Matt's Draft Journal

Holding over 25 records at Ohio State and surpassing Drew Brees for most career offensive yards in Big Ten history, JT Barrett had quite the career at the NCAA level. Yet, like many other great college quarterbacks before him, he faces questions about the uncertainty of a future in the NFL. Will he receive an opportunity to remain at the position he held title to in Columbus? Or will a potential pro possibility preclude Barrett from throwing passes? As a student-athlete who attains success quickly and throughout their college career, the scrutiny that is associated with the spotlight can come early and often. Frequently in the pre-draft process a concerted focus on what is perceived to be lacking or needing refinement by a particular prospect is had. While fans of a program marvel at the moments and productivity of their star player during its tenure, talent evaluators and executives look to scrutinize any particular flaw they view as apparent. Each side of the spectrum can b...

Have the Jets found their guy they feel is best suited to lead them to their first NFL title since "Broadway" Joe Namath guaranteed a Super Bowl victory in 1969? It seems as though they have. And that man may have just the amount of confidence to do the same in the future, as multiple sources say they expect the New York franchise to select the bold and brazen Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Per Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com , a source who has dealt with the top quarterbacks in the draft over the last few years stated Mayfield to the Jets is a "done deal." That report falls in accordance with Optimum Scouting and Sporting News' Eric Galko saying the Jets pick is "in pen", having them selecting Mayfield during his latest mock draft. Almost assuredly set to take a quarterback to be the future and face of their franchise, the Jets moved up from the sixth overall pick to the third slot. Swapping spots with the Indianapolis Colts and surrende...

Following Trent Richardson being taken third overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, the running back spot went without a player being selected in the first round over the next two years. It wasn't until Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon went in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft that the position has had a string of three consecutive drafts where a prospect was chosen within the first 32 selections. Since then Ezekiel Elliot, Christian McCaffrey, and Leonard Fournette have heard their names called near the top of the draft. However, other notable productive ball carriers during that span of time have been selected beyond the first day of the draft. Value at the position has proven to be available throughout the entirety of the draft with players Carlos Hyde (2014), David Johnson (2015), and Devonta Freeman (2014) being selected in the second, third, and fourth rounds, respectively. Other quality backs also have emerged later from guys chosen in third day of the event as Jay Ajayi (2015)...

"Throwback Thursday" is a popular weekly internet trend that is often featured on the various forms of social media where individuals and groups post pictures or videos that reach back into the past. It allows those individuals, both who participate and indulge in the trend, to take a look at what was and provide a comparison or potential contrast to what currently is today. Often times during the pre-draft process of the NFL, teams will look for a certain mold of player that resembles a player either currently or formerly in the NFL to fit into a specific scheme that their team utilizes or plans to put in place for the near future or upcoming season. More specifically, when a particular prospect is being evaluated a comparison is often drawn to a player currently in the NFL to provide a description as the type of player the prospect resembles physically and potentially in terms of production once they reach the next level. Regardless, a throwback version of most prospects c...

As the NFL Draft approaches, now less than a month away, I've had different thoughts in following the various takes that happen daily related to the draft. With the initial onslaught of free agency now passed, as well as other notable transactions across the league have taken place and providing a clearer picture of where each team stand's currently, I find now to be a good time to pause and take a look at some things which figure to be of effect for the 2018 NFL Draft.  Don't Forget About The Offensive Line As big-named position players are both signed and released, as well as some other notable players being traded, while other transactions are made to position teams to select quarterbacks of the future who are yet to be on their roster, it can be easy to forget about the impact and importance of the offensive line. Play in recent years across the five different positions that comprise the offensive line (center, left and right guard/tackle) has been described...