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I would love to hear thoughts on whether an NFL team should always consider taking a lineman in the first- barring the opportunity for a QB or a truly transitional player like AJ.
It seems to me that good RBs and WRs can be had in later rounds.
It also seems to me that a great D line sets up the LBs and the DBs.
Thoughts?
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Well, I think you should take lineman high occasionally, but with the pay some positions earn in free agency at certain positions and the slotted rookie contracts, I think it makes sense to take other positions.
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If a team has an existing offensive line which already plays well, then it’s not necessary to take an offensive lineman in the first round. However, this is not the case in Cincinnati...
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I think that in order to have a great team, winning the battles at the line of scrimmage is critical to sustained success. However, once a team already has great lines in place, I don't see it as critical to having to look at an OL or DL at the top of every draft. Once the lines are good and established, depth can be found via BPA in mid rounds to develop into eventual starters.
The Bengals just happened to have a double swing and miss, in the 2015 draft that left them at a serious deficit of OL talent on hand. Compounding was the fact that several of the late round/UDFAs they had on the bench haven't developed into dominating starters, either.
Volson is meh, but I like him, and he has far exceeded my expectations
-Frank Booth 1/9/23
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Hard for a QB to be successful without a good O line. I always think you have to look at what is available in the first when it comes to the O line but it is also relative to the make up of your team as well and the value of what is there with each selection.