Reflecting on past drafts often brings moments of hindsight, where we lament missed opportunities, imagining snagging that coveted Pro-Bowler instead of the underwhelming “dope” we ended up with. But until you’re sitting in the hot seat with the GM, faced with the weight of making crucial decisions, it’s hard to truly grasp the complexity of picking winners. It’s essential to acknowledge the intricate groundwork behind acquiring draft picks through trades, a task demanding skill and strategy. Credit is due to Joe and his team for their prowess in orchestrating those deals.

The heart of this experiment lies in the picks themselves. Over the past seven or eight years, I’ve been making my selections before our GM submits theirs. I suspect many of you have engaged in similar exercises. It’s a captivating long-term endeavor, tracking the progress of these picks over three to four years. Through this process, you begin to envision the composition of a team crafted by your own hand. Did our choices align with those of Joe Douglas? It’s time to examine how our selections fared against his. Let’s dive into the comparisons and see how my picks stack up against Joe’s when the pressure was on.

ROUND 1 (PICK 11)

My Pick: OT, Troy Fautanu, Washington

JD’s Pick: OT, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

I remained steadfast to my draft board strategy. Tackle was the clear target, with the only question being which one to choose. Olu boasts impressive pass protection skills, arguably among the best in this class, though his performance in the run game leaves something to be desired. That’s why I opted for Fautanu. He offers a more balanced skill set and brings a gritty physicality to the field. Rumors circulating suggest Fautanu may have health issues, likely contributing to his slide in the draft. Unfortunately, without access to comprehensive medical reports, these remain without context. I’m hopeful Fautanu can emulate Trey Smith’s success for me, proving doubters wrong despite initial health concerns.

ROUND 3 (PICK 65)

My Pick: WR, Malik Washington, Virginia

JD’s Pick: WR, Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky

JD, myself, and practically everyone else were eyeing a wide receiver for this pick. The big question was: who? If you polled a dozen people on their preference, you’d likely receive a dozen different names. It was a ‘pick your flavor’ scenario. Corley stands out as an exceptional wide receiver, clearly capturing the hearts of JD and Saleh. He’s poised to take on the same role we would have envisioned for Bowers. They’ll put the ball in his hands and let him work his magic. Personally, I leaned towards Washington, who brings a broader skill set as a pure wide receiver. He faced the challenge of being the sole standout on his team. Despite defenses keying in on him, he consistently delivered. That level of production is hard to come by. It’s puzzling why he dropped so far in the draft, but Corley will undoubtedly have more immediate opportunities to showcase his talent than Washington.

ROUND 4 (PICK 134)

My Pick: QB, Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

JD’s Pick: RB, Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

After a hand full of trades, we finally solidified our choice in the 4th round. I’ve long advocated for the Jets to seize the opportunity to secure a potential quarterback of the future when it arises. Many anticipated Rattler being off the board much earlier, yet here he was at pick 134. I can confidently say that no other quarterback in this draft class has encountered as much adversity as Rattler has. From his humbling experiences at Oklahoma to navigating through a slew of issues with the South Carolina offense (including O-line injuries, dropped passes, and Dowell Loggains), he’s shown resilience and adaptability. I’ve grown weary of drafting quarterbacks based solely on potential, so I opted for the grit and determination of a player with proven NFL-caliber resilience. Additionally, the Allen pick couldn’t have been more satisfying. He ranked as my RB4 and seamlessly aligns with the direction of our evolving run scheme.

ROUND 5 (PICK 171)

My Pick: IOL, Beaux Limmer, Arkansas

JD’s Pick: QB, Jordan Travis, Florida State

Our primary concern for success in 2024 lies in the health of our offensive line. While we solidified our tackle positions, depth on the interior remained a concern. At the time, JD hadn’t exercised AVT’s fifth-year option. It seemed logical to acquire a player with positional versatility who could also potentially develop into a starter. Limmer embodies the rugged style of play we’re cultivating in our offensive line. As for Travis, it’s clear that his injury impacted his draft stock; otherwise, he would have likely been selected much earlier. Nonetheless, this situation aligns perfectly for us. He now has the opportunity to recover and mature under the mentorship of Rodgers and Tyrod, providing him with ample room for growth.

ROUND 5 (PICK 173)

My Pick: RB, Kimani Vidal, Troy

JD’s Pick: RB, Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State

Kimani Vidal stands out in this draft class with his remarkable yards after contact, establishing himself as a true force for Troy as their primary running back. He displayed an impressive tenacity, relentlessly battling for every yard. Additionally, Vidal brings versatility to the table with his adept pass-blocking and receiving abilities. He would have served as an excellent complement to Hall in our backfield. However, the selection of Isaiah Davis presents an interesting twist. Davis shares similarities with Braelon Allen, making this pick somewhat puzzling.

ROUND 5 (PICK 176)

My Pick: WR, Brenden Rice, USC

JD’s Pick: CB, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto

Brenden Rice boasts perhaps the most impressive pedigree among receivers in this class, being the son of the legendary Jerry Rice. Given the depth of talent at the position in this draft, it made perfect sense to double down here. Having previously drafted Washington, I sought to add diversity by targeting more of an X receiver. Meanwhile, Stiggers’ story is one of remarkable perseverance. Overcoming significant personal loss and grappling with mental health challenges, his journey to Florham Park has been arduous. I’m delighted that his path now aligns with ours, and I look forward to seeing his continued growth and success with our team.

ROUND 7 (PICK 257)

My Pick: S, Omar Brown, Nebraska

JD’s Pick: S, Jaylen Key, Alabama

Once again, JD and I shared a common vision regarding the position to target in this round. Omar Brown particularly stood out to me with his impressive versatility across all three positions, coupled with his tenacious physicality on the field. While my exposure to Key has been limited, the glimpses I’ve caught suggest he shares Brown’s penchant for physical play and adept angle-taking, making him a promising prospect as well.

RECAP