09-14-2023, 04:16 PM
(09-14-2023, 11:27 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Most of the guys you listed as who have turned out well so far were safe picks.
They had proven production in college matched with a high ceiling.
Guys like Toney and Lance were more potential, less production. Higher risk.
Takeaway?
Take a guy in the 1st round who is proven, not a developmental risk.
Meh, I don't know if I'd agree with that. With the exception of a unicorn like Chase and a guy who just got lost in the shuffle like Micah, they were all "developmental risks" to some extent. Just depends on how you look at it. Leatherwood was no slouch as an Alabama OT. Toney was a 2nd Team AA in the SEC. Most of these guys don't play early in their careers so I wouldn't hold the fact he was a late bloomer against him. Farley was more of a risk in terms of injury red flags, but he was hella productive when he played.
On the other side, Sewell was criticized for not seeing top competition. Darrisaw was considered soft, if not lazy. Pitts was less production than RAS and potential. Oweh barely played in college. Etc. I wouldn't use the exception to prove the rule; each guy is kind of a gamble in his own right. But I do agree with the rule as it relates to quarterbacks. I think teams put too much emphasis on grabbing a quarterback even if the right guy's not available, especially at the top of the draft. But I've felt that way for a long time.
