Hogs Haven
Plenty of QBs, but where were the OTs?
With the 2024 NFL draft in the rear view mirror, it is time to recap my bold predictions and mark the ones that can be evaluated at this time.
As usual, there were some big surprises in this year’s draft. But the biggest surprise of was, I actually predicted one of the biggest ones.
Before I start, I have to flog myself for leaving points on the field. As you might have guessed from the frightful lack of proof reading, I found myself racing to get through my pre-draft articles this year, due to a two-week family holiday at the beginning of April. In my rush to get the predictions out, I seem to have overlooked predicting that the Commanders would draft a big wide receiver.
Oh well, at least my roundup of defenders who arrive violently got one across the line. If I had just thought of writing one on offensive tackles that we won’t draft, I could have cleaned up.
Here is how this year’s Bold Predictions are travelling, three days after the fact.
Adam Peters had his choice of the QBs available after the Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams first overall. He selected the Heisman winning dual threat playmaker from LSU, Jayden Daniels, who had been the odds-on favorite for the Commanders’ pick. The selection of Daniels along with the rest of the Commanders’ draft got good grades from media analysts, and was well received by Hogs Haven readers, notwithstanding a tiny minority who are still salty that he didn’t pick their guy, an OT or trade back.
Jayden Daniels will ride into Washington on a wave of optimism and good will. If the history of QBs drafted near the top of the first round is any indication, he has about a 50% of catching on long term, although that number might get revised down if you take a more granular look at where he was picked in the top 10.
The chance that a QB drafted in the first round will play like a legit NFL starter in his first season is significantly lower than 50%, but it does happen. In fact, the QB selected second overall last year made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, as did the last QB Washington selected with the second pick.
Whether Jayden Daniels has a rookie season like C.J. Stroud or more like Trevor Lawrence, I remain confident that the fanbase, myself included, will be high on his future at season’s end.
Everyone expected the Commanders to make an OT their second selection, with the hope of landing a Year 1 starter at pick #36, if not sooner via a trade back into the first round....
