DRAFT 2024 2nd Round Pick - WR Ja'Lynn Polk

[Wozzy]

Gabe Davis a former UCF guy have done well in this league he signed a nice contract with the Jags in FA. That makes me have faith in Bakers potential.

He wouldn't have even been allowed through the doors at Alabama if he wasn't a good athlete, they don't recruit any other kind.

 

[PatsFan2]

He wouldn't have even been allowed through the doors at Alabama if he wasn't a good athlete, they don't recruit any other kind.

Some forget that Drake Maye decommitted from Alabama and went NC instead. Bama was always stacked at QB and WR.

 

[Huckleberry1]

This ^ makes no sense.

It's pretty simple. BB was in charge of all football operations and football related decisions including personnel... until 2021 when Bob Kraft held an impromptu press conference saying the draft was becoming a collaboration. It was also around this time Elliot Wolf was hired.

If the owner says it's now a collaboration the dynamic changed... whether you like it or not.

So they chose players by a majority vote?

 

[Wozzy]

So they chose players by a majority vote?

I suspect Jonathan Kraft had final say when they took Mac in 2021, but it could have been Wolf, it also could have been Bill... but assuming it was Bill and only Bill when the owner just told us the dynamic changed is selective hearing.

I doubt if BB said to Jonathan that he was willing to wait until the second round to take a QB (Davis Mills) that would have gone over well considering the feeling of desperation about the position and with Mac staring them in the face at 15. We know Bill was high on Mills, so it's not that big of a leap in logic.

 

[Huckleberry1]

This ^ makes no sense.

It's pretty simple. BB was in charge of all football operations and football related decisions including personnel... until 2021 when Bob Kraft held an impromptu press conference saying the draft was becoming a collaboration. It was also around this time Elliot Wolf was hired.

It’s pretty simple, one person makes the final decision. They do so because they are in charge.

 

[dliverey44]

I gotta say that the 40 is one of the most overrated combine measurements. The clock starts on first movement, so the need to have a good track stance so they don't start the clock with an early arm movement. I might change my mind when WR start lining up in a 3 point stance. I find it pretty useless. A lot of people tell me that so and so is a below average athlete because they run a slower 40, it doesn't mean anything.

Rant over for now

 

[Wozzy]

It’s pretty simple, one person makes the final decision. They do so because they are in charge.

Kraft is the owner… you’re right about that.

 

[Wozzy]

I gotta say that the 40 is one of the most overrated combine measurements. The clock starts on first movement, so the need to have a good track stance so they don't start the clock with an early arm movement. I might change my mind when WR start lining up in a 3 point stance. I find it pretty useless. A lot of people tell me that so and so is a below average athlete because they run a slower 40, it doesn't mean anything.

Rant over for now

Agree forty times are over analyzed and scrutinized, I prefer to look at the entire body of measurables. It’s hard to do though when prospects only give partial workouts. Measurables should be used in conjunction with all the other data and tape you have on a prospect.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Kraft is the owner… you’re right about that.

That would be the same Bob Kraft who said chose “ Bill over Tom,” but then apparently gave his power over to his subordinates.

 

[Wozzy]

That would be the same Bob Kraft who said chose “ Bill over Tom,” but then apparently gave his power over to his subordinates.

Kraft is feeling his age and desperate to get into the HOF, he’ll say anything to prop himself up now.

 

[rochrist]

Baker could not get on the field at Alabama so he transfered to UCF, a major step down in competition. So you watched him while playing at UCF and that leads you to think he will be an exceptional athlete in the NFL even though his testing numbers, like his relative 7.84 RAS score, were very mediocre? I hope he works out, but his college history and pre-draft testing numbers indicate he is a very average athlete. Some average athletes do well in the NFL, but it is not common.

Javon Baker: athleticism score: 70 Propect Grade: 6.25

Puka Nacua: athleticism score: 55 Prospect Grade: 5.80
Nacua first season: 105 receptions, 1486 yards, 6 TDs,

Pre-draft testing numbers are not the be-all end-all you think they are.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Javon Baker: athleticism score: 70 Propect Grade: 6.25

Puka Nacua: athleticism score: 55 Prospect Grade: 5.80
Nacua first season: 105 receptions, 1486 yards, 6 TDs,

Pre-draft testing numbers are not the be-all end-all you think they are.

I agree that athletic testing is not critical but it is important. There are exceptions. It is better to draft guys that have exceptional talent if possible. Drafting guys that are not as talented and hoping we found a needle in the haystack is not a wise drafting philosophy IMO.

 

[rochrist]

You watched him play college players. Let's see what he looks like playing against bigger, faster and stronger men.

You think that will magically change what his physical traits and skills are?

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

You think that will magically change what his physical traits and skills are?

No, but it will change how effective his traits are. An extreme example would be a dominant college men's basketball national champion vs the NBA champion. The physical traits and skills of those college players don't look so impressive up against bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled NBA players, right? If the college team had a high first rounder, he could probably hang in there, but almost everyone else has no shot. It would be a bloodbath. Polk isn't anywhere close to a high first rounder for any traits, except perhaps some intangibles.

Remember when Brian Scalabrine (at age 40) took on that Div. 1 college player and destroyed him? He said, "I'm closer to Lebron than you are to me." And he was right, even though he was considered to be one of the worst NBA players at various points in his career. The gulf between college and the pros is large.

 

[PatsFan2]

Javon Baker: athleticism score: 70 Propect Grade: 6.25

Puka Nacua: athleticism score: 55 Prospect Grade: 5.80
Nacua first season: 105 receptions, 1486 yards, 6 TDs,

Pre-draft testing numbers are not the be-all end-all you think they are.

 

[PatMan]

Can anyone tell me what the history of NFL receivers who weren't the top target on their college team is like? I know Steve Smith compared Polk to TJ Houshmandzadeh, but Houshmandzadeh went in the 7th round.

The second round just seems like the place they should have picked a starting left tackle and not reached for a receiver to me.

 

[rkarp1]

That would be the same Bob Kraft who said chose “ Bill over Tom,” but then apparently gave his power over to his subordinates.

it has been fairly well documented by numerous outlets that the wording in Bill's contract was that he had total control over all football decisions. if that was violated, Bill was a free agent if he so chose.
I do agree, RK did say "listen to your scouts" but the final decisions, over everything, was with one person. Bill.

 

[1960Pats]

it has been fairly well documented by numerous outlets that the wording in Bill's contract was that he had total control over all football decisions. if that was violated, Bill was a free agent if he so chose.
I do agree, RK did say "listen to your scouts" but the final decisions, over everything, was with one person. Bill.

There you go. That should end the argument.

 

[1960Pats]

Javon Baker: athleticism score: 70 Propect Grade: 6.25

Puka Nacua: athleticism score: 55 Prospect Grade: 5.80
Nacua first season: 105 receptions, 1486 yards, 6 TDs,

Pre-draft testing numbers are not the be-all end-all you think they are.

They aren't meaningless but it's close. I bet if we looked we could find players at every position in the HOF that didn't have great numbers. It's what they do on the field that counts and it's going to be a while before we have a clear picture.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Can anyone tell me what the history of NFL receivers who weren't the top target on their college team is like? I know Steve Smith compared Polk to TJ Houshmandzadeh, but Houshmandzadeh went in the 7th round.

The second round just seems like the place they should have picked a starting left tackle and not reached for a receiver to me.

Except that 8-9 tackles were already gone at #34, so the ones remaining were on a tier where you could get the same value in the 3rd round.