NFL Draft Day One Winners and Losers: Veteran Edition
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Dynasty players have been looking forward to this weekend for weeks, maybe even months. The first round of the NFL Draft was expected to be full of wide receivers and quarterbacks and it delivered. By the end of the night, four quarterbacks, one running back, and six receivers came off the board. It was a wild run in the middle of round one, that’s for sure.
With these talented players entering the league, NFL veterans will feel the impact, some fearing for their respective jobs while others will breathe a sigh of relief, at least for 24 hours. Let’s take a look at some of the players who could see their dynasty value affected by this first round rookie class.
Winners
Saquon Barkley, RB NYG
There was no chance the Giants were going to take someone to take any carries away from Barkley. However, you have to love the selection of Andrew Thomas, the big tackle out of Georgia. He has two jobs – blow open holes for Barkley and keep Daniel Jones from getting hit. Thomas is good enough to do both and Barkley has never needed much of a seam to make big plays.
Daniel Jones, QB NYG
I know there was little chance the Giants were going to draft Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert with the fourth overall selection. However, when you’re a team with a top five pick, there are no guarantees – just ask Mike Glennon.
Dwayne Haskins, QB WAS
See Jones, Daniel.
Tom Brady, QB TB
It always seemed like great players just seemed to fall into the lap of the Patriots. Maybe it was Tom Brady who was the lucky one all along? There’s really no way the Bucs could have thought Tristan Wirfs would fall to them, but he did anyway. They did have to trade up one spot to get him, but finding a tackle to keep Brady upright was a necessity and the Bucs may have walked away with the best one.
AJ Green, WR CIN
Having capable quarterback play would do wonders for Green as he returns from injury. Sure, there are no guarantees with Joe Burrow, but Green has caught passes from much worse throughout his tenure with the Bengals.
Drew Lock, QB DEN
When you have a young quarterback, you simply have to give him weapons. With the addition of Jerry Juedy, Lock now has Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay all to help him on offense. That’s not bad, gang.
Dak Prescott, QB DAL
Having CeeDee Lamb drop to Dallas is almost embarrassing. The Cowboys will now have quite possibly the most lethal wide receiver trio with the likes of Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. I know Prescott still has some contract issues to work out, but there are few places (if any) that boast a set of skill players like the Cowboys have now amassed, especially when you add in Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
Carson Wentz, QB PHI
Wentz really needed some help at the receiver position and got it with Jalen Reagor. While not the flashy name of some other receivers in this class, Reagor seems to fit this offense and the Eagles simply had to get a receiver with Alshon Jeffery continuously banged up and DeSean Jackson hardly being another receiver you could count on.
Kirk Cousins, QB MIN
When Stefon Diggs was jettisoned to Buffalo, it left a gaping hole for the Vikings beside Adam Thielen. The Vikings got lucky and had Justin Jefferson fall into their laps with the pick they ironically received for Diggs. Jefferson is highly productive and should be an immediate contributor to the offense.
Le’Veon Bell, RB NYJ
Bell looked cooked last season, but the Jets added offensive line help and maybe that gives him a boost. The Jets couldn’t block for him at all last year and even though Bell is far from the player he used to be, this isn’t a bad thing.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB SF
The lack of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball really showed up for the 49ers in the Super Bowl. As a result, San Francisco traded up and nabbed Brandon Aiyuk, who excels after the catch. With Emmanuel Sanders gone and only Deebo Samuel being a reliable target, the addition of Aiyuk is big for Jimmy G and the offense.
Losers
Andy Dalton, QB CIN
Dalton will be remembered for failing to get the Bengals any sort of real playoff success, but he had a decent run. Unfortunately, there’s a new sheriff in town and Dalton really needs a trade to be back on any sort of fantasy radar.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, QBs MIA
Tua Tagovailoa may redshirt for a year, but I wouldn’t bet on it. If he’s healthy, it might be too enticing for the Dolphins to sit him. I’m confident Ryan Fitzpatrick will play until he’s 75 years old, suit up for every team in the NFL and be a bridge quarterback who still throws for 500 yards and seven touchdowns one week, only to throw for 75 yards and five interceptions the next. As for Rosen, I actually feel bad for him. This whole NFL quarterback thing is just not working out for him. I could see him get moved yet again for a late round pick in the next few days.
Tyrod Taylor, QB LAC
There was smoke all 0ff-season that Anthony Lynn was more than willing to roll with Taylor as more than a bridge quarterback. By drafting Justin Herbert, that just won’t happen. Taylor has talent and is a quality NFL backup, but he just doesn’t look like a player who can carry a franchise.
DaeSean Hamilton, WR DEN
Hamilton really face planted last season and the addition of Jeudy doesn’t just throw cold water on his value, it’s like sticking him into an ice cube tray.
Michael Gallup, WR DAL
There’s no doubting Gallup’s talent. However, the addition of CeeDee Lamb is going to take targets away from him. It just has to. Gallup looks like a player who may need an eventual change of scenery to really flourish.
Dante Pettis, WR SF
Pettis was a popular breakout candidate last season, but it just didn’t work out. With Aiyuk now in town, Pettis’ dynasty value is clearly on life support. He just doesn’t seem to be a favorite of the coaching staff and looks to be the odd man out.
Aaron Rodgers, QB GB
The drafting of Jordan Love really doesn’t impact A-Rod’s value. However, the Packers are still in need of receivers and passed on them in favor of a quarterback who likely won’t start until 2024. Hopefully they add some more offense tomorrow to help out A-Rod.
Damien Williams, RB KC
The biggest loser of the night has to be Williams. The Chiefs took Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the final pick of the first round and that puts a serious pin in the dynasty balloon of Williams. While it’s no given CEH just comes in and becomes Brian Westbrook, Andy Reid is notorious for taking players like CEH and creating fantasy monsters. Williams is suddenly in limbo, though it’s hardly surprising as the Chiefs were popularly mocked to take a running back at this spot for months.
Blake Jarwin, TE DAL
Hi, my name is Blake. Are there any targets to go around? Like any?
Greg Ward, WR PHI
A popular deep sleeper in dynasty circles, the addition of Reagor doesn’t help him one bit.
We’ll be back tomorrow with many more veteran winners and losers.
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
