


I did some research looking at the success (and failures) of first round draft picks as well as the later rounds between 2009 and 2019 to get a better idea of how the draft should play out in the game. For example, QBs, RBs, WRs and DEs generally have the highest likelihood of being a bust. Guards in the first round are generally safer picks. Most QB starters are taken in the first round but occasionally you can find a starting caliber QB in the later rounds. I wanted to follow those trends to make things more realistic. What I also will say is that in my tests, the CPU will draft busts if they are rated high enough so I really wanted to get that right to make the later years more realistic and to allow teams to either build (or fall apart) due to the draft.
As far as the overall range for players in the draft, I wanted to be transparent about that as well so that you will know if these classes are for you. Players that are slotted for the first round can generally be as low as a 69 overall. However, there are players that come into the league as pro bowl caliber players (think Randy Moss, Quentin Nelson, Aldon Smith, Cam Newton type rookie years) that can be as high as an 85 overall. I wanted to make sure that the draft can make a break a team depending on how you draft.
The later rounds also have their share of players that can contribute, start or even be a star. We have to remember that players like Tom Brady, Richard Sherman, Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill were all drafted in the later rounds. Of course it will be a lot harder to find those guys but you will find worthwhile players in the later rounds of the draft.
I also wanted to account for the fact that some draft classes may be very weak at a position or very strong at a position. If you go through one draft where the highest rated quarterback is a 73 overall, the next draft may have three quarterbacks that are starting caliber guys out the gate. The draft is very unpredictable and I want to make sure to try to account for that.
If I can be totally honest, I don’t know how many of these I want to do. I have templates for ten of them. Would like to make 20 but I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. I guess we will just see how you guys like them and play it by ear.
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