While it's a little early to fully grade a rookie draft after only two seasons, it's never too early just to check in and see how the players careers are shaping up.
2012 Rookie Draft
1st Round
1. Kory Adams - QB Andrew Luck, Colts (Current Team: Goonsquad) - Almost immediately shipped out of town to Goonsquad for Drew Brees, Luck never played a down for Kory Adams. You've gotta think Kory and Tick are both still extremely satisfied with this deal as Brees has been fantastic as always and should have a few more years left of top 3 production. Luck on the other hand is on his way to being everything he was hyped to be and more, already a legitimate top 5 at his position and only about to begin his 3rd season, the sky is the limit for the Goonsquads' QB1.
2. Luke Zente - HB Trent Richardson, Browns (Current Team: CLO Collins) - Another deal that saw the player never suit up for the team that drafted him, with the TRich-RG3 deal taking place on draft day. TRich was supposed to be the best running back entering the league since Adrian Peterson, but after a promising rookie year he had a downright disastrous sophomore season as he became a laughing stock for CLO Collins. TRich is still young and in a nice situation, but I think his ceiling looks a lot closer to mid to low HB2 than top 10 at the position.
3. Caleb Collins (FROM AZ) - QB Robert Griffin III, Redskins (Current Team: Miami Sharks) - RG3, part of the aforementioned trade had an electrifying rookie year leading the then Eagle Eggs and Lion's sperm to the 2012 Ultimate Dynasty Bowl. Unfortunately just like the other player involved in the trade he experienced a big time sophomore slump battling injuries and inefficient play. Unlike the other player in this deal RG3's path to bouncing back seems a lot more likely and his ceiling remains top 5 at his position.
4. John Gallimore - WR Justin Blackmon, Jaguars (Current Team: Kory Adams) - Blackmon was involved in two deals before winding up with his current owner Kory Adams including this
CLO Receives: RB LeSean McCoy RB Jamaal Charles, WR Justin Blackmon, a 2013 2nd (lower of the two 2nd's), Anthony's 2014 1st, and a 2015 1st.
John Gallimore Receives: RB Ryan Mathews, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, and WR Julio Jones
Yes John once had Charles and McCoy!? Anyway that's not the point of this post, Blackmon has shown game breaking ability...when he's on the field, obviously to this point his career has been marred by some off field issues and suspensions.
5. Matt Boles - HB Doug Martin, Buccaneers (Current Team: Purists) - Doug Martin and a 2013 1st were immediately dealt by Boles for Chris Johnson to the then Bi Polar Bears. Like many others in this draft, he had a HUGE rookie season only to follow up with a disappointing sophomore performance. However Martin still has low end HB1 upside even without Schiano making him worthy of this pick and a steal in trade for Ant.
6. Luke Zente (FROM TRAY) - WR Michael Floyd, Cardinals (Current Team: Miami Sharks) - He's bounced around the Ultimate Dynasty League a little bit, but in 2013 he showed off his potential and promise going over 1,000+ yards with 5 touchdowns putting him in line for a nice third year break out. Could see him becoming a mid to high WR2 option as soon as this season.
7. Anthony Hatfield - HB Lamar Miller, Dolphins (Current Team: Purists) - One of Ant's prize possessions who looked like he was about to take the league by storm and be a possible HB1 last year is now a low to mid HB3. If he keeps the starting job in Miami he still has potential to become a strong HB2 with upside, but the rumors are Miami's staff doesn't love him and may even bring in another back. His fantasy value is very much in jeopardy, but he still is only gonna be 23 and oozing upside even if he does run a little soft.
8. Dylan Gibson - TE Coby Fleener, Colts (Current Team: Goonsquad) - Thought he was getting the next "Gronk" when he took Fleener but soon dealt him that offseason to CLO who ended up dealing him to Goonsquad. Fleener so far has been very average and a TE2 maybe low TE1 at best, which isn't bad but for a mid 1st round pick paired with Luck it's far from what people were expecting.
9. Matt Kinker - HB David Wilson, Giants (Current Team: Purists) - The electric, inconsistent, fast play maker with neck issues is another one of Ant's prize backs. The good news is he only gave up Mike Wallace to Tick to get him, the bad news is while Wilson does have HB1 upside the odds could not be more stacked against him. There's no way the Giants will commit to him as the feature back for 2014 after last year's disaster and he's got to get cleared by doctors to even be able to play. With all that said however he's still crazy young if he can ever get the carries, stay healthy, and hold on to the ball watch out. There's about a 95% chance he never reaches his potential but that 5% chance of being a HB1 makes him worth holding on to and why I'm not quite ready to label him as done just yet.
10. Andrew Hatfield (FROM GAT) - WR Stephen Hill, Jets (Current Team: Miami Sharks) - I remember when Andrew made this pick like it was yesterday, because this guy right here was someone I was heavily considering (yeah I was debating between Pead and Hill...gross). His measureables are off the charts and yeah he's actually found his way on to my roster and I'm still slightly a believer. What gives me hope is fellow raw GT alum Demaryius Thomas didn't surpass 551 yards until his 3rd year when he went off for 1400 yards and 10 TD's. Is Hill, DT? Nope probably not, but I think after only 2 seasons in a bad situation it's a little early to give up on the guy especially when this position most times takes a bit to blossom. All in all it's gotta suck to look back for Andrew and see he could have drafted Jeffery, but hey the Jets made the same mistake.
11. Miami Sharks (FROM CLO) - HB Isaiah Pead, Rams (Current Team: Scott's Tots) - I don't think me and Tray have ever been as wrong about a player as we were about Pead. In our defense it was our first dynasty league and first time really digging into the rookies but good gah we missed bad. Pead is so far away from any carries perhaps 4th on the depth chart I think it's safe to say he's one hundred percent a bust. However I bet he stays on the Tots' roster for at least another season, heck the guy bought one of his rookie cards.
12. Phillip Bullock - WR Alshonn Jeffrey, Bears (Current Team: Goonsquad) - Fantastic pick and beyond steal at this point in the draft, Jeffery has all the makings of a top flight WR1...unfortunately Phil dealt him straight up for the serviceable Nate Washington.
2nd Round
1. Phillip Bullock - WR Chris Givens, Rams (Current Team: BSL) - Has shown flashes, but as someone who only ran the deep route in flag football myself, I know a one trick pony when I see one. Givens is okay but I don't think he has much more than WR3 upside and he'll struggle to get that in the crowded Rams' receiving corps.
2. Dylan Gibson (CLO) - WR Kendall Wright, Titans (Current Team: Purists) - Not a bad WR3 option but I think the upside is almost non existent here.
3. Andrew Hatfield (FROM GAT) - WR Brian Quick, Rams (Current Team: Miami Sharks) - Another height/weight/speed freak who has yet to develop. What I will say similar to what I said with Hill, it took VJAX, a guy Quick was compared to, until his fourth season to break out. So there is some hope...
4. Matt Kinker - WR TY Hilton, Colts (Current Team: Goonsquad) - Has been a pretty great boom or bust option for the Goonsquad posting some flat out HUGE games. The guy is a great high upside WR2 who is capable of winning some weeks.
5. Dylan Gibson - WR Mohammed Sanu, Bengals (Current Team: Dynasty Kings) - Dylan still loves the guy, but the WR2 job in Cincy is Marvin Jones' to lose and Sanu is waiver wire fodder.
6. Anthony Hatfield - WR Reuben Randle, Giants (Current Team: Gio's Odyssey) - This is his year to do something with Nicks walking out the door could be a low to mid WR2.
7. Taylor Ray - QB Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (Current Team: Dynasty Kings) - Not a bad QB2 option which is basically what was expected at this point in the draft.
8. Matt Boles - HB Lamichael James, 49ers (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
9. John Gallimore - HB Ronnie Hillman, Broncos (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
10. Andrew Hatfield - HB Robert Turbin, Seahawks (Current Team: Goonsquad) - Christine Michael being drafted by the Hawks really hurt Turbin's upside but he's still got some nice speed and could possibly do something down the line...maybe.
11. Miami Sharks (FROM LZ)- TE Ladarius Green, Chargers (Current Team: BSL) - This Ladarius Green pick and my swooping up Russell Wilson off free agents before his first preseason game more than made up for my bust Pead pick in round 1. Only problem is after a trade last year I was over my roster limit and in a moment of stupidity dropped Ladarius who has future TE1 written all over him.
12. Kory Adams - WR Nick Toon (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
3rd Round
1. Kory Adams - HB Bernard Pierce, Ravens (Current Team: Dynasty Kings) - Has a shot this year to emerge with Rice's troubles but is still a long shot. At the end of the day though for a 3rd round pick a shot is all you can really hope for.
2. Luke Zente - WR Ryan Broles, Lions (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
3. Andrew Hatfield - WR Deviar Posey, Texans (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
4. Miami Sharks (FROM JOHNG) - WR Juron Criner, Raiders (Current Team: Free Agent) - Garbage
Re-do 2012
1. WR Alshon Jeffery (1.12)
2. QB Andrew Luck (1.01)
3. HB Doug Martin (1.05)
4. WR TY Hilton (2.16)
5. WR Michael Floyd (1.06)
6. QB Robert Griffin III (1.03)
7. WR Justin Blackmon (1.04)
8. QB Russell Wilson (UDFA)
9. TE Ladarius Green (2.23)
10. HB Trent Richardson (1.02)
11. HB David Wilson (1.09)
12. HB Lamar Miller (1.07)
