QB question for Sy'56 (or anyone else) re:Skylar Thompson...

i mean I dive pretty heavy into draft/prospect coverage in the months leading up to the draft and I never heard this guy's name mentioned within QB discussion

He's already 25 years old but still considered raw.

That question applies to a)Thompson, and b) Waldman and Schofield.

For the record, the draft resource I use (1 of 2, Sy being the other) had him ranked as the #16 QB and a PFA. Which is why he is included as part of my "who" question....guess I didnt study the PFA's close enough.

In comment 15748126 John In CO said:

Quote:

That question applies to a)Thompson, and b) Waldman and Schofield. For the record, the draft resource I use (1 of 2, Sy being the other) had him ranked as the #16 QB and a PFA. Which is why he is included as part of my "who" question....guess I didnt study the PFA's close enough.

Random people that "dissect" publicly available All 22 tape these days are considered "draftniks". It's a business model of putting out as much friggen content as possible leading up to the draft so at least some of your "sleepers" hit and then you try to sell those hits as something that makes you legitimate

for someone who has followed the draft as long as you have, your question makes no sense.

You are basically asking why a prospect who a few draftniks think is a "diamond in the rough" didn't get drafted higher.

That happens to dozens and dozens of guys in EVERY draft.

Take a shot at stating a late round prospect is the best with no actual consequence so if you hit the lottery and a late round prospect is the next best thing, you can claim you are smarter than everyone else.

I am a big believer in analysts coming up with their own outlook. I don't like the idea of using the views of the majority to build your own opinion. There is a difference between crosschecking and lacking independent thought processes.

In this case, sure I had Skylar as a late rounder / UDFA. Most of the league did too. Does that make me right and those guys wrong? No.

One thing I think many people need to do a better job of understanding is the margin between early rounders and late rounders is not as big as you may believe. The reason for this? most fans look at the number one pick and then the 260th pick. First and last. The list I start with his close to 3,000 players. Yes, I narrow it down to about 1,200-1,500 by the start of the season but you have to think, even the 260th player is considered in the top 5% when looking the big picture. Whereas if you are only paying attention to the draft when "rankings" come out or even draft weekend - you are looking at that 260th ranked player as the "worst"

There is so much more to the draft than I think people think. It is not one or two guys just ranking guys and seeing what happens. Scheme fits, personality fits, injury history, current roster situation (numbers)...it is a very complex equation.

I know Mark and Joe and I respect their work. I don't believe there is an agenda there. They're one of the few independent thinkers that truly put the work in and let their opinions known without fear of an outsider judging the unorthodox view. Because, again, it really isn't that unorthodox.

This time of year I am often reminded of this. As I get intro-write ups done on thousands of guys, most of which I know I won't even do a full report on.

Hope that helped.

reason why every year there are a couple, maybe a few, later round picks that seem to have been overlooked and develop into Pro Bowlers. The margins between picks 33 and 150 are pretty small and given the "perfect storm" these guys meet the right situation/coach to bring out the players best. Drive, health, development all being in the equation.

In comment 15748220 Eric from BBI said:

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for someone who has followed the draft as long as you have, your question makes no sense.

I have been following it for years, but this particular case seemed unique in terms of the gulf between the consensus and the few who were very high on him. And one of them wasn't Boylhart, who is often an outlier, so it never surprises me when he is off the beaten path. I guess it also has to do with the respect I have for Waldman and Schofield, who I think are among the best at their job (along with our very own Sy'56).

In comment 15748451 Sy'56 said:

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One thing I think many people need to do a better job of understanding is the margin between early rounders and late rounders is not as big as you may believe. The reason for this? most fans look at the number one pick and then the 260th pick. First and last. The list I start with his close to 3,000 players. Yes, I narrow it down to about 1,200-1,500 by the start of the season but you have to think, even the 260th player is considered in the top 5% when looking the big picture. Whereas if you are only paying attention to the draft when "rankings" come out or even draft weekend - you are looking at that 260th ranked player as the "worst" There is so much more to the draft than I think people think. It is not one or two guys just ranking guys and seeing what happens. Scheme fits, personality fits, injury history, current roster situation (numbers)...it is a very complex equation.

Thanks for your response. When you think of all the kids around the country playing high school football and then college football, it amazes me that meaningful distinctions are drawn at all when you get to the point of talking about labeling one guy as an early 1st rounder and another as a late 1st rounder. And the phenomenon is even more remarkable at the professional level when you wonder how can it be that a certain select few can actually dominate their peers. What makes Tom Brady Tom Brady? What's in his DNA that's missing from so many millions of others?

It could also have a lot to do with the general crappiness of this year's QB class that had Thompson looking more favorable in comparison.
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