Good morning everyone, we just wrapped up the 2023 Pot Cakes Dynasty Rookie Draft. We go through all the picks and then give out grades. Here are the picks. The Blue names are trades and the Red names are compensatory picks.
| 1.01 | Bottom Bunk | Bijan Robinson | RB | ATL |
| 1.02 | Daddy Wombats | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | SEA |
| 1.03 | Pistol | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | DET |
| 1.04 | Batman | Quentin Johnston | WR | LAC |
| 1.05 | Trashman | Jordan Addison | WR | MIN |
| 1.06 | PeePaw | Zach Charbonnet | RB | SEA |
| 1.07 | Bruce | Zay Flowers | WR | BAL |
| 1.08 | Bottom Bunk | Anthony Richarson | QB | IND |
| 1.09 | Daddy Wombats | Kendre Miller | RB | NO |
| 1.10 | PeePaw | Rashee Rice | WR | KC |
| 1.11 | Teach | Devon Achane | RB | MIA |
| 1.12 | Pistol | Dalton Kincaid | TE | BUF |
| 1.13 | Batman | Tank Bigsby | RB | JAC |
| 2.01 | Daddy Wombats | Roschon Johnson | RB | CHI |
| 2.02 | Bruce | Jonathan Mingo | WR | CAR |
| 2.03 | PeePaw | Marvin Mims, Jr. | WR | DEN |
| 2.04 | Trashman | Sam LaPorta | TE | DET |
| 2.05 | TDG | Tyjae Spears | RB | TEN |
| 2.06 | Pistol | C.J. Stroud | QB | HOU |
| 2.07 | Pistol | Jayden Reed | WR | GB |
| 2.08 | Batman | Chase Brown | RB | CIN |
| 2.09 | Jonny DIII | Michael Mayer | TE | ND |
| 2.10 | PeePaw | Cedric Tillman | WR | CLE |
| 2.11 | Teach | Bryce Young | QB | CAR |
| 2.12 | CrossFit | Luke Musgrave | TE | GB |
| 2.13 | Daddy Wombats | Tank Dell | WR | HOU |
| 3.01 | Batman | Zach Evans | RB | LAR |
| 3.02 | Daddy Wombats | Josh Downs | WR | IND |
| 3.03 | Trashman | Jalin Hyatt | WR | NYG |
| 3.04 | TDG | Michael Wilson | WR | ARI |
| 3.05 | Pistol | DeWayne McBride | RB | MIN |
| 3.06 | Batman | Darnell Washington | TE | PIT |
| 3.07 | Trashman | Israel Abanikanda | RB | NYJ |
| 3.08 | PeePaw | Evan Hull | RB | IND |
| 3.09 | Jonny DIII | Eric Gray | RB | NYG |
| 3.10 | TDG | Puka Nacua | WR | LAR |
| 3.11 | Teach | Tucker Kraft | TE | GB |
| 3.12 | CrossFit | Deuce Vaughan | RB | DAL |
| 3.13 | Trashman | Sean Tucker | RB | TB |
| 4.01 | Daddy Wombats | Kayshon Boutte | WR | NE |
| 4.02 | Bottom Bunk | Tyler Scott | WR | CHI |
| 4.03 | Mush’s Mongrels | Luke Schoonmaker | TE | DAL |
| 4.04 | Pistol | AT Perry | WR | NO |
| 4.05 | Batman | Deneric Prince | RB | KC |
| 4.06 | Trashman | Charlie Jones | WR | CIN |
| 4.07 | Bruce | Kenny McIntosh | RB | SEA |
| 4.08 | PeePaw | Dontayvion Wicks | WR | GB |
| 4.09 | Jonny DIII | Derius Davis | WR | LAC |
| 4.10 | Jonny DIII | Chris Rodriguez, Jr. | RB | WAS |
| 4.11 | Teach | Zach Kuntz | TE | NYJ |
| 4.12 | CrossFit | Parker Washington | WR | JAC |
| 4.13 | Mush’s Mongrels | Derek Carr | QB | NO |
| 5.01 | Bottom Bunk | Xavier Hutchinson | WR | HOU |
| 5.02 | Daddy Wombats | Elijah Higgins | TE | MIA |
| 5.03 | Pistol | Keaton Mitchell | RB | BAL |
| 5.04 | Batman | Trey Palmer | WR | TB |
| 5.05 | Trashman | Will Levis | QB | TEN |
| 5.06 | Teach | Ray-Ray McCloud | WR | SF |
| 5.07 | PeePaw | Tre Tucker | WR | LV |
| 5.08 | Batman | Matt Breida | RB | NYG |
| 5.09 | Daddy Wombats | Hendon Hooker | QB | DET |
| 5.10 | TDG | Ronnie Bell | WR | SF |
| 5.11 | Teach | Lew Nichols III | RB | GB |
| 5.12 | CrossFit | Stetson Bennett IV | QB | LAR |
Again the red indicates a compensatory pick and blue indicates a trade.
Bottom Bunk – Draft Grade – A
| 1.01 | Bottom Bunk | Bijan Robinson | RB | ATL |
| 1.08 | Bottom Bunk | Anthony Richarson | QB | IND |
| 4.02 | Bottom Bunk | Tyler Scott | WR | CHI |
| 5.01 | Bottom Bunk | Xavier Hutchinson | WR | HOU |
Bottom Bunk grabbed 2 of the best players in the draft. Bijan at 1.01 was an incredible value. Bijan is ranked at RB2 at worst in most Dynasty redrafts. That is a steal. B.B. then traded the 1.10 and the 2.02 to move up to 1.08 to grab AR15. While it is likely that AR15 would have still been there at 1.10 and B.B. needed the 2.02 pick to grab a hopeful starter, he was dead set on Bijan and AR15. While Tyler Scott and Xavier Hutchinson are likely fringe cuts for their respective NFL teams, but they were best available and that’s all you can hope for that late in the draft.
Daddy Wombats – Draft Grade – A
| 1.02 | Daddy Wombats | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | SEA |
| 1.09 | Daddy Wombats | Kendre Miller | RB | NO |
| 2.01 | Daddy Wombats | Roschon Johnson | RB | CHI |
| 2.13 | Daddy Wombats | Tank Dell | WR | HOU |
| 3.02 | Daddy Wombats | Josh Downs | WR | IND |
| 4.01 | Daddy Wombats | Kayshon Boutte | WR | NE |
| 5.02 | Daddy Wombats | Elijah Higgins | TE | MIA |
| 5.09 | Daddy Wombats | Hendon Hooker | QB | DET |
Daddy Wombat had a lot of needs going into this draft, with a lot of picks they did the best they could. D.W. locked up the #1 WR in the draft. The only issue is that JSN also plays on the same team as D.K. and Geno is still their QB. Miller and Johnson are both RBs, at that point in the draft you are just trying to get RBs. If one of them hits this is an even better draft. While the early upside is not there for many RBs in this draft, all you can do is draft and hope. Tank Dell and Josh Downs are in the same boat. Both the odd man out on their teams, but they could easily get into the mix. Then we look into Kayshon Boutte, best available at the time, have to take him and hope he makes the team. Elijah Higgins is a sneaky pick, converted WR to TE, he has to have an eventual role in the McDaniel offense. Hendon Hooker is just a safe pick, put him on the taxi and see what happens.
Pistol – Draft Grade – A
| 1.03 | Pistol | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | DET |
| 1.12 | Pistol | Dalton Kincaid | TE | BUF |
| 2.06 | Pistol | C.J. Stroud | QB | HOU |
| 2.07 | Pistol | Jayden Reed | WR | GB |
| 3.05 | Pistol | DeWayne McBride | RB | MIN |
| 4.04 | Pistol | AT Perry | WR | NO |
| 5.03 | Pistol | Keaton Mitchell | RB | BAL |
How many as am I going to give out? Maybe all of them. I mean Pistol had to just sit in the pocket and pick between JSN and Gibbs. Gibbs was there so he took Gibbs. Easy pick. Gibbs looks like lightning in a bottle. Kincaid should be a good player in the NFL, but TEs are so risky. Pistol already has Kyle Pitts. Interesting pick, but still a good one, can’t knock the player. C.J. Stroud is likely the best NFL ready QB in the draft. Pistol has Love and Purdy, but Stroud could be his guy going forward. Tough not to take the value there in a QB driven league. Jayden Reed is another safe pick. The Packers grabbed him early, so the investment is better than what the Packers put in Doubs. I would think the Packers somehow find a way to get Reed on the field early. While the Packers have Musgrave, Watson, and Doubs, I think Reed provides an additional safety blanket for Love to get things going on the Packers offense. McBride has a shot at being the Vikings RB2. That is a good pick. A.T. Perry and Keaton Mitchell were close to best available, find a name you like late and cross your fingers.
Batman – Draft Grade – B+
| 1.04 | Batman | Quentin Johnston | WR | LAC |
| 1.13* | Batman | Tank Bigsby | RB | JAC |
| 2.08 | Batman | Chase Brown | RB | CIN |
| 3.01 | Batman | Zach Evans | RB | LAR |
| 3.06 | Batman | Darnell Washington | TE | PIT |
| 4.05 | Batman | Deneric Prince | RB | KC |
| 5.04 | Batman | Trey Palmer | WR | TB |
| 5.08 | Batman | Matt Breida | RB | NYG |
Batman had a solid draft, all you can really do is take the best available. At 4 he went with Quentin Johnston who has two aging WRs in his WR group. I think QJ has success, just in year 2 or 3. Tank Bigsby is at best in a split backfield, so we do not know when he will have relevance. Batman then grabbed two other RB hopefuls in Chase Brown and Zach Evans. Then things get interesting. Darnell Washington is a blocking TE, so pretty much anyone at 3.06 would have been better. Deneric Prince is another RB chance. Trey Palmer at 5.04 is an absolute steal. Love the pick, what a move by Batman, possibly the best post second round pick in the draft. Breida at 5.08 is almost a guaranteed cut, so at least Batman will have an easier time getting down to the right roster size. I like Batman’s draft, but without that heavy hitter, tough to get an A draft.
Trashman – Draft Grade – B+
| 1.05 | Trashman | Jordan Addison | WR | MIN |
| 2.04 | Trashman | Sam LaPorta | TE | DET |
| 3.03 | Trashman | Jalin Hyatt | WR | NYG |
| 3.07 | Trashman | Israel Abanikanda | RB | NYJ |
| 3.13* | Trashman | Sean Tucker | RB | TB |
| 4.06 | Trashman | Charlie Jones | WR | CIN |
| 5.05 | Trashman | Will Levis | QB | TEN |
Trashman needed WR help and he got some in Addison. Well Addison’s situation really depends on how the Vikings operate at QB in the next few years. With that uncertainty and with JJ as the WR1 of possibly the entire NFL, how much room will there be for Addison in this offense. LaPorta is a good pick, but not Trashman who already has Mark Andrews. Jalin Hyatt is a good pick, but in a packed WR room in which has Daniel Jones streaky performance at QB. Abanikanda is shifty and now behind Breece and Dalvin. Sean Tucker is a stash, Charlie Jones is a stash. Will Levis though, could be a sneaky trade piece if he gets in early. Overall, not sure Trashman added a lot for immediate success which is not great for a fringe playoff team.
PeePaw – Draft Grade – A
| 1.06 | PeePaw | Zach Charbonnet | RB | SEA |
| 1.10 | PeePaw | Rashee Rice | WR | KC |
| 2.03 | PeePaw | Marvin Mims, Jr. | WR | DEN |
| 2.10 | PeePaw | Cedric Tillman | WR | CLE |
| 3.08 | PeePaw | Evan Hull | RB | IND |
| 4.08 | PeePaw | Dontayvion Wicks | WR | GB |
| 5.07 | PeePaw | Tre Tucker | WR | LV |
PeePaw has a few sneaky picks. Charbonnet is part of a two headed backfield. Rice is part of an explosive offense with no real WR1, while an outside shot, not a bad risk to take. Marvin Mims is a great pick and finds himself on the new Denver offense. Russ had no chemistry with any of the WRs in Denver, maybe Mims is why Russ is hot this year. Tillman was the Browns 3rd round pick, which is a greater investment than DPJ as a 6th rounder and Elijah Moore is not their draft pick so it’s tough to say really who they like more. Tillman has time to take over one of those spots. He’s a good stash. Hull is a risk that could have more upside if JT is traded. Dontayvion Wicks is a stash and so is Tre Tucker. I like the Charbonnet and Mims picks to get in the mix this year for PeePaw. PeePaw made some big trades too, giving up Pick 8 for Pick 10 and 15. That was a steal. Then flipped Pick 15 for 16 and 59. Then he got rid of Michael Thomas for Pick 23. That was some maneuvering.
Bruce – Draft Grade – C+
| 1.07 | Bruce | Zay Flowers | WR | BAL |
| 2.02 | Bruce | Jonathan Mingo | WR | CAR |
| 4.07 | Bruce | Kenny McIntosh | RB | SEA |
Bruce has two rookies that are in the starting lineup. That is good. The problem is Zay Flowers is on the same team as Bateman. Mingo is on a team with a rookie QB. I do not see either really taking off this year. McIntosh is not going to play. Not that Bruce could have really grabbed anyone of value that late in the draft, but what can you do.
Teach – Draft Grade – C+
| 1.11 | Teach | Devon Achane | RB | MIA |
| 2.11 | Teach | Bryce Young | QB | CAR |
| 3.11 | Teach | Tucker Kraft | TE | GB |
| 4.11 | Teach | Zach Kuntz | TE | NYJ |
| 5.06 | Teach | Ray-Ray McCloud | WR | SF |
| 5.11 | Teach | Lew Nichols III | RB | GB |
Teach started off the draft with a great pick and then fell off the face of the earth. Achane is risky, but if McDaniel took Achane you have to think he has an idea for him. If JT ends up on the Phins I don’t know what to think of Achane. If there is no JT then the sky is the limit for Achane going forward. Bryce Young is not the pick Teach needed, Kraft is another forced pick, Kuntz is another forced pick, who doubles down on rookie TEs? McCloud is bad and not even a starter for the 49ers. Lew Nichols, well what are you going to do with the second to last pick of the draft, can’t knock Teach for trying.
Touchdown Guy – Draft Grade – C
| 2.05 | TDG | Tyjae Spears | RB | TEN |
| 3.04 | TDG | Michael Wilson | WR | ARI |
| 3.10 | TDG | Puka Nacua | WR | LAR |
| 5.10 | TDG | Ronnie Bell | WR | SF |
Touchdown Guy did not have a lot of options. Touchdown Guy grabbed has handcuff and stash in Tyjae Spears which is a great pick. Wilson, Puka and Bell are all stashes. He just needs one of them to get in the mix in year 2 to save this draft. That is about it. There is not a lot TDG could do as he continually goes all in year in and year out for the league championship. Going all in results in bad draft grades. Touchdown Guy is still one of the top teams this year, but to stay at the top one of these draft picks will have to turn out for him.
JonnyDIII’s Joyful Demons – Draft Grade – C-
| 2.09 | Jonny DIII | Michael Mayer | TE | ND |
| 3.09 | Jonny DIII | Eric Gray | RB | NYG |
| 4.09 | Jonny DIII | Derius Davis | WR | LAC |
| 4.10 | Jonny DIII | Chris Rodriguez, Jr. | RB | WAS |
JD3 needs Michael Mayer to produce halfway through the season or else this draft is likely a complete bust. Gray was a risk in hopes of Barkley not signing, that fell through. Davis is a stash and so is Chris Rod, but the chances of production are not great for either.
CrossFit =- Draft Grade – C-
| 2.12 | CrossFit | Luke Musgrave | TE | GB |
| 3.12 | CrossFit | Deuce Vaughn | RB | DAL |
| 4.12 | CrossFit | Parker Washington | WR | JAC |
| 5.12 | CrossFit | Stetson Bennett IV | QB | LAR |
CrossFit already had four Tight Ends on his roster, Musgrave was a bad pick. CrosFit has Kelce and Freiermuth, Ertz and Dulcich, so he already has two starting TEs and 2 backup options. The pick was not necessary. Deuce Vaughn is someone we will all cheer for, but I’m not sure he has a realistic future in the NFL. Washington is a stash for the Jags so he’s even more of a stash for CrossFit. Steston is actually a sneaky pick, so I tip my cap to CrossFit but that isn’t going to help the draft grade.
Mush’s Mongrels – Draft Grade – D+
| 4.03 | Mush’s Mongrels | Luke Schoonmaker | TE | DAL |
| 4.13* | Mush’s Mongrels | Derek Carr | QB | NO |
Not a lot to say here, Mush went all in and came up terribly short. There is not a lot of hope for Mush in the future either. Schoonmaker may be something but with Trey Lance at QB when the Cowboys go full rebuild. Derek Carr is a terrible pick. Mush is a terrible team, some say not the best Commish either, some say that, I, as the writer, have not. Mush did grab Michael Thomas for Pick 23. Pairing Mikey T with Derek Carr is the only thing saving this draft grade from being an F.
This is about as close as we could get to a bell curve. We had some good drafting and some bad. This year it was important to have an early pick or to not reach for a position you didn’t need. This could be a defining year for those rebuilders and top heavy teams. The tides could be turning. We have cuts coming on Sunday and teams will have to get their rosters down to 20 players with the option of an additional 5 taxi eligible players. It is going to be another action packed year and I do not know if I will be able to keep up. Best of luck to you in any upcoming drafts, the upcoming season and I hope you and yours have a better tomorrow.
Let’s Go!
JonnyDIII
DIII Digest 