Our Forum's 1st Round Draft Board

[Kyle Cactus]

I'm no draft-nick, but I know there are a many members who have spent a lot of time studying this year's draft class. I thought it'd be cool to compile some sort of composite ranking on the possible players the Ravens could take at pick 29 (if they stay at that pick). If nothing else it'll be a fun exercise and will provide a bit of a reference during the draft for people like me who don't study the players as much.

The idea is to list players in order of their potential value to the Ravens. Feel free to project your own philosophies. For example, how heavily do you factor in upside, injury risk, behavior issues, whether a pick fills a need, etc...

List the requested number of players in each of the following categories:
Steal (as few or as many as you want)
Good Value (4-6)
Average Value (4-6)
Poor Value (4-6)
Reach (as few or as many as you want)

Average Value is just what it sounds like. This should be players that, for the Ravens, are worth a pick around 29th overall, not much more, not much less. The 4-6 player restriction in this category and the adjacent ones should pretty much define the relative value of those categories. So for example, a player who is a little too valuable for the Average Value category should fall into your Good Value category.

Anyone who is "above" the Good Value category would be considered a Steal at 29, but you can list the ones you believe have a chance of falling to us. Same goes for the Reach category. If you want, you can list some players that fall "below" the Poor Value designation that could still get selected based on need, hype, or whatever. Obviously the Ravens are pretty good at avoiding these type of picks, but you never know.

To be counted in the final composite list, at least fill out the Good, Average, and Poor categories fully.

You can edit your list anytime between now and Wednesday April 25th at 8PM. After that I'm going to start working on the composite list, and if anyone wants, they can use it as a reference during the draft.

[Kyle Cactus]

As I said, I'm no draft-nick, but I figured I'm obligated to participate if I started the thread...

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
DT - Brockers

Good Value:
T - Glenn
T - Martin
T- Adams
OLB - Upshaw
DE - Perry

Average Value:
WR - Wright
WR - Hill
ILB - Hightower
C- Konz
DE - Mercilus

Poor Value:
DT - Worthy
DE - Branch
DE - McClellin
TE - Fleener
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
G - Zeitler
FS - Smith

[wickedsolo]

For me it would be this way:

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
OLB - Upshaw
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
WR - Wright
WR - Jeffery
WR - Hill
LB - Hightower]
DE - McClellin

Average Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler

Poor Value:
OT - Adams
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
FS - Smith
WR - Sanu

[GOTA]

I'll try.

Possible Steals:
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly
DT- Cox

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
SS- Barron
OLB- Upshaw
G- Glenn
CB- Kirkpatrtick

Average Value:
ILB- Hightower
WR- Wright
DE- Jones

Poor Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler
WR- Hill
WR- Randle
DE- McClellin
DE- Perry
T- Martin

Possible Reaches:
WR- Jeffrey
WR - Sanu
RB- Martin
RB - Miller
DE- Mercilus
DE- Branch

[Kyle Cactus]

Last day to submit a list. I'll put together a composite even if I don't get anymore responses. I won't be home until close to 8PM eastern tonight, so I'll extend the deadline until then. I've updated the OP to reflect that.

[Shas]

Steals:
Upshaw, DeCastro

(Don't think any chance Barron, Kuechly, Reiff, Floyd fall. If there was a Super Steal category, they'd go there)

Value:
Glenn, Hightower, Martin

Average:
Konz, Zeitler, Hill, Wright, Randle, Jeffery

Poor / Reaches:
Smith, Sanu, McClellin, Adams, Silatolu, Jones, David, Perry, Lewis, Sanders

[Kyle Cactus]

Thanks Shas. Can you provide some distinction between your "poor" and "reach" group? I realize the terminology isn't very precise, but for purposes of combining for a list it'd be helpful to differentiate between a tier just below a fair/average value, and a tier that's an additional notch below that.

[Shas]

Well, I guess I had trouble distinguishing from a guy who would be a poor value at 29 versus a reach at 29. But I'll create a distinction by guessing that a "reach" would be a player to fill a dire need, and a poor value player may just be a guy who might be on the board but not worthy of a first round pick most years.

Reach:
Adams, Silatolu, Sanu, Sanders

Poor:
Smith, McClellin, Jones, David, Perry, Lewis

[Kyle Cactus]

Thanks. Maybe next year if I do this again I'll ditch these labels.

The idea is to divide players into tiers, with a central tier representing players whose value is around what you would expect for a 29th pick. The name of a tier isn't meant to define it much as it's position relative to the other tiers (if that makes sense).

Maybe something like the following is more intuitive, even if it's a little awkward.

+2 Tier
+1 Tier
0 Tier
-1 Tier
-2 Tier

[dandrews]

For me it would be this way:

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
OLB - Upshaw
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
WR - Wright
WR - Jeffery
WR - Hill
LB - Hightower]
DE - McClellin

Average Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler

Poor Value:
OT - Adams
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
FS - Smith
WR - Sanu

Sign me up for this one, but put Kendall Wright in the steal category for me.

[dandrews]

I think this is a really good idea btw.

[Kyle Cactus]

I think this is a really good idea btw.

Thanks! I know it'll help make the 1st round a bit more meaningful to watch for someone like me who isn't intimately familiar with every prospect.