2025 Post Draft: What Would You Have Done

I have to admit this was probably the most frustrating draft we've ever had under John Lynch and Kyle in that we had so many premium picks and probably only one true value selection (CJ West) and several massive reaches with premium picks because we panicked when there was no player at that position of that caliber on the board. Given how people's response to this is always "you don't know better than the front office". I thought it'd be fun to have a dedicated thread for people to post what they would've done as GM so we can compare. Mind you we have the benefit of hindsight knowing where players landed so try to be honest.

Here's mine:

Walter Nolen
Mike Green
Shavon Revel
Jalen Royels
CJ West - Loved this pick
Joshua Farmer
DJ Giddens
Chris Paul
Quinn Ewers
Connor Colby - Loved this pick
Jared Ivey

Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
I have to admit this was probably the most frustrating draft we've ever had under John Lynch and Kyle in that we had so many premium picks and probably only one true value selection (CJ West) and several massive reaches with premium picks because we panicked when there was no player at that position of that caliber on the board. Given how people's response to this is always "you don't know better than the front office". I thought it'd be fun to have a dedicated thread for people to post what they would've done as GM so we can compare. Mind you we have the benefit of hindsight knowing where players landed so try to be honest.

Here's mine:

Walter Nolen
Mike Green
Shavon Revel
Jalen Royels
CJ West - Loved this pick
Joshua Farmer
DJ Giddens
Chris Paul
Quinn Ewers
Connor Colby - Loved this pick
Jared Ivey

Spending two high picks on guys with character concerns doesn't exactly scream value to me.

It was Nolen or Williams for me come draft day. I think Williams plays a more premium position and doesn't have any of those character issues. Would have been happy with either.

I mean it was clear as day that most NFL teams weren't spending a top 64 pick on Green… there was issues with the SA stuff.

Revel Gonna even play this yr?

Not sure what folks saw in Royals. Wasn't a fan.

I say all this not trying to crap on your picks. I would have preferred they moved around a little more.

End of the day imo this was a subpar draft class overall. I think if we can manage some solid starters and if Williams can become a really good EDGE2. I will call it a super successful draft class, given what was available.

Farmer went before our 6th pick.

Wow i got complete opposite vibes from this draft class then from prior years. I stopped looking at the draft class in terms of "my guys I'd want" just due to the fact i have no idea of their medicals, how they do in interviews, their past etc. Instead I try to look at what needs do we fill either now or a year down the road and why we chose the player. With that said i thought the draft class is pretty good.

I also don't see how you can say Mykel Williams is a reach? Mykel was #16 on the concensus board and Nolan was #29. Technically that would have been a much bigger reach then Mykel.

And at the end of the day draft value doesn't mean much. It doesnt matter where you got a player just as long as you got him. Denver got great draft value by drafting Jake Butt in 2017. 1 pick later the 49ers picked George Kittle who wasn't much of a value pick.

Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
I have to admit this was probably the most frustrating draft we've ever had under John Lynch and Kyle in that we had so many premium picks and probably only one true value selection (CJ West) and several massive reaches with premium picks because we panicked when there was no player at that position of that caliber on the board. Given how people's response to this is always "you don't know better than the front office". I thought it'd be fun to have a dedicated thread for people to post what they would've done as GM so we can compare. Mind you we have the benefit of hindsight knowing where players landed so try to be honest.

Here's mine:

Walter Nolen
Mike Green
Shavon Revel
Jalen Royels
CJ West - Loved this pick
Joshua Farmer
DJ Giddens
Chris Paul
Quinn Ewers
Connor Colby - Loved this pick
Jared Ivey

Playing the hindsight game I would have been fine with just 1 swap. Jahdae Barron instead of Williams. Then Jack Sawyer instead of of Upton. rest could have stayed the same and I would have been ecstatic. Don't mind the draft as is, but my preference would have been that switch.

I would have drank more and cared less

11 DT Derrick Harmon
43 DT Alfred Collins
75 DE Jordan Burch
100 RB Cam Skattebo
113 CB Quincy Riley
138 DE Bradyn Swinson
147 OLB Jeffrey Bassa
160 C Drew Kendall
227 WR Kaden Prather
249 OG Conner Colby
252 FS JJ Roberts

Here is what I would have done in each spot given the way the draft fell.

R1 (11) - Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
R2 (43) - Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
R3 (75) - Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
R3 (100) (Comp - Ran Carthon) - Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma
R4 (113) - CJ West, DT, Indiana
R4 (138) (Comp - Chase Young) - Marcus Mbow, IOL, Purdue
R5 (147) (Via Washingon via New Orleans) - Elijah Roberts, DL, SMU
R6 (160) (from Vikings) - Chris Paul, LB, Ole Miss
R7 (227) (from Panthers) - Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
R7 (249) (Comp) - Logan Brown, OT, Kansas
R7 (252) (Comp - Ray Ray McCloud) - Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
I have to admit this was probably the most frustrating draft we've ever had under John Lynch and Kyle in that we had so many premium picks and probably only one true value selection (CJ West) and several massive reaches with premium picks because we panicked when there was no player at that position of that caliber on the board. Given how people's response to this is always "you don't know better than the front office". I thought it'd be fun to have a dedicated thread for people to post what they would've done as GM so we can compare. Mind you we have the benefit of hindsight knowing where players landed so try to be honest.

Here's mine:

Walter Nolen
Mike Green
Shavon Revel
Jalen Royels
CJ West - Loved this pick
Joshua Farmer
DJ Giddens
Chris Paul
Quinn Ewers
Connor Colby - Loved this pick
Jared Ivey

I'm going to try to be honest about it and not look at who went where.

Going off memory on who I wanted at each pick.

1. Mykel Williams
2. Darius Alexander
3. Jaylin Noel
3b. Seeing Charles Grant go off the board a pick before ours SUCKED. I'd probably take CJ West here(which is why I loved the pick when it happened next)
4. Quincy Riley
4b. Marcus Mbow
5. Jeffrey Bassa
5b. Jackson Slater
7. Brashard Smith
7b. Jared Ivey
7c. Cobee Bryant

mukuba was one of my favorite secondary draft prospects from this draft

Originally posted by NYniner85:

The highest-graded Day 2 picks from Week 2 of the preseason ? pic.twitter.com/8bp805UfaW

— PFF (@PFF) August 20, 2025

mukuba was one of my favorite secondary draft prospects from this draft

rich get richer with philly. campbell is gonna be a beast behind that philly front.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
It was Nolen or Williams for me come draft day. I think Williams plays a more premium position and doesn't have any of those character issues. Would have been happy with either.

I mean it was clear as day that most NFL teams weren't spending a top 64 pick on Green… there was issues with the SA stuff.

Revel Gonna even play this yr?

Not sure what folks saw in Royals. Wasn't a fan.

I say all this not trying to crap on your picks. I would have preferred they moved around a little more.

End of the day imo this was a subpar draft class overall. I think if we can manage some solid starters and if Williams can become a really good EDGE2. I will call it a super successful draft class, given what was available.

Nolen was my guy