(12-21-2017, 07:38 PM)BlueEyedJag Wrote:

(12-21-2017, 07:03 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: In what way? Taking the best available players? That doesn't seem to be a Gene Smith tactic to me. If all of the top QB's are off the board and OG Quenton Nelson and TE Mark Andrews are gone as well, (as I think they will be), that would make Goedert the best player on the board IMO. Ferguson is the only QB in this draft class outside of Rosen, Mayfield and Rudolph that I would even want, so he's a must in round two, because like it or not, we need an option outside of Bortles, if he reverts to his 2016 form and we're not going to find that in free agency. I have a run on O-Linemen in round 2 and early in round 3, making Phillips the best available option. Wilson is the best receiver in this draft that nobody is talking about. He has size, speed, hands and was consistently dominant all season despite having a meh QB. Harris and DeLuca are small school guys, but have size, athleticism and showed consistency during the season that they could provide valuable depth at their positions while they develop. Franklin has the size, power and speed to be a solid backup for Fournette. At 6' and 225 lbs, he had over 1200 yards rushing this season and averaged 5.2 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns for a team mainly known for their passing game. He also has the wheels to break long runs as well. 

Please tell me, what makes this a Gene Smith draft? I believe it brings us at least 3 to 4 potential starters in the future and provides depth as well.

Its that the biggest schools you drafted from were Boise State and Memphis...Gene was known for going after small school guys...hence the comparison.

I guess I just look at the talent level left on the board and what school they come from is inconsequential. For instance, if I see a LB from a small school who can rush the passer, cover receivers and stop opposing rushers, I'd rather select him over a LB from a school like Notre Dame, who may be good at rushing the passer, pretty decent at stopping opposing rushers and lacks skills at covering receivers. In my mock, I really didn't intend to have us taking so many small school players. It's just how the board fell in my mock. If Mark Andrews would've been available in the first round, I would've had us drafting the Oklahoma TE. I had him selected by Buffalo with pick #22 though. If OG Quenton Nelson was available in round 1, I would've definitely had us taking him, but I have him going #9 to Denver. I don't think we can afford to pass on all the potential future starting QB's, so I had to give us Ferguson in round 2 and that limited our options at OG in round 3. With Nelson, Price, Hernandez, Ivey, Braden Smith, Cole, Malone, Ragnow, Wynn and Crowder all taken ahead of us, I had Phillips as the best OG on the board. I personally, believe Cedrick Wilson is the best WR in the draft that no one is talking about, so with the top WR's gone, his selection was a no-brainer for me. The last 3 picks were basically crap shoots. When you get that far into the draft you can either select small school stars or so-so big school guys. I didn't see any big school players left at positions of need, that impressed me that much so, I leaned the small school route. With Jarvion Franklin though, I wanted a bigger power back with breakaway speed, like a "poor man's" Leonard Fournette and he fit the description. 

I see the Smith comparison now, but believe me, it was completely unintended.

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