"Like jumping from a swimming pool into the ocean during a hurricane"

[Auggie]

That's the transition from college to professional football, according to one former player.* The intensity, the stakes, the competition—everything amplifies exponentially.

*https://doinamerica.com/college-vs-pro-sports-in-the-u-s-where-the-real-talent-is-shaped

I dismiss draft "grades" and pundit opinions based upon college performances because of that jump. You just don't know how it's going to work out.

JeMarcus Russell, Johnny Manziel, Trey Lance, Ryan Leaf ...

The 49ers are fielding pundit criticism for passing on wideout Denzel Boston in favor of De’Zhaun Stribling, for example. But as San Francisco Chronicle 49ers beat reporter Eric Branch writes,

"Stribling had strong production at Power 5 schools, was one of 16 draft prospects given the 49ers’ gold-helmet designation for qualities such as work ethic and character and is an elite run blocker.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said some of last season’s run-game woes could be traced to poor blocking by wideouts.

Don't bet everything on combine speed, strength and size. Or college stats.

Work ethic. Acumen. Character. Team play. Intangibles.

[Exp]

1. Hmmm, Trey Lance is being compared to Ryan Leaf, Johnny Football and 'Purple drink' Jemarcus Russell? Ain't right. eom

[Auggie]

3. Yeah, an unfair analogy ...

Lance tries. Though you have to admit, the athletic hype hasn't translated well.

[usonian]

2. I heard that John Lynch used AI to make his picks.

No wonder he drafts wide receivers to run-block, centers who can catch a Hail Mary pass, and punters who can fling the ball 120 yards downfield.

When AI says "versatility matters", we take notice.

Fans rate this "the draft to make the Trey Lance pick look brilliant"

Just kidding, of course.

With all the trading going on, the 49ers did snag a palette of highly coveted GPU's in exchange for a sixth round pick next year.

"We'll make full use of that dreaded power substation next to the stadium for our AI datacenter underneath the seats" said Lynch, "It's what keeps those seats toasty warm when chilly weather arrives."

Word on the street is that Steelers and Vikings fans are totally jealous.

[Auggie]

4. Funny

[usonian]

5. Thanks, just trying to brighten up a post-draft Monday.

The great Ralph Barbieri used to say:

"Angels fly because they take themselves lightly" 😇

[RockRaven]

6. On the MMQB podcast today Albert Breer said a different team told him they were

going to take Stribling with their pick in the 30s (the 49ers picked him 33rd).

So using just that one player as an example, we can see that it isn't only the one team which picks the guy "early" whose opinion deviates wildly from the pundits' "consensus board" -- a "consensus" contaminated with outdated information and copycat opinions.

[Auggie]

7. +1

[AZProgressive]

8. Really too soon to say which player is a bust or which one will be a star

The Cardinals are facing a lot of criticism for drafting Love but in the past the Cardinals passed on Adrian Peterson for Levi Brown and also passed on players such as Charles Woodson or Randy Moss in favor of Andre Wadsworth in 1998. One thing drafting no name college players also doesn't work out either.

Love was easily one of the best players in college football in the last 2 years he has can easily break for a long distance touchdown. They were also criticized for taking Carson Beck but they actually got him in the third round when they could have drafted him in the second round (no QB was taken by any team in the second round) but they drafted a guard and still got a QB. They really needed a QB with the release of Kyler Murray. Brissett is a career backup that happened to get a lot of playing time plus the stats that comes with throwing the ball 50 times in a game.

There are actually some fans and analysts that wanted to tank for another year and draft a QB next year. I can't support a franchise like that but this recent draft shows me the GM is actually trying.

I'm sure the 49ers got a good player. Denzel Boston is also a good player himself.