The most wonderful time of the year. MOCK DRAFT SIM THREAD.

[Seattle or Bust]

My thoughts:

I think the Hawks have a pressing need at corner, right guard, running back, and wide receiver. Jobe is mediocre to bad and I can't see the Hawks rolling with him next year. Bradford needs to be as good as gone. As happy as I was to see K9 take a step forward at the end of the season, I don't see the Hawks signing him to a lucrative deal - especially when this is a solid class for RB's. Shaheed was fun, but he wasn't a very good wideout with the Hawks... and will instead be remembered for his TD return in the NFCCG. I also think the Hawks could use depth at defensive end given Mafe's free agency.

In both drafts I have the Hawks trading the 32nd pick down multiple times to add more picks. They only have 4 picks after trading for Shaheed.

CB - I have the Hawks picking a corner early in both drafts. Cisse and Igbinosun are your typical athletic freaks with all the physical tools that I think McDonald covets at the position.

WR - I don't see the Hawks re-upping with Shaheed. He was a fun gadget guy but had just 5 total receptions in his final 6 games, including the playoffs. They need someone to take some of the attention off JSN and I'd like to do that with a more physically imposing wideout in the draft. Horton can be what they wanted in Shaheed when he's healthy. I selected Sarratt in both drafts b/c the guy is just mammoth athletic freak who dominated CFB this year. He's a redzone weapon who can body any corner and secure contested catches with great hands.

OG - Bradford has to go. Don't want to explain it further. In Leigh and Rutledge I drafted 2x players who are considered maulers with the flexibility to play around the line.

RB - If you're going to replace K9, might as well go with a very similar player. I took Singleton in both drafts cause the guy is a physical homerun hitter who needs some coaching up on his feel and vision. He and K9's tapes out of college are eerily similar.

EDGE - The current regime seems to like defensive linemen out of Michigan. I don't think edge is the most pressing need and I think the Hawks can take a player who maybe isn't a finished product yet but has some upside. I like Moore out of Michigan who has major upside as a pass rusher but needs refining to be an every down player.

I think the Hawks could also add depth at DT or Linebacker. While Mills had a sack, I don't know if we know what we have in him yet. Thomas and Jones have evolved into quite the tandem at LB, but I'm not in love with the depth behind them either.

[57reasons]

Need another Edge, corner, and one more decent IOL and RB.
No need for WR, you have Horton and Shaheed coming back, not to mention Arroyo as another receiving threat, all of whom were unavailable to the team for significant parts of its fabulous 2025 campaign.
Did Mafe even play in the SB? didn't notice. I see him and Riq moving on, saving dollars for re-signing Walker and perhaps a couple massive extensions for Spoon and JSN.

[Donn Beach]

I don't see the Hawks re-upping with Shaheed

Seriously? Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me. They paid a lot for him, it's why they don't have draft picks. It fits their model, trade for players you're interested in and extending them. Hes been productive and wants to continue to play for them. If they aren't interested in keeping him now that makes the trade a failure in my mind. The difference now is Kubiak being gone but I'll be surprised if that really changes the situation to the extent that they are happy to let him walk

[Seattle or Bust]

I don't see the Hawks re-upping with Shaheed

Seriously? Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me. They paid a lot for him, it's why they don't have draft picks. It fits their model, trade for players you're interested in and extending them. Hes been productive and wants to continue to play for them. If they aren't interested in keeping him now that makes the trade a failure in my mind. The difference now is Kubiak being gone but I'll be surprised if that really changes the situation to the extent that they are happy to let him walk

For a 4th and 5th rounder?

Sincerely doubt they're going to pay the money necessary to keep him.

He had 18 receptions in 12 games with the Hawks. He averaged 22 reception yards a game. He had 0 receiving TD's.

That is absolutely horrific production. Jakobi Meyers, who I wanted, who went for a 4th and 6th rounder to JAX, had 43 receptions with the Jags for about 60 yards a game and 3 TD's.

Glad the Hawks won the Super Bowl, but Shaheed was a failure acquisition.

[D-train]

Too soon....

[Seattle or Bust]

Too soon....

Except that 2x people already commented their thoughts. And the irony of this post considering you’re always on people’s asses for unnecessary threads.

There’s a thread about trading for Donovan where you could have very easily posted that video…

[Donn Beach]

I don't see the Hawks re-upping with Shaheed

Seriously? Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me. They paid a lot for him, it's why they don't have draft picks. It fits their model, trade for players you're interested in and extending them. Hes been productive and wants to continue to play for them. If they aren't interested in keeping him now that makes the trade a failure in my mind. The difference now is Kubiak being gone but I'll be surprised if that really changes the situation to the extent that they are happy to let him walk

For a 4th and 5th rounder?

Sincerely doubt they're going to pay the money necessary to keep him.

He had 18 receptions in 12 games with the Hawks. He averaged 22 reception yards a game. He had 0 receiving TD's.

That is absolutely horrific production. Jakobi Meyers, who I wanted, who went for a 4th and 6th rounder to JAX, had 43 receptions with the Jags for about 60 yards a game and 3 TD's.

Glad the Hawks won the Super Bowl, but Shaheed was a failure acquisition.

Was a failure? You realize he went to the Pro Bowl. The obvious thing about Shaheed is is explosiveness, he's got that in spades and it has value. It's really what makes Walker valuable as well. Yeah, he didn't have a lot of catches but I'm not sure that means he wasn't affecting games. They got him for a reason, which was to open up the offense and the offense did I believe benefit. Look how the run game improved. I think he was used with a lot decoy situations where teams were forced to respect his speed. Here Kupp talks about it, taking the top off a defense.

.I think you saw early on there, we had a play to Jax where, you know, that safety backside from Rashid, he knows there's a post alert, anytime that Rashid's on the field, there's a chance that you could be taking the top off. I think you're going to see that it's a dangerous thing

I think they were happy with the trade, that being said, what's his value going forward. Seems to me they didn't do him any favors not throwing him the ball very much. Barnwell has him for one year at $15 MIL. Maybe he's cooled on the idea of sticking around with how he was utilized. Maybe kubiak takes him to Vegas. But if JS let's him walk for that kind of money I'd be scratching my head

[D-train]

Too soon....

Except that 2x people already commented their thoughts. And the irony of this post considering you’re always on people’s asses for unnecessary threads.

There’s a thread about trading for Donovan where you could have very easily posted that video…

I was just kidding man....This is obviously not an unnecessary thread. I personally won't be thinking about the draft for a while given I want to savor the SB victory vs. thinking about the team's weaknesses, but you are more than welcome to.

[Captain 97]

Traded up with Pittsburgh to nab the top guard in the draft. Swapped next years 1st rounder for Pittsburgh's next year second rounder to make that happen.
Grabbed a running back with the second pick, a tall corner with the 3rd pick to replace Riq and a speedy receiver with the last pick to compete with Horton to replace Saheed.

[DavidGee24]

Seriously? Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me. They paid a lot for him, it's why they don't have draft picks. It fits their model, trade for players you're interested in and extending them. Hes been productive and wants to continue to play for them. If they aren't interested in keeping him now that makes the trade a failure in my mind. The difference now is Kubiak being gone but I'll be surprised if that really changes the situation to the extent that they are happy to let him walk

For a 4th and 5th rounder?

Sincerely doubt they're going to pay the money necessary to keep him.

He had 18 receptions in 12 games with the Hawks. He averaged 22 reception yards a game. He had 0 receiving TD's.

That is absolutely horrific production. Jakobi Meyers, who I wanted, who went for a 4th and 6th rounder to JAX, had 43 receptions with the Jags for about 60 yards a game and 3 TD's.

Glad the Hawks won the Super Bowl, but Shaheed was a failure acquisition.

Was a failure? You realize he went to the Pro Bowl. The obvious thing about Shaheed is is explosiveness, he's got that in spades and it has value. It's really what makes Walker valuable as well. Yeah, he didn't have a lot of catches but I'm not sure that means he wasn't affecting games. They got him for a reason, which was to open up the offense and the offense did I believe benefit. Look how the run game improved. I think he was used with a lot decoy situations where teams were forced to respect his speed. Here Kupp talks about it, taking the top off a defense.

.I think you saw early on there, we had a play to Jax where, you know, that safety backside from Rashid, he knows there's a post alert, anytime that Rashid's on the field, there's a chance that you could be taking the top off. I think you're going to see that it's a dangerous thing

I think they were happy with the trade, that being said, what's his value going forward. Seems to me they didn't do him any favors not throwing him the ball very much. Barnwell has him for one year at $15 MIL. Maybe he's cooled on the idea of sticking around with how he was utilized. Maybe kubiak takes him to Vegas. But if JS let's him walk for that kind of money I'd be scratching my head

Agreeing with DB here. He has a lot of value on special teams and does have value as a receiver, they just didn't throw to him much for some reason. He would have had a TD in the Super Bowl if Darnold hadn't overshot him, and yes, he does stretch out a defense. As much as one would like to bank on Horton, it seems like he's on the brittle side, and Kupp is already old and will be one year older next season.