(03-23-2021, 11:14 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(03-23-2021, 10:53 AM)Bullseye Wrote: Though the ideal is finding a franchise LT to go with our franchise QB, with us picking at 25, that may not be in the cards this year. One of the top LTs likely will not fall to us at 25, and while Baalke has proven willing to trade in the past, there's no guarantee he could pull off a deal to move up to land one of the tackles.  If not, I'd much rather take Mayfield, a pure RT who can pass protect, than no T at all.  At minimum, he upgrades Taylor and helps improve our depth along the OL at two positions.  He more than held his own against Chase freaking Young.  Does Taylor manage that?  What do you dislike about his game?  If we upgrade the pass protection on the right side, there are things we can do to bolster the left, like line up a TE on that side and keep him in to block, and use RBs to chip a DE.

At this point, I'm 90% sure that is the case. My fear is that next year's class will be like the 2019 OT class and we'll reach for a guy that fails, keeping us in this loop we've been in of drafting bad LT's. I don't see any scenario where Sewell, Slater or Darrisaw fall passed pick #20. I really like Eichenberg, but I doubt he goes any higher than #27 and I just don't see us choosing him. From there, I'd focus more on upgrading the RT, because it is a much deeper class of RT's than LT's, but I still do not like Mayfield. I'd rather wait a round or two and select Spencer Brown, Cole Van Lanen or Josh Ball to play RT. I see them as much better prospects. IMO, Mayfield is too much like Taylor. I don't see the footwork to keep him in front of defenders and he just always looks a step behind the pass rusher. When I saw him, he struggled with bull rushers more than I liked. Maybe I'm wrong and he gets better, but I have him ranked as the #10 OT in the draft. As much as I'd like to trade up from #25, I realize it's not gonna happen. I just pray we upgrade at least one OT spot.