Tag: 2024 Draft

Finally, it’s the 2024 DynaBowl Rookie Draft Exit Survey

It’s the eve of a new season so what better time to look backwards and finally review the 2024 Dynabowl rookie draft, the deepest wide receiver draft and shallowest every-other-position draft in league history; an interminable process lasting over 12 days, with the Bombermen delighting in accounting for a quarter of that. But how did everyone do? There’s only one way to find out. No, not a fight, nor letting those picks play out over the next 3 or 4 years. No, it’s time to see what everyone’s gut feels are before any of these players have footed a ball in anger.

7 GMs responded, which feels about par for the course. Let’s look at each team’s review in turn, starting with…

East Flanders Dungeoneers

Self-Assessment

Score6  
Why?  I don’t know what I’m doing so going for middle of the road, but going for 6 because of my first pick.
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Kool-Aid McKinstry
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?See who has a good score, does well on scouting reports, filling gaps in my roster and funny names as a tie breaker.

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyMarvin Harrison Jr (WR, pick 1.01, 6 votes)
Best valueMarvin Harrison Jr (4), Byron Murphy (DT, 2.01, 1), Sione Vaki (RB, 9.01, 1)
Worst valueChop Robinson (DE, 3.01, 4), Tip Reiman (TE, 5.11,1), Javon Bullard (S, 6.01, 1)
Early picks likely to bustChop Robinson (3), All good (3)
Late picks likely to be usefulKris Jenkins (DT, 7.01, 2), Sione Vaki (1), Tory Taylor (P, 11.01, 1), None (2)

Commentary

Pretty solid. Best offensive and best defensive players. Can’t complain about that. I’ll claim any success as my own. Adam knows why.

Sticking at 1 and taking Marvin Harrison gives a solid floor. I thought there was too much defense though.

Went very early on defenders and passed on some good options as a result. But you’ve got to start building somewhere

Great pick number 1. Not sure on any of the others

Too defense heavy for my tastes

I can understand the theory – my defence is bad and I need to fix it – but this wasn’t the draft for that, and honestly, after MHJ I think every player was at least a small reach, even if the player wasn’t going to come back in some cases (Byron Murphy). Also, the offensive side of this roster wasn’t good enough to pass on offence, and particularly WR, so often.

Ratings

Here Comes The Brees

Self-Assessment

Score7
Why?  Some good picks, missed out narrowly on a few players
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Brock Bowers
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?Fill needs and best player

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyBryan Thomas (WR, 1.05, 5), Edgerrin Cooper (LB, 3.05, 1)
Best valueRay Davis (RB, 5.05, 2), Theo Johnson (TE, 8.05, 2), Bryan Thomas (1), Edgerrin Cooper (1)
Worst valueJJ McCarthy (QB, 4.05, 4), Edgerrin Cooper (1), Kwame Lassiter (CB, 12.05, 1)
Early picks likely to bustJJ McCarthy (6), Edgerrin Cooper (3)
Late picks likely to be usefulTheo Johnson (4), Tyrice Knight (LB, 9.05, 1), Tykee Smith (S, 10.05, 1), None (1)

Commentary

Looks pretty awful

Okay – a distinct lack of potential due to no picks in 4-6 that I liked

Cunts stole my Coop. It was a shit draft and they got three good players, for my money – Thomas, Cooper and Davis.

I may have picked the Edgerin Cooper pick as worst value, but that’s mostly because there wasn’t ‘none’ as an option. I think probably the worst value is Brian Thomas Jr – not because he’s a bad pick at 5, but because I don’t see how he’s better than what’s on the roster – AJ Brown, Chase, Lamb and St Brown. Even though I really dislike this RB class, given needs, I think it might have been a better option. That or moving up for Bowers.

Not really a massive fan of anyone. Brian Thomas could be good, but could also be stuck as just a deep threat. McCarthy just didn’t seem worth a pick that high.

Ratings

Tamworth Two

Self-Assessment

Score6
Why?  No high picks. A lot of speculation on the remaining picks. A possible reach at QB (but I think he could be special). But I like the players I’ve picked up
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?None
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?Fill a few needs

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyTrey Benson (RB, 2.03, 2), Laiatu Latu (DE, 2.06, 2), Caleb Williams (QB, 1.10, 1), Adonai Mitchell (WR, 3.03, 1)
Best valueKimani Vidal (RB, 5.03, 2), Caleb Williams (1), Trey Benson (1), Adonai Mitchell (1), Javon Baker (WR, 4.03, 1)
Worst valueCaleb Williams (3), Trey Benson (1), Javon Baker (1), Dedrion Taylor-Demerson (S 10.03, 1)
Early picks likely to bustAdonai Mitchell (3), Caleb Williams (2), Trey Benson (2), Laiatu Latu (1)
Late picks likely to be usefulMazi Smith (DT, 8.03, 1), Brandon Dorlus (DT 9.03, 1), Austin Booker (DE, 11.03, 1), None (3)

Commentary

I have Caleb as the best and worst value pick because I had him ranked inside the top 7, but also because this was a deep QB class and the path to relevance in this league for a QB is tight. If he hits his ceiling, it’ll look like a good pick, but that’s a pretty big ask. I really dislike giving up Myles Garrett to get a QB though. Every player of note in this group of selections could be a hit or a bust, there’s a lot of talent with red flags – injuries, character concerns etc. – that could work out really well, or really badly.

Solid as a rock. Kimani Vidal was a nice mid-round pick up

I’m pleasantly surprised to see the top end of Goody’s draft (the bottom end of everyone’s draft is awful). I’m not a fan of taking QBs so high because there’s such low demand in our league for them, and I think Williams will be good, but better in the NFL than in fantasy. I think Daniels is probably the best bet for fantasy, though a higher likelihood of being a bust.

There’s a tonne of upside – Williams, Benson, Latu and both Mitchells could be really good. But they all also have massive bust potential. Could be a kickstart to the rebuild, could be a massive waste of time.

Really solid start. I like all of the first 7 picks

Ratings

The 4th Dynmension: Dynasty of Sadness

Self-Assessment

None provided

League Assessment

NB: 7 voters as none of them were Mike.

Best pick for fantasyMalik Nabers (WR, 1.02, 4), Marshawn Lloyd (RB, 2.10, 1), Jerzhan Newton (DT, 4.02, 1)
Best valueMarshawn Lloyd (3), Dallas Turner (DE, 3.02, 2), Ricky Pearsall (WR, 2.02, 1), Cooper Dejean (S, 7.02, 1)
Worst valueRicky Pearsall (3), Michael Penix (QB, 9.02, 2), Dallas Turner (1), Jerzhan Newton (1)
Early picks likely to bustRicky Pearsall (3), Marshawn Lloyd (2), Dallas Turner (2), Malik Nabers (1)
Late picks likely to be usefulBrendon Rice (WR, 8.02, 3), Michael Penix (3), Mike Sainsristil (CB, 10.02, 3), JD Bertrand (LB, 11.02, 1)

Commentary

Overall a very good effort, 7 on 10

I like it. Good balance of positions. Lots of good potential. A good draft to build off. Being manboob of course it will all turn to shit

Lloyd has arguably the best path to relevance (Jacobs is on a defacto one year contract), in a good offence, of any RB in this class, so to get him where he did (RB4?) was pretty good going, but this draft swings on Nabers, who’s a bit Garrett Wilson – clearly talented, but in an awful situation that I can’t see improving. The Giants have the worst O-line in the league, and they’ll have a year of a rehabbing Daniel Jones, following by picking a QB from a bad class too high, and not fixing the O-line, he could end up being the most frustrating player from this draft class, the talent is there but the team can’t utilise it.

Wasn’t a fan of Ricky Pearsall this early, but that applies to the NFL draft too, so maybe the 49ers know something I don’t. Lots of good players at decent values generally.

Perfectly fine draft. I probably would have gone Odunze rather than Nabers, but it’s very much pick your preferred flavour. Will it turn him into a challenger? Maybe. But probably not

Pretty decent up top

Ratings

Dynasore Losers

Self-Assessment

Score7
Why?  My main aim was to take some shots at WR, and given my draft position I think I did reasonably well with that
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Ladd McConkey
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?Stock up at WR in a very strong receiver draft, don’t overdraft players in weak position groups

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyKeon Coleman (WR, 1.09, 4), Roman Wilson (WR, 2.09, 2)
Best valueRoman Wilson (2), Drake Maye (QB, 4.09, 2), Jalynn Polk (WR, 3.09, 1), Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, 10.09, 1)
Worst valueDrake Maye (3), Roman Wilson (2), Jalen Coker (WR, 9.09, 1)
Early picks likely to bustKeon Coleman (3), Roman Wilson (2), Jalynn Polk (2), None (2)
Late picks likely to be usefulKool-Aid McKinstry (5), Rasheen Ali (RB, 8.09, 2), None (1)

Commentary

Drank the Kool-Aid and now his team is on fire

Fine. Very chalky. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing to be upset with, nothing to get excited about. I get the Maye pick in the context of his roster.

Took a few players early that I had as don’t draft (Coleman & polk) and none of the later picks were ones that I was targeting so not for me

Seemed to be stuck picking in some fairly poor slots, but I’m not convinced by any of picks. Coleman probably has a decent floor, but everyone else could end up being useless. Especially Roman Wilson.

No huge stand outs but no misses either.

Ratings

NB – This question was mandatory for Slatz so he entered 1 as a score. This has been discounted when referenced elsewhere.

Hawkesville Hurricanes

Self-Assessment

None provided

League Assessment

NB: 7 voters, as none of the responses was from Neil

Best pick for fantasyXavier Worthy (WR, 1.06, 4), Jermaine Burton (WR, 4.06, 2), Isaac Guerendo (RB 6.02, 1)
Best valueJermaine Burton (4), Xavier Worthy (1), Isaac Guerendo (1), Kamren Kitchens (S, 7.06, 1)
Worst valuePayton Wilson (LB, 3.06, 5), Xavier Worthy (1), Aeneas Smith (WR, 10.06, 1)
Early picks likely to bustXavier Worthy (3), Payton Wilson (3), None (2)
Late picks likely to be usefulJacob Cowing (WR, 8.06, 2), Jordan Magee (LB 9.06, 1), none (3)

Commentary

Lack of a 2nd makes it look slightly worse. I’m okay with the first 3 picks but nothing for me after that

A laser focus on picking funny first names, I respect it

I’m not convinced by Worthy. Perfect situation but he’s mainly speed – I don’t think he’s the second coming of Tyreek. But if he is, he’s quids in. Beyond that I barely recognise any of the names, but that may be a me problem rather than an issue with his draft.

I like Worthy and Burton, and would probably like the whole draft more if he’d taken Burton in the 3rd and Wilson in the 4th. Wilson just seemed like a reach, and there’s too many LBs here overall.

Burton had the talent to go higher, but the character concerns that meant his actual draft position ended up surprising some people. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t, but if it doesn’t I think this class is pretty bleak. I don’t have much faith in Worthy, he could be Tyreek Hill or he could be Skyy Moore.

I like the potential of a couple of these but they are not standing out. Burton could be great but not convinced

Ratings

Dynablaster Bombermen

Self-Assessment

Score4
Why?  I actually think I’ve got some decent players, but I missed out on some targets by a few spots, which frustrated me, and it was just a shit draft in general so no one’s class was going to be great.
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Edgerin Cooper. Went two picks before I was going to take him
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?I wanted RBs, but it was a weak class, as it was almost everywhere, so I guess I’m happy with the ones I got. I wanted a good LB. I got one I’ve never heard of in the hope he might start. This might actually turn out to be one of my better drafts (comparatively) purely because I took two WRs who had inexplicably fallen and felt like I got some bargains, even though I didn’t really want them – Corley and Walker – and I got a Chiefs TE when Kelce is surely nearing the end, so maybe that’s something?

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyJonathan Brooks (RB, 1.07, 4), Jared Verse (DE, 3.07, 1), Malachi Corley (WR, 4.07, 1)
Best valueJonathan Brooks (3), Malachi Corley (2), Jared Verse (1)
Worst valueJaylen Wright (RB, 2.07, 4), Jonathan Brooks (1), Spencer Rattler (WB, 10.07, 1)
Early picks likely to bustJaylen Wright (5), Jonathan Brooks (2), Jared Verse (1)
Late picks likely to be usefulJaden Hicks (S, 9.07, 4), Cade Stover (TE, 8.07, 3), Spencer Rattler (1), DeWayne Carter (DT, 11.07, 1), Jahwar Jordan (RB, 12.07, 1)

Commentary

I will write this comment so reading it feels like Ben’s actual draft… Aaaaaaaaaaa biiiiiit liiiiiiiiiike Adaaaaaaaaaaaaam’s in thaaaaaaaaat I can seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan and the neeeeeeeeeeeeed at RB. Buuuuuuuuuuuut Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeen paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasseeeeeeeeeeed ooooooooooooooooooooooooon gooooooooooooooooooooooood plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayers tooooooooooooooooooooooo piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick RBs iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad situuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatioooooooooooooooooooooooons, whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiich doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooesn’t seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike goooooooooooooooooooood draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaftiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Fucking torturous. [A bit like Adam’s in that I can see the plan and the need at RB. But Ben passed on good players to pick RBs in bad situations, which doesn’t seem like good drafting to me]

I really liked Cade Stover as a sleeper. I was high on Jonathan Brooks too, I think he’ll be very good. Jaylen Wright seemed wildly overdrafted to me – he feels like one of those guys who is a good scheme fit but lacks the talent for that to actually matter.

Taking 2 rb’s with first 2 picks in such a weak draft for RBS is a no no. Brooks should be solid though

Some great value and average picks

I get emotional just looking at it

Ratings

Champions of the Sun

Self-Assessment

None provided

League Assessment

NB: 7 voters, as none of the responses was from Max

Best pick for fantasyJunior Colson (LB, 3.04, 4), Bucky Irving (RB, 5.04, 2), Xavier Leggette (WR, 2.04, 1)
Best valueBucky Irving (2), Xavier Leggette (1), Junior Colson (1), Jalen, McMillan (WR, 5.07, 1), Malik Washington (WR, 6.04, 1), Max Melton (CB, 12.04, 1)
Worst valueXavier Leggette (3), Junior Colson (2), Bo Nix (QB, 6.13, 2)
Early picks likely to bustXavier Leggette (5), Tevin Wallace (LB, 4.04, 2), Junior Colson (1), None (2)
Late picks likely to be usefulNate Wiggins (CB, 8.04, 3), Max Melton (3), Isaiah Davis (RB, 11.04, 1), None (1)

Commentary

Really the value came in trades. Brock Bowers for Myles Garrett and Javonte Williams feels like quite a good deal. I wasn’t a big fan of the rest of the draft. Someone had to take Legette I suppose. Jalen McMillan could be really good. Too many LBs in a shitty LB class.

I’m not sure Max knows who any of these players are. But then I barely do, so I shouldn’t cast aspersions. Maybe rescued a bit by the Garrett trade.

Getting Myle’s Garrett for 10 was good value, and while I understand not wanting Bowers because of strength at TE, Javonte Williams is a dud, and you paid a late 1st round price for him (i.e. imo the difference between 4 and 10 in this draft is c. a late first). Selling cheap to Chris, of all people, is a cardinal skin and I’ve knocked a couple of points off for it, as overall I think without the Bowers trade it’s probably an 8. Other than that, I like some of these picks – Washington might have been a little high, but he is a speedster in an offence that loves that, McMillan was one of my pre-NFL draft crushes (but his landing spot was really bad). I don’t know who the fuck Tevin Wallace is, but double-dipping at LB in this class feels like a waste. NFL teams don’t know how to develop LBs any more.

RB was a need so can understand the trade for javonte with few decent options in the draft. Don’t think Garrett is necessary for him so that was a waste. Too many reaches on lb’s for me

Slightly below average

It’s Legette a fine draft

Ratings

Kelkowski Don’t Play By No Dyna Rules

Self-Assessment

Score6
Why?  Always difficult when you’re at the back end as you can’t get the truly elite picks unless you trade. Got some of my targets. Wasn’t intending to load up on receivers but there were too many good options. Hardly any defenders is a concern. But then there weren’t any good defensive options in the draft
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Jer’zahan newton
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?I start with a philosophy but then it quickly goes out of the window and I panic

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyJayden Daniels (QB, 2.08, 4), Ladd McConkey (WR, 1.08, 2)
Best valueJayden Daniels (3), Troy Franklin (WR, 3.08, 2), Ladd McConkey (1)
Worst valueLadd McConkey (2), Bub Means (WR, 10.08, 2), Troy Franklin (1), Luke McCaffrey (WR, 5.08, 1)
Early picks likely to bustLadd McConkey (2), Jayden Daniels (2), Troy Franklin (1), Ben Sinnott (TE, 3.10, 1), None (1)
Late picks likely to be usefulAdisa Isaac (DE, 8.08, 1), Bub Means (1), Anthony Gould (WR, 12.08. 1), None (3)

Commentary

I love Franklin and that is it

Daniels is the top fantasy QB in this draft and, given how the league values QBs, he did well to get him there – even if I don’t think QBs should go that early. I also recognise some of the other players. It’s an OK draft.

I like the top half of this draft more than the bottom. I’m conflicted about Jayden Daniels, he’s potentially a really good fantasy player, but I don’t trust his playstyle to keep him healthy and I hate breakout Seniors (and that goes double for Covid super-Seniors) as they are just adults beating up on kids and that’s not a good indicator for how they’ll do when everyone else is an adult, but rushing is the fantasy cheat code for QBs, so really him being a bust/success is entirely on his longevity/health. Troy Franklin is an odd one, he profiles like Jameson Williams and was drafted by the NFL in the 4th two years after Williams was a top 10 player. But Williams has never done much either, and Franklin is so skinny you have to be concerned about his ability to survive in the league.

I didn’t like Ladd McConkey this high. Such poor college production, but now we’re expecting him to come in and be a #1 WR? I don’t buy it. Getting Jayden Daniels almost a full round after Caleb is great value. I really liked Sinnott and Franklin as sleepers. Especially Sinnott.

Bub Means what? Took all the good WRs damn it

Ratings

Dyna Hard

Self-Assessment

Score8
Why?  Very pleased that I was able to get 2 of the top 4 guys without paying a premium to trade up. Corum was also useful insurance with upside. Otherwise the whole draft class was a bit meh, so hard to be too excited.
Who were you disappointed to miss out on?Ben Sinnott. I was hoping he’d be available at 4.08.
Did you approach the draft with a particular philosophy?I wanted to stock up on WRs, but that didn’t really happen until some late round dart throws.

League Assessment

NB: 6 voters – you don’t complete this for yourself. Unless Chris neglected to remove the mandatory status for the questions about your team.

Best pick for fantasyRome Odunze (WR, 1.03, 3), Brock Bowers (TE, 1.04, 3)
Best valueBlake Corum (RB, 2.05, 3), Rome Odunze (1), Brock Bowers (1), Audric Estimé (RB, 4.08, 1)
Worst valueBlake Corum (2), Brock Bowers (1), Darius Robinson (DE, 4.10, 1), Braelon Allen (RB, 5.10, 1), Joshua Karty (K, 11.10, 1)
Early picks likely to bustBrock Bowers (2), Blake Corum (2), None (3)
Late picks likely to be usefulTerrion Arnold (CB, 9.10, 2), Louis Rees-Zammit (RB, 12.10, 2), Joshua Karty (1), None (2)

Commentary

As usual, Chris wins by taking advantage of people willing to trade. We can only hope that the arrival of Teddy fucks his judgement and this kind of shit never happens again. You all have blood on your hands.

Some great high value picks

Ummm, the inverse of Max’s comments, getting 1.04 for 1.10 and Javonte Williams was robbery. Not Bijan-scale, but still a robbery. Adding Estime in the 4th who could well end up supplanting Williams was just trolling. I think there’s a path to Odunze being the top WR in this draft. T’Vondre Sweat is an interesting one, played really well in college, and massive athletic profile, but also seen as a massive reach by Tennessee where they took him, even if character concerns were a bit overblown. Given his strength against the run and the Jeffrey Simmonds of it all at the Titans he could end up a nose tackle, but if not he has a chance to be relevant, which is good value for that point in the draft. You forgot to include 1.03 in the picks summary, which is a pretty notable asset.

Pipping us to Brock Bowers was painful. I hope he’s terrible (I don’t)

Aggressive as usual and really solid picks. I don’t know how he does it. Hopefully teddy will slow him down in future

Ratings

Overall

TeamSelf-AssessmentLeague AssessmentDifference
East Flanders Dungeoneers66.1670.167
Here Comes The Brees75.000-2.000
Tamworth Two66.1670.167
The 4th Dynmension: Dynasty of SadnessN/A7.833N/A
Dynasore Losers75.333-1.667
Hawkesville HurricanesN/A5.000N/A
Dynablaster Bombermen45.0001.000
Champions of the SunN/A5.714N/A
Kelkowski Don’t Play By No Dyna Rules67.1671.167
Dyna Hard88.5000.500

So Chris wins the draft, followed by Mike and Ian, and that definitely won’t change over the next few years. Meanwhile the Brees, Hurricanes and Bombermen lost it and may as well give it all up.

Reflections

At least one of you doesn’t understand what the word ‘Value’ means, having repeatedly suggested that picks in the 9th round or later were the worst value picks those teams took, while also suggesting that taking Odunze and Bowers 3rd and 4th – ie getting two of the players universally rated as 2nd to 4th best (pick your own order) in the top 4 – represented good value. Don’t get me wrong, not bad picks, just players taken at pretty much exactly the spot everyone said they should go so offering precisely average value.

There wasn’t a huge amount of consensus across the league. A few picks were universally liked (Marvin Harrison Jr? What are the chances). The Bombermen can take comfort in having all if their late round picks marked by someone as having the potential to be contributor, suggesting an ability to pick players with decent upside at least. It’s a crumb after having the early rounds, if not slated, at least be given a thumbs down. At the other end of the scale, everyone seems overwhelmingly convinced Tamworth’s first 4 picks are destined to bust.

On a personal level, I still didn’t recognise a significant number of the players everyone drafted which either says something about the quality of my research or this draft class.

Draft Day(s) Trades

Who won each of the trades that took place during the draft?

Now, let’s just be clear on this trade. Ignore the players, look at the picks. Chris moves up 3 spots in the second round and down 8 spots from the 3rd to the 4th. That seems reasonably evenly balanced. Indeed, this draft pick value chart suggests it couldn’t have been much closer to even – a perfect swap would have been 2.05 & 4.07 for 2.08 & 3.10 – so one spot out. But Chris managed to get an extra sixth round pick out of the deal. How anyone then felt that Ian won the trade, I do not know.

Draft Miscellany

Biggest Surprise?

How much the fun of it was drained away by long pick times, particularly in the early rounds.

Just how shit it was. I think my lack of preparation was meritted and if it was a better class I’d have dived into it more. I’m also surprised I didn’t get more slated for taking so long to do everything.

That I didn’t get it completely wrong?

The running QBs falling so late. Blake Corum going so so high

That it ended. Seemed like it would never come

The continuing lack of trades. And how generally shit it was given that it had been heralded as a great class.

That it finished so quickly

Timings

Those who felt it went too long were very vocal in their distaste while a silent majority seemed to be OK with it, if not craving even more…

Historical Drafting

Who’s the best drafter?Hard (4), Kelkowski, Losers, Brees (1 each)
Who’s the worst drafter?Dungeoneers (4), Hurricanes (2), Sadness (1)

Other Draft Thoughts

Good fun, could have used more trades. I liked it taking a while.

Let’s hope next year is a better class. For all our sakes.

The highlight

It was a good time, wish it went longer

Who’s going to win Dynabowl XI?

Dyna Hard (4), Dynablaster Bombermen (2), Tamworth Two, Dynasore Losers (1 each)

Who’s going to be picking first in the 2025 draft?

East Flanders Dungeoneers (3), Tamworth Two, The 4th Dynmesnion: Dynasty of Sadness, Hawkesville Hurricanes, Champions of the Sun (1 each)

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Marvin Harrison Jr (5), Jayden Daniels (1)

One vote came with the comment that they prefer Odunze’s chances overall, but think Harrison will be better year one.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Byron Murphy, Laiatu Latu (2 each), Junior Colson, Jer’zahan Newton (1 each)

THE 2024 DYNABOWL DRAFT ENTRANCE SURVEY

The draft entrance survey makes an eagerly awaited, and mildly abridged, return for 2024. I asked all the GMs a few questions about the upcoming draft and, of those who bothered to answer, all but one trusted me not to look at those answers. However, the delay in getting this up and out to you all is only partially down the need to track down the elusive password.

First up, for the third time in a row, it’s the ‘Predict the First Round’ round, with 5 points for an exact match, 3 for a close(ish) match and a single point if the player at least went in the first round, but you weren’t that close. Kelkowski comes into the 2024 on the back of winning in 2022 and jointly winning in 2023. Will they make it a three-peat? There are two other pertinent records – only once before has someone got all ten players that were taken in the first round right, and the most points anyone has got is 33, by Kelkowski in 2022. Will those come into play, or does Checkhov’s meaningless draft survey gun mean nothing to me? Read on…

There we have it. Perhaps a measure of how locked in this draft was, with some clear talent at the top and then a whole load of shit no one wanted later on. Three GMs beat the old record, while the Bombermen named all 10 players to go in the first round. But our 2024 draft prediction champ is Chris of the Hard, narrowly pipping perennial draft prognosticator Ian, of Kelkowksi fame.

A handful of minor observations – Tamworth having 2 QBs in the first round, which I don’t think has ever happened; Losers had Corum as the first RB going, when he was actually the third at slot 2.05; everyone nailed the first overall pick, which weasn’t difficult, and all but one Nabers and Odunze in either second or third, with the Brees thinking Worthy would make it to third on the back of being drafted by the Chiefs; the Hurricanes were the only team to think a defensive player was going in the first round, and they doubled down on that; and finally, TT thought Troy Franklin was going 5th to the Brees, when actually he went 28th to Kelkowski. Would love to know where that came from.

2) If everything breaks right for you, who would you come away with with each of your first 5 picks? Be realistic, no picking the top 5 players in the draft.

Last year there was plenty of delusion – from the Bombermen thinking Anthony Richardson might fall to the top of the fifth round (actually 1.07), to other people thinking players would fall later in the draft too (but none were quite as optimistic as the Bombermen). Let’s see if anyone was more realistic this time?

Starting with the Tamworth Two

Pretty reasonable, really. Except failing to nominate players for the later picks. And even managed to get Javon Baker a round later than hoped for. Not massively far out on the top two wide receivers – the exercise is about ‘if everything breaks right for you’ after all, rather than being 100% realistic.

Right, onto the Losers

Again, a pretty reasonable set of hopes there – maybe even pessimistic given some of the desired players didn’t go until later. The Losers gave up Brandin Cooks to the Dungeoneers in order to take Kneeland at 5.01, but obviously that slot wasn’t on the prediction list.

Someone who definitely wasn’t pessimistic in their approach to this exercise was Neil of the Hurricanes. It’s possible to argue he was a little too optimistic, mind you.

I mean, there’s ‘everything breaking right for you’ and a near universal top 3 pick falling to 6th, the consensus top running back falling to the middle of the second, and possibly the two most desirable defensive players falling to the third and fourth rounds. But hey, we can all dream, I suppose.

Falling somewhere in between reasonable and in-what-world-was-that-going-to-happen is the Hard.

It might be interesting in the locker room for Odunze to find out Nabers was the desired pick, but calling the Bowers trade and pick was good. The delusion comes in when we look at that last pick – Byron Murphy. He turned out to be the first defensive player taken as 2.01 and I struggle to imagine a world where he made it out of round 2, let alone the end of the fourth.

The Brees! They clearly didn’t really know what they wanted beyond the first round, where they were just pipped…

Disappointing lack of thought when it came to the later picks, and disappointing they didn’t leap on Corley in the third, for reasons we’ll come to, when we talk about the Bombermen. But that will have to wait.

Why? Because now it’s time for the Bombermen.

Three of the four picks they missed out on were players taken only a few picks earlier, perhaps most notably Edgerin Cooper, being sniped at 3.05. Marshawn Lloyd is the only stretch there. In a better draft class for RBs I could see him falling further, but it was rather a weak one so it’s understandable he went where he did.

Finally it’s Kelkowski, who were probably just as frustrated as the Bombermen with the amount of sniping that went on…

Missed out on two players by one slot, though it’s possible they got the better fantasy QB in Daniels than the man they’d hoped for at 2.08.

Q3-5) Stuff ’bout tradin’, innit.

It’s at this point that we bid a fond farewell to Kelkowski, who declined to answer any further questions.

What we wanted to know was how many trades would take place, which pick would be the earliest traded, and any other comments. So here we go:

Very optimistic that there would be 10 trades. As it turned out, there were but 4. Chris was, perhaps unsurprisingly, most accurate in which pick would be the first to go, given he traded for 1.04 using 1.10. The Hurricanes got the number of trades right, while the Bombermen were kind of vaguely vindicated with the comments.

Q6) Which position are you most keen to pick up to be a contributor for this season?

Looks like the Losers and Tamworth did the best at fulfilling what they were hoping for, with everyone else getting a bit of it but perhaps not being fully satisfied with the hauls.

Q7) Which player are you most keen to get/most likely to reach for?

It’s not often I am filled with utter contempt for my fellow GMs – once or twice a week max (not Max), during the offseason is all, but I have been seething since I read some of these responses.

This question, on the questionnaire, has the following small print (now appearing as big print):

This is about the player your most likely to take too early just in case someone else gets in there before you. You shouldn’t name anyone you think will go in the first 2 rounds.

THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY ODUNZE COULD REMOTELY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A REACH IS IF HE WENT 1 OVERALL, AND EVEN THEN THERE WOULD BE WAYS TO JUSTIFY IT.

I suppose another way might have been to spend a shit load of picks to move up and get him, but then that’s an overpay, not a reach. Ben, Stew and Neil need to look at the other players named, read that small print, and think long and hard about what they’ve done wrong.

Q8) Who will be the first QB taken, and with which pick?

Possibly the most boring question (hotly contested title) with the Bombermen and Brees being equally close and the Hurricanes being way off.

I’ve said Williams at 1.09 above, but I would not be surprised if Daniels was the one to go because of the running threat. I also don’t feel great about him going in the first round. I feel like I’m out of step with the league’s ratings of QBs. I don’t think there’s great value in taking one in the first, but it feels like someone always goes earlier than I expect.

Bombermen GM, Benjamin Hendy

Q9) Who will be the first defensive player taken and when will they go?

No one got the player, but no one was that far out slot-wise…

Probably Laiatu Latu, on the basis of him being the first defensive player taken in the actual draft. Probably 2.04?

Hard GM, Chris Braithwaite

Laiatu Latu – we quite often follow NFL draft order and he was the first one off the board landing in a spot where he’ll be able to rush the passer as a primary threat. Late in the second, I was going to say 19th, but that’s my pick and I won’t be taking him, so 18th.

Losers GM, David Slater

Q10-12) Winners, Losers and Self-Assessment

Some comments on winners:

Probably Adam, on the basis of having the #1 pick – Chris, Hard GM

Either Chris or Adam – two top 10 picks for Chris will give him a good chance to land two guys, and if Adam gets a good player who’s fallen at 11 (e.g. Jonathon Brooks) that’ll be a great looking opening – Dave, Losers GM

Adam makes a spectacular entrance by winning the draft, basically because he got Harrison jnr – Ben, Bombermen GM

Comments on losers (not Losers):

Goody. He doesn’t have a 1st round pick, has lots of holes and a tendency to reach – Chris, Hard GM

TT because they don’t have a first round pick and some of you don’t get that you should judge a team’s draft based on the capital they had coming in – Ben, Bombermen GM

And some self-assessment comments:

Near the bottom – always do due to fewer picks – James, Tamworth GM

Probably about 4th, unless I can swing a trade to get 2 of the top 4 – Chris, Hard GM

I’ve got the 9th pick, so I’m fighting an uphill battle – Slatz, Losers GM

Solidly mid-table – Ben, Bombermen GM

Q13) How long will the draft last?

The only question that matters, and it was closely fought this year with two GMs just 5 seconds apart, while the Bombermen did their best to elongate the draft as much as possible to almost twice as long as they had predicted.

So the Hard were closest by those extra five seconds.

It did not go unnoticed that the two closest guesses were basically 876 and 8765.

So there we have it. The entrance survey is over, and with no comments expressing frustration with any of the questions or the overall duration. Which was a pleasant surprise.