2021 NFL Draft Winners and Losers

Every year we are subjected to the post draft grades of so called “experts” who give letter grades out to teams like a 3rd grade teacher grading a history exam. Perhaps this is the dumbest part of the draft on a yearly basis because if you ever Google search past draft grades given 5 years ago you would spit up your Cheerios at breakfast laughing. Not only are you laughing at how poorly that player turned out, but you end up laughing at yourself because you remember watching the draft and hoping and praying this Mel Kiper stud would fall to your team. But in keeping with the Draft Winners and Losers theme, let’s take a quick look at the 2021 draft:

Winners: NY Jets. For the first time in modern history the Jets drafted a QB in the first round and then proceeded to surround him with linemen and receivers and running backs. Somewhere in Carolina Sam Darnold has to be throwing empty beer cans against a wall screaming “Are you F#!@ing kidding me”?? The poor guy ran for his life for three years throwing to receivers who probably couldn’t start for Hofstra University and handing off to a disgruntled LeVeon Bell and some other running backs that probably couldn’t start for ‘Bama or LSU.
Loser: Zach Wilson. Sorry Zach, I loved your emotional hug with your mom and you seem like a nice kid, but also seem more suited to be in a boy band like “One Direction”. While I love the Jets moves and draft, until I see differently, I think you have landed in the place where young quarterbacks go to die. Basically, you are in a NYC nursing home during Covid. The Jet’s are a junk yard of exactly what not to do with a drafted QB. They change offensive coordinators, hire new coaches and bring in new schemes and then draft lots of defensive linemen for the next two years. Perhaps this latest regime is different but until I see a change, you may be a loser in all this.

Winners: The players that were drafted. While the draft last year was interesting because it was done virtually, it was not the same. Seeing young men who have worked their tail off for the last 15 years suddenly become millionaires is awesome to watch. Having their moment in the sun and walking onto the stage to hug commissioner Goodell never gets old. They have earned this night in the spotlight and the unforgettable moment.

Losers: The viewers on ESPN. (Part 1) I continue to be perplexed by ESPN and it’s obsession with NOT SHOWING SPORTS!!. You pay billions of dollars for broadcasting rights and then talk ad nauseum, instead of just showing the damn actual event!! Just when we think the draft is starting at the stated time, they delay it so we can watch a live performance of ‘ Kings of Leon”?? Why stop there? Maybe Rupert Holmes is available to sing “The pina colada” song? It is absolute insanity at this point just like their Monday night football telecast that is supposed to kick off at 8:30 pm but they run music and teasers for 15 minutes promoting something we already tuned in to watch. Imagine going to Capital Grill restaurant and ordering a 16 ounce filet mignon and the waiter stands there for 15 minutes telling you how good the steak will taste instead of ordering it? You would get up and leave.

(Part 2) The coverage by Greenie, Booger, Mel and Louis Riddick made me use the mute button. Listen, all Mel Kiper is good for is the draft and for one day a year I like to hear his take on best available, angles, foot work or some guy who plays tackle who has shorter arms than ideal. It’s kind of fun. Louis Riddick? He is the reason I muted. The guy literally talks nonstop and sucks all the oxygen out of the room after every pick, kind of like he does on MNF when a simple 2 yard dive on 1st down in the 1st quarter results in him talking continuously until the snap of the ball next play. No wonder Booger was in the ridiculous “Booger Buggie” a few years ago. He probably would have passed out in the booth from Riddick using all the oxygen. Why have three analysts when they talk for 30 second each and then Riddick talks for 5 minutes until “The pick is in”? Sometimes less is more and Riddick is a man who if given the choice to explain something in 30 words or 300 will choose 3000. I was waiting for Greenie to interject and say “I want to get Mel in here for a second” but instead they indulge him as they do on MNF and it really made for a poor experience.

-BB