(04-02-2022, 01:43 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(04-02-2022, 04:54 AM)Bullseye Wrote: For the purposes of these questions, assume the following conditions:

A.  A top slot WR and top nickel/slot CBs are considered starters, given the prevalence of 11 personnel and nickel defenses.

B.  There will be no trades up or down in any round, nor will there be any trades for or away of players existing on rosters, so there will be no trading away Shenault or trading for DK Metcalf.  What you now see as far as draft picks is what we will utilize in this draft.

With the above conditions in place:

1.  How many new starters do you expect to come out of our free agency haul?  Who are they?

Five. Brandon Scherff, Foye Oluokun, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Darious Williams

2.  How many immediate starters do you expect to come out of this draft?

I would hope three at the bare minimum. I would really like to see more like 5 new starters. If I had my way, we'd have all new starters at WR. 

3.  Are there any guys drafted last year that did not start for whatever reason last year to be starters this year?  Name them and if applicable, name their positions.

I think Walker Little will start at RT and Andre Cisco will start at Safety. I believe Etienne will be put into a RB rotation with Robinson once both are healthy, so two. 

4.  Given the number of new starters combined from the questions listed above, would you say that is a good or bad total?  Why?  Do you think the number of new starters is a reflection of a job well done in terms of player acquisition, a function of how bad the roster was in the first place, the need for newer players to fit the new schemes, or some combination? Will the players be clear upgrades or scheme fillers?

No, I think the fact that we need that many new starters reflects that we have done a terrible job at player acquisition both in the draft and free agency. I believe some will be good like Scherff, Oluokun and Williams and Kirk is a scheme filler. With Engram, it will all depend on whether he can stay healthy. If he can, he has a chance to be our best free agent pickup. 

5.  Do your expectations rise or fall depending upon who has the most sway in the draft room between Baalke or Pederson?

Yes. As I have said on many occasions, I have zero faith in Baalke. He has made terrible draft picks in the past. I am hoping Pederson has more sway. That's my only hope. 

6.  Would your expectations be any higher if Baalke had been fired or an EVP beeh placed above him as promised by Khan?

Yes. MUCH, MUCH higher. 

7.  Of all of the positions deemed to be needs on this team, what's the one position you somehow think will not be addressed by round 3?

I don't think ILB, Safety or RB will be addressed until the 3rd day of the draft. I do expect DE/OLB, WR, TE and OG/C to be the needs filled in the first 3 rounds.

I will give my answers a little later.  I want to hear your thoughts.

1.  I wonder if we share the same concerns about Fatukasi regarding where he will play in relation to Hamilton.

2.  Five starters from the draft?!?  While I would be happy with that, can Baalke be trusted to deliver that?  I think we'd be okay with one rookie starter at WR if it's the right guy (Christian Watson or Burks perhaps?

3.  So in sum..about 12 new starters?  How much better do you think that would make us, if at all?

4.  Agreed largely, especially with Engram.  But I would add that whether his productivity would be maximized would depend on adding a competent Y.  Simply sticking a guy like Manhertz out there would negate most of the benefit of running a two TE set.  I think on pasing routes, teams would largely ignore Manhertz and place most of the attention on Engram.

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