10-13-2020, 01:05 PM
(10-13-2020, 11:19 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I'm not sure we need a boatload of extra picks right now. We are pretty set at most positions. We can concentrate on offensive linemen. Maybe grab another TE if a good one is available. When our defense gets healthy we are pretty set. Running backs are locked up. QB is a given. We could use a fast WR not named Ross. If Taylor can get MB to grab a couple of more top notch players in FA, another solid draft ought to do wonders for this team.
We do need a boatload of extra picks because there is no depth and not all draft picks (or FA signings) work out.
Relying on hitting with every draft pick is not a viable strategy. Relying on no injuries is not a viable strategy.
We also need picks for succession planning.
QB - no point in spending any draft capital here
RB - Bernard is 30 next season and we have no depth behind him. This is a position we should be addressing in the later rounds, especially as he should be a cut candidate given his usage compared to his cost. Fortunately this is a position where you can find UDFAs to help.
TE - we should be looking at a mid-round TE, particularly with Uzomah coming off serious injury and being a $5m cap saving.
WR - we should be looking at double-dipping here with a mid and late round picks. Green, Ross, Erickson are out of contract (Thomas too, but he's more likely to be re-signed). More speed is a must. I'd also look at a FA on a one year prove it deal here.
OL - two guards and a RT are needed. Probably a 1st/2nd rounder, a 3rd/4th-rounder and a second tier free agent at a minimum. We probably need a swing tackle as well as we have no depth at tackle, particularly if Hart is cut.
DE - moving on from Dunlap seems likely so a day one or two pick is probably required here. His salary saving will help pay for Lawson's re-signing. More depth may be needed depending on how Kareem and Bledsoe develop over the rest of the season.
DT - difficult to know how this will all shake out due to all the injuries. Tupou is due back which will at least provide some depth. Moving on from Geno is a real possibility but if they want to replace his interior pass rush in the draft that's likely to require a 1st rounder. That may mean we hold onto him for one more year.
LB - we invested 3 picks last year and a 3rd rounder the year before so we'd hope to see enough development this year not to have to go LB. Bynes is only on a one year deal though and what if the young LBers take a step backwards? We'll assume Bynes re-signs and the young LB show enough.
S - I'd expect them to try and lock up Bates this off-season, if not they need to think about drafting his replacement. Shawn Williams is out of contract and would save around $4m if they drafted a mid-round safety to develop (much like when they drafted Williams himself).
CB - Jackson, Alexander and Sims are all out of contract this year and Phillips next year. Waynes is the only one under contract for 2022 and he's yet to be seen in stripes. It's hard to imagine them not taking at least one corner and maybe two. If they want a starting outside corner that would be a round 1 or 2 selection so let's assume they extend WJIII. They might be able to replace Alexander in the 3rd and Sims in the 4th or 5th.
Teams - all the specialists are out of contract but lets assume they all resign. They lost Fej last year and Brandon Wilson is out of contract this year so they may want to spend a late pick on a special teams maven.
So to sum up:
Early rounds: O-line, DE/DT
Mid-rounds: O-line, TE, WR, S, CB
Late rounds: RB, WR, ST
So they'd be 3 picks short. Maybe they can move back in the first to get an extra mid-round pick but they'd much rather have those extra picks so they could move around themselves more easily.
Green, Ross, Alexander departing and Dunlap being cut saves about $38m. Raises for Mixon ($6m), Reader ($3.5m), Waynes ($6m), Boyd ($2m) is going to leave about $20m for re-signing Lawson, Bates and WJIII and all the other free agents and getting in a solid O-lineman in FA. It becomes a game of Whack-a-Mole as every hole you fill another one pops up when you cut someone to pay for that. The beauty of draft picks are they are cost-controlled and cheap. Filling holes in free agency is a lot more expensive. The lack of additional draft picks reduces the amount they can spend in free agency.
