Way back when @wesleysh21 used to talk about the seasonality of the draftniks. This early part of the offseason was the plant your flag period. In his opinion the point of these early placements was to really show where you are differentiated. And then as we get closer the what you are hearing and where you think folks will go components become stronger pulls.
I still really like Newton. He was probably better in 2022 but thatās true of every Illini
Hardest WR to figure out. The flashes are all world but that a guys with that kind of talent disappears with that frequency is certainly off putting.
Iām not impressed with any of the DTs that i have seen so far. I see Newton as a 2nd rounder, Sweat is fine in the 2nd if you need one of those space eaters, Taylor has the skill set but he is just not good at football 3rd rd, Murphy looks the best of the bunch just because he can power through gaps, he tends to disrupt plays but rarely make them 2nd rd, and then Fiske is probably the best football player he tries hard but just doesnāt have the upside for a top 5o pick 3rd round.
Dorlus is a dude. I think if he just played 3T in an upfield role weād see him differently.
Lanning put a TON on his shoulders the last two years.
I still have 3 Oregon games I have to rewatch. At first glance he did not seem better than Paschal or Comish so I didnāt watch a lot of him.
Itās tough tape. Like youāll see a lot of mush rush 5T reps. And for our purposes I have little interest in the part. Burch would have been different bc the dreams with him are just so damn grandiose. But as a 3T Dorlus is interesting.
Heās a fācking brawler so I think he could hang in there on early down at 292 or whatever exactly he is.
Heās more physical than Newton or Murphy IMO.
P.S. to be clear, by tape I mean me watching the Ducks with some nachos 
I think these DTs are getting pushed up because they are the best at their position but Iām not seeing the number 1 and 2 DTs better than the 7 or 8 WRs, CBs, or OTs. Jenkins looks like a 4th rounder too the underclassmen at Michigan were much better than him. The two guys from LSU are interesting but I know the one was hurt all year. They do have size and ability.
I think there is some of that. Iām quite confident that Dorlus will be a damn good pro. I do worry about Paschal duplicity especially if we tell Josh, āeat bud, youāre going to play a lot more insideā
Josh plus ten pounds and then ad an edge that splits Commish and Houston makes the most sense to me personally. I know that many here disagree but thatās what makes this a special place 
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Newton may have some upside but most of these guys are no better than guys you can pick up off the waiver wire like a Buggs, Benito or Comish. I would love to get Chop or Verse but I donāt see the interior pass rusher in this draft.
One of the guys Iām starting to come around on is Ruke Orhorhoro. Heās exactly what we need as a 3T and while heās raw, thatās true of pretty much every college DT. Theyāre the sort of issues that can be fixed with experience.
And I wonāt lie, the success of late of Clemson DTs has my interest as well.
Thatās hyperbole IMO.
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Itās a bad class but there are 5-6 DTs that could help us next years. And then there are a few total wildcards with extreme upsides.
Honestly Iām open minded about using a 3rd on Maason Smith and hoping he has that year 2 ACL recovery leap.
Heās a guy I find intriguing as well for that very reason, but is he our kind of prospect? Seems there might be some turd in there.
I donāt think Lions will go edge early not that they donāt want one but the few they would like should be gone an really not worth a trade up. There are some later who have size an speed will just need more coaching. I donāt think they look OG early or DT . The can fill OG an DT in UFA at the cost you will have to pay to get a quality CB. If i can get two quality OG an DT for price of a CB why not two for one? In draft you can add couple CBs an a OT for depth an future possible starter.
You want Sneed it will cost. I think they will attempt to resign Moseley for a one year cheap deal.
I think they make CJ a offer an thatās about it he takes or they move on like they did with Williamsā¦
They will IMO look at Edge in UFA Maybe a Guy like Huff with Jets. The key will be who they sign at end from PS or on IR I like the RB coming of injury to be signed Knight. They may keep Romeo as depth between him an his brother an Harris he would likely be one to keep.
I will say I like Dorlusā ability to get skinny when on the interior. I see him as a day 3 guy. Still prefer Eboigbe over him. However, I do not think Eboigbe will last until round 4. I would be fine if we took him round 3, but thatās me. Still, Dorlus has some upside and I aaw it at times.
Itās a 3rd.
This is his HS coach on him.
And I get that Ed Oās perception is different amongst fans and media types but player fācking love that guy. Always have. And then he gets to play for ā¦
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He is one I would take a flyer on. he went out early so he should be ready for training camp. Did he have an ACL? I knew he was injured but this guy does have some talent.
Iād rather trade up for DeJean than Turner but thatās just me.