Besides DK Metcalf or Mecole Hardman, who would you have drafted besides Drew Sample?

[*ochocincos*]

(12-28-2020, 03:52 PM)willieFANderson Wrote: It was not an apparent need that we needed a WR and I doubt Hardman would have had the same success he has had on the Bengals. And for this discussion - trading down or up is not allowed. Sometimes drafts force peoples hands - I think peoples opinions about Sample would be different if Pratt and Sample pick positions were switched. And with that in mind, I am very pleased with Zac Taylor’s drafting so far.

I do think it would have helped if Pratt and Sample were swapped in rounds, but I had the following TEs ahead of Sample in my evaluations:
- Hockenson (duh)
- Fant (duh)
- Jace Sternberger
- Josh Oliver
- Dawson Knox
- Kaden Smith
- Isaac Nauta
- Caleb Wilson

Knox has more production than Sample, Smith has same yardage but 2 more TDs than Sample.
Knox was taken as a comp pick at the end of Rd 3, Kaden Smith was a 6th rounder.

I had Sample as a 5th rounder or later, but I also wanted a more proven receiver if a TE was to be taken earlier. Taylor clearly prioritizes blocking, and Sample has been a good blocker. He also has been an ok 5th option after being forced into a starting role.

It's important to remember that if Uzomah hadn't gone down, Sample's production would likely be (way) lower too, as he was the backup to start the season. So he's gotten more opportunities than most of these guys in the above list too.

Another way to look at Sample's production is to look at Robert Tonyan from GB. Tonyan is having an Eifert-like season with 568 yards and 10 TDs this year, and he's in his 3rd season after being picked up as a UDFA. So it's possible to get guys to contribute a few hundred yards and some TDs at the TE position without taking them on Day 2 of the draft. The only reason to take a TE prior to Day 3 should be because they have some elite traits that make them a mismatch nightmare as a receiver. Sample is not a mismatch nightmare, but he's an ok well-rounded TE who would be a solid backup on any other team.