I love the draft. Its my favorite event of the year other than the Super Bowl, mainly because there is so much that goes on and so much action. Aside from some horrible things that happened to Laremy Tunsil last night, I would say it was one of the more interesting first rounds of recent years. Starting the night with two QBs isnt a bad thing either.
Jared Goff
Pick: 1
Hobby Potential (2016): High
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Fair to Good
Hobby Pick Grade: B
The hobby loves quarterbacks, especially quarterbacks that are taken number one. Its a distinction that gets you extra love from the collectors, and Goff will be getting some nice values as a result. I personally dont think he is going to be the next big thing or even a top guy, but this is the era we are in. Teams think they need QBs at the expense of everything else. The Rams arent all that great of a team, and that is going to hurt his development too. Going to be interesting how he does.
2016 Contenders Draft Jared Goff Auto Ticket
2016 Leaf Metal Draft Jared Goff Black Refractor Auto /15
2016 Score Jared Goff Artists Proof Auto /25
Carson Wentz
Pick: 2
Hobby Potential (2016): High
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Fair to Good
Hobby Pick Grade: B+
For some reason, people like Carson Wentz more than Jared Goff right now, and its a bit odd. Both of the two top guys were looking to be rated similarly, and may end up being interchangeable for the rest of the year as a result. Its not like Goff was miles ahead. Like Goff, I dont see a huge reason to dump all sorts of praise on Wentz as the future of the Eagles, but at least they look to be on a better track than they were with Chip at the helm.
2016 Leaf Metal Draft Carson Wentz Blue Refractor Auto /50
2016 Score Carson Wentz Gold Zone Auto /25
2016 Leaf Ultimate Carson Wentz Black Auto /10
Ezekiel Elliott
Pick: 4
Hobby Potential (2016): High
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Good
Hobby Pick Grade: A
This is a great, great, great situation for football cards. Widely collected team gets who is likely the most widely hyped prospect. Although RBs have little value in the hobby these days, Gurley showed that rookie seasons can be fun for collectors. I see a big drop off in his cards after this year, as second year RB cards NEVER sell. The position is a black hole for hobby value these days, and that is sad. Elliott is not as good as Gurley, but he should be a fun player to watch behind the best Offensive Line in the league.
2016 Contenders Ezekiel Elliott Bowl Auto /99
2016 Leaf Ezekiel Elliott Gold Auto /25
Corey Coleman
Pick: 15
Hobby Potential (2016): Fair
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Low
Hobby Pick Grade: D+
Ahhhhh Cleveland. Thanks for taking a WR and ruining his collecting appeal. Its not that there arent Browns collectors out there, its just that no one has confidence that they can develop anyone of worth. Coleman has talent to be a good WR, but does anyone believe RGIII is going to find the magic pill that reverts his body and mind to 2012? Even if Coleman turns out to have nice production, at best I see him as another Mike Evans type guy in the hobby.
2016 Leaf Metal Corey Coleman Gold Refractor 1/1
2016 Contenders Draft Corey Coleman Cracked Ice /23
Will Fuller
Pick: 21
Hobby Potential (2016): Fair
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Fair to Good
Hobby Pick Grade: B-
Im not quite sure why Houston wanted to pick a WR over some of the other desperate needs they have, but when you overpay for a QB like they did with Osweiler, I guess you have to surround him with weapons to make it less likely he is going to suck. The issue is that DeAndre Hopkins is the number 1 in Houston, and that means Will Fuller is just going to be used like Mike Wallace was in Pittsburgh. He is a speedster, and he might not get much of a look outside of that for a few years.
2016 Score Will Fuller Auto Showcase RC
2016 Leaf Metal Draft Will Fuller Red Refractor Auto /5
Josh Doctson
Pick: 22
Hobby Potential (2016):Good
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Fair to Good
Hobby Pick Grade: A-
I really like Doctson. Its really too bad, because I HATE THE REDSKINS. He is going to be the best receiver in the class, and it is really shitty that he is going to a team that I cant stand. The main issue with Doctson is not his skill, but that he has a TERRIBLE signature, and that will hurt his long term value in some ways. I think this guy will be one of the main sleepers of this class. You watch.
2016 Prizm Draft Josh Doctson Purple Flash Auto
2016 Score Josh Doctson Purple Auto /25
Laquon Treadwell
Pick: 23
Hobby Potential (2016): Fair to Good
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Fair to Good
Hobby Pick Grade: B+
I was very happy with this pick, obviously. Vikings are a widely collected team, and Treadwell looks like a good receiver to pair with Teddy and Stefon Diggs. That being said, he isnt going to have the long TDs or be a focus as long as Peterson is around, so that could limit his production for the first couple of years. The Vikings are a dink and dump team in the passing game, and hopefully Treadwell will give them some good receptions in that respect.
2016 Score Laquon Treadwell Blue Auto /50
2016 Leaf Ultimate Laquon Treadwell Gold Auto /50
Paxton Lynch
Pick 26
Hobby Potential (2016): Good to High
Hobby Potential (Long Term): Good
Hobby Pick Grade: A
Here is something everyone needs to know. Lynch is not going to play in 2016 barring injury. He may not play in 2017. He is a project with major upside, and a great potential to eventually be a popular player. That means his cards are going to slump, and collectors hate waiting. If you have Lynch’s cards, now is the time to sell if you dont want to wait that amount of time. The reason I gave this an A is because by the time everyone gets he isnt going to play, we will already be most of the way through the year. The Broncos are a popular team and that will mean a lot of bump for his value.
2016 Leaf Metal Draft Paxton Lynch Blue Auto /50
2016 Contenders Paxton Lynch Bowl Ticket Auto /99
I still think this class could end up being a dud, but with some of the teams added now, maybe not as much. I guess we will have to see.