(09-01-2018, 09:48 AM)Bullseye Wrote:

(09-01-2018, 09:32 AM)TurndownforWatt Wrote: You can find pass rushers who can give you a 10 sack season for a LOT cheaper if you know what you're doing in the draft.

Gruden will now have plenty of money to bring in vets now that he's avoided the albatross of what Mack's contract will turn into. BTW.. Oakland hasn't finished higher than 21st in the NFL on defense with Khalil Mack..  Avoiding that contract and the kings ransom they collected in the process.. Oakland just committed highway robbery. Those will be fairly high draft picks.

Operative phrase is "if you know what you're doing in the draft."

Not trying to insult the Texans, but look at the best pass rushers on your team.  Watt was a top 12 pick.  Clowney was the #1 overall pick.  Mercilus was a first round pick.  Heck, Mario Williams was the #1 overall pick.  You guys paid premium prices for pass rushers.

Heck, the Jaguars went years without quality pass rushers after Brackens retired (he was drafted in the 2nd round in 1996!).  McCray had one year with 10 sacks and he was a 7th rounder in 2004).  We swung and missed on guys like Renaldo Wynn (1997), Derrick Harvey (1st round 2008-after a trade up!), Quentin Groves (2nd round 2008-after a trade up!) Tyson Alualu (2010), Andre Branch (2nd round, 2012) and Dante Fowler (3rd overall pick, 2015).  We've paid premium prices for pass rushers and largely came up empty over the years.  There is still debate among Jaguars fans over whether Fowler is actually a good pass rusher or he is simply the product of having superior players around him.  Yes, last year, we were 2nd in the league in sacks, but of our leading pass rushers, only Ngakoue (3rd round 2016) and Fowler were actually drafted by the Jaguars.  Campbell and Jackson were free agents.  Dareus, whose primary role was that of run stopper, was acquired via trade.

Bottom line is that as a premium position, pass rushers are in high demand among NFL teams.  Whether through the draft, trades, player retention or free agency, teams have to pay a premium price for the premium players to man those positions.

Mercilus was taken near the bottom of the first round.. Connor Barwin was a 2nd rounder. Watt was the 11th pick in the draft.

Point is, if you identify fits in your system and identify talent, you can find pass rushers..

Khalil Mack is a excellent player, but he's not a 2 first round picks type of player or pass rusher. You can find a double digit sack guy if you have a good staff and scheme.

Then when you throw in the Mitch Trubisky deal.. the Bears have been pissing away draft picks left and right.. now they're going to take one hell of a hit on the cap. Good luck at filling holes and building depth.

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