The greatest leap a college football player can reach is playing in the National Football League (NFL). While winning the Super Bowl is football’s highest prize, the chances of a college player going pro are cookie crumbs. The league’s college advisory committee has stated that only “1.6% of all NCAA football players make it to the professional level.”
Once a year, 32 teams have a chance to draft players with a vision and belief that they will help be part of what every team is trying to achieve, finishing as champions and walking away with the Vince Lombardi trophy.
The NFL is structured to prevent dynasties through the salary cap, free agency, the trade deadline and draft. So much happens besides teams picking a player – teams will trade players and draft choices to strengthen their foundation for championship contending.
While CWU is in Seattle Seahawks territory, not every student is a Seahawk fan or a football fan. It’s typical fashion to hear opinions from analysts of the major sports networks giving their “insight” and giving every team a grade from the draft. But an opinion from a layman watching football on Sunday afternoons in the fall doesn’t have their thoughts making the headlines.
Senior Law and Justice major Blake Cloud, who has been a lifelong football and Los Angeles Rams fan, expressed his thoughts on the draft and reflected on how the Rams did. “I would give them a solid C plus,” Cloud said.
Cloud disagreed with the Rams picking former University of Alabama Quarterback (QB) Ty Simpson in the first round, given that current quarterback Matthew Stafford just came off a league Most Valuable Player (MVP) season.
Cloud didn’t agree with picking a QB for the team’s first pick–the Rams made a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire all-pro, two-time Super Bowl champion Cornerback and former University of Washington Huskies cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The Rams struck gold, but it came with a hefty price tag, hollowing out four draft picks and signing McDuffie to a four-year $124 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid defensive back in league history.
Nevertheless, Cloud is looking forward to seeing McDuffie in action wearing a Rams’ uniform, especially facing Seahawks Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) twice a year. “It’ll be a really good matchup, I think JSN will be better for Trent because he’s a shorter, quicker guy who plays a lot against those slot receivers and that nickel area.”
The defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks had to make some tough decisions this offseason with running back Ken Walker III and safety Coby Bryant walking in free agency.
They did secure lofty contract extensions for JSN and return specialist Rashid Shaheed, currently working on a deal with cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
While the team drafted eight players, fans will have to wait until September to see what’s in store for them this year, with the ultimate goal of repeating as champions and holding on to their crown.
