Can anyone tell me when JS took over more control of the draft from Pete? To my recollection it was a year or two before Pete was fired. If we are talking track records, look at the drafting prior to JS taking control of it vs him taking control after. If my memory serves me right it was maybe the offseason in 21 or 22 when some of Petes grip on the team was lessened. In the 22' draft two starting tackles were drafted. Outside of injury, it could be argued that the 3rd round RT is better than the 1st round LT. Pete was too much of a meddler, a mad scientist, always messing with the chemistry. All those big trades to bring in a difference maker? Harvin, Richardson, Clowney, Adams, Graham...I'm convinced that was all Pete.
2022 Draft
Round 1, No. 9 Overall: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
Round 2, No. 40 Overall: LB Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Round 2, No. 41 Overall: RB Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
Round 3, No. 72 Overall: OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
Round 4, No. 109 Overall: CB Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Round 5, No. 153 Overall: CB Tariq Woolen, Texas - San Antonio
Round 5, No. 158 Overall: LB Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
Round 7, No. 229 Overall: WR Bo Melton, Rutgers
Round 7, No. 233 Overall: WR Dareke Young, Lenoir Rhyne
2023 Draft
Round 1, No. 5 overall (from Denver) - CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Round 1, No. 20 overall - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Round 2, No. 37 overall (from Denver) - OLB Derick Hall, Auburn
Round 2, No. 52 overall - RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Round 4, No. 108 overall - G Anthony Bradford, LSU
Round 4, No. 123 overall - DT Cameron Young Mississippi, State
Round 5, No. 154 overall - C Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan
Round 6, No. 198 overall - S Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
Round 7, No. 237 overall - RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
2024 Draft
Round 1, Pick 16 overall - DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
Round 3, Pick 81 overall (from New Orleans via Denver) - G Christian Haynes, Connecticut
Round 4, Pick 118 overall - LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
Round 4, Pick 121 overall (from Denver) - TE AJ Barner, Michigan
Round 5, Pick 136 overall (From Denver) - CB Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 179 overall (from Washington) - T Sataoa Laumea, Utah
Round 6, Pick 192 overall - CB D.J. James, Auburn
Round 6, Pick 207 overall (From Denver) - T Michael Jerrell, Findlay
I can legitimately count 15 of these guys as regular quality contributors. Thats 15 out of 26. Thats getting close to a 60% hit rate on all picks the last three drafts. Historically the 1st round by itself is considered successful if 50% make an impact of any type. Theres another 2 or 3 on this draft list that I didn't even count but could play roles in the future.
John Schneider, keep up the good work and bring us another bumper crop in the 2025 draft.