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Main - General MFN Discussion

Draft prospects

By martinwarnett
2/05/2015 12:56 pm
Are there plans to enhance the draft?

Reason I ask is I've kinda got a long term plan. As in, no real clue, but if I had a coherent plan knowing what could be available in the draft would play into that. Equally, if I know I'm going to have an early first round pick and the draft could potentially have few good QBs then I'm in position to trade that pick for a player plus picks which would improve the team now.

What I'd envisage would be something where there are X prospects. You don't see their stats but what you see is a range for where their stats lie - the range could be narrow or side for different stats depending upon scouting staff abilities, how many times scouts have viewed them etc.

The game could then spice things up - not all prospects may make themselves available for the draft ( ie getting cheerleaders pregnant and needing to get a job quickly/have knees broken by cheerleaders dad, join league in different game, get kidnapped and brainwashed by mutant ninja terrorist squirrels... ).

I know you get to do the evaluation process prior to the draft, was just wondering if this would add anything or make the game too easy?

Re: Draft prospects

By Gustoon
2/05/2015 1:09 pm
It would be nice and on the face of it a good idea, not sure how it would be implemented and actually to what purpose it would serve.
Right now in real life we are now looking at the 2015 draft and we get to see their college evaluations, but not the combine.
Even after the combine, all we really know is their work ethic and characters under scrutiny.

At the end of the day there is no guarantee that a round 1 pick won't be a bust and that a round 7 'player won't end up a stud.

I kind of like it the way it is right now as it gives everyone a level playing field.

Re: Draft prospects

By martinwarnett
2/05/2015 1:20 pm
Yeah, agree about the way it is now.

I guess what I mean is it would add to the strategy aspect of things if you've some indication of positional quality potentially for the upcoming draft.

Week 8 of the season; a team needing a QB knows my team is poor, will pick early. Indications are few QBs will be good coming out in the draft. They offer to flip 1st rounders, offer a good Dt who would bolster a poor D line and other picks. Do I take the offer, do I keep the early pick for myself?

Right now somebody offers be a deal for my first rounder, it's a gamble on all sides really.

Re: Draft prospects

By Davesgang
2/05/2015 1:35 pm
I think the biggest NFL example of this would be the A. Luck prospect/Colts tanked season.
I can understand it, but do we want that?

If something like this was implemented maybe do just the top 5 prospects?
Last edited at 2/05/2015 1:38 pm

Re: Draft prospects

By jdavidbakr - Site Admin
2/05/2015 1:47 pm
The draft class will start being released at the end of the regular season starting with version 0.2.2 (any leagues still in 0.2.1 will roll over at the end of the season - the footer in your league tells you which version your league is running) which at least gives you the opportunity to scout out the draft during the playoffs.

There have been several ideas tossed around about the draft, from releasing the draft even earlier and applying an error to the numbers that gradually reduces as the season goes on, to some interesting ideas about hiring a scout and each scout having strengths and weaknesses that apply to your views of the draft class. I haven't really latched on to any idea yet, but am always interested to hear what you think would make the game better.

One thing I don't want to do is give incentive to tank your team in hopes of getting a stud player in the draft. As it is now, you can certainly tank your team easily enough, but the odds of that paying off is pretty slim. If you know ahead of time that there's a stud QB in the draft, there may be just as much competition for the 1.1 selection as there is for the league championship!

You have some interesting ideas about the prospects and the possibility of them not going into the draft - which could come into play, especially if there is only a 50% chance that the stud QB will make it to the draft. I'll keep giving it some thought, and please continue this thread with ideas.

Re: Draft prospects

By Ole_from_MN
2/05/2015 2:18 pm
I'm just kind of brain storming, but in real life i believe underclassmen declared for the draft on Jan 15. Would you want to give everyone their first view of the draft eligible players (with minimal data) during the league playoffs each season? Actually it would be cool to have a stage where you can see combine data, perhaps before the draft. I don't know, i just joined in the middle of the draft so I haven't been through the entire annual stage cycle yet. I like the discussion.

Re: Draft prospects

By Gustoon
2/05/2015 2:23 pm
Davesgang wrote:
I think the biggest NFL example of this would be the A. Luck prospect/Colts tanked season.
I can understand it, but do we want that?

If something like this was implemented maybe do just the top 5 prospects?


No we certainly don't want that.

Is there anyway that it could be stopped?

Re: Draft prospects

By martinwarnett
2/05/2015 2:51 pm
Gustoon wrote:
Davesgang wrote:
I think the biggest NFL example of this would be the A. Luck prospect/Colts tanked season.
I can understand it, but do we want that?

If something like this was implemented maybe do just the top 5 prospects?


No we certainly don't want that.

Is there anyway that it could be stopped?


Some of us don't need to deliberately tank.

I'd say what is needed to analyse the draft class is imprecise data. You never ever get exact figures until you've drafted somebody.

Maybe coaches could input into that - you've a top secondary coach, his analysis of CB, SS, FS would be "better" than that of an average secondary coach. Maybe implement scouts to also provide input - to prevent teams stockpiling top scouts, maybe have some sort of cap for scouts.

Re: Draft prospects

By Davesgang
2/05/2015 5:38 pm
I don't think tanking will be to much of an issue. Especially with the uncertainty built into draft picks. If it does become a problem there are so many creative realistic ways to punish. Players holding out, demanding trades, coaches quitting, loss of sponsers and revenue. Let's get back to drafting!

Re: Draft prospects

By Gustoon
2/06/2015 12:57 am
Davesgang wrote:
I don't think tanking will be to much of an issue. Especially with the uncertainty built into draft picks. If it does become a problem there are so many creative realistic ways to punish. Players holding out, demanding trades, coaches quitting, loss of sponsers and revenue. Let's get back to drafting!


I like it! *Attitude* attribute