[Rain Man]

Okay, with great fanfare, I present my 2018 draft.

My #1 priority was to build a pass rush this year. I’ve had an anemic pass rush for several years now and can’t seem to solve the problem. So I started with that mindset.

Overall, my top five needs are:
1. Pass rushing linebackers. I need at least two, and at least one as a starter.
2. Running back committee member of high quality.
3. At least one defensive ends for a transition to a 4-3 at some point. Pass rushers.
4. Starting guard(s). At least one.
5. A high quality wide receiver.

Pick 1-22 – Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State (Seahawks)

I drafted Alvin Kamara last year, along with Samaje Perine, to rebuild a non-existent rushing attack, but I need an effective workhorse back who can make plays, and I think Penny is that guy.

I considered Calvin Ridley very strongly, and he might be the safer bet, but in the end I like Penny a lot. I also considered Harold Landry, Will Hernandez, and even Christian Kirk or Connor Williams with a trade down, but the math on a trade down didn’t work and I feel that Penny can add more overall, complementing Kamara.

Pick 2-54 – James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State (Steelers)

I really need a pass rusher and fully intended to draft one or two in the first couple of rounds, but I wasn’t liking how the picks were shaking out. I really like what I’m reading about Washington, and I need a #1 receiver if Jeremy Maclin doesn’t latch onto a team.

My big question on the 1st and 2nd round was whether to take Penny and Washington, or instead take Calvin Ridley and Derrius Guice at the same positions. Ridley and Guice seem to be lower risk, but I like the upside of Penny and Washington. It’s a risky move on my part, but I’m all about risk/reward bets.

I also considered Isaiah Oliver and Sam Hubbard with this pick, but not seriously. Washington was the guy I wanted. He kind of drove my strategy in the first two rounds.

Pick 3-86 – Trade down with the Dallas Cowboys.

The 3-86 pick is worth 160 points, or 104 points after the discount. With that 104 points I pick up the 4-116 pick (62 points), 4-137 pick (37 points), and 7-236 pick (1 point). My initial plan was to use this pick on Arden Key as a pass rusher, but he’s not the type of player I like drafting. He seems unmotivated and I suspect he’ll have a short career. So I considered G/T Alex Cappa and RB Mark Walton, but I really needed a pass rusher, so I did the trade down. See those picks for my strategy.

Pick 4-116 – Dorrance Armstrong, DE, Kansas (Cowboys)

Armstrong jumped out when I was looking for alternatives to Arden Key. It seems like he’s got less risk, a reasonable upside, and he was drafted a lot lower. By taking Armstrong, I could trade down and get a couple more picks. He can come in as a DE/edge rusher for me, and while he’s primarily a DE it appears that he can potentially play OLB. Regardless, he’s a pass rusher.

Pick 4-122 – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan (Raiders).

Okay, I don’t need a DT at all. Not at all. But I can’t pass him up, and if I stay in a 3-4 defense this year, which is likely, he can add some pass rush at the DE spot. There’s a reason why he slipped this far, so the heart problem may be a major deal, but it’s worth the risk.

My other option was Marquis Haynes, who frankly fit a lot better with my needs. I also considered Shaqueem Griffin. I need linebackers. But I couldn’t pass up Hurst.

Pick 4-137 – Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon (Lions)

I’ve got two good tackles on the roster with Mitchell Schwartz and Morgan Moses, but they’re both natural right tackles. I think Crosby is a good value pick who could potentially become a left tackle, or he could also slide in at guard where I have needs.

He’s a bit of a luxury pick here.

If I had picked Marquis Haynes with the earlier pick, I could’ve gotten Hurst or Crosby here. I could have also gone with Shaqueem Griffin, but I could resist Crosby for depth and a long term play.

Pick 5-159 – Wyatt Teller, G, Virginia Tech (Bills)

The whole time I was planning, I figured that I’d take Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in this spot, but as the draft shook out and I realized that I needed a guard, I looked and saw Wyatt Teller in this spot. I like him as a guard prospect, so I once again passed up a linebacker that I needed.

I also had Darius Phillips and Duke Ejiofor on my radar for this spot.

Pick 6-196 – Jack Cichy, OLB, Wisconsin (Buccaneers)

I really liked Tremon Smith of the Chiefs and almost made him my pick, but that would require cutting another developmental cornerback, whereas I have an open roster spot for a linebacker. So Cichy gets the call on the bet that he can develop into a starting OLB.

Other players considered included Tremon Smith and Shaun Dion Hamilton.

Pick 6-209 – Ade Aruna, DE, Tulane (Vikings)

Purely a developmental pick, and I’ve got lots of roster room for developmental defensive ends. He seems like a potential pass rusher, so I’ll continued stocking up in the hopes that one will emerge.

I also strongly considered WR Marcell Ateman and G Colby Gossett.

Pick 7-236 – Justin Jackson, RB, Northwestern (Chargers)

I could use some depth at running back, and he seemed to be the best remaining talent overall. I also strongly considered several other players, including OLB Kendall Donnerson, DE Justin Lawler, DE Zach Sieler, and G Rod Taylor.

Pick 7-240 – Hercules Mata’afa, DE, Washington State (Undrafted, signed by Vikings as free agent)

I don’t know the deal with this guy. He was described as a tweener DT/DE with a really good first step. You can’t teach a fast first step so I had this guy targeted for a long time as I prepared. And then he went undrafted. Weird. I’ll take the chance that he’ll stick.

I also considered WR Trey Quinn with this pick.