01-13-2024, 07:01 PM
I think this is such a compelling offseason in the sense that despite all our needs, using the draft to fill them is a strategy marked with its own holes. The OL is a perfect example. Solid draft class for linemen. But we've had immense trouble developing them under Zac. Far more success signing guys off the street like OBJ, Cappa, Karras, even Reiff in 2021. So would we be wasting our pick? I personally don't think so, and 18 is a prime spot to land a lot of them- you could make a case for Latham, Guyton, Paul, Barton, Mims and others- but at what point do we become self conscious about doing it given our history? It's bound to take years to bring him along (see: Volson, Cordell) so would we missing an opportunity given our wide open current window?
Similar questions with the other groups. We need NT depth but it's not the best year for them imo. There's no Reader available, or anyone even remotely close. In terms of pass rushers, we just spent a Day 1 on an edge, to say nothing of recent investments made in Ossai and Carter. And that's even more true for the secondary, what with the year we just suffered by throwing a bunch of kids into the fire. Do we really wanna get even younger?! You could possibly make a case for a new nickel to develop behind (2025 FA) Hilton, but are you really gonna spend a top pick on that? And might Dax not be better suited for that role anyway? He hardly distinguished himself as a center fielder imo. And for their part Wilson and Prat aren't going anywhere anytime soon. So despite the fact that our defensive stats were putrid this year, will we really use the draft as our primary means to get better? I don't know.
Likewise on offense. We're not picking a QB in the first round. You could make a case for a Tee replacement, although that would be a lateral move at best. You'd be filling a hole that isn't even there yet. RB's possible but it's not 2023; there's no Bijan or Gibbs this year. I'd be surprised if a back went in the first two rounds, to be honest. Solid TE class but we have no propensity for going that route, and I think Zac has even said they don't plan to. So what do they do?
Anyway, this goes far beyond the OL. More a debate on their draft strategy in general as viewed through the lens of the OL. But they're in a really interesting spot. If you asked me I'd say it's a good year to trade down and get some proven vets to help us now, but that's never really our style either. So whatever happens will surprise me one way or another.
Similar questions with the other groups. We need NT depth but it's not the best year for them imo. There's no Reader available, or anyone even remotely close. In terms of pass rushers, we just spent a Day 1 on an edge, to say nothing of recent investments made in Ossai and Carter. And that's even more true for the secondary, what with the year we just suffered by throwing a bunch of kids into the fire. Do we really wanna get even younger?! You could possibly make a case for a new nickel to develop behind (2025 FA) Hilton, but are you really gonna spend a top pick on that? And might Dax not be better suited for that role anyway? He hardly distinguished himself as a center fielder imo. And for their part Wilson and Prat aren't going anywhere anytime soon. So despite the fact that our defensive stats were putrid this year, will we really use the draft as our primary means to get better? I don't know.
Likewise on offense. We're not picking a QB in the first round. You could make a case for a Tee replacement, although that would be a lateral move at best. You'd be filling a hole that isn't even there yet. RB's possible but it's not 2023; there's no Bijan or Gibbs this year. I'd be surprised if a back went in the first two rounds, to be honest. Solid TE class but we have no propensity for going that route, and I think Zac has even said they don't plan to. So what do they do?
Anyway, this goes far beyond the OL. More a debate on their draft strategy in general as viewed through the lens of the OL. But they're in a really interesting spot. If you asked me I'd say it's a good year to trade down and get some proven vets to help us now, but that's never really our style either. So whatever happens will surprise me one way or another.
