(04-30-2018, 10:37 AM)FBT Wrote: If the expectation here is that you're going to have to rely on multiple rookies to step in as starters out of the gate, you're conceding that the team is so bad that they might as well get the playing time / experience to develop as players.  That was the reality for this team early on with Caldwell.  The roster today is a completely different animal.  Rookies will compete  for playing time against quality starters at almost every position, so the odds of rookies stepping in as starters seems a little unlikely, but the rookies who do make the roster will no doubt get some pretty significant playing time.  I think your top 3 picks will all be contributors this year for sure.  I also think that if Cooke can show he's close to what Nortman is as a punter, he ends up being your most likely rookie "starter" this year.

Agree... better yet... I would like to see three stages of team development:

* Stage 1: Drafting rookies that will start right away bc they are basically filling a void in your team.
* Stage 2: Drafting BAP's that will compete with and learn from talented veterans and eventually take their place within a year. 
* Stage 3: We are so stacked at every position with talent that we can afford to trade down for future draft picks so that every year we have multiple 1st and 2nd rounders because other teams are making really bad deals with us to address immediate needs... because every year they pick based on immediate need instead of BAP.

We are in stage 2

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