What does “Generational Talent” mean to you?

[Steve102]

It's more than athleticism, it has to be athleticism + something. Aaron Donald was very athletic but had the production to back it up. There are productive people without the athleticism, just as there are athletic people without the production that fail. I'd also add that size/weight can also be factors to differentiate the great from the not so great - see Gronk or Calvin Johnson. you need at least two of the three (athleticism/production/size-weight) to have a chance at being 'generational' and preferably all three.

As Capt. Jack Ross would say: The government will stipulate.

 

[Vindicate]

Usain Bolt -> Once in a lifetime

Michael Phelps -> Generational

Generational often includes, along the case of football: big hands, long wingspan, fast, tall

Coupled with a prodigious understanding of the sport.

LT is a great example in that, while he knew what everyone was gonna do, he often did not "know" what he was gonna do, it just was natural to him. He basically said this.

The reason it's generational is because it's hitting both the mental and physical, both of which are in a very small percentile, respectively. This renders its chances of happening to once every 25+ years.

 

[Vindicate]

Usain Bolt -> Once in a lifetime,

Michael Phelps -> Generational

Generational often includes, along the case of football: big hands, long wingspan, fast, tall

Coupled with a prodigious understanding of the sport.

LT is a great example in that, while he knew what everyone was gonna do, he often did not "know" what he was gonna do, it just was natural to him. He basically said this.

Miss would just get stoned and let it rip. No one comes close to his ability to track a ball.

The reason it's generational is because it's hitting both the mental and physical, both of which are in a very small percentile, respectively. This renders its chances of happening to once every 25+ years.

 

[manxman2601]

I've been following the draft since 2011 and then taking a hiatus in 2020. In that time, I would suggest the following should have been considered as possible generational talent at draft time:

2011 - Von Miller, AJ Green, Patrick Peterson
2012 - Andrew Luck
2013 - No-one (my God what an awful draft)
2014 - Jadeveon Clowney (Not sure about this one)
2015 - No-one
2016 - Probably no -one although maybe Jalen Ramsey
2017 - Myles Garrett
2018 - Saquon Barkley
2019 - No-one

Although the definition of generational is technically 'once in a generation' I believe you can have more than one in a generation (see The Beatles and The Rolling Stones).

 

[Steve102]

I've been following the draft since 2011 and then taking a hiatus in 2020. In that time, I would suggest the following should have been considered as possible generational talent at draft time:

2011 - Von Miller, AJ Green, Patrick Peterson
2012 - Andrew Luck
2013 - No-one (my God what an awful draft)
2014 - Jadeveon Clowney (Not sure about this one)
2015 - No-one
2016 - Probably no -one although maybe Jalen Ramsey
2017 - Myles Garrett
2018 - Saquon Barkley
2019 - No-one

Although the definition of generational is technically 'once in a generation' I believe you can have more than one in a generation (see The Beatles and The Rolling Stones).

I'll cosign Clowney. He was a freak of nature coming out.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I think of it as someone who's clearly head-and-shoulders above anyone in the last few draft cycles. I remember getting that feeling when I watched Adrian Peterson, for example. Plenty of good (even some great) RBs in the years around him, but he was just better. I don't think it needs to be an all-decade type of player, or once in a real generation, but it's definitely overused when we hear it every year or two.

 

[XLIX]

I think one of the most overused phrases around draft time is “Generational Talent”. To me, the meaning should be self evident- you are All Decade team type player- one of the top 2-3 players at your position for a decade.

It absolutely is an overused phrase. It seems as though the media annoints a "generational talent" every other year.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

Just want to thank everyone for the thoughtful discussion. It has been a true pleasure to read on a Friday after a long week.

 

[Huckleberry1]

HOF player.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think one of the most overused phrases around draft time is “Generational Talent”. To me, the meaning should be self evident- you are All Decade team type player- one of the top 2-3 players at your position for a decade.

I started having this debate last year with local friends about Marvin Harrison Jr.- who was the generational talent flavor of the day. I was saying, I am not sure how much better he is than Odunze or Nabers. I don’t see a world where he is better than Jefferson or Chase. If he flourishes and equals Nakua or AJ Btown, that makes him a great player, but like the 3rd-5th best receiver in the league.

So, I can see looking at Travis Hunter and if you believe he can dominate on both sides of the ball- that would be generational. But I don’t see him as generational on offense or defense. Excellent, yes, but not generational. I think he is only generational if he excels on both sides.

I can see if you really think that Abdul Carter is like Micah Parsons or prime Von Miller, that is generational.

To me, if you think a QB prospect is generational, you should be slotting them between Mahomes and Allen/Lamar Jackson. Those are the current generational talents.
Matt Stafford is not and never was. Big Ben was not- he was behind Brady and Manning. Joe Burrow is not, to me. He is very good, but he does not stand above others in his generation. He is an All Pro talent- but not generational.

But, I realize, I might just be old and cranky. I ask you, wise Draft Forum, what does generational talent mean to you.

Completely overused phrase. Harrison Jr. is a really good young player, but he’s not a sure fire HOF player. I don’t think we have seen a “ generational talent” for some time.

 

[jboston19]

The draft itself is big business now. The phrase gets tossed around now to help hype up each class.

To answer your question, to me it’s a fancy and hyperbolic way of saying someone has high potential.

 

[jmt57]

It absolutely is an overused phrase. It seems as though the media annoints a "generational talent" every other year.

I concur. Based on how the media uses the phrase, they should be writing "annual talent".

It reminds me of what Dallas RB Duane Thomas said back in the seventies:

"If the Super Bowl is the ultimate game, how come there is another one next year?"

 

[Grogan14]

Jalen Carter 2023 draft

Ridiculous he lasted till 9th pick

Game wrecker



There just aren’t many like him over a 20 year period

 

[TheRainMaker]

My interpretation is that it’s something you find again for a long time.

The guys I remember that had this sort of hype since 2010 were Suh, Clowney, Luck, Newton, Ramsey, Garrett, Lawerence, Patrick Peterson and maybe Barkley.

The term isn’t thrown around that much.

 

[stinkypete]

The term is ridiculously overused. I'm on the train of a generational talent needing to be on the short list of most dominant players in an era.

Out of active players, I only view Mahomes and Jefferson as having reached "generational" status. Other guys from the past decade who were generational: Brady, Gronk, Aaron Donald, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, maybe Revis, maybe Watt, maybe Megatron. That's about it.

 

[BTTA]

What comes to mind first, and unfairly, is that the term is a lazy shortcut, an avoidance of the work required in specificity.

When the Tennessee GM said it recently, my internal reaction was that they are a bit overwhelmed with the first pick, and the QB vs. BPA decision, and worried about criticism from the public/fans. Using that term justifies their selection without having to explain why they picked a certain player in tangible terms.

 

[Patriot Missile]

After last season with Harrison I will refrain from calling anyone a generational player. Hunter has the chance to be a generational player will be the new saying. You can’t just be a generational player coming out of college. It happens but it’s so rare. Some can become generational 3 years into careers. It’s almost unfair with that expectation.

 

[manxman2601]

After last season with Harrison I will refrain from calling anyone a generational player. Hunter has the chance to be a generational player will be the new saying. You can’t just be a generational player coming out of college. It happens but it’s so rare. Some can become generational 3 years into careers. It’s almost unfair with that expectation.

Not to nitpick but the question was about generational talent and I think that's a key difference. Considering what he can do on both sides of the ball it's not unreasonable to call Hunter a generational talent because it's barely ever happened. Now if he just becomes a WR or CB he probably won't be a generational player.

 

[bakes781]

 

[JerseyShore99]

The term is ridiculously overused. I'm on the train of a generational talent needing to be on the short list of most dominant players in an era.

Out of active players, I only view Mahomes and Jefferson as having reached "generational" status. Other guys from the past decade who were generational: Brady, Gronk, Aaron Donald, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, maybe Revis, maybe Watt, maybe Megatron. That's about it.

None of those guys were considered generational propsects either, very interesting

Since I've been following the draft since 2013, I think Trevor Lawrence was really the only generational prospect to come out and obviously he has failed to live up to that....Perhaps Clowney was considered one as well