02-20-2021, 12:08 PM
One thing that's changed about the NFL in the last 5 years or so is the ability to find productive receivers in rounds 2-4. It's just not as hard to get guys that can play at the NFL level at that position anymore. Look around college football. Even mid-majors and lesser D-1 teams have legit talents that will likely be drafted relatively early and have a shot to play in the league. It didn't used to work that way. The 3-year rule for WRs adjusting to the league is largely a thing of the past, as kids get drafted and are plugged in right away all the time now.
League rules regarding what DBs can do also make the transition much easier. They just don't face the same next-level physicality after the initial bump at the line, and receivers rarely get penalized for interference. DBs lose almost every time when things get physical in terms of flags. There's also no head-hunting over the middle like there once was, so kids don't have to worry about getting decapitated on tough catches nearly as much. Not to say they never take a shot, but it's not open season like it once was, and a kid with decent hands has a much better chance of making a living over the middle if he's not a burner or 6-3 or 5 freak that can fly.
Also, there's capable talent in free agency this year that can help and won't break the bank. More will be cut. Desean Jackson is old, but as a number 3 compliment for 5 mil year, it's worth considering. Emmanuel Sanders will likely be available, and that guy is as reliable as they come and also not likely to command a lot of money. Tyrell Williams and John Brown would both be great outside threats to compliment Boyd and Higgins, and both are likely very affordable. Edelman is another who could help. Burrow's strength is making gnat-hair tight intermediate throws, and a guy like Edelman that made a career of coming up with tough catches would be helpful if healthy.
You know what's not easy to find in FA or the draft? Good OL that fit the modern offense The league is packed to the gills with awful lines because the college game has so few programs that even pretend to want to run the ball anymore. You used to be able to get some fat guy in the 3rd and make him a RT for the next ten years, no problem. Not anymore. NFL edge rushers destroy those guys and the OTs athletic enough to deal with the werewolves at DE these days often don't have the strength to be the road graders in the run game that we used to see on the right side.
In short, I agree with TJ. If you have a shot at a guy that's athletic, relentless, and huge, like Sewell, you take him at 5 over a WR all day long. You'll have an advantage over half of the league just having a guy like that on your roster if he pans out. Receivers are plentiful and affordable. Tackles and to a large extent guards are not.
League rules regarding what DBs can do also make the transition much easier. They just don't face the same next-level physicality after the initial bump at the line, and receivers rarely get penalized for interference. DBs lose almost every time when things get physical in terms of flags. There's also no head-hunting over the middle like there once was, so kids don't have to worry about getting decapitated on tough catches nearly as much. Not to say they never take a shot, but it's not open season like it once was, and a kid with decent hands has a much better chance of making a living over the middle if he's not a burner or 6-3 or 5 freak that can fly.
Also, there's capable talent in free agency this year that can help and won't break the bank. More will be cut. Desean Jackson is old, but as a number 3 compliment for 5 mil year, it's worth considering. Emmanuel Sanders will likely be available, and that guy is as reliable as they come and also not likely to command a lot of money. Tyrell Williams and John Brown would both be great outside threats to compliment Boyd and Higgins, and both are likely very affordable. Edelman is another who could help. Burrow's strength is making gnat-hair tight intermediate throws, and a guy like Edelman that made a career of coming up with tough catches would be helpful if healthy.
You know what's not easy to find in FA or the draft? Good OL that fit the modern offense The league is packed to the gills with awful lines because the college game has so few programs that even pretend to want to run the ball anymore. You used to be able to get some fat guy in the 3rd and make him a RT for the next ten years, no problem. Not anymore. NFL edge rushers destroy those guys and the OTs athletic enough to deal with the werewolves at DE these days often don't have the strength to be the road graders in the run game that we used to see on the right side.
In short, I agree with TJ. If you have a shot at a guy that's athletic, relentless, and huge, like Sewell, you take him at 5 over a WR all day long. You'll have an advantage over half of the league just having a guy like that on your roster if he pans out. Receivers are plentiful and affordable. Tackles and to a large extent guards are not.
