12-23-2022, 03:57 AM
For Round 1:
Given the depth of the draft and our needs, I think CB or DE will be most likely. There are 6-7 CBs who are late first/early 2nd worthy. And about the same # of DE/EDGE/OLB types. How CTB and Ossai play down the stretch will certainly have an impact. As will how FA shakes out (Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Apple, Perine).
In FA, I expect Bates to go and for Hill to step in for him. I expect Bell to be the top priority to re-sign as Lou won't want to lose BOTH safeties. We probably lose 1 of Pratt/Hurst unless they both take a bit of a discount to stay. If ine dies go, I think we have a better shot at bringing back both Apple & Perine.
Most oikely to pick:
1) CB. Apple, Flowers, and Davis are all FAs and Chido is coming off injury. Porter, Ringo, Gonzalez, Smith, Phillips, and Witherspoon are all Rd 1 worthy. Forbes is close. I really like Witherspoon, though he likely does not have top end speed. I think there is a significant drop after those 7.
2) DE. Wilson, Murphy, Van Ness, Verse, and Foskey could all be Rd1 selections. As coukd OLB/Edge types like Anderson, Carter III, Smith, and maybe White. That is a lot of pass rushing. Some of it will likely be there in Rd2, with guys like Harrison, Tuipulotu, and Ojulari.
3) OT. But only if one of the top 3 guys fall to us. Thomas is possible but unlikely. Rd 2-4 (Mauch, Wright, D. Jones, Duncan, Bergeron, Freeland, Harrison) also in play. I think Jonah & Collins are still the likely starters next year.
4) S. Only if we loose Bell. Branch or Johnson in play then.
5)TE. Only if we lose Hurst AND Mayer is available. Otherwise, mid round (Washington, Kraft, Musgrave, Kincaid, Stover, etc). Sample is likely gone as well. TE2 needs filled. I like Wilcox more as TE3.
6) LB. Only if we lose Pratt and even if we do, I am not sure there is a Rd1 LB in this draft. Maybe Simpson or Sanders, but I think we really like ADG & Bailey. Rd2-4 LB seems more likely if we lose Pratt.
7) DT/NT. I really like the kid from Baylor but are we honna draft a NT when we already have Reader & Tupou & Tufele signed next year? And more oressing needs? 3T is a different story, but we likely only roster 2 and I doybt we give up on Carter after 1 year.
8) WR. If one of the top 3 falls to us, we'd have to think hard. Maybe Flowers as well. But with Boyd, Highins, and Chase all inked next year, the need is not great. And Irwin/Taylor have been decent. Still, some non-Chase speed and/or replacements for Higgins/Boyd if we think losing them down the road is likely has to be considered.
9) RB. If Robinson is sitting there, maybe. If not, no. If we lose Oerine, maybe a mid-rounder. The positional value AND having Mixon under contract scream no.
10) IOL. Cappa, Karras, Volson is going nowhere. Not that we could not use better depth or an upgrade, but I don't see Rd 1 IOL..
Given the depth of the draft and our needs, I think CB or DE will be most likely. There are 6-7 CBs who are late first/early 2nd worthy. And about the same # of DE/EDGE/OLB types. How CTB and Ossai play down the stretch will certainly have an impact. As will how FA shakes out (Bell, Pratt, Hurst, Apple, Perine).
In FA, I expect Bates to go and for Hill to step in for him. I expect Bell to be the top priority to re-sign as Lou won't want to lose BOTH safeties. We probably lose 1 of Pratt/Hurst unless they both take a bit of a discount to stay. If ine dies go, I think we have a better shot at bringing back both Apple & Perine.
Most oikely to pick:
1) CB. Apple, Flowers, and Davis are all FAs and Chido is coming off injury. Porter, Ringo, Gonzalez, Smith, Phillips, and Witherspoon are all Rd 1 worthy. Forbes is close. I really like Witherspoon, though he likely does not have top end speed. I think there is a significant drop after those 7.
2) DE. Wilson, Murphy, Van Ness, Verse, and Foskey could all be Rd1 selections. As coukd OLB/Edge types like Anderson, Carter III, Smith, and maybe White. That is a lot of pass rushing. Some of it will likely be there in Rd2, with guys like Harrison, Tuipulotu, and Ojulari.
3) OT. But only if one of the top 3 guys fall to us. Thomas is possible but unlikely. Rd 2-4 (Mauch, Wright, D. Jones, Duncan, Bergeron, Freeland, Harrison) also in play. I think Jonah & Collins are still the likely starters next year.
4) S. Only if we loose Bell. Branch or Johnson in play then.
5)TE. Only if we lose Hurst AND Mayer is available. Otherwise, mid round (Washington, Kraft, Musgrave, Kincaid, Stover, etc). Sample is likely gone as well. TE2 needs filled. I like Wilcox more as TE3.
6) LB. Only if we lose Pratt and even if we do, I am not sure there is a Rd1 LB in this draft. Maybe Simpson or Sanders, but I think we really like ADG & Bailey. Rd2-4 LB seems more likely if we lose Pratt.
7) DT/NT. I really like the kid from Baylor but are we honna draft a NT when we already have Reader & Tupou & Tufele signed next year? And more oressing needs? 3T is a different story, but we likely only roster 2 and I doybt we give up on Carter after 1 year.
8) WR. If one of the top 3 falls to us, we'd have to think hard. Maybe Flowers as well. But with Boyd, Highins, and Chase all inked next year, the need is not great. And Irwin/Taylor have been decent. Still, some non-Chase speed and/or replacements for Higgins/Boyd if we think losing them down the road is likely has to be considered.
9) RB. If Robinson is sitting there, maybe. If not, no. If we lose Oerine, maybe a mid-rounder. The positional value AND having Mixon under contract scream no.
10) IOL. Cappa, Karras, Volson is going nowhere. Not that we could not use better depth or an upgrade, but I don't see Rd 1 IOL..
