Maybe QB isn't our biggest problem?

[*rfaulk34*]

(10-12-2019, 12:02 AM)Joelist Wrote: If you take a franchise QB right now you have to plan on redshirting them. This is because putting them out there behind a line this bad is setting them up to fail. So basically the plan becomes Franchise QB + multiple OL picks + redshirt QB while the rebuilt line gels.

This isn't the 90s or even early 00s anymore. People always throw this out--build the line first, etc etc--that's not the way the NFL works these days. QBs (the top ones) coming out in the draft are much more advanced than they were years ago. They're taught and given more responsibility at an earlier age. More and more, QBs come out of college ready to step right into an NFL environment. 

NFL teams want a franchise QB first. Then you build around that. Free agency has made it almost impossible to "build" an offensive line and keep them all together for years. 

Teams want a QB, then they want guys that can stop a QB. That's why you see so many DE and CBs go early in drafts. Then they want guys to protect the QB and weapons for the QB. Weapons and Olinemen can be interchangeable. Free agency has made it easier to get a guy to plug and play on the line. 

Just so anyone doesn't think i'm talking out of my ass, in the last 5 NFL drafts, here's how it breaks down by position in the first round:
22 DE and 15 other DL for a total of 37 defensive lineman.
19 OT and 9 other OL for a total of 28 offensive lineman.
17 cornerbacks.

Of the teams that drafted OTs in the first round, here are the QBs that were starting for that team. 
2015; Cousins, EManning, Brees, Dalton and Palmer
2016; Flacco, Mariota, Tannehill, Stafford and Wilson
2017; Siemian, Brees
2018; Garappolo, Carr and Brady
2019; Dalton, Wentz, Watson and Ryan

So you can see, teams draft OTs in the first round for the sole purpose of protecting their established QB...with the one exception of Siemian (who they may have considered their guy at the time).