Now that the season is coming to an end, and the future is looking better, who are the serious contenders for our first round draft pick? It may seem too early to talk about this, but what is our main priority?


 

Our defense needs some restructuring but things are improving, especially in the trenches. I think this draft has a good selection of DE we could take advantage of, but a CB like Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu may be hard to pass up, if we're thinking D.


OR is surrounding Bortles with talent more important? If he is our franchise guy, which he is and should be at this point in time, then it would seem wise to give him tools. A running game must be established to give #5 a chance to open it up down field, but do we start looking for a needed RB or keep building a strong foundation to protect Bortles, or whomever he hands the ball to, by picking a franchise OL?


 

I just don't think this year's selection of RB is good enough to make a long term team impact but I could be mistaken. In my opinion, the best move we can make at this point is to give our QB a bouncer to learn this offense with.


Outland Trophy winner BRANDON SCHERFF is one of the most well coached, energetic, and strongest linemen to enter the draft in a few years (if not THE strongest…did you see the video earlier this year of him cleaning 3X450lbs?... …insane). This is not a surprise with his experience at Iowa under OL guru Kirk Ferentz and the best college strength and conditioning coach you could ask for in Chris Doyle. I could give a long list of successful Hawkeye linemen drafted in the last few decades, or even recent years, but you really only need to say two words: Marshall Yanda. Consider we had a corn-fed boy in Brad Meester lead our line through some dark times, and that Scherff’s last college game will be played in EverBank Field, and it seems like all signs point to draft this BEAST. Thoughts?

Feels like Ground hog day in that this is something i expected to read at the end of last season...

Hopefully next year will be better... cant have another 4 win or less season...

 

I do feel more optomistic after this season than I did last.  The team has a QB that can improve (if the Oline can get fixed) the team has WRs that have shown a lot of skill once the oline gets fixed.  The defensive line is a beast once the Dbs get fixed... its like getting a new car one peice at a time.. the first year we had the tires but the car stunk, this year we got the engine now we need the body to support it.

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Looks like we'll be picking somewhere from 3-5. Looks like DL might be the way to go. But, man, I sure hope we can find a stud RT early. Gotta get the big guys early.

 

It is mathematically possible to get the #6 pick, but that is unlikely to happen.

 

Nothing would make me happier than picking a stud right tackle who has played that position exclusively since middle school.

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