Photo Courtesy of Reddit

Every year there are players with ‘red flags’ (i.e. personal problems) that leads to them being drafted later than their talent would usually have them deserve. This means they technically offer more “value” to teams even if they aren’t favorites in the locker room. They’re often talked about because 1-2 pf them usually fall much further than expected. For example, Randy Gregory was projected to be a top 10 pick last year but wasn’t picked until after the top 50 (This can also lead to some epic live reactions/meltdowns)
- Robert Nkemdiche: A devastating defensive lineman at Ole Miss that could have been a top 5 or top 10 pick had he not fallen from a hotel window and gotten charged with marijuana possession
- Shawn Oakman: A defensive end at Baylor who is so muscular he became an internet meme. He originally played at Penn State, before being dismissed from the program, and he’s currently under investigation for sexual assault
- Noah Spence: A disruptive defensive end from Eastern Kentucky, started his college career at Ohio State before being dismissed for multiple failed drug tests while he struggled with addition to ecstasy

Photo Courtesy of USA Today

If you’re looking for potential fantasy football studs this year here are a few prospects to keep an eye on. They will be great choices for your office pool, and would also be good recommendations for your dad or boyfriend’s teams:
- Ezekiel Elliot: A running back from Ohio State and the most electrifying player in the Draft. If he lands on a team with a good offensive line, he should put up big numbers as a rookie
- Josh Doctson: Played wide receiver at TCU and has all the tools needed to be effective in the NFL if he’s paired with a capable quarterback. He’s fast enough to get behind defenses and physical enough to battle to any ball thrown at him
- Laquon Treadwell: Comes to the NFL after playing wide receiver at Ole Miss. He timed slower in the 40-yard dash than expected but that never stopped him from tearing up SEC defenses. He’s route running is polished and he has great hands – many compare his abilities to Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins (who also ran slow before his draft).

There you go! You are now prepared for this weekend and the upcoming NFL season, from the first pick of The Draft tonight all the way to the first kick off.