(04-25-2022, 03:14 PM)iapetus Wrote:

(04-25-2022, 12:33 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: We never take the "safe" pick.

Sure we do. Jalen Ramsey was the safe pick. So was Justin Blackmon. In 2013 they went safe, as Bleacher Report said:

"More importantly, they wouldn't have found a better value pick than Joeckel, who may be the best player of this draft class."

SB Nation agreed:

"Joeckel was our top-rated player in the draft this year"

Bucky Brooks gushed on NFL.com:

"BEST PICK: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Jacksonville Jaguars, Round 1, No. 2 overall

The second overall pick should always be considered a "can't miss" prospect, but the Jaguars deserve credit for ignoring other pressing needs in favor of a cornerstone player for GM David Caldwell's rebuilding project."

I had a feeling Joeckel would come up. I think that year was an anomaly, and think most on here agree that Caldwell got a pass there. That was a horrible draft class, and most scouts believed Fischer and Joeckel were the best tackles. Sure, Caldwell could've picked Lane Johnson instead and been declared later a super scout, but overall you have a higher batting average playing it safe than being smartest man in the room -- e.g., Matt Jones, Alualu, Taven, and soon-to-be Walker.

Look at the train wreck of 2013:
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/4/27/4...nd-results

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