With Geno And Dunlap Signed, Will We Go For O-Line FAs?

[Whatever]

(08-31-2018, 03:36 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: 1. I think you need more than a couple drafts to prove such a point. People used to say the same thing about RB's dying off, and now we have a trend of RB's going early again.

2. You originally said "o-line play", so why focus only on tackles? 

2018: 3 Tackles, 1 Guard, 2 Centers were taken in round 1 
2017: 2 Tackles 
2016: 5 Tackles, 1 Guard, 1 Center
2015: 5 Tackles, 1 Center, 1 Guard
2014: 4 Tackles, 1 Guard
2013: 5 Tackles, 3 Guards, 1 Center
2012: 2 Tackles, 2 Guards
2011: 6 Tackles, 1 Guard, 1 Center
2010: 4 Tackles, 1 Center, 1 Guard

Now lets compare that to the 90's:

1999: 5 Tackles, 1 Center
1998: 4 Tackles, 1 Guard
1997: 4 Tackles, 1 Guard
1996: 7 Tackles, 1 Guard
1995: 5 Tackles, 1 Guard
1994: 4 Tackles
1993: 3 Tackles, 2 Guards, 1 Center
1992: 5 Tackles
1991: 4 Tackles
1990: 1 Tackle, 1 Center

On average, 5.7 Linemen (4.0 Tackles) have been taken in the first round of the last 9 drafts.
In the 90's, 5.1 Linemen (4.2 Tackles) were taken in the first round.

In short, not much has changed there, although it looks like modern teams are valuing interior linemen more than they used to. 

If you look at where these linemen are/were being taken, not much has changed there, either. If you want, I can give you the average draft slot for each position, but that would take some time. 2017 appears to be an anomaly just as 1990 was.

Just my 2¢, but RB is back on the rise partialy due to the lack of quality OL in the draft.  It used to be that teams tried to follow the Broncos model of building a great line in front of a decent RB.  Now that OL talent is less plentiful, that tactic doesn't work.  The 5th year option is also a good way to keep a RB locked up for his prime at a reasonable rate.