03-31-2018, 06:09 AM
(03-30-2018, 03:40 PM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ](03-30-2018, 03:37 PM)The Real Marty Wrote: [ -> ]Immediately. Round 2. A great secondary needs a great defensive line, and defensive lines come in waves, so I would think if we traded Fowler, even though he doesn't start, that would become our biggest need: another pass rusher.Interesting...so the presence of Ngakoue and Campbell doesn't mitigate the need for the 3rd DE?
Nope. I think we'd be trading away a very valuable player who would be very hard to replace, and I don't think we have any other compelling holes on our team, so I would make replacing him my number one need. We've built the team around the defense, and pass rusher is an incredibly important component on defense, so to weaken that part of our defense, by trading away our primary backup and 3rd down starter would create a big hole in my opinion. I'd hate to see it.
Slightly off the point, I think the only way Fowler gets traded in a deal like this is for salary cap purposes- we have to plan future contracts and get everybody under the cap. But to trade him AND our first round pick for a QB? I can't see that happening, unless Coughlin has been insincere in his recent statements about Blake. If you take Coughlin at his word, then he thinks Blake is a worthy starting QB who is on the upswing. So we'd be trading, for example, a high class rookie starting guard plus Dante Fowler for a backup QB. Not a starting QB, because unless Coughlin is lying, he is all in on Blake and is not looking to replace him.
Besides, if you look at the way this team is built, with the emphasis on defense and the running game, then doing a trade like your hypothetical is a complete change of direction. I just can't see Coughlin-Caldwell-Marrone completely changing course like that. To trade away pick #29 plus Fowler, I would think they had lost their minds. We've executed a great team-building strategy that is unique but highly effective. I wouldn't want to see them weaken the rest of the team to roll the dice on a late first round QB. If we use that first round pick on an offensive lineman, or even any other position where the player would actually get on the field and contribute, we could slaughter a lot of teams next year. Ram it down their throat on offense, and strangle them on defense.
I say, stay the course, it's working.
I don't think it should happen, and I don't think it will happen. But in answer to your hypothetical, if it did happen, I think replacing Fowler would then be the #1 need on our roster.